| Sports |
by Dr MICHAEL
UNAGE
Unlocking Kundiawa’s potential
LAST week, I went to a kai bar in Kundiawa
and found the quantity served to be rather disappointing to my demanding
stomach.
The serving was half of what I would normally get in Goroka, for the
same price.
I asked a regular customer who explained that some time ago, people
along the Okuk Highway in Simbu were paid a hefty amount of money as
compensation for land along the route.
Since then, he said, Kundiawa town had had an unusual amount of cash
circulating and some business people decided to take advantage of the
situation.
With a cynical grin, the regular quipped that the next time I visit
Kundiawa, I would be served on a saucer.
Whether food served on saucers or the excessive circulation of cash, the
looming predicament facing the notoriously known 4 kona taun of Simbu is
to combat the influx of people.
The town’s services are now also catering for people other than Simbus.
Most people from the Waghi Valley in Western Highlands feel safer doing
business in Kundiawa rather than Mt Hagen which has seen an increase in
crime, some of which occur in broad daylight and in public.
Likewise, people from Watabung and Mangiro
in Eastern Highlands find it more convenient to do business in Kundiawa.
The queues at the BSP bank and the post office for telecommunication
services are clear evidence of the influx.
Obviously, there is a need to give Kundiawa a facelift and to expand the
services.
Land acquisition is, however, difficult and provincial planners would
have to come up with alternative solutions to serve the needs of the
growing population.
One alternative is to build two new colony towns and the Chuave and
Kerowagi stations are ideal for this.
Politicians had earlier identified Kerowagi as an alternative capital
centre for Simbu if Kundiawa could no longer be expanded.
The late Siwi Korondo, who was one premier of Simbu, initiated a major
facelift to Kerowagi town with factories and a police mobile unit.
The most important development that time was the rehabilitation of the
airport in Kerowagi to cater for F28 aircraft.
However, Kerowagi’s location – on the western fringes of the province –
was not ideal, especially for people travelling from Chuave, Gumine and
Sinasina.
To compromise, along with Chuave, Kerowagi can be developed as
administrative and commercial centres for Simbu.
To achieve this, there must be political commitment, as demonstrated by
Siwi Korondo.
The towns could have its own banks and telecommunication services with
the possibility for commerce and trade.
Kerowagi town would be able to accommodate people from the western end,
while Chuave would absorb those from the eastern side.
Previous leaders did little to develop the two towns but current Chuave
MP Jim Nomane did express an interest to develop the Chuave district
headquarters into both an administrative and commercial centre for the
people of the eastern end.
Another alternative is to develop Simbu on a big scale, which would
require a concerted effort by all MPs of the province and comprehensive
planning.
Here, we shall only deal with the concept.
Looking at the map of PNG, one would agree that Simbu can be considered
the centre or heart of the country.
To the north, Kundiawa could easily be linked to Madang. Instead of
making a detour around Eastern Highlands, Madang could be reached within
a fairly short time via a highway.
Madang will then be the nearest seaport for many highlands provinces.
The link itself would bring many benefits to Simbu.
There is again a great potential for development, both for Simbu and PNG
if there is another highway linking Simbu and the Gulf province through
the fertile region of Karamui.
And Karamui alone can cater for all the agricultural needs of the
country, if that great fertile land mass is cultivated.
The fact is that many governments and politicians have turned blind to
the enormous wealth Karamui can generate for the country.
A business person in Kundiawa has built up his personal wealth by
utilising the resources available in Karamui.
The Government should have the commitment to open up road links into
Karamui and have Baimuru as the nearest seaport for all agricultural
exports.
If any commercial/agricultural venture is to be undertaken, Karamui
offers that possibility. Thus, Kundiawa will no longer be the 4 kona
taun but a hub city linking the north and the south of the country.
Along with it, the current problem of influx will comparably be too
trivial a concern. It will be absorbed into this grand scale
development.
 
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