Authorities called to build proper roads

THE head of a remote school in West Sepik has called on authorities to build a proper road connecting Aitape and Lumi.
“To travel to Aitape, the district’s headquarters, I travel to the capital of East Sepik, Wewak, and then to Aitape,” Lumi Vocational Central manager Adrian Saun told The National on Wednesday.
“I pass through four districts of East Sepik and cross many rivers to reach Aitape.
“It takes me about two to three days to reach Aitape and then about another two to three days to return.”
Aitape shares and land border with Lumi, but those living in Lumi have a difficult time reaching Aitape because there is no road connection.
“I pay K70 from Lumi to Wewak and then another K70 from Wewak to Aitape,” Saun said.
“But during bad weather I have no choice but to pay K200 one way and K200 return.”
Saun said they encountered problems on almost every trip
with the most serious one was in 2019 when a landslide at Dreikikier cut off Nuku and Lumi from East Sepik.