Bad roads costing businesses more, says businessman

Business

WORSENING road conditions along the Bulolo Highway are costing companies and public commuters more, a businessman says.
An expatriate businessman in Bulolo, who asked not to be named, said the 25km State road from Bulolo to Wau had worsened and closed for four years.
Similarly, the Lae-Bulolo section continued to deteriorate, even after Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Works Minister Michael Nali made a commitment to fix the highway.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil reaffirmed the commitment by O’Neill and Nali when launching the K4.7 million Bulolo Town road sealing project on December 15.
The expatriate source said the PNG Forest Products’ (PNGFP) back road from Golden Pine to Wau, used by the public, had worsened due to prolonged wet season.
He said public commuters took the risk along this particular stretch as it was a PNGFP company road used by logging machines.
“PNGFP maintains the road for its heavy machinery during peak harvest periods, ensuring a smooth ride for the public,” the businessman said.
“Currently, without harvesting, it has worsened, posing risks for accidents and armed hold-ups.
“We’ve been appealing to the district administration, MP, provincial government works’ minister Waka Daimon and National Works Department.
“Yet, nothing has done to enable tax payers.”
Bulolo spokesperson for small businesses, Aaron Akui, was critical of Government negligence.
“The Government continues to turn a blind heart to a heavily-taxed business district in Morobe’s economy hub (Bulolo),” he said.