Change mindsets on compensation

 THIS is an appeal to people of Bena Bridge and Kolwara sections of the Highlands Highway in Eastern Highlands not to make unnecessary compensation demands for the damaged roads and bridges.

In fact, anything between 10 metres of the highway corridors belong to the State as per the new NRA laws. 

We may have problems with that if the government uses the long arm of the law as this is a national highway and we shouldn’t impede development, flow of people and goods and services unnecessarily.

Let’s be modern and civilised citizens and educate people from other parts of the country who seize every opportunity to claim compensation for damage caused by natural disasters, which are not the government’s doing.

After 40 years since independence, it is time we have an understanding about some of these things, especially on highways and land where schools, hospitals and missions are located. 

This message be replicated and reverberated throughout this country.

I am sure all genuine and rational thinking Papua New Guineas will concur with me.

Kerry Kimiafa

Goroka, EHP