Communities call for govt’s help to build bridge

COMMUNITIES affected by the washed away Bunum Wo Bridge in North Waghi are calling on the government to assist them.
The bridge located in North Waghi was washed away by floods on April 23 last year which has halted the flow of traffic and cut off vital supply lines for North Waghi and Jimi districts of Jiwaka
and Dei district of Western Highlands.
On Saturday, the community leaders with representatives from several large coffee plantations from Bunum Wo, Kimil, Kondopa, Kinjibi, Gumanch and Kotna, public servants, church representatives, businessmen, and the travelling public made a courtesy call to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government to address the plight of the people and the business houses.
Jiwaka provincial education board deputy chairman Paul Pap, who resides at Kimil and goes to work at Minj in South Waghi every morning, said schools with teachers and students have suffered so much.
“Schools like Nunga High School, Kondopina High School, Kimil Tvet, and several primary and elementary schools are affected for a year now.
“We have students and teachers from the western side that after being dropped off by PMVs at the damaged bridge have to catch another bus to get to Fatima Secondary, Tvet (Technical and vocational education training) and primary schools, Banz, Minj and Anglimp in the eastern end.”
He said the National Road Authority and the Works Department have spent almost K2 million and engaged Tri-Civil Contractors to build a Bailey bridge but up to now, only foundation work has been done.