Esikiel urges locals to unite

MARKHAM MP and Minister for Housing and Urbanisation Paul Esikiel is urging his constituents to cooperate in developing the district.
In a gathering with the Markham community in the National Capital District last Saturday, Esikiel said it was time the people received much-needed infrastructure.
“This meeting today signifies a special occasion for the people of Markham,” he said.
“I urge all the student bodies and civil societies to join hands together in bringing services to the people in our electorate.
“I will work closely with the district administration in ensuring this goal is fruitful.”
He said although Markham was situated along the Highlands Highway, it lacked infrastructure and was still behind in social services.
He said roads were the main concern for him as they were built 20 years ago and were not in a good state because of the lack of maintenance.
Esikiel said preparations were under way to build a new bridge over the Yati River to connect Onga-Waffa to Markham.
“The people from Onga-Waffa have for so long endured the hardship of carrying their cargoes up to the Mutzing area to access transportation.
“That would be no more.”
He said K76,000 had been allocated to FTM Construction to build the Yati Bridge and work should start in a few weeks.
He said he was looking forward to lighting up Markham through the rural electrification programme.
Esikiel said he would look for donors to support the development of Markham as the food bowl of the country through agriculture.
Representing students around the country from Markham, William Busil Junior, a third-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea, said: “We, the students of the two universities in Port Moresby – UPNG and Pacific Adventist University – and our counterparts around the country assure you of our support.”