Firm paid K1m to build Gulf road

WORK on the Malalaua-Putei road in Gulf province will begin soon after the payment of K1 million to the construction company.
Kerema MP Pitom Bombom paid the sum to SNP Construction Ltd director Henry Gorea, from his district service improvement programme (DSIP) fund and district support grant (DSG).
It was the first payment from his DSIP fund to begin the road project in Kerema district, connecting Malalaua with Putei and later to Kaintiba.
The project was part of the major infrastructure development he planned with Bulolo MP Sam Basil and Goilala MP Mathew Poiye. It will link Malalaua, Putei and Kaintiba in Gulf with Aseki, Menyamya, Bulolo and Garaina in Morobe and Tapini in Central.
The connection of roads into the areas would be the final link in plans to have a trans-national highway.
Bombom said the areas were potentially rich for viable commercial development in agriculture that would fairly contribute towards the economy if linked to the “rest of the world”.
The Kaintiba region – where he hails from – has been isolated for too long and its remoteness without proper road link into Gulf maritime ports has denied his people access to basic government goods and services.
“The people of Kaintiba have been denied economic development for far too long and the construction of the new road network into the area should give them hope to access basic government goods and services and at the same time contribute positively towards the prosperity of PNG,” Bombom said
 Construction work for the Malalaua-Putei sector should begin in April or May. The Putei-Kaintiba sector will begin when funds are available.
Gorea said his company was nationally-owned with a track record of building major roads in many parts of PNG, including the one linking Warangoi and Pomio in East New Britain.
The payment was witnessed by Kerema district administrator Sampson Torreys, Gulf treasurer Jack Wambu, Taure-Lakekamu LLG manager Anthony Morehari and Kerema district treasurer Stanley Haurahaela.