Government focused on development, Abel says

 The O’Neill Government is focused on development, National Planning Minister Charles Abel says.

He said that during the launching of a new national road construction project at Situm government post in Morobe, last Thursday.

Abel said for the first time under the current coalition government massive development funds were expanded in districts and local level governments (LLGs).

“Despite many bad things said against the prime minister and the government we are still unified,” hesaid. 

“We are still focused on development.”

Abel said the government had allocated K15 billion, or 30% of the budget on infrastructure development. 

He said K1.5 billion had been given to districts to develop their infrastructure.

He said each district received K10 million, while LLGs received K500,000 each.

He said each governor has been getting K5 million each depending on the number of district’s he or she has in the province.

“Morobe has been getting K135 million annually from the government,” Abel said.

Abel said a billion was also spent on the Lae Port redevelopment project and K500 million on the Lae-Nadzab highway.

Abel said separate funding had been allocated for the upgrading of Lae city roads.

He said he was happy with the changes taking place in Lae but he was not happy with the delay in the construction of the Lae-Nadzab highway.