Governor queries road funding

 Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso has expressed concern at the non-completion of a road linking her province and Madang.

She told Parliament last year she made an aerial inspection of a road to link Negabo, in Eastern Highlands, to Dumpu, in Madang, with Works Minister Francis Awesa and Lands Minister Benny Allan. 

“The government allocated K10 million for this project,” Soso said.

“Last week, I did a follow-up, and found out that this K10 million was no longer with Works.”

She asked Awesa where the money was.

Awesa confirmed that Soso, Allan and he had launched the Negabo-Dumpu Road last year.

“This is a project that’s on the agenda of the government with K10 million allocated in the 2014 budget,” he said.

“I want to advise the governor that this project, plus a few others, were affected by withdrawal of funds by Treasury. I want to advise and assure the people of Eastern Highlands and Unggai-Bena that definitely this funding will be reinstated in the 2015 Budget .

“I will try to ensure that this road is one of them.”