Joy as road works begin

 By PISAI GUMAR

THE arrival of a bulldozer at Sifu in Zifasing, Morobe was greeted with joy by locals as it meant the construction of the first road to villages upstream. 

Villager Isaac Thom said the Sifu community surrounded the machine with joy when it reached the village after beginning construction work at the Rumion farm.

He said people realised that the road would provide the important link to the outside world and the beginning of service delivery to the area.  

Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour provided K200,000 and the bulldozer to construct the 9.1km road from Rumion to the inland communities that share boundaries with Nawaeb, Wantoat and Kabwum.

Seymour said the arrangement to connect electricity with villages, aid post and three primary schools under the Government’s rural electrification programme was underway.

He said he had promised during his election campaign last year to build the road and provide electricity to link Sifu, Siara, Mama-Bogeba, Gumiya, Galambon and Zoipak villages.

Rumu councillor Jack Ningke said the Mama-Bogeba track constructed during Morobe premier Enny Moaitz’ term in the late 1980s was infested with savannah rats and snakes.

Ningke said it had been neglected over the years and the people were made to suffer, especially mothers during child birth and sick children who had to walk 2km to Wawin to find transport to the medical centre.

“Women carry bilum loads of fresh foods and walk five to seven hours to get to markets by the side of the Highlands Highway markets,” he said.