K140 million for West Sepik projects

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has announced more than K140 million for project commitments in West Sepik.
O’Neill, who was on a two-day visit to the province, was given a rousing welcome on arrival.
A total of K77 million with support from the Asian Development Bank was committed for the upgrade and extension of Vanimo airport.
He also declared two roads, the Vanimo to Aitape and Vanimo-Green River, as national roads that would be included for annual funding in the national budget.
The Raimbrum bridge linking Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo will get K30 million, with K15 million to be immediately released and the rest to come from a supplementary budget or next year’s budget.
He said the Vanimo-Aitape road would also start with an initial funding of K15 million for work to start at the Vanimo end.
Vanimo High School was promised K15 million by the previous government but that money has been diverted.
However, O’Neill said  his government would honour that commitment as soon as possible.
He also said the Vanimo General Hospital would benefit from the K300 million made from the sale of the Falcon jet.
Funds from the sale had been pumped into improving health services nationwide.
O’Neill said Vanimo hospital would get K10 million for the improvement of its facilities and medical supplies.
He said all other provincial hospitals would each receive K10 million.
Regional hospitals such as Angau, East New Britain, Goroka and Mt Hagen will receive K25 million each while Port Moresby General Hospital gets K50 million.
O’Neill said the Border Development Authority development plans for the Wutung border facilities had been unnecessarily delayed by the past government with the misuse of K200 million for the programme.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah, on behalf of his people, thanked O’Neill for the commitment.
He said the people and leaders had been briefcase carriers for a long time without getting anything in return and it was time for West Sepik leaders to stand tall and fight for their people and development of the province.