Minister has authority to name public roads: Secretary

WORKS and Highways Department secretary David Wereh says the authority to name public roads in the country rests with the Works minister.
He said this in light of recent controversy regarding the naming of a public road in Lae, Morobe.
Wereh noted past attempts by individuals or organisations to name public roads without the proper consultations, endorsements, and approvals by the department.
“A road authority with responsibility for a public road, may by notice published in the National Gazette and a public consultation period of 28 days, name or change the name of a public road,” he said.
“The authority to name roads, rests with the minister and will be exercised through the department, until further notice.
“The naming of national roads will be approved by the National Executive Council (NEC), prior to publication in the National Gazette.
“Proposal for the naming or changing of the name of a national road, shall be lodged with the department for processing and submission to the minister through the Road Advisory Committee (RAC).”
Wereh said processing constituted among other things, detailed mapping and registration of the road in the register of public roads.
“The department will accept naming proposals from provincial governments only,” he said.
“National roads that run through multiple provinces and or regions may only be proposed by the RAC and members of the NEC for NEC approval.
“Name proposals for sub-national roads may be lodged by the provincial government with the department for processing and submission to the minister for approval and publication in the National Gazette.
“Name proposals for district and local roads may be submitted by the district authorities to their provincial government.
“Any road that is to be declared as a public road, commonly used by the public, the Government and provincial government, prior to the certification of the Act, will be respected, to avoid confusion,” Wereh added.