More debts for people to settle

ON Aug 9, Finance and Treasury Minister Peter O’Neill signed a loan deal worth US$40 million with the World Bank for two major projects – productive partnerships in agriculture project (PPAP) and the rural communications project. 
Some US$15 million was set aside for PPAP and US$25 million for rural communications project.
To my understanding, such a massive loan, including interests, must be repaid by the borrowing country within a specified time frame. 
It is normal for governments, which take these loans, to offset them by increasing taxes on goods and services. 
It is the taxpayers who have to pay the bills in the end.
As a taxpayer, I support the US$15 million allocated for our coffee and cocoa farmers. 
They are in the revenue generating sector of the economy and will, therefore, contribute in someway towards offsetting the loan.
However, I am not in favour of spending US$25 million on rural communications project. 
Will internet help foster economic development and financial independence for our rural subsistence farmers? 
In my opinion, the exposure to the worldwide web will bring in all kinds of social problems for the people in the rural areas.
Let’s be frank, O’Neill.
A rural communications project by installing satellites to enable our rural people to access the internet is not a service our rural people need. 
What they need are more doctors, more teachers, good roads and better avenues to participate in the economic development and growth of this nation. 
As a taxpayer who will be contributing toward repaying that US$40 million loan, I call on the government to focus more on supporting projects and spending more money in priority areas that will drive the development in this nation so that our people will be better off socially and economically. 
I also call on other taxpayers to be vocal about such issues, because in the long run, it is you and I who will be responsible for repaying the debts owed to World Bank.

Taxpayer
Goroka