New optimism for WNB

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 12th June 2013

 THE Government has promised to improve infrastructure and education in West New Britain.

It follows Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s visit there last Friday. 

He gave three cheques worth K3.5 million to Governor Sasindran Muthuvel during a dinner at the Liamo Reef Resort in Kimbe. 

A total of K1 million is for the Kimbe town road upgrading and resealing, K1.5 million for the Moramora Technical College and K1 million for schools in the Talasea and Kandrian/Gloucester districts. 

“The K1 million is a part payment of Government’s commitment of K5 millon for the Kimbe town road upgrading and resealing and K1.5 million is also part payment of the K2 million for the Moramora Technical College,” O’Neill said.

Muthuvel asked the Government for funding of the oil palm roads which were currently funded by the World Bank.  

He said the World Bank’s funding would cease at the end of the year. 

The aim of the visit was for O’Neill to meet leaders and the people and see infrastructure and development. 

O’Neill said the Government’s commitment of K80 million for the province would cater for infrastructure developments such as the upgrading of the Hoskins Airport, the Kimbe town road, the Buluma bridge and road reconstruction. 

He assured locals that work would start soon for the four-lane highway from Kimbe town to Mai junction, including the road link between West and East New Britain. 

O’Neill said the Kandrian and Gloucester High Schools would be upgraded to secondary status by 2014.