PNG citizens suffering from poor roads

 THE roads in Port Moresby and othe­r parts of the country are truly embarrassing.

Maybe we should name these poorly maintained roads after our MPs.

The year of implementation professed, trumpeted and heralded so boldly by the government should 

be renamed “the year of constipa­-ted implementation”.

I reside at Korobosea in Port Moresby. 

This particular stretch of road is one of the worst in the city.

The road work was started by 

a construction company in the last quarter of 2012 and it is still ongoing.

Seven months have passed but there is nothing to show. 

This is not only absurd but also frustrating for the residents.

The dust, potholes and mud do more harm than good to my health 

and the health of my car.

Will the government pay for the costs of health and repair caused by  bad road conditions?

Leaders and public servants must wake up and deliver much-needed services now.

MPs must keep their promises.

There are other roads that are worse than Korobosea in Port Mo­resby.

Just imagine, if Port Moresby is like this, I shudder to think of the road conditions outside the capital city.

In the past six months, I travelled to various provinces, including ma­king a road trip from Lae to Mt Hagen along the Highlands Highway.

It should be called  “the highway to hell”.

Papua New Guinea is home to a large rural population where some 80% of our seven million or so 

people live.

They do not have access to all-weather roads, hence limiting their access to health, education, hope and opportunities.

Farmers in rural areas cannot send their produce to urban areas before it rots.

Pregnant mothers cannot access health services because there are no roads or, if there is one, they choose to walk because it is too gruel­ling for a four-wheel drive ambulance.

There are many other frustrating tales, relating to our roads.

The stories I tell are mine, ask othe­r Papua New Guineans and 

they will have their own stories to tell. 

These bad, rough road conditions nationwide have raised countless concerns and complaints from the people, only earning promise after promise. 

These promises remain in vain, while people suffer in pain.

Bop

Port Moresby