PNG needs a good road network

Letters, Normal

IT is troubling to see that the majority of Papua New Guineans living in villages have difficulties taking their produce to the markets to earn an honest living or try to send a loved one who is sick to get to a nearby health centre because there are no roads.
Exasperating as it is, there is no Government plan in place to connect rural villages to the main roads so that the bulk of PNG’s population (95%) living in these remote villages can reach the main road to connect to other routes.
Each day, we read and see pictures of men and women who carry bags of coffee; sick and pregnant women on stretchers; and even the sick walking on bare feet for countless hours to get to a nearby road to catch a PMV to get to a hospital.
We hear similar stories from village folks throughout the country that tell us of their difficulties in selling their goods and going through the agony of losing a loved one just because there is no road link to take him or her to the hospital.
This week, the focus was on coffee growers from Burum Kuat LLG and next week, it would be from another LLG.
It is a shame coffee growers have to walk for days over mountains and rivers with their bags to sell their coffee beans.
This is a good example of how ignorant the Government and our leaders are of their own people by not providing basic service such as as a road. 
This has led me to ask myself: Does the government really care for its citizens?
Is there a possibility for the Government to formulate a strategy to link all rural areas by road to a main road for easy excess by the majority in the villages?
With the mineral boom in the country, I think there should be enough cash floating around to invest in a good road network system throughout the country.
The implication of having such a good road network system will help minimise social issues like crime, unemployment, drifting into urban areas, HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drug-related crimes, etc.
When there is a good road network system, the guys who are roaming the streets will go back home and toil their land to make an honest living.

 

David Ulg Ketepa
Detroit, Michigan