Public entitled to accessibility: PM

PRIME Minister James Marape says the Connect Papua New Guinea programme must be supported because at the backdrop of the road infrastructure are the delivery of important services like power generation and communication networks.
Speaking at the Works and Highways Department’s end-of-year function, Marape said statistics showed that one million people were still not connected to any form of road whatsoever.
“Whether it’s hundreds, thousands or millions of persons, that does not matter, every citizen of our country is entitled to accessibility by road and other modern infrastructure so that citizens are given a fair go in life,” he said.
“That is the reason we launched the Connect PNG programme.
“Infrastructure improve lives by connecting people to opportunities and enabling infrastructure carry a strong diversified economy.
“So I don’t mind borrowing to grow infrastructures and the economy.
“K1 invested in a road infrastructure has a return of K4 and in practical terms today, you drive from Lae to Hagen which used to take us possibly more than eight hours.
“Today, it takes us about five hours and it saves on fuel, vehicle wear and tear which all contributed to the formula.”
Marape highlighted that the Government was also working to re-construct the economy and would not be borrowing as the economy grew into the future and the funds allocated towards the Connect PNG programme would also increase.
He commended the department and both local and overseas contractors for the work they had done over the past three years.
“The roads will allow coffee bags or people out of remoteness into connectivity to participate in the economy,” Marape said.