Put Wau back on the map

HOPES have surged now of the reappointment of United Labour Party leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.
This will be the perfect opportunity to revert Wau to its former glory days during the colonial era.
After years of struggle and neglect, a new wave of hope is sweeping this once world renowned mine township.
At the peak of the pre-colonial gold mine in Eddy Creek in the 1940s, Wau was dubbed the busiest airport in the world.
Agriculture and timber industries sprang up to support the mining industry, making Wau the pride of Morobe and Papua New Guinea.
Likewise, with the conclusion of all agreements and commencement of construction of the multi-million kina Wafi-Golfu mine in sight, eyes are all set on Basil to take the lead.
I hope he will hear the cries of the people.
Our PMVs are wearing and tearing, criminals are taking advantage of our road condition to cause havoc on innocent commuters and the drainage and potholes on the Lae-Wau Highway are unbearable,
Even the Bulolo-Wau Highway has been neglected for almost 20 years and is in dire need of maintenance.
Thank you for launching the K2 million water project in 2020, which is yet to be commissioned to address the water supply system.
Water was cut-off almost 20 years ago, followed by Wau Hospital’s closure last January.
The hospital serves more than 50,000 people.
Moreover, classrooms in schools around the district are falling apart with many teachers renting homes because schools do not have enough classrooms and academic standards have dramatically dropped in rural areas, including our grade 12 results at our only secondary school – Grace Memorial Secondary school, Buang High School and Bayun High School, which was recently upgraded to secondary status.
In the last five years, the MP has for reasons only known to himself, never bothered to tell the people about his development plans or how  he has expended the district funds and royalties from Hidden Valley mine and levies from PNG Forest Products, let alone the 15 years he has been in parliament.
I hope the Prime Minister James Marape’s trust on Basil will translate into some tangible developments in the electorate to put Wau back on the world map.

Maru Bati,
Wau Community Leader