Roads for development

 ROADS are an integral part of infrastructure development, Nawaeb MP Gisuwat Siniwin said.

He said that during the official launching of the road construction work of the Fisika Highway at Situm government station in Morobe, last Thursday.

National Planning Minister Charles Abel launched the project on behalf of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

Siniwin said his joint district planning and budget prorities committee (JDPBPC) had realised this and allocated K4 million from the district services improvement grants to roads. 

“Road opens up economic opportunities and development prospects,” he said.

He said despite the country being independent for more than three decades, many roads in the rural areas remain unusable because of political leaders’ negligence.

“Young people start growing cocoa,” Siniwin said.

“I’m not talking about planting small cocoa plots, but instead, planting cocoa in bulk.

“We will build a cocoa training facility for you.

“We have secured a 50ha land from Trukai at Erap to build a cocoa shed for you.”

Siniwin told the people of Labuta they would no longer carry their sick on stretchers but use vehicles to transport them to the hospital.

“This (road) is a gift from God right at your doorsteps,” he said.

Siniwin urged the people to take ownership of the highway and not to ask for unnecessary compensation.

He said a second Busu Bridge and other road arteries would be built in the area.

Siniwin said his office was working closely with international development partners like the World Bank to bring other infrastructure developments into the area.