Villagers build road to access government services

EIGHT remote villages in North Fly have built a road to access Government services from Kiunga after years of neglect by authorities, a local official says.
Pipila-Tegena ward councillor Rexsy Gumuge said his area had not seen any development since independence in 1975.
He said the people started building a 3.5km stretch of road using axes, spades and crowbars.
The main work was done by men while women cleared the bush on the edges.
“We decided to build the road last month since our North Fly MP James Donald and Governor Awi Yoto are not serious about building this road in the Nomad local level government (LLG),” Gumuge said yesterday.
He said the people of Nomad LLG had no link to the main Kiunga-Ramsite-Strickland-Nomad road.
“We the villagers (about 3,000) have missed out from Government services,” he said.
“We also have the community school at Pipila village with about 700 children attending elementary to grade six.
“Our school has been recommended by the provincial education board to have grade seven and eight classes and those classes will be offered in 2023.
“Besides, North Fly health management has also recommended establishing a new community health aid post at Pipila village.
“So for our schools can have access to learning materials and our health centre can have access to medicines, we have to build a road now rather than wait for the Government.”