Villagers praised for building road

 Wewak MP Jim Simatab has complimented efforts of Yamben villagers of Turubu in building a new road to their village by presenting K500,000 to them last Friday.

The villagers, through their own initiative and with support from their cocoa fermentry owners, raised K21,000 last year and sought assistance of a bulldozer from Turubu Oil Palm which gave them a new cut from Mambe to Yamben.

Chairman of the fundraising committee Peter Mongori said a total of 21 households contributed K100 each while Simatab assisted with K60,000 in the initial stages.

He said the village produces cocoa and other commercial crops but could not easily access markets in town because they did not have a road.

“It was for this reason that we have decided to build a road with our fermentary owners taking the lead,” Mongori said.

“Even though the amount was small, we are grateful of the assistance by Turubu Oil Palm in giving us a new cut road.

“We are even more grateful for the support by Simatab which will now give us an all-weather road,” he said.

Simatab presented the K500,000 cheque to Turubu Oil Palm field operations manager Tong Singh and urged the company to improve the 13km road from Wangin to Yamben as part of its community service obligation.

“As your leader I am very happy of the initiative you took in raising money yourselves to build a road instead of waiting for the government.

“This government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is committed in providing the needs for its people and I will make sure that you have the financial security you need by opening up the road so you easily access markets for your cash and food crops,” Simatab said.

Simatab further urged the company to assist president David Kausik in building the Wau and Tumarau-Mandi roads to ease transportation problems faced by the people.