Volunteers upgrading 8km WHP road

The National National
Men from Jika Mulgmana tribe patching up the road in Western Highlands. – Nationalpic by Jacinta Dokta

MEN from the Jika Mulgmana tribe in Western Highlands are voluntarily upgrading an eight-kilometre road serving seven council wards.
Organising committee member Lotepe Nongor said they were not waiting for the Government to upgrade it.
“(We will not) wait for the Government to do everything.
“(We will) do what (we) can.
“The Government can do what (it is) tasked to do,” he said.
The men started working on the road on Wednesday and would complete the project soon.
Nongor said the men had been using their own money to buy gravel and tools.
“We are doing this because we want to be seen as responsible citizens who contribute in little ways to help our society become a better place,” Nongor added.
He said the road was built in the 1990s by former Western Highlands governor Paias Wingti.
But it was neglected with no regular maintenance carried out.
“People having access to the road have been greatly affected but thanks to the men, (the road is being upgraded for everyone),” Nongor said.