Work starts on new highway

 THE construction of a new national highway called the Fisika Highway was launched last Thursday in Morobe, by National Planning Minister Charles Abel.

The highway, once completed, will directly benefit more than 50,000 people from Finschhafen and the Labuta local level government in the Nawaeb district of Morobe.

The people of Sialum, in the Tewai-Siassi electorate, will benefit from this road including neigbouring Kabwum electorate.

Finschhafen, mainland Tewai-Siassi and Kabwum are not connected to Lae by road at present.

Abel, on behalf of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, launched the construction of the highway at Situm.

The event was witnessed by many people, including a number of Morobe politicians and government officials, who braved the heavy downpour to be there.

Abel, in the presence of local MP Gisuwat Siniwin, Kabwum MP Bob Dadae and Markham MP Paul Isikiel, cut the ribbon to the 12 new earth-moving equipment to be used building Fisika Highway.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and Finschhafen MP and Speaker Theo Zurenouc were noticeably absentees at the ceremony.

“This is a very important day,” Abel said before cutting the ribbon.

“This is a very important project and partnership,” he said.

“We had cabinet this (yesterday) afternoon but I have decided to come here on behalf of the Prime Minister because of the importance of this project,” Abel said.

“Let us forget politics and focus on development projects that are happening in the districts,” he said.