Works improves in last 10 months, says secretary

THE Department of Works has seen improvement in its infrastructure service delivery in the last 10 months, Works secretary Joel Luma said yesterday.
He said the previous government, with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at its helm, had brought in the energy and drive that had culminated in many developments taking place in the past nine to 10 months.
Luma was speaking at yesterday’s welcome luncheon for Works
Minister Francis Awesa in Port Moresby.
Awesa had been reappointed to the cabinet portfolio he held in the last government.
The secretary promised to continue the good working relationship with the minister.
Awesa said he would initiate a national infrastructure bill in parliament as the basis to drive infrastructure development in PNG.
“Roads, bridges and airstrips are critical for Papua New Guinea to move forward and the O’Neill government is looking at spending between K7 billion and K10 billion on infrastructure development.”
He said despite the department being an important government entity, it had not been given enough funding to function effectively.
“In order for proper infrastructure development to take place, MPs should not buy or donate equipment for such purposes to their electorates but allow the Department of Works to deliver these services,” Awesa said.
“Most of these equipment that MPs buy do not produce the desired results, and is a waste of money.”