By GINNAH MINI
SECRETARY for the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) Gibson Holemba has commended the ‘Yellow Army’—works department staff—for their efforts in connecting PNG’s Southern, Momase and Highlands regions through the completion of a missing link on the trans-national highway.
Speaking at the department’s official dinner at APEC House on 15th September, Mr. Holemba acknowledged that the Yellow Army had “delivered to the extreme expectations of the people,” working in the remotest part of the country.
SECRETARY for the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) Gibson Holemba
“Be proud of yourself and be patriotic that this country is going to be built by Papua New Guineans after 50 years on, and that is the story of the transnational highway,” Mr. Holemba said.
Mr. Holemba has dismissed critics of the Connect PNG program while noting the sacrifice of the hardworking staff who have worked on the road for the past five years without proper holidays.
“If you have never built a road, please don’t open your mouth, because the pain of delivering service to the remotest part of our country is not easy,” he said.
“I would like to recognize all the hardworking men and women, who were able to contribute to the success of the successful connection of the transnational highway, connecting the three regions of our country.”
The DoWH together with the Prime Minister and the works minister presented awards to dedicated staff in recognition of their efforts in connecting the missing link between Gulf and Morobe Provinces.
Mr. Holemba said that almost 143 kilometers of the 183 kilometers of the transnational highway between Oiwa in Morobe Province and Epo in Gulf Province was fully graveled with 40 kilometers yet to be graveled.
He highlighted the significance of the transnational highway while supporting the Prime Minister’s statement that road builds the economy and economy builds the country.
“Economy doesn’t build the road. It is the roads that build the economy,” he said.
The Secretary said that reforms are underway to revive the Yellow Army focusing on capacity building and training more engineers to uphold the department’s legacy of nation-building.