By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Forest Minister Salio Waipo is happy for a Logging company to construct a road in the Central Province to link Milne Bay under the National Government‘s connect PNG program.
Mr Waipo said that on Tuesday when inspecting the new road with Abau MP Sir Puka Temu, National Forest Authority (NFA) Managing Director John Mossoro and officers from the Department of Prime Minister at Action Forest Limited in Abau District. The construction of the road by the Logging Company Action Forest Limited in Amau –Ganai Forest Management Area in the Abau District.
“We have the connect PNG program and we will work closely with the Department of Works and Highways. I want to thank Action Forest Limited General Manager David Ling and his team well done. This is what the government wants to connect PNG by working with all our partners through private sector and public partnership so that we can achieve whatever goals that our government has for our people. basically it’s for our people. Whatever we do must be for our people. Beside we as the Minister and MP we represent our people. So whatever decision that we do must reflect and benefit our people. This a way forward to work with all our investors in the country in all sectors like agriculture, forestry and other sectors so we can all hold hands together with our government so that we can achieve the best for our people”.
Also NFA Managing Director John Mossoro said “we will see how best to help the companies to connect PNG. If they want to bring in material to construct the bridges we will see how we can help them. we will look at some sort of incentives to assist the two companies like if they want to use steels to build bridges, we can liaison with customs to exempt them tax, so this sort of arrangement we can do. We can do such permanent arrangement with logging companies to build schools and health centers.
“And I want to thank the company to work on the road. Before it was in bad state now good state. Also For providing services to the people at their own cost and that’s what one thing that we must appreciate. The Government is there. And under the connect PNG we must consider such companies as service providers. Not only in cloudy Bay but around the country. This company has good track records in their other logging operations also In West Sepik. We must support these types of companies in going forward that are partnering with us Forestry, Prime Miser Department works.
Meanwhile Central Provincial Forest Manager Charles Pakure said that “This forest project in Abau District is to facilitate in the connect PNG program to connect Central and Milne Bay Provinces .but our major problem in connect PNG will be bridges. At this point in time we will use Logs Bridge”.
