By ESWIN PLESIO
Oro Governor Gary Juffa has called on the National Government to clarify who is responsible for awarding and overseeing contracts under the Transport Sector Support Programme (TSSP).
He said many people in Oro Province are wrongly blaming the provincial government for issues beyond its control.
Raising a series of questions in Parliament, Mr Juffa asked Works and Highways Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jnr to explain who awards TSSP contracts, who inspects the quality of work carried out by contractors, and whether an agreement had been reached between the Papua New Guinea and Australian governments to seal the 47-kilometre section of the Kokoda Highway.
Mr Juffa said there was widespread confusion among people in Oro Province over the responsibilities of the provincial government and district administrations regarding the project.
“I want this clarified for my people because many of them continue to blame the provincial government and the DDAs for work that they are not responsible for,” he said.
In response, Mr Tsiamalili explained that the TSSP is a bilateral programme funded through grants from the Australian Government to support Papua New Guinea’s transport sector, including the Department of Works and Highways, the Department of Transport, the National Airports Corporation, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Road Traffic Authority and the National Maritime Safety Authority.
He said the programme not only funds infrastructure projects but also strengthens the capacity of transport sector agencies.
The minister said, under the Department of Works and Highways, the TSSP focuses on transport infrastructure in ten provinces, including Oro Province, where the Kokoda Highway is one of its major projects.
Addressing concerns over the highway, Mr Tsiamalili acknowledged there had been performance issues with the current contractor, resulting in amendments to the contract.
He said the Department of Works and Highways and the TSSP management team had undertaken additional scoping, design work and contract amendments to improve the project’s delivery.
“There is room for improvement, and the issues raised have been addressed through amendments that are now in the final stages. Work on the Kokoda Highway will resume once these processes are completed,” he said.
The minister also clarified that the TSSP is managed under arrangements involving the Australian High Commission and the Department of Works and Highways, rather than the Oro Provincial Government.
However, Mr Juffa remained concerned about the project’s progress, saying heavy machinery had reportedly become stranded along sections of the road despite more than K50 million having been spent on the contract.
He questioned why the same contractor remained on the project despite the delays and poor performance.
In response, Mr Tsiamalili assured Parliament that he would personally review the contract and provide an update on its current status.