THE people of Olsobip had been using bush track to and from Tabubil, the mining township of one of PNGs biggest copper and gold mine since operation began back in 1986.
For far too long they have been neglected by their leaders which has seen them walking for almost 30 kilometres to the nearest bus stop.
However, with the leadership of Telefomin MP and Defence Minister Solan Mirisim he has secured K34 million for the Olsobip road project from the OK Tedi Mine under the Tax Credit Scheme.
Minister Mirisim with Western Governor Tobi Awi Yoto, North Fly MP James Donald, Works Secretary David Wereh, Planning Secretary Konney Samuel and OK Tedi Acting CEO Keddy Ilimbit officially launched the Olsobip road project and the second phase of the Tabubil- Telefomin road project on Jan 17.
Minister Mirisim said the initial plan of the road was not to go through to Olsobip when the national government made commitment to fund the Tabubil-Telefomin road project.
“When the K45 million Tax Credit Scheme from OK Tedi was made available by the national government for this road project, I was advised by the engineers that road will not come through Olsobip, it must go through Bultem and then to Telefomin.
“The Olsobip road work started before when I was not yet an MP but the work stopped because there was not right leadership in place.
“The road according to engineer’s advice, it was supposed to go through Bultem but I made the decision to bring the road here because it will service the neglected people of Olsobip and my people of Telefomin,” he said.
Minister Mirisim said if it wasn’t he decision to bring the road this way then who would have thought for the people of Olsobip.
“I argue with Peter Graham when I proposed to bring the road through Olsobip, I told the OK Tedi management that I will never listen to their advice because I want the road to come through Olsobip.
I never thought that one day we will celebrate this together but it was in my dream that one day I want to see this happen,” he said.
Minister Mirisim said if it wasn’t him then who would bring this road to the people.
“With this strong commitment I have asked Ok Tedi and I want to appeal to them that they have been operating for the past 35 years and there is money for development parked with Ok Tedi, however it is the duty of the leaders to go and knock on their doors so that OK Tedi can release this development funds,” Mirisim said.
