By CHRISTOPHER YANDAWAI
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso has assured the people of Telefomin that the Marape-Rosso Government is committed to connecting all “missing links” roads in the country.
He made the statement in front of the crowd who gathered at Urapmin village, Telefomin district, West Sepik Province, on January 19 for the opening of Tabubil-Telefomin road.
Rosso said delivering rural road infrastructure like the Tabubil-Telefomin road is one of the Marape-Rosso Government’s desires under the Connect PNG Programme.
He said the government’s Connect PNG Programme can be delivered when there is prudent leadership and committed public servants.
“Telefomin district has proved to the rest of the Papua New Guinea that it can provide consistency in leadership, hence the success of this road link,” Rosso said.
While acknowledging the prudent leadership of Telefomin MP and Works and Highways Minister Solan Mirism, the Deputy Prime Minister commended the people of Telefomin for their trust in his leadership.
“Providing consistency in leadership drives government’s services and policies and you have maintained this to have your road delivered within five years,” Rosso told the Telefomin people.
He thanked everyone who took part in delivering the road and said the government is committed to connecting other missing links throughout the country.
Minister Mirisim told the Telefomin people that the Marape-Rosso Government is adamant about connecting the unconnected and reaching the unreached.
“We are committed to connect PNG district-to-district, province-to-province and region-to-region,” he said.
Mirisim said districts like West Sepik’s Telefomin and Karamui-Nomane remain unreachable by road and it will be the government’s priority to see that these districts are connected to the major road grids in the country.
He said the Tabubil-Telefomin road is a success story of the government’s Connect PNG policy.
“Let me once again thank the Marape-Rosso Government for this unprecedented programme,” Mirisim said.
“Roads are passing through rugged and impossible terrain.
“It is unbelievable and it is becoming possible for the people of this great nation.”
He said the contractor IPZ Limited has worked so hard to ensure that the road conquered the impossible Hindenburg wall.
Mirisim said the Connect PNG programme is ongoing and it is the government’s priority to ensure all missing road links are connected to the major highways.
