The mission to linkthe LNG project provinces tothe nation’s capital Port Moresby has begun.
Overthe weekend, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led a high powered delegation comprised of Southern Highlands, Gulf and Hela MP’sand Governors to launchthe Kagua Sambirigi Erave highway inthe Southern Highlands Province.
The new 54 kilometre highway now links Sambirigi to ther Southern Highlands districts,the Western Highlands,the Gulf Province andthe nation’s capital, Port Moresby.
The man behindthe projectoAugustine Mano, a local and alsothe Managing Director ofthe Mineral Resources Development Corporation saidthe highway is not only timely and in schedule for the first LNG exports come 2014, but it is a light atthe end ofthe tunnel for the people who have missed out on services such as health and education for over 30 years.
Allthese yearsthe people have walked for days to reach such services, but his is now a
thing ofthe past.
Overthe weekend,they were all in celebration mode to welcomethe Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his delegation of members of parliament and governors fromthe Southern Highlands, Hela and Gulf Provinces.
The delegation was treated to a dynamite blast demonstration by CIVPAC contractors that officially openedthe highway.
Mr. Mano,then gladly handedthe highway tothe national government to complete.
This highway took about 14 years to complete with funding assistance fromthe national government andthe tax credit’scheme derived fromthe Gobe Oil project.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill promisedthe people that government will make sure this highway connects Sambirigi to Erave and Kagua stations in two years’ time.
The Prime Minister committed K20m to constructthe road from Sambirigi to Erave. This will come fromthe 2014 and 2015 National Budget.
&ldquoInthe next two years,the government will put K40m to complete this road project,” said O’Neill.
Governors for Southern Highlands and Hela also committed to this project.
thers also offeredtheir support; Tari Pori MP and Finance Minister James Marape, Gulf Governor Havila Kavo and Kagua Erave MP James Lagea.
A sum of 800 thousand kina was committed duringthe celebration tothe Sambirigi people’s foundation to carry out impact projects for the people.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1VxcJC2Be7k%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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