TRANSISLAND HIGHWAY MUST PASS A NEEDS ANALYSIS : BASIL

Deputy Opposition Leader and Leader of Pangu Pati, Hon Sam Basil said the Transislands Highway was planned and much talked about since the 1980’s. He said the proposed route was patrolled by ‘kiaps’ in the colonial era and report made to connect New Guinea to Papua. This was discussed by the post colonial government and the Department of Transport and Works did some preliminary work including route survey and is contained in many policy and Ministerial statements to Parliament.

Mr Basil said that he respects the views of the early and current Papuan leaders, opposed to connecting the New Guinea to Papua region. It may sound that many truckloads of people will be travelling into Port Moresby but it will be unlikely as experienced in current cases across the country.

“People travel across Districts and Provinces for reason such as education, training, business and trade. There is road connecting Highlands and part of Momase, with even cheaper sea and air access to other regions. People do not move enmass to Sepik or Bulolo or ENBP. Even airfares have been reduced drastically but there is constant movement of people to and from”.

“Let us look at the economic impact which might address the negative social repercussions in a certain period of time. If we create economic opportunities in the rural areas, it might reduce the rural urban migration. People of Bulolo and Menyamya travel into Lae to sell their coffee, garden produce and gold and we are subject to pickpockets and rascals, but our movement also imparts a lesson to those who are loitering to return home to earn a decent income”.

Most of the trucking companies plying the Okuk Highway including contract freighters are owned by Papua New Guineans. Air Niugini makes up to K200 million in profits annually and likewise the sea freight by Swire Shipping and coastal shipping companies conveying millions worth of manufactured and agricultural produce to the coastal provinces from the Highlands.

Mr Basil said that with due respect to the Papuan Leaders who have voiced their concerns in the Central Provincial Assembly and the Governors Conference, the proposed route will open up the hinterlands of Obura Wonenara, Menyamya, Bulolo, Kerema and Goilala Districts that had no access to roads since 1975. The people of Waria Valley have been walking, when they cannot afford airfares into the various airstrips to and from Bulolo, Port Moresby and Nadzab. Cost of basic items is very expensive and is not affordable. What we enjoy in Lae, Port Moresby, Alotau, Madang is unreachable or unheard for people in the hinterlands of Papua and Morobe.

“The Bulolo JDBPPC has committed funds to build a road into Waria Valley to enable people to access education, health, economic and social services. The construction of the Transislands Highway through Waria Valley and Bubu into Goilala is a likely route. In any case, if the Highway goes from EHP or through Menyamya to Kerema or to Goilala, these people need accessibility to services as well as to enable trade to occur, reducing the costs of consumer goods and service. The Bulolo JDBPPC will press on with the road from Wau to Waria Valley onto Goilala. We had a MOA between Bulolo and Goilala Districts to open up opportunities for our people in last term of Parliament. This was signed between then Hon Mathew Poiya and myself”

“We must be mindful of our own people from Papua such as in Papuan Waria, Gulf and Central who also need to progress. As for control of movement, we must establish checkpoints and reintroduce the Vagrancy Act whilst we open social, economic and political opportunities to people of our hinterland districts. It is incumbent upon us as leaders to critically analyse the economic and social impacts as well as the accessibility of vast number of people who will rely on an effective road network”.

Mr Basil said Lae is also experiencing many social problems and pressure on the Hospital and health and education networks but the National Government has to realize that we a dealing with PNG instead of Morobe so we need to increase funding to these services in Lae, Popondetta, Madang or Goroka .We must talk about national unity whilst respecting our diverse ethnicity and cultures. He called upon the Prime Minister to introduce the matter in Parliament so all leaders must critically discuss and debate the proposed Highway with possible routes, implementation timeframe as well as socioeconomic impact assessment. If it means to connect Lae, Bulolo, Menyamya, Marawaka, Kerema and Goilala only, we must proceed immediately as our people cannot remain in the Stone Age and live in poverty forever. We must make a decision based on the needs of the people.