A Special Gift to people of Bonga

By Peter Solo Kinjap 

  

PNG has clocked exactly 40 years of independence this year. While many have celebrated on a high note  with festivals around the country, the Bonga people in Tambul Nebilyer, Western Highlands had a  reason to celebrate, a special gift from James Kennedy Steven to see a need of road maintenance for the  last lasting 40 years. Since the 1960s when Western Highlands Interim Government was in power,  Provincial Representative Late Tepu Polga has provided the stewardship to build the road from Lopia to  Algau, passing through Wakal Pass to Bonga and Koroka.  From then till today, Bonga and Koroka were  referred to as “back page”. It was then almost 40 years there was no road maintenance and people had  to travel distances to catch a PMV. Approximately about 20 km walk, they wake up at 11pm and walked  until they arrive at nearest bus stop at around 4am. This has been for the last 40 years.

Thanks to Classic Engineering and Construction Limited, a local construction company based in Lae, Morobe Province has volunteered to present as an independence gift to the Bonga people the road

maintenance work between Lopina and Koroka. Classic Engineering and Construction Limited owner and Managing Director James Kennedy Steven said it was a request of the Bonga people to have that road  maintained. “I have agreed to help the people’s request to maintain the road. I travelled the road to see  its deteriorating conditions and see its urgent need for maintenance. I have volunteered to bring in my machines and equipment to maintain the road. It is my cost and not funded by the Government. I just  have volunteered to bring in my machines. I wish to help them as an 40th independence gift based on  their request,” Mr. Steven said. The equipment, 2 earthmoving machines and four tipper trucks were  deployed on the eve of 40th Independence, 15th Sept 2015 to Bonga from Lae. 

It took about 2 weeks to complete road maintenance, from Lopina to Koroka, a distance of about 

120km.  Bonga Primary School Deputy Headmaster Thomas James said it is indeed a big difference to the  community. “We have a great appreciation for the change in the new road being maintained by Classic  Engineering and Construction Limited. Thanks to James Kennedy Steven for your kind giving heart,” he said. “We have had struggle to sustain the school in its operations but now with the new road access,  PMV buses come to the school gate and we have seen a lot of changes since then. Teachers are now  committed with the classes and no longer will need to worry about walking a 20km to catch a PMV bus.  This has been reflected in the improvement of academic performance of students. A replication of  positive change,” he added.  Bonga Primary is a level 4 school with well over 350 students and 12  teachers.

Rex Kuipa from Daku tribe in Bonga, a community health services volunteer said during the error of 

former MPs (Thomas Nikints, Vincent Auali, and Late Mark Anis) there is no road maintenance to this  part of the road. “Current local MP Hon Benjamin Poponawa may do something later but James 

Kennedy Steven has poured out his kind heart for the people of Bonga and we have seen changes. We have nothing to give to appreciate what he did but our heartfelt thank you goes to him from within us. 

He has touched the hearts and minds of the small people of Bonga, a population of about 2,000 under 3-council wards. He may reap his blessings wherever he goes for his great heart,” Mr. Kuipa said.

“James is neither a MP nor does he know us or related to us but he had done a great job in service 

delivery because he has the people at his heart,” he added.   “We usually return from town at around 

10pm but thanks to James, we now arrive between 4 to 5pm at the village. For the first time since the 

last 41 years, we could see a coaster bus at Bonga,” he said.

Emmanuel Primary School Headmaster Simeon Tamalu said most times teachers don’t come to school  or sometimes late to school due to bad road conditions but now teachers’ attendance has improved due  to the new road constructed by Classic Engineering and Constructions Limited. “I personally would like to thank James for the most basic and needed service and overexcited for the new road,” Mr. Tamalu said.  

A senior teacher of Emmanuel Primary School Desmond Doa said in terms of government service 

delivery, road links are very fundamental and primary basic service needed to be prioritized when it 

comes to development and services delivery. “PNG is a country with a lot of rugged terrains and 

mountains and thus road links must be a primarily priority for service delivery. Other services fall inline  when there is a good road link. People from rural districts will greatly appreciate when they have a  better road link. Thanks to James Kennedy Steven of Classic Engineering and Construction Limited for  the new facelift of the road between Lopina and Koroka,” Mr. Doa said. Emmanuel Primary School  receives direct benefit from the new road maintenance and is located near Wakal Pass, so close to the  road. It is a Lutheran Church Agency School at level 4, 224 students and 8 teachers.          

Classic Engineering and Construction Limited is a fast growing civil construction company based in Lae,  Morobe Province. To work on this Bonga road, tipper tricks, machines and equipment were transported  from Lae to Bonga. The new road maintenance work has now completed and part of the equipment has  been brought back to Lae while some are at Palnol village, Lower Kaguel District, Western Highlands  Province to work on an access road being requested by a newly launched association.