Polye Questions Prime Minister O'Neill on alternative plan for Long dry spell

PORT MORESBY: The Opposition has called for immediate cancellation of all road works in the city and instead divert the funds towards preparing the country to survive the long dry spell.

This follows scientific reports that long dry spell will last another 12 months and that available resources such as water and food may become scarce, pushing people to the edge of poverty and starvation.

Opposition Leader Don Pomb Polye says necessary preparations must be put in place to prepare the city so as the country to survive the prolong El Nino period.

Mr Polye says reports by Water Supplier that Sirinuma dam has about 35% of the water remaining to keep the city going till mid next year must not be taken lightly.

“In-fact the government and the city authority should be more concerned and come with alternatives to address the water situation in the city so as to prepare the citizens to survive the prolong dry season,” Mr Polye said.

“Spending millions of kina on capital works in NCD alone is unnecessary especially when you have a prolong dry spell that will last for another 12 months.

“It’s appropriate for the government to cancel these road works and instead divert this funds to prepare the country to brace for the prolong dry spell,” said Mr Polye.

He is calling on the Prime Minister to stop globe trotting and get his priorities right by placing the interest of the country ahead of his personal ones.

The Opposition Leader wants the government to take this prolonged dry spell issue seriously and devise an alternative plan to save the country.

“The government through respective departments and agencies need to put together a response team comprising of scientists, medical doctors and agricultural specialists on stand-by to visit the breath and length of the country to carry out awareness to educate our people to survive the long dry spell,” Mr Polye said.

This, he said, the government has failed to do.

He urged the government to get its priorities right and work ahead of time to prepare the country to survive the long El Nino period.