MARCH 12, 2023
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has assured people of remote Lasul-Baining in Gazelle, East New Britain, of better roads and communication.
He gave this assurance on Friday, March 10, 2023, at remote Kurindal in Lasul-Baining Local Level Government (LLG), Gazelle, East New Britain, when launching the brand-new KKC Veneer Mill.
The Prime Minister was told of the difficulties the people faced in travelling through rugged terrain to Kokopo, as well as having no access to communication.
PM Marape said road access would be a priority of Government, given the economic importance of the area.
“Your MP, Hon. Jelta Wong, has told me of the state of the road connecting you with the outside,” he said.
“The Government has already allocated K3 million for road development with another K7 million for next year. I can assure you that work has already started with funding allocated to Gazelle District, however, the cost will be a lot higher. We have taken this on board and will work with you through National Forest Authority, Department of National Planning, company, district and province. We will work out a tax-credit arrangement so that our people here have road access to Kokopo and Kimbe.”
PM Marape said he would get Telikom PNG to set up a communication tower at the earliest for people of Lasul-Baining to communicate with the outside world.
“I will get Telikom to come here and look for an appropriate place to set up a communications tower so that you can communicate with the outside world,” he told the people of Lasul-Baining.
“Lasul-Baining will no longer be the ‘last place’, that I can assure you.”
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