JANUARY 16 2022
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called on Department of Works to engage independent and reputable engineering companies to supervise sealing of the Mendi-Tari section of the Highlands Highway.
He made the call in front of a massive crowd of thousands of people at Margarima in Hela on Friday (January 14 2022) when presenting K30 million to contractors who have already started with over 30km of road already sealed.
He was accompanied by Mrs Rachael Marape, Hela Governor Hon. Philip Undialu, Southern Highlands Governor Hon. William Powi, National Planning Minister Hon. Rainbo Paita, Commerce and Industry Minister Hon. William Samb, Inter-Government Relations Minister Hon. Pila Niningi, Forests Minister Hon. Solan Mirisim, Defence Minister Hon. Win Daki and Moresby North-West MP Hon. Lohia Boe Samuel.
“This section (Mendi-Tari) of the Highlands Highway serves over 800,000 people of both Hela and Southern Highlands provinces,” PM Marape said.
“It leads into resource project areas like Kutubu, Moran, Angore, Hides, Juha, Murua and Mt Kare but has never been sealed – despite oil and gas flowing since 1990 and Pogera producing nearby.”
The Prime Minister urged contractors to do a professional job for the people of Hela and Southern Highlands.
“I want to see machines working on the road at all times,” he said.
“I want Works Department to engage an independent engineering company, preferably from overseas, to check and audit the work of the contractors to ensure that they do a good job
“This is the first road sealing for oil and gas landowners so I want to see a good job.”
The Prime Minister also announced National Government and Hela Provincial Government commitment to:
•Sealing the new Hiri-Lai Road, an alternate route to the Mendi-Tari Road, which is already completed and in use but not sealed;
•Completing the Margarima-Kandep (Enga) Road, which eventually leads on to Mendi in Southern Highlands and Wabag in Enga.
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