Remote communities in the Sumau-Garia census division of Begesin in Usino LLG of Usino-Bundi District in Madang Province were overwhelmed with joy upon the arrival of the Provincial Member and Governor, Ramsey Pariwa, to officially launch the Uria-Mopo road maintenance project.
Sumau-Garia spokesman, Thomas Wekmara, said the Uria-Mopo road maintenance would greatly ease their pain of walking far distances for over 40 years to access government services and do business.
Governor Pariwa made his presence felt during the launching of the 20-kilometer Uria-Mopo road maintenance project when he boarded an excavator machine to start the engine and did the groundbreaking thus signifying the commencement of the road project.
The contractor Fayantina Construction is working on the road upgrade.
Mr. Wekmara, commended the Governor Pariwa for allocating funding to upgrade the Uria-Mopo road.
"Governor, you have really started to heal our scars from walking very far distances with cargos on our backs like donkeys," Wekmara said.
He added that there was a road previously from Kawawar junction to Uria and further on to Mopo, however, lack of maintenance in the last forty years had made it impassable for vehicle to travel using the road.
Another vocal spokesman and Chairman of Gigaso Cocoa Cooperative Society, John Koti, said the road project would greatly assist rural cocoa and kava farmers to transport their produce to sell.
"We are so grateful and appreciative of your assistance to fixing the Uria-Mopo road,
"However, we request the road should continue on to Eunime, Totopa, Ipisan and Kasual," Mr. Koti said.
"There are people and villages there, which greatly need good road access, " he added.
Mr. Pariwa explained to the people that he understands the difficulties the people face because he had already walked that road. Furthermore, he originates from the Begesin area and whatever sentiments the people expressed he is fully aware of.
He further explained that as the Governor for Madang Province he is responsible for all the six districts, twenty-one LLGs and over four hundred fifty-one wards. Therefore, he wants to be fair in sharing whatever little funds the Government allocates to Madang.
Governor Pariwa even challenged the Inland Pipeline Landowners Association through its business arm, namely Maigari Limited, to start acquiring earthmoving machines so they would get contracts from the Madang Provincial Government to fix their own roads in the area.
IPL LOA are beneficiaries to royalty and other assistance from the Ramu nickel-cobalt mining project.
He challenged that if Wass Matau, a company from Coast Pipeline LOA, have built up machineries and can be given a contract by the MPG for road maintenance, there is no reason why Maigari Limited cannot do the same.
Mr. Pariwa told the gathering that the Madang Provincial Government had already purchased a number of earthmoving machines which are now working in Rai Coast and Middle-Ramu districts that are considered least developed districts in the province and the country.
Mr. Pariwa explained that he is placing those machines in remote places to build roads because the people there do not have road access connectivity.
A female spokesperson, Cecilia Sonde, from Ward 27 in Kasual was emotional when thanking Governor Pariwa for attending the launching in person.
"Just by seeing you I feel I am healed of my pain of walking very far distances to access government services," Ms. Sonde told the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Member for Usino Bundi Gama, Hon Vincent Kumura, has committed K200,000 to support the Governor for the Uria-Mopo road upgrade.
