The connect PNG program implemented by the government is said to be rejected by the people of Central Province. Governor for Central Province, Rufina Peter announced the issue and raised this concern in parliament last week. Governor Peter said the road project is essential but will have consequences faced by Central Province Communities such as land grabbing and ethnic clashes among others.
The Central Governor told parliament and expressed her people's concern while stating that her Provincial Government was not consulted before the road plan was created. She said the road plan may surely lead to other social issues in Central and NCD.
"The Central Province Government and the people of Central Province strongly oppose the connect PNG program as far as it relates to connecting the missing link," Governor Peter said.
The connect PNG program constitutes 5 to 6 per cent of the 2022 budget and is a government sanctioned road connectivity program. The program is purposely to ensure that the mainland of Papua New Guinea from the Highlands to the coastal region are connected through improved road conditions and are maintained but Governor Peter announced that the people of Central Province are not keen on the outcome of the influx of people into the Central Province and the Nation's capital and strongly oppose a road link into Central as there are still a lot of ongoing and existing social issues mostly relating to ethnic clashes that needs to be thoroughly resolved.
"Given that Central Province is not ready, connecting the stated missing link through the road plan will most likely result in negative consequences and social impacts that will outweigh the benefits of the Connect PNG program," Governor Peter said.
In response to the queries opposing the program made by the Central Governor, Minister responsible for roads and highways, Solam Mirisam responded and made it clear that the road program is not for a particular Province but by constitution is for a connected Papua New Guinea".
"If we have good road conditions, we will likely be able to see growth in our economy, that's why the aim of this country's Government is to give road accessibility to areas that have economic potential so that the economy can grow," Minister Mirisam said.
