The Government’s ambitious Connect PNG program since its launching 2020, has seen the creation of road links to places that were once isolated from main centers; however, the matter of its priority of roads was questioned by the National Capital District (NCD) Governor in parliament this week.
Governor Powes Parkop during question time in parliament, asked if there was some sort of structure in place in the Connect PNG program that gives priority to road links of economic benefits to provinces and districts, before going on to other road links.
The governor’s question was directed towards the Minister for Works and Highways.
In his response, Minister Solan Mirisim said that there was structure in place that enables the prioritizing of roads that are vital to economic development and is covered in the various phases of the Connect PNG Program.
“Yes, we have roads that are of priority that we have put them into phase one, phase two and phase three of the program,” said the Minister.
“They are economic roads and economic roads are given priority.”
The Connect PNG Program is the government strategy aimed to foster sustainable socioeconomic development and national unity, by enhancing the key economic road transport network connectivity across the Momase, Highlands, Southern, and New Guinea Islands regions over the next two decades.