Central Province marked a historic milestone on Thursday 6th February with the opening of the long-awaited Bautama infrastructure projects, nearly two decades after plans were first proposed.

The commissioning ceremony, attended by Acting Prime Minister John Rosso and provincial leaders, signals a new chapter of development for the province and its communities.

The projects include the Bautama Boom Gate, a new market facility, and residential housing developments. They aim to provide essential infrastructure, stimulate local commerce, and improve the livelihoods of Central Province residents.

Central province Governor Rufina Peter welcomed the Acting Prime Minister and expressed gratitude to the national government for its support while acknowledging the province’s long history of delayed development.

“However, today also calls for honest scrutiny. For too long, Central Province did not deliver as expected,” she said, highlighting missed opportunities despite the province’s proximity to the nation’s capital and available land. “Reforms were created, but outcomes fell short. The time for change is now.”

Acting Prime Minister Rosso underlined the strategic importance of the projects.

“This is a strategically important development, surrounding the National Capital District as the gateway between Central and the people of Port Moresby,” he said.

He emphasized that effective planning is essential to harness development opportunities responsibly.

“We have to plan; we can’t let development go unplanned,” Rosso added.

The Bautama projects have a long history. Initial proposals date back to 1995, with subsequent announcements in 1998 and 2007.

Each administration sought to establish a provincial capital city in Bautama, but progress was minimal.

Reports indicate that while funding was allocated over the years, much of it remained unaccounted for, leaving the projects largely incomplete until the current provincial administration took office.

With renewed governance and national funding, Governor Peter’s administration has transformed vision into reality.

The projects are designed not only to provide infrastructure but also to empower local communities, create business opportunities for women and youth, enhance food security, and provide secure housing.

“These projects demonstrate what is possible when national leadership, provincial governance, and community aspirations converge into a shared development mission,” the Governor said, reaffirming the province’s commitment to protecting ancestral land and ensuring development benefits are equitably shared.

Rosso noted that the success of these initiatives depends on strategic planning, governance, and community collaboration.

 The projects are expected to improve transport efficiency, road safety, and urban planning while reinforcing Central Province as a hub of economic activity.

Decades in the making, the Bautama projects now stand as a testament to sustained advocacy, prudent leadership, and the province’s resilience.