ABOUT K27 million from the K30 million, appropriation for Kandrian Gloucester District by the national government for road works under the PIP (Public Investment Program) program for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively has gone missing in the hands of the Department of Works.
The Sunday Bulletin has confirmed with Member for Kandrian Gloucester Joseph Lelang that only K3 million was released to the district treasury.
Mr Lelang said in 2014, the national government approved K10 million, of which nothing was actually released by Department of Works.
He said only K2 million was released from the K10 million approved in 2015, K1 million from the K5 million approved in 2016 while there was nothing released from a further K5 million approved in 2017.
“So our record shows the total amount of K27 million appropriated for the district has being diverted elsewhere by the department,” Mr Lelang said.
While Mr Lelang is calling on the National Department of Works to return the K27 million, he is a silent achiever and other Members of Parliament must learn from his success story on the Kandrian Highway project he initiated in 2014.
To build 53 kilometre highway with a total project cost of K5.6 million through virgin forests to connect one of the missing links in the country is unheard of in Papua New Guinea.
And how he is able to achieve this result with very little given to his district must not only be a lesson to other leaders, but responsible government departments and bureaucrats must allow funds appropriated for the people to reach its intended purpose.
It has taken four years to construct this 53 kilometre highway project through virgin forests that will, for the first time link the southern part of West New Britain province to the north. The phase one, which is the first 53 kilometres, will connect Penlolo – Atui to Kimbe Highway.
The second phase is to connect Gasmata to Kandrian station, a total of 118 kilometres and the third phase is to connect Kandrian station with Gloucester station, just off-shore from Siasi Island in Morobe province.
In phase one, 50 kilometres has been constructed by the district at an operating cost of K5.5 million over four years with three kilometres remaining before reaching Kimbe.
Phase one will be opened early next year and commencement of phase two to connect with Kandrian station will commence soon after.
Mr Lelang said he hopes to complete phase two before 2022 National Elections.
He said the Kandrian – Kimbe Highway project represents a major infrastructure development in the province since Independence and Kandrian District has being doing it without funding assistance even from the West New Britain Provincial Government.
“I thank the National Government for the District Support Improvement Program (DSIP) and Log Export Development Levy (LEDL) as it has made this road possible but politicking over non release of LEDL and National Government cash flow difficulties including holding back of Opposition MPs DSIP and non- release of District Support Grants (DSG) cheques for the district has seriously undermined this highway project, which will enter its fifth year, come 2019.
“The reason why construction of this major national highway project is a matter of priority and I believe the national and provincial government’s priority is elsewhere which reflects a very sad state of affairs,” Mr Lelang said.
Mr Lelang said the Kandrian Gloucester District contributes immensely to the development of Papua New Guinea although very little has come back to the district.
“A total of 15 logging operations take place in the district, the highest number in the country; in addition, there are two active mineral explorations currently taking place in the district including oil palm project operated by New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) at Silovuti in the Kaliai-Kove LLG.
“The immense potential in rice farming, coffee, cocoa and copra among others can contribute to real growth in agriculture, job creation and foreign exchange.
“At the moment the district produces and sells to markets 11,2 metric tonnes of cocoa in 2017, which represents about 20 percent of total cocoa production in Papua New Guinea in that year.
“The district is about to sign a marketing agreement with an international market to sell 20,000 tonnes of cocoa but undeveloped infrastructure continues to remain a major hindrance.
“It is therefore in the interest of this country, especially at this point in time that the national and provincial governments should put aside political interests and work with me to complete this highway project quickly for the benefit of our people and Papua New Guinea,” Mr Lelang said.
He said the total project cost is K5.6 million of which K3.1 million was used to purchase road construction machinery including freight costs. The balance of K2.5 million was spent on operating costs of the highway project since 2015. It was used for fuel and lubricants, wages, food rations and spare parts among other expenditures like makeshift shelters, cooking and eating utensils.
Mr Lelang also confirmed the road construction equipment is owned by the District Development Authority (DDA) and “so we were able to keep the operational costs of the highway project low, about K47,000 per kilometre”.
“Let me say that I am saddened to see millions of kina has being spent on few kilometres of roads in the urban areas that cannot contribute to creating long term sustainable jobs for our people, not short-term temporary jobs created through road contracts or impact positively on real GDP growth, create permanent jobs, reduce poverty, bring in much needed foreign exchange and broaden tax base.
“But I am determined to complete this highway project for the sake of my people and the future generations of my district with or without any assistance from donors, national or provincial governments.
“However any assistance from these institutions will be appreciated and welcomed,” Mr Lelang said.
