Good road network system is vital for Papua New Guinea's development

It is troubling to see most Papua New Guineans living in the villages have difficulties taking their produce to the markets to earn an honest living or try to support a loved one who is sick to get to a nearby health center because of no road links.

Exasperating as it is, there is no government plan in place to connect rural villages to the main roads so that the bulk of the Papua New Guinea's population (95%) living in these remote villages can reach the main road to connect to other routes.

Such scenes are prevalent throughout Papua New Guinea - a driver tries to cross a river after a heavy rain

Each day we read and see pictures of man and women who carry bags of coffee, sick and pregnant women on scratches, and even the sick walking on bare feet for countless hours to get to a nearby road to catch a Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) to get to a hospital.

We hear similar stories from village folks throughout the country that tell us of their difficulties in selling their goods and going through the agony of loosing a loved one just because there is no road link to take him or her to the hospital.

The post courier's report (pic. below) on the coffee growers from the Burum Kuat Local Level Government walking for days over mountains and rivers with their bags to sell their coffee beans in Lae is another classic example of how ignorant the government and it's leaders are on their own people for not providing basic simple services that these people needed.

I was a bit in tears when I saw the picture of these guys with the coffee bags on their shoulders after I relate that to my folks at home. That makes me ponder and ask myself: Does the government really care for her citizens?

Nothing is impossible: Walking for days to sell coffee - pic. by post courier

Is there are possibility for the government to formulate a strategy to link all rural areas by road to a main road for easy excess by the majority in the villages? With the mineral boom in the country, I think there should be enough cash floating around to invest in a very good road network system throughout the country to give every Papua New Guinean a better chance to feel like a Papua New Guinean when they come out to mingle with others.

The implication of having such a good road network system will help minimize some of the social issues like crime, unemployment, drifting into urban areas, minimize HIV/AIDS, alcohol/drug related crimes, accidents, etc...

When there is a good road network system, the guys who are roaming around the streets will go back home and toil their land to make an honest living and that's when the above factors will be slowly minimized but gradually after the Papua New Guinea government and those at the forefront put the public monies where it's mouth is.

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