Service delivery in rural PNG very costly

Service delivery in remote Papua New Guinea remains one of the most costly and challenging exercises for the government.

Middle Ramu MP, Kansol Harwai Kamdaru, expressed this whilst speaking on the costs of service delivery to his district.

Much of my district is only accessible by air and while helicopter charters are very expensive, there are no other options, except walking, that can take days or weeks, depending on the location.

"Freight costs sometimes supersede the actual costs of projects, and that is my concern.

"Some projects in the district remained incomplete as funds have been depleted by freight costs." He said.

"Arabaka LLG is reachable by water transport as it is along the Ramu River, whilst Josephstaal already has road linkages. Simbai Kovon, and the new Wanuma LLGs are the hard- to- reach, that is why we still depend on air transport," Kamdaru said.

He stated that connecting the district by road remains one of his development priorities.

MP Kamdaru said, road infrastructure is very essential to the district as it will enable him to effectively deliver other services such as education and health.

"I am, however; hoping the new Madang/ Baiyer Road, which will run through Middle Ramu, can be completed this year." He said.