MINISTER FOR WORKS AND HIGHWAYS RESPONSE TO CENTRAL GOVERNOR’S CONCERNS ON THE CONNECT PNG PROGRAM

The Marape – Rosso Administration acknowledges the concerns raised by the Governor for Central Province in the news media on the 4^th March 2025, regarding security risks associated with the Connect PNG Program. The government takes all security matters seriously and remains committed to ensuring that infrastructure development is accompanied by appropriate law enforcement measures to safeguard communities.

However, the claim that the Connect PNG Program is contributing to increased crime rates is not supported by evidence. On the contrary, improved road network are widely recognized as a means of reducing crime and enhancing security by increasing economic opportunities, law enforcement accessibility, and social cohesion.

The Connect PNG Program is a nationwide initiative aimed at lifting people out of poverty, improving access to essential services, and fostering national unity. The expansion of road networks has already created tens of thousands of jobs, facilitated better access to markets for rural farmers, and improved healthcare and education access for thousands of Papua New Guineans.

Economic growth, not isolation, is the key to reducing crime. Studies and global trends confirm that when people have employment opportunities, access to markets, and stable incomes, crime decreases. Depriving Provinces of infrastructure development in the name of security concerns is both counterproductive and unfair to the many rural communities still waiting for basic road connectivity.

Alignment with National Development Policies 

The Connect PNG Program is not just a road development initiative – it is a key pillar of Papua New Guinea’s long term national development strategy. It is closely aligned with the country’s major policy frameworks, including: 

• PNG Vision 2050 – which envisions a smart, wise, fair, healthy, and happy society, underpinned by strong infrastructure connectivity.
• PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010 – 2030 – which emphasizes transport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and national development.
• Medium – Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV) – which highlights the expansion of national highways, missing link roads, and economic corridors as core priorities
• National Road Network Strategy 2018 – 2037 – which provides a structured approach to improving road conditions, prioritizing investments, and maintaining connectivity.

These policies all recognize that infrastructure connectivity is the backbone of economic growth, service delivery, and national development. Halting the Connect PNG program would contradict these policies and set back decades of planning and progress. 

Connect PNG is a Multi – Sectoral Development Program 

Contrary to misconceptions, the Connect PNG Program is not just about roads – it is a multi – sectoral development initiative aimed at transforming Papua New Guineans overall infrastructure landscape. The program integrates and supports other key sectors, including:

• Water Transport – upgrading maritime routes, ports, and jetties to enhance coastal trade and inter – island connectivity
• Air Transport – improving airport infrastructure to complement road network in facilitating domestic and international connectivity 
• Telecommunications & ICT – expanding digital infrastructure and mobile network coverage, ensuring communities benefit from improved connectivity 
• National Electrification – enabling rural electrification projects through better road access for power grid expansion 
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (Wash) – Ensuring safe drinking water and improved sanitation by facilitating access to remote areas
• National Housing and Urban Township Development – Supporting growth centers and planned urbanization to reduced informal settlements and congestion. 
• District Growth Centers – enabling rural economic hubs, linking agriculture, commerce, and industry to national and international markets. 

The Central Governor’s call to halt the program ignores the fact that it is an integrated approach to national development that goes beyond roads, fostering broad – based economic growth across multiple sectors. 

Fairness and National Unity 

While central Province already benefits from relatively well -developed road network, many other provinces in Papua New Guinea remain severely underdeveloped. The demand to halt the Connect PNG program at the national level effectively deprives the rest of the country of the same opportunities that central Province is currently enjoying.

This is a question of fairness. How does it look that the governor of a province with relatively good road connectivity is demanding to block other province from experiencing the same level of development?

• What about the provinces in the highlands, Gulf, Western, East Sepik, and West Sepik, where people still walk for hours to access services?
• What about the thousands of farmers who struggle to get their produce to markets due to poor road conditions?
• Shouldn’t all Papua New Guineans have the right to basic infrastructure that improve their quality of life?

The Connect PNG program is about national unity – it is about connecting our people, our economy, and our future. To deny this development to other provinces is not only unfair but goes against the very principles of equitable growth and shared prosperity.

Divisive statement and the dangers of regional separatism

The Governor of Central Province’s call to Separate the Papua Region from the rest of Papua New Guinea brings memories of the old Papua separatist movement, which sought to divide the country along regional lines.

This kind of divisive rhetoric undermines national unity and peace. At a time when we should be building a stronger, more connect nation, such statements risk fueling regionalism, resentment, and unnecessary division.  

As the leader of one of the more developed provinces in the country, the Governor of Central Province should be advocating for national unity, not reviving outdated and divisive sentiments from the past. Our goal as leaders should be to uplift all Papua New Guineans, regardless of which province or region they come from. 

The Right Approach is Security and Development Together 

Rather than stopping the program, the government is already working with law enforcement agencies to ensure security measures are implemented alongside infrastructure development.

• Increased police presence in newly connected areas
• Mobile police units and security checkpoints along major highways
• Community policing initiative to strengthen public safety

The solution is not isolated and underdeveloped – it is better law enforcement, stronger governance, and economic empowerment for all provinces.

The Connect PNG Program will continue as a national priority because every province, every district, and every remote community deserves the right to connectivity, and development. The Government will not allow one province’s concerns – however valid – to deprive the entire country of progress.

Security challenges will be addressed, but they will not be used as an excuse to deny rural communities the connectivity they desperately need.

The government remains open to dialogue to ensure the safe and sustainable implementation of the Connect PNG program, but the call to halt this national development initiative is not in the best interest of Papua New Guinea’s future. 

HON. SOLAN MIRISIM, MP

Minister for Works & Highways 

For media inquiries, please contact.

Mr. Tony Waningu, First Secretary 

Office of the Minister for Works & Highways 

Telephone: +_675 324 1104

Email: twainingu@works.gov.pg