Speech by Deputy Secretary Brian Alois on Connect PNG: Connecting Telefomin, Building Hope

Today, I invite you to journey with me into the heart of Telefomin, a land of rugged mountains, mist-covered valleys, and resilient people. For generations, Telefomin has stood as a symbol of both the beauty and the challenge of our nation’s geography. Remote, isolated, and often cut off from the pulse of development, its communities have endured hardship with courage. Yet now, through the vision of Connect PNG, we stand at the threshold of transformation. Connect PNG is not merely about roads and bridges. It is about rewriting the destiny of places like Telefomin. It is about ensuring that no Papua New Guinean is left behind, no matter how distant their village, no matter how steep their mountain. It is about turning isolation into opportunity, and remoteness into resilience.

Connecting Remote People

Telefomin’s story is the story of countless communities across our nation. For decades, the people here have relied on small planes landing on short airstrips, or days of trekking through dense forests, to reach the outside world. A trip to the nearest hospital could take days. Farmers struggled to bring their produce to markets. Students walked long distances to reach schools. Families were separated by terrain that seemed insurmountable. But Connect PNG changes this. Roads now carve pathways through valleys, linking villages to towns, and towns to cities. For the people of Telefomin, this means access to healthcare without delay, education without exhaustion, and markets without barriers. It means mothers can bring their children to clinics in time. It means students can travel safely to schools and universities. It means families can reunite more easily, and communities can share in the life of the nation.

Social and Economic Benefits

The economic benefits of Connect PNG are profound. Roads are not just infrastructure, they are lifelines of commerce. For Telefomin’s farmers, new roads mean fresh produce reaching markets in Tabubil, Kiunga, and beyond. Coffee, vegetables, and local crafts can now be sold at fair prices, creating income streams that uplift entire households. Small businesses will flourish. Transport operators, trade stores, and service providers will find new opportunities. The circulation of goods and services will stimulate local economies, creating jobs and empowering youth. Women, who often bear the burden of carrying produce across long distances, will now have easier access to markets, enabling them to participate more fully in economic life. Socially, roads bring people together. They allow cultural exchange, strengthen family ties, and foster national unity. They reduce the sense of isolation that has long defined Telefomin. They give communities a sense of belonging to the wider Papua New Guinea story.

 Tourism Potential

Telefomin is a treasure trove of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Its mountains, rivers, and forests are home to unique biodiversity. Its people carry traditions and stories that enrich our national identity. Yet for too long, this potential has remained hidden, locked away by inaccessibility. With Connect PNG, tourism can flourish. Adventurers will come to hike the valleys, birdwatchers will

marvel at rare species, and cultural enthusiasts will experience the rich traditions of Telefomin’s people. Guesthouses, eco-lodges, and tour operators will rise, creating employment and showcasing the pride of the community. Tourism is not just about visitors, it is about dignity. It is about the people of Telefomin realizing that their land, their culture, and their way of life are valued by the world. It is about turning heritage into opportunity, and opportunity into prosperity.

Opportunities and Hope

Above all, Connect PNG brings hope. Hope that a child born in Telefomin will have the same chance at education as a child born in Port Moresby. Hope that a farmer in the valley will earn a fair income for his hard work. Hope that communities will no longer be defined by remoteness, but by resilience and opportunity. This hope is not abstract, it is tangible. It is the hope of a mother who knows her child can reach a hospital in time. It is the hope of a student who dreams of becoming a doctor, teacher, or engineer. It is the hope of a community that sees its future not in isolation, but in connection.

Challenges and Responsibilities

Of course, such transformation does not come without challenges. The terrain of Telefomin is unforgiving. Roads must be built with care, maintained with diligence, and protected from both natural disasters and man-made damages. Illegal quarrying, reckless overloading, and vandalism threaten the very lifelines we are creating. We must rally as communities, as government, and as industry to defend these roads. Protecting them is protecting our future. Safeguarding them is safeguarding our children’s opportunities. Let us remember: roads are not just gravel and tar, they are the arteries of our nation’s progress.

A Call to Unity

Connect PNG is more than a policy, it is a promise. A promise that no Papua New Guinean will be left behind. A promise that Telefomin, once isolated, will now stand connected to the heartbeat of our nation. A promise that roads will carry not just vehicles, but dreams, opportunities, and hope. Let us unite behind this vision. Let us see roads not as projects, but as pathways to dignity. Let us walk together, drive together, and build together. For in connecting Telefomin, we connect Papua New Guinea. And in connecting Papua New Guinea, we connect our destiny.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, Connect PNG is the road to hope. It is the bridge to opportunity. It is the path to unity. For Telefomin, it is the dawn of a new era. An era where remoteness no longer means exclusion, where isolation no longer means despair, and where every child, every farmer, every family can share in the promise of our nation. Let us embrace this vision with courage. Let us protect it with responsibility. And let us celebrate it with pride. For in the roads we build today, we lay the foundation of tomorrow. Telefomin, your time has come. Papua New Guinea, your future is calling. Together, through Connect PNG, we will answer that call.