𝐏𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐁𝐔 𝐑𝐃

Hon Dr Billy Joseph

The long forgotten Kutubu Road in Southern Highlands Province finally gets the national government support to a tune of K371 million through the Tax Credit Scheme.

Prime Minister James Marape made the official announcement at Nipa Station in May 2024 when receiving the Five Year Development Plan for Nipa-Kutubu District.

The Kutubu Road has been neglected for so long. Oil and gas in Kutubu was discovered in 1986 and extraction begun in 1993 till today.

Unfortunately, successive governments and MPs have turned blind eyes to this economic road that is servicing the exploration site and generating money and creating employment opportunities for the country.

The first term firebrand MP and Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph provided the following update for Kutubu Road:

“The 102km Kutubu Road which starts at Parita Junction and ends at Moro Gate will be funded through tax credit scheme.

“The PNC Government under PO used Kutubu tax credit to play his politics and build infrastructures everywhere including APEC Haus, Manasupe Haus, Santos Stadium etc except in Nipa-Kutubu; the district that produced Oil and Gas since 1992.

“We must thank Marape-Rosso Government for finally allocating Santos Tax Credit to seal Poroma Kutubu road for K371m.”

Minister Billy said PM Marape is set to visit his district for second time.

“PM will come and sleep a second time in Nipa Kutubu during the launching of this important project end of this month; unless we get derailed by the Supreme Court ordered VoNC.”

The Defence Minister MP Hon. Dr Billy Joseph when first elected in the last election wasted no time. He prioritized his people and the areas of their needs.

One being roads. Both existing and new. Kutubu and Kiburu-Nipa roads are part of it.

As captured in the development plan, there are 10 roads in total including Mt. Bosavi Road currently under construction.

Sometimes, the workaholic MP is accused by contractors for fighting for his people. He is mandated by the people. So he speaks on their behalf. If not him, then who?

All Minister Billy wants is to see his people travel on better roads funded by their oil and gas money.

And wants contractors to deliver on time and of quality as his people of Nipa-Kutubu and greater Southern Highlands deserve better from the contractors engaged. Their tax money must be seen and felt from the quality of projects delivered by contractors.