THE Malaita provincial government (MPG) minister for the eastern region has queried funding allocation for East Malaita road upgrade, which was announced last year.
Finely Fiumae questioned the funding after the East Malaita road continues to deteriorate without much attention from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) to fix the road.
Mr. Fiumae told the Solomon Star in Auki that the MID permanent secretary (PS) told them during the premiers conference held in Auki last year that funding allocation for East Malaita road upgrade is ready.
However, this year when Fiumae called to inquire about the funding with MID for the East road upgrade, information from MID stated that the funding has already been used up.
He said a contractor assigned by MID that came to fix the road is yet to start the work as their machines still breakdown in Auki and is yet to be fixed.
“When I check with the contractors assigned to do the road maintenance about why they still delaying the work, the reply I get was that there is no money for the road upgrade.
“ I want to let MID know that condition of the East Road is poor as ever and is putting the lives of people at risk.”
He said last week a loaded truck with passengers was lucky to escape death after the truck reverse back along the Kwaiafa hill because of poor road condition.
Kwaiafa hill is among the worst affected hills along the road.
He said if MID still delay to fund the road upgrade, it is most likely that more vehicle accidents will occur along the road given its poor condition and steepness of the road.
With that, he said deteriorating road has caused business houses, students, farmers, teachers, nurses, schools, and clinics that depend on east road to struggle.
“Its time that MID should get serious about fixing the road.”
By BIRA’AU WILSON SAENI
In Auki