Forgotten in the Capital: PJV Compound Residents Cry for Road Help

Residents of the PJV Compound in Port Moresby's Rainbow area feel neglected, watching other streets receive upgrades while their own remains a "forgotten track." The compound, situated within the North-West Electorate, suffers from undeveloped roads that have deteriorated significantly since their construction in the 1980s. Vehicles navigate a "hokey-pokey dance" across potholes filled with betelnut skins, an attempt to avoid getting bogged down in mud when it rains.

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The contractor constructed the roads when the estate started, but there has never been any maintenance by anybody. The first 10 years were good, but for the last 20 years the roads have become really bad. There are lots of potholes now.

Kenneth Unamba, a resident for 30 years, stated the road has never been maintained. "The contractor constructed the roads when the estate started, but there has never been any maintenance by anybody," he said. "The first 10 years were good, but for the last 20 years the roads have become really bad. There are lots of potholes now."

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We pay a lot of tax, not only income tax but GST as well. We spend at shops like Eliseo and Stop and Shop, so a lot of tax is collected from us. Authorities should help improve our road conditions.

Unamba emphasized that residents contribute heavily through taxes, including income tax and GST, and spend significantly at local shops. He argues they deserve better services, noting that garbage tax and land rates alone exceed K500 combined. Despite these contributions, promises of road repairs have consistently gone unfulfilled, according to other residents like Maossa Unamba, who has lived there for nearly 30 years.

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Every time they said they were going to come and fix the road, but they never came. Most of our fathers have been taxpayers since 1996, yet there has been no development. Where is our tax money?

Nicholas Apamumu, a resident since 1997, noted that responsibility for the road has been passed between the PJV authority and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) without action. "We spoke to NCDC, but they said it is not under their plan. PJV said its time was up way back in 1997. Till now, nothing has happened," he stated. Orani Eri added that flooding exacerbates the problem, with potholes becoming deep enough to flood over bridges and block access. Long-time resident Vincent Appo lamented that political promises made before elections have never materialized, leaving taxpayers denied essential services.

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We spoke to NCDC, but they said it is not under their plan. PJV said its time was up way back in 1997. Till now, nothing has happened.