Over 400 Narpow Point residents petition Gov’t for urgent road repairs

March 13, 2024 10:27 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now Twitter Facebook

By Sabrina Tabi.

Local and expatriate residents of Narpow Point in Teouma are banding together to petition the Government for immediate action to repair their road.

This road serves over 400 residents who rely on it daily for commuting to work and school, accessing essential services, and connecting to various tourist destinations such as Tamanu on the Beach, and government institutions like the football academy.

The poor road condition has extensively affected the residents’ day to day communal to town as what should be a five-minute journey from their houses to the main road, often stretches to over 30 minutes due to the potholes.

Additionally, pregnant women, are compelled to relocate closer to Port Vila town to ensure easy access to hospital services, citing the road’s condition as a significant hindrance. This relocation imposes additional financial strain on them.

Harry Attison, spokesperson for the Narpow Point community, highlighted the financial toll, noting that many residents have incurred vehicle damages solely due to the poor road conditions. Attison revealed having purchased three cars since residing in the area, all of which broke down due to damage inflicted by the road.

Expressing frustration, residents point out the irony of annually paying road taxes, roadworthy fees, driver permits, insurance and other associated fees, while the condition of their road is still very poor.

Roadworthy assessments typically cost around VT5,620 per vehicle, while road tax varies based on the Capacity Cylinder (CC) of the vehicle. For instance, cars with a CC ranging from 2000 to 2500 incur a road tax of approximately VT25,000. The road tax itself can range from VT6,000 to over VT100,000, depending on the vehicle’s CC.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Land Transport Association (PLTA) echoed these concerns, stating that most of the roads leading to outskirt areas of Port Vila town are in very poor condition, and Public Transports have to provide service to these places as well. At the end of the day, parts of vehicles are expensive, the price of fuel is similarly fluctuating.

Speaking to a mechanic from one of Port Vila’s leading car companies, it was revealed that the road’s condition primarily affects vehicle suspension arm bushings and tires. Repair costs for these components can exceed VT100,000 depending on the vehicle type, further straining residents’ finances.

The petitioners emphasise that despite temporary repairs by the Shefa Public Works Department (PWD), the road’s poor condition and numerous potholes persist, particularly after adverse weather conditions.

The residents and the CEO emphasised that these poor roads need permanent solutions such as tar seals and not temporary solutions, where they get damaged easily during bad weather conditions.

The petitioners believe that they are voicing their concerns not just for them but also on behalf of other residents around the outskirts of Port Vila town who are facing similar issues.

Appealing to the government not to turn a blind eye to their petition, the residents stated that it’s about time for the government to permanently fix these roads.

With VT2.1 billion allocated for core road sealing and resealing, and VT1.1 billion for feeder roads, residents are hopeful that these funds will be utilised effectively to address their longstanding concerns.

They urge the government to prioritise road repairs as a critical investment in the community’s well-being and economic prosperity.