Santo MP funds new road in Port Vila

August 22, 2024 7:30 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Len Garae.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Santo Rural, MP Samson Samsen, has made history by funding the building of the latest access road approximately 500 metres long that links Freshwater with the National University Road to the Municipal Stadium, for approximately Vatu (VT)10 million.

When asked to confirm if he had indeed funded the building of the road, MP Samsen, who was appointed Minister of Education just over a week ago, replied biblically, saying, “Yes, and God is good because if I told the media that I funded the project, readers would think I was boasting, but I am not like that. I am humble. In fact, I have a vision that this area will become the Commercial Street Centre in 20 years’ time.”

The Santo politician said in his political life, he has experienced how God has stepped in to fund his projects when there is no money left. “Suddenly I receive a call that there is money available and it is the amount that I need to complete the project,” he said.

“I thank God that you came to me and not me to you. I can confirm to you that I committed myself fully to fund the road from start to end with my own money.

“However when the Government learned of my personal involvement, the Ministry responsible approached me and I agreed for them to tar-seal the access road”.

Interestingly the land has always belonged to the MP who purchased it from the previous title holder who is now deceased. The Government reclaimed the title and he was advised by the court to purchase the title once more.

Asked how his constituency voters would feel about their MP spending money to support Port Vila constituency on Efate, he smiled with wisdom and explained that he did not forget his people on Santo when he funded the road project on his land.

“Port Vila is the main centre for both politics and investment. I am already in discussion with the local authorities here in the Capital that the name of the road would link Santo with Efate”, he explained.

“Eventually, I want to assure the population of Port Vila that spends so much of their money in the most popular supermarket chain in the Capital that I want to do something about this to reduce their expenses”.

MP Samsen said he is planning to open a fresh produce market for local farmers from Santo to ship their produce down to Port Vila to sell at the facility being built.

In addition he is also planning to open a butchery for fresh meat and fish from Santo. “The costs of fresh meat and fresh fish here are skyrocketing and I intend to help by lowering the prices to below what the Chinese are selling in their shops,” he said.

Accommodation facilities will be built to house the farmers while they sell their produce in the Capital.

One of the leaders from the MP’s village described their MP as a “role model for all MPs”.

MP Samsen added that if other MPs could do something similar to what he doing then the country would be a happier place to live in.

Asked what message he has for his voters, MP Samsen said the second stage of the project is to secure the relevant road construction machinery to develop East Santo roads including the road from Fanafo to Luganville. He needs the cooperation of the custom landowners to help him in the road development project.

In conclusion he said, “After building this road, I feel I have the confidence to build any road anywhere in Vanuatu.

“Let’s start with a slogan to build a bright and healthy future for the benefit of our children tomorrow”.