Buin town gets sealed
By Tanya Lahies
The Buin town roads look new, earning the name ‘lewa town’ thanks to the generous K11.5m funds from the PNG-Australia Transport Sector Support Program and Raibro Construction.
The cowboy town earned its new name from the Australia High Commissioner Mr Bryson who has been in Bougainville over the last two years in the forefront of social and infrastructural developments in the region’s least developed areas that received funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia High Commission.
When Mr Bryson first visited Bougainville as the Australia High Commissioner in 2015 he made it very clear that the Australian Government- as a development partner- was working very closely with the interest of the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s development priorities.
He was at Buin town most probably for the last time, as the High Commissioner to officially open the Buin town eleven sealed roads funded under the Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP), DFAT, on Wednesday 8th November 2017.
The ABG Minister for Technical Services Hon Luke Karaston congratulated the Australia High Commission, (TSSP), DFAT and Raibro construction and the people of South Bougainville, Buin, for allowing development to proceed, as it has been many years since the once forgotten town had sealed roads.
This has eventuated even when the government was facing financial constraints this year, said Karaston.
Karaston is a firm believer of the Raibro Construction and wants to see other areas put their trust and allow those compatible companies like Raibro to develop roads in the region.
Raibro Construction comes under Kramer Ausenco, a company located in Buka that oversees road projects and contractors in Bougainville.
As a token of appreciation to DFAT and Raibro for their tireless efforts in the implementation and completion of the Buin town road, Member for South Hon Timothy Masiu has named the Buin Police Station to Buin Primary School road Tim Bryson while the junction for Palila Holdings to the Buin Administration was named Kieran Brown Drive.
Hon Masiu wants all the eleven sealed roads and streets to be named after prominent people who have a passion to drive development and bring services to South Bougainville.
The eleven sealed roads connect the Buin High School, Buin Primary School, Health Center, Buin Vocational School, government offices, commercial centers and residence of Buin town, said Masiu.
The sealed roads at Buin town were funded by the Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP), DFAT and contracted to Raibro Construction and both service providers, were recognized by the people of Buin, and by the Member for South with the National Government, Hon Timothy Masiu, who in his appreciation, named a road and street after them.
“I want to thank and acknowledge ABG Administration for creating the understanding with Aus Aid, DFAT, paving the way for this project to become a reality and for Raibro Construction’s professionalism, dedication and understanding and a contributor to the successful and completion of the project.”
On behalf of my people, thank you for being part of the transformation of my electorate, Masiu said.
The Raibro Construction Managing Director Mrs Jennifer Brown revealed the street sign on behalf of his husband Kieran Brown who died while working on the Buin road-sealing project.
Married to Kieran for 18 years, Jennifer was overwhelmed with joy and sadness.
An overwhelmed Brown said that Kieran would be remembered for his courageous attitude; his aggression, his friendship and passion to bringing services to the people but with sadness expressed that “he loved Bougainville and he loved Buin.”
Another key contributor to the development of the roads who loves Buin is Australia High Commission, Tim Bryson who gave a new meaning to the once cow boy town calling it ‘Lewa Town’ meaning, my heart is in Buin Town.
Mr Bryson thanked Hon Masiu for naming the street after him, but said that it was the people of Australia who truly deserved the acknowledgement.
Acting President Hon Raymond Masono and his delegates from the ABG and Administration witnessed the momentum ceremony with students, health workers, government workers and the residents of Buin town.
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