Biaru villagers celebrate first feeder road in Wau-Waria with tears, tradition, and tribute
In a rare reversal of roles, villagers from the Biaru tribe in Wau-Waria District, Morobe Province, led a weekend-long celebration to mark the opening of the long-awaited Wisini-Kasangare feeder road in Kasangare village.
The new road is the first feeder road for the recently established Wau-Waria District and connects directly to the Morobe-Northern Highway, a national highway linking Wau to Garaina in Popondetta under the National Government’s Connect PNG Program.
For decades, the people of the Biaru tribe comprising the seven main villages of Wisini, Kasangare, Ilabu, Taurins, Nako, Kembaka, and Tori-Korowa, have endured treacherous bush tracks over steep mountains, crossed swift rivers, and navigated dense jungles of Wau Rural LLG just to reach town. Today, for the first time, they are travelling comfortably in vehicles to and from Wau in a single day.
This development has brought overwhelming relief. Many villagers were moved to tears, overwhelmed with joy and disbelief.
To celebrate this milestone, the villagers pooled over K50,000 of their own money to host a feast featuring 25 pigs and traditional food and invited their local Member of Parliament, Marsh Narewec, to join the occasion.
Wau Kosari, an elderly village leader, tearfully shared his gratitude with NBC News.
“I was so emotional, I cried so much. I’ve walked these bush tracks since before Independence. I’m very old now and had lost hope, but here I am today, witnessing vehicles driving into my village.”
For Peter Gaupu, who now drives over paths he once walked in his youth, the experience was transformative.
“The first vehicle I drove on this road was a five-door. I drove to Waria, stood on the mountain where the Sim Airstrip is, looked down and the tears just flowed,” Gaupu told NBC News.
“I thank our local MP for putting the money where it’s needed and bringing road services to us.”
Just months ago, some villagers protested the road’s original alignment for bypassing their communities. But with the completion of this feeder road, the people have united in celebration.
In recognition of his contribution, the villagers honored MP Narewec with a traditional headdress, conferring on him the title of Paramount Chief as one of the highest honors in the community.
Visibly emotional, Narewec admitted that the journey to Kasangare stirred deep feelings.
“I cried while driving here not out of sadness, but joy. I realized my people have always had the potential to help themselves. They just needed a road,” he said.
“They exported coffee overseas just last year. With roads, they can access education, health, and economic opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.”
The MP thanked the Marape-Rosso Government for the Connect PNG initiative, saying it has brought genuine transformation in time for the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary in two months.
“This gives us a true reason to celebrate,” Narewec said.
The event was witnessed by the MP’s immediate family, district officials, and Wau-Waria District Administrator John Orebut, whose team continues to work tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver services to one of the country’s newest districts.