By AUGUSTINE KINNA
THE inhabitants of the Caterets Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville would become the world’s first refugees and victims of the green house effect that is threatening small island nations around the world.
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) president Joseph Kabui told reporters at a media conference recently the rising sea level is now getting worse in the atolls of Caterets which is rapidly “eating” away the island’s shoreline and many have moved inland.
“The situation on Caterets Island is becoming very devastating to its inhabitants, leaving the islanders homeless with nothing to survive on,” Mr Kabui said.
He said his government had developed a comprehensive resettlement policy to assist the atolls people.
Mr Kabui said the North Solomons provincial government prior to the Bougainville crisis had in placed a resettlement scheme at the Kuveria Plantation to accommodate the islanders.
“Now we are trying to review the resettlement scheme at Kuveria to cater for the Caterets Islanders,” he said.
He congratulated the Tulele Peisa Inc, a local-based organisation that is taking the initiative to assist the people of Caterets to relocate to the mainland.
The organisation had helped the islanders since the news outbreak of the rising sea levels and when parts of the island was under water.
“The people of Caterets island must accept the fact that their island home is now sinking and there is nothing they can do but the only option left for them is to move out,” Mr Kabui said.
He said his government would support the people living in the island and try to negotiate for relocation as soon as possible.