Basil gives dinghies, outboard engines to villagers at border

TREASURER Sam Basil brought joy and relief to villagers living on the border of Morobe, Central and Gulf when he gave them seven dinghies last Sunday.
The boats and engines were for the villagers in Ward 20 of the Wau Rural Local Level Government along the Bulldog track. They include Yenina, Anadia, Koroma, Payapi, Bulldog, Nukewa and parts of Kakoro villages.
The dinghies were purchased by the Bulolo District Development Authority supported by the National Gaming Control Board to be used along the Lakekamu river.
Basil said the villagers although located in Bulolo faced difficulties in accessing services in Wau-Bulolo due to the mountainous terrain.
“It takes six days to reach Wau-Bulolo. The easy option is to go down the Bulldog plateau and along the Lakekamu River to Malalaua and then to Port Moresby. It takes two days,” Basil said.
Port Moresby is the central location for the Tekadu people.
Nawae MP Kennedy Wenge accompanied Basil to Nukewa village via Port Moresby.
The dinghies with fuel tanks and life-jackets were delivered to the Yopoi Bridge in Malalaua before travelling up the river to Nukeva.
Lutheran church Pastor Robin Gee said goods and services could only be accessed by using dugout canoes or rafts taking people 20 hours from the foothills of Owen Stanley Range to the Lakekamu Bridge.
Villager Simon Kedolo said access to health services and higher education institutions were limited.
Basil said he would engage technicians to repair the only communication system at Nukeva because the solar panels were still intact.