B’ville group planning relocation exercise

A GROUP in Bougainville is planning to move to the main island of Bougainville because of the threat of rising sea level.
Tulele Peisa was formed in late 2006 after the council of elders on the islands decided to establish their own relocation programme.
The group’s chief executive Ursula Rakova said the rising sea level was affecting them.
“We’re beginning to get more requests for people wanting to move because of the situation and the dire need for food,” she said.
Storm surges not only wash away houses, but also food gardens, making it difficult for the people to get by on a daily basis.
There is no source of income and the people rely on their gardens for food.
The decision to relocate will mean more space on the island for the older people who would rather stay back.
“Giving justice to the elderly is the most important thing that Tulele Peisa can do,” Rakova said.
“The elderly people do not want to move.”
The group initially secured 25 hectares of land from the Catholic Church to resettle about 100 people from 10 families.
The church has made available another 60 hectares of land.
Rakova said they hoped to relocate 25 more families there.
“Building houses for the families to live in is our biggest hurdle at the moment,” she said.
“We have to keep looking for funds to build homes before we can move the islanders to mainland Bougainville.”
Tulele Peisa also provided thousands of mangrove seedlings to prevent the erosion of the coastline, and helped to build raised garden beds.