Eradicate the cocoa pod borer

IF you happen to fly over East New Britain, you are unlikely to see any virgin rainforest.
Most of the area is dominated by cocoa and coconut plantations.
The people do not depend on free handouts, but instead concentrate on their cocoa and coconut plantations which have supported them for ages.
Sometimes a family of just six can have five big blocks of cocoa and coconut plantation. Everyone has to work hard but but there are many factors involved in motivating them.
Some common factors are having a permanent house, a brand new car, a small trade store or meeting the high cost of living.
Even during elections, many of them do not bother voting.
Their common mentality is, as long as they have their block of cocoa and coconut, they do not need any member of parliament to survive.
However, the cocoa pod borer epidemic and the low price of copra in the province have set back the people’s independene for the past few years.
Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minis-ter, Leo Dion has urged his fellow MPs  to gather K1.9 million to have the eligibility to borrow K8-K9 million from the banks to eradicate the cocoa pod borer in the province.
He mentioned that if his fellow members will not cooperate, he will make sure that it becomes his priority.

Jade Black
Port Moresby