Fix bridge, says pastor

By SALLY POKITON
UPNG journalism student
A GROUP of landowners are taking advantage of the damaged Anga­banga Bridge to make quick money from travellers.
And a local pastor is urging the government to immediately repair the bridge and put the people out of their misery.
Pr John Naime of the Bereina Christian Life Centre said after the bridge was washed away last Thursday, two landowner groups from Inauae and Iesubaibua put planks of wood over a portion of the bridge that was washed away to allow people to cross to the other side.
And they have been charging people money for using the bridge.
Naime said travellers were charged between K2 and K10, depending on the amount of cargo they carried across the planks.
It has been claimed that youths from the two villagers threaten travellers with bush knives and fishing spears.
“Bereina reserve police are on the ground but they are outnumbered. With the youths under the influence of alcohol their safety is at risk,” Naime said.
The pastor from the Bereina station in the Kairuku district of Central has called on the government to quickly fix the bridge.
He called on the chiefs and councillors of Inauae and Iesubaibua villages to allow people to travel safely and freely in the area.
“Talk to your youths to vacate the bridge and let travellers go freely especially with the big number of travellers coming from Kerema in  Gulf, Bereina, Waima, Kivori, and Oreke villages in the Kairuku district,” Naime said.
The bridge is used by patients coming from Veifa, Bereina, and Malalaua health centres and the Kerema General Hospital.
They often find it hard to cross the bridge at night.
“If the government cannot fix the bridge quickly they should at least provide generators to provide light during the night,” Naime said.