Good new for Manam Islanders

 MADANG Governor Jim Kas has done something the people of Bogia and Manam Islanders in particular will remember him for later.

As governor he has given the political undertaking to push through legislation enabling the people affected by the 2006 volcanic eruption to be permanently resettled in mainland Bogia. 

Kas has kept an election promise by ensuring that the necessary legislation gets Parliament. His job in that respect is now as good as done because the legislation is already on its way to getting Parliament’s affirmation.

There are doubtless many others, including Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion himself, community leaders and public servants and landowners who have worked behind the scenes to ensure this positive outcome for the plight of the suffering people.

Yet it is under Kas’ watch as political head of the province that the critical amendments to the Manam Resettlement Authority Act 2013 will eventually get Parliament’s attention.

The Bogia people have another sympathetic political leader in Anton Yagama, the Usino-Bundi MP.

What is more re-assuring is that the office of the Prime Minister will have a hand in ensuring that the amendments to the law are brought to Parliament.  That is the word from Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc.

Sir Manasupe gave this assurance after receiving the Manam Resettlement Authority Act from Kas at the Parliament State Function on Nov 20.

In accepting the draft legislation from Kas and his delegation at a small gathering at Parliament House, Sir Manasupe acknowledged that the legislative amendments had not gone through the normal way but would nevertheless get the support of the office of the Prime Minister.

Sir Manasupe said the issue of Manam was a very big issue for Papua New Guinea and the world has noticed. “I think it’s time we resettled them. Ten years is too long and it is an embarrassment to us.” 

It is not the time and place to apportion blame here, however, the Chief Secretary’s admission of failure clearly points to a lethargic political and administrative process that has unnecessarily prolonged the suffering of the Bogia people.

Yes, Chief Secretary, 10 years is too long but no, it is no mere embarrassment; it is a tragedy bordering on criminal neglect. 

The simple citizens have looked to authorities in their time of distress and suffering but help had not come soon enough. For some help is too late already.

People have lost their lives and property through conflicts between settlers and mainland people; and through diseases and health conditions brought on by overcrowding and malnutrition.

And this situation should never be repeated for any other group of Papua New Guineans.

The chief bureaucrat’s comment on political leadership on the ground is enlightening. “I have been involved in this project since 2009 and we worked but leaders working together was a problem,” said Sir Manasupe.

“Today, I am happy with the new governor and the other Madang members working together to give some political direction. I think that is important, having political support and the political will is there.” 

Sir Manasupe has told Kas that the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council were ready to work with him, so that the legislation could be brought forward for work on the proper resettlement of the Manam Islanders to start. 

This is perhaps the moment the people of Bogia and Manam had waited for more than a decade and would eagerly await Parliament’s passage of the Manam Resettlement Authority Act. The actual work of clearing land at the proposed site at Andarum, in the Yawar LLG, will take some more time and the actual resettlement may take a little longer still.  

However, waiting for several months or a year more would no longer be as distressing as it had been the past decade.

From today, the affected people will have something more realistic to look forward. And their hope is on Parliament acting speedily on the enabling legislation.