Help Manam, Kadovar islanders

LAST July, Prime Minister James Marape called for a permanent solution to the issue of displaced Manam islanders of Madang.
A year on and there seems to be little evidence of any significant development to expedite the resettlement efforts.
Marape made the appeal when announcing that another K5 million would be released to the Manam Resettlement Authority (MRA), which was tasked to facilitate the relocation of displaced islanders into a designated site in inland Bogia.
The plight of the islanders has been allowed to drag on for years.
It is now nearly two decades since the first major eruption that resulted in the evacuation of a large part of the island population in 2004.
The PM’s announcement of K5 million was made after speculations emerged that funding previously allocated for to the MRA has not reached the authority to be used for the intended purpose.
It was reported that the previous government had allocated K20 million for the authority, but none of it reached the authority.
A police investigation into the use of another K6 million for the MRA has resulted in and a number of officials being questioned and charged.
Madang Governor Peter Yama told Parliament then that an estimated K100 million had been spent on Manam, but there was still nothing to show for all that money.
When the Manam issue was raised again in Parliament last July, Marape said Manam people had not been treated well and there were many issues that remained outstanding for a long time.
It seems from the exchanges in Parliament and other forums those entrusted with political leadership and public service delivery have plainly bungled this matter and have shown little interest in correcting their mistakes to help those in desperate need of assistance and relief.
The leadership in Madang and Bogia seems to have no clear direction and resolve to tackle the matter in a timely manner.
Or Government might not have done enough to find solution to the problem
In contrast to what is happening with the people of Manam, the leadership of East New Britain and the Government with assistance from abroad, provided quick and efficient temporary assistance and later permanent resettlement to the people displaced by the twin volcanic eruptions of 1994.
We ask, what is the difference between Rabaul and Manam?
What makes those affected by the Rabaul volcano more deserving of quick relief assistance and resettlement than those affected by the several eruptions on Manam since 2004?
The Madang government and the Bogia administration have got to be seen to be seriously working to alleviate the suffering of people from an issue that they have not forced unto themselves.
Another election cycle is approaching.
What are the current political leadership and wannabe politicians going to say to the Manam, Bogia and Sumkar people affected by the volcano that will be different from the rhetoric of the past decade?
How would the people know that at last something would happen this time to end the suffering?
Meanwhile, some distance up north from Bogia, the Kadovar islanders living on a care centre at Dandan are apparently faced with a similar, if not worse situation.
Unlike the Manam islanders on mainland Bogia and Sumgilbar who are able to grow food, Kadovar islanders have no such luxury.
The locals would not allow them to make gardens so they are entirely dependent on outside help.
Both groups of islanders need better, more humane treatment than what they have been given.