Kadovar Islanders

THE future of Kadovar people living at Dandan care centre at Turubu is in question after they were displaced by the volcanic eruption in January.
They are currently struggling to fit themselves into the new environment.
Daily challenges they are facing at the moment are somewhat unknown, given the fact that they are temporarily staying on someone else’s land.
Their lives are subject to threat and intimidation.
Papua New Guinea and the world have poured out a lot of relief supplies in the form of cash and kind.
We highly appreciate these efforts put in during the initial phase. The question now is: Will they be given a fair deal in terms of permanent resettlement and rehabilitation?
Are we going to set a benchmark in this chapter or repeat the long-overdue story of Manam Island in Madang?
Does the Wewak district development authority and the East Sepik provincial government, after Cabinet gave them the responsibility to coordinate, have a constant dialogue and proper mechanisms that involve landowners in decision-making?
Did they send a team to carry out assessment, consultation and collect views to ensure they come up with a win-win situation for all?
As an islander, I was very disappointed to see the headline ‘Landowners stop work on road with court challenge’ in The National on Tuesday, April 24.
Why are these Sirr landowners putting a stop to this important component of development?
I strongly believe that their actions were not intended to stop services from reaching Kadovar people at Dandan care centre.
They are showing their frustration because those authorities are not following the laws of this land and involving them in decision-making.
To you our good authorities: If this major lifeline is put on hold, these vulnerable lives are at stake.

Concerned
Islander
Lae