Kokopo settlers praying for water and power

Thousands of people living in a settlement in Kokopo, East New Britain, are still waiting for water and electricity supplies and a good road.
Resident Stephanie Mo, who lives in Ward 16 of the Kokopo-Vunamami local level government said there were between 4000 and 5000 people living in Raniolo.
“It is a settlement occupied by people from different ethnicities, but the majority are Highlanders,” she said.
“We are living so close to town but do not have water supply, electricity and a good road.”
Mo said the city’s water supply tank and the rubbish dump were located in Raniolo.
“Most of the cleaners engaged by the city council to clean the streets of Kokopo reside in Raniolo,” she said.
“The fresh garden produce you find in the town market also come from Raniolo.
“We have working people living in Raniolo but government services do not reach us.”
Kokopo city manager Freddy Lemeki said the council was aware of the issues facing the settlers but it was facing “cash flow problems”.
“That is a very important area to us because we have our water supply tank and dump located there,” Lemeki said. “But at the moment we are having cash flow problems because the Government has not released our LLG services grant.”
The city usually receives K750,000 in grants annually from the Government.
Lemeki said they had sent machines to fix the Raniolo Road about three months ago. “We will attend to this road once we receive the funding,” he said.
“But I cannot promise how soon this will take place.”