Las keeps streets clean

THOMAS Las, 80, gets up early each day to clean the streets of Kokopo town before people arrive for business and work.
Las, from Hela, was employed in July 1997 by the Kokopo Vunamami local level government as a “rake boy”.
That’s what’s still written on his employment identification today.
It is a simple job which he is proud of doing every day from 5.30am.
Las said the job was a blessing to him and his family of seven children.
He gets paid K200 fortnightly.
He works as a cleaner for the NGIP Agmark.
His day starts with a prayer before he moves to the streets.
He “rakes” the streets from the Andersons Foodland to Skowhegan from 5.30am to 7.30am before he starts his second job with NGIP Agmark at 8am.
Las said NGIP Agmark paid him K200 fortnightly.
Although Las is a widower, he is able to support his children and is a regular member of the Butuwin Seventh-day Adventist church.
He came to ENB as a labourer for a plantation and has lived there for more than 40 years.
Las said God has blessed him with everything.
He lives at the Raniolo plantation at the back of Vunapope, in Kokopo and Kenabot estates.