Policy leaves coastal people out

MEMBERS of parliament from maritime provinces should look into creating beneficial and sustainable programmes that best suits their locality.
Apart from the current Pangu Pati agriculture policy, government should support fisheries sector so that maritime people can participate by utilising whatever resources they have and make an income out of it.
The agriculture policy is a good initiative but it will not work for maritime provinces.
Agriculture is not a new thing but for coastal and island people, population and rising sea level have become a major threat to us, now contributing to the shrinkage of landmass.
Agriculture does not fit to our surroundings.
We need government intervention to help us in utilising marine resources.
Sea is like land to us maritime people and we get money out from marine resources.
The agriculture policy is good, but will only benefit the people from the Highlands because of the weather condition, soil fertility and huge landmass.
This vision will bear fruit as the Government now focuses more on maintaining existing and building new roads for market mobility. Even for maritime provinces, some inland populace will benefit as they too have large portion of landmass to cultivate.
The heart and intention of the Government is at the right place but for us maritime dwellers, especially coastal and island people will not realise long term benefit from what this current government wants from that agriculture policy.
We want something different that suits our environment.
The national government will fund and is willing to support any programme brought forward for funding assistance but it all depends on leaders to initiate, model and align them with national government development plans.

Hanam Bill Sandu,
Wewak Island LLG