Siassi sees emerging revival

By MALUM NALU
The Siassi islands of Morobe, long neglected over the years by government after government, are suddenly seeing a renaissance.
The islands have literally gone to the dogs after the closure of Lutheran Shipping in 2012 and stoppage of third-level airline services.
To travel to Lae is through a long and dangerous sea voyage by dinghy or mon (dugout canoe) through the notorious Vitiaz Strait separating Siassi and the mainland.
Once-thriving Lutheran Church-run plantations on the main island of Umboi are now covered by bush.
The tourism potential of the islands is virtually untapped and is a gold mine.
Untouched coral reefs and islands, volcanic lakes, hot springs, rivers and waterfalls are just a few of the many tourism products Siassi can offer.
The ropen, a pre-historic flying creature, is said to reside in the crater of one of the extinct volcanoes on Umboi.
These forgotten islands, thanks largely to the new kid on the block Tewai-Siassi MP Dr Kobby Bomareo, are finally being given the attention they long missed out on.
Last month, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG’s National Women’s Conference was staged at Lablab on Umboi, with Papua New Guinea’s most prominent Lutheran and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill being there for the occasion.
It’s only once in a blue moon that Siassi sees a leader, let alone the chief executive officer of the country, so it was indeed a day for celebrations and signings by the people.
The Siassi people are famous for their well-choreographed singsing, the Sia, which is emulated throughout Morobe.
O’Neill committed K1.6 million to Siassi for a ring road around the whole of Umboi.
That same time the first planes started landing on Lablab airstrip which was funded by Bomareo’s Tewai-Siassi district development authority.
Lutheran Shipping made a comeback as mv Momase Express, docked in Madang since the closure of the company, made a trip to Siassi and took women conference delegates across the Vitiaz Strait to Lae.
Things are happening on Siassi.
One of the most prominent sons of these far-flung islands, Constitutional and Law Reform Commission Secretary Dr Eric Kwa, is grinning from ear-to-ear.
“I’m really, really thankful to the Government of Prime Minister O’Neill for recognising Siassi,” he tells me.
“When the prime minister went there for the national women’s conference, he actually gave K1.6 million to the people of Siassi: K1 million is for the ring road around the island.
“There already is a ring road but it’s not maintained, it’s all bush, so the money that is given is basically to brush up and do proper drains, put culverts.
“Hopefully, by next year, we should have a good ring road around the island.
“That will also open up opportunities for the movement of cash crops like coffee, cocoa and copra on the island.
“We’re also thankful to the prime minister for supporting our local MP, Kobby Bomareo, in giving him the necessary finances to support the electorate.
“Siassi has begun to pick up immediately after the election of Kobby Bomareo.
“The MP has been really active on the ground for the last 12 months trying to talk to the people and identifying their key strategic interventions that he could make.
“One of them that he did for Siassi was the airstrip.
“He’s upgraded the airstrip, rehabilitated it, so we can now land on a rainy day.
“He has also upgraded the women’s conference centre so we now have a big building that can host meetings.
“He has also supported the rehabilitation of the wharves as well.
“He’s also agreed to put towers around the island: Communication is very important as you know.
“I hope that once this is complete, Siassi can then be able to open up to tourism.
“For me that will be the biggest income earner for Siassi.”
Kwa also gave kudos to the Lutheran Church for resuming shipping services after a long hibernation.
“We’re being told that by end of November, the mv Ialibu will run from Lae-Siassi-Madang,” he adds.
“That really opens up the opportunity for business.
“We want to thank the Government, the MP Dr Kobby Bomareo and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for the attention that they are giving to the island at last.
“We hope to be able to continue to grow and grow, and we can develop the island.”
Bomareo, when I approach him, says he has long seen the suffering of the Siassi people as a medical doctor before becoming a politician.
“Siassi, in particular, needs transport for sea and air,” he says.
“I want it to become an air port of call, that’s why I rebuilt Lablab
“Lablab used to be covered by grass and mud, but we rebuilt it, so outsiders can come to Siassi; You can now come in by air or sea.
“This will encourage local business, government people, to come in by air or sea.
“I’m pleased that the prime minister has given me K1 million for the ring road.
“Logging companies have built the road but I want proper drainage and cover on top.
“When the road is complete, Umboi Island is done, but I also have to think about our smaller islands.
“I’m looking at a couple of outboard motor dinghies, but ultimately, I want a boat to purposely serve all the outlying islands of Siassi and bring the people in to the main port of Lablab.
“Communication is also very important.
“I’m planning to put up two towers this year on Siassi.”
Bomareo is also planning a K3 million rural hospital for Siassi at Semo.
He says tourism will fall into place naturally after all infrastructure is in place.
“I have plans for tourism, but first things first, I have to get my infrastructure and law-and-order in place,” Bomareo tells me.
“Tourism is a very important source of revenue for our rural communities, however, things can’t be rushed until our house is in order.
“We want peace in the community.
“Perhaps in 2021-2022, we’ll start moving into tourism, and heavily after that.”
The beautiful islands of Siassi are glowing again.