Stop cutting trees in Popondetta town

I RAN away as a young man from Kainantu because of tribal fights in my village.
In 1969, came to Port Moresby.
I bunked up in Hohola with wantoks.
Life in Port Moresby was not as good as home (Kainantu) so I travelled to Popondetta.
Some of my friends went there some years ago. I got on a Pat Air plane and landed in Huvivi airstrip in Popondetta in 1970.
I was employed as a helper at several shops and ended up at a shop – KOY Trading.
The owner was a white man Ted Koy, a carpenter and a business man in Popondetta town.
In 1973, he brought six shade trees seeds from PATI and asked me to plant them at the back of the store so I planted the shade rain trees.
My late wife was employed as a domestic maid and each morning, she would water the trees.
Since then, I made it my business to look after the rain trees for so many years as long as I lived in Popondetta.
My late wife was from Sairoppe in Popondetta and that had become my home.
After 47 years, the authorities started destroying the rain trees.
The rain trees were a historical part of Popondetta and we should not cut but trim the branches as these trees gave shade to many visitors.
I am saddened by the way the rain trees fell.
I appeal to the town mayor, Popondetta’s ward 1 and 2 members and other leaders in the provinces to step in and stop the destruction of these trees.
I want to look after the trees again.

Bobby Angave