Time for Manusians to speak out

 I HAVE just returned from a business trip to Manus and must say I am very disappointed with how much ignorance there is surrounding the issue of settling asylum seekers there. 

Driving past the camp, which is nothing but a ‘tent city’, I think to myself "who would want such a life?" 

Are humans not supposed to have the right to free movement? Certainly, asylum seekers should not be locked up and living in tents.

The Australian Government is concerned, the PNG Government is concerned. What about us Manus people? 

Are we not concerned that we have had very little say on this issue?

We Manusians are known to be outspoken. So why so silent now?

Where are the middlemen in the negotiation between our prime minister and the Australian government? Where are the two MPs who represent us? 

So many questions need to be answered but no Manus voices are being raised. Well guess what Manusians? Stop sleeping and beat that garamut loud. We deserve to benefit directly from this agreement as well. 

We invest in human resources, yet we lack employment opportunities. We have an abundance of land and sea, yet our local farmers and fishermen cannot find capital to start businesses as there are no Microbank or Agricultural bank branches in the province.

We have no proper means of getting our products to markets in other provinces.

A kilo of flour is being sold for K8.90 on Manus now because flour shipments into the province have stopped. Something must be done.

Concerned Island Girl

Port Moresbys