Tribe starts association for change

By ELIAS LARI
A TRIBE in Western Highlands has decided to lay down its weapons, change its ways and start living positively by forming a community development association.
Members of the Ramui tribe from Baiyer in the Mul-Baiyer electorate have come to realise that tribal fighting has prevented and will continue to prevent them from having access to education, health and a better life.
The Ramui Community Development Association will represent them in development projects, initiatives and opportunities that they have missed out over the years.
The association was launched on Saturday at Manjip village.
President Jim Kilipi described it as a historical moment for the Ramui community.
He said the purpose of forming the organisation was to bring back positive change and development to the community which had been stagnant for the last two decades due to tribal fighting.
Kilipi said people wanted to see change take place.
He said one of the association’s main aims was to work as a development partner with the Government and help it implement its vision at the community level.
Kilipi said the association would cover sectors such as health, education, law and order, as well as providing population data and other information to authorities.
He said in some cases, service delivery to rural areas was difficult or hindered because communities were not organised to participate in development.
“Our fathers have been planning to come with such association for a long time in order to end tribal fighting and restore the image of the tribe,” he said.
“Tribal fighting and lawlessness have been stealing our rights for the past 25 years and we need to see them restored.
“We missed the opportunities but we believe that it’s now the dawn for the Ramui tribe with the formation of this association.”