Ur blames funding for unkempt cemetery

By JUNIOR UKAHA
A LACK of funding and shortage of labour are the main reasons why the graves of soldiers at the 1st Royal Pacific Island Regiment (1RPIR) Barracks, at Taurama, are being neglected, a senior military official said last Friday.Chief-of-Staff Capt (Navy) Alois Tom Ur was responding to concerns raised by Col (Rtd) Ian Glanville last week about the shocking state of the Taurama military cemetery.
Glanville, a former colonel with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, raised the issue after visiting the grave of his adopted son, Major Donni Bouwe last month.
Based on the concern raised by Glanville, The National visited the cemetery and noted that the place was over-grown with shrubs and many headstones were askew and without names.
Glanville said he would contribute K5,000 to the army to improve the cemetery if the commander came up with a proper plan to improve the facility.
Ur said many civilian staff used as labourers in the army had been retrenched because of funding constraints.
“Graves of soldiers who gave their lives for the country are very important places and they need to be looked after very well,” Ur said.
“Now that you have told me about the situation, I will raise it up in our next meeting.
Ur said the graves of soldiers fell under the jurisdiction of the unit administration of the defence headquarters.
Taurama Barracks is commanded by Lt-Col Stanley Benny.