Washed away bridge causing hardship

By EHEYUC SESERU
MORE than 700 students and nearby villagers in Bayune, Morobe are struggling to commute to Bayune Lutheran schools each day because there is no proper bridge over the river.
The school truck transporting students and supplies, along with other vehicles, to the high, primary and elementary schools have been struggling on the wet crossing of the Bayune River. The only access, a footbridge, was washed away by flood waters last year.
Villagers on the other side of the river struggle to deliver fresh produce to markets and the sick to aid post. Bayune Primary head teacher Geoffrey Elijah said elementary pupils and young children in the primary school had been risking their lives walking across on slippery makeshift logs placed by parents.
“Two coconut trunks were cut and placed for people to walk on as a temporary bridge,” Elijah said.
“Vehicles cross river on wet crossing.
“During heavy rain and flooding we are always affected. Students are unable to cross and no supplies reach the schools,” Elijah said.
Bayune Primary has 345 students and 12 teachers, the high school has more than 300 students and elementary more than 100.
Mumeng local-level government manager Tony Zuhukec said there was a plan to build a new Bayune River bridge in partnership with the Bulolo district development authority and Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture, but was waiting for government grants.
He said the LLG had not received its services improvement programme funds for the last two years.
“We haven’t received more than K200,000 LLGSIP for the last two years. The district is also waiting for its DSIP,” Zuhukec said.