The two Manus
MPs have been challenged to provide proper boat stop facilities for the people
of outer islands of Manus.
A concern Lou
islander and TV producer, Reuben Pokanau, said this after the New Year’s Eve boat
incident which saw three lives lost.
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| Reuben Pokanau |
“Loniu Bridge,
on Los Negros Island, is used by the south coast sea travellers but does not
have any proper shelter, sanitation and water supply for the growing population,”
he said.
“ Twenty
thousand people, just under half the population of Manus, live on the south coast of Manus province
which includes the Islands of Rambutso, Lou, Baluan, Pam, M’Buke, and coastal
areas of West Point,Timonai,Werei,Pere,M’Bunai and Lawes.
“Manus, as a
maritime province, has more people living in the coastal areas and smaller
atolls who commute by sea to seek government services and conduct business in
Lorengau on a daily basis but our elected leaders and provincial government
turn a blind eye to providing the basic infrastructure.
“Are we not
citizens of this province?
“There have been
a lot of unreported incidents at sea and we cannot continue to face this
dilemma every day.”
Pokanau said he
had already talked with Manus Open MP and Fisheries Minister, Job Pomat, about
negotiating with Loniu landowners to build proper transit facilities last year
but nothing had eventuated to date.
He said North
Coast sea travellers should also have such facilities.
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