Everyday people PNG

Everyday People PNG : Tessy Anama

After the closure of Manu Market in Port Moresby, I wasn’t making as much money selling fish then I used to.

I learned how to fish when I was in Grade 3, I used to go fishing after school and on school holidays.

Now that I am married, my husband and my son, go out to the open sea early in the mornings to throw their nets. Usually they catch trevally (bat-bat), tuna and brim.

Depending on the weather and the number of customers in a day, the price of fish varies. When I make a loss, I take home the fish for consumption.

Everyday People PNG: Tom Nohoro

Our story goes back to the War (World War 2), when my grandfather who was a soldier helped a man from Gaire, Central Province, named Sibona.

During the war, Sibona, was shot and injured, and my grandfather, Nohoro, came to his aid, I guess you could say he saved his life. From then on they developed a strong friendship.

After the war, during the Hiri Trade, when the Motuan’s used to voyage to Gulf for traditional exchange, Sibona, got on a lakatoi and sailed to Ihu to visit his good friend.

Everyday People PNG : Boys of the Sea

For the young boys of Taurama bay, it’s about going out to sea to fish and dive to provide a great meal for the family.

These self-taught kids made use of their time away from school to help their working adults to sustain their families on days that money can’t always provide.

There’s still fun in all this of course and they get to spend more time with each other.

If there’s one thing these boys love the most about the sea, it’s fishing for a great catch and diving under water for those succulent shell fish and sea urchins.

Everyday People PNG : Bernhard Schlichting Part II

I was privileged to witness PNG gain its independence with the determination and dream of a very brave and significant man.

When I arrived at the Jacksons International Airport, I was quite shocked to see that everywhere on the streets and walls were red stain marks! I immediately grew concerned thinking, ‘are people fighting here a lot?” The worried sweat beads on my face decreased once my driver explained that it was only the local’s favourite nut from the betel-nut tree! 

Everyday People PNG: Elizabeth, The Silent Achiever

She has faced many challenges like most single mothers would when doing life alone.

Her husband’s death hit hard as at the time she was unemployed and finding help amongst family was very difficult.

But she was not going to allow setbacks define her.

Landing decent job opportunities was difficult as she was inexperienced, but she managed to work at least two to three jobs just to get them by.

Elizabeth devoted her life to giving her children a life she never had.

Everyday People PNG : Elina Ono

Our last born was a girl. She was only 8 months at the time when I was participating in small gigs at Bee Hives, then owned by Bernard Fong.

My band mates and I took it as a fun thing at the time. It was a jam session, to shake off the stresses and hassles from the daily 9 to 5 jobs and other.

Eventually, the usual musical hang-out sessions grew to become something bigger as people enjoyed the entertainment we provided.

Our jam session group beckoned the likes of Moses Tau, Pati Pots and Sharzy in our small gigs.

Everyday People PNG : Elina Onno

The company that I used to work for in Fiji, Fiji Communications Ltd, owns Yumi FM till today.

I had the opportunity of covering the Aitape Tsunami in 1998.

I was there for 3 months covering the Tsunami, not only for PNG and Fiji but also for the South Pacific.

I was only 18 years old at the time.

When it was time for me to go back home to Fiji, I had fallen sick with Malaria.

In Fiji we do not have Malaria and there is no treatment or medication for it.

So, this meant staying back in PNG to complete my dose.

Everyday People PNG: Rose Pahau

I was actually running the Psychiatric Nursing Programme at the College of Allied health, now Medical Faculty here in Port Moresby, since 1987 to 1998.  I left in 1998 to join the health department to join the Mental Health Services then in 1999 I was posted to Laloki psychiatric hospital as director nursing.

I was trained here at Port Moresby Nursing College. That was way back from 1967 to 1970 when I graduated and started working in the hospital. In 1976 I was posted to Wewak where I joined the Wewak School of Nursing, teaching there from 1977 to 1986 when I came to Moresby.

Everyday People PNG : Katherine Lem Geno

My husband also is not employed formally. We sustain ourselves by selling things like cooked food, betelnut and smoke from our own home.

I also sew and patch thorn clothes charging K5 for adults and K2 for small children. Where I live not many women sew for commercial purpose so I was making money from my small sewing business.

At times I make good money from the market but other times I don’t.  But I see that God blesses me through my faith, and we don’t go hungry.

Everyday People PNG : Pauline David

Mi stap long ples tasol ol famili blong mi no mekim wanpla samting long mi, na wanpla man salim tiket blong mi na mi bin kam long hia.   

Mi kam stap na taim em save lukim ol famili blong mi em save baim kaikai, em save amamasim ol na ol famili ting em wanpla gutpla man na em bai lukautim mi. Tasol taim mi kam stap long haus blong em, pasin em soim long ol famili blong mi em no save mekim long mi.  Mipla stap go na em kisim wok. Em wok nau mi bin ting bai mi lukim potnait pe blong em tasol nogat.