Manus Province

Knight questions death of Sudanese refugee

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/knight-questions-death-sudanese-refugee-48993

Member for Manus has slammed the operators of the refugee Centre in Manus.

Teachers spend Christmas away from home

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/teachers-spend-christmas-away-home-49016

Mbuke is one of many islands in PNG affected by climate change and sea level rise.

Officers from Government agencies, including NARI, Department of Agriculture and Livestock and Department of Environment and Conservation, visited the island recently to speak to the locals.

They did a survey and interviews with focus groups, community leaders and women on food security and income generating activities.

The people were very happy to hear about options on income generation, women empowerment and capacity building and training.

Local NGO Marine Environment Awareness and Response Team, headed by former WWF Marine Officer Selarn Kaluwin, confirmed that the tide increased by 0.1 metre compared to past events.

Kaluwin said the tide has gone down however, they are monitoring the situation after sea level reached about 5 to 20 metres onshore.

However, he said the impact didn’t affect gardens and homes however, villagers are on the lookout.

“We are looking at local approaches or knowledge in terms of adaptation measures.

They will go through training on how to operate and maintain the 6 solar-powered desalination plants on Bipi before the project is formally commissioned and handed over to them.

This will also happen in the other four islands in Manus who are recipients of this water project.

National desalination project manager, Tom Anayabere, said testing, certification and commissioning will take place this Friday on Bipi Island.

“All desalination works on Bipi Island will be completed by this Sunday. Next week we will start with Mbuke Island,” Anayabere said.

 Nine 20 foot shipping containers were supposed to be opened today for clearance by Customs.

 The National Project manager Tom Anayabere said this will now take place on Tuesday due to rain in Lorengau.

The containers contain solar equipment and  includes backup controls and batteries, plus the actual desalination plant equipment that will be installed in the project islands of Bipi, Mbuke, Whal, Nauna, Mal and Aua.

A delivery of the equipment is expected to be done on Thursday to Bipi island. Mbuke and Whal will receive their plants next week.

This was after the People’s Progress Party (PPP) Leader Ben Micah spoke in a public awareness at the Lorengau Market last week, which was packed with both the locals as well as the asylum seekers.

Lorengau town mayor Ruth Mandrakamo said she invited other parties to visit the province, like PPP, and do awareness.

Micah, who is also the Kavieng MP, said the maritime provinces of Manus and New Ireland face similar problems, especially in service delivery.

The people of Mbuke Island in Manus Province have taken the initiative to find ways to adapt to this natural impact.

Ward councilor Selarn Kaluwin said they’ve been working towards addressing the issue for years now, which is progressing well.

Kaluwin said they already have adaptation plans in place which include coastal rehabilitation programs.

“We are still facing these problems and have looked at options in trying to adapt.

“These include building a sea wall and planting mangroves, which are working really well for us.

This was what the lawyer representing the chief migration officer and Minister for Immigration, Laias Kandi, told the Supreme Court.

Kandi returned to court on Tuesday afternoon with a list of particulars, as requested by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia on June 22, of all transferees brought to Manus from Australia in 2013. 

They have been categorised into three main groups; those processed and identified as refugees, the asylum seekers currently still undergoing processing and those identified as non-refugees.

While those on the main land will be affected in terms of their employment at the processing center, those on the outer islands are now looking at tourism as a way forward.

A tourism seminar was held for the first time this week in Lorengau town that ended with the election of the First Manus Interim Manus Provincial Tourism Association Executives.

Tourism Development Initiatives Proposed Plans were brought up by those in attendance, amongst these was a proposal for the M’buke Islands-Ecotourism and Research & Conservation Plan.

The people are mostly using water holes in the bush that don't usually dry up quick.

David Putulan, a Biologists by training LOOP PNG correspondent said there is evidence of contaminants but people are still using the water, mainly for cooking.

"The bright green water surface suggests the heavy presence of cyanobacteria or algae. Eutrophication is taking place as a result of detergents leaking back into the water from women doing laundry", he said.