The title of this discusion is the theme of the Roundtable meeting that was convened at the Poreporena-Laurabada United Church last night (Wednesday, 24 March, 2010) by the Social Concern and Justice Committee of the congregration.
The Meeting was attended by heads of sporting organisations in the village (although only Rugby was represented by yours truly and CEO-Rugby Central Foundation, Jack Kariko. League, Volleyball, Netball, and cricket did not attend), village councillors, clan elders, church reps, and community leaders.
The main purpose of the meeting was to gather information and data and identify the social problems that are now existing in our society today, particularly in the Laurabada side of the village - and then provide solutions to the problems of alcoholism, gambling, prostitution, unemployment, vagrancy, non-attendance at school by students; and simply living disciplined lives and respecting and adhering to the rule of law in the village.
Jack Kariko, President of Motuans Rugby Union Club and CEO-Rugby Central Foundation had the previlege of being invited to discuss the club's and Foundation's aspirations and goals for the future. (Please refer to my first blog on this).
The SCJ Committee has now been tasked to conduct further consultations with the greater community before an Action Plan is drafted for implementation in the village. However, there were three (3) main points agreed to by the meeting which will be immediately implemented from today onwards:
1. Curfew will come into force for all school-age children to be indoors by 8pm every school day;
2. Voluntary cleanup of the village by all families; and
3. Two meetings to be held in the village square to further discuss this issue.
Also discussed was the entry into the village (not by genuine visitors) but by those entering to buy homebrew, drugs, and picking up girls. These particular issues will be discussed in detail in upcoming meetings. However, the possibility of banning all non-Hanuabadans on illegal business in the village was sounded out and supported.
At this juncture, I raised concerns that it was the mandated responsibility of the Committee to consult widely before an Action Plan can be raised because convening only two meetings before drafting of the Action Plan means that a majority of the stakeholders will not have been consulted and therefore will not own this initiative. HOwever, it was resolved for the three resolutions to be implemented.
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Assessments:
We Hanuabadans (the biggest village in PNG, population 9,000 plus; unemployment rate: 90%, natural resources - nil!) are now at the cross-road of prosperty OR poverty. The fact that only 0.001% of all University graduands per year are Hanuabadans portray the dillema we are in. It is therefore in our interest to consolidate our future through education or else we will continue to be marginalized in a land we call our own. We must make all haste to come up with a workable strategy to ensure that:
1. All children ATTEND schools (and not loiter outside the school grounds before returning home at 3pm every day;
2. All school teachers MUST be at their stations to teach!
3. ALL parents MUST ensure that their children attend school;
4. All parents MUST assist their children with their homework and ensure that they do their homework NOT loiter around the village;
5. It is the responsibility of all villagers to ensure that our children go the school;
6. Motu-Koitabu Assembly ensure that ALL children must GO to school and support them all the way to National High Schools and Uni.
My fear is that in 20 years time, if we do not address this issue, 99.99% unemployment awaits us! And with this, will come all the social ills under the sun turning my beautiful village into another city slum!
It was said that we Hanuabadans saw the light first (with the arrival of the first LMS missionaries in the 1870s. It would seem that from this light, we are moving fast into darkness!
The SCJ committee will be convening two meetings in the village squares in the next two weeks. I urge all concerned Hanuabadans to attend these meetings and air your views on how these problems can be looked at and rectified. For the vara-varas living abroad, I would appreciate your comments and assistance on this too.
n saying so, I also understand and appreciate the fact the social problems that continue to plague Hanuabada cannot be resolve by tomorrow as problems of overcrowding in houses, communal living, etc, must be taken into consideration. Still, it is a problem and must be solved.
It is therefore my humble plea to everyone (even non-Hanuabadans who have the heart for social development in PNG, etc) to help us save our village from social disintegration.
God save Hanuabada,
LA
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