A RIGO MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

 

LET THERE BE LIGHT in IAURA

chopper lands at Iaura.

NESTLED in the mountains of Central Province in the Rigo District is a village called Iaura or Eaura as others would call it.

The village is found in the Rigo East LLG, with a population of around 100 people.

One rainy July day in 2019, MP for Rigo Lekwa Gure flew into the LLG to visit three villages Dorobisoro, Oram and Iaura in the mountains of his district.

Due to cloud cover, he headed straight to Iaura village, a mountain village that is two days walk from the Kwikila station with the nearest medical officer located two villages away.

As the helicopter from Port Moresby arrived on that morning, the villages looked puzzled, wondering what was happening as, unfortunately the ward councilor had not informed villagers of the visit by their member.

Nonetheless the visitors were met by a group men, boys, children and women who assisted in removing the items we had brought along for the visit.

It was a surprise for me when we got off the helicopter and was greeted with “Dabai Namona” (good morning in Motu) I must have looked shocked because those in our company had a good laugh.

I laughed a little and greeted them back which in turn brought more giggles.

Iaura muscle power in the delivery chain.

Most of villagers had gone for the morning to the mountains across the river to their gardens.

We moved into the village and were greeted by simple homes, and rows of pineapple which grew well in the cool weather.

At the local Pastor’s home, a chair was brought to accommodate the member who spoke with the villagers enquiring how many lived in the village and their way of life.

When speaking with the villagers they said that the Lako river which provides them water, was inaccessible at certain parts, and when attempting to get to Kwikila, they had to cross the same river 24 times.

Beside their inland Boku language, the villagers can speak English, Tok Pisin and Police Motu.

We settled in with curious children looking at us and amid whispers of curiosity, Gure spoke to the villagers.

He shared his four visions for the area including installing a communication tower for network coverage, a rural airstrip, an avenue for their agriculture products and a water supply system to ensure clean drinking water for the village

“Meeting with the people is part of our duty for development purposes and to ensure we as leaders know what our people are going through.”

“For 2019 and 2020, it is to ensure that a fair portion of the money we receive as the district is spread and includes Rigo North and Rigo East.”

“The purpose of this trip is to see for myself, where a communication tower can be set up and especially where potential air strips can be built,” Gure reiterated.

Iaura children gather around the sewing machines for their mothers.

Gure was also on a mission to see for himself what could be done for the rural airstrips at the Dorobisoro, Oram and Iaura.

“My visit is to see if we can open airstrips as part of the plan to help our people with transport and moving agricultural products and bring in trade store goods as well.”

“As far as airstrips go, we have a working airstrip in Dorobisoro but Oram and Iaura is closed,” Gure said.

He also announced that plans were in place to ensure and identify where a communication tower could be set up for the villages to communicate with Kwikila Station.

“I want to see a communication tower set up, the rural airstrips fixed and able to be used, agriculture products being moved into Kwikila station to bring income to the villages located in Rigo East and a proper water supply to ensure clean drinking water for the families.”

Iaura as part of the electoral visit received 10 solar panels and lights, 5 manual Singer sewing machines and materials.

Several medical kits were to be delivered but we were told by villagers that the medical officer was stationed two villages away.

Another lot of medical kits were to be delivered to Dorobisoro and Oram as well, but with the weather it will be delivered at another time including lights, and sewing machines and materials.

Tevu Tepson, a youth at the village, said that days are spent gardening, swimming, and ensuring their mothers are assisted with whatever needs is needed in the house.

“Our fathers will go to the mountains to hunt or if there is a need, make the two day walk to Kwikila.”

the food delivered to the villagers.

The foods that are grown in the village are pineapple, peanut, kaukau, banana, guava, and caster apple and there had been an attempt with growing coffee and cocoa but that has not been forthcoming on the harvest once ready.

As the curiosity of the boxes we had brought with us grew louder, the Rigo District CEO Koru Abe, who among us could speak Motu, told the villagers what we had brought.

Solar Lights, manual Singer sewing machines, and materials were brought out.

The excitement was obvious, as we showed them how to use the solar lights, the young men were watching carefully as we showed them how to work the lights

Next the sewing machines, the women stood a bit closer as we showed them the machines.

When the materials came out, you could tell the women were all thinking of the different styles, designs and patterns they could sew with the machine.

The returning chopper brought back food for the village. Forming a human chain the food items and the boxes were brought out by the boys and girls who assisted the staff.

We had a brief photo session with the villagers and they thanked us saying no one had ever done what the member had in spending time with them and bringing them much needed items.

A spokesman Philip said in Motu that this food would last the villages for a month or two, and the lights would provide much needed light for the students and the families to use especially when moving from one house to another or to the toilets,” he said

“The materials would also provide clothes for the children and this visit is heaven sent,” he added. “We are grateful for the visit,” Philip said.

As the chopper lifted off, I knew it would be years before I ever get a chance to go back to Iaura, but this trip really opened my eyes to what simple villages located away from Government Services are facing.

We crossed the mountains heading to Kwikila and silently wondered what we would do if we were in their situation.

Young Tevu had told me that he loved his village life but he wished services such as schools and hospitals were nearby.

Iaura has taught me to be grateful for what you have.

The author MIRIAM ZARRIGA is a journalist for The National newspaper. 

This is what a sewing machine looks like, children.

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