SEYMOUR'S SWEATY SHOCK

 

Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour quenches his thirst from a bamboo water container.

UPPER YAMAP MAMA TELLS MP THE BUSH TRUTH . . . . 

Words & Pictures By PISAI SARUFA GUMAR

SEASONED cattle rancher and Morobe politician Ross Seymour asked a simple question to a rural village woman last month in outback Salamaua.

He got the shock of his life. Seymour will not forget the answer easily.

For as long as he lives, Ross Seymour will remember this woman from Upper Yamap in the rugged hinterlands of Salamaua in his Huon Gulf District.

Seymour’s Huon Gulf electorate includes Salamaua which stretches along the coast and sweeps inland to the Markham Valley. Upper Yamap borders the Bulolo district.

Beyond the green canopy foliage of the south west mountains bordering Huon Gulf and Bulolo district nestles the true voice of the proverbial ‘survival of the fittest’.

Here in rural Morobe, the experience of the Hote-Yamap people depicts the adage of real-life silent majority face elsewhere daily.

So, a young mother, in her late 30’s, when Huon Gulf MP, Ross Seymour, asked her: “how many clothes do you think any women in your village may own?”

She paused for a second, then murmured in a shy voice, answering: “tupla; wanpla blo werim na wok gaden na narapla blo werim lo Sande igo lotu na arapela bikpla bung.”

(I have two pieces of clothing. One set to wear and work in the garden, and the other for church on Sunday and to any other important gatherings.)

Sliding down to the river.

Seymour was unable to hold back tears after the woman responded, realizing the agony women, mothers and young girls in Upper Yamap have endured in last 47 years through isolation.

Seymour sensed the implicit voice of the lady, unable to reveal in her heart and mind, as none of the past leaders nor public servants had set foot in Upper Yamap.

These inhabitants struggled spiritedly only to own single clothes, eating utensils, beddings and gardening tools, besides least or no health and education services.

Upper Yamu people keep yearning when will they have a primary school and an aid post for their survival, likewise their Mid-Waria counterparts.

Yamap comprises 26 hamlets, while Selebob has 14 hamlets.

Under Seymour’s administration, the Huon Gulf administrator Moses Wanga and education manager, Sam Geseng formally established Yamap primary school on Friday March 18, 2022 after 46 years.

This will be followed by an aid post and a road link that was halted at Hote due to land issue.

Visiting 64 wards became one of Seymour’s obligation to know the councillors, familiarize with environment and the needs of the people, ensuring district development authority to capture essential human needs into the budget for funding them accordingly.

Taking a breather at the river. The crossing was built by locals from bush vines and saplings, a feat of engineering only known and perfected by rural communities.

For Seymour’s final visit to Yamap, none of the four passengers’ onboard the pink MAMA rotor knew the actual location to advise the pilot to land the aircraft.

As a result of the doubt, the pinky rotor mistakenly landed upon a tiny tip of an oval shaped hill, meant only for an emergency medevac of critical patients.

Soon, few locals came running breathlessly up the hilltop and showed up amid savannah covered shrubs with puzzled faces.

The locals then instructed the pilot to soar further up into the highlands. Yet, the second attempt was again at a wrong basketball court in Lavile hamlet.

The pilot was on a rush to attend a meeting in Port Moresby that morning. Thus, the option was for MP Seymour, Wanga and Geseng to find their way from Lavile across to Yasiling.

Lavile locals came rushing in euphoria, welcoming the visitors.

Among the locals, a man said, “Ol bossman, ples blo bung em istap lo hapsait maunten ya,” as he pointed to Yasiling village, about 1500 miles south-west, visible from a distance across the other side of the mountain range.

“Bai yumi wokabaut igo daun long wara na bihain igo antap lo ples blo bung. Em ino longwe tumas,” said the other man.

“Okay, yumi wokabaut nau,” said Mr Seymour as he led the steps.

Resting by the river boulders.

So, it was 9am, the walk down steep slopes covered in thick savannah grassland started. The strides continued down, down and farther down, deep into the heart of Yamap headwaters.

The ankles got numb, toe nails lost grips, knees trembled, hips became inactive as hands held on tight to walking stick and shrubs alongside the walkway.

The going grew tough and harsh as locals came to the aid of Mr Seymour, one in front and the other at the back as he resorts to sit on his bum and crawled the steepness down with the aid of a stick and hands.

Caring locals had to rush to nearby creek, fetch water in bamboo and bring it to cool our thirst, as women came with bilum full of fruits and halted us for a rest before continuing the foots.

It took us from 9am-12noon arriving down Yamap headwaters, walk across the rickety foot bridge then an hour up again to Yasiling village.

Midway up to reach Yasiling, the P2 BIB (Black is Beautiful) rotor arrived to take the delegation back to Lae. Yet the launching ceremony of the new Yamap primary school wasn’t held as yet.

The locals in traditional attire to welcome the delegation was still waiting patiently.

Understanding the adversity endured, the female pilot (Rachael) had the mercy and courtesy to allow extra 45 minutes for MP Seymour, Wanga and Geseng to complete the formalities in announcing the new level four school with confirmed six teaching positions.

Back on the track.

Wanga then assured the locals to identify their own children who’ve completed grade 12 to be listed for corporate scholarship at Balob teachers’ college, return home and serve own people.

Likewise, to health and elementary school teachers to attend Heldsbach elementary teachers training college (HETTC) and Braun community health workers training in Finschhafen.   

If Yamap experience wasn’t enough, Seymour and wife, Marie and Wanga had to spend another cold night out in deep forest of Mazim, Lower Watut on March 26, 2022.

Wampar nurse, Janet Dommerholt, two daughters (Grace and Ena), Lae-based female reporters Joan Bailey, Phison Artang and three local women were soaked to their toes, faced with unbearable reality to wrestle with tiny gona dumama’s (tiny swampy mosquitoes).

All male passengers had great time soaking their clothes and body in mud, straining muscles to dig and push eight vehicles for 15 hours (Sunday 8.20pm-10.07am Monday) after returning from Maralina, witnessing Lutheran church building opening.

Walking four hours of a day in Yamap and 15 hours out in cold night digging mud and pushing vehicles at Mazim reflects Seymour’s practical courage to reach the unreached.

It depicts his perseverance and kind-heart with an inspiration to reach the unreached people, leave no child behind for the prosperity of Huon Gulf people into unknown future.

Finally at Yasiling for the launching of Yamap Primary School (below). The Black Beauty chopper waits for Seymour.

 Huon Gulf administrator Moses Wanga, MP Ross Seymour and education Manager, Sam Geseng observing the national anthem and pledge with local pupils.

The writer PISAI SARUFA GUMAR is a Scout Master, trekker, fishing tour guide and freelance photo journalist.