Those few lines tell of how many of my people felt  when they were displaced in October 2004 following the volcanic eruption on Manam Island in Madang Province.

Eleven years have now passed and still nothing much has been done to help them. Manam islanders have experienced a gradual cultural shift and have adapted and adjusted to the new environment and ideologies whilst struggling to hold to their identity.

After countless empty promises, they have lost all hope and respect in the government and its agencies. They now regard themselves as a forgotten and neglected race. Foreigners in their own land.

The people were resettled in five care centres (Pottsdam, Moumba, Daiggul, Asuramba and Mangem) on the mainland at Bogia.

Here they continue to face a lack of basic services like health and education. Other major problems affect their welfare: cultural differences, unemployment, land disputes.

I came to a full realisation of the extent to which these issues have escalated after editing a paper by Robyn Borausiki, my cousin sister.

Robyn found that there is no effective communication between the government and the Manam people and a diminution of the chieftain system, which ensured law and order in the community.

This disrespect for elders and chiefs has caused social disorder to get out of control. The chief was the stronghold of cultural values. He was the person that spoke once and the people listened.

In the care centres the chiefly powers diminished because, without the respect of the people, life was too hard and the chief could not address law and order problems in the new surroundings.

Hence the authority of the Kukurai has faded. Under the Kukurai system, Manam was a highly structured and orderly society. Displacement from the island has significantly weakened this social structure.

With their people now resettled on the fringe of Bogia, youths have revolted against clan and village leaders and social problems are the consequence. If nothing is done to help them, the youths will not be an investment for the future but become a major problem.

Unacceptable behaviours like gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, fights and disputes, stealing and engaging in unethical conduct have crept in to destabilise the traditional system.

Now it seems the resettled Manam people are again on the move and will hopefully find a permanent home at Andarum in the Josepstal area of the Middle Ramu.

However, this will not ease the pressure on the hierarchical leaders who will still need to ensure that the people maintain their identity and values.

Moreover, living on another person’s land and surviving with inadequate resources will not allow for most traditional and cultural practices.

Let us hope for improved communication between government officials and village chiefs and elders will occur and work for the betterment of the Manam people so their needs for basic services and social stability will be met.

But for the moment, my people are badly affected socially, physically, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, economically and politically.

Anua Negu – o – o –o (my home – o – o – o)
Anua Nema (our home)
Aburoma omo dieno (our hearts are always with you)
Motu anua (our island home)
Anua Moagere (our beautiful home)