But I think forcing these people back to their originating village would simply not work.

In making the movement to urban areas, they (or their parents before them) effectively turned away from village life.

If they returned, they would be strangers in their own community. Many left their village so long ago (or are the children of those who left) and have lost contact with their traditional community.

They will lack the necessary skills to be productive members of the village society.

They will not know their parents’ language and have little knowledge of their culture and customs.

Many of these people have been in the city for two to three generations. The city is their home.

In addition to feeling lost and alienated, a large number of people returning to rural areas would place a burden on already pressurised health and education systems.

Rural schools and health facilities are usually small, poor and dependent. Immense pressure on these fragile services would certainly threaten their quality.

And I haven’t even mentioned the land disputes that would occur as people tried to claim back that which had long ago been reallocated within the community.

So instead of solving the problem, repatriation would cause more problems.

Instead of forcing urban squatters and unemployed people back to the village, the first step should be a control on rural migration to urban areas.

People should be prevented from going to cities unless they have a job to go to.

The government should encourage more business and investment opportunities in rural areas to create jobs so that people can have paid employment and live a decent life.

Working to develop agricultural and other projects in rural areas will help keep at home.

It won’t fix the problems of urban PNG, but it will stop the present situation from getting worse while effective solutions are found.