May 4, 2017 - Date: May 4th 2017. The Vice President and Member for Atolls Hon Raymond Masono were given a 'red carpet'
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT HON RAYMOND MASONO
Date: May 4th 2017
The Vice President and Member for Atolls Hon Raymond Masono were given a ‘red carpet’ treatment when he arrived at Iangain Island (Carteret) on Monday morning 1st May 2017. The member travelled to the Carteret Islands since his appointment as Vice President accompanied by the Minister for Lands and member for Mahari Hon John Tabinaman. On Han Island the Vice President launched the first ever Atolls District Five Year Development Plan 2016-2020 and together with the Minister for Lands also opened the newly refurbished seaweed storage shed. Mr Masono and his delegation travelled to Iangain Island on Monday 1st May where he received with traditional pomp and accorded the respect befitting a chief. The Vice President and the Minister for Lands were made to walk on mats woven from coconut leaves, lining the main street leading to the official stage. A group of ‘buri’ or young initiatives provided a ‘guard of honour’ for the Vice President and the Minister. The launching of the Shelter Improvement Program, involved the distribution of 2240 pieces of 12ft roofing iron to 160 households in the Mavilu Community of Iangain, Iesila and Iolasa islands. This is the first supply of roofing iron to address the declining number of sago and pandanus palms resulting from the effects of climate change. The shelter Improvement Program to replace sago and pandanus thatched roofs with roofing iron will be rolled out to the Hapu Community of Han and Piul islands in the Carteret this year 2017, Mortlock and Tasman in 2018 and Nuguria in 2019. The program’ is planned to be completed by 2020 during which all households in the Atolls are supplied with roofing iron. It is part of the Member’s long-term vision to improve the communities’ living standards by providing decent shelter and clean and safe drinking water to every households in the next 10 years. I have been calling on four National MPs to assist with this program and although there were commitments to do so, no actual assistance has been forthcoming,’ said the Member. It is
hoped that the new MPs would be more receptive to our request for assistance to finance programs that are aimed at improving the livelihoods of our people.’ The Member said that another 6, 720 pieces of 12ft roofing iron would need to be purchased in the next 3 years at a cost of K336 000 to complete the program by 2020. ‘This is a very small amount compared to the millions that is spent on patrol grading, sealing of sections of our highways and building of bridges over rivers on mainland Bougainville and Buka Island, he further emphasized. ‘But it is also hoped that DFAT, Climate Change & Development Authority (CCDA) and other climate change related resource envelopes would also assist with this program.’ Hon Raymond Masono MHR Vice President
