No response to plight of Carterets people in PNG
Updated
The people of the Carterets in Papua New Guinea say their calls for help in moving from their sinking islands have been ignored. A community leader from the Carterets, Ursula Rakova says there's been no response from the Australia government or Non-Government organisations to their campaign in Australia last year for assistance to help re-locate to Bougainville. She says the six tiny atolls north of Bougainville are now 60 percent submerged and they need money to help them re-settle. Ms Rakova has returned to Australia to re-emphasise the plight of the Carterets people.
Presenter: Kenya Kala
Speaker: Spokesperson for the sinking Carteret Islands in PNG, Ursula Rakova
RAKOVA: The trip last year basically was to talk to policy and decision makers, to civil society organisations and generally Australians about Carterets people being at the frontline of climate change. We wanted to raise awareness about the impact of rising sea levels on the island, and how we could generate interest and support from Australians on the issue affecting our people on Carterets.
KALA: And so I take it this is similar to those issues this time?
RAKOVA: Yes this trip is similar but more to tell the Australian public that despite not being able to get the support we needed over the months we also want to tell them how far we have progressed with the relocation of our people.
KALA: What sort of assistance are you looking for from the Australian government?
RAKOVA: We are looking for mainly finance because for other Pacific Island nations they are talking about adaptation and finance. For Carterets we are talking about finance and relocation because we are moving from our atolls to mainland Bougainville, and for us to move and be comfortable we need homes to move to. Sixty per cent of the island is gone, and it continues to go. This is why there is not enough land for us to grow any food crops anymore.
KALA: And with your moving to Tin-putz. I believe 38 families are currently on the list to move or have they moved?
RAKOVA: Thirty-eight families have signed on to move and are interested to move, but they have not moved because we have not built any homes yet. This is why by the next two months we want to build five local homes, so that we are fast-tracking this process of movement.
KALA: And the land that is given is from the Catholic Church?
RAKOVA: The local land has been given by the Catholic Church to the islanders.
KALA: What about the PNG government and the monies that were promised?
RAKOVA: The PNG government responded to our call for assistance by allocating two million kina in their revised budget last year. So in October 2007 two million kina was allocated to Carteret Relocation Program. This money was transferred from the national purse to the autonomous purse, and ever since it has not come for the purpose it was allocated for. From sources that has reached us the acting administrator of Bougainville says that the two million kina will be used for the whole of the atolls relocation program.
KALA: And do you have any idea when?
RAKOVA: I have no idea when this money will be allocated because if it's for the whole of the atolls at least a percentage of this money should come to Carterets because we are already organised.
