The Provincial Member and Governor for Madang, Ramsey Pariwa, has assured that his commitment to addressing issues faced by the displaced Manam Islanders remains steadfast and he pledges to build their human resource capacity going forward.
Speaking during the presentation of a K218,200 cheque to the new Fr Frank Zuccolo Memorial Manam High School at the Potsdam care centre in Bogia District of Madang over the weekend, Pariwa said due to their situation and unavailability of land, human resource would be the solution to empower the people of Manam and improve their living standards.
"I am confident that human resource will bring Manam forward," Pariwa said.
"With the current situation, we all know that there is no other way Manam people can sustain themselves, except through human resource and that can be achieved if we invest in the education of our children," he said.
"I have realized that there is potential in our young generation because I've come across many elite Manam people who are well educated and living successful lives both in PNG and abroad," Pariwa said.
"Most of them are household names in Madang Town, Port Moresby and elsewhere," he said.
"So, we will cultivate Human Resource for the people of Manam from today going forward in the next 50 years and beyond," Pariwa said.
When questioned by a representative of the Chiefs (Kukurai) of Manam if special consideration would be given to Manam students attending tertiary institutions under the Provincial Government's Sir Peter Barter Scholarship school fee subsidy scheme, Pariwa assured them that he has taken it into consideration and will bring it up with the scholarship committee to act on it because education remains a priority under his government.
Governor Pariwa also told the Manam people that should they come across any issues they can always feel free to see him as his office is always open to everyone from all over Madang Province.
Board Chairman of the newly established Manam High School, Gabriel Sila, in a very moving speech, reminded Governor Pariwa of the hardships they have faced while trying to ensure that their children pursue education and make it in life.
"As Chairman, what I am going to say is a sad story for us Manam people especially our children," Sila said.
"There was a situation that has happened and one of our kids lost his life and this has driven us to work towards what you see before you, a school of our own and we are so proud having come this far," he said.
"Even though we had no money, we have parents gave support in whatever little way we could, and the Yabu Local Level Government stepped in and helped to build this school," Sila said.
He concluded that they still need classrooms, teachers house, clean drinking water and sanitation and electricity source to ensure effective operation of the new Manam High School.
Madang Provincial Education Director, Mr. Alphonse Igag, who also attended the program and took note of the school boards concern of registration, assured the board and management that the issue will be sorted out before school starts next year.
"I can confirm that this school is the only school in the province that has all the necessary infrastructure and qualified to be a registered junior high school," he said.
"This school came about mainly through the support of Manam people who quietly build this school without noise," Igag said.
"So, first thing next year, we will bring School Registration Compliance Committee to do a check list and make sure they give junior high school status given your situation," he said.
Igag reiterated that most schools in Madang have applied to attain junior high school status but were rejected because they did not have the necessary infrastructure having relied in infrastructures belonging to the primary school.
Former Madang Governor, James Yali, who accompanied Governor Pariwa to the program also stressed on the struggles of the Manam people since the eruption in 2004.
"Governor, in 2004 you were in secondary school when the eruption occured and I know you understand their issue well," Yali told Pariwa.
"Manam people are resilient and very intelligent because their cultural structure made them resilient," he said.
"We can sort out other issues but if we don't sort out Manam issue, then we will still have problems as they have been disadvantaged for the past 20 plus years," Yali said.
Chief of Yasa Village, Willie Rupunai, when speaking on behalf of the Manam Chiefs called on Governor Pariwa to give special consideration to the Manam children in terms of their education.
"I apologize that we Manam people are a constant liability to your government," he said.
"We Manam people have been like this for too long, which you are well aware, and we have been regularly visiting your office," Rupunai said.
"Regarding the scholarship, we Manam people feel that it's too much and can you at least pay 75 percent of the fees for our students attending tertiary Institutions?" he asked Governor Pariwa.
Rupunai said it would be a relief to the parents if they can get some consideration in the education sector as their children will be their human resource to support them in the future financially given their current status.
