Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

EU boss visits Motuans

LEADERS of a Motu-Koitabu village outside Port Moresby yesterday told visiting European Union Commissioner Poul Nielson their young people were suffering from the "evils" of western society, including drugs.

Pari Village United Church chairman Rarua Gamu told Mr Nielson, Minister for Social Welfare and Development Lady Carol Kidu, City Manager Bernard Kipit and diplomatic mission representatives that his village was paying the price for being close to the city. He said people were losing their traditional values and customs, and youths were being besieged by all kinds of social ills, including drugs.

"Pari being in the vicinity of the National Capital District, we are victims of what is called urbanisation or civilisation," Mr Gamu said.

"We have lost a lot of our traditional values and customs and we are disintegrating into the modern evils of western society. Our problems are young kids getting into drugs and that sort of thing."

Mr Nielson told a small crowd of villagers in Pari that his short visit was important because it gave him a "direct impression" of their living conditions. He said fighting poverty required a united approach, as had been the case between Europe and the developing countries.

"A very important message we can take back with us is if we can tell the people in Europe that what we are doing together actually works. The most optimistic message is in fact that you yourselves are able to change your situation and create a better future, for us, being a partner in that endeavor is a real privilege," he said.

"Looking at the problems in PNG and in many other places, peace is the most important. Without that nothing works and without that, people are condemning the next generation to poverty."

Lady Kidu took Mr Nielson and the delegation to Pari after a short visit to Port Moresby's Vadavada settlement where the EU Commissioner met community leaders and saw what life was like for most of the city's impoverished people.

Source: Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 12 October 2002

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