In the heart of Papua New Guinea’s West New Britain Province, a quiet revolution is unfolding, driven not by government directives or corporate philanthropy, but by the sheer determination of communities frustrated by unfulfilled promises.
In places like Tamba and Gaungo Village Oil Palm (VOP) Scheme, families are taking matters into their own hands to secure the most fundamental of human rights: access to clean and safe water, often with the crucial support of individuals like Mr. Kevin Mansu and his organization, Green Knights Limited.
For generations, the daily ritual for mothers and daughters in these oil palm growing regions has been the arduous and often dangerous trek to distant water sources. The Dagi River, a primary lifeline, is not only a laborious journey but a perilous one. It’s a river frequented by crocodiles, as tragically highlighted by a recent attack on a young man and further compromised by pollution from oil palm mill effluent and other organic wastes. This grim reality underpins a broader struggle shared by countless remote communities across Papua New Guinea, where basic infrastructure and services remain elusive.
The frustration runs deep, fueled by years of broken pledges. This systemic failure, often indicative of broader issues of accountability and resource mismanagement, leaves communities to bear the brunt of neglect, essentially paying for services they never receive.
But in the face of this adversity, a powerful spirit of self-reliance has emerged. The Albert Bokim family at Tamba Section 8, for instance, is now celebrating the success of a water bore drilling that has brought clean water directly to their doorstep.
The David Konido family, pioneers in the area, also rejoice in a high-water table found at 35 meters, ensuring their relief from daily water fetching. The communities, recognizing that waiting for external assistance is no longer an option, are collectively investing their own hard-earned money to pay for bore drilling and the necessary PVC pipes for casing.
This grassroots initiative is a beacon of hope, demonstrating how communities are actively striving to achieve crucial United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG Goals 15 & 16 related to life on land and peace, justice, and strong institutions, interpreted here as community self-governance and access to basic services) with little to no government assistance. The sight of happy, smiling faces standing beside completed water bore casings speaks volumes, signifying an end to the dangerous daily chores and a new era of health and dignity.
At the forefront of enabling this transformative change is Mr. Kevin Mansu and Green Knights Limited. Their expertise and dedication in facilitating this water bore drillings are instrumental. They are not merely providing a service; they are empowering communities to secure their futures, turning the abstract concept of “clean water for all” into a tangible reality. Their work is a testament to the power of targeted, community-centric action in overcoming systemic hurdles.
While these successes are profound, they also serve as a stark reminder to the Western New Britain Provincial Government, Nakanai District, and NBPOL. The communities are doing their part, investing their limited resources. The question now looms large: can these governmental and corporate entities complement these individual family initiatives by supplying essential water pumps and overhead tanks to draw and store this newly accessed water?
The struggle for clean water in places like Tamba and Gaungo VOP is a microcosm of the challenges faced by countless communities across Papua New Guinea. Yet, it is also a powerful narrative of resilience, self-determination, and the extraordinary impact of committed individuals and organizations like Kevin Mansu and Green Knights Limited, who are lighting the way forward, one borehole at a time.