By GORETHY KENNETH
DRESSED in his favourite knee-cap jeans and a simple T-shirt, this man, a teacher-cum politician, has a story to tell of how he has walked 14 areas in three years to ascertain the real needs of the people so that he can help them. Lawrence Belleh, a teacher who left his job to help his brother run his hotel business and then enter into politics, yesterday told of how hard his job of being a politician is, together with helping to run his brother�s business and then looking after the affairs of his family. At age 42, Mr Belleh, from Pororan Island, entered politics in 2005 when the Autonomous Bougainville Government established its inaugural government under the Peit Constituency in west coast Buka, North Bougainville. No ties, no suit or leather shoes, no brief case but a plastic bag to carry his papers, this man walks around in his black rubber thongs. He is a simple but neatly attired man who likes to be perfect at all times. Little did he know that his job as a politician, with only K70,000 a year to spend, would be very difficult, especially when that constituency was recognised widely as one of the least developed areas in North Bougainville � Buka to be specific. Peit is also the constituency where most people have an attitude problem, many children do not go to school, houses are still very much traditionally built compared to other parts of Buka, schools are not up to standard, and aid posts are closed. Lawrence Belleh started his walk in 2005 through to 2007 -through all 14 areas that make up the Peit Constituency, which includes Pororan, Yaparu, Hitau, Hapan, Kohiso, Tugeas, Gagan, Kohino, Bekut, Telatu, Sapan, Barikua, Bei and Yagit. �If you know where these areas are, or simply if you know how tough this place is, you�d have a fair idea how my walk was very difficult,� he recalled. �I walked with my peers, slept with the people in their villages, ate with them kaukau and drank water (some don�t even know tea, sugar and rice plus store goods). �I had an aim in this walk. I wanted to find out exactly what the real needs of my electorate people were, what was the problem of moving forward or simply what the Government lacked in providing for them. Within two years of my walking all these mountains, no roads, in fact we have five feeder roads that have not been maintained for the last 20 years � I compiled a whole list of things that these people really needed and after these years I knew exactly what each village, each area and each family needed.� Belleh says education was a priority that was lacking in these 14 areas followed by water tanks, roads and health services. He said the people had an attitude problem that needed to be changed. In 2005, after his first year of visiting at least five areas, he found out that rehabilitation of everyone in the Peit Constituency was urgently needed. �I found out, if we give them money or things, they will use them but still will not change their attitude so I came up with this four year plan that we submitted to the United Nations Development Program (2005-2009) which was only approved and funded last year,� he says. �We have started rehabilitation programs for the commanders � both the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the resistance fighters. We also have in line the leaders, the rank and file and then the women, mothers and children to rehabilitate.� Through his data collection he put together submissions that yesterday resulted in a major presentation of two 24-foot containers of education materials funded through North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio and himself � for 17 elementary schools in the Peit Constituency. The supplies included two television sets for Bei and Tugeas primary schools, the most remote areas in that constituency. �I feel for all these schools, all these areas, all these villages. I wish I had all the money in the world to develop Peit, unfortunately the budget from ABG cannot help me develop all these areas,� he said. |