Trobriand Islander speaks for Pacific at UN meeting

RICHARD Luvakesa recently attended and told the United Nations Best Diplomats Simulation conference in Bangkok, Thailand, about his journey in learning to develop ideas and politics at the international level.
“I transformed the Kiriwina Goodenough scholarship programme from nowhere to being the best in Milne Bay,” Luvakesa said.
He said the programme is sponsoring 2,741 tertiary students in the country and overseas in various professions.
The 38-years-old is from Sinaketa village in the Trobriand Islands, Kiriwina Goodenough, Milne Bay.
He has served 20 years with the district administration, the last 13 years coordinating the Kiriwina Goodenough scholarship programme and seven years managing the Alotau office of the Kiriwina Goodenough MP and Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa.
His 20 years of service was recognised with a trip to Thailand for four days from April 19-21.
“The topic of discussion was ‘Addressing Global Water Crises’,” he said.
“Majority of the population are living in rural areas and communities and rely on surface water which is prone to contamination from climate change effects.
“If the issue of safe water consumption is not addressed, it will likely lead to health crises, economic and environmental effects.”
For Luvakesa, the challenge now is to address this topic with the equipped ideas, skills and knowledge that came out from that conference in Bangkok.
“Access to safe water must be a national concern because outcomes of unsafe water manifest in the country’s citizens’ leading to illnesses, deaths and many other serious consequences connected to nutrition, health, education, poverty and economic growth and development.
“To address this issue in PNG, development partners must support the Government efforts to address the water crisis.
“In Kiriwina Goodenough District Perspective, there are current existing open water sources that the population livelihood depends upon. Introducing new technology with innovations and water systems will become a secondary option,” Luvakesa
explained.
He stated that the Kiriwina District has existing pilot projects like; the GIZ, EU and WASH Programme to name the few.
“Those are not currently effective and I propose a feasibility study to be carried out on the current water crises within the electorate for proper data, then new submissions to be presented to the PNG Government and development partners for funding.”
He said his dream is to see the surrounding island villages and his own gain access to modern developments and to see through means, your health is paramount to live healthy – only through accessing fresh clean water can ease some health related issues and diseases.