Former Energy Minister and Bogia MP Robert Naguri has unleashed a scathing attack on the government for abandoning the people of Manam Island, who have suffered for over two decades following a volcanic eruption. In a fiery statement, Naguri condemned both current and past administrations for neglecting the 20, 000 displaced Manam residents since their relocation to the mainland in Madang Province after the 2004 disaster. “You all know the suffering of my people of Manam, it’s been 21 years now, the government has ignored their plight,” he declared. “I have been fighting for my people from the previous government and even in this government, but there has been no change. Naguri's frustration was palpable as he highlighted the dire conditions faced by the displaced community. “There are about 20 thousand people, how can we accommodate refugees in hotels and proper facilities, yet we disregard our own people,” he said, pointing out the irony in the government’s actions. He stressed that the lack of basic services like health care and education has led to people getting sick and children being unable to attend school due to no school fees. “Every government’s interest is to entertain the people’s interest and concerns, as politicians we are voted by the people to go into parliament to serve the people,” Naguri continued, emphasizing that ensuring access to essential services like good roads, hospitals, and schools should be a priority. He recounted his own struggles to advocate for the Manam people in parliament, which ultimately led him to resign from his ministerial position in a bid to incite governmental change. “While millions of kinas continue to be allocated towards the Manam Resettlement exercise annually, up until today it only remains figures on paper,” Naguri revealed, noting that these funds have remained untouched. “Of the K20 million allocation towards the exercise allocated for this year’s budget, nothing has been drawn down yet,” he said, underscoring the persistent bureaucratic inaction. Naguri also called for a generational shift in leadership, advocating for young leaders to take the reins. “We are almost reaching 50 years of nationhood and it is about time a young leader rises up and leads the country in a new direction,” he stated. Naguri’s remarks were made in Banz, Jiwaka Province, during the Opposition’s Highlands tour, which aims to raise awareness about the recent Vote of No Confidence and other critical issues facing the nation.