-Rennell & Bellona province calls on GREAT government and its national disaster agencies following relief supplies, materials for the two islands lost with sunk MV Anjeanette
-‘Where’s NDC, NDMO – What type of disaster will you react to?’ Deputy Premier questions
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The burning and sinking of MV Anjeanette did not just mean a company losing a ship – it also meant a whole province, constituency and its people losing everything.
The ship was laden with – relief supplies (food and water) sent by authorities for the drought-stricken islands of Rennell and Bellona experiencing food shortage, cargoes for shops and canteens on the two islands, materials for projects by various stakeholders; constituency, province, NGOs, churches and individuals, food and household items sent by individuals and families for their loved ones in the two islands including wheelchairs for elderly people.
The Rennell and Bellona provincial government is calling on the GREAT government and its disaster agencies to assist and respond to the disaster in the two islands that has been exacerbated by the tragic burning and sinking of the ship with all the cargoes.
Deputy Premier Collin Tesu’atai told Island Sun yesterday while most media hype was focused on the loss of a well-known ship, another side to the incident is Rennell and Bellona people having had their suffering made worse.
“We sympathise with the owners of MV Anjeanette who had always stepped in to help Rennell and Bellona when we needed a ship to serve the two islands.
“The people of Rennell and Bellona who were suffering the impacts of a four-month drought and ensuing food shortage, which had been made worse by three months without any ship, are grieving and suffering their lost properties onboard MV Anjeanette,” Mr Tesu’atai said.
“Everyone on Rennell and Bellona was looking forward to this trip because of the food and water. Others including the constituency, province, churches, NGOs and individuals were expecting their materials to be transported to the two islands for their livelihood projects.
“Families and individuals struggling in Honiara paid food and items to send to their loved ones on the islands. Now everything is just gone. And it was not of their making too.
“It has been 10 days and surprisingly we have not heard the national government nor its disaster agencies such as the National Disaster Council (NDC) and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to announce any relief work for Rennell and Bellona.
“Where are the NDC and NDMO? What types of disaster are you waiting for before you react and assist?
“This incident represents an existing disaster on Rennell and Bellona which was made worse by relief supplies and cargoes intended for the province lost when the ship they were loaded in got burnt down and sunk.
“If the national disaster offices do not react then what should we expect from these disaster agencies?” Tesu’atai asks.
Water and food shortage
People on Rennell and Bellona are heavily dependant on processed food where rice, noodle and canned tuna are staple.
Due to the drought and food shortage, some who have gardens are forced to share their harvest, while families resort to strict rationing of any rice they have left.
But these are running out as there is no end in sight for the drought – and then the MV Anjeanette tragedy struck.
Many are reportedly resorting to ‘disaster time foods’ to survive which are wild root crops normally neglected in abundant times.
School principal Daley Tesu’atai speaking to Island Sun from Bellona yesterday said they are making follow-up assessments to report to their provincial authorities regarding the water and food shortage.
“Water tanks on the island are empty. Only few who have some left are strictly rationing it. Food shortage is ongoing while many people are resorting to wild crops and fruits to complement the little harvest they have from gardens. Some who are without gardens are faring worse.”
Several people have taken to social media to share their adventurous activities of scouring the bushes for wild yams, pandanus and pawpaw.
Fruits of pandanus which was considered food in the ancient times have been reportedly resorted to for consumption.
Provincial government seeking relief supply ship
Deputy Premier Tesu’atai said his provincial government had an urgent meeting resolving to send a ship with relief supplies to the two islands.
“We cannot sit around and wait for government to carry out its assessment of the MV Anjeanette tragedy while our people back on Rennell and Bellona are suffering from the drought and food shortage,” he said.
“The Renbel provincial government has met and resolved to look to arranging a relief supply for Rennell and Bellona. We’ve secured a ship but we are still looking around for assistance to purchase food and water.
“We are reaching out to the national government ministries and business houses to help us in this.”
Tesu’atai said they are hoping to send the relief supplies by this weekend if they have garnered enough support for relief supplies.
“We really need the GREAT government to step in and assist,” Tesu’atai said.
Second Appointed Day cancelled
Deputy Premier Tesu’atai said the MV Anjeanette tragedy has forced the cancelation of this year’s celebrations of Rennell and Bellona province’s Second Appointed Day.
“We cannot celebrate when our people are grieving and suffering their loss,” Deputy Premier Tesu’atai said.
Furthermore, there is no food and water for such events to be held, he adds.
This marks the second time for such cancellation, the first being in 2015 due to serious political and social disputes on Rennell over the registration of land for mining.
MV Anjeanette tragedy first of its kind
On the early hours of Saturday, July 4, around 4am social media began erupting with news of MV Anjeanette being on fire, docked at the Pt Cruz wharf.
It was later towed out to sea while attempts continued to put out the fire. Sometimes last week, the ship reportedly sank. The time of sinking is not clear. An active investigation by authorities is current.
This is the first time for such to happen – a ship getting burnt down at the Pt Cruz wharf, and then later sinking.
At the time it caught fire, MV Anjeanette was heavily laden with cargo bound for Rennell and Bellona province.
It had spent few days loading – cargoes transferred from MV Awka plus additional cargoes loaded. It was reportedly set to sail that Saturday. Initially MV Awka had sailed to Renbel province but was forced to turn back due to bad weather.
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