By Adelaide Kari – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Since our story on the eviction at Red Hills in Port Moresby, a number of our viewers have asked about a student who was shown crying at the site of his demolished home after returning from school on the day of the eviction. EMTV News visited his family today to see how they have been coping.
It was a footage that EMTV News had captured on the day of the eviction, that showed a Tokarara Grade 9 student, Raydan Repono, overcome with emotions, siting and looking on helplessly as he cried at the sight of the place he once called home, that was now being demolished before his eyes. For this Grade 9 student and all the other families at the eviction site, life has now become a daily struggle.
EMTV News were able to capture his family scrambling to pack what they could before the excavator made its way through Raydan’s home. This morning, Raydan emotionally explained how he felt that afternoon.
What used to be their canteen that had provided income for the family who resided at the area since 2011 was all gone. Raydan through his tears, said he hopes they win the court battle so that his family can rebuild their home again.
While EMTV News spoke with Raydan’s family, Ata Aluao, another evicted victim approached EMTV News asking to share her story also. Ata’s family was not so lucky as their home and all their belongings were destroyed, but Ata’s real concern was her daughter in Grade 12 and another at Pacific Adventist University (PAU) who now have no roof over their heads.
