by Tere Alex – EM TV, Port Moresby
It has been 20 years since a major volcanic eruption destroyed the once-picturesque town of Rabaul.
Last month, residents received a reminder of the ongoing geothermal threat of Mount Tavurvur when it erupted again, sending clouds of ash 18 kilometres into the stratosphere.
The effect of the eruption can be seen everywhere.
But now it’s back to business. The locals, who have moved out from their homes, returned and continued their normal daily routine.
The tourism sector in the province is picking up from what it left has before 1994 eruption.
Over the weekend, all hotels and lodges in the province were fully booked out with visitors coming from all over Papua New Guinea to watch the annual Prime Minister’s XIII match.
This was not the case, when the SP PNG Hunters call it a home and moved out from the Bomana camp in Port Moresby mid this year.
The Hunters brought people from all walks of life, not only to watch the match, but contributed prominently to the growing SME sector in the province.
East New Britain Governor Ereman ToBaining Jr reported in one of the dailies recently, his belief that small to medium enterprises can be pillars of sustainable economic development.
