THE Wabag District Development Authority (WDDA) will not be assisting customary funeral obligations as it is a waist of development funds.
Wabag MP and Minister for Health, Dr Lino Tom made this announcement publicly to his people of Wabag during his electoral visit to the district.
Minister Lino admitted that it is a norm for his people to ask him to assist for lamb flaps and coke cartons in fulfilling customary funeral obligations but he has decided to stop this practice starting this year.
He reiterated that as the state minister responsible for the people’s health and welfare, it is contrary for him to supply lamb flaps and coke cartons to dismiss funerals as he is simply making the people lazy and at the same time promoting unhygienic living which must completely stop.
Minister Lino instead provided a sustainable approach to his people saying the people must inform the WDDA if they have sugar cane gardens and surplus harvest of sweet potatoes (kaukau).
He said the WDDA can buy from them and assist those in mourning as it is customary that mourners are not able to go out and find food when in mourning.
Minister Lino also advised his people to work on the land and be self reliant instead of asking him to assist in unnecessary traditional funeral ceremonies which tend to make the people lazy and unproductive.
He told his people that he will only assist them in life’s demanding challenges like school fees, immediate medical attention, providing transport for the disabled and other pressing challenges instead of promoting laziness and unproductive lifestyles.
Minister Lino was speaking at the opening of a double classroom building and the launching of the Yalumanda-Aipus road project which is the extension of the original Birip-Aiyel Valley road project.
These ceremonies took place last week at the Birip Primary School grounds in Wabag district.
