The road is also in a bad shape and the local education and healthcare sector require much improvement. The villagers are demanding swift solutions. If the government fails to repair the road within the next two weeks, the residents will put up a roadblock which is the only point of access to the area.

At a meeting which was held last Friday and which was attended by teachers, representatives of the village chief and other residents, it was made clear that they had run out of patience because Bigi Poika had been neglected for wat too long. The residents mainly complained about the lack of electricity 24/7. They currently only get electricity from 6 p.m. until midnight. Solar panels were installed in the area but they have not improved the situation. Chief Harold Draaibas explained that the solar panels do not work optimally. The villagers explained that the limited supply of electricity has huge consequences. Teachers need electricity to prepare their lessons, copy documents and go on the internet. The students have to use flashlights or the lamp of their phone to do their homework. When the battery is depleted, the students cannot recharge their phones. The villagers also cannot store their meat and other food in a refrigerator because of the shortage of electricity. The residents who have to travel all the way to the nation’s capital to buy therefore have no other choice than to eat all of their food as soon as possible upon returning to the village. The local clinic of the Medische Zending also needs electricity to use some of the machines. Some patients have to rushed to the clinic at Pikin Saron which means that more time and money is required for the trip. The villagers also complained that the tapwater is not of a good quality and that the water pressure is always low. They want the minister who is in charge of such issues to make sure that they can have access to top quality water 24/7. The local school also faces a shortage of furniture and books. Many letters have been sent but the principal still has not received any response. The residents explained that the road must be repaired so that all of the other problems can also be addressed. They also pointed out that the aid that is given by the government requires much improvement. The residents had received rice and canned food but some of the canned food had already expired. Families with babies explained that they do not receive infant formula in the food parcels. Revelino who resides in Bigi Poika and who is a member of the local resort council pointed out that he has often sounded the alarm and that he will also inform the NDP of the problems in the village.