Area 5 – The Boys Hostel

The residential section of the UNITECH campus is divided up into a number of distinct housing areas. The section where I live for example is known as Area 3. Towards the far end of campus, in direction of the Telikom College you will find what is known as Area 5. Close to  Area 5 you will also find The Rainforest Habitat and also one of the local primary schools. Tent Siti police station is also in the vicinity. Area 5 residents are predominantly made up of non academic staff together with their families and wantoks. Within Area 5 you will also find two hostels, one designated for the single women and the other for the single men, well in theory anyway. My story today is about the single quarters for men, commonly known as The Boys Hostel.

My 1^st visit to the Boys Hostel was a few weeks ago, some time between the 1^st and 2^nd State of Origin rugby matches. I remember this 1^st visit clearly. The residents were very hospitable and friendly and we sat around telling stories and chewing buai. We laughed a lot. I was given a Sepik bilum which I use regularly. The other thing that stuck in my mind was the living conditions and the general state of the building and living quarters. I made a mental note at the time to come back and take some photos and perhaps do a liklik story. Well, Saturday just gone I went back and here I am.

I have visited some pretty run down homes in my time and even lived in a few (some of you reading this could certainly testify to that), but the Boys Hostel in Area 5 has to take 1^st prize. 1^st prize. 1^st prize for squalor and disrepair. A definite candidate for the bulldozer and a piece of cake for the demolition team. In other words, downright disgusting and in my opinion totally unfit for humans.

The hostel was built in 1969 and was designed to house 20 single men (20 rooms). The rooms are approximately 3×3 meters. Kitchen, bathroom and toilets are shared. Shared? Did I hear shared? Yes, shared with their partners, their kids and in some cases other family members. What was originally meant to house a proportion of the single male population on campus now houses entire families. How do you fit 2 adults and 2 children in a 3×3 space. Easy, you just squash them in. Hell, you could probably get six people in there if you “squashed” a little harder.

One of the residents told me that he had been living here for 9 years. 9 years!! And in the 9 years he had lived in the hostel, absolutely no maintenance! None whatsoever! I took some photos on Saturday which I have posted to a new Album : “UNITECH – The Boys Hostel”.

Let the photos speak for themselves. 

Click on to go directly to the Album.

“Boys Hostel @ Area 5“

Whom is responsible?

Perhaps University Administration? Does the University Administration have a duty of care ensuring an acceptable standard of housing is available for its employees?

Perhaps University Maintenance?  Does the University Maintenance Department need to be taking greater responsibility for the maintenance of its assets?

Perhaps Lae City Council? Are the city’s health and building regulations being complied with?

Perhaps the PNG Government? Who else can lead the way and guide institutions towards public accountability and wise governance?

Perhaps the residents themselves? I once heard a wise person say: “For the world to change I must change first”

All of the above?

The answer to this question and the answer to the questions that this question raises is not as simple as it first seems. And besides, the point here is neither a question nor an answer. The point is…

…how and when will the living conditions improve for the men, women and children of the Boys Hostel in Area 5? (If at all)

Don’t forget to check out the photos.