MPs need no pay rise

THE headline “MPs seek more pay” with up to K30 million in perks and privileges on the front page of The National (Jan 3) is an insult and disgrace to the people of Papua New Guinea.
How can these greedy MPs justify this hefty pay, benefits and perks rise when the people in the rural area are dying of incurable diseases and sickness with no proper or well equipped aids post, hospitals and doctors.
The feeder roads connecting the rural areas and the main highways are nearly impassible with no maintenance.
Hence, the rural people are unable to bring their produce to the market to improve their living standard.
Important government sectors such as education and health are in dire need for funds to help build more schools and hospitals to help cater for the growing population.
Doctors, nurses, teachers and other public servants are going on strike for better pay and benefits which should be looked at urgently and resolved immediately because they are the ones who help our people.
There are many unresolved issues in the country, which the Government needs to resolve before asking for an increase in pay.
There are not many tangible developments taking place in this country and we are moving backwards compared to the other smaller Pacific island countries.
The MPs were elected to serve the people of Papua New Guinea, not themselves and their cronies.
I personally think MPs should be the lowest paid public servants in PNG if they are really there to serve the people as they claimed to be doing so during campaigning.
There will come a time when MPs will justify their pay rise but right now, they don’t deserve any increase in perks and privileges.

Raymond Kamb
Port Moresby