By SOLOMON KANTHA
THERE is a belief in some school of thought that what is essential in any major development project is the increased rate of economic growth that will be generated and that the social implications should be subordinated to the greater outcome of development.
Over time, this rapid increase in economic growth will come to offset the social consequences by providing employment opportunities and a greater share of income for the populace.
This line of thought will come to support the assertion that the development of a five-star hotel with a casino in Port Moresby will render more economic benefits to compensate the social ills. This appears to be the position of the proponents of the casino law when the Gaming Control Bill 2007 was passed on last May 1 giving effect to the legalisation of casino and internet gambling in PNG.
In a previous article (last June 8) in the same column, I highlighted some of the seemingly contradictory notions of the Casino law that interested readers can juxtapose.
A country that has been ardently following this philosophy and trajectory of economic growth is China, that is, by discounting the social impact of huge development projects and a lack of adherence to international conventions on human rights, labour laws and health standards.
Whilst China can be applauded as having the fastest growing economy, it ranks abysmally low in the categorisation of labour and health standards in protecting its workers.
It is yet to be proven whether this rapid economic growth has had any significant impact on improving the lives of the impoverished.
The PNG Government will have to decide what is best for its people with the introduction of casinos and internet gambling. That is to either emulate other affluent societies or opt for legislations and policies that address the needs of the poor and grassroots so that they are not further marginalised, subjugated and oppressed through unregulated and unscrupulous gambling.
Something that stands out as preposterous in PNG’s legislative arena is that the laws that are usually introduced are given little or no regard at all for debate on the possible consequences that they might engender.
In most instances, these laws are hardly a panacea to addressing the dire needs of the country and the pressing problems that PNG is incessantly confronted with such as the worsening law and order problems, tribal warfare, dysfunctional public institutions, plethoric corruption and dilapidating rural infrastructures.
One can think of as many laws that can be ranked far more important in improving the lives of Papua New Guineans than the casino law.
If we prioritise the casino law against some of the more imperative laws that are needed to be introduced or given more “teeth” to improve the wellbeing of citizens, will reveal a significant policy and legislative myopia on the part of our national leaders to propose legislations and policies that would benefit the country most.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop in his ongoing Clean and Green campaign has been at the forefront of the war against betelnut stains defacing the image of PNG’s capital city.
This is a campaign that is long overdue to quell the regressive cultural habit of betelnut chewing that Papua New Guineans have become so accustomed to which has significantly blemished the appearance of our towns and cities and has also affected the work habits of public servants.
A proposed Anti-litter and Graffiti Bill will certainly help a lot in putting an end to careless littering, graffiti and the eyesore betelnut stains that ruin the image of our shopping malls, terminals, office buildings and streets.
The State of California in the United States imposes a US$10,000 (nearly K30,000) fine or imprisonment on vandals and people who deface public and private properties with graffiti.
This can be a step where PNG can emulate to rid betelnut stains and graffiti.
The PNG Gardener has also been doing a very good job in improving the image of the capital city in his beautification project.
This tremendous amount of effort put into beautifying the city will have a long lasting impact if vandals who uproot and cut flowers and plants can be prosecuted under a Vandalism Act.
This law should also penalise people who vandalise national assets such as the ordeal experienced by Telikom PNG on its cables costing the State company millions of kina.
Sadly, one can already spot betelnut stains on the newly built structures for flowers at the Erima round-a-bout in Port Moresby.
Perhaps the NCD governor should consider doing something about the Erima “candle city” market which is right at the gateway to PNG – Jackson International Airport – that will give the first uninviting impression to any foreign visitor.
The recent surge in tribal conflicts endangering the lives of innocent people and the destruction of private and public properties costing millions of kina calls for a Tribal Wars Act outlawing all forms of violence related to tribal disputes that blight the lives of the innocent including women, children and the elderly who are in most cases the innocent victims of tribal warfare.
The onus is on the Highlands politicians to push for such legislation in seriously putting an end to meaningless tribal fights.
This Act should hold tribes and ethnic groups accountable and severely penalise those who instigate and take part in any sort of ethnic conflict and is not limited to tribal disputes only.
The Disability Act is one law that has to be given more prominence in recognising the rights of the disables.
This Act should also recognise the rights of the elderly.
While women and children are recognised in some of the prominent legislations and conventions, the disables and the elderly are an important group of vulnerable citizens who are often overlooked and needs to be protected by a well-structured legislation.
Public transportation, car parks, accessibility to buildings and shops should be designed to cater for the needs of the disables and elderly.
So often, the elderly citizens are unjustifiably accused of sorcery practices and majority of whom have been targets and victims of sorcery related killings.
The rights of these vulnerable groups of citizens should be recognised and the Government should impose tougher penalties on those who violate the rights of those vulnerable citizens.