Some 32 years ago a little station called Port Moresby (POM) was described as “the Pearl of the Pacific”, according to one of my foreign teachers.
Anyone could stroll at night from Gordon to Ela Beach and back without fear of intimidation. There were no rascals. One could hardly find graffiti and buai stains. There was no littering, no reports of rape, domestic violence, child abuse and robbery. Words like vandalism were rarely heard of because private and public properties were highly respected.
The humble “cargo boy” and “cleaner” did his work with honesty and respect although he may have been illiterate.
In addition, with the high value of kina one could buy more with the little they earned. The staple food in most houses was kaukau, taro and yam creamed in coconut milk with kumu and fish.
It seems that POM would be a happy, wealthy and healthy city. However, what has gone wrong along the way?
Today we witness a lot of innocent people (citizens, foreigners and tourists) being harassed by rascals and “freedom of movement” is non-existent in the night.
Graffiti and buai stains tarnish the image of this once beautiful city with litter found everywhere and vandalism on the rise.
A hundred kina used to be a fortune in the past but today it cannot last for even a fortnight. Our staple foods have changed from garden veggies to rice, lamb flaps and coke. Other times dinner is chicken and chips.
No wonder we become fat, lazy, unhealthy and ineffective.
NCD Governor (Powes Parkop) must be acknowledged for the financial investment he made to beautify the city. However, the restoration of Moresby’s reputation requires action by everyone.
 

Jethro .A. Kasse
Kinakon-14 Mile
Port Moresbypeople.