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Sports |
Sepiks must not be fooled again
SIR Michael Somare has announced that
the Government will spend K100 million on projects, including the
upgrading of the Boram airport in East Sepik.
There is an old proverb that says that “you can fool people once,
but you can’t fool them all the time”.
This 11th hour promise is an election gimmick and I hope that
Sepiks, who have been fools for the past 30 years, will not be
fooled again.
It is time we change the old guard for new leaders with vision and
clear goals to lead the province into the 22nd Century.
Such projects should have been funded 20 years ago.
On a similar vein, Wewak MP Kimson Kare intends to buy a
140-passenger ferry for the islanders and fund a small hydro
project for Kairiru Island.
He told the people five years ago he would build a suspension
bridge linking the mainland to Muschu and Kairiru Island but has
not delivered.
His dream of a Jeepney factory in Wewak is another wishful dream.
Jeepneys (used as minibuses in the Philippines) are not as strong
as Japanese-built vehicles currently in use in PNG.
Kare and his fellow politicians should be realistic and not assume
that Sepiks are stupid. -Thomas Iluwat, Kairiru Island
Help Ipatas to become next PM
I WOULD like to appeal to all the
Enga MPs to unite and work together and help Governor Peter Ipatas
to become the next prime minister after the general election.
They should analyse the situation and think critically to reach
the right decision. -Mathew Niso Lae
Better to elect new leader
IT is pleasing to know that many
Southern Highlanders are calling for a change to the leadership
and losing faith in those who have been implicated of
misappropriation. I should say that all the current MPs who have
not performed should also be dropped. Any leader, including
councillors and persons in responsible positions, who are
suspected of abuse and corruption should not bother to contest.
Voters would have realised by now that it is better to risk
electing a new person than re-electing one who is known to be
corrupt. Even if our choice turns out to be bad, we can find
consolation in the fact that we voted for him without any
influence of bribery, tribalism and other pressures. It is at
least a step forward. – Nick Yambu, Via email
Work for people’s benefit
THE people of Nipa Kutubu know all
the leaders, elites and spokesmen for their electorate. They are
intelligent and have already distinguished the capabilities of
every individual leader. The suggestion by a writer, William
Kopeap, that William Powi should be removed as the administrator
of Southern Highlands cannot go unchallenged. The writer claims to
be a youth leader from Nipa Kutubu but I have not heard of him. He
would do better to tell Governor Hami Yawari to work with Powi as
the National Executive Council trusts the administrator. Yawari
has been advised by corrupt people who are only looking for
personal gains.He should think clearly and logically and work for
the benefit of the people. – Mathias Arikapu, Via email
Powi appointed on merit
ONE writer commented that William
Powi should step aside following the Supreme Court’s decision. He
deemed Powi’s appointment as the administrator of Southern
Highlands illegal. The court’s decision actually has nothing to do
with his appointment. He was appointed on merit. It has nothing to
do with the State of Emergency or Governor Hami Yawari’s position.
– Observer, Melbourne
Export farm produce
THE decision to export farm produce
such as coconut, betelnut, yam, taro, ginger, cassava, sago,
mustard, cut-flowers and pitpit is good. Papua New Guineans should
not wait for politicians to act as they are good at making false
promises and contradicting statements. Imported Fijian, Tongan and
Samoan farm crops fetch high prices in Christchurch, New Zealand.
A small coconut cost NZ$3, two short frozen cassava costs NZ$7, a
medium-size taro costs NZ$$5, a bunch of bananas costs NZ$2, etc.
– Kewa Nakisi, Christchurch, NZ
Road contract excessive
I WOULD be ashamed to award a 1.8km
road project for K36 million to Global Construction, including the
K9 million contract to PNG Gardener. Global was also awarded a
13km road project from Mt Ambra to Kota in Dei district for K12.5
million. Going by the same calculation, the 1.8km road in the NCD
should cost only about K1.7 million. The coming general election
will tell Wari Vele what taxpayers think of his decisions. –
Ekit Kuu Kange, Port Moresby
Ghost names exist
THE issue of ghost names on payroll
lists is very real. I know of a teacher who left the service and
went to further his studies. During the three years he was away,
his name remained on the list. Seven years later, even though the
teacher has moved on to another job, his name still remains on the
Education Department’s payroll! – Bush Mangi, Kokopo
Annoying MPs
PETER Ipatas and Kappa Yarka were
both present in Parliament on Feb 26 and 27. However, on Feb 28,
when the Hela and Jiwaka provinces Bill was to be introduced and
put to a vote, they were both absent. The reason is simple – both
just wanted to frustrate the efforts of Don Polye and Sam Abal on
the matter. – Hela Igiri, Tari
PX penalty charge unfair
I AM a frequent flyer with Air
Niugini and find it disturbing that the airline has decided to
impose a “no show” penalty charge on passengers. Did the
management consider the many instances that they failed to put on
the flight as scheduled? – Robert Sio, Port Moresby
 
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