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Morauta: People’s welfare a key issue
By FRANK RAI
LEADERS who lack vision, guts and
determination or understanding of issues are leaders who merely wish to
win popularity contests and will not provide answers to the alarming
social and economic problems in the country.
These remarks were made by PNG Party leader Sir Mekere Morauta at the
New Generation Party (NGP) national convention held at the Lae
International hotel over the weekend.
Sir Mekere told more than 500 NGP supporters, intending candidates and
executives that it was time for the people to ask some fundamental
questions on the need of provincial government and the function of each
level of government in the country.
He said this was because the mass population living in rural areas was
not given the opportunity to have access to income generated projects,
project opportunities and basic services.
He added that the Government systems that channelled services to the
rural areas were corrupted.
“Most of our people live in rural areas and we want them to live there
but we have to let them have access to income, opportunities and
services.
“It is the Government’s duty to provide these necessities but in most
provinces, the flow of services is blocked and we need to unlock the
pipeline,” Sir Mekere said.
He said it was time to put aside politics and focus on two key issues
for improving the welfare of the people and the issues were the cost of
Government and the structure of Government.
Sir Mekere said the size of the Government was too large and cumbersome
where the cost was too high and wasteful.
“Too much is wasted on salaries and wages and not enough on core
services for the people. Whatever is allocated to services, the public
services has no capacity to implement,” he said.
He added that the National Economic Fiscal Commission presented a
rightsizing report but was shelved by the Government.
Sir Mekere said the rightsizing report did address the issues but it was
ignored due to lack of political will, lack of political leadership and
lack of understanding of value and benefits of the recommendations in
the long run.
“The political stability enjoyed by the National Alliance has been
wasted because it has not been used to engender growth and prosperity.
“It has not been used to strengthen and buttress the reforms I put in
place. It has not been used to undertake further essential reforms and
it has not been used to build public sector capacity or to spread and
improve core services.
“It has been used to increase personal wealth, status and power,” Sir
Mekere said.
 
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