|
Sports |
Independent and still undeveloped
IT has been 31 years and 11 months
since Papua New Guinea gained independence on Sept 16, 1975.
Until today, nothing much has been achieved.
I still eat kaukau and drink cold water from the bamboo. I
walked for miles to catch the next “donkey” to get into town.
While in town, raskols robbed me of my only K5 meant for a
packet of rice and a small can of tinned fish. On my way home,
gun yielding criminals threaten and rob me of my clothes.
At home, my wife is in labour. There is no aid post nearby.
There is no ambulance and she has to be carried on a homemade
stretcher for miles to the nearest clinic.
Upon arrival, we are told that there are no medicine and that I
have to pay an upfront fee. While waiting, she dies.
To the good leaders of this great nation, when will I get
electricity in my kunai house?
When will I see a road into my village?
When will tribal fighting stop in my village?
We have gained independence more than 30 years ago but I have
not seen any development taking place.
What I read everyday in the newspapers are the stories of
corrupt politicians misusing public funds, travelling overseas
on a regular basis, passing laws in Parliament to suit their own
selfish interests, appointing their own wantoks to head
Government agencies, exploiting our resources and so on.
Leaders, whose interests are you serving? You must know in you
heart that you are representing the interests of the country but
not your own. Always do what is right to protect the interests
of the country and its people.
You go to another country for medical treatment if you are sick.
But when you die, your body will never be buried in another
country. You can change your face by plastic surgery. You can
change your skin colour. You can change your appearance.
You can do anything to your body as long as you don’t want to be
called Papua New Guinean or be recognised as one.
But remember, blood is thicker than water. Deep in your heart,
we will still know that you are a Papua New Guinean by birth.
Leaders of this beloved country, I’d rather die than live to see
you destroy our beautiful country.
Lucas Kiap
Lae
 
|
