| Business |
The decay of infrastructure
THERE was an emphasis on law and
order prior to the 2002 elections. But in retrospect very little
progress took place during the following five years.
Lawlessness continued to grow. It became obvious that there was
a growing contempt for the politicians who made the laws and the
disciplined forces that sought to ensure their observance.
Contempt for the law continues to grow.
Are criminal forces deliberately gauging the strengths of the
new government, the better to pursue their confrontation with
society?
The outbreak of fire in a Mt Hagen store led to an unparalleled
outburst of unjustified violence that was only barely contained
by authorities.
The situation lacked only some charismatic leader to turn into a
full-scale confrontation between civil society and the forces of
anarchy.
Yesterday we read of a criminal strike against medical stores in
Lae.
Our second city has long been a centre of major criminal
activities, of murders, rapes, armed robberies, domestic
violence and sorcery.
The hard pressed Lae-based police cannot hope to cover every
possible criminal eventuality and there can be no point in
criticising them over this matter.
But the gaps in law enforcement infrastructure in Lae match the
inability of the Mt Hagen Fire Service to quickly address the
spreading blaze in that city.
The water pressure was so low that at tines it was reduced to a
dribble leaving the fire fighters powerless to douse the flames.
In follow-up Mt Hagen stories yesterday, we read that the doors
to the blazing store were firmly locked from the inside.
Further investigation showed that the majority of retail stores
in the city possess no firefighting equipment, and there is
allegedly no operating building board in Mt Hagen.
That story can be paralleled throughout PNG.
We recall journalism students at Divine Word University some
three years ago investigating the state of fire extinguishing
equipment in Madang for a university assignment.
The report that came back was alarming.
Most big supermarkets in Madang – and there are several – were
completely devoid of fire-fighting equipment. Only one had a
purpose-built fire exit but it was barred and deadlocked and the
locking mechanism was thick with rust.
Tackled by the interviewing students, management responses
ranged from the cost of installing fire fighting equipment, or
the necessity of keeping doors bolted and barred because of
thieves, to a refusal, often accompanied by threats, to even
answer the questions asked.
We cannot help wondering how long it will be before a disco or
nightclub in the capital or a provincial city goes up in flames,
taking a couple of hundred patrons with it.
Then there’s the issue of building boards.
They exist to monitor and lay down desirable parameters for new
construction in a city or town. Their members are often drawn
from the local community and include leading businessmen and
women and professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
In principle, they form a safeguard for the community and ensure
that architectural and building standards are maintained and
improved.
They also check out plans and later, buildings under
construction to confirm that previously agreed levels of fire
protection are being installed.
The Fire Service is responsible for regular inspection of
installed fire-fighting equipment; as we understand the matter
their members are also supposed to inspect, from time to time,
the condition of fire doors, firewalls and other installed fire
protection.
In many cases and in many towns, this would not appear to be
happening.
Returning to the Lae drugs robbery, we wonder about the
condition of the building in which these drugs were stored. Our
report refers to “wire and nails” possibly being tampered with
from inside the premises so the criminals could gain entry.
Do people realise the potential of failing to store drugs
safely?
In this case it’s believed that most of the medications stolen
were anti-malarials.
These same drugs account for a high proportion of suicides in
our country, apart from being a lifesaver for thousands of our
people.
The combination of obsolete infrastructure, official apathy and
a cynical disregard for the public interest and the laws of the
land is destroying the framework of PNG society.
 
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