DRIP, drip ... Is there anywhere in this country where it isn’t raining? It’s a definitely wet morning at our place; how are you faring? We knew things were bad when Archie, the neighbour’s pet, refused to take his wellies off at the front door when he called for dinner last night.
***
THERE’S nothing frivolous about the tragic situation in Oro; once again PNG can be thankful for the ever reliable assistance from a brace of outside agencies and from Australia.
***
COLUMNIST in common with many other commentators, has on occasion targeted the Oz government for what has seemed like crass insensitivity in the way matters a handled between our two countries.
***
BUT while the relationship may have its rough spots, no one can fault the speed and the depth of the Oz response when we have faced the results of a natural disaster. We well remember the sight of a Hercules filled with relief goods been unloaded by senior Oz High Commission staff members when Rabaul suffered the twin eruptions of 1994.
***
WE’VE been asked why Australia has to wait until PNG asks for help. That’s accepted international protocol; besides, readers can imagine the field day one or two of PNG’s more bellicose politicians would have if assistance arrived from Australia without such a request.
That delicate bloom sovereignty could once again be seen to face extinction.
***
WHAT on earth is happening in DAL? Why have department officials been unable to draft guidelines for the use of K100 million made available for the National Agriculture Development Programme? The funds were allocated in 2007 budget and the subsequent supplementary budget. No wonder the Government’s much publicise initiative to boost agriculture throughout PNG has achieved so little to date.
***
SPY in Madang rang last night bursting with news about a more noticeable guria than usual than in his town. Apparently at 6:49pm, after a torrential downpour, Madangenese were treated to just under a minute of the old rock n’ roll, with Spy reporting the odd broken glass at his ramshackle residents, The Folly. Doubtless Herr Richter will have some information on the news pages ahead. Cheers!
– DeeNesenolis