Mt Hagen show out of touch
I WISH to express my disappointment with the annual Mt Hagen cultural show. It is out of touch with reality. The organisers of the show should showcase our cultural diversity to our visitors. We should display traditional artefacts, traditional practices, music, tales depicted through dramas, etc. Currently, the annual show is like an informal sector market where betelnuts are sold, dart boards to provide some form of amusement, so-called brass bands to entertain visitors and displays which are not cultural but to make a quick buck. I would like to suggest to the organisers that it form a committee which is made up of professionals from the banking industry, chamber of commerce, agricultural sector, landowners, councillors and Tourism Promotion Authority. I believe a committee comprising the above elites will see the show regaining to its true origin in the 1970s and 1980s. – Kuli Omben, Mt Hagen

Why is PNG still suffering?
THE Government is talking about an economic boom, with a record budget of K8 billion. If there is a boom, then why are the people of this nation suffering? Public servants are conducting unnecessary strikes, landowners claiming compensation, unemployment rate increasing every year and basic Government services are not reaching the majority of the rural population. If the people are still suffering, we should not be talking about economic boom in this country because it is only deceiving the outside world such as the donor agencies. The truth about this country is it has never progressed in any way and nothing has been done to improve this deteriorating nation of ours. – James Kiap, via email

Peace treaty signing queried
RECENTLY, there was a news article in The National about a peace treaty signing between two warring tribes namely Andaho and Kanosa/Lindima in Upper Asaro, Daulo, Eastern Highlands province. I do not wish to question the rational behind the peace treaty considering the enormous amount of work and time put into it by the peace steering committee. However, the timing and manner in the signing that was executed as reported is puzzling because as far as I am concerned, it appeared the signing of the treaty was bulldozed through quickly without any real meaning. I believe there are certain issues that both tribes should critically and thoroughly look into. – Andaho Gipe Nouve, Port Moresby

Govt should do something
I DON’T think InterOil did the right thing in raising the fuel prices without the ICCC’s consent. ICCC is the authority put in place by the law of the country to regulate prices and the way InterOil acted shows it doesn’t give a hoot to the country’s law and authority. What is the National Government going to do about it? Are we to succumb to the manipulation and exploitation by a foreign multinational corporation? – Borana Ugaia, Lae

Probe missing K300,000
AS a concerned community leader of Wewak, I am disappointed to read about the missing K300,000 Boram Hospital relief fund (Dec 19). How many people are authorised to sign cheques and what were the funds used for? I call on Boram Hospital CEO Dr Louis Samiak to conduct an investigation. – John Kriosaki, Wewak