Bad behaviours and attitudes

The National Letters

IT is becoming a very frightening trend today to see bad behaviours and attitudes displayed by Papua New Guineans in almost every corner of PNG. Not a day goes without witnessing a bad behaviour.
It is like a culture in PNG for people to behave indecently in front of others and think that it is ok to do it.
Every day you see and hear people:

  • Swearing in their conversation;
  • people drinking beer in public places;
  • drugs been sold publicly;
  • noise, loud music in homes and community worst still on weekends and pay days;
  • sleeping and loitering in bus stops and market places;
  • smoking and chewing inside homes, cars and buses, etc,
  • adults using children to buy cigarettes, beer, betel nuts for them;
  • carrying boom box with loud music;
  • bus stops no longer bus stops but mini markets with associated petty crimes;
  • bus drivers and boss crew harassing passengers;
  • driving under influence of alcohol;
  • forever increasing street children and beggars; and,
  • Buses, cars, trucks driven like racing cars while passengers are screaming to slow down, and this list is endless.

Many of these bad behaviours and attitudes by adults have already become standards and culture in younger generation today and it is not hard to see because they are already doing them and will continue to influence generations in future.
In a country like PNG where law enforcement is not strong it is a very risky trend if not dealt with immediately by police force and relevant partners as it will become serious problems in future and difficult to contain. Life may never be safe for generation thereon.
It is better to be proactive and reactive.
Laws have to be reviewed in light of continuous changing behavioural patterns of the people and strictly enforced by relevant authorities to target, apprehend and arrest people who misbehave inappropriately in communities.
Police and minister responsible must put more effort and resources into preventative policing activities because this is the only way we can control and minimise crimes and law and order problems in future.
To be the ‘Richest Black Christian Nation’ in the world we also need to live in a country that is safe secure healthy and environmentally friendly.
Make this a foundation in people’s lives so they appreciate benefits, take ownership of changes and participate meaningfully to achieve goals and visions in life.

Martyn Delai