Be independent, says Saonu

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
Independence Day anniversaries should be seen as a time to celebrate unity and togetherness in the development of the country, Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu says.
Officiating during the 43rd anniversary celebrations in Lae, Saonu said each individual citizen should be “independent” each day of their lives.
“We should ask ourselves, do we own our own house, our own mode of transport, and do we all have K1 in our pockets every day?” the governor said.
“We were better off politically before the provincial and local level governments’ reforms were introduced.
“We are struggling today politically because the system is not working well.
“It seems like today we have too many politicians and only a few government workers who can get things off the ground and deliver services while the rest is just waiting to get their fortnight’s pay.”
Saonu said Morobe should try its best to connect with its six neighbouring provinces to bring development.
“My message this year is focused on families and especially the people who have been marginalised and disadvantaged over the past 43 years,” he said.
“We need to bring changes and development in our rural border areas such as Gulf, Northern, West New Britain, Central, Eastern Highlands and Madang, because these areas have been marginalised.
“We also need to bring changes and development to our rural areas in order to have government services that are united and connected.
“I want Morobe people to maintain our culture for the next 43 years because this is who we are.”
Saonu thanked businesshouses and the private sector for “creating a conducive environment and contributing a lot to the development of the country.”
Lae MP John Rosso said each individual person working in a united effort will bring development to the country.
“It starts from the people in the streets all the way up to politicians. We need to change our mindset in order to bring development,” Rosso said.
He said Lae had a lot to offer, and PNG had a lot to offer, and when each citizen and leader makes a decision, “we must think of our people – that is the first and foremost for any nation.”