Be responsible, keep our city clean

PORT Moresby is experiencing an unprecedented level of growth in terms of the expansion of the economy and the size of the population.
Port Moresby is far and away the leader in growth and development and what the capital city’s political leadership under Governor Powes Parkop has been trying to do to bring about change in attitudes is commendable but by no means a solvable problem for the short term.
Parkop, during the opening of the City Hall Annex yesterday, said authorities will be tough on those who are defacing Port Moresby with violence, criminal activities, littering rubbish and spitting betel nut.
“I am not going to waste public money on massive investments only for people to muck it up.
“We have done the hard part of getting money to build infrastructure and providing services in the city.
“The very simple thing you can do is taking care of our city by not littering, spitting betel nut and respecting each other.” That is his stand.
We are sure Parkop and the National Commission District Commission does not want to revert to the heavy-handed tactics that created plenty of problems and was a public relations nightmare for the City Hall some time back.
Therefore as residents who call Port Moresby home, everybody has a responsibility to do the right thing.
We can start by refusing to buy from vendors who are plying their trade at the wrong places and start disposing the spittle and rubbish in the right places.
Those who live in Port Moresby, need to take ownership of the city, embrace it as if it was their personal property because people have a tendency to take more care when something belongs to us.
It is an uphill battle but it is not a dilemma experienced by this city.
Every city and town on the globe has its own issues to deal with.
With these rapid changes comes the need to instil in the people a sense of pride and unity.
These are abstract concepts but they are key to keeping order and ensuring that people contribute in a positive way to the communities they live in.
There is a general mentality among the public that keeping the streets of our cities, towns and villages clean and in order is a job for the authorities.
The idea that maintaining order and peace, and a balanced state, in society is somehow the public service’s responsibility is not only regressive but detrimental to progress.
Taking care of the public walkways, roads and areas used by people of all walks of life use on a daily basis is not entirely the state’s responsibility.
The powers that govern at every level of society, whether it be at the ward, local level government, district or provincial, are there as regulators.
The people themselves should bear the weight of care.
But it takes two sides to make it a success.
Parkop has been a staunch campaigner against betel nut chewing and the problems this widely practiced habit has had on the city.
Bans, restrictions, messaging and controls have been tried since he entered office and by now the governor should realise that regulating the people’s attitudes is not something that can be done in a term of office or even two.
It is a generational change that will take place over time provided there is constant positive reinforcement of the right behaviour.