Changes do not happen overnight

THE silly season is really with us.
With the national election looming in 2012, all political aspirants are coming out of the woods to stamp their mark.
The letter by “VIP July 4th” (The National, March 31) is either one such person or someone who has been living in another planet.
I reject the suggestion that Port Moresby has not seen any changes since I became governor. 
Yes, I might not have solved all the problems in Port Moresby but to suggest there has not been any change is just a political opportunism.
I never promised voters that I will resolve all their social, political, economic and infrastructure problems by a flick of my finger.
To say that would be unrealistic and false.
I promised to provide good, quality and honest leadership and I have been trying as much as I can since my election to live up to that promise.
I campaigned on a basic social and economic platform which will not necessarily solve all the challenges in the city in one go but will hopefully set the platform for eventual transformation of the city.
This is the strategy that I am using and no amount of political mudslinging or opportunistic remarks by political aspirants or their cronies will cause me to deviate from that strategy.
The physical beautification and clean up of the city, sports and other such programmes might be more visible than social and economic programmes we have in place but I have not ignored the social and economic challenges of the city either.
Under my watch, NCDC has put in place programmes such as the technical and vocational scholarship (TVET) that has enable more than 1,000 young men and women to gain skilled education in the city after being pushed out of schools due to lack of space or fees problems.
Last year, we started a micro credit scheme to enable city folks, who have limited formal skills or education, to develop an ability to earn an income or start small business through Yumi Lukautim Mosbi programme.
We have also graduated more than 3,000 young men and women in the city with basic skills to gain employment and we have more programmes lined up to address the many problems or challenges facing our city.
Anyone who thinks he or she can solve the many social and economic challenges facing the city overnight or within four years is living in an unreal world or is just out to score cheap political points.
I may not have solved all the problems in the last two years but I believe I have put the city and its residents on the road to progress.
It will be a long and trying journey and any political aspirant worth his salt must acknowledge that.  

Powes Parkop
NCD Governor