Citizens, public servants told to depict Christianity

By LULU MARK
PUBLIC servants and citizens who profess to be Christians should have a positive impact in the country by living a life that depicts Christianity, Prime Minister James Marape says.
Addressing thousands who gathered at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby for the National Day of Repentance and Prayer yesterday, he said PNG was declared a Christian country by its founding fathers and it would remain so.
This was the 10th year of commemorating the day and the theme of the programme yesterday was “Churches and State uniting in prayer to take back PNG” and was organised by the Body of Christ and PNG Council of Churches.
Marape was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven who prayed for repentance for the Government, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Elias Kapavore who prayed for a healthier and happy nation, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Maprik MP John Simon and the host Minister for Youth Religion and Community Development Wake Goi.
He said those who had occupied the public office as public servants and those who were elected as public officials since 1975 had gone wrong somewhere.
He said greed, personal interests, corruption, bribery, and succumbing to interests of foreign multinational companies had all taken the country in the wrong direction.
“We are trying to take it (PNG) back, first and foremost not from anyone but from ourselves – from our greed and selfishness,” the prime minister said.
Marape asked all citizens for their mercy and forgiveness for the elected leaders since 1975 if they had caused anyone grief.
Then he called on the public servants to change if they were involved in corrupt practices.
“I curse to those who continue to use public office for corruption from the highest to the lowest public servants, including the prime minister,” he said.
“May our children and their descendants be cursed.
“On this Repentance Day, it is unfair for thousands who are praying for betterment of their lives and the country and the few of us, the three per cent who earn money out of public purse in Waigani, continue to remain complacent.”
Marape said only through unity of purpose and unity as a nation could the dreams of the nation be achieved, therefore, he thanked the people who showed their solidarity in praying for a better PNG.
He said more than 200,000 public servants would do what they could.
“We will fight corruption, bribery, tolerance to complacency, slackness and we will improve our productivity but I ask the citizens of this country to show love, fairness, peace, grace and tolerance to your neighbours and do not engage in lawlessness.”