column1

Editorial, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 2nd May 2013

THIS is call from Women Arise PNG spokeswoman Esther Igo: Loving husbands and fathers, respectful brothers and all the wonderful men out there who love their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters – we appeal to your beautiful hearts!! Arise now and help us take a stand against violence against women. Come to the haus krai (at parliament) on May 14 and 15.

                                        ***

WOMEN Arise – Tabubil, Western: We agree ‘enough is enough’. We will stand with our sisters and mothers and everyone in agreement in Port Moresby, Lae and right across PNG in this fight. Let us arise. Together we will stand, divided we will fall. No obstacle is too much for us. No difficulty is too great. If God be for us, who dares be against us? For those living in Tabubil, there will be more information following in the next few days. Will you join me? That is from Samoa Hahine Sibona.

                                        ***

AT the rate new (or rather reconditioned) vehicles are joining the already-heavy traffic, driving in Port Moresby is becoming a nightmare. What used to take 10 minutes can now take an hour or more. Tempers will flare and, considering the manner in which some people resolve disputes, our funeral parlours could be doing a roaring business. 

                                        ***

OUR children will be the future of this country. It is not a good sign when we see primary school children smoking and chewing betel nuts and consuming alcohol. Many parents could not care less what their children are doing. Maybe we should jail parents whose underaged children are doing that.

                                        ***

GARBAGE collection and disposal by NCDC contractors has been very irregular and unreliable. Take a drive around the city and you will see rubbish not collected for a week or more. This is unacceptable for rate payers and disgusting. We hope some ghost or paper contractors are not getting paid for doing nothing. Can NCDC stick to the publicised schedules for garbage collection?

                                        ***

BASED on United Nations standards, PNG with its current population at 7.4 million needs a police force of 20,000 men and women, or one policeman or policewoman for every 400 citizens. Here in PNG, the current ratio is one policeman for every 1,600 and that is way below the UN recommendation.

                                        ***

WE are in the month of May and, last month, the police force launched their uniforms in NCD and that will be followed by other centres. Key features included new colour and fabric, all uniforms to be tailor-made with names and regimental numbers of individual members inscribed over the right pockets of the shirts. All personnel will wear peaked caps.

                                        ***

[email protected]