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Editorial, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday June 21st, 2013

 WE hope it is not true that tens of millions of dollars Australia is spending to help fight the spread of TB in a coastal region of PNG, close to Australia, is being misused. That would have been a real shame. TB is spreading like wildfire and such investment to prevent and treat the disease must be better managed. 

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WONDER if a rule on noise pollution in a neighbourhood, especially from music does exist? And if it does, who is supposed to enforce it? Making calls to your nearest police station on most occasions does not work because there is only one officer on duty or no fuel for the vehicle. 

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SO, who do we blame when we say that there has been little or no development across PNG since attaining independence 38 years ago – the people, the Government or both? Ask yourself whether there is something you might do that will in one way or ano­ther contribute towards the growth of our country, or better still, whether you are doing enough right now.

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LAST August, NCD police operations chief Andy Bawa called on authorities issuing liquor licences to businesses to also come up with proper laws to control the sale and consumption of alcohol in the city. Wonder if anything has been done about that!

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ANOTHER one from last year, MVIL said it would discuss road maintenance issues with the NCDC. We hope the meeting had eventuated and something is currently being undertaken. New (or rather reconditioned) vehicles are joining the already heavy traffic, making driving in Port Moresby a nightmare. 

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IT is high time city authorities start planning and get to work on improving the drainage system in the capital city of PNG. There is flood at the same areas every time there is a heavy downpour and nothing has been done to correct it. Typical attitude we have today; let us wait until someone gets dragged into the drain then we react and start working on it.

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CAN someone point us to the appropriate body responsible for this? There is a particular man with his child in tow who frequents the three traffic lights along Waigani Drive. He is abusive and threatening. He hurls insults to anyone who does not give him money and even has attempted to stone vehicles. The same person exposed his genitals at a St John Ambulance vehicle ferrying its workers home. 

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CASES like this overseas, especially in Australia, would have been taken over or handled by the Department of Community Services. Unfortunately in PNG, the office is understaffed with limited funds. The father, is this instant, should be reprimanded or charged. Can this be handled by social workers and the police if they care to save this child?

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