Distribution of wealth unfair

THIS country will never rid itself of the ongoing law and order issues in our cities, towns and villages until there is a fairer pattern of urban and rural development.
The unfair distribution of wealth has resulted in Papua New Guinea having a world for the ‘haves’ and one for the ‘have nots’ and this economic division is contributing to the law and order problems we face everyday.
Development is concentrated only in certain urban areas while most rural areas are neglected.
Over the years we have seen and continue to witness unfair and unequal development patterns throughout the country, with very poor basic service deliveries that hardly reach the ‘have nots’ in our rural areas.
Government outstations, which are supposed to provide economic opportunities for rural communities – with an effective functional public service, adequate services and good infrastructures – continue to be neglected at the people’s expense.
It is no wonder then that these outstations had become less attractive for the rural people, resulting in rural-to-town migration contributing to law and order issues for the urban authorities.
We see, hear and read about corruption, bribery, funds misuse and mismanagement by the elite ‘haves’ while the poor ‘have nots’ continue to miss out on their share of the cake.
Unfortunately, the same trend is continuing and the status quo remains – for how much longer is anybody’s guess.
Health and sub-health centres are closing as they run out of medical supplies, schools are closing for lack of school supplies or because of their dilapidated conditions, roads and bridges are not being maintained, etc, etc.
Our government institutions which are supposedly embedded with responsibilities to ensure equal developments takes place throughout the country, have totally failed our citizens in the past 40 years or so.
We have not seen any of these government institutions coming out to the rural areas to see if developments are taking place and at what rate.
In fact our government institutions have continued to allow the ‘haves’ to control and manipulate our institutional systems at the expense of the ‘have nots’ marjority and this gives us a clearer picture of why crime is a serious problem here.
Law and order issues will no doubt continue to remain within our community for as long as the relevant government institutions continue to allow uneven urban and rural development trends throughout the country.

Lawrence Billy
Hospital Hill, Lae