Embrace positivity to succeed, says Lae businessman

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

TO a successful Papua New Guinean, one must embrace and maintain positivity, Justin Parker, owner of Golden Valley Enterprise, says.

The non-parliamentary leader of the People’s Movement for Change Party issued the challenge during FM 100’s talkback show.

“To be positive in life, associate yourself with positive people. Yes, there’ll always be negativity but always try to be positive,” he said.

He said Papua New Guineans must also distance themselves with the black-race stereotype and its associated negative image.

“Papua New Guineans are not poor but we are not doing the right thing,” he said.

Parker, who 10 years ago was walking the streets of Lae barefoot, said when he started off in business, he looked up to two successful Papua New Guinean businessmen in owner of Helifix Robert Agarobe and owner of Mapai Transport Jacob Luke.

He associated himself with successful and positive people and is now the proud owner of the country’s first nationally-owned gold smelting facility in Lae.

He urged the media to publish and air more positive stories to help change the negative mindsets and attitude.

Parker also called on the government to protect the interests of local businesses suffering from heavy taxation while foreign businesses were being offered many tax concessions and operating in areas which should be exclusive to locals.

“Yes businesses are profit-driven but the government must protect the interest of the people. 

“We really need to change our country at the political level,” Parker said.

He hopes to see more positive-minded Papua New Guineans enter parliament and replace corrupt leaders in the next national election.