Empower individuals

PRIME Minister James Marape in his maiden speech presented in parliament spoke about taking back PNG and making PNG become the richest black nation in the region.
I commend him because he can see PNG climb up the social ladder away from poverty, law and order problems and corruption.
He knows PNG has the resources to be wealthy and rich, getting away from the beggar mentality and stand out as the one who can assist others in the region.
This is supported by New Zealand deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters who reportedly said “New Zealand views PNG as a regional leader, an economic heavyweight and a bridge to Asia…”
Taking back PNG is a call to empower each individual Papua New Guinean citizen so they too can contribute in whatever capacity they can, to bring back PNG’s very rich forestry and marine resources, mineral deposits, oil and gas basins and agricultural produces can make PNG the economic the powerhouse in our region when all proceeds from these resources come into the PNG coffer.
To date proceeds from these resources only trickles into the PNG coffer, and as the owner of these vast resources, PNG continues to beg and struggle with mounting debts.
Laws and regulations PNG inherited and or enacted strangled our economy and contract and deals negotiated and signed by our very own unscrupulous leaders continued to haunt us.
Taking back PNG means we must review our resource and tax free laws.
A simple analogy would be, a villager has 10 ripe pawpaws on a tree in his garden. A visitor came by and was given permission to harvest the pawpaws which he did, leaving only two for the owner of the garden and taking the rest.
All you have to do is read Sir Julius’ statement on resource ownership in parliament during the change of government.
The biggest obstacle to any developments are corrupt politicians, public servants and those in positions of responsibility who divert and siphon off development funds for personal gains.
Taking back PNG means PNG citizens must make sacrifices when we see the need arises.
Our Treasurer Ian-Ling Stuckey talks about K224m cut in the budget. We already have our schools falling behind with no TTF funding, late TTF funding or part TTF funding. The call by Yangoru-Sausia MP Richard Maru that abolishing free education will kill the future of our children is based on a lazy man’s policy, giving all responsibility to someone else to carry.
Free education is a cause for social problems, children’s respect for their parents are not there and many are poor with no cash do to no incentive to work.
You take a family planting cash crop for school fees as an example.
When crops are sold they raise money for school fees and the surplus is retained for other items.
Free education is an election gimmick that only keeps the corrupt in power.
Since Marape’s speech there has been positive and negative comments from all sectors of the community.
Opposition leader Belden Namah called this statement a ‘cargo cult language’ making you wonder whether he wants to see changes in PNG or wants to maintain the status quo he has benefited from to date.

Hamanga
Boroko