Enough of mudslinging

Letters

PAPUA New Guinea has had enough of mudslinging by politicians, especially between Prime Minister James Marape and the former prime minister Peter O’Neill, on what each had done for the country.
With all due respect, let it be known that Papua New Guinea is much bigger than the whole lot of you.
Let it also be known that none of you own the country either and the prime minister’s post is not a ‘birthday right’.
Be reminded that Papua New Guineans are no longer ignorant like yesteryears and are now more informative and accustomed to accountable and transparent government systems like never before.
They can no longer be pushovers into what they’re not comfortable with.
The time of “yes sir” to prominent political boys’ days are long gone.
You both had your chances to govern the country and the people had observed your leadership styles.
Based on the that alone, the people may have cast their votes accordingly.
I hope no vote rigging or any other dirty tactics were used to lure votes in this election.
Mind you, that has always been the norm in previous elections although, that is yet to be exposed to the public.
Well, that is how PNG is and it surely lives by the too familiar and famous slogan ‘land of the unexpected’ as it stands now.
I hope the best party with clear-cut policies to bail out the country from the current doldrums forms the next government.
Forget about recycled and seasoned politicians of the previous regimes.
We need fresh blood to think outside the box to help bail out PNG of the current.
Best way forward is to do downstream processing on all our raw materials which will yield more revenue generation than is current and put a complete ban on all exploitative raw material exports.
This must be a major priority for the next government to completely turn the economy around.
Whatever it takes to do this, please do it as soon as possible for the benefit of our beloved Papua New Guinea before we are sold out to the dogs.

Igutawe Samuel
Hago D’kekepa
Goroka