Get all powers back to Waigani

Letters

I REFER to the article ‘Strengthen country’s political system’ by Concerned Citizen (The National, Sept 26).
I support the call for strengthening the constitutional Westminster system of government by strengthening the electoral commission and the process of electing leaders.
I think one of the biggest problem that is affecting Papua New Guinea’s political system, sovereignty and nationhood is the referendum on independence for Bougainville.
The impact of Bougainville’s independence in the next 44 years’ time – there will be no PNG.
Stop the decentralised system of government in the form of provincial and local level government and autonomous provinces.
Take back all powers and centralise them at Waigani. It is through a centralised system of government that will hold PNG together.
The constitutional Westminster system of government we have in PNG is more relevant for developed countries of the western world including UK, Australia and New Zealand but not PNG.
PNG needs a guided democracy given the current political situation.
If the current government cannot change the political system, they should step aside and allow a military government to take in charge of PNG.
This can only be viable if PNG has a unified, nationalist army but as it is now defence, police and correctional service are also divided.
But still we cannot overrule the possibility of a military when civilian government fails to hold a nation together.

Rev. Pastor Mamando Pain,
Mt Hagen