Get rid of compensation mentality

WE are constantly being reminded about the opportunistic nature of certain people who use misfortune as a way to make a fast buck. 
This is evident in the highlands region. 
Unfortunately, this trend is spreading and, now, many of our coastal citizens are also adopting such mentality.
Compensation demands for criminal offences or for less serious cases are spreading like a cancer in this nation. 
I refer to the latest debacle in Tari.
It has become a norm for relatives of accident victims to hold on to the vehicle that caused an accident.
From media reports, the hired vehicle was kept by the victims’ relatives, who were apparently waiting for compensation to be paid. 
Unfortunately, this is a normal reaction taken by selfish, unreasonable, illogical and compensation-orientated people. 
The rule of thumb these days is – there is always an opportunity to profit from a kinsman/kinswo­man’s death, whether the cause of death was by way of accident, na­tural causes or others.
While we may have gained Independence 35 years ago, some of our brethren still chose to live in the Stone Age. 
If we are to move forward, we need to refrain from compensation-orientated mindsets.
I am astounded by the fact that the relatives of the accident victims have gone as far as to dig ditches in the newly constructed road and sabotage bridges that lead to the LNG project area. 
Once again, this is a clear example of the illogical and selfish reasoning displayed by these people. 
They have for years cried for roads, bridges, etc, but yet are quick to destroy or sabotage such infrastructure without any consi­deration for the needs of the wider community or for their future.
Parliament has passed a law making compensation demands illegal and it is now time to enforce it.

 
R Jeremy
Port Moresby