Gift mentality a menace to democracy

 THE habit of accepting gifts by MPs and government representatives is a hindrance to the mechanism of delivery of goods and services.

It is destroying the spirit of equality which are the guiding philosophy in democracy.

Presenting 105 pigs, a possum and a goat to the prime minister when his delegation was welcomed in Wabag, is  too  much  (Dec 17).

Despite Peter Ipatas claiming those pigs were a show of people’s appreciation, I admit that nothing of such magnitude is free.

Somebody has to pay for it  somewhere.

The National published another similar incident in which William Powi also received 21 pigs, a cassowary and a cow from the people of Kuari-Lombo (Dec 18).

He  in turn announced the  release  of  K500,000 for projects in the area.

Such practice is eating away the principles of an intellectual ability to think reasonably and act conscientiously.

This is bribery in nature and breeding ground for corruption which is laying a wrong precedent for the growing society.

I  urge the National Executive Council, the  Ombudsman Commission, Transparency International and ICAC to analyse the detrimental effects of such large gift mentality and intervene to weed it out.

Until and unless stringent measures are employed to discourage the practice, we will not achieve most of our developing goals as envisioned in the Vision 2050 and MTDS as targeted.

Sam W Solae

Goroka