Govt has to regain people’s trust

Letters

THE alarming surge in the number of the Covid-19 cases is becoming a subject of speculation.
People are confused and panicking.
As of last Friday, Papua New Guinea topped Oceania with 2,450 confirmed cases and about 50 deaths.
This sent shock waves across the country.
As a third-world country with countless development issues, including economic dependence, the pandemic certainly poses an unbearable burden for the country. That’s why information provided on the Covid-19 should be factual, accurate and educational.
Exaggeration and overstating reports could lead to the worst.
Those on the frontline conducting tests, awareness and in control of disseminating information should be commended for their work but they should consider employing effective and efficient mechanisms to counter this pandemic.
To rely entirely on adopted measures to address the Covid-19 would lead to an economic breakdown and complete disaster. The AstraZeneca vaccine cost the Government millions of kina to purchase.
Whether the vaccine is effective or not is yet to be confirmed.
Some European countries have banned this vaccine due to its negative effects on patients.
The PNG Institute of Medical Research and authorities responsible for scientific research and assessments should come out and clarify their position to give fair professional scientific explanation on this vaccine.
There are allegations of gross misuse of funds allocated to fight the Covid-19.
In Madang, a K100,000 was paid to a local contractor to build a low-cost guard house at the Modilon General Hospital gate for guards to ensure Covid-19 protocols were adhered to.
But that house remains incomplete.
Scenarios such as this causes people to lose trust in authorities and react negatively.
Because people cannot trust the authorities, they’ve accepted the notion that the surge in the Covid-19 cases is media propaganda to lure financiers to pour in more money.
It is seen as a tactic that the Government is using to delay service delivery in the electorates of MPs in the Opposition.
The Government has a huge task of regaining people’s trust.
Former prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill rightfully stated the Government should come up with a pragmatic approach to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
It cannot blindly convince the people that the vaccine is effective to treat the infection while ignoring the negative effects and the lack of scientific research to prove its effectiveness.
The Government needs to revisit statements by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird in Parliament.
Bird said people in his province already had the virus but were cured.
Why can’t we conduct research on such claims to obtain knowledge to build on and address this pandemic rather than wasting millions of kina and incur unnecessary economic burden?
Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic is real and is here to stay.
However, getting the facts right and minimising over-amplification of the issue matters the most at this time.

Luwi James,
Indigenous Peoples’ Forum,
Madang