Landowners or rent collectors?

WITH the climate change-induced La Nina effects of the Southern Oscillation (weather) having a tremendous influence on the greater-than-normal volume of rainfall in this part of the world, PNG’s road infrastructure in particular stands to cop the full brunt of Mother Nature’s forces.
The country will have to fork out funds from somewhere in order to cope with this natural phenomena.
Whether the State is prepared or not, the warning has been sounded already, and ready or not, the effect can be felt throughout the length and breadth of this country.
In many places where bridges have collapsed or landslips have covered or shifted the road, locals (or opportunists) have taken advantage of the situation.
They charge exorbitant fees to motorists and members of the traveling public in order for them to get past these obstacles.
This happens right under the noses of law enforcers.
Does this mean that these kinds of actions are condoned by the state?
Is it because the temporary passage ways are crossing into and are squatting on customary boundaries, that fees must be being collected at will without restraint? There needs to be some control over this mayhem, but the State appears to be giving a blind eye or is rather indecisive in its actions at the expense of its citizens.
Such practices by customary landowners in PNG goes to further uphold the view that a majority of our landowners think that they can participate in the country’s economy only in their capacity as rent-collectors.
This mindset needs to change with our people being educated to know that there are more meaningful and productive ways for them to actively participate in the nation’s economy than to remain as a mere rent-seeker and to be contented with the crumbs.

Robert Bino, PhD
Goroka
Eastern Highlands