Majority of the people unable to analyse and decide on issues

IT is unfortunate that the issues confronting the government and the judiciary have occurred around election time and have motivated aspiring politicians like John Paska and other potential candidates to score points.
It has also provided current members of parliament such as Sir Arnold Amet and Luther Wenge, who were fast-losing popularity, to regain some lost ground.
Papua New Guineans generally believe whom­ever that speaks the loudest and can convince them of the wrongdoings of whoever that is in authority, failing to analyse the issues themselves.
This is a serious flaw inherited from our ancestors, who were subjected to the big men or chiefs without questioning them.
A good example is the group of Engans who de­manded the prime minister and his deputy to quit (The National, April 17), when these Engans from the rural part of the province do not understand the real issues involved.
They only understand along tribal lines that Sir Salamo Injia – their bro­ther, uncle, father, clansmen – is in trouble and needs help.
University students are no different with SRC lea­ders, mostly highlanders, influencing their meek followers, who are mostly from coastal provinces.
The students are supposed to be our future elites and should act like intellects and debate issues in­stead of taking to the streets.
They can invite guest lecturers within PNG or overseas to present papers and gauge views from the students and the public.
They may include po­liticians in gov­ernment or opposition,  lawyers and trade union representatives.
Copies of the Constitution and the Judicial Conduct Act should also be made available for public consumption.
The following should be considered to address these issues:
l    There should be a nationwide review conducted on the Constitution right after the elections to identify irrelevant or outdated sections adopted during colonial times and to include relevant and realistic components; and
l    The Judicial Conduct Act should be retained and the same code of conduct should be adopted for members of parliament and other public office holders, while the leadership code should be omitted as it is ineffective and confusing.

Yana Elius
Via email