Marape hopes for better future

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, admits that the country has shortcomings but believes that one day it will celebrate economic independence on Sept 16.
Marape said the country still faced “uneven distribution of resources, lacked quality development, had under-performing resource harvests, squandered resources through corruption and complacency and non-functional systems of government etc”.
“Yes, I am the first to admit that we still have our shortcomings as a young nation but hindsight sets the foresight, as they say, and my Government’s foresight is set and fixed,” he said.
“In my mind, the first and foremost thing is to ensure that we, not only celebrate political independence during Sept 16 but full economic independence as well.
“Working to give full economic independence is the reason why I am sure within 10 years this country of a thousand tribes can become the richest black Christian nation where no child is left behind.”
Marape said that 110 days ago his group of leaders were conferred high privilege to serve in the Government for the people.
“We assumed office on the back of our people’s desire that Government is for all people, for all parts of our country and not for a selected few,” he said.
“For we are a nation of over a thousand tribes, who speak over 830 different languages, from highlands to lowlands, from mountains to seas, from island to mainland.
“The entire 462,840sqkm of land blends unity in diversity.
“But I am not here to dwell on the past, but to learn from past mistakes and improve for a better future.”