Matane: Sex reports sad

 By ABIGAIL APINA 

FORMER Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane was moved after reading media reports highlighting the increase in sex-related cases in East New Britain.

“I cried when I read the report in the papers,” he said.

“I want to remind the people of ENB that this country is a Christian country, according to the Constitution, and we must do more to reflect that.”

He said it saddened him to see many people in East New Britain heavily engaged in such offences, especially rape and incest.

Sir Paulias said there were many positive things happening in the province, indicating that it was a leading province in the country.

“ENB is a leading province in economic growth, social development and many other things,” he said.

“And when I see negative things like this happening, I ask myself why they are happening in this progressive and peaceful province.”

He urged people in the province to reflect on Christianity in what they think, what they say and what they do.

“When such bad things are happening in this province, it hurts many of us who are proud East New Britain people,” he said.

But Sir Paulias said while ENB was being singled out on the rise in sex-related cases, no comparative figures were shown for other provinces.

He said it could mean that other provinces face the same problem but people were not reporting them due to the poor system employed for reporting crime.

“Let us raise our children properly and educate them to live positive lives,” Sir Paulias said.

He said parents and leaders in the province should take the lead by showing a good example to the younger generation in what they do. 

“Let us not make them believe that it is okay to rape or break family relations with sexual acts.”