Namah: PM belittling office

PRIME Minister James Marape continues to belittle the office he occupies by broadcasting his naivety and amateurishness openly, says Opposition leader Belden Namah.
Namah told a press conference last week that Marape escorted officers from the World Bank (WB) and the International Finance Corporation (FC) to the Highlands region to “look for ways to bolster agricultural development and access to markets and services”.
“Firstly, those officials were bank employees and none were head of state to warrant the county’s Prime Minister’s personal escort,” he said.
“Secondly, Marape is from the Highlands region and should be very well versed on the agricultural potential of the region.
“Thirdly, he has the Agriculture Minister, the Finance Minister or even the Treasurer and their respective secretaries who could accompany those officials.
“And finally and most importantly, he should have done his own research beforehand. He should have ready agriculture policies and programmes all mapped out and cost ready for potential investors and financiers like the World Bank and IFC,” Namah said.
“But he should not be escorting them on field missions. He should be directing traffic by inviting investors and financiers into agriculture, fisheries and forestry.”
Namah said Marape seemed to not understand protocols associated with the high office of the prime minister in terms of meeting and dealing with visiting dignitaries.
“While I appreciate the potential the agriculture sector has particularly in the Highlands region, why couldn’t the appropriate ministers accompany the bank officials?
“Why did the prime minister stoop so low and act like a protocol officer?”
Namah, however, said the prime minister should have the World Bank and IFC look at rehabilitating and reviving large coffee plantations such as Gumanch and Waghi Mek.