National Refugee Policy ill-conceived

 THE O’Neill Government’s National Refugee Policy to settle foreign refugees in Papua New Guinea is an ill-conceived plan.

Firstly, PNG does not have the capacity to do cater for refugees. How can our national government make that pledge to house, support and find employment for migrating foreigners when it cannot provide employment, affordable housing and social security for 80% of its own people? 

PNG is a Third World country so why are trying to play the part of a developed country? 

My people from Garaina are Lae city refugees, forced to resettle in Lae because of lack of Government services. Are they not our own modern day refugees? 

Secondly, there will be a clash in religious doctrines. 

With all the international media coverage of Islamic states associated with terror and Muslim followers carrying out attacks against Christians, there is definitely a general xenophobia in PNG towards Muslims and Islam. 

How does our National Government expect its illiterate Christian population to accept Muslims and Islam worshipers to live and work among them with this already existing xenophobia?  

Check out social media, PNG Citizens are already shouting hate and murder against Islam followers and Muslim believers. 

How sure are we that these settled refugees will contribute meaningfully to our nation’s growth? 

They ran away from their countries when their countries needed them to stay back and contribute to their nation’s need. They are deserters. 

Their aim was to settle in Australia, not PNG.

Finally, PNG is seen by many smaller pacific nations as a big brother. 

Every Pacific country  knows that these foreign immigrants left their countries with the aim of settling in Australia not PNG.  

The Australians today are struggling against this issue of foreign immigrants settling and taking over their countries. 

Our next generation must be protected at all cost, even if it it means forgoing some of Australia’s boomerang aid.

Gilinde Kitoria

Lae