No time to play politics

WHILE the Government abruptly adjourned parliament and leisurely joins the well-to-do to celebrate the Prime Minister James Marape’s 50th birthday in lavish and style from the spoils of two years in power, the country bears the full brunt of the pain from the Covid-19 restrictions and the economic mismanagement. Families go without food in days as many were laid off work while inflation is fast depleting their last savings.
Even the very means of survival such as selling betel nut are taken away by the long arms of the Government.
It’s similar to Prophet Nathan’s proverbial tale of a rich man taking away his poor neighbour’s only lamb to slaughter and prepare a banquet for his rich guests.
Hovering above is a catastrophic economy ready to melt down and devour us just as in some biblical plague. Make no mistake. We now have a fully blown economic recession triggering inflation, the worst ever unemployment rate climbing by the day, no foreign exchange, the value of the kina declining and a 2 per cent decrease in gross domestic product is expected to go down by a further 5 per cent. The outlook of the resource sector isn’t promising either.
Pasca gas agreement is deferred indefinitely and as a result, Twinza is standing down.
The same is happening to Wafi-Golpu and the recent framework agreement signed with Porgera gold to start after 2022.
We have pressing issues needing immediate answers and why is the Government shying away?
We are in a precarious time where our leaders should be giving us undivided attention.
This is no time to play politics.
This is not the time to fiddle when Rome is burning.

David Lepi