Parkop appeals for safer, cleaner Port Moresby

 National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has urged New Irelanders in the city to help make Port Moresby a cleaner and safer place for all. 

He made the call at the New Ireland Day yesterday at Murray Barracks, organised by University of PNG students.

“While you may be from New Ireland, and every other province of our nation, when you are in Port Moresby, this is your home and this is your life,” Parkop, the main sponsor of the event, said.

“I want you all to think about this.

“We have to create an environment conducive for business to prosper, for jobs to be created. We can’t do it on our own without the residents and people of our city doing their part.

“Most of the time, we don’t demand a lot of things from you all.

“We just want you to keep the peace, respect other people, respect other cultures, and not to rubbish our city,” Parkop said.

“We spit, criminalise it, and violate it. This has been going on for too long.

“The city won’t change if we put millions of kina into the city.

“It will still go to waste if the people of the city don’t take ownership of the city.”

Parkop told the New Irelanders that Port Moresby was their home away from home.

“While you are here, this is your home,” he said. “Some of you may go home to New Ireland while you are still young, energetic, but many of you will go home in a coffin.

“While you are living here in the capital city, if you want your life to be quality, to be useful, to leave a better legacy for your children and grandchildren into the future, I want you all to help me look after the city.

“All around the world, the majority of people are living in cities.

“The cities now are becoming the critical part of nation-building.

“Port Moresby, which many of you New Irelanders are living in, is testimony to this.

“You have migrated to the city to get an education, get a job.

“This is your city and your life and you have to come to terms with that “When you come to Port Moresby, you find out that three-quarters of your life is here in the capital city.

“You find a job or get married but be reminded that this is your city.”