Parkop needs to make tough calls

I AM surprised by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop’s decision not to impose a lockdown in Port Moresby in response to a surge in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases.
As per the story in The National yesterday, it seems the economy is more important to him than the lives of people.
Goroka is imposing a curfew and Port Moresby should follow this.
Parkop promised to support the general hospital with money and assist the St John Ambulance with some more funds, but this is illogical.
This will not stop the spread of the virus.
Parkop said “the lockdown will be hard to enforce anyway”.
I am surprised to be hearing this from a governor who has been in office for 15 years.
Does that mean he cannot monitor and control the movement and habits of people in his own city?
PNG needs governors and MPs who can make a tough call such as what the prime minister of New Zealand did early last year.
New Zealand successfully managed the crisis that caused havoc everywhere.
Parkop is not a true leader if he cannot make that tough call to impose a lockdown.
I have noted that the Deputy National Pandemic Response Controller Dr Daoni Esorom has made the point that the fight against the pandemic will be effective if authorities work to cut the transmission, and to do that, people have to be stopped from moving about.
Is that not what a lockdown will achieve?
What is more important to Parkop, money or lives?
His dillydallying about this pandemic issue is going to be disastrous for the one million people living in the city.
It is my hope that the National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning overrules Parkop’s decision and act immediately to save lives.
A tough call should be made to save lives.
True leaders make tough calls, they are not in their positions to be famous or popular.

PNG Tauna