PM, deputy should not leave country together

The National Letters

THE proposition for the World Trade Exposition at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in October seems attractive and will take the prime minister, deputy prime minister and a number of the cabinet ministers away from the country to attend it.
However, one should feel a certain sense of discomfort as well as a feeling of insecurity when both the prime minister and his deputy temporarily leave the country at the same time.
This does not happen in other countries.
Precautions have always been taken when so many uncertain and unpredictable events occur in one’s own country.
In Papua New Guinea, the recent political events and unrests at the national level due to the change of Government and the attempted motions of no confidence in  parliament are still being felt and are still keeping this nation reeling and shaky at its roots.
We have not settled down yet.
The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the economy and the looming 2022 national general elections in which no concrete preparations have yet been made are among many factors the Government should take note of as precaution and not let their guards down to vacate their posts of command.
I would suggest that Prime Minister James Marape let Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil attend this event in Dubai.
There are already talks that some regular protests against corruption and other national development issues would be staged on regular basis in certain locations in Port Moresby.
While the intentions of these protests are genuine, there however, exists elements in society that could take advantage of this situation to cause civil unrest.
The political and civil unrests of many countries of the world in recent years are too obvious as examples for any political leader of this country not to take note of them.
Our political leaders should not be vacating their offices of duty so as to afford their presence and to hold together people’s confidence in their leadership in these time of challenges and uncertainties.

Ahua Akore