PNG needs a national urbanisation policy

webmaster Letters, Normal

OUR livelihood is threatened by the effects of the urbanisation transition process.
A  recent editorial in The National, titled, “Urbanisation an in­evitable choice”  was well said and timely.
The piece was well-researched and highlighted something which mandated governments or authorities should be well-versed in and supportive of.
It opened the eyes of those who think that the fast and furious impacts of unmanaged urbanisation, if left alone, will somehow manage itself.
As a patriotic citizen, I am very proud and appreciative of the issue pointed out in relation to the present state of urbanisation in our major towns.
The population of the three big cities of our country – Port Moresby, Lae, and Mt Hagen – have rocketed over the past 10 years, magnifying
and exposing problems associated with the urbanisation process.
Over-crowding, deteriorating in­frastructures, traffic congestion, law­lessness, illegal squatting, housing shortages, ethnic clashes, water shortages, etc, are issues as­sociated with any developing country. 
If the government is over-relaxed on these issues, I am sure that this beautiful country will be thrown to the dogs.
Congratulations to Moresby South MP Dame Carol Kidu for her foresight and Max Kep for his stewardship along with those who have worked tirelessly to create the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) as the national framework to manage these increasing urbanisation issues.
As a citizen, I fear the negative effects of the irreversible urbanisation process in the next ten years, if the NUP does not receive the appropriate support it requires for the implementation of its programmes.
I believe and am in total agreement with the editorial that there needs to be funding support from the national government for the NUP to be implemented in its attempts to manage issues associated with urbanisation.
I appeal to the chief executives of this country to seriously assess the impacts on you, your people, your future generations and mine, if you do not decide to act today.

Nati-Nikus Le Kulenusa
Via email