Protect people’s rights to reserved businesses

ALL the reserved businesses are supposed to be owned and operated by Papua New Guineans.
The Government should reinforce its relevant legislations to protect business opportunities from foreign invasions.
That is not happening.
Reserved businesses such as trade stores, fast food outlets and bakeries are taken over by foreign nationals.
You’d mostly see foreigners operating these businesses in our towns and cities.
They are even operating in the rural areas, outer towns in districts and on our islands.
They cook and sell at roadsides, they buy and resell betel nuts, vanilla, coffee, cocoa, sea cucumber and many other agricultural and marine commodities.
Why are the foreigners operating the reserved businesses with no control?
They are taking advantage of our weak system of governance in terms of policy implementation and legislative enforcement.
The previous government under the two ministries that Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru was holding was so vocal on small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
They mentioned many promising things on reserved businesses for Papua New Guineans, but to date we see nothing good.
The responsible ministers and bureaucrats of the past seemed to be good talkers but lacked action.
They held conventions and attended seminars on the issue but did nothing to address it.
Such inaction from the Government had denied our rights and compromised our sovereignty.
People are sick and tired of seeing foreigners taking away their rights in business operations.
Governors and their governments need to be vigilant and address the issues forthwith.
Prime Minister James Marape’s mantra of “Taking back PNG” and making it a rich black Christian nation on earth cannot be achieved without taking back all the reserved businesses that are operated by foreign nationals.
Protecting our rights is protecting our sovereignty and prosperity.

Charles Ifu,
Watabung