Questions on disaster aid funding

THE announcement by the Government and Prime Minister James Marape to quickly deliver aid and support to those affected by the natural disasters across the country is welcomed and appropriate.
The loss of life and devastation in these communities should see an urgent and immediate response.
Interestingly, the funding is being channelled from the Connect PNG programme, the same one that is already being accessed to pay for many things that now see questions being raised.
We all expect that this funding commitment does actually get to those people who need it.
The other question is the consistency of the Government’s aid and support packages.
In January, the capital of the country was devastated by death and destruction, caused by a lack of leadership from within Government security agencies.
The death toll was not high but the destruction in the city caused hundreds of millions, if not billions of Kina worth of damage.
This was not a natural disaster but a human-caused disaster.
The response to this disaster was slow, the apologies from our leaders were not authentic and those affected are still waiting for support. Worse, the support that has been proposed is not real support at all.
It is a token response to keep these businesses quiet.
So, why the difference?
Is it because in Port Moresby, it was mostly businesses affected and not villagers?
People have died in both disasters so this is consistent. But the cost of damage in the January events would be significantly higher than any in the provinces. So, why?
Is it because this has happened in the electorates of many of the members of Government so they want to be seen to be responding? There are only four members representing NCD in Parliament, so, we don’t worry about them? And, they’re mostly not from Moresby anyway.
Is it because Connect PNG has limited governance over its funding so we can move this money quickly and do what we want with it?
PNG has made a name for itself.
Those involved have caused us to be seen as greedy, corrupt and self-serving.
The different responses to these two different disasters show that this image of us is fair.
We are greedy, self-serving and we choose which disasters suit us.
Time for this Government to act consistently and support all Papua New Guineans the same and not just those we think will serve us better. Or, get out!

Joe Taus