Relax SOE restrictions

Letters

ANY extension after the two months state of emergency (SOE) by the government will have a significant impact on the lives of every Papua New Guineans.
People living in the cities are the ones who are badly affected.
We have seen an increase in unemployment, SMEs shutting down, petty crimes increasing and the increase in police brutality during the SOE period.
The SOE came about due to the Covid-19 but the virus itself did not spread rapidly in PNG as compared to other countries.
We can only thank God for this as we all know that PNG does not have the capacity and capability to fight the Covid-19.
The eight cases is the lowest and all have recovered.
We have recorded no deaths.
Thus, do we still need to have the SOE in place?
Leaders, please consider all aspects when making decisions as a lot of Papua New Guineans are in the informal sector and live by the daily takings they make.
If you make it hard for them to make ends meet, they turn to illegal activities.
SMEs are shutting down and the badly needed funding that was promised by the Government have not been made available – not sure how long this will take.
By the time it is available, how many SMEs will benefit from that funding?
One can argue that a lot of people have died from the Covid-19 but that’s in other countries.
As pointed out by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, we cannot compare ourselves to others countries.
We need to do our own research to come up with better decision making.
Relevant authorities that advised the Government for an extension should support their decision with actual facts and figures.
I personal think that we need to relax the SOE in-country but focus more on our international borders.
That way we boost our local economy which supports the informal sector while maintaining vigilance on any imported the Covid-19 cases. The impact of the two months SOE has made life hard for most ordinary Papuan New Guineans. Extending it will only worsen the situation.
Let’s learn to live with the Covid-19 as part of the new normal.

Zuguru,
Bena Bridge