Restrictions necessary

THIS is in response to the call from Zuguru – Bena Bridge in his/her letter on Monday, June 22.
While I respect his/her call, may I also remind him/her that the world is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and PNG is no exception.
This pandemic does not discriminate and as rightfully stated in The National’s editorial “Covid-19 respects no national borders, no social bounds, no political systems and no cultural values”.
Within the context of this worldview and as a Christian, I think the most honourable thing to do right now is for churches to restrategise and plan its operational guides on how it intends to operate.
The traditional way of staging our gatherings in a building and managing our outreach and evangelical programmes should be relooked, adjusted to operate their mandated mission within the guides of the new normal.
Let us face reality.
We have to adjust to living with the coronavirus for the rest of this year and beyond.
I am sure the governing churches in Papua New Guinea are working in consultation with the Government and other key stakeholders to better manage and operate within instituted operative guidelines.
Our business communities are money oriented entities and are guided by their own set of protocols as demanded by the Government through the state of emergency restrictions.
Times and seasons have drastically changed and it is viewed inevitable that all citizens, as it is globally, to be sensitive in our endeavours.
Measures are put in the place for every citizens’ benefit – from social distancing in public places to practising personal hygiene.
Our Almighty God is a God of order; hence expects all Christians and everyone to live accordingly in respect and under those in authority.

(BO.ROVAIS),
Edward Siavor,
Department of Works – HQ