Review Parlt privileges

PAPUA New Guinea is a couple of months away from the national election.
I bet everybody with big dreams of joining the rich men’s club are gearing up.
Sadly parliament has become the birth place for overnight millionaires, asylum for schemers and a local tourist’s amusement circus.
Leadership values are rooted in the constitution and, therefore, it should be observed ethically, legally and morally.
It is more than aspirational, it is mandatory.
It permeates every aspect of a parliamentarian’s obligation.
Unfortunately, unlike other Westminster democracies, PNG’s culture lacks maturity and intelligence to recognise and dissect genuine principled candidacy from the pack of ignorant con artists and wolves.
Election after election, self-righteous obnoxious characters with big egos and illiterate IQs are voted in to enjoy the perks and privileges rather than serving the country and its populace whom they profess to represent.
The country is as good as its leadership and PNG continue to remain poor because of our choice for poor leadership.
So how do we as a nation deter this cancerous trend?
For a start the Salaries & Remuneration Commission (SRC) in-collaboration with relevant Government agencies should consider constitutional reviews to the perks and privileges enjoyed by parliamentarians.
The fundamentals of the review should appreciate; voluntary service (no remuneration packages); zero control over electoral funds; limited influence over Government systems; and liability for open public scrutiny.
Its peripheries should be strictly confined within the boundaries of parliamentary functions and geopolitical protocols.
If one aspires to lead PNG, one should accept austerity and sacrifice to lead.
True leadership is forged on the despairs of sacrifices.
The rationale is rooted in the values of India’s Muhammad Gandhi’s life. When luxuries of political office have no power over the life of noble servitude for country and people, greater nationalistic vision is achieved.
The sooner PNG surrounds the corridors of Waigani with the authentic Melanesian ideals of true leaders, kindled by our forefathers’ pre-Independence spirit, PNG might as well be the utopia island of gold floating in a sea of oil.

Douglas Patiken Barara,
8-Mile, Pom