So much to be done

I SUPPORT the statement by Cardinal Sir John Ribat that the General Election 2022 (GE22) is the worst election ever in Papua New Guinea.
And the blame should be laid squarely on whoever was in charge of GE22 preparations.
The Electoral Commission had almost three years to plan the implementation of GE22.
However, it takes money to run this national activity.
The futile effort to update the common roll (wards, local level governments, districts and provinces) was a ridiculous political statement.
Not all wards were covered and even for those that were covered, not every citizen was enrolled.
This showed the incompetency of those in charge.
PNG must ask itself how most current Members of Parliament (MPs) were re-elected.
This election is marred with allegations of corruption, bribery, ballot box tampering, intimidation and other factors.
The country should not be blind by political propaganda and gimmicks.
Losing candidates are resorting to violence because something has forced them to act in this manner.
The security forces are alleged to be on the payroll of sitting MPs, EC officials (returning officers and assistant returning officers) are ardent supporters of sitting MPs and the court system is influenced by the Government. Therefore, we can summarise that losing candidates are acting in this way because they and the people are feeling suppressed and have no where to facilitate their grievances.
This frustration may have compelled them to take the law into their own hands.
I do not support violence but I’m just pointing out a probable cause.
We have to reflect on economic facts to substantiate the performances of prime ministers.
Performances of the prime minister should be analysed through economic indicators such as the foreign exchange rate, import-export ratio, employment rate, inflation rate and the external balance deficit.
We must not be blindsided by political propaganda.
For the last three years, the FX rate is on a continuous decline, employment rate is at an all-time low and inflation is on the rise.
We, the ordinary citizens, are feeling the pinch.
Inflation will occur when we have external balance deficits.
When imports are more than exports, then we have more outflows of money and less inflows of money. This will stimulate the increase in domestic prices of goods and services.
This is happening now.
PNG, therefore, urgently needs someone like the late Sir Mekere Morauta to bail us out of this economic turmoil.

Charlie Ben