SOE services must improve

PUBLIC Enterprises Mi­nister Sir Mekere Morau­ta must be congratulated for his tough stand to ensure state-owned enterprises provide decent ser­vices to the people.
PNG Power and Eda Ranu need to improve to meet the needs of the public.
It is a shame that both organisations’ perfor­mance in the city is below par and do not meet the ever increasing needs of a growing population.
Sometimes there are two or three power interruptions in one day.
In times of light showers or heavy rain, you can expect long power blackouts.
This is very frustrating.
Why are we also expe­riencing water rationing when Sirinumu Dam is overflowing?
Heads of SOE must wake up and realise the changes that are happening to the country.
May I remind Sir Me­kere and the government that we need to adopt outward looking policies to develop our country?
It is fine when we invite world-renowned oil and mining companies to come develop our natural resources because we do not have the local exper­tise.
But can the same principle be applied to SOE too?
We should hire the ser­vices of foreign experts from advanced countries to help us improve our water, electricity and communication services too.
Having come from po­pulated cities of the world with sophisticated life­styles, these experts would know how to cater for the demands of a growing population.
These foreign experts can actually act as consultants to SOE heads.
The baseless argument that PNG is accustomed
to – “foreign consultants are expensive” – is all garbage.
The country’s population, government and the business community at large need the best service at all times.

Hicks Thompson
Port Moresby