Speaker seeks new artifacts

 PARLIAMENT Speaker Theodore Zurenuoc has invited the 22 provinces to donate items of cultural significance to adorn the entrance to Parliament House.

They are to replace the wooden carvings he had ordered removed.

Zurenuoc explained his decision to a crowd in Enga for the province’s development conference.

He said PNG’s diverse cultural background made it difficult to find a common ground for the nation as a uniting force.

He said the one common denominator was the nation’s embrace of Christianity. 

He said this was at the heart of his move to modernise and restore integrity, respect, and credence in the legislature. “We come from a very diverse cultural backgrounds with no common belief system,” Zurenuoc said.

“Hence, the Christian faith united us. It became the common denominator that got us into believing in one God. 

“That is why I believe the Christian faith is the only one that we must embrace in order to instil in our people the moral and ethical principles that are so lacking. It is the only culture we all can subscribe to.

“Putting the Pole of National Identity and Unity (as proposed) to represent this cultural and historical identity of our foundation as a nation is key in expressing our founding fathers’ desire to make PNG a Christian country.”

Enga Governor Ipatas said PNG needed leaders with guts and vision who took bold and decisive actions such as Zurenuoc.

“Nobody had the guts to do it,” Ipatas said. 

“If he has done anything wrong let God punish him.”