Stability is key to development, growth, prosperity

 IT IS encouraging to read various opinions from the public about why they think there should be a change of government in 2017. 

Most of the allegations against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill stem from political decisions by the National Executive Council in the interest of the country. 

Governing a country as is not a simple thing so alternate prime ministers must prove to the intelligent public how they can do better than O’Neill. 

Days of cheap political rhetoric on issues pending before the courts should not take precedence over constructive policy issues. 

We all know that due to a drop in oil price, the Government may be forced to make readjustments in the 2016 budget but that does not mean O’Neill should not continue beyond 2017. 

So far we have seen O’Neill transforming the country and economic activities are picking up despite our budget deficit, which the government is managing. 

We need to be patient as we go through the present economic storm and leave politics aside. 

Political opportunists must not confuse the people by amplifying trivial politics to make O’Neill look like a failure. 

O’Neill made many decisions in the collective interest of the country and some of these decisions are sensitive due to past government’s failures. It is typical of O’Neill not to dwell on past failures. 

He has always maintained respect for past governments and has always looked at how best his government can change the negatives to positives. 

And he has done that quite successfully. 

In the process, O’Neill comes under constant fire from political opportunist. But he is a level headed Prime Minister that always maintained that this country is bigger than petty politics. 

The public is not stupid because they can compare and contrast. 

This country will never go broke and be declared a failed state as we are misguided to think so. 

We need political stability and O’Neill seems to know what this country needs so we must return him as Prime Minister and let him serve for the next term. 

History shows that most political changes in PNG are driven by greed and self-interest. 

Papua New Guineans must rise up and be matured after 40 years of independence and demand political stability to see real changes. 

O’Neill has delivered on his promises and will continue to do so if given the opportunity to return after the 2017 elections.

Samson Wena

Kerowagi, Chimbu