Stop being lazy, work hard

I FIND it interesting comments coming from those who hide behind expensive names and titles who sit daily in their expensive suits telling Papua New Guineans about how we should be engaged in small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
We had 47 years to get into business and yet most have done nothing.
This comment has often come from those who have never had, owned and or operated a business in their lives, yet they see fit to participate in this debate.
The facts are very clear, I come from Western and have noted all over PNG, in most rural areas, that there are no PNG-owned SMEs.
Why is that so?
It’s because we don’t have the experience and discipline to own and operate business but yet we continue to blame others, such as expatriates and foreign business owners for our failures.
To then suggest the State, in fact the taxpayers, to fund these failures is also nonsense.
The ‘Stret Pasin Stoa’ programme failed in the 70s and 80s because very few of the recipients of the programme licences had the capacity to maintain and operate a business.
A particular Think Tank in PNG seems to believe by name, a restricted business list will solve the issue.
The fact is it won’t, and anyone who is genuine about getting Papua New Guineans into business knows this.
This is nothing more than political grandstanding and for some, chest beating.
Criticise the Asians and other foreign nationals for what they do and the businesses they run, but if not for them, most rural areas will have nothing. The idea that the State is to provide funding to PNG nationals is a major issue, it is not necessary and is flawed.
Most of these foreign entities have never applied for and or received funding from the PNG banking system and have grown out of sheer hard work and disciplines that many of us PNG nationals just lack, that is a fact.
The ideology that we can’t get started because of the competition by foreigners is false as well, no amount of free money or Government assistance will change this.
These foreigners are our customers buying PNG products.
The reserved business list and its idea is also flawed.
Most countries respect small businesses with the understanding that they keep the country moving economically.
This is evident by all the tax breaks and relief packages many governments give to small business community overseas, Australia being a good example.
People New Guineans need to get off our lazy complaining backsides and get to work, never fear competition and adopt the work ethic we once had.
A restricted business list will only add to issues in the country.
Many people are employed by this sector, pay tax albeit too much and of course everything we buy has a goods and service tax attached with it.
The social implications which will come of this will have a massive negative impacts on the lower to middle income-earning people of our country, especially those in the urban areas.
You can try to force these foreigners out if you want but who will fill the void?
Who will pay the wages, tax and fill the social impact void?
It would appear the real driving impetus here is nationalism and chest beating, with little or no depth of thought about the realities of starting and operating businesses.
How many of the so called experts and saveman have ever started, owned and operated a successful business in our country?
Most couldn’t read a balance sheet.
There are a group of nationalistic PNG nationals who have no understanding of the road they are driving us down.
It is a very dangerous road.

Balimo Wabea, Via Email