Study class system in Papua New Guinea

Letters

THIS is a call to the relevant authorities and think tanks to carry out an investigation into the class system in our country with the yardstick being access to basic services.
It is no surprise that the bulk of our citizens would fall under the “lower class” but are they really to be blamed for their own misgivings?
A case study could be on the recent eviction exercise carried out at the Garden Hills settlement in Port Moresby, which could somewhat be described as a double edged sword for the residents of National Capital District.
The eviction exercise brings up the issue of the class system in major cities.
Many people would argue that the people dwelling in unregulated and illegal shanties have no business in Port Moresby
Yes, it is a given that this area was a haven for illicit activities by youths in that area where women and vulnerable men were either mugged or stabbed for their belongings with no assistance from bystanders who people assume are just as culpable as the youths of that area.
Although the eviction was a long time coming, where it had to involve the process of the court, the underlying issue on where these people would resettle is another burden for the city and its governor.
It is no surprise that after the eviction, there would be a rise in homelessness around Port Moresby; criminal activities will also go up a notch when the youths from the evicted area gang up and roll out their illicit activities with other youths.
But, then again, the lack of city planning predates the current management where it goes far beyond land grabbing.
The fact that most of the country’s state-of-the-art utilities and the chunk of its development initiatives are only groomed for Port Moresby and a few city provinces speaks of the growing disparity of the class system in the country.
It is the difference between the haves and have nots that is encouraging the out-of-control spiralling of shanties in major cities.
It is the people’s desire to have a better life for themselves and their families and they will do everything at their will to create a “rags to riches” story for themselves.
As long as there is a huge disparity in our class system, settlements will always pop up and the various social issues will always be there unless something is done by the top hierarchy of the Government.
The eviction exercisem although may be morally just under the law, paints the grim picture of the State’s lack of awareness and planning on an issue that is growing day by day.
The country is just months away from the general election and with the rise in homelessness created by the eviction, it would not be a surprise if the rise in illicit activities around Port Moresby correlate to rise between the haves and have-nots.
Better understanding of the class system needs to be taken in the long run.

Observer,
NCD