Vital to address gap economic gap

I WOULD like to share some facts that can endanger the people and cause social disunity if we continue to allow the gap between the haves and haves not to widen.
The fact is Papua New Guinea is not like India, where the people are, unfortunately, classified into various caste and classes.
We do not practise such thing.
However, recent evidence has shown the slow emergence of classes.
Economic inequality is evident across ethnic and cultural boundaries.
The common perception is now of a country divided into “elites” and “grassroots”.
The grassroots include villagers and low-income earners in urban centres while the elites are the educated and higher-income people, “coffee millionaires” and other entrepreneurs.
There is evidence of growing disparities in the lifestyles and opportunities of elites versus grassroots and of the emergence of a middle class.
Most villagers are not poor as their daily life is simple and they do well without the extravagance in urban areas.
Villagers invest their cash income and traditional wealth in the social and political relations that maintain their place in village society.
The elites and the middle class, however, must balance the expenses of living in urban areas with investments in larger kin groups.
While the demands of wantoks can act as a powerful levelling force, higher-income families are investing in productive businesses and ensuring that their children have the same class privileges they do.
There are many expensive restaurants and night spots in Port Moresby and other big cities, and the roads are jammed bumper-to-bumper with imported cars.
While some elites dress down for work and social occasions in clothes bought at secondhand stores or wear the grassroots fashion for women, the laplap and the meri blouse, many buy their clothes from fashionable boutiques and department stores or overseas.
Wealthy citizens have invested in properties outside the country in anticipation of retirement or a people’s revolution.
Life is a continuous struggle for many and this may lead to serious problems like jealousies, murders, robberies, etc.
If social stratification is not analysed properly and if the people’s needs are not closely evaluated and monitored by the government, there is great chance of social and economical instability in this country.
It is true when people say the LNG project will either be a blessing or curse.
Only time will tell which is it.

Ronny Knox Angu
Via email