Why the need to praise MPs for delivering services?
The National, Thursday February 13th, 2014
MPS are supposed to make policies, write laws, develop visions and so forth to make sure the country progresses in the right direction.
MPs are supposed to make sure that policies and development strategies are implemented and systems are functioning, visions are achieved and so on.
MPs should be praised for the laws and policies they write or sponsor.
MPs should be praised for the visions and development strategies they design and successfully implement.
MPs should not be praised for delivering basic services as the people deserve the right to basic services.
It is their money and there should be a budget for basic services all year round.
It is very sad that Papua New Guineans still think, act and talk like our ancestors who had never been to school or never been exposed to the outside world.
Please, stop praising MPs for delivering services when we know that the money they use is not from their own pockets.
Instead, ask your local MP what his/her plans are to solve the high unemployment rate, the increasing law and order problems, the high cost of living, housing problems, the high energy cost, food security, etc.
MPs should be concentrating on such bigger development issues and challenges.
The role of MPs is to make sure that every system of the government works properly so that basic services reach the people as outlined in visions and development strategies.
MPs are supposed to provide direction, and mentor and advise public servants in implementing policies and strategies.
Let service delivery be the job of public servants.
If MPs are involved in service delivery, then something is seriously not right in the country.
I hope their intention is not to take a share out of public funds.
Do not make politics in PNG that cheap, useless, meaningless and senseless.
By now, basic services should have reached the masses of the population after 38 years of independence as it is not rocket science.
Lucas Kiap, Via email