Bernard, I think you're right about changing mindsets because the titles we give some leaders, such as 'Grand Chief' is just that, a title.

What we should really be concerned about is the role a person with such a title plays.

As a nation we have embraced the idea of having a Queen as the Head of State and the Governor General as her representative, giving a ceremonial nod to the past.

I don’t think that PNG is far behind in terms of modernizing our traditional values of leadership, for example some people supported the illegal ousting of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister in 2011.

PNG has a modern Westminister parliament that we elect politicians from our electorates to attend. But this position and role of Member of Parliament should not make them become automatically paramount chiefs and etc.

One particular aspect has gone too far is the throne carrying of elected MP’s when they visit local communities. This has no precedent in PNG methinks.

In tok pisin that behaviour is called ‘litimapim’ and is equivalent to adulatory behaviour almost akin idolatry and cult worship – I doubt if our Speaker has thoughts on addressing this in Parliament.

The title of chief and being a leader in PNG communities and the encompassing role have a more fundamental basis in society than simply the person who got the most votes.

Leaders and chiefs were people we trusted, men and women who were known (from close, lifetime experience) would speak the right words to solve disputes and create peace and maintain harmony, take the right action to make sure all parties were content and place themselves in the position to take responsibility for the outcomes of whatever fate befell the community as a result of their words and deeds.

I am sure we all know of men and women who play such significant roles in our own communities but who do not wilfully take on the title of chief as our political leaders do.

‘The mind is the key to changing the nature of our reality’.

But to change mindsets people need to be brought to a decision point where they are prepared to make up their mind about what they believe is good, better or the best for themselves and their communities.

The more peaceful process of getting to the decision point also involves open discussion, proper dialogue between parties and frank and honest speech.

The less peaceful means of arriving at the decision point involves lies, dishonesty and deceit, false posturing, secretive whispers and behind the scenes scheming and manipulation.

Social media has a role to play in changing mindsets in a positive manner because it is, despite much anonymity and barbarity, quite forthright and frank – there’s no holds barred.

It is because of this important role of social media that we should be prepared to clear the ‘garbage from the groceries’ whenever we read stuff on the web.

We are what we eat.

"PNG is not at a stage where we can engage in meaningful discussions on cyber space."

So, Bernard, what you have to say is not a meaningful discussion?

Bernard - are you all right?

Quit taking the easy way out.

The Prime Minister is not a Big Man for a specific clan, nor is his office a Chieftainship, a Kukurai, or a Maimai.

The PM's position is the CEO of Papua New Guinea - in the modern world that we live in when a CEO fucks up he gets fired. [Flashback: NPF saga]

Thank Allah, God, Mother Mary and all the Saints, Krishna, Vishnu, Brahma, Lord Buddha, Aslan, Illuvator, Elvis Presley and every other divinity for Western liberal thinking.

You should do that too Bernard - because it is Western liberal thinking that has allowed you the freedoms that you have today yet seem all too eager to hand back to your leaders under the misguided assumption that this is being respectful.

Social media is the new avenue for conversations which can be meaningful if the parties are responsible adults.

Taking responsibility of what we say is what citizens who are respectful of their leaders should do but are our leaders prepared to hear what we really think about them?

But anonymity also plays a key role - quit bitching and embrace it.

Back to grade school then for our journalists and readers - refute or denial - Google it.

re·fute
verb: refute; 3rd person present: refutes; past tense: refuted; past participle: refuted; gerund or present participle: refuting

prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove.
"these claims have not been convincingly refuted"

synonyms: disprove, prove wrong, prove false, debunk, discredit, invalidate;

de·ny
verb: deny; 3rd person present: denies; past tense: denied; past participle: denied; gerund or present participle: denying

state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of.
"they deny any responsibility for the tragedy"

synonyms: contradict, controvert, repudiate, challenge, counter, contest, oppose, rebut;

The key word is PROVE.

The PM has not refuted Sir Mekere's statement - he simply denied it.

The issue is not registering of SIM cards. The issue is the new NICTA legislation.

PNG should change the phrase 'member of parliament' to 'people's representatives' for elected leaders so they are aware of their roles in the bigger world of democracy.

They are accountable to the people (not only voters in a constituency as is the perception of politicians and cronies in PNG) and a free and vibrant media provides for politically educated citizens to be critical of development issues, debate, educate, shape and reshape politicians parochial thoughts and attitudes.

Bernard - political leaders with true integrity don't fear the social media because they are secure in themselves and with the knowledge that slander and libel are already indictable offenses under PNG law.

Also, when political leaders are really in tune with their people at the grass roots (and not just the business class and those who grace the swimming pool at Airways), getting involved in social media as part of their own public relations and maintaining an active rapport with stakeholders and leaders in their electorate communities, then any virtual graffiti put up by keyboard-vandals will be quickly wiped off the general public's perception because it is the disgusting sputum that everyone knows it is.

Hon. Gary Juffa - your associate through this network Bernard - could offer more insights.

More importantly, there are limits to which parliament should dictate our freedoms and responsibilities - whether someone has broken the law is determined by the judiciary arm of government NOT the executive arm: otherwise we're in a dictatorship or anything but a democracy.

The executive arm of government is supposed to be busy dealing with the running of the national policies, finances, security, health and welfare of it's people. Not trying to play policeman by changing laws to suit government members own purposes.

Let our political leaders refund the UBS loan and physically, not by parliamentary prophesying, but by an actual cash money transaction, establish the sovereign wealth fund.

Let our MP's quit the free education policy farce and start to provide quality education from teachers who are already there in class rooms that have real desks and chairs, books and biros, blackboard and chalk, PC's and printers and etc.

Let us hear instead from the PNG medical profession that they are satisfied with the national health system and the free health care service, not from politicians who can afford overseas and international medical fees.

Why don't our good MP's chainsaw down the SABL's instead of the iconic cultural symbols in our house.

Stop the hypocrisy of putting outdated and unintelligible versions of the Holy Bible in church and start offering tithes from their own fat salaries.

Quick math, say 100 MP's give K100 per fortnight to the council of churches, that's K260,000 per year or K1.3 million from every 5 year term in Parliament. Think what the church run services could do with all that money...

Is that too big a miracle to ask of God? Do we have too little faith? Or is that just a stupid request not worth asking?

Oh never mind! We already have a K780,000 bible.

Bernard - you say our leaders 'good names' deserve more respect - I say it's time they earned it!

I disagree there are some who are abusing this freedom by saying things that are not really good against mandated leaders. In most cases, their comments are baseless or rumours with no evidence aimed at tarnishing the good name of leaders.

The Judiciary has demonstratively been PNG's only beacon of hope upholding the constitution and ensurig that its democracy is vibrantly functioning.

When Judiciary faulters or compromises with the legislative or the executive arm of the government then we all can say our last prayers.

There is still hope that things will turn out for the better. It's a matter of time.

Sir Mekere is the best prime minister PNG has had in the last 40 years. Close behind him would be another shining Knight Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

Sir Mekere's comments here confirms the ugly trend in PNG today. We have a government hell bent on holding onto power and will go to any length to do that.

We would have thought somebody like Miringtoro would have some brains and some responsibility to say no to O'Neill.

It seem every minister and MPs in government are O'Neill "Yes Sir" men and will carry his brief case any time he is ordered to. PNG, we are truly heading into trouble waters.