Basil has moved to the government that has wrecked PNG
13 September 2017
SIR MEKERE MORAUTA
PORT MORESBY - Sam Basil’s decision to move to Peter O’Neill’s government, along with other MPs from the Alliance, is extremely disappointing.
This was the last thing I thought would happen when I asked my colleague independent MPs to join Pangu Pati.
Of course, I respect the decision by the individual members to move as they see fit. But I do not agree with the move.
The O’Neill government had wrecked Papua New Guinea during the last five years – wrecked important oversight institutions, interfered with law enforcement agencies, allowed corruption to flourish, grossly mismanaged public finances and forced the economy into recession.
Why join a prime minister with such a reputation?
I do not support the view that members have to be in government to receive district services improvement funds or other development funds.
Every member, whether in government or opposition, represents Papua New Guineans who have an equal right to share in the nation’s wealth and opportunities.
It is unfair and immoral for the prime minister to use development funds as toys for his own political survival.
I am urging all members of parliament on both sides to fight to save the country.
The last thing MPs should be doing is giving Mr O’Neill more political oxygen to continue the train wreck of damage.
Rather than entrenching the mismanagement and destruction, leaders should be fighting to stop it – which obviously means not joining his government or strengthening his position as prime minister.
We have a responsibility to protect Papua New Guinea’s future.
And appears Allan Bird is celebrated too on Twitter as to his resolve for staying with the Alliance.
Hope is that an 'intelligent Opposition' can be demonstrably effective in delivering optimal outcomes of governance to benefit PNG population more broadly than that steal of 2012-2017 widely decried as corruption by Sir Mekere and others.
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 13 September 2017 at 09:01 PM
Well said Sir!
Posted by: Mathias Kin | 13 September 2017 at 04:26 PM