DANGEROUS CONCENTRATION OF POWER


History speaks so much about the dangers of power being concentrated in only one region or person, and so is this note, to remind the many Papua New Guineans about the imminent backlash, if we are not careful with distribution of power and wealth.

Having reflected on the distribution of balance of power in the current O’Neil-led government, it is becoming more and more visible that power and the custodianship of the country’s wealth, is centred around the Upper Highlands of the country.

To prove this point, one just has to look at the distribution of ministries. The economic ministerial powerbase which includes the Finance, Treasury, Works, Foreign Affairs, Petroleum and Energy and Environment and Conservation to a lesser extent, are all concentrated in just one region or corner of the country.

 Their next door neighbours from the Eastern Block who contribute 19 votes in support of the current government, in the meantime, are feted with only three service ministries.

It may all seem and sound well from the start, as is the case with or during the initial distribution of ministries and formation of governments, but sooner than later, things turn sour.
In politics, you try to save face by either scoffing off or deny that such rifts exist, and in most cases accuse the opposing end for political point-scoring -  but sooner than later, the cracks appear.

And so, who is to downplay or underestimate the possibilities of this being the scenario in the current coalition government?
Quite frankly, the Eastern Block, which includes members from, Jiwaka, Simbu and Eastern Highlands provinces, have become briefcase carriers. 

What about those from other regions in the country? Is animosity, owing to this fact besides others, already building up from within government circles?

For those who witnessed the Alotau Accord, the ration of allocation of ministries was 3:1 (Three Is To One.) Yet we’re seeing one or two-men parties allocated a ministry or two whilst certain political parties who contributed three or more have been left in the backburner. How fairer can we get?

There are various reasons – political or otherwise, why an overwhelming majority of members of parliament sided with the government in the passage of the 30-month grace period law. But given the above scenario, my mind boggles as to why those political parties who were fed the bones, gone ahead to vote for the extension.

 These so-called leaders will continue to be fed the scraps for as long as this parliament lasts, and deservedly so because they’ve brought themselves, especially their dignity and integrity so low by not seriously analysing the ‘pros and cons’ of the bill, even the moral and ethical intentions of proponents of the bill, as it was then and is now.

We can say “it is imperative that the prime minister reshuffles the cabinet for proper balance of power.” But now that he’s got what he wanted (30-months to rule with grip), the rest can sulk all the way to the 2017 national elections. 

As they say, “Suffer In Silence.”

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