THE STORY OF THE HAPPY GARDNER
Never was a less fitting nickname given to Justin Tkatchenko than the "Happy Gardener". That's because he's far from happy most of the time, especially with those unfortunate enough to work under him. He rants and raves, screams and rudely puts down those around him quite regularly. To put it mildly, he's the stereotyped 'masta' we all heard about that in the days before Independence used to run around screaming us "stupid kanakas". Justin isn't a pleasant fellow.
Of course, amongst his political allies it's a different story. With them, Justin is highly appreciated. He's cozy with them and them with him. Long ago in the days of Rock n roll Bill Skate, Justin learnt how to kickback money into hungry pockets in return for parliamentary landscaping contracts. "I pat your arse and you pat mine" was a skill that Justin picked up quickly and very, very naturally. Back in those days, Justin was a good understudy to Bill Skate, David Unagi, and other Moresby scumbags. They were all happy to let the 'masta' personality return back to PNG and rewarded him handsomely for his ability to crack the whip and get things done. Just like Hitler did.
At one point, after Justin got a 'loan' to buy the only POM mortuary, Skate even had one of Unagi's bodyguards killed and the body delivered to Justin's new operation. Bringing in the bacon, as they say, although that term would have better fit Unagi. Skate bragged about the killing when secretly videotaped by Australian scumbag businessman Muja Sefa. But as always in PNG, we forgive and forget. There was never an investigation into Skate because most of us just don't care in PNG what our politicians do.
The whole picture of Justin Tkatchenko is that of a general ratbag and corrupt manipulator. A big fish attracted to the small pond of PNG. A fraud, a fake and a fascist. That's why a lot of people are praying for Justin's failure at the Pacific Games. They reckon it is long deserved payback for the contempt our Tkatchenko has thrown at the grassroots of Papua New Guinea for the last two decades. Justin Tkatchenko came to PNG supposedly to do good and has done very well indeed.
The hatred towards the fascist Happy Gardener is so strong these days that it almost overshadows people's hopes that the Pacific Games will be PNG's chance to shine. There are as many people right now in Moresby pointing fingers and laughing at the poor progress of some of the construction projects as there are those who are crossing their fingers that it'll all get done in time.
That's a bit sad to behold, but there didn't have to be this kind of disunity. The fact is that Justin Tkatchenko is symbolic of absolutely nothing to be proud of as Papua New Guineans about the Pacific Games which are run by foreigners, and built either by foreigners and/or scumbags, thanks to Peter O'Neill using expensive foreign loans to fund the whole mess Justin Tkatchenko has become the national symbol of foreigners getting rich off PNG land and labour.
A well qualified national could have been found to do Justin's job but of course, Peter O'Neill would have none of that. But if this had truly become a genuine product of Papua New Guineans rather than foreigners, more modest facilities had been planned and completed on time, and the Games successfully held, our pride would have exploded with joy come July.
Instead, when the games start, we'll see Justin out in front as usual, chest swelled, taking all the credit while berating (as usual) he staff for any deficiency that catches his eye. Let's cheer for our athletes but give no thanks at all for the incredible indebtedness and waste that Tkatchenko and O'Neill brought the nation of Papua New Guinea through this almost beyond belief scam to reward their cronies through contracts and kickbacks.
But one request for the Happy Gardener after the games are over. Leave us in peace and please give the newspapers a rest at having to publish your ugly face.
