GROWING PAINS - PNG STILL IN PUBERTY

 byYAKAN LEPAKALI

It was shocking, shocking in a sense of embarrassment to read in the Post Courier (16/07/2015) the revelation of disparity that is evident in the city of Port Moresby. An athlete, after the games, went strolling to the outskirts of the city only to envisage people in settlements worse off than people in settlements in Fiji. Another commented, people have an attitude issue and generally dirty. 

I don’t want to buy into the comment on people being generally dirty but on the notion of attitude and poverty, this is a really check. Such observation must be considered as constructive criticism to take an informed approach alleviating the status quo rather than dwelling on the negativity. Adding to the despair, upon arrival of the athletes at Jacksons international airport, waiting buses ferried the athletes away to the gaming village but disgraceful to watch luggage loaded onto open-back trucks exposed. Luggage for the athletes should have been transported in an enclosed but wasn’t. 

It depicts lousy arrangement and those responsible should burry their heads in shame. If we are talking about competing in the international scene, potentially, 2015 Pacific games was the occasion to prove our competency and capacity to compete and organize events of international flavour impeccably from the minute to the magnificent facilities that we ever boastful about. We have showcased world class sporting facilities according to the testament and exaggerated on our achievement in short time frame. 

We may go around chest beating and ask for accolades and hold ourselves at high esteem for magnificent sporting facilities for 2015 Pacific games and success story on the delivery of games, however, the worst is, driving the athletes through flyover, what was seen speaks volume of the social disparity exist right in the heart of the city and it evidently depicts country as a whole. First impression is always important. 

We have impressed our visitors from the Pacific with the first impression when they were driven via flyover and showed them shady Erima suburb and just before reaching the newly constructed round about, to the right, tin makeshifts mushrooming on the hillside is a complete eye sore. It is disgusting to envisage slum on the hillside in the heart of Port Moresby city whilst enjoying the ride driving on the newly constructed flyover. Adding to the distastefulness, corrugated iron sheet fencing adds further dimension to the informed perception of the reality on the ground. Very ambitious Pawes Parkop very quickly wanting to bid to host the commonwealth games in PNG. 

Apparently, there was hype about infrastructure and world class sporting facilities. Remember, 99% of Papua New Guinea does not have the infrastructure let alone world class sporting amenities. Furthermore, we must never forget that we are a third world country and haven’t reached the level of developed economies and it makes one wonder, who is PNG benchmarking against?. PNG got her independence from the neo-colonial administration only 4 decades ago. 

We are still in the transition stage or at the cross road not fully embracing civilization. Given the level of corruption at unprecedented level and issues of attitude, these are recipe for doom and gloom. It is a laughing matter when politicians in the likes of Parkop and Justin (sports minister) want to talk about an extravagance of hosting 2015 Pacific games and on the eve of closing, hastily want to bid for commonwealth games whilst the disparity between the haves and have nots forever widening courtesy of totalitarian regime. Not again another inviting ridicule. 

Completely obliterate this city with razor wire, corrugated iron sheet fencing, tuckshops, outlaw sale and spitting of betel-nut, all constructions either that is road or building, it should be constructed in accordance to Australian standards (AS) since we have adopted the west system of governance. Building must be erected to standard pattern. Settlements must be regulated. Municipal authority must take full account of municipal services to city residence that including those residing along the city precincts.

Should the leadership doesn’t get the basics right but yet talking extravagance, how can the tail lead when the head is sick? I am optimistic that sporting facilities of world standard will stand the test and endure and more so, annual budgetary allocations will be sure for its upkeep for domestic use and international events in future.

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