Welcome 2022, but …
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
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Welcome 2022, but …
PORT MORESBY: It is time to say goodbye to 2021 and to welcome 2022
– a year of continuous struggle to keep afloat socially and economically amid
the global Coronavirus (Covid-19) threat to humanity.
As usual, the prime minister (James Marape) would
issue his end-of-year message, so would his predecessor (Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter
O’Neill) who is also Opposition Leader.
Is it any surprise that their message contrast each
other?
Marape reminded Papua New Guineans of the impeccable qualities”
of national icons who died during the year, urging voters to elect equally
great leaders in General Election 2022.
O’Neill said 2021 had been one of the darkest years
for Papua New Guinea with more than K51 million debt amassed and the only plan
to increase income was by taxing people more.
He also apologised to the nation, saying he had “acted
in good faith to humbly resign (as prime minister) in May 2019, thinking that
the change that was asked for would be youthful and move forward faster than my
government could”.
Read out for what they had to say to Papua New Guineans for the New Year, as published by The National:
Goodbye 2021,
welcome 2022
December 31, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
PRIME Minister
James Marape has reminded the nation of the “impeccable qualities” of national
icons who died during the year, urging voters to elect equally great leaders in
the 2022 general election.
In his New Year message, Marape spoke of how the people would remember the
leadership qualities of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir
Silas Atopare and Sir Paulias Matane.
“You hold one of the greatest powers given to man – the power to elect a
government, a man or woman to represent you. Because of this, the
responsibility you bear is just as great,” he said.
“Elect leaders based on merit – and merit alone.”
IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill says 2021 has
been one of the nation’s darkest years, with more than K51 billion debt amassed
and the only plan to increase income is by taxing people more.
He apologised to the nation, saying he had “acted in good faith to humbly
resign (as prime minister) in May 2019, thinking that the change that was asked
for would be youthful and move us forward faster than my government could”.
“I have, like you, been bitterly disappointed in the performance of the
Marape-led government over the past 31 months,” he said.
“I am sorry to have not fully understood the cargo cult mentality, lack of
common sense and absence of integrity that now identifies (this) Government.
“I have been surprised at how fast they have managed to undo years of hard work
of not just my government, but also those that came before me.
“Economically, we are in one heck of a mess with debt at over K51 billion, and
no plan to increase income except to tax our people more.”
O’Neill said crime and violence in Port Moresby and around the country were
“out of control”.
“The law is routinely abused and manipulated for political gain. Corruption,
nepotism, and greed are worse, and our economic, health and social unrest had
made us a laughing stock in the region,” he said.
But O’Neill urged the people to look forward to “a brighter 2022”.
He said: “We have much to be proud of. Our culture is one of the most vibrant
and is evolving still.
“Our country is blessed with natural resources more than adequate to meet our
needs.
“We are blessed to have a democratic system of government in the Commonwealth,
and our neighbours are peaceful. Our prospects could not be better.”
He reminded the people of how the world’s largest nations responded to the
nation’s potential during the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’
Summit in Port Moresby.
“Opening up new ways of doing business with old and new trading partners, and
billions of Kina flooded in to help our country access electricity, digitise
and evolve,” he said.
“But we have failed since then to capitalise on these development
opportunities. There really is nothing to stop us reaching our potential but
ourselves.”
He said 2021 would be remembered as a year of “rapidly going backwards”.
“We are all looking forward to a brighter 2022. I am confident it will be a
year of positive change.
“We must fight for our children and for PNG.”
Well, open the borders to fifo unvaccinsted, it seems in my country, Australia, more vaxed r getting sick than the unvaxed.
ReplyDeleteYou hve fifo workers just waiting to come back who have not put their health on the line for this medical aparthied.