By Gary Juffa
The only certainty about the future of Papua New Guinea
is its uncertainty....as it is, we are being packaged, initially carefully and
elaborately, designed to convince and appease the masses and critics, those who
are suspicious and may cause problems...now it is blatant.....
A few questions I thought this night while reflecting on
Papua New Guinea occurred to me. How is a nation so rich in so many ways
constantly having to soak up the blows of apathy and bad governance?
| Pic courtesy of PNG Attitude blog |
How is it
that so called Princes and Princesses can visit and be treated with much aplomb
and at enormous costs to the State and therefore the people but a child can die
in a village from lack of the most basic health care available elsewhere in the
world?
How is it that we can declare economic boom and glory days ahead but
rapes of mothers are committed in our public market places in broad daylight
minutes away from a Police Station?
How is it that projects that will most
certainly destroy the environment of this nation, unique and untouched are
given the green light by politicians who only weeks ago were pleading with
their people for the mandate to protect their interests? How is it that vacuum
in leadership continues to grow election after election and we see a lack of
leaders who stand up for their country, their people, their future?
How is it
that we still one this place we call home and yearn for better days and hope,
hope that one day, our children and ourselves too, will be truly satisfied that
we are on what is the path towards true freedom and happiness, peace and
progress?
The villages and hamlets, settlements and ghettos, where
dreams and hopes abound, where also misery and fear increasingly preside are
surely festering with bitterness and resentment that life is not actually life
anymore but mere existence...that the sweetness and joy of living are no longer
felt with the same clear and intensity that they once were but are now being
eroded by cynicism, anger and a sense of betrayal, confusion and outrage....
The growing brew of unrest, unemployment and distrust in
Government and politicians is a potent mix for the rise of anarchy, civil
unrest and rebellion...we have seen a preview with Bougainville...we will see
the full feature shortly, I am convinced....
Meanwhile, along the halls of filthy government
departments, were there is a dank and dull sense of toil and futility, were a
few genuine public servants struggle and most care not, substantial moneys
belonging to the people are carefully and cleverly funneled off to benefit a
small growing group of filthy rich Papua New Guineans and their puppeteers who
eye and divide the nations raw resources....
Papua New Guinea...were is it that we go? The journey
ahead looks bleak and the highway is covered with the blood of the victims of
broken dreams and promises, the ghosts of their hopes and optimism gather to
haunt their future generations, where they may be, begging bowls in hand and
pained expressions of memories of possibilities once within grasp....
*Gary Juffa is the Governor and Regional Member for Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
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