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Monday, May 31, 2010

What's the nub of the problem?

From PAUL OATES

If there are sufficient checks and balances in the Papua New Guinea system of government,
why haven't they prevented to current situation?
Therein lies the nub of the problem.

The inability of those who have a system being prepared to actually use it.
The list of examples continues to grow.
Motigate, Taiwan millions, no tax returns for many years, high level corruption, etc.
Every time a major scandal is allowed to go unchecked it knocks another support out from underneath the so called 'people's house'.
The credibility of the PNG Parliament has been eroded into it now merely being a rubber stamp for the Somare/Temu government to use when it wants.
It is clear now the office of the Governor General is a politically-appointed figurehead only and is beholden to the government of the day through the Speaker.
The majority of the Haus Tambaran is clearly either unable to understand what they are voting for or hopelessly compromised.
The Opposition appears 'eggbound' and can't seem to obtain any 'rubber on the road'.
The PNG court system has been reduced to being deluged by vexatious
litigation.
The Police Commissioner is clearly not prepared to risk his position.
The Chief Ombudsman either will not or cannot (though under funding), do anything.
 The Public Prosecutor appears unwilling to start proceedings.
 The Tax Office apparently won't bring charges against those who haven't submitted their tax returns for years.
The list goes on and on.
The PNGDF has now been reduced to the size of an ill-equipped school cadet corps but managed by a collection of highly paid, senior officers who apparently owe their appointments to political whim and not organisational necessity.
One wonders if this has been done intentionally or through a complete lack of understanding the military rank structure.
The PNG people are being conned by experts that have been allowed to develop their 'modus operandi' over many years.
 If the situation cannot be resolved by peaceful and Constitutional means, it gives rise to speculation what other means might be used if the PNG people ever become organised and
united.
Meanwhile, PNG's nearest neighbours sit on their hands or put their metaphoric heads in the sands.
The time will come when many people will say, "Why didn't someone do something before this debacle got totally out of control?"
But by then it will be too late.

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