Late-comers at ministerial forum angers acting prime minister

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal was not at all impressed with the lateness of his ministers who kept him waiting for up to two hours before the ministerial forum at Waigani, NCD, last Friday, The National reports.
The forum, scheduled to start at 8am, began at 11am, with Abal reminding his cabinet ministers to be aware of timing.
Abal waited at his office for all the ministers and departmental heads to arrive.
Only Education Minister James Marape, National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, Public Service Minister Moses Maladina, Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo, Tourism Minister Guma Wau, Transport Minister Benjamin Poponawa and Communication Minister Patrick Tammur turned up on time while three others turned up when Abal was making his statement.
“It should not be Enga time, Sepik time, Pacific time or PNG time, it must be standard time,” Abal said.
He said the difference between developed and developing countries was timing.
“One of the reasons is we do not respect time and come on time. I hope Papua New Guinea does things on time.”
He said this during a meeting between ministers and departmental heads, which was the mid-year review of implementation of core projects by each ministry and department.
“We are here to check what we have achieved in the past six months. 
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must respect time. It is almost one year before the next election and the next parliament.”
Abal said the government had been in office for the past two terms and “it must tell the people what it has achieved during that time”.
“Elections are coming up and we must go out and confidently tell our people what we have achieved,” he said.
Abal said although the country was at the crossroads, it was doing well.
“I know elections are around the corner but it is important that we maintain leadership in all sectors.
“We must not relent. The government must show to the people that we are performing and we have the ability to do it.”
Minister assisting the Prime Minister Charles Abel said Abal’s message to ministers and departmental heads was “we need to pull up our socks”.