By Dr GAE GOWAE
The recent ethnic
clash in Lae is a spill over problem of lack of development in the other
provincial centres of PNG, particularly the Highlands and the Momase provinces.
Very often the
outsiders living in Lae and Port Moresby claimed that they develop these two
cities and not the locals from which these two cities are located.
The question
is, ‘then why couldn’t they develop their own centres the same as Lae and Port
Moresby?’
The fact of the matter is that Lae and Port Moresby are the centres
of opportunities and that’s why these people migrate to these two centres to
look for opportunities to make their livings, thus creating social issues.
After 36 years of
independence, the townships of other provinces are both stagnant or
deteriorating while Lae and Port Moresby are expanding.
However, these two so-called
cities in PNG are slowly turning into traditional village-style living
environments.
People left their villages and come to live in these two cities
in the settlements and convert the overall living environments of these two
cities into traditional village-style living environments.
The high rise
buildings and modern office complexes are overshadowed by these village
life-style living environments with the ugly beetle nut spittle and the filth
lying around the place.
A very degrading environment compared to the small
cities of the neighboring Pacific Island countries, which are of very high living
standard environments.
One wonders, what
are the aspirations of the so-called political leaders in terms of the developments
in their own electorates and provinces?
Every politician should have the
aspiration to develop their electorate and province to provide equal
opportunities to their people.
The recent PNG
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reports showed that the NGI region is
ranked number one in terms of the overall development indices, followed by the
Southern region, Momase and the Highlands region the last.
Relating these
indices to urban migration showed that the majority of settlement dwellers are
from the Highlands region, followed by Momase, Southern and NGI region the
least, which clearly reflected the developments on the ground.
Every province and
its leaders should compete for equal development opportunities for their
people.
Urban settlement and law and order problems can be resolved if equal
attention is given to the development of each province.
More importantly, regional
governance should be encouraged with the revitalisation of Regional
Secretariats with clear functions and funding to create regional developments.
Highlands
region with so much natural resources by now should have the third or if not
the second biggest city in the country.
It is totally unfair that the revenues
generated from the region are used elsewhere while the provincial centres from
the region remained stagnant.
The onus is on the leaders from the Highlands
region to make it happen reflecting the level of revenues generated from the
region, not to mention the billion dollar LNG project in the new Hela Province.
A
concerned citizen
Dr
Gae Gowae
P.O.
Box 74
University
National
Capital District
Tel:
326 7227
Fax:
326 0369
Email:
gygowae@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment