Author:
Cool_Guy1
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Date Posted: Mon, May 21 2007, 02:44:46pm
Facts to think of when making comments.
1. Ipatas took over office When Porgera Gold Mine was paying dividends and royalties to the provinvial Government. Others like Paul Torato, Jeffrey and Malipu Balakau, Danley Tindiwi, etc.. were all operating on National Government Budget allocations only. Ipatas now is cutting a huge pie (National Budget allocations plus Royalty and Dividend payouts)than those others. So, you cant compare developments that are taking place now with what has happened in the past. When you do, it is like comparing apples and oranges.
2. Free education policy was originally suggested by Mr. Malipu Balakau, but never saw it to fruition because at that time he did not have the money and his life was taken at the earlier stage of his political career. But gratitude should go to him and the likes of Paula Torato for setting the framework for the mining agreement, which has resulted in the windfall enjoyed by the Ipatas Government, for him to pump it into education. I salute Ipatas for taking ownership of the free education policy and seeing it through, however, what we see at the green-house is a reflection of the outcome would be after graduation for many Engans than, this policy has no vision. Why do i say that? Take a look at the Green-house, jobs are not shared equally among Engans, only one disrict or electorate dominates the Green-House. If that is what is promoted in Enga, would be Engan who have a heart for their province would always be pushed out of Enga and contribute merely by mouth only.
3. Tribal fight reflects leadership. I refute the claim that, it is not Ipatas' doing. When you as a leader is there and providing true leadership, people have high respect for you, and surely they will listen. But if you dont provide good leadership and run around in a dark-class car to protect yourself, you are not in touch with the people, and the people dont have any respect for you, and for that matter wont listen to you when you try to become a peace mediator. Since when was the last time, the governor became a peace mediator, because basically, providing leadership is being there for your people in good and bad times. So you see, your analysis of Ipatas not causing the problem is narrow minded.. a leader is a leader and he needs to be with his people no matter what the situation is. Ignorant leaders will always blame their people, while concerned leaders will always take on the responsibility and try to become a peace mediator. He surely will be sucessful in mediating between two conflicting tribes only when he has the respect as a leader from both conflicting parties. Chaos and burning down and civil unrest are a reflection of leadership problems. There are other ways to solve problems, than to engage police only for mediation. Leaders of the province can play a very important role in mediating between two warring clans, only if leaders can provide that leadership and gain the respect of the people. An example can be given. There was a German priest who lived in Laiagam. When there was a big tribal fight between two tribes, he stood up in the middle of the tribal fight and told them to kill him. Both warring tribes held back their bows and arrows and stopped the tribal fight because, the priest was definitely in their way and he would be killed by cross-fire. He was a true leader, he had the respect from both tribes, and when he stood in, both tribes stopped the fight and made peace. That is what leadership is all about.
4. What have we done to the rest of the population in the province? Only school students can stand tall and enjoy themselves, while the rest of the population does not have anything else to chew on. Too much politics was involved in the pyrethrum project and it never got off the road until just recently. People need to fall back to a income generating cash crop to generate local level income. Porgera Gold mine has brought in substantial amount of money into the province, and it should be channeled into fruitful investments in cash crops etc. For instance, coffee in the province has been on the down-trend, what is the reason? Village based income generating cash crops are the only way to make our people survive. Virtually, cash crop growing by small holders in the province is non-existent. Have we (Provincial Governement) promoted such a venture? yes investing in real estates in Port Moresby for the future children is a way to go, but, how sustainable is it for the provincial government to pay school fees for infinity? That sure sounds unrealistic isnt it? There is a saying, you dont catch fish for a man, you show the man how to catch fish and he will never be a burden to you. He will know the techniques to catch fish, just teach him that. We can not be continuelly spoon-fed by the provincial government on school fees, all the provincial government needs to do is channel capital into projects such as pyrethrum, coffee, garlic, cabbage, carrot etc.. to get into full cash crop production and market this produces for the people of Enga. This will generate more income and spill-over would be far-reaching than to invest in real estates, that wont have the same sort of impact.
This are my views...
Cool_Guy1
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