Defection, reflection – what happens now in PNG?

As PNG’s parliament moves towards a sitting where a no-confidence motion is expected from the Morauta opposition, rumours abound in the local press that three senior members of Sir Mekere’s coalition are about to defect.

The three MPs were unavailable for comment, and the Post-Courier knew, but wasn’t prepared to disclose, their names.

They were said to have been offered inducements such as a ministry if they agreed to stop openly criticising the Government on corruption and other issues.

When a no-confidence vote was mooted during the last sitting, it was terminated early and ‘cooperative’ MPs given K2 million each to spend in their electorates.

Undaunted by the gossip of impending defections from his ranks, opposition leader Morauta responded by calling Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare [left] an “arrogant self promoter”.

“I’ve never in my life heard any PNG politician so nakedly promoting himself,” said Sir Mekere. “To say the LNG [liquefied natural gas] project depends on him is utter nonsense. Does he think Papua New Guineans are so naive or stupid to believe him?

“Come out, Arthur, and tell the people [who are] the owners of the gas resources what you and your father agreed to give away.

“All he’s doing is desperately trying to shore up public support with a vote of no-confidence looming,” he said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister and New Ireland governor, Sir Julius Chan, called on PNG to wake up and realise that, since independence, it has fallen further in the human development index than any country in the world.

Sir Julius said at independence in 1975 PNG ranked 77th out of 150 countries. By 1990 it had dropped to 105th.

“By 2004, PNG was 139th and by 2008 we had dropped another 10 places to 149th. Think about this, in only 33 years PNG had been eclipsed by over 70 countries,” he said.

“We need to rethink how government works in PNG as the government closest to the people is the [local level] government that knows the needs of the people and not the one located in Waigani,” Sir Julius said

Comments

[Mathew Siune John]

I am a member of the Port Moresby Junior Chamber of Commerce and Industries (POMCCI). I would like to subscribe to the Attitude.

I am reading many interesting things about my country, and hence I like the newsletter because I know what actually is happening in PNG.

Thanks for your wonderful work.

[Andrew Boli]

I just read through an email from a friend of mine and realised the very informative and interesting articles and findings you provide through the PNG Attitude newsletter.

I believe you are doing a tremendous job in revealing to the public some of those many corrupt activities.

Thank you and may God bless and guide you in your work.

[Reginald Renagi]

This is not good news for the Opposition party. They currently number about 23 MPs and rumour has it that three MPs may have fallen prey to the temptation of: "if you can't beat them, join them" syndrome.

The big carrot stick governments have always used in the past is see where are the threats coming from and promise opposition MPs a Ministry, or a position on a parliamentary committee. This almost always entices the weak-willed opposition MPs who are being frustrated by the government.

As opposition MPs are constantly starved of funds with long delays in accessing their own district support grants, and other funds due to then, they easily succumb to the temptation of defecting to the government before any “vote of no-confidence” motion is looming. These members start off as smart, decent and strong willed opposition MPs, but over time their resolve weakens as they see time running out for them to do something quickly in their respective electorates before the elections.

There are other choices to make, but find it all too hard. They see the easy option of defecting to the government ranks somewhat attractive if this gives them access to the funds they hope to get for development projects. They do this to get a project or two completed in their electorates in the five year term.

This is a most unacceptable situation a PNG politician finds himself/herself during his/her whole term of office. Once this takes place, more political pork-barreling projects will follow. The government uses such unfair tactics among others to keep defected MPs in the government ranks long enough until the next elections.

Sadly PNG governments still very much lacks honest leadership and good governance required since independence. Until our whole political system is fundamentally reformed in future, PNG body politics will not see any real changes for the people to pin any hopes on seeing big improvements in their quality of life; and social well-being in future.