Lino Tom on Vote of No Confidence
By Dr. Lino Tom MP
PNG is a democracy meaning “RULE by PUBLIC but MAJORITY CONSENT”. Our constitution prescribes or has put in certain provisions to hold the Government to ACCOUNT and one of them is the opportunity for a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” in the Prime Minister. It’s not a “GAME” as some like to depict. It’s a sacred opportunity to test confidence in the way a Government is run and held to account.
The only factors any INTELLIGENT and SANE leader should consider when making his or her decision is the basic SOCIOECONOMIC indices of the country. Nothing more, nothing less. Masquerading with cheap political gimmicks and flouting basic principles of morality and good government is an insult to our people. Politics in PNG gets away with mediocrity and poor performance as most of our people are uneducated, ignorant and very credulous; the educated heavily taxed masses who carry the weight of our nation are sadly too few and lack the courage to really make their voices heard, except their countless remonstrations in the virtual space where no real persons live. It’s the sad predicament our nation face unfortunately.
If it were in any developed country, fancy financial statements and flowery rhetorics won’t matter! When UNEMPLOYMENT rates rise, governments are changed as it’s the most basic and tangible ECONOMIC performance indicator reflecting any government’s performance; inciting riots and mass protests. Increasing incidences of crime and violence delegitimizes any government as that is one prime responsibility of any government; protection of lives and properties.
Today, I will vote against the current government for the following reasons. There’s record high unemployment rates and law and order is spiraling out of control with inflation at very high levels suffocating the lower and middle income earners! Businesses are really struggling with the devaluation of our Kina. On the other hand, there maybe overwhelming support for the government today and I believe the majority will prevail. It seems we are all living in different countries within one country. One thing I don’t want any leader on the government side to make after this vote is sanctimonious and demagoguery speeches hereafter. Public Remonstrations must be made only by opposition leaders. Don’t want anyone to complain about law and order. Just quietly express this in Government caucus and don’t masquerade in public to put on a show; this goes especially to my leaders from Enga. We are sick and tired of ostentatious shows.
The big numbers and record budget is being trapped at the upper echelons. The gap between the rich and poor is widening each day with crony capitalism proliferating under our watch. Money is power and this hegemony will be maintained to feed the insatiable appetite of the ruling few and this vicious cycle will continue unbridled. I hope REAL and PRAGMATIC steps will be taken to save this nation as we have ticked all the boxes of a State Failing. God bless us all.
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