Sir Ipatas Criticizes Marape Government for constantly Taking Overseas Trips, Learn from Sir Michael

Sir Ipatas Criticizes Marape Government For Constantly Taking Overseas Trips, Learn From Sir Michael

ENGA Governor Sir Peter Ipatas has called on the Government to learn from the founding father, Sir Michael Somare, and respect the public service and allow public servants to do their jobs.
Sir Peter, the longest-serving politician in the current parliament, recalled that Sir Michael, the country’s first prime minister, was a leader who had a lot of respect for the public service and public servants.
“We should learn from him,” Sir Peter said.
“Instead of being a government focused on money and projects, we should allow the public service to function as it should and public servants to do their jobs without political interference.

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“Politicians should trust and allow public servants to do their mandated jobs and focus on policy making and protecting the Constitution of our country.”
Sir Peter, reflecting on the 1990s, said there was a time when politicians made appointments and waited in line to see the police commissioner of the country.
“For example, the Office of the Police Commissioner was highly regarded, because his office had arresting powers, but today, it is different,” he said.
“Public servants and the public service machinery should be independent, and I call on fellow politicians to learn from the founding father, respect the processes and allow the public service to function without fear or favour.”
Sir Peter, who first entered Parliament in 1997, said in previous parliaments, governments allowed public servants to go out into the world and speak for the country.
“It isn’t the job of politicians and their entourages to be travelling abroad often to do what public servants are mandated to be doing for the country,” he said.
“There has to be a line drawn, and we politicians should be concentrating on how we can improve our districts, provinces and the country.”

Statement/The National / PNGfacts

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