Stern Words
p. 93 · Read in the full issue
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Provincial Affairs, Mr Oscar Tam mur, had some stern words for prov incial government leaders at a March seminar in Rabaul which dis cussed the problems of the new provincial government system in
Png.
He said: “If you are a leader of your people you must do something about finding finance to help fund your provincial government.
“If you can’t, give the job to some one else. It’s your responsibility. It’s your country.
“While I am minister, I don’t want to see slack leaders.’’
Mr Tammur said many govern ment departments seemed to think the old Australian way was the only way and “the road to heaven”.
He told the provincial leaders to stop citing the Bougainville case as an example of what should flow to other provinces.
“Bougainville was a special case and I nearly lost my life fighting to keep PNG united there,” he said.
“You can’t copy that special case.”