20/02/2024
Hours after being appointed as a candidate for Prime Minister, the radical East Sepik governor Allan Bird is calling for a 'New Deal'.
Just like sitting Prime Minister James Marape's highly publicized 'Take Back PNG' campaign, which leaves much to be desired, Allan Bird's 'New Deal' seems to be the slogan he might eventually base his policy platforms on.
Bird, a senior member of the Marape-Rosso government, has recently resigned to join the opposition. Alongside other defected government leaders, he urges the Marape-led government to focus on prudent economic management and tackle pressing issues like rising crime, unemployment, inflation, foreign exchange, and the recent Black Wednesday incident.
Bird says, "Our Constitution promises all Papua New Guineans an equal share of the nation's wealth. I think this New Deal should involve making this a reality.
"We are a rich country and our people need to experience this. It's up to us to reform our systems and processes so our people can have an equal opportunity in our country. They should also have a say in how their individual communities develop. We can't continue using Waigani to weaponize the budget as a tool for staying in power."
In his radical style, Bird escalates efforts to tackle the growing socio-economic challenges facing the country and he specifically mentioned a 'Mekere Reset' which in some ways indicates his focus on structural changes in PNG's political systems and process should he be elected Prime Minister.
Morauta's leadership style which Bird refers to was often described as decisive and focused on implementing structural reforms to stabilize the country's economy and attract foreign investment. He prioritized initiatives to strengthen fiscal discipline, enhance public sector efficiency, and promote private sector growth.
Bird says "We can't wait 10 years for change. We need change in 18 months. If we can't do that, then we should also be thrown out of office.
"The challenges facing our country have to be fixed urgently, and we cannot delay anymore. These challenges are drowning all of us, and the government must be rapidly responsive in a transparent manner."
Whether Allan Bird would make a good Prime Minister for PNG is subjective and depends on various factors such as his leadership style, policies, and ability to address the country's challenges effectively. It's a decision that ultimately rests with the members of parliament, whom the people of PNG elected to represent them in parliament.
The PNG Speaker of Parliament has accepted the Vote of No Confidence motion, and the political chess game is on in PNG, while the business and investment community in the country, as well as foreign investors and observers, watch closely.
Photo Credit: Loop PNG
