CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION

PNG Opposition leader Belden Namah. Getty

My fellow Papua New Guineans!

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR KING, LORD AND SAVIOUR.

“It took one man to change the world for the better”

“Christmas marks the Day when GOD reunited us to Himself through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ”

We have come to the end of 2013, and in a few days, we will be in the New Year, 2014.

As we reflect back on the year that has been, I thank God Almighty for the many blessings upon our personal lives and upon our nation. We remember and celebrate His love for mankind which was manifested in the birth of His son Jesus Christ, and subsequent crucifixion to reunite us with Him.

As a nation and as communities and families, we remember those loved ones that have been recalled to eternity, many in tragic circumstances. In particular, we remember those that have lost their lives for no fault of theirs, and those in service to their communities and their country. We feel for those that are in strife, those that have less to eat, less to wear and those with little or no opportunity to better their situations. We pray for those that are in troubled situations and those that are ill. Some of these problems and situations are not humanly preventable, while others are.

I and my Team in the Opposition have been relentless in opposing and exposing corruption in government and public offices because it is corruption that is sending many of our people into poverty and distress. We will continue to do so in 2014 to ensure that deliberate government actions and inactions do not add further to the pain and misery there already is in our society. We will work even harder in the New Year to ensure the Government stays the course of transparency and accountability.

The Opposition will announce its policies in the New Year. It has not been possible to put together an Opposition policy due to the instability created by Parties and Members in Opposition jumping ship. The PNG Party and the Melanesian Liberal Party have pledged to remain as Opposition for the rest of this Parliamentary Term, and are currently working on a set of policies.

I call on all Papua New Guineans to be respectful to each other and to enjoy the festivities in true Christmas style and spirit. Let us also be considerate and helpful to each other as we live through 2014 so that the New Year is indeed happy and prosperous for all.

I call for everyone to work together to rid the cancer of corruption and make a real difference for ourselves and our future generations in 2014. This year, the 

Main stream media, the civil society groups, trade unions and anti-corruption agencies of government have not been helpful in the fight against corruption. I therefore call for a change of attitude and to stand up and take responsibility for the greater good of all Papua New Guineans. If you don’t, this nation will choke in corruption and God knows what else.

Finally, I urge everyone to make 2014 a year of hard work and perseverance so as to bring about positive change to your homes, your communities and your country Papua New Guinea. We must move away from our lay back attitude and slip into a culture of innovation, creativity and enterprise. 

Let us make 2014 a peaceful, safe, happy and productive year.

I wish the people of Vanimo Green and Sandaun Province, the people of Bulolo, the people of Rabaul, the people of Madang, the people of Huon Gulf, the people of Pomio and the rest of the people of Papua New Guinea, A TRULY MERRY AND JOYOUS CHRISTMAS AND MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING GOOD HEALTH AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS FOR ALL.

GOD BLESS PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

Hon. Belden Norman Namah, MP 

Leader of Opposition and Member for Vanimo Green Open

Leader of PNG Party