Governor Parkop says Polye's comments shallow

Governor of National Capital District, Powes Parkop has described the comments and criticism by Opposition Leader Hon. Don Polye as shallow and unbecoming of a national leader of his standing.

No national leader in his right frame of mind should be over critical of the investment National Government is investing in our National Capital as the investment is both necessary to facilitate national, regional and international obligation and responsibility of the nation and is being made to benefit the entire nation and not just a city or an electorate.

The recent investment in the City has been necessitated by our national obligation to the Pacific to host the Pacific Games. This is an obligation the then Somare Government of which Hon. Don Polye was a part of had committed our people and our nation to but did virtually nothing for two (2) years after winning the bid in 2009. Public funds had to be injected into NCD for three (3) years because the Government in 2009 to 2011 which Hon. Don Polye was part of did nothing and spent nothing to prepare for the Pacific Games.

As we prepare to discharge one of our major obligation too to the region and the world in hosting APEC Leaders’ Summit in 2018, the Government is also preparing for this major event as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase our people and our nation as an attractive destiny for business and investment. This is an opportunity we should seize with open arms and leaders like the Opposition Leader should see this bigger picture rather than being motivated by parochial politics to criticise to score political points.

The fact is that during the ten (10) years Hon. Don Polye was Works Minister under Somare Government, there was no major investment by that government in our Capital City. Despite all the surplus and windfall, none of them was spent in our Capital City.

This investment therefore is also a means to address and catch on the neglect the City faced during the time when Hon. Don Polye was Minister for Works and Transport in the ten (10) years of surplus and windfall between 2002 to 2011.

The fact too is that the new road projects being funded now in the City is funded by loan finance secured by NCDC on the basis of State guarantee. There is no new allocation by the National Government to NCDC to fund these new road projects.It is misleading for Hon. Don Polye to make that suggestion. NCDC has secured a loan to fund these new road projects and therefore is carrying the major risk of the K400 million loan finance.

It is our commitment to continue the transformation of our Capital City so that we can better serve, promote and inspire our nation and our people. We are here for our entire nation and our people so the investment is collectively for the benefit of the nation.

We never complained nor whinge when Hon. Don Polye allocated K500 million for his road in Kandep when he was the Treasurer. We expect him to be national leader and not belittle himself with such narrow minded criticism.