Tom Olga ousted, whose next for Western Highlands Province governorship?

Even though we're miles and miles away from home, when we keep our roots deep with families ties and friends at home, whatever happens back home still affects us in one way or the other. When there is leadership struggle and service delivery is not imminent, the people suffer. That affects those of us who are studying or are working overseas because we come from close ethnic communities that we share common beliefs and goals.

Below is a conversation that I had with Mathew Yakai - fellow Western Highlander who is studying in China who also writes a blog (http://mathewyakai.blogspot.com/). Matthew and I always talk about issues affecting our folks in the villages of Papua New Guinea.

Mathew Yakai: Hi bro. Thanks for the email. I access your blog and Malum's every day to see the latest. I find yours have changed appearance and looks more serious, attempting to address serious national issues. keep it burning, bro. Politics back home, I am sure you are well aware of. National court ousted Olga and called for by-election. My concern is that our province is suffering. Goods and services are not delivered. I still wander what these people are fighting for! To provide leadership that is lacking in the province and country or fighting for their own benefit?

David Ketepa: Thanks bro....it's always good to have constructive comments about issues affecting our folks at home. Yes, leadership in WHP is a mess. Today, the papers reported that Olga is still the governor. I couldn't believe all these crap. Olga and I were classmates (7-10) at Kombolopa High School but what I saw last year when I was in Hagen wasn't the Tom I meet in high school.

He used hire cars left right and center and even some of his village guys that I know were in those cars when I was walking around the street of Hagen. You know how I felt?....terrible! hope a good guy leads the province again. Bro, I can't get onto msn as it was malfunctioning for quiet sometime so I can't be able to make it online as I use to but I love to read your comments as well as email and pics on your blog. Stay warm and all the best.

Mathew Yakai: Politics back home, I am sure you are well aware of the latest developments at home. The National court ousted Olga and called for by-election. My concern is that our province is suffering. Goods and services are not delivered. I still wander what these people are fighting for! To provide leadership that is lacking in the province and country or fighting for their own benefit?

David Ketepa: Bro, I share the same sentiments with you. We need a good leader to bring WHP forward. I hate to see politics ruin the province and tearing clans, tribes, and even the families apart. Lets hope and pray that someone with a heart for the grassroots people is voted in this time.


Mathew Yakai: When they have enough, they will ignore you. Bro, you and I have our future as we are, and if we go in hand with God then our future is great. We must try to stay out of those dirty politics. Olga, may be he is now holding to an end of the law, claiming himself still the governor. Leaders have found that gray part of law to milk the people's purse. But he lives in night mare, threat, and under pressure while we are happy. But I am personally concerned about the people who are suffering now. And importantly, since the burning of Kapal House, the administration has been all over the place and my concern is that given the current political environment, the city can be used by fortune seekers to do anything.

It is common in PNG, and the highlands that when one is elected as MP or enters a big post, the entire tribe is also in. This is the case now in PNG. Two extreme parts, Paias and Olga's tribes are fully backing up the course currently underway. And I am so saddened by my Tambul and Nebilyer electorate. We are always quite and when Jika's and Mokes or those big tribes in WHP shout out, we keep quite. Bro, yu and I understand well that we all should work together for the benefit for the province despite our tribal origin. Paias and Olga are equally educated to put the interest of the people first. That is not the case now.


(Ousted WHP governor; Tom Olga - The National Court in Mount Hagen declared his victory in 2007 election null and void - pic- post courier)

David Ketepa: When I went home last time summer, I saw a different Olga. Not the one that use to be shy and very approachable at high school. Bro, politics can make you friends but for sure it will create alot of foes and that is a bad precedent for a little country like PNG where 'payback' is a norm especially up in the highlands. But I am glad that the court had made a decision and it's up the the people of WHP to choose a new governor under the electoral process.

Mathew Yakai: Thank you for the email and your highlight on Olga. Yes, I read somewhere on your blog that Olga was your class mate. And you may have seen me posting a comment saying that him being your classmate does not matter but he must prove his leadership. Now, you admitted that he is acting BIG. Its human nature...when one suffers, they look for immediate friends and foes. When they have enough, they will ignore you.

Bro, you and I have our future as we are, and if we go in hand with God then our future is great. We must try to stay out of those dirty politics. Olga, may be he is now holding to an end of the law, claiming himself still the governor. Leaders have found that gray part of law to milk the people's purse. But he lives in night mare, threat, and under pressure while we are happy. But I am personally concerned about the people who are suffering now. And importantly, since the burning of Kapal House, the administration has been all over the place and my concern is that given the current political environment, the city can be used by fortune seekers to do anything.

It is common in PNG, and the highlands that when one is elected as MP or enters a big post, the entire tribe is also in. This is the case now in PNG. Two extreme parts, Paias and Olga's tribes are fully backing up the course currently underway. And I am so saddened by my Tambul and Nebilyer electorate. We are always quite and when Jika's and Mokes or those big tribes in WHP shout out, we keep quite. Bro, you and I understand well that we all should work together for the benefit for the province despite our tribal origin.

Paias and Olga are equally educated to put the interest of the people first. That is not the case now. I hope this mentality changes. Mt Hagen was once a proud city, but now it scares the hell out of me due to news and events coming out through the media. This is a direct reflection of the type of leadership we have in the province. If Olga was smart and still wanted to get the support of the little people in the province then he would not hire cars after cars like what you said. He should walk the streets of Mt Hagen, bring himself down and be with the people and deliver to them what is theirs.

Then I am sure he would possess Wisdom and the people's blessings would be upon him. After reading your email exchanges with Sam Basil, I sent an email to him to say hi. I was surprised he replied with a long email. I admire this MP. I will pray for him for God's wisdom and blessings. We definitely need more of Sam Basil