Empty promises...and more empty promises‏

In the Post Courier Tuesday 29th September, 2009 there was a letter from a 'Concerned Papua New Guinean' that says it all. The people of Papua New Guinea are being held as virtual hostages to secure continued foreign aid and assistance.

Yet after years of receiving this aid, the Papua New Guinea people and the country are worse off than before.Can it be that those managing the foreign aid to Papua New Guinea don't know this or are they too concerned with retaining their positions to suggest any change to the existing arrangements?

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Michael Somare meets US President Barrack H. Obama in Washington, D.C.

The Australian Prime Minister declared after his visit to Papua New Guinea that there would be a change to the current PNG overseas aid program however, where does the personal responsibility and accountability now lie? Where are the pre set benchmarks to be met for Papua New Guinea aid to be seen as a successful program, prior to any aid monies being spent?

If the recent reports of a new Australian Federal Police assistance program eventuate, where are the detailed plans and expected outcomes to be achieved, before any 'boots hit the ground'? Who is responsible and accountable for the program and who will acquit the use of these taxpayer funds?

US President Harry Truman is reputedly to have had a sign on his desk that said: 'The buck stops here'. The sign, in US vernacular, declares who is ultimately responsible for the decisions involving the country. i.e. That country's leader. So now where does the 'Buck' stop in Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister is Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. Before the last Papua New Guinea election, a great many things were promised to many people.Could these promises now be labelled "Empty Promises....and more Empty Promises?"

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