A PNG classic !!

The following story appeared in the Post-Courier this Tuesday just gone (25th of April)…

(You can draw your own conclusions)

Parliament, not a holiday camp

IF the performance of members of Parliament last week is any measure to go by,
it seems punctuality is becoming a serious problem for the National Parliament.
On Tuesday, April 20, when the bells stopped ringing at 10am which is the
official starting time, not one Member was present in the chamber. At 10.10am,
MPs started walking in one by one slowly taking up their seats. Soon after that,
Parliament began its session. The Speaker entered the Chamber at 2.35pm only to
find there was no quorum. He re-entered the Chamber just before 2.45pm and when
he established that there was a quorum, he said the prayers to begin the
sitting. That sitting lasted less than 15 minutes. The next day was no
different. The bells stopped ringing at 10.20am. By 10.30am, there were only 15
MPs in the chamber. The front benches of both the Government and the Opposition
were empty. The acting speaker entered the chamber at 10.34am only to find there
was no quorum. So he suspended the sitting and ordered that the bells be rung
again. On that day, the public gallery was full to capacity, everyone waiting
for the leaders to show up. The Prime Minister walked into the chamber at
10.40am followed by the Opposition Leader at 10.45am. At 10.50am, the acting
speaker entered the chamber and started the sitting. On Friday, April 23, the
acting speaker entered the chamber at 10.30am only to find there was no quorum
so he suspended the sitting while ordering the ringing of the bells. Parliament
sitting was once again delayed. The public must be asking whether the elected
leaders are tired. The sitting of Parliament is supposed to be their most
important priority. Indeed, it is their number one priority. Nothing takes
precedence over the MPs’ responsibility to be in the chamber on time to
represent his people. Sadly, this is not happening. We call for greater
discipline and commitment among our elected leaders to their duties. The
Government is showing failure to take control of Parliament and this has
resulted in MPs showing a lack of interest in turning up on time for the
sittings. The House has a number of serious matters to deal with this year
before the 2007 general elections and it will not be able to deal with those
issues if MPs continue to behave like this. Parliament sittings cost are
expensive and leaders must not treat it as a holiday camp!