08/05/2026
---
*GOOD GOVERNANCE IS A CHOICE*
_By: Freelance Writer 🇵🇬_
I haven’t been to my column in a while, but today I’ve decided to share something worth thinking about.
It’s about our government — the one we see every day.
The question we keep asking is: *Why doesn’t the government perform better?*
Look at the last 8 years under the Marape-Rosso-Duma government. Their performance has been by choice, not duty, despite their mandate. What stopped them from achieving what they envisioned? What obstacles did they face?
The answers are predictable:
- Was there any political interference?
- Were there union or industrial disputes or strikes?
- Were there student union protests?
- Were there IMF, World Bank, or AusAID denials?
- Etc.
None of the above. There are no excuses. This government operates in extreme silence, as if they are doing their best. But what’s really hitting the nation is empty promises, year after year, for 8 years. Inside their system, government MPs enjoy silence while daylight corruption continues.
We can now conclude: the Marape-Rosso-Duma (MRD) led government does not control its own agenda. Instead, it reacts to issues as they come, defending itself with lies and excuses. That’s why Hon. Belden Namah once said, “Yu nambawan pikinini bilong Satan.”
The government has failed to recognize good governance. In fact, they’ve surrendered to inertia and play a role of mediocrity. They have *no coherent system* to get meaningful work done. They have no clear focus. They are captive to their own lack of vision because they cannot perform someone else’s vision. _Arai ya imari._
Let’s give this government some points to reflect on, if they truly want to improve:
*1. GOVERNMENT MISUNDERSTANDS THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNANCE*
The dominant answer will always be POLICY. MRD, are you sitting on someone else’s policy or just dreaming up policy?
*2. JOB CONFUSION*
They think they’re BOSSES rather than leaders. Leaders are supposed to lead by