"A King without a castle" is either an outcast or a deserter. Mr. Parkop has shown by his actions to the rest of 108 members of parliament that they need to create their own castle to rule from. You cant live in someone elses castle and rule your district or province. Mr. Parkop has done something that, some members of parliament who have struggle for years to build up a reputation in their own districts or provinces.

The K10 million district support grants that were given to each district, is sufficient to turn their district head quarters to their own little castles where they can rule their people. Small towns like Laiagam, Kandep, Wapendamanda and Kopiam can use that sort of money to revive the district services like, small banking outlets, sorting out pavements, putting tar into the district which is their castle. I know, the open members are constraint with finance to deliver service to all the people in their district, but, at least with the money (K10 mill) that is allocated to them last year, they should at least sort out their little castles, the District itself, equiping it with banking, postal, health and rebuilding the feeder roads in the towns themselves, plating flower and beautifying the district, which is their own little castle. It would go a long way to impress the people, they dont need to go down to Wabag to do their banking or post their letters but the services are delivered to them from their district head quarters.
K10 million is a lot to up-grade the district headquarters. Since, the MP's cant do much with the money, they should concentrate their effort to bring services to their people through development and upgrading of the district head quarters and you will see the people flocking into the districts rather than the provincial head quarters to get service that is delivered to them by their respective MP's. Open MP's should start building their castles and you will see the same joy will permeate to the rest of the people in the districts, if we concentrate on small projoects here and there, other people in the district would find it more of buying votes for the next election. High powered projects can be delivered when you start to get the simple things right. Parkop has shown that, it is possible to do something change the image of the town or city that you are in charge of. It would in turn change the attitude of people.

A lot of people talk about attitude change, but, from evidence, that needs to come from the top. I have lived in Port Moresby for the past 20 years, and i have seen a change in the attitude of people since Parkop took office. He has taken the lead in cleaning up the city to make his castle a better place to live in. The people responded. Let me give you an example. Before, when new things are put up, grafitti holigans, walk around at night signing their signatures everywhere. Recently, i have seen that change in Port Moresby, because people are starting to appreciate the change and they want to take care of the things that are put up for them. It is an attitude change, because the king himself has decided to build a castle where all people can feel free to live and enjoy the beauty.

If all out open MP's build their castles in the districts and change the image of the districs, services will come in. Too much rhetoric has been said during election periods and it continues on for the next five years that they are in parliament, without getting their hands dirty. No rhetorics, let your actions speak for you. Mr. Parkop a first time MP has done it has challenged a lot of MPs who are living in the city. It is embarassing most of this MP's live in the city and they are benefiting from the developments that has taken place under the guiding hands of one of their collegues. It challenges them to do something about their own little castles back home. I would like to see Laiagam as those days, when there used be a great basketball court and post office, and banking services etc. The same with Wapenamanda, Kandep and Kompiam.

This is no criticism to any MP but a challenge.
peles-economist