PNG: Opposition says no TV for members
Updated
Papua New Guinea's Opposition is unhappy with the Parliamentary Speaker, Jeffery Nape's plans to buy TV sets for all 109 members. Deputy Leader, Bart Philemon says it is a waste of tax payer's money.
Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speakers: Bart Philemon, Deputy Leader. Jeffery Nape, Speaker
NANOL: Speaker Jeffery Nape has announced plans to buy TV sets for P-N-G's 109 parliamentarians.
But he has not explained how television sets will help members improve their performance.
Over the last five years parliament lacked a quorum and even members turned up late for sessions.
P-N-G's Opposition says the plan is simply a waste of tax payer's money.
Deputy Leader, Bart Philemon says the speaker has gone mad when more essential services lack funding.
PHILEMON: ''The first priority here is firstly to provide the essential basic comforts of the members that includes furniture's, carpets, toiletries and so forth.
And then secondly the most important thing is to well resource the parliamentary committees to perform their tasks effectively to provide reports on issues and so forth which has not been done well in the past. I don't think television compared with those are the priorities of the parliament at the moment''.
NANOL: He says TV sets will discourage members from attending parliament sessions and instead watch TV in their offices.
PHILEMON: ''A Television set will distract me and I will be watching home and away and I'll be watching the soap operas and so forth and I do not see any merits in that to perform your duties better as a member. So do not see any sense it in that what so ever''.
NANOL: Bart Philemon says the PNG Parliament has no proper communication network and the phone lines seem to be falling apart.
He says it would be wise for the speaker to upgrade the telephone system, install computers and internet services for the members.
PHILEMON: ''The parliament itself has a problem. Every time you ring you can't get out of here; you can't rely on the effective system. There may be some merit in computers but with computers you have access to the internet and those sorts of things that you have to make sure that members do not abuse them. Those things they are quite open to abuse''.
NANOL: The Opposition is also demanding transparency from the Speaker's office in the expenditure of public funds.
It says improvements to parliamentary services must be put in public tender.
P-N-G tax payers will fork out over 400 000 US dollars for their members, to watch television, when ordinary citizens can not even afford a low cost TV set for their families.
Firmin Nanol-Port Moresby.
