So here’s a question for you. How long will the Prince of Wales and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall be here in PNG? The answer 2 days! They arrive on the 3^rd of November and leave on the 5^th.

The most upsetting thing for me personally is that those fleeting hours that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be in PNG is enough to warrant a K8 million budget to welcome him.

Whereas ol lain bilong yumi, ol man meri Papua Niugini can put in countless reports and complaints to have repairs done to their streets, street lights, traffic lights and other public road features only to be knocked back or to have their complaints fall on deaf ears?

Excuse me for being resentful! I have been observing (and having my daily PMV routes disrupted) over the past couple of weeks the ripping up and resealing of perfectly fine roads. Such a shame considering the fact that for over a decade, some residential roads have had craters that would give the largest crater in the Solar System a run for its money!

Is the Prince going to do contribute something significant to our livelihoods and economy by gracing us with his royal presence? I hope so! Considering that what is budgeted to welcome him is half of what was budgeted to provide relief for 26 000 Papua New Guineans in the Western Province after the floods!

You do the math - K8 million for two non-Papua New Guineans to 'spin' over 2 days as to K16 million for over 26 000 Papua New Guineans in order for them to stay alive?! I mean seriously??!

* ol lain bilong yumi = our people

 *ol man meri Papua Niugini = the men/women of Papua New Guinea

© Klaireh