Ipatas tells critics to give asylum deal a chance

Caption:   Governor Ipatas speaking to the media


By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 4, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



GOVERNOR of Enga Province, Peter Ipatas, called on the nation, especially the critics of the asylum deal, signed between both Australia and Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, to give it a chance to be implemented, last week in Port Moresby.

At a media conference he wanted to set his position on the issue, which hadattracted much debate, not only in PNG but in Australia also.

He wanted to inform the nation that the majority of the leaders in parliament support the position taken by the Prime Minister and the National Executive Council, with the deal signed with the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

“Obviously critics must now realise that the government has not made a decision that is bad for the people.”

“In this instance, critics seem to ignore the immediate benefits that this new arrangement has brought in for the country,” he pointed out.

The governor added that the two leaders of Manus supported the deal, knowing that the deal will obviously give a lot of opportunities for business, as well as services.

“When we take on the asylum seekers, obviously the hospital needs to be upgraded, the schools have to be upgraded, also you will see that lawyers, relatives of the asylum seekers, and the number of visitors to Manus will increase.”

“Therefore there is an immediate economic benefit to one of our most isolated provinces of this country,” he said.

Referring to the constant calls by citizens to have the country’s hospitals fixed- the governor said that this deal is a great deal for not only the Manus people, but also the entire country.

Through the agreed improvement of Angau Hospital, it will save many lives not only from the Momase people in regard to healthcare, but the entire highland region as are whole who depend on it as the second largest hospital in the country to Port Moresby General Hospital.

“We must realise that they do not want to come to PNG, because their preferred destination is Australia- we are just becoming a processing centre.”

“For people in this country to say all of a sudden that we will be seeing Muslims coming into this country- we will be seeing some other race coming into the country, when there is no guarantee that this people are coming to stay in Papua New Guinea.”

He added that he would, however, make representations to Prime Minister O’Neiil, to include in future deals the relaxation of immigration laws to enable PNG professions to work Australia, as it has the biggest labour market in the Pacific region.