PM: Stop branding Goilala’s as bad people

Residents of Port Moresby and citizens across the country have been urged to stop unfairly branding the Goilala people in a negative light.

That's the call from the Prime Minister.

His office today issued a statement, wherein Prime Minister James Marape says he strongly rejects these 'attempts to unfairly label or stereotype the people of Goilala following recent incidents of lawlessness in the National Capital District [NCD].

The Prime Minister says its just the actions of a few individuals, and should not be used 'to brand an entire district or community'.

His statement comes following the recent eviction at Two-Mile Hill in the metropolitan city.

“The people of Goilala, as a whole, cannot and must not be branded like this,” the prime minister's statement goes on to say.

“A few individuals in the city may engage in unlawful behaviour, just as happens with people from other parts of the country, but that does not mean all Goilala people are bad or involved in criminal activities.”

This comes after the country celebrated its 50 years of nationhood, a country unified through multiple diverse ethnicity, culture, tradition and languages.

The Prime Minister said such generalisations only create division and undermine national unity.

“I strongly discourage this type of branding,” he said.

“We must stop painting our people with one brush and instead hold individual troublemakers accountable for their own criminal actions.”

The Prime Minister's statement goes on to state that he will personally meet with Goilala leaders soon.

“I will personally reach out to Goilala leaders and their people, including the Governor for Central Province, Rufina Peter, and the Member for Goilala, Casmiro Aia,” he said.

“We will work together to resolve the present issues and put in place long-term solutions in close coordination with NCD leadership.”