NA`s Bart Philemon is no-nonsese visible leader with a determination to see real changes in Papua New Guinea!
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Post-Courier 7.11.2005

TREASURER Bart Philemon has given his government a performance rating of three out of 10.
But on a positive note, he gave it a rating of eight out of 10 compared to other governments over the last 30 years.
Mr Philemon’s rating was made in debate that followed a statement on tourism handed down by Tourism Minister David Basua last week in Parliament.
“I only give us three out of 10. Only three out of 10 … because we are not performing. We are not performing as a Government,” he said.
“Why is it that after three years we have not made in-roads into something tangible about a strategic plan on tourism? Why have we not done the same with agriculture? Why have we not done the same with health? Why have we not done the same with education?
“We want to know where we are heading. We want to know where we are going to start with tourism. And which path we have to follow that will have (the) least pitfalls.”
Mr Philemon said this would help them reach a point that they can be pleased that “tourism [is] on the right path to be able to spin-off benefits to all our people.”
He said that there has been too much “living in the easy way” because of “revenue from the mining sector” but that’s somebody else’s hard work and was destructive to the environment when PNG leaders could have focused on sustainable development which would quickly catapult agriculture and tourism to the fore of Government agenda.
He castigated leaders for lack of commitment, punctuality and sustained work ethics.
“How many of us have put 100 per cent of our time when Parliament sits?”
He said leaders talk too much without any action.
“That’s what we do: play politics; empty politics; politics that have no development attached to it all. Politics for the sake of politics,” he said.
“When we look at our social indicators — infant mortality, child mortality, and maternal mortality — it’s nothing to be proud of.”

Bart Philemon has been an MP for many years and has of course witnessed many sordid affairs amongst MPS and heard of many dirty deals. Yet I don't recall once that this man has stood up for his country and named names or exposed the evil deeds going on with some MPs.

B Philemon is far from being the worse amongst all our MPs but one reason why parliament is out of control and hardly any one even shows up to vote is because the half way decent MPs keep their mouths shut all the time and never challenge those who should have been kicked out of office long ago.

In other words, let's just keep in mind that B Philemon only speaks out when it won't threaten himself. He doesn't have the wholehearted dedication to our country that would result in a truly fine leader.