Mekere does the media rounds, drums down the value of PNG Ports and Telikom, sacks/replaces CEO’s with his own people, changes boards, so he can ‘privatise’ these multi billion kina people assets for a couple of million to his mates… he is a dinosaur, privatisation as an economic model is a dead theory. His economics are screwed. 

If privatisation worked then the Global Financial Crisis would not have happened and the US Obama Government would not have had to bail out the large american corps such as Chrysler. The free market does not bail itself out when things go wrong. The State does. 

There are certain state functions that need to remain with the people and these include PNG Ports and Telikom. Mek uses the arguement that these organisations are inefficient….PNG Ports under Riches was not inefficient. And two, Telikom was not operating at a loss…and three PNG Power is doing as best it can with little funding from the State which places enormous burden on it for cheap power. Telikom has the largest real estate portfolio of any state entity and billions of kina worth of infrastructure and was and is still making profits..PNG power is engaged in expanding its power infrastructure. All these plans are now being stall by very determined Mek whose plans belong in the era he is from. 

We all know how Meks privatisation works, those who benefit the most from the fire sale of state assets are those who have the most political connection to Mek. Recent actions show this. He has appointed his party men as acting CEO of Telikom, a man who was suspended. What kind of message is that to send to the heads of public service. 

Maybe privatisation will work in some aspects, but PNG Ports was doing so well and is a jewel in the States tarnished crown, why moves to put into private hands. And Telikom is getting better. 
I feel sorry for all of us, that we all seem powerless to stop these men trying to build edifices to themselves with State assets. 

If PNG Power boss Tony Koiri finds himself on the chopping blocks next week, we can only hope for divine intervention to save PNG Power, Telikom and PNG Ports from the fate that lies around the corner of the Sir Mek highway. 

Please read this link for more thoughts on why I think Meks ideas are outdated http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/54982