A CONCERN was raised against painting of all state assets in New Ireland province with red colour by Namatanai MP and Minister for Transport and Civil Avaition, Hon. Walter Schnaubelt.
Chief Rep in the New Ireland Provincial Assembly, Hon. Robin Kamkam raised the concern in a statement last Wednesday.
Mr. Kamkam said state assets in New Ireland painted in the political Red colour of Minister Schnaubelt and his National Alliance Party are a mockery to the National Constitution and question his integrity as a Minister of State.
The general outlook of these assets is unbecoming which Mr. Kamkam described it saying: “Red Government assets make mockery of state integrity”.
He said since 2017 National General Elections, Minister Schnaubelt started painting state assets including buildings, vehicles, boats and general merchandise into the red colour.
Kamkam described this action as a vigorous campaign to swing political support and acceptance for his (Schnaubelt’s) political ideologies under National Alliance.
“These assets are paid from public funds and I have questioned the Ombudsman Commission (OC) to come out clear if Minister Schnaubelt has breached any laws and leadership code by personalizing these state assets with his political party colour,” said Kamkam, who was also a former staff of the OC.
“Walter Schnaubelt has been driving a divide and rule tactic to indoctrinate the populous to follow a neo-Nazi ideology and in doing so compromised his standing as a national leader.”
Kamkam said, “We in New Ireland have queried this matter officially to the OC and Police but no action has been taken.
“I am beginning to suspect that these state agencies and the Government of the day knowingly disregard these activities in New Ireland, which is negligence and totally unacceptable.”
“The outcome is a sickening divide and ugly rift amongst our people and communities who do not share the wealth and benefits of the government’s service delivery system.
“People are personalizing the vehicles as assets owned by the Reds and National Alliance Party and will not offer service to the rest of the population even in rejecting non-red oil palm growers from transporting seeds to factory.”
Kamkam said, “This has gone too far. Our people are being marginalized and customs and traditions are being destabilized by this concept”.
“We need the state authorities, especially the OC to intervene and uproot this culture ripping New Ireland apart.
“I also call on the Transport, and Provincial Government and Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust to immediately deregister all these red vehicles in the province, including those allocated for the Police.
“Police vehicles must be standardized and painted into the traditional blue colour before they can be used.
“Opposition supporters will not recognize Police colours and invite possible confrontation endangering lives of our policemen,” he said.
Sunday Bulletin reached out to the office of Minister Schnaubelt to get his comment but response was poor.
