YumiBloPles | January 25, 2026
East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird has accused the Marape Government of running what he described as an “abusive relationship” with the people of Papua New Guinea, saying provinces that speak up about inequality and injustice are “punished” through withheld funding and budget cuts.
In a strongly-worded statement, Bird said the National Government maintains control through fear, selective funding, and political intimidation, while publicly presenting an image of stability.
“The Marape Government and its supporters are in an abusive relationship with the people of PNG,” Bird said.
He compared the situation to domestic abuse, claiming the “abuser will smile in public” while privately harming the victim.
“In an abusive relationship, the abuser will always want control of the victim. The abuser will smile in public and act like everything is going well but will secretly abuse the victim,” he said.
Bird said the reality of service delivery collapse is not isolated to one province, sharing an example from his recent visit to Lae, Morobe Province.
“I was in Lae on Friday and I noticed the generator at Lae International Hotel was on for 24 hours,” he said. “So I asked the staff and they said, ‘we run the generators all the time. Black outs are normal here for the past 7 years’.”
He said the experience challenged assumptions that key issues were limited to certain regions.
“I thought Lae was fine. I thought we were having blackouts only in Sepik,” Bird said. “I thought we were only having law and order problems in Sepik and other places were fine.”
Bird also raised concerns about shortages of essential services such as water supply and medicines, saying these problems were widespread across the country.
“I thought we were the only ones with water problems too. I thought only Sepik had run out of medicines,” he said.
However, Bird claimed provinces that raise these issues are targeted by the National Government, and he cited East Sepik Province as an example.
“Here’s the thing, when I speak up, Sepiks get victimised by the National Government,” he said. “ESP budget has been cut by K104 million in the past two years. Funds properly budgeted have been withheld by the National Government.”
Bird argued that speaking out against injustice leads to retaliation.
“That’s what happens when you speak up about inequality, injustice, unfairness, power issues, water issues, law and order, national highways, etc,” he said. “You get punished for speaking up.”
He further alleged that provinces and departments aligned with the government are rewarded financially.
“Some provinces and departments receive obscene amounts of money simply because they are in favor of the government,” Bird said.
Bird warned that inequality and abuse have become normalised in the country, comparing it to society ignoring domestic violence.
“Injustice, inequality and abuse is so normal in PNG that we have come to accept it,” he said. “Just like we turn a blind eye to bullies who beat up their partners.”
He claimed such behaviour has become “institutionalised” within government systems.
“The abusive behaviour of a bully beating down on the victims is institutionalised within government systems,” Bird said. “Everyone is expected to bow down to the man in charge and accept inequality, injustice and unfairness.”
Bird said those who refuse to comply are publicly attacked using state institutions.
“For those who don’t bow down, they will bully you in public using all the apparatus of the state,” he said.
He also warned that such a system cannot last.
“Abusive relationships do not last,” Bird said. “Human beings are born with an innate desire to be free of all forms of oppression.”
Calling for political and structural reform, Bird said Papua New Guinea needs a “new deal” between citizens and government—one that prioritises public welfare over political survival.
“PNG needs a new deal. A new relationship between government and citizens,” he said. “We need a government that cares for its citizens, not a government that funds its own activities to remain in power to continue to abuse its people.”
Bird proposed a Block Grant system to empower provinces and reduce dependency on the National Government in Waigani.
“This new deal has to come via a Block Grant that allows all provinces to be free of the bully in Waigani,” he said. “50 years of being slaves to Waigani must end soon.”
He said the country’s future depends on breaking away from centralised control.
“The country can’t survive by subservience to a master in Waigani. We need to be free,” Bird said.
Reflecting on PNG’s independence history, Bird said political freedom has not translated into true liberation from control and inequality.
“Fifty years ago, we got rid of a white master and called ourselves independent,” he said. “All we did was to swap a white master for a rich black Christian master. We are still slaves to Waigani and this will not do.”
