The Member for Wabag Dr. Lino Tom has resigned as of Monday afternoon from his Ministerial position as the Health Minister in the Pangu Pati led Marape-Rosso Government. He said the decision is not an easy one to make but has been made after a very long and careful consideration of issues, especially, of the current state of affairs and the future of the country. Dr. Tom thanked Prime Minister (PM) James Marape for appointing him as Health Minister in his first term of Parliament and also by extending his kind gesture this term. “I stepped into parliament for the frst time in 2017 and spent 2 and a half years with a few good leaders, mostly from the coast in opposition benches. All leaders from my region were in government at that time. It was a very difficult decision to make with an ongoing election petition, but I believed then that it was in the best interest of the nation.” “Today, with the government solid with over 70 members, I decided to leave with the same conviction. I am convinced the path we trod as a government is fraught with significant issues of “Good Governance” foreboding a bleak future. In fact, the unbridled proliferation of corruption and law and order issues poses an existential threat to our young democracy. Our institutions of state have become desecrated to a point where they no longer serve their Constitutional functions but that of their masters, and the ordinary people have lost total faith in them," said Dr. Tom. The Rule of Law needs to be prioritized as it forms the foundation for growth and prosperity in any successful nation and is now an established fact globally, said Dr. Tom. A good Rule of Law is demonstrated through good law enforcement, good political governance, and an effective legal system. It provides the necessary security for social stability, sustainable development, and economic growth. “It now seems we want to grow the economy without firstly, constructing its foundation through establishment of a “Good Rule Of Law.” It’s like putting the cart before the horse. I hope our government can reprioritize its development agendas and make this nation safe again as the current nonchalant and dismal efforts will throw this nation into the doldrums of anarchy and chaos.” "In fact, it is fast happening before our eyes. I hope these resignations will galvanize the government into action by rousing its level of consciousness. If the daily atrocities and heinous crimes are not evoking any sense of urgency and concern, what else will," said Dr. Tom. He said mediocrity, insanity, and tyranny are accepted, espoused, and even celebrated. There is a moral and societal decadence that’s happening before all of us. Too many charlatans and sycophants have found their way around the government distancing genuine professionals and blinding and deafening the government to the real pain, cries, and perils of the people on the streets with their clamorous adulations. Slogans will never change our country; direct, strategic, and intentional action will. “We need to establish a good rule of law and restore the sanctity and credibility of the institutions of state as a matter of national importance and priority, urgently! I have raised these sentiments often in all our leadership meetings and am doing it again at my exit and hope some substantial steps can be taken to address these issues.” “My resignation is an open protest and I only wish our Prime Minister and his government well and hope he makes these urgent changes for the better.”