In a candid and impassioned press conference on Monday in Port Moresby, Kandep MP Don Polye, a senior leader in Papua New Guinea's government, laid bare the country's most pressing issues, calling for immediate and coordinated action from all political factions, further clarifying that he has not joined the Opposition camp, as alluded to on social media, amid ongoing political negotiations related to the Vote of No Confidence which is anticipated to a main agenda in this Parliament sitting period after Parliament resumes today (Tuesday, May 28th). “No, I'm not in the Opposition. I'm a PANGU Pati member trying to guide people to follow a PANGU Pati process.” He urged MPs who defected to follow the proper procedures under the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) and called on Pangu Pati's executives to step in and resolve the internal political conflict. “Yes, I have visited Mr. Rainbo Paita and his faction camp to say there's a party process and we have to follow a party process, I've articulated it, and party executives must take charge.” Polye emphasized that following these legal frameworks is essential for effective governance and addressing the nation's crises, as this current political manoeuvring is only confusing the public. Don Polye's address was a stark reminder of the urgent issues facing Papua New Guinea. His call for immediate, coordinated action and political unity was clear: "We must not let personal or political interests overshadow the needs of our people as the suffering of our citizens is real and must be addressed now." Polye, currently serving as the Minister of Education, Research, Science, Education and Science Research, and Technology, emphasized the dire state of the nation’s educational, economic, and infrastructural sectors. “I speak as a senior leader of this country with this background information as to giving me the experience to say a few things I'll be saying here and I hope that the people of this country and in particular colleague members of Parliament, leaders of this country do take note of the points that I will raise.” “These following issues that affect our people remain very profoundly prominent that cannot escape the attention of leadership.” “Therefore, leadership has the duty to only focus on these areas at a present time to finding a solution to removing the sufferings that people of Papua New Guinea are going through.” Polye highlighted the chronic issues plaguing the education system, including a severe lack of textbooks and inadequate skill development programs. "The human development deficit is acute," he said, "leading to our jobs being taken by outsiders due to our unskilled workforce." Polye stressed that addressing these educational shortcomings is crucial for the nation's future, calling for an overhaul of the system to ensure quality education and skill development. The declining value of the kina, Papua New Guinea's currency, was another major point of concern. Polye warned that the kina could devalue by 20-30% in the medium term, exacerbating the country's economic woes. He connected this economic decline directly to the rising cost of living, which has made it increasingly difficult for citizens to afford basic necessities. “People can't pay the power bills.” “People can't pay other necessary means of survival.” “Mothers are struggling.” “Children are going to school without quality food because the prices have risen and I'm talking from my own family.” Polye did not shy away from addressing the rampant inflation and recent fuel shortages that have crippled the nation. "Inflation is not due to external factors like the Russian war," he asserted. "It is caused by local mismanagement." The shortage of fuel at airports and seaports further compounds the economic strain, disrupting daily life and business operations. Equally alarming was Polye's discussion of the escalating crime rates. He said despite not being a war-torn or drug-infested country, Papua New Guinea is witnessing a surge in violent crime. Polye called for a national reckoning and immediate action to restore law and order. "We cannot normalize murder and violence," he declared. "Our people deserve to live in peace." Polye also shed light on the recent catastrophic landslide in Enga province, which buried thousands alive. He called for urgent assistance to provide food, medical supplies, and machinery to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts. "We need immediate action to help those affected and give the deceased a dignified burial," he urged. But at the heart of Polye's address yesterday was a call for political unity and adherence to systematic processes. He criticized the current disarray within political parties, particularly the Pangu Party, and urged leaders to respect the organic law and party constitutions. As the nation braces for potential political upheaval, Polye's words resonate as a call to action for all leaders to prioritize the welfare of their constituents above all else. Meantime, in response to queries from the media, Polye denied any ambitions for the Prime Minister’s post, focusing instead on providing honest leadership and guidance.