He Said He Wanted to Do What He Does on a Bigger Scale

 The entire period of July to August, 2017, was messily fitful. A tensed sphere of dilemma gave rise to the surge of tempering electoral processes, illegal signing of writs, double declarations, luring out MPs of one political party to another and even hijacking some by force upon arrivals at the Jacksons Airport. It was the eve of government formation.

Hon. Dr. Tom Lino at the newly constructed Wabag to Maramuni Road site. 

The previous government, before 2017 National Election, went through a lot of hurly-burlies that conditioned people to have preexisting crave for a better leadership. Sadly however, our MPs never had guts to see that hunger in their people. They only used it as bate to lure votes. The people of PNG and the world watched with intense anxiety to see who the next Prime Minister was.

Fortunate for the opposition but sadly to be unsuccessful sooner, the team against the rise of previous regime had a total of 46 MPs at the Kokopo Camp. The number was expected to rise to give a good challenge in the Prime Minster election.  However, there were crooked MPs too who decamped to join the resurging governance. One thing was certain; those MPs who decamped have swiftly forgotten who voted them in just few days. Their desires were for money when people longed for a leadership. They thought of how much they will gain than how much their people would.

Three years ago the people of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the world watched the move of five courageous MPs to join Pangu Party for a coalition to form government. The fifth of the five was the youngest and as well new in politics. He was a professional Doctor who had to make an immense sacrifice leaving his exquisitely noble career behind. I can only imagine how tough it must have been for him to switch careers.

For sure as family, as patients and as people, we need our doctors to be in the hospital, attend to the sick and safe lives. Not at the parliament where they’ll be tainted with dirt of corruption. Seeing one of very brave and faithful doctors of PNG, Dr. Jeremiah Tom Lino leaving behind the hospital corridors for political anonymities ahead was a saddest move ever yet courageous. It must have not  really been easy for his family and friends though.

Hon. Dr. Tom Lino hails from the Tribe of Lanekep in Wabag District of Enga Province. As said earlier, he was a first timer and never knew much about politics back then. The 27^th of July, 2017 set a new course when he was declared the winner for his electorate with a total of 22,463 votes. Most interestingly then, he was an independent candidate unseating one of PNCs’ – Robert Sandan Ganim.

I can’t possibly comprehend what happens behind the scene at the course of government formation. Like most of us do, I can only guess bad things happen. From the common events however, I know this is the moment of milk and honey for most MPs – the moment of golden opportunities. Manna rains from the heavens of power hungry politicians. You don’t look for them. They look for you. They don’t set the price. You do. The MPs full of nothing, but only sands in their brains never dare to miss it. They simply name what they want and it comes to them all by itself.

As unquestionably as one could envisage, this moment never circumvented Hon. Dr. Tom Lino. Imagine how many times he may have received offers of government ministries, hard cash, and promises of countless million kina projects to his electorate and so and so? Being an independent MP before he joined Pangu must have not been very easy for him at this epoch. But, one thing was certain then and it’s clearer today. Dr. Tom Lino was on a guided course, never to be wavered by forces of any kind.    

Most of his people were happy that he was now the new MP for Wabag electorate. They had greater anticipations of what he would do. But, what they never knew was which team he was ever going to join. Some people suggested its better he joins the leading parties. Others suggested he join the senior Engan Politicians. Surprisingly however, his move to join the opposition seemed a bent. He went south when his colleagues headed north as it seemed. His people had questions of why he joined the opposition that only he could answer in times.       

During this high time, he lost one of his dear brothers. Hon. Dr. Tom Lino being a dear brother to the one passed on, managed to come home for funeral at Gerehu – Port Moresby. He shared his tears and sorrowful sentiments of losing his beloved brother with everyone who were there that evening. On this evening I had my opportunity listening to a very remarkable man with great professional history and an MP to be recorded in the history for his performances in his time.

To clear the air, he, by way of acknowledging as he was his peoples’ leader too, said “most of my people complain why I joined Pangu – the opposition? They complain that I should be with the Government; have a chair at the big table, be like others and feed from where everyone’s fed. I agree; I understand what my people want. But, what I can’t do is; I can’t go after money! Or neither can I allow money to run my life. I’m a first timer and when I’m beginning on this new career, I would like to stay a fee man.” He said this while with the opposition. Though many things were not known yet, his words at least well complemented his first action to join Pangu. A person with foresights may have captured the glimpse of his actions ahead with him as a fresh MP in his electorate.

Hon. Dr. Tom Lino with two water boys for the construction
workers.

On the contrary however; his words had me thinking, ‘what kind of man is he that does not like money; why did he contest for Wabag Open Seat; why didn’t he chose another career instead of politics if he had to switch careers; why being a politician?’ As simply as anyone could understand the reasons for people having questions as those I had, in PNG our politicians with their actions have had us accustomed to think politics is all about money. Or we think the MPs who have money are always those who are with the government. Poor people back in the electorates get fed with continuous lies of their MPs saying “we oppositions don’t receive much of our funds,” this is a crap!

Hon. Dr. Lino’s intension to join Pangu came to light via Loop PNG on the 24^th of August 2017. He unveiled that joining hands with credible leaders who believe in change, whose works are transparent and implement what they promise was for the best interest of his people of Wabag. He further gave his assurance that he would make his people and the people of PNG realize the opposition MPs can still deliver. This was a promise to set a new course – to change an attitude profoundly rooted to a lie.

It is absolutely heartwarming to know the stories of Hon. Dr. Tom Lino. He also tells his people through an interview that being a surgeon has never been easy. He has been the head surgeon for his province for seven (7) years. The nature of his work poses a huge challenge that devoured all his time. Despite all the slaps and slumps, he treats people on daily basis. He gets motivated to do his work more every time he sees one helped patient leaves the sick bed fully recovered. His aim had always been to make the world around him a healthier place for everyone to live. But as he tells “he couldn’t do that on a smaller scale." So he had to raise his hand for the Wabag electorate. It was with an intention to help people live happier and better lives after all. 

It’s been three years now since he got into the office. He has two more years to go before the next election. The question now is; has he delivered it yet? I mean his promise of making peoples’ life better. Has he actually taken a step towards making his people happy? I’m not from Wabag and I shouldn’t know much about Wabag, or, how much he has actually done. But I can write about him a story because I’m made able to by one action – an action that’s transparently clear.

Wabag district is unlike the other districts in Enga province. It has the capital of Enga (Wabag town) which houses all most all the key government facilities. In terms of development, Wabag district is by far ahead of other districts of Enga. However, there’s a part of the district that remains detached for ages. Engans know it better and it’s Maramuni.

Maramuni is about 28miles (45.1km) west of Wabag town. It’s located in the heart of tick forest between Enga and East Sepik. It has quite a good number of people, but sadly they live a primitive life. To reach Wabag town from maramuni is only by foot. There is no road link. It takes two to three days for the people of maramuni. There is an air strip in Maramuni where it caters for small planes. But sadly too, it can’t help much.  

A Maramuni Lady with Hon. Dr. Tom Lino at the road construction site.
The picture shows how people of Maramuni Travel the long walk.

Imagine how many people of Maramuni may have died of curable disease only because they never had access to basic health services? Those pregnant mothers who couldn’t make it through that three-to-four-day long walk? Maramuni people do vote when it comes to election in the hope of a service coming to their doorstep. I don’t certainly know when the place was realized and given its boundaries to be called Maramuni, but ever since, neither of any former MPs, nor even the provincial government dared to set foot on this place. Only missionaries fly in and out in small planes.  

The Honorable Minister for Fisheries and the Member for Wabag Dr. Jeremiah Tom Lino has now turned a boulder that’s been immovable for so long. He has turned a new leave by setting foot on a land no one has ever laid a mark before. 

Doctors certainly have one job and only one job. That is to bring cure to the sick and put a smile on their faces. Hon. Dr. Tom Lino said he wanted to bring cure to the people on a bigger scale and now it comes into reality. Building a grand highway linking Maramuni to Wabag Town is truly bringing cure not only to one person, but to the entire people of Maramuni, not only those living there today but to the generations to come.  

With this great work, the name “Dr. Tom Lino” is a monument now to be erected on a solid ground. Once he said ‘he would’ and now he has done it. And one day he will say “I’ve done it.” Even after he’s gone, people will say “he did it.” Seeing the people of Maramuni and Enga happily riding along the Lino Highway will forever be a joy in his heart and an internal pride for his family.

May the people of Enga, PNG and the world travel through Lino Highway to see the virgin beauty of  Maramuni in the years to come. May the MPs to come bring in the other needed services to the people of Maramuni through Lino Highway. May the engineers and road-workers bit their chests for their efforts contributed in constructing Lino Highway. May everyone who has contributed one way or another in this construction tell stories and share the joy and pride with Dr. Tom Lino. May the Lino Highway be remembered by people of Maramuni for as long as the world lives on.

This day surely has dawned for the people of Maramuni. May he who has ensured it happens be blessed richly. 

Passion & the commitment of the Author - YokAlip Kyak!