PNG did not fail but staggered in developing nationalism
This is a reflection by WILSON THOMPSON, a public servant since 1995 having served in NCDC, Consumer Affairs Council & Price Controller, Provincial & LLG Affairs, PNG Licensing Commission, Arts, Culture & Tourism, National Parliament and National Housing Corporation and is passionate about agriculture and rural business and economic development.
WHY do we say we did not do it well in last 47 years? Many people say there is nothing to celebrate on Independence Day but these are all excuses.
Forty years ago, the Government was operating from tin sheds and wooden shacks at Konedobu and laws and policies were made in a former colonial European Hospital in Port Moresby and the Supreme Court was held in a wooden building that still stands before Paga Hill.
By 1985, we had a Parliament House at Waigani and public servants operating from Central Government Offices and Pineapple (Marea) House whilst at the provincial level such as in EHP or Simbu were operating from Yanepa House or Kondom Agaundo Building and Provincial Assembly at Muriso Hall.
By 1986, the Okuk Highway was sealed from Lae to WHP and by 1997, part of pre-independence dream to connect Papua to New Guinea through the Transislands Highway (Haiveta Highway from Bereina to Kerema) was constructed and sealed.
In 2021, the feasibility and construction of the part from Aseki to Kaintiba to Murua and Epo has been signed by the Australian Government.
By 2012, Magi Highway, Sir Bruce Jephcott or Ramu Highway and Boluminski Highway were sealed.
By 2017, we had State of the Art airport facilities at Jacksons, Tokua, Kagamuga, Goroka and Gurney and other airports like Nadzab will be completed soon.
From 1975 to today, most or all these MPs and Ministers and Public Service leaders did something and changed certain things.
Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare may not have built Wewak or ESP but he did build PNG so as late Sir Tei Abal, Sir Sinake Giregire, Sir Thomas Kavali, Sir Iambakey Okuk, Sir Boyama Sali or Sir Jerry Nalau or Sir Paul Lapun or Bernard Narakobi or Sir Pita Lus, Sir Tore Lokoloko, Sir John Guise, Sir Matiabe Yuwi, Sir Akepa Miakwe, Sir Paliau Maloat or McKenzie Daugi etc.
Sir John Kaputin, Dr John Momis, Sir Yano Belo, Sir Angmai Bilas did and are still contributing to national development and are around to tell us that we have changed for the better or for the worse but there has been something that has been inevitable.
Sir Julius Chan did build the PNG economy so as late Sir William Skate or Sir Rabbie Namaliu or Paias Wingti and so as Peter O’Neil and James Marape.
Too often we want to others such as former colonisers or foreigners or Asians or others but not taking responsibility our own destiny.
We seem to blame the last or the former government or Prime Minister but we have not faulted or failed nor fallen down as some countries in Asia or Africa or Latin America had done.
Despite our issues and challenges, PNG has stood up and strong and has not have failed elections, governments removed or civilians taking part in putting down governments or forming governments outside of Parliament or in villages or on ethnic basis changing the national limelight.
In 45 years, PNG had been built and is growing. There are other things that we have regressed. In the last thirty years, we have stopped producing our own peanut butter, match sticks, fruit juice, blankets and rugs.
Let’s not blame others too much and ask what we can contribute to reducing stealing and corruption by both those in private and public sector that is affecting effective and efficient delivery of public goods and services.
If our political and public service leaders didn’t start in 1980, we kept blaming those in 1975 and we can’t blame those in the 1990’s but have to take stock of the political stability we had since 2002, unlike the fear of Vote of No Confidence every 6 or 12 months.
Today we have to take stock and sack or sanction MPs who yoyoed between political parties by hopping 3 to 5 parties in a term of Parliament unlike those from 1980-2000 who did better without OLIPPAC law, maybe moved once or twice in a term.
Today we have more University educated MPs than in the past and all of us blaming our leaders for the last 40 years as if they didn’t do anything and we want to Take Back PNG from them.
The biggest blame should be addressing corruption and stealing and cronyism and turning away from fixing issues or taking a risk today for a better tomorrow.
Otherwise, the 2022-2077 Parliament will see most or all post High school and University educated MPs moving frequently in Parliament and blaming those before them and not doing anything.
As we celebrate Independence, let’s give due credit and let’s also do our part today to start fixing up corruption and bad governance that is affecting PNG.
We must emphasize Quality National Leadership. Changing the Common Roll, Party system or using Biometric voting laws or ICAC or Ombudsman Commission will not change PNG leadership challenge.
In the 1964, 1968 to 1972 House of Assembly, we would have few nationals such as Sir Julius who had attended University elected whilst few others like Sir Michael Somare, Anton Parao and John Momis, and John Langro won the Special and Regional Seats that had matriculation education qualification as prerequisite.
Others like Sir Sinake Giregire, Sir Tei Abal, Sir Matiabe Yuwi, Kaibelt Diria, Sir Angmai Bilas who had Grade 6 or 8 went for the Open seats where anyone could contest.
Today, we do not have that kind of restriction but everyone seems to say we are lacking this or that.
With little education, Sir Sinake Giregire brought Oil Palm, Seacom cable and repeater stations around PNG, that by 1970, you can dial a telephone number direct to PNG instead of operator assisted calls still done in Australia or elsewhere then. We were ahead of our colonizers.
By 1975, most or all of our towns had sealed roads unlike regional towns in Australia that did not.
Sir Julius pushed for own currency and we had shifted colonial headquarters from the Konedobu tin shed to Waigani National Parliament and government precincts.
By 1990, we had telephone, fax and post services and power supply and banking services reaching almost all 89 districts through PTC, BMS or PNGBC.
Now look at our MPs who are all or mostly University educated from accountants, lawyers, engineer, economists, business, education, doctors and even PhD but look back in your district if we have telephone, postal or banking services?
What this country needs are leaders who can make their own decisions. Regulating integrity and political behavior to get leadership is not the way.
Let us give credit to GC Somare, or Sir Julius or Chris Haiveta or Michael Nali or Peter Yama and many others.
We keep blaming Sir Julius and Chris Haiveta for devaluing the kina but why we cannot devalue it further now to make our exports earn more or revalue it now, making it stronger instead of blaming others.
We cannot blame O’Neill for not building the road from Daru to Balimo and not doing anything to build it today when we have opportunity now.
Sir Michael Somare chose national unity whilst Sir Iambakei pushed for service delivery by cutting red tape and John Momis pushed decentralization whilst Sir Sinake Giregire pushed for economic empowerment over political independence.
Paias Wingti did contribute to opening up our economy and our coffee industry. Sir Rabbie Namaliu and Sir Julius contributed in the turbulent period of Bougainville conflict whilst Sir William Skate and GC Sir Michael Somare had to deal with peace building and the economic effects of the crisis.
Today, we have Haiveta keep pushing for Transisland Highway and Dr. Marat and Belden Namah or Jospeh Lelang continue to stay in Opposition where they are doing good for the country so that does not make them bad Leaders or always opposing legislations and policies.
Peter O’Neil did his part as PM so as Sir William Skate and history will tell us what they contributed so as current PM James Marape.
We continue to debate the judgement used in the huge loan and deficit budgets and whether we are building the economy.
We can ask how we can become a rich black Christian nation or take back PNG from who but 10 years down, we will say Marape did push this agenda and we can measure it.
We complain about 47 years of bad leadership, which we may had but we have progressed with more universities, more homes connected to electricity, communication and financial services but it could be at expense of highly educated MPs but less access to telephone, postal, banking and rural airstrips and jetties.
Let’s cultivate leadership by shaping it and challenging it and not by discouraging it. Let’s acknowledge everyone for taking us here and let those here to champion us forward. Let’s build on the foundations and move ahead for greater good.
