By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU
THE Institute of PNG Studies (IPNGS) is embarking on becoming autonomy by 2027, says IPNGS new Acting Director, Chris Puio.
Mr. Puio says this does not mean that the institute want to break away from the National Cultural Commission (NCC) by 2027 but to fully function as an organisation.
Since his appointment last year, he did not waste his time but to quickly put in place a five-year plan that is geared towards this course.
In an interview with Sunday Bulletin Newspaper, Mr Puio firstly thanked the Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission (NCC), Mr Steven Kilanda for having the faith and trust in appointing him.
Puio said, basically he wants to revive the system and put in place the infrastructures that have fallen apart over the years to fulfill Mr. Kilanda’s vision in restoring and rehabilitating the systems of the NCC has a whole.
Some of the infrastructural changes that have taken place since last year are the renovation of the staff toilet and shower block, staff housing complex, extra office set up, a new Director and Administration and Finance Office, a new conference room, a library extension and fencing just to mention a few.
The IPNGS was established in 1974 by then the Chief Minister the late Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare.
Mr Puio said with the five-year plan, year 2023 will be the year of research and planning while year 2024 to be the year of implementation.
He further explained that 2025 will be the year of outreach and the following year (2026) as the year of change with 2027 be the year of autonomy.
“So, all the activities at the institute will revolve around these themes,” he said.
Apart from that, Mr. Puio said the institute is looking at celebrating its jubilee next year.
“We have already established several committees so that the committees will have to work to develop leaders in different areas and also it is a way to enhance collaboration so that we can have a better coordination to fulfil the mandate of IPNGS,” he said.
Mr Puio added that the institution is a very important institution and is the information culture bank of this country.
“I am honored to be on this position and I appreciate my predecessors including Professor Don Niles and others that have helped this institute to survive for the last fifty years.
And now in my time and those who will come after me, we will ensure that we take on from where they left going forward so I appreciate them for keeping this institution alive and well,” he said.
Mr Puio paid tribute to Professor Niles and said he has been a very good custodian of the research materials which are now in the container and some that are reserved in his office.
“So, what we are doing now is to create storages to store these archival materials in a more professional way.
With those research materials, we will now find out how best we can translate them into tangible outcomes in terms of helping the government and then outreaching to the communities and so forth,” he said.
Mr Puio was then the Executive Officer to the Executive Director in 2019 prior to his appointment as the Acting Director in 2021.
Meanwhile he acknowledged Mr Kilanda has a visionary leader and for resurrecting IPNGS since he came in 2019.
“Through his leadership and direction NCC has been declared as the best performing Government Agency in 2021 and I am proud to be under Mr Kilanda’s vibrant leadership.”
