PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has called on Papua New Guineans to reset their hearts, character and conduct as the country prepares to move from its 50th anniversary into its 51st year of independence.
Speaking at the National Day of Prayer and Repentance at Sir John Guise Stadium today, Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea’s transformation could not be achieved through government policies, infrastructure and economic growth alone.
“Reset is all about reset of character,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Without resetting character, then our resets are in vain. Offices will not reset. Policies will not reset. It is human beings who work, and reset of character must take place.”
He said repentance meant turning away from corruption and choosing integrity, turning away from violence and choosing peace, turning away from hatred and choosing forgiveness, turning away from division and choosing unity, and turning away from selfishness and choosing service.
Prime Minister Marape said the reset must begin with leaders, including ministers, Members of Parliament, departmental heads, public servants and everyone holding
elected or appointed office.
“We cannot ask citizens to live honestly if leaders do not demonstrate honesty,” he said.
“We cannot ask our young people to respect the law if leaders disregard the law. We cannot ask our people to unite if we create division.”
Prime Minister Marape said leaders must examine whether they were serving faithfully, managing public resources responsibly and placing the interests of the people above their own.
“Leadership is not about pride for ourselves, but it is a sacred responsibility to serve our people,” he said.
“It is not I, but country. It is not I, but others.”
The Prime Minister offered a personal prayer concerning his own leadership.
“If my presence in leadership stands in the way of this nation’s prosperity, and God, You are listening, come next year, remove me from this office,” he said.
He appealed to leaders to pursue dialogue where there was disagreement, forgiveness where there was hurt and reconciliation where there was division.
“Political differences must not be the reason for hatred,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Papua New Guinea cannot prosper when we stand against one another.”
The Prime Minister said Papua New Guinea was a declared Christian country and Christianity had been the deepest foundation of national unity despite the country’s extraordinary cultural and linguistic diversity.
“This is the most diverse nation on the face of planet Earth,” he said.
“Our national flag and our national Constitution have been unifying, but I want to say the deeper foundation and strength of the unity of our nation is in Jesus Christ and nothing else.”
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea had been richly blessed with abundant resources, fertile land and seas, diverse cultures and languages, and resilient people.
However, he said the country continued to face poverty, inequality, gaps in health and education, unemployment, lawlessness, violence against women and children, family breakdown, corruption, misuse of public resources, tribal conflict and the exclusion of vulnerable people.
“Government alone cannot solve these challenges. Parliament alone cannot solve these challenges. Church alone cannot solve these challenges. Business alone cannot solve these challenges,” he said.
“This is a challenge that we must all share.”
Prime Minister Marape said the national reset must begin with individual change.
“PNG must reset, but how do I reset myself first? Because it starts with us,” he said.
“Individually, in the heart of hearts, if we don’t change, that reset means nothing.”
The Prime Minister thanked churches, pastors, priests, nuns and Christian workers throughout the country for their contribution to education, health, literacy and social services.
“Without them, this country would not be where it is today,” he said.
“It is their prayer that has kept this country going.”
Prime Minister Marape assured churches that their place in Papua New Guinea would remain and that governments must continue respecting and supporting their work.
“No one will displace the place of the Church in our country,”
he said.
“Churches, your role will remain. Keep your heads high and work for your Master. The work you do has helped hold our country together.”
The Prime Minister also appealed to men and boys to take responsibility for protecting and respecting women and girls.
“To all the sons of this country, reset of our country is not only for public servants and leadership in this generation,” he said.
“It starts with respect for the women in your house, the women in your community and women collectively in our country.”
Prime Minister Marape said the nation’s development could not be measured solely by roads, bridges, buildings and economic growth.
“Development alone cannot be measured by roads,” he said.
“Bridges, buildings and economic growth will not develop this country. It is our personal mind that must be developed to develop this country.”
He urged parents to strengthen their families, teachers to develop the minds and character of children, church leaders to unite the people, public servants to serve with integrity,
and businesses and professionals to create opportunities and lead responsibly.
Prime Minister Marape made a special appeal to young Papua New Guineans, saying 59 per cent of the population was under the age of 25.
He said the Government was working to expand education, second-chance education and employment opportunities in Papua New Guinea, Australia and elsewhere.
“Young people, why don’t you join me and say: ‘I reject violence and I choose a productive future’,” he said.
“Education second, Jesus first, and your future will be secured.”
Prime Minister Marape said prayer and repentance must not be confined to one national event but must become a way of life in every home, office, church and community.
“Let us reset our hearts, our families, our communities, our leadership and our nation,” he said.
“Let us hold hands together and walk step by step, side by side, with Jesus ahead of us. Together, we can make our country a better place.”