‘A centralised bureaucracy in Waigani is a stumbling block for service delivery‘
AFTER 46 years of Independence Papua New Guinea’s basic service delivery has stagnated and needs a change in the system of government, says former prime minister and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan.
“We have given almost absolute power to the national government, and this has been a mistake, it has not allowed our people to realise their potential, it has not given our people good lives, it has not made our people happy,” said Sir J who is one of the remaining founding fathers of the country.
Speaking at the newly opened Kavieng Stadium on Independence Day, he strongly called on the national government to grant autonomy to provinces so that basic service delivery can reach the rural areas and improve the lives of the people.
“In PNG we have to walk 10 or 20 kilometres when we are sick, and when we get to the aid post we are lucky if there is anyone there! We are lucky if there is any medicine.
“We are wasting the blessings we have been given. Every human is born with great potential. Every human has within him or her the seeds of greatness to contribute to the betterment of his or her group, to make a difference by making themselves better and using their knowledge and talent to make the world better.
“But to do so we need the tools. We need the opportunity. And this is where the State comes in. It is the responsibility of the State to provide the resources so people can realise their full potential. This is the job of the national government and if they gave the resources to the provinces, then the provinces could do this much more effectively.
“But our country has failed us. How can we realise our full potential when half our schools are crumbling, when half our teachers have no decent housing and therefore are not on post at the schools? How can we realise our full potential when we do not have the supplies, the basic materials to give our children a decent education?
“This year at Independence we need to come together and say something must change. We have waited too long fighting and greedily consume what little we have from Waigani.
“That is why I have been talking so often lately about autonomy. Not because we want to break away from Papua New Guinea. No. To the contrary. Increased power for the provinces and the lower levels of government will not harm our country – it will heal it.
“We are the most diverse country on earth. The needs of our people differ from region to region, province to province. We must be able to plan and implement projects and programmes in our provinces that are tailored to our specific needs. A centralised bureaucracy in Waigani cannot do this.
“But to do a proper job we need much greater resources. Instead of having 90% of the revenues from mining, from GST, from Income and Company Taxes go to the national government, these should be shared equally with the provinces. This will provide the funds we need to make our province the envy of the country. It will provide funds to benefit the entire country.
“I was there with the giants of PNG History, Sir Michael, Sir John Guise, Sir Noel Levi, who is with us today. I have seen what men – and women with drive and determination and pride can do. I was there, and I was proud. I want to be proud again.
“I want to be around for just a little bit of time, and during that time, I want to help to reset the course of history. We have been through a very difficult period, but there is no reason we cannot again ride our ship and sail into a bright future.
“So today, I want to wish all the people of Papua New Guinea a happy and blessed Independence. And I want us all to come together, to work together to heal our country, to make it the great country it has the potential to be. The most efficient way to do this is to give power to the provinces, power with resources,” Sir J said.