Papua New Guinea, how far have we come?
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| SYLVESTER KOMBA EXPOSING CORRUPTION IN MENDI, SHP |
PAPUA NEW GUINE HAS REACHED ANOTHER YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND WILL BE TURNING 39 YEARS ON 16th SEPTEMBER, 2014.
Times like this it calls for our people to take stock of how far we have come from Tanget and Malo Age to colonial era, self governing and Independence on 16th September, 1975.
Going back to history, during pre-independence and self governing years when most of the bureaucracy was in the hands of the Australian Patrol officers and Kiaps, the focuss was on 'order and stability' for the society, After independence and nationalisation of bureaucracy we have moved away from order and stability and the end of luluai and tultula or anwa police we were focussing into the development of PNG believing that in doing so order and stability in the society will be achieved. I can not be a more worrisome person seen many school dropout, certificate and degree holders without job while provincial, national and district administration is filled with pre-independence era educated workforce with funded projects lacks capacity in the provinces and district are short lived. Despite public investment on many major infrastructures we are not able to maintain them hence many have succumbed to wear and tear while we take on board new responsibilities and liabilities.
This is the time we reflect back on our position in the South West Pacific, revisiting our development agenda to set sail for a destiny that is true and true PNG leaving foreign influence at bay. Internal disputes over public resources have to come to an end now (PNG Govt and PNGSDP) as we refocus in our new direction. I have been saying that indigenous citizens are the only threat to our future prosperity as we continue to become part of the problem and not find any solution. Given the situation and loud mouthed politician in the opposition have not been able to suggest development alternative for a problem they see and it has been common that allegations after allegations are levelled at each other while the population suffer in silent. Having had the recent REPENTENCE Day with Parliament meeting coincidently, I believe it was timely for factions to rethink to uphold the national directive principle enshrined in our constitution for non other than this country's development and progress.
A country with vast wealth has been very dependent on foreign loans and, development Aids and gifts which we do not necessarily need as it weakens our ability to innovate and manage our wealth sustainably. Many foreign experts and financial institution like Work Bank Group, ADB, IMF are only around to produce reports and policies that have been successful in the developed world which isn't possible to replicate in PNG and I say a true and true PNG Solution is PNG needed. Looking into sector by sector, provinces by provinces and district by district to identify the needs of our society that will help in designing policies and programs to address our development needs and alleviate our people from social hardships.
DSIP/PSIP/LLGSIP will see more money pouring into the provinces and it is about time Organic Law on Provincial Government and Local Level Government is revisited to tie funds to Projects and a Law on Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects is legislated to keep check and balance as millions of kina that have been syphoned through corrupt practices. I believe in the saying 'Its better to be late then never' and if its the CHANGE as many of us have been campaigning for is to come about, we need to start today. The three arms of government has to be seen to be delivering in complete independence providing checks and balance on each others as they have been in the past.
PNG is a blessed nation unlike some other countries where the level of suicide occurs every 10 minutes, war, bankruptcy and other social mayham that one can think off. Our Melanesian and PNG customs provides for the support that is that is need to address our needs. I am proud to be a PNGan and Would like to take this time to wish all my families, relative, wantoks and the rest of PNG to celebrate your Independence in the true PNG spirit and pour them colourful attires and regalia on the day to mark the 39 years of independence and hope for the best for this country.
