Last year, the reputable Bertelsmann Transformation Index compared the performance of 125 countries aspiring to achieve full democracy and a market economy.
Here’s a summary of PNG’s report card, which you can read for yourself by following this link.
Throughout the period of review,
Positive developments include continuity in government
leadership, economic recovery, sound economic policies, stability in the
exchange rate, an increase in reserves, peace on
The country faces some deeply rooted problems, however, that may impede
the transformation process. The level of socioeconomic development is low. Per
capita income is now actually lower than it was at the time of independence…
The rule of law is still weak, corruption persists at the highest levels and there are continuing tensions between tribal groups.
Ethnic or regional
bias, gender discrimination, gridlock in politics, a deepening gap in income
equality, and polarisation between the political leadership and the general
populace do not allow for a sufficient degree of consensus-building or for
institutional efficiency in the democratic system.
The level of difficulty in governing a country like
Poor governance, endemic corruption, the lack of infrastructure, a small
and unstable economy, aid dependency, low levels of education, ethnic conflicts
and economic recession have all taken their toll on the country.
The situation has become so bad that in recent years the country has
been reported to be on “the brink of collapse” and has regularly been referred
to as a failed state.
Strategic outlook
Although the country has some measure of political stability and has
achieved economic growth, these gains are fragile and could easily be reversed.
All key institutions, such as the parliament, the political executive, the
bureaucracy and the private sector, are weak.
In the dimension of democratic
transformation, five major issues remain: political stability, corruption,
electoral campaign reform, gender issues, and law and order. These issues have
been discussed again and again, and all past reform programs have either
faltered or failed miserably.
While there is political consensus between
the elite and civil society to deal with these five major issues, the
mechanisms to implement reforms are either too weak or are hijacked by vested
interests.
On the social front, the government must seriously tackle the problems
of HIV/AIDS and income inequality. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has the potential to follow
the African pattern, where the most productive segment of the population is
being wiped out. In major coffee plantations in the highlands, many
of the workers are HIV positive. HIV/AIDS is the now the leading cause of
death at
Somare has become a useless leader to govern PNG. Now is the right time for Deputy PM, Sir or Dr Puka Temu, to be the leader of the NA party and the country's new leader.
Posted by: Papua Tauna | 07 June 2010 at 09:16 PM
The PNG report card tells us many things we already know about the dysfunctional nature of the general scheme of things within our 'lucky country' sitting on top of Australia.
It seems like the whole country does not care. PNG leaders have now proven themselves useless to their own people. They do not know how to properly run the country.
The only solution may be a foreign power to fix the problems PNG can't fix itself. PNG needs to be rescued by an external intervention force.
There will certaily be a sigh of relief by ordinary people who would welcome it with open arms. Even the military and the police force would join in to arrest their own corrupt political leaders and put them behind bars.
A national open court case could take place in a big market-square dragging on for days like a war crimes tribunal in The Hague, with many foreign reporters clammering to get a good view of some silly buggers getting publicly humiliated before being locked away for a long time.
This would just be great for PNG, wouldn't it?
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 07 June 2010 at 09:10 PM