Wake up, PNG, and cast aside frustration & bitterness

GARY JUFFA MP | Facebook

PAPUA NEW GUINEA, a land of hope and great potential, of vast resources and opportunities, of an ancient collection of elaborate cultures.

The land of a thousand tribes where once enthusiasm was the initial step, a step taken with confidence and determination.

Somewhere along the way our inability to discern the future and plan and determine risks and threats and act accordingly, our lack of consideration and our ignorance of the important aspects of progress have diverted our attention and focus.

As has our lack of hard work, strategic planning, decisiveness and careful engagement with regional and international forces to ensure protection of our interests and resources.

The today we live in is a dark uncertain place. Enthusiasm alone is insufficient for progress.

I believe we are an angry people, frustrated and bitter, and everywhere one looks there is no evidence of positivity - doom and gloom are the norm, crime and filth, loitering and littering, corruption so blatant, humility and respect are absent and the future is very bleak.

Many people are asking if this is the future we envisaged when we gained independence 37 years ago.

We have moved into an obscure and unchartered area in our journey since independence.

The tomorrow we leave our children will be determined by our actions today.

Comments

[David Kitchnoge]

Frustration and bitterness won't get us anywhere.

We just need to pay attention to the rear vision mirror a little bit more was we move forward.

So looking back, what did we not do that we should have done?

Well, the answer is glaring right back at us, isn’t it? We didn’t focus enough on the basic building blocks: education, healthcare, infrastructure and proper development of a micro economy with a specific focus on agriculture which is the key strength of our people.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The current government appears to have recognised the shaky foundations on which the house of PNG stands and is coming around to the building blocks. Very pleasing to see.

[Tony Flynn]

I supervised the school gardens at Asaroka High School in the late 1960s. The vocal students first comments and attitudes on set work assignments were negative.

The majority said nothing and put the effort in and went early to their free time. The nay sayers soon learned that doing the set work was the way to go and grumblings diminished considerably.

The lesson here is that most people are OK and that most of the rest can be won over by proper policies. There is the failure - not by the people - by the leaders.