Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) National Goals and Directive Principles provide the Job Description of all leaders of this nation. They set the foundation on which this nation must be governed. But it seems our leaders have forgotten the script.
Forty years ago, 16 Papua New Guinean members of then, House of Assembly, developed a vision for a new nation.
The Constitutional Planning Committee (CPC) summarized certain underlying principles to form the basis of the development of the National Goals and Directive Principles in our Constitution. These underlying principles were Nation Building, Development of people, Participation and Decentralization, Consultation and Consensus, Rights and Freedoms, and Quality of Leadership. It was from these Principles that our National Goals were born:
- Integral human development
- Equality and participation’
- National Sovereignty and Self Reliance
- Conservation of our natural resources and environment
- The use of Papua New Guinean ways
As PNG faced self-government, the CPC declared:
“…Our Constitution should look towards the future and act as an accelerator in the process of development. It should be related to the national goals that we leaders of this country are enunciating. A clear definition of Papua New Guinea's most fundamental national goals, and a statement setting out the implications of their acceptance for the ways in which the Government seeks to achieve those goals, is of great importance to the welfare of our people and to the effectiveness of the Constitution in promoting it…”
Our National Goals and Directive Principles were specifically aimed at achieving a Free and Just Society.
Forty years on and PNG is still at the crossroads. This nation has in the last 10 years seen an increase in resource project development proposed at an accelerated rate bringing with it the very issues foreseen by our founding fathers. Not only did they foresee these, they set the principles upon which our leaders should lead in order to avoid the inevitable perils.
This is the ideal moment in history to put on our brakes. We should ask ourselves whether the Spirit of our Constitution and its goals and directive principles, has indeed been our guardian angel?
As a truly resource rich country, have we achieved true economic independence? Are our gold, copper and oil processed onshore? Is the cost of petroleum products in this country reflective of, an oil-producing nation?
Have we provided citizens of this country, the opportunity to develop themselves so they are better equipped to participate on a level playing field, in the development of this nation?
Have successive governments of this nation allowed its citizens the right to equitable participation in development of this nation?
Are the resources of this nation being equitably shared across all provinces?
Have successive governments of this nation adequately taken into consideration and protected land and human rights of our people?
Has our government diligently used our natural resources and pristine environment both marine and terrestrial, for the collective benefit of current and future generations?
Our leaders need a Job appraisal! and it is the responsibility of the people of PNG to do that appraisal. We need to Act Now!
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Comments
We're far from it... How can a nation work for a vision when we
We're far from it...
How can a nation work for a vision when we dont even know it. What you are trying to do is very good. It is also part of Patriots PNG's vision to stimulate patriotism and national responsibility and create unity.
Keep it up ACT NOW!
gdw
Greed is the major stumbling block, and the over use of
Greed is the major stumbling block, and the over use of wantokism in a modern PNG context... enough is enough, lets look at the senior levels og Government and see if there is equal Manpower distribution of human resources from one province, and lets look at the pool of Educated PNG's who are exiting the country in droves to seek greener pastures, because they are unable to make a difference in their own country because of nepotism, bribery and corruption at every level, and form of government and private sector... from the three disciplined forces, who profess to exercise neutrality, are jumping to the yes men who command the purse strings, and buy VOTES and VOTERS, to support a corrupt regime. The days of civil unrest is brewing and it will erupt will chaos, anarchy, and tear the very fabric of society away from the very people who have been voted to represent the population on all levels of government for the provision of services and infrastructure for the quality of life for the rural and remote population which the politicians claim to represent, as budget and fund managers, and yet they cannot manage their own personal bank accounts... they get 10 million, 10 million kina to splurge at random, with no accountability.... Bring back the INTERNAL AUDITORS< EXTERNAL AUDITORS< ACCOUNTANTS who are qualified, TAX ASSESSORS, Business development officers, BUDGET CO-ORDINATOR, ECONOMISTS, to try and resurrect the malfunctioned government departments.
It is shameful that this country has one of the best
It is shameful that this country has one of the best constitutions, a clear vision however we have gone off on the wrong track. This is the same track that most other countries have been through. We need to change the development path we are adhering to. People are landless, there is despair and loneliness in these countries. Is this what we want here in PNG? I don't think so....we have to do things differently. If not, history will repeat itself.
We are not achieving what our visionaries have envisioned MAINLY because of GREED and CORRUPTION. This country is rich in resources however development of these resource is not translating to elevation of our people's standard of living. Track record shows that the welfare of people living in areas where large scale operations once were and still are, are worse of than those in other areas. There needs to be political education. People need to be informed and made aware that the reason why there is poor basic government service in rural communities is because of CORRUPTION and GREED. ACT NOW keep up the good work as you are filling a critical role in this country. It is possible to create this new wave, will get there.
jc