It’s only a year away before PNG has another election to get new leaders into parliament to run our country’s affairs. 

For the past 35 years nothing substantial has been done by successive PNG administration to strengthen the capacity of this important national security institution.

So as a concerned citizen, here is a reminder to the-powers-that-be to do something about it now. 

Today, my professional advice to our Prime Minister Somare and government, the Opposition and Parliament is to immediately fix the PNGDF’s problems, once and for all.  If you cannot do it now, then when will you do it?  

It is merely stating the obvious but PNG must sustain a Defence Force which must support our diplomacy effectively.

PNG must sustain a competent national security agency comprising of people with the right professional and technical skills, possessing the right weapons that could train and develop an expanded force to counter any major future threats to us.

Given our small population, volunteer national service remains the only viable option for building up a capable and formidable military.

We need a defence organization that can undertake surveillance and patrol duties to give direct assistance to our civil community as and when needed.

The country needs a defence force that will protect our supply chain networks in and out of our ports linking PNG to global markets. 

Every government of the day must realise that it is very important that our defence force also constructively contributes to assisting in whatever ways our regional friends like the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Zealand and other smaller Pacific neighbours sharing common security interests. 

Fixing Defence

First of all, the PM and his government must now clearly decide what it wants our defence ministry, department and the PNGDF to do in future? 

First and foremost, the defence department must provide professional sound advice to the government, which must ultimately manage the strategic risks PNG will face in future.

Secondly, the department must provide for effective operational and administrative control of the PNGDF.

Thirdly, the department should have the full confidence of servicemen and women throughout the defence communities with a vital part of morale, is having confidence in the command and management of our defence organization, especially the PNGDF.

Today, our defence organization has many deficiencies that must be fixed; both internally and externally.   The first thing we must do now is restructure the command and corporate management set up at the top, and systematically work downwards. 

A reformed Ministry of Defence and PNGDF should be predominantly manned by professional servicemen and women in the key decision-making designations. 

The department’s civil servants should perform their proper role of supporting, not directing the service professionals in their particular operational areas.

Well how will we do that? 

A major external review of our whole defence structure is immediately required by someone – a team outside the PNG public service and defence force.

This is now being suggested here because past efforts to rationalise defence have not been fully implemented by successive defence administration for some excuse or another in recent years.

Future Plan

Let us start with a good future vision, mission and some basic future goals that we can easily achieve, and measure our long term operational effectiveness. 

The defence force must be made a more combat ready capability for the job now and in the future years.  

Thus, the PNGDF must be made stronger in capacity by developing the capabilities essentially needed to defend PNG in the next 15 to 20 years.

The defence organization must further build closer defence relations and international strategic links with our traditional friends like Australia and New Zealand and regional allies.  

The PNGDF will not achieve all this without a strong leadership and better management. 

Hence, from the top down throughout the whole defence organization, a stronger command leadership at all levels is very much needed.  

So just what is really required for Defence, especially the PNGDF to do now and in future? 

It’s obvious but no one wants to say it now so I will say this to the Ministry concerned. 

Defence must always aim to reach clear decisions about the big issues, reach them quickly and implement them fast and cost-effectively to accomplish its defence vision and mission. 

This requires the PNGDF to protect the nation’s sovereignty, assist with internal security and to play a more significant role in national development.

The Final Word

So my good leaders, are we up to the challenge now of critically addressing the defence of PNG and its national interest?

If you all love and care for our country since Independence, you would know the answer to that!