By FRANK ASAELI
A SENIOR researcher at the National Research Institute (NRI) has said Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a problem when it comes to good governance.
Dr Alphonse Gelu said the decentralised levels of government in PNG are one area that is at the centre of democracy and governance, but this system has been ineffective over the years “because it has been affected by practices that are bad and do not promote good governance”.
The need to promote good governance is, however, a challenge to the Government, he said.
Dr Gelu said for free and fair elections, open and accountable government and civil and political rights, PNG has some major problems with these dimensions but the country is working towards improving them.
“Successive governments have to be commended for working hard to improve the country’s system of government by improving the level of its legitimacy,” he said.
Dr Gelu made these remarks in response to a question raised during a round table discussion on democracy and good governance in the Pacific Islands States at the US Embassy in Port Moresby recently.
He said the role of civil society was one of the positive developments of democracy in PNG.
“The constitution allows for the creation of such groups and their influence has grown ever since,” he said.
“They have provided the checks and balances that are required through the process of governing and the successive governments have come to accept and recognise some of these groups,” Dr Gelu said.
Guest speaker Glyn Davies of the US State Department questioned how PNG had made democracy and good governance work.
“How is it that a country like PNG that has 800 plus ethnic groups and languages, doesn’t have the ability to easily get around the country which has all of these political parties and a relatively new democratic system? How is it you are able to do it?” Mr Davies asked.
He said he knows the Government is not perfect but this is a lesson not only to the Pacific Islands but to the US as well.
He said the Solomon Islands is still struggling under prime minister Manasseh Sogavare and Fiji has had four coups in the last decade or so.
Meanwhile, The US Embassy in a statement said it is committed to supporting the people of PNG in their pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future.
“Ideally, democracy develops from people in a form that is appropriate to each nation.
PNG and the US are strong partners in the pursuit of democracy and good governance,” the US Embassy statement added.