| Sports |
Meetings by irony or
by design?
JACK METTA
acknowledges the powers that be for the recent turn of events
involving two great Simbus
MANY of us take for granted the
seemingly insignificant turn of events in our lives.
We really don't make a habit of analysing every event because they
pass us by without our notice.
Somewhere down the line however, in the privacy of our own
revelry, the event crops up and you suddenly realise that they are
a part of an intricate design that the Good Lord had planned in
your life.
Now, how many of you have acknowledged that?
The Wise Counsellor keeps reminding us that 'what you consider as
your fate is but your own foolishness'. We are fools if we do not
look beyond the events and acknowledge that there is a greater
power at work.
Let us not forget that the thoughts of God are greater than a mere
mortal's… and that lends credence to 'what you consider as your
fate is but mere foolishness…'
Once you acknowledge that there is a greater power at work in your
life, the intricate and elaborate pieces of the jigsaw in the
events fall into their respective allotted slots and the mortal's
gift of sensible reasoning comes to play.
Hence is it any wonder then, that in a series of recent contacts,
your path should cross two very different people with a lot in
common.
Both have had the privilege of gracing this page in recent times
but our association spans many years to the days of a sport that
did justice to its tag of The Greatest Game of All.
The knight was a prolific spectator, the other a referee and I a
player and later administrator. The relationship forged in the
heat of the game continue to exist today.
A few weeks ago, this newspaper broke the story about the knight's
affliction with cancer and two weeks later another distinguished
Simbu comes into the picture.
The latter is not just another tribesman from the most rugged
province in PNG, but someone whose life was meant to cross that of
the afflicted knight.
Enter Aiwa Olmi, whose distinguished career in the public service
has been more or less on par with that of Simbu's sole surviving
knight Sir Joseph Nombri. In fact, both had been in the public
service for nearly three decades, --- the last decade or so as
ambassadors of our country in Japan … at different times, of
course.
Except for the different eras in which PNG had been most
privileged to benefit from their services, both men's humble
beginnings originated in the rugged terrains of Simbu progressing
on to rubbing shoulders with Who's Who in the spotlight of the
world stage, as representatives of their country's government ---
two diplomats extraordinaire.
Presently, one is fighting to overcome a disease that has claimed
thousands of Papua New Guinea lives, while the other has mounted a
battle in the hope of easing the burdens that the likes of his
senior Simbu statesman are carrying.
In an interview last year after the successful staging of the
ACP-EU symposium in Port Moresby of which Mr Olmi, in his capacity
as the director-general of the National Events Council oversaw, he
suggested acknowledging individual Papua New Guineans' positive
contributions and achievements through some of form of tangible
awards.
"In their old age, they have to eat and seek medical attention and
the shiny medal that they hang around their necks won't fund their
needs," Mr Olmi had said.
His remarks seemed almost in direct reference to Sir Joe's plight
at least eight months before the diagnosis.
"Mere thanks and hosting a function for a job well done are not
enough," he said. "Gratitude should be translated into something
tangible."
He suggested free medical as one such benefit for Papua New
Guineans who have positively contributed to the development of the
country.
Whilst Sir Joe has launched a public appeal to raise K100,000 to
seek specialist medical attention in Australia, Mr Olmi has set
his sights on a political career " to practice what he preaches".
He is standing for the Simbu regional seat.
He likens Sir Joe's plight to the thousands of silent sufferers
among PNG's population, who have no hope of survival because the
health services in the country are just not good enough.
"Hospital's should be well equipped, just as schools should be in
order to provide free services to the population's satisfaction.
"We have world class facilities in some of our hospitals, built
courtesy of the Japanese government funding and I pause here to
pay tribute to Sir Joseph for instigating these donations," Mr
Olmi told Rootmettas on Wednesday before flying off to campaign in
Simbu.
He believes PNG is pursuing a false claim by injecting millions
into the HIV/AIDS campaign while the basic health needs of people
are ignored.
"These funds should be put into equipment and facilities in our
hospitals and health centres around the country.
Mr Olmi says however, health services are but only a proportion of
the equation for a vibrant, healthy nation.
"The four pillars of development - transport, communication,
electricity and water supply - are conducive to achieving
development and the national goals," Mr Olmi said.
"These are also but a start to the goals because once these are in
place, investors would show confidence in investing and thus the
economic cycle turns towards the fuller circle in terms of job
opportunities, income generation and spin-off benefits."
He said that with the billions that PNG earns through its natural
and green resources, funding should be more than adequate to
provide the most basic services like education and health services
free of charge.
"I am a strong advocate for these free services and these are the
platform I am standing on," Mr Olmi said.
Indeed, pundits have been crying out to the general public to vote
people who are speaking and crying from the heart.
When Mr Olmi talked, there was absolutely no doubt that he fit the
bill from my point of view.
But when he stressed that he would organise a wheelbarrow drive
through Kundiawa town to raise funds to assist Sir Joe's bid to
seek medical attention in Australia, it confirmed my view.
We are often reminded by the Word of God that He loves good men,
because they please him.
In their own ways, Mr Olmi and Sir Joe are both good men by human
reckoning and they have proved it time and gain by their
achievements.
If you have nothing on tomorrow in Port Moresby, be sure to drop
into the Botanical Gardens near UPNG and partake of the family fun
day which includes various activities to raise funds for Sir Joe.
We wish both gentlemen all the best in their endeavours.
As the Wise Counsellor reminds us, "Trials are blessings when we
can bless God for trials…"
 
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