Plot fruitful course for New Year

THE year, which ends at 11.59pm, has seen a number of record performances.
Parliament in May voted in Tari-Pori MP James Marape as the country’s 8th Prime Minister.
That ended almost a month of political uncertainty as we saw members of parliament moved around.
The change in guard with the country’s political head, arrived with similar optimism and expectations for greater achievements, success and prosperity.
As in any change, accepting a leadership position is an exciting, but intimidating, time.
PNG had been through very tough times, and there are challenges that remain.
There has been progress made, as reported, but there is a greater need for more infrastructure development and social services in the districts and local level government areas this time around.
In his words, Marape said; our country is a country of many opportunities, a country of many blessings, yet the translation of those blessings and opportunities have been systematically impaired for a long time.
Marape and his team want to build a more prosperous nation in which the benefits of growth and development are more equally shared by all.
And will continue to improve the key policies that directly benefit the people of PNG.
Yes, we know the call is hard, the challenge is big, but nothing is insurmountable as long as the human heart has consistency as to what can be done for the country.
He hopes to harness from those experience he has and more importantly mobilise the energy, perseverance, determination and drive the younger leaders to move this country to the next phase that it deserves.
There’s a significant change in roles and responsibilities.
Success comes not from what you do … but from what you do to grow and develop others.
We all know our country faces many challenges from deteriorating roads, hospitals; lack of proper medication; many of our children not attending schools and the quality of education is low.
So how do we mark 2019?
On the balance sheet of your daily activities this year have you recorded a profit of good achievements, a break even or a loss?
Has it been a wasted 12 months or a busy and fruitful year?
At about this time last year, did you not sit down with a note book or laptop or palm top or mobile phone and note down some dos and don’ts for the year?
Looking back can you honestly tell whether you have stuck by some of the resolutions you made or have you failed them within a few weeks of the New Year?
It is no good plotting a new year until you have reviewed the old year and what has been achieved.
So how do we want to progress ourselves, our families, our schools, our communities and our nation?
There are exciting times ahead.
PNG, today, stands poised to develop its extensive gas reservoirs, a resource that many industrialised economies rely on for their energy source.
If we can manage what we have now, the larger overflows later will be better managed.
As we review 2019 and plot the course for 2020, it would be good to remind ourselves of how each person can contribute to a meaningful change.