Blunder on changing lyrcis of national anthem is warning to all

 TANIA Nugent and Makoda Production’s blunder in unethically changing the lyrics of the National Anthem of Papua New Guinea and the outbursts by citizens protesting should be a warning to all committees organising future international events.

These event organisers must monitor what is prepared for our visitors in terms of songs and creative work.

May that blunder never happen again. 

As I see it, the fault is with the committee in charge of the formal opening and closing ceremonies of the XV Pacific Games.

The committee may not have taken the right people to be part of the group monitoring the programmes, songs or anthems to be sung, as well the lyrics of such creative work.

Even the much-talked about theme song may possibly have copyright issues because the tune was said to be someone else’s composition, as is the case with many contemporary songs put out by young artistes today. (Often they all sound alike.)

The organising committee should have senior reputable PNG musicians, PNG historians, academics and Christian representatives to suggest ideas as well as monitoring the activities and songs to prevent blunders.

In the future, the door should be opened to senior citizens and knowledgeable people to participate in programmes where the nation welcomes its guests.

Such knowledgeable people would help in checking the values, cultures, histories and originality of works that we would present to our guests. In that way, PNG would be properly and truly presented to our visitors. 

Let us not repeat that mistake again. 

PNG Tauna

Port Moresby