Dreams must be realistic

I REFER to a letter by Pierce Lopia (The National, Nov 2) who that declared I was in dreamland with regards to my government’s proposal to export agri-products by 2014.
So did then petroleum and energy minister Sir Moi Avei when I knocked his gas pipeline to Queensland proposal and instead dreamt of a local LNG plant.
My dream is a reality now.
Today, I dream of a domestic petrochemical industry and I know my dream will be realised.
When, along with a few landowner leaders at Ko­kopo, I dreamt of international airports in Komo and Tari and townships
in many districts of
Southern Highlands and a road linking the Gulf and Hela and the Southern Highlands, many went behind my back to sign minis­te­rial commitments, preferring cash to our dream.
Today, our dreams are emerging in the development of two international airports at Komo and Tari and in the construction of a highway that will finally give the highlands region its first access to a seaport in the southern part of PNG.
So now I dream of an agri-produce project to generate income for the majority of my people who do not benefit directly from the oil and gas projects.
My people have the land and they are hard working.
They only need the market and the expertise.
I have found both in a group who are among the world’s finest in this field.
I am sure that my dream will be realised.
It is not wrong to dream.
The trick is to ensure your dream is not too farfetched, that the dreams are realistic and that you work hard to allocate resources to realise your dreams.
Those who do not dream are condemned to medio­crity and suffer a lifetime criticising others who dare dream.

Anderson Pawa Agiru
SHP governor