ELECTION 2022

Activist vies for Jiwaka seat

BY JAMIE HARO
MAHATMA Ghandi, a famous political influencer once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
It all began in 2007 when a primary school student realised that he had a potential to be an influential leader and play an important role in the society.
Almost 15 years later that influence still lives on with 29-year-old Hercules (Palme) Jim from Jiwaka who is currently contesting for the regional seat in this year’s general election.
With a heart to serve and make a change, Hercules’ journey to becoming who is he today started back in his home province. He knew he had the potential when he was voted as the vice president of the student body in his then primary school where he was in grade seven at the time.
“This was a beginning of a life of service where I started contributing services and playing leadership roles from primary up to high school and all the way to university,” he said.
His education began in his home town where he attended St Anselm Primary School between 2000 and 2007, then transferred to Giramben Primary School and completed eighth grade and was selected to Milep High School in Nondogulg to complete Grades nine and 10. He was then selected to continue Grades 11-12 at the Sogeri National High School in 2011.
In Grade 11, Hercules started taking a stance where he volunteered with Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) and founded the Youth Against Corruption Association (YACA) in Sogeri. It was an initiative designed by TIPNG to mobilise youths to carry out change and fight corruption early in their careers. It was also set up in other secondary schools.
Since then Hercules has been an active youth leader and a spokesperson who advocates against corruption and fights for a free and fair PNG where everyone will be seen and treated as equals.
By year 2013, he was selected to study creative arts at the University of Papua New Guinea, but because he had a dream to pursue a career in the world of politics he switched to political science courses.
He played various active roles and volunteered for programmes during and after studying at UPNG; as Southern Regional Representative in the PNG Bible Church National Students and Graduates Association (2015-2018), co-chairman of the national Jiwaka Tertiary Students and Graduates Association (2013-2021), strategic member of the PNG Youth Coalition Network, volunteer with the PNG Tribal Foundation and UPNG student leader and executive member of the Jiwaka Students Union (2015), and students fellowships (2014).
One of the major highlights in his career and leadership role was the student protest and unrest in 2016 where he was the Highlands regional representative under the then UPNG students representative council (SRC). The students protested and demanded a change of government which resulted in a police shootout after eight weeks of protest.

“I was terminated from my studies along with the other SRC members after the police shooting on June 8, 2016 however, we took the matter to court and won the case and were allowed to complete our studies.”
To his advantage, Hercules was able to complete his studies and obtain a bachelor’s degree in political science, something he planned to achieve since high school.
His career included working as a campaigner/communications officer with the Bismarck Ramu Group, then working with the PNG Resource Governance Coalition as the acting-executive director and later shifted to the Institute of National Affairs where he worked as a project coordinator (now senior project officer) for the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) before leaving to contest in this yea’s election.
Whilst working to contribute to policy formulation in PNG, Hercules was nominated to represent the South Pacific in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Georgia and the Regional Meeting in the Republic of Korea.
He had the privilege of speaking to hundreds of youth leaders from all over the world plus business and government heads during the conventions.
In addition, he also had the privilege to contribute to online publications both in the country and abroad.
His contribution to youth empowerment has made people aware of the possibilities of youth leadership. Now venturing into politics and contesting the Jiwaka provincial seat, Hercules believes youths have the ability to bring change by participating in policy-making and governance.
“I decided that I should not continue to watch while my children’s inheritance is being squandered and future placed in turmoil,” he said.
“I made a stance to raise my hand and represent my people of Jiwaka, to hear the cries of my people, to share their burdens, to walk with them through fire and storm, to educate and empower them, and most of all, to protect and guide them to a prosperous future,” he added.
He believes there is an untapped potential that can enable this nation to prosper to one day become a superpower in the world.
“I jump at every opportunity to learn, upskill myself and become a better leader so that I may one day serve my people with courage, knowledge, wisdom, integrity, transparency and accountability.”
On May 19, 2022, he was nominated to contest in the Jiwaka provincial seat under PNG Party led by Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah.
Hercules is by far the youngest candidate in the race for one of the four seats in Jiwaka and most possibly in Papua New Guinea.

Extending a helping hand

By BELLIAM IOMU
EVERYTHING is done according to God’s timing.
These were the words of the owner of the Rainbow Missionary Homes Joseph Tonde, a man who never stops giving.
Joseph was born in 1970s in a small village called Aowalemanda, to father and Chief Tonde and mother Theresa Kakale Tonde.
Growing up in the village and going to school was something he still treasures to this date. He would be woken up every morning by the sweet singing of the birds, wash himself in the cold streams that flow down the mountains and walk to school holding a kaukau cooked over the fire in one hand.
This was his routine whilst growing up in the village.
After completing his community education in the village he came to study in Port Moresby.
When he first arrived in the city it was not like home. He felt sick and wished he would return home but the advice he got from his father when he was back home encouraged him to remain in the city, study and get a job.
Tonde became a police officer in the 1980s and served the constabulary form some time before resigning. The father-of-four after leaving his job as a police officer worked in the National Parliament. In 2002 he resigned as a public servant from the Parliament House and started his own business.
From Tonde’s personnel perspective he saw that the people living in the city were not taken good care of by their leaders, especially through basic services like hospitals, roads, schools, etc.
Seeing this he bought a plot of land at Rainbow and built the Rainbow Missionary Homes and the Rainbow SDA church beside it.
Tonde also bought land at Baruni Dump and is currently in the process of building a church and school that cater for the people of that area. He also funded a church building at Baruni Bay for the people of that area.
Tonde tries to build and set up church buildings in areas where there is a high crime rate, because he believes that in that way some good will come out of what he is doing for the people.
“I am a man of God so whatever that I have I have to share with the people who need it the most, because I know and believe that everyone on this earth is equal.
“Whatever I eat or whatever service I receive I make sure that my people receive the same service and food that I have.
“That is why with the funds that I have I fund missionary homes, church buildings, hospitals and schools for them.”
Tonde also built the Rainbow fish market to cater for the Motu-Koitabu people in the Moresby North-West electorate to sell their catch there instead of going all the way to Koki fish market. He does not collect any tax from the fish vendors because he knows that the land there belongs to them.
“I see that people leaving in this area earn their living through fishing and selling fish so I do not ask for tax or stop them from vending at the Rainbow fish market.”
He has also helped the people of Tatana village by taking water into their homes.
In terms of health services Tonde has built a health care facility in front of the Rainbow Missionary Homes. He said when he visited the sick people and take them to the hospital, the doctors there were always happy to talk with him but ignored the sick person. Seein this he decided to build his own aid post and take care of the needy people in the area.
Where ever Tonde goes and sees there is a need in that area he helps out. His plan whilst going to school and working as a public servant was to always help the needy.
“I am not God and cannot see see everyone’s needs but when I go to places and see there is a need at least I give my hand in providing for them.”
A good example of such generosity was what he did for the Toaripi Cooperative Association from Gulf. He helped them with an office space at the Rainbow Missionary Homes.
The association members had been having meetings on the streets of Port Moresby, under homes of their relatives and even slept on the sides of the roads just so that they could have their cooperative registered and certified.
Tonde was adopted by a Kerema family whilst growing up and when he heard about their situation he offered his help because that was what he always did in the past – helping people.
Tonde not only help people deal with their needs but he also helps some to go fruit picking overseas. In 2017 he helped a group of Papua New Guineans to travel to Australia for the fruit picking.
Tonde was always encouraged by the thousands of people that he had helped to stand for the Moresby North-West seat which he did in 2017.
He was third behind the late Sir Mekere and Lohia Boe Samuel. In the by-election following Sir Mekere’s death he came second to Samuel
Out of respect for the late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil, Tonde quietly nominated, which to many of his supporters, was highly unusual of him.
On May 22 he began his campaign for the Port Moresby North-West seat with a dedication ceremony, committing his campaign team, the campaign staging area and himself to the divine care and wisdom, which he profoundly believes that all leadership and wisdom flows from the one great leader Jesus Christ.
“All manner of leadership and government serves under the ambit of God’s divine mercy.”
Tonde said the Moresby North-West electorate, whilst being the largest in NCD and host to most of the key government institutions and industries, has been the most neglected in the form of services such as water and sewerage reticulation, suburban markets, health care facilities, school infrastructure and so forth.
He wants to take back Moresby North-West first and deliver these services so that people in the electorate can live with some sense of purpose and dignity.
“We really cannot be talking about big things at this stage when our working class tax payers and everyone else is suffering from the lack of these basic and core needs.
“We will deliver these basic services with simple God-inspired leadership and wisdom.”
People came to present him with cash and also there were seven cars donated to him on that day to help him in his campaign.
“With the work that I am doing by helping the people I know and I believe that God will help and provide for me. I believe that one fine day I will be selected as a leader to help the people. I can also become a member of parliament and lead my people.
“It does not mean that when you are a member of parliament you become a leader to lead your people; you can still lead by providing and helping them with what you have as a community leader.”
As a businessman, Tonde also believes that one day he will fulfill his vision to help the people of PNG.