Entrenching national unity

 AS we reach our 40th anniversary as a country, Papua New Guineans can stand tall and feel proud that we have achieved this significant milestone. 

People can talk about a certain measure of political maturity, our promising economic outlook and our high achievements in education.  

It is equally important too to talk about our growing ‘oneness’ as a single people; one nation.  

Where else in the world is there a country with a relatively small population but with 800-plus languages and a thousand tribes?  

Fifty years ago Australia began preparing a population of some two million drawn from two colonial territories for independence.  

From 1964, when the first national elections took place, to independence in 1975, the state and nation building processes were done concomitantly.  

For a country that was predominantly in a traditional setting with diverse cultures and languages, one can almost guess that there was a tendency to focused more on how distinct or different they were from others.     

Forty years on, it is not only about how far we have gone as an independent country, but importantly, how close we have drawn to each other as one people.  

No doubt, unity today still requires great attention.  

However, we can be sure that it will hold into the foreseeable future. 

 Obviously, the PNG today is not the same as the one that lowered the Australian flag and hoisted ours.  

Times change and our country has changed and adapted accordingly too.  

Perceivable Hints 

There are hints that can give us some assurance that our unity is going to remain steadfast for the long haul.  

Consider the following points.  

First, PNG today has a sizeable and promising economy that – if managed well – can cater for the greater number of people.  

Importantly, it would be a strategic step for the government if good investment is placed in sectors like agriculture, and aligned with sound policies, to generate small income-making schemes, employment and business opportunities – just as much as it is a national food basket.  

The biggest challenge is to engage or preoccupy as many people as possible in something meaningful for their livelihood.  

Second, the citizens today are generally better educated than those in the 1970s.  

We can say that we have better understanding of the nature of government, where we stand as country in the global community of states, the strengths and weaknesses of our economy and issues such as the rule of law and international conventions on rights of people.  

With a general understanding of such an array of issues, we find ourselves thinking and debating issues as informed people well beyond our localities of origin.  

Educated people can also stand back and assess communities to see how it can be strengthened or protected.  

These are areas that community dwellers may not necessary see.   

Third, the influence of Christian churches over the years has also played a unifying role.  

More than 90 per cent of the national population are professed Christians.  

The reach of churches is not only seen through spreading the gospel, but also through services that they provide.  When observed objectively, the faith is the common denominator; not the ethnic, linguistic or region where people originate.  

Fourth, people today are more aware today of activities and issues taking place outside their localities in-country and at the same time in other parts of the world.  

They are relatively mobile too than the older generations from 40 years ago.  

As we see other people and their countries, very often we reflect on ourselves.  

One does not have to be physically in another country, continent or region to make such comparisons.  

In an age of information and technological innovations, a person can develop and share perspectives of other people and places from their living rooms.  

In such instances, we again project ourselves as Papua New Guineans against others.  

Fifth, there are developments among our people that are drawing people together too within the country. 

For a start, there are more inter-marriages among provinces, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, then ever before.  

Many people today are either half, a third or a quarter mixed blood across provinces.  

The provincial days that are being held right now in the lead up to the 40th independence celebrations are good occasions to catch a glimpse of this fact. 

 Hence, an increasing number of people are carrying genes from more than one province.  

Sixth, there are many planned events that have the magic to draw people to a common affinity.  

There are sporting events, cultural shows, music festivals and agriculture fairs that take people away from thoughts and consciousness of their backgrounds.  

The recent Pacific Games 2015 is a good illustration of how people stood in unison behind the national team.  

Music is another means that lure and captivate people.  

It is carries the same value of a universal language that appeals across social boundaries.     

Legitimate or Superficial?

To repeat, I believe our national unity today is vibrant and sustainable.  

However, it is important that we are equally conscious of certain developments and trends in the country that may cause some of us to undermine or question that very issue of national unity.  

That is where the challenge lies today; the need to move the issue of national unity beyond any traces of superficiality and get it entrenched.   

The feeling of ‘belonging’ to one PNG must bear meaning and people must feel that their collective welfare and interests are being taken care of.  

Added to that, the PNG society in general must be strengthened.  

A stark reality today is that the growing gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.  

National unity will ring true if this gap is minimised and the people feel that their unity is worth something.  

Economic policies must be inclusive to the greater majority of the people.  

Relating to the country’s wellbeing, the country must try to improve on its other development indicators.  

The health and education sectors in particular require further attention, judging by how we have fallen short within the relevant areas relating to the MDGs.  

The quality of our governance and soundness of government policies are the other areas. We must have governments and elected representatives that people can respect rather than view with contempt. 

Depending on how one view it, the public service has either succumbed to self-inflicted issues, or has succumbed to the malaise caused by over-politicisation – or both.  

One illustration is the appointment of individuals to become heads of departments and government agencies as political appointees without any inkling of proper public management, people’s skills and other related areas.  

Corrupt deals are hammered out right in the open without remorse.  

Hengene Payani from Hela province recently remarked that, indeed, there were less educated public servants in the 1970s, but most of them otherwise were honest and hardworking.  

Today we have more qualified individuals, some of whom some have perfected the art of pillaging the 

state.   

There is more to say, but the point is, we as Papua New Guineans must start qualifying and adding value to the substance of our national unity.  

We came out of an awkward national history and we have proven that all is not doom and gloom.  

It is to our credit and therefore we should resolve and endeavour to do more for ourselves.  

It is important to have proper reflections on how we started as a country, where we have been over the last 40 years, and then chart the pathway forward with the intent to secure where we should be in the next 40 years.  

Happy 40th Anniversary PNG! 

• Dr Henry Okole is a free lance consultant.  The views expressed here do not represent those that he works or associates himself with.