Independence Day should be meaningful

HAVING attended several celebrations as East Sepik Governor since 2017 and having lived in Wewak for many years, I noted that we were doing the same thing over and over every year and Independence was losing its meaning for our people.
As a result, last year, we decided to move the annual celebrations to the districts.
Do something different, rekindle the Independence spirit in ordinary people, not just those in town.
We had a choice between Angoram and Maprik.
We also wanted to have a theme for the celebrations.
At several provincial executive council meetings in casual discussions, we discussed honouring our two longest serving MPs and founding fathers while they were still alive.
Last year, we proposed flying Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to all the six districts a week before Independence, to honour him while he was still alive; to have Sepiks come and see him and share with him.
Due to reasons beyond our control, that plan didn’t eventuate.
We planned at the time to do the same for Sir Pita Lus this year.
Which is precisely what we did this year.
Sir Pita was speechless on Wednesday, his family and his Arapesh people were in tears.
When Sir Pita finally spoke, he said “God bai blesim yupla ol Sepik na Papua New Guinea” (God bless the people of East Sepik and Papua New Guinea).
He didn’t say anything else.
We did the right thing.
We observed a minutes silence for Sir Michael and tears flowed in his memory.
Thousands of Sepiks gathered, they came from Wewak, Angoram, Lumi, Ambunti and everywhere in between.
Prime Minister Marape also came to honour one of our last living founding fathers.
Angoram MP Salio Waipo in his contributions said to Sir Pita: “Mipela Angoram luksave long wokabaut yu wokim wantaim Papa Somare long kisim independence olsem na mipla kisim kaikai na bilas bilong yu kam. Taim God singautim yu go na yu lukim brata bilong yu, tokim em ol pipol blo yu Angoram ol kam wokim kastom lo yu” (the people of Angoram acknowledge what you and Papa Somare did to get Independence. That is why we brought you food and traditional dressing for you. When you are called home by God and you see your brother (Sir Michael), tell him his people from Angoram came and saw you in their traditional way).
Next year, we intend to hold the celebrations in Angoram.
Every Papua New Guinean should find their reason for celebrating Independence.
It should be something that comes from their hearts.
It can’t only have meaning for the privileged.
We need to move it back into our villages.
For me, it will always be about trying to share with all Sepiks, especially those less privileged.
I spearhead the Greater Sepik Region because as an Abelam elder, I stand for all Sepiks.
As I drove back to Wewak this afternoon, Sepiks all along the highway, who were at Maprik cheered and waved as I drove past.
I feel they have a renewed sense of Independence.
A re-awakening.
How do we honour the founding fathers best?
To me, we do it by re-igniting the fire of Independence in the hearts of our people so they can believe once more in the dreams of the fathers.
And if my leaders and I have done the wrong thing, then we will be judged by our people.

Allan Bird,
East Sepik Governor,
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