Leadership is difference between success, failure

OUR prime minister’s dream of a very rich black Christian country is not impossible. It can happen.
The economy can double and triple its size.
PNG has sufficient resources to fire up the economy.
A K200-billion economy envisaged also by the PM by 2030 is also achievable.
And, yes, it is quite plausible that PNG can arrive at the healthy and wealthy stage envisaged by its Vision 2050 before 2050.
There are sufficient factors that is in its favor.
The population is not large.
The nation has land and sea space to sustain a far larger population comfortably with space and resources to spare.
It has resources the envy of many nations. From having the 2nd largest tropical virgin forest after the Amazon to oil, gas, fisheries, gold, silver, copper, nickel and cobalt and volcanic and river sediment-laden agricultural lands in a tropical climate alternating from hot to cold temperate, just about any crop can grow. Energy sources vary from oil and gas to solar and wind, hydro, thermal and bio-fuel.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” – Warren G. Dennis

With all these at its disposal, it is not impossible to plan for a time when everybody is well catered for and that a comfortable standard of living can be had by all.
It is not impossible, but it must start somewhere, and it must start with leadership.
Everywhere you look around the world, leadership makes the difference.
Mahathir built his Malaysia into the vibrant and dynamic economy it is today with just timber, tin, rubber and oil palm. Oil and gas came much later.
Today, that nation earns more money and employs more people from tourism and manufacturing than from the extractive industries.
People flock to Malaysia because it is peaceful.
A tough stance on policing and zero tolerance for crime has ensured that.
Lee Kwan Yiew did the same for Singapore.
Many of the world’s chief executive officers prefer to live in Singapore because the socio-economic atmosphere and its relaxed-yet-disciplined ambiance secures that for the island nation.
Sukarno and Suharto raised Indonesia from the pit of poverty to become one of the largest economies on earth. A nation so diverse and divided across a widespread archipelago is able to achieve such growth because the central authority, the government, is strong.
Leadership makes a big difference in the fortunes of nations.
Leadership that comes with discipline and undivided commitment to the principles of good governance and respect for the rule of law.
Leadership which must stand unwavering to achieving the goals that has been set.
An unbroken number of years under one leader or one regime helps but a secure environment can be set if leadership changes but the goals and the principles established towards achieving those goals remain unchanging.
To PNG’s credit, its national goals and directive principles and its various medium-term strategies and its 2030 strategic plans and its Vision 2050 remain unchanging.
But the principles of good governance and of observance of the rule of law have dissipated to be replaced by rampant corrupt and partisan policies and budgeting.
A K300-million annual budget after Independence was delivering more than today’s K27 billion budget.
The bulk of the national roads were in existence at Independence. Not much more has been added and the neglected maintenance budget stands at more than K40 billion today.
Health, education and agriculture extension, outreach and inspectorates have dwindled to zilch. In-service training, so necessary for a rapidly-changing world, is negligible.
Productivity, for a population so youthful, is lacking but baby making has reached a zenith so that population growth is hurtling along well ahead of economic growth, spelling trouble for the future. These are not insurmountable maladies.
A good dose of disciplined leadership, directional, prioritised and consistent budgeting and strict adherence to transparent and accountable government can deliver on these goals.
How then does our leadership measure up?
How has the Prime Minister and his government measured up to the goals they have set?