Let’s do better

THE ‘Connecting to take back PNG’ event organised by the PNG Think Tank Group on Monday was a wasted opportunity.
The master of ceremony didn’t know the names of the delegates who were on stage with the PM, let alone the name of the Minister for State Enterprises.
Apart from Ernie Gangloff, everyone who were appointed to speak were ‘off the cuff’, without written notes or structure lacking cohesion, were repetitive, with boring monotones and generally of poor quality. The PNG Think Tank Group had pulled off a big win in getting the Prime Minister of our great nation to attend this event for four hours and were still unorganised to get their recommendation paper compiled to be handed to him.
Yet they had a submission ready to ask him for funding.
What are your priorities?
How shameful! How can you be truly respected as independent when you ask for Government funding?
During question time, apart from James Wong, a couple of women folks and an engineer, most of those who were given the opportunity to speak were friends of the organisers and their speeches or comments were more like statements to show how much they know of certain subject matters rather than how to add value to the discussions or genuinely ask questions that are thought provoking or need asking and answering.
It was difficult to understand the value of this event.
It was rocks and diamonds – but mega tonnes of rocks to very few diamonds.
Overall, it was poorly organised and a waste of time for me – except for when the PM spoke.
The PM speech was of quality.
He was engaging and spoke with passion.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of the so-called PNG intellectuals. If this is the quality of the so-called PNG intellectuals, then sadly PNG has no hope.
The PM has my respects for rushing from his successful trip to Australia, to attending and tolerating such as poorly organised event. He is truly a patient man. God bless you PM James Marape.
Taking PNG back starts with getting right such little things and events. And we look up the PNG intellectuals such as the PNG Think Tank Group to take the lead and show us the standard at which taking back PNG is done.
We deserve better, we can do better, and so let’s do better.

Deane Woruba