Marape has a lot to do

PRIME Minister James Marape assumed office when the country was already on the brink of becoming a “failed state”.
Australia and development partners have already labelled PNG as a failed state on many different occasions in the past.
Amidst this rhetoric, Marape has to reposition the country back on course.
Pressures have been mounting from various strata of the society relating to socioeconomic, ethnic and political interests, most of which tend to challenge the very existence of Papua New Guinea and his bold policy platform and the manifesto on taking back the country .
Obviously, there is the pressure from the masses calling on Marape to sweep out the dirt and rid the Government’s public service sector of corruption and put the country back on the right course.
Then, there is the pressure from companies operating within PNG related to licensing, taxes and associated economic interests.
There is also pressure from politicians and political parties with their demands and favours in return for their loyalty to him.
Then there are pressures from institutions, non-government organisations, the diplomatic community, different groups, Bougainville and his own people of Hela.
First is the pressure from the public who are not yet convinced by Marape’s efforts to fight corruption in departments and institutions.
By keeping the bad people from being exposed and punished, he is keeping a lid tight on a can of worms.
Marape has to fight corruption wholeheartedly by opening up the can of worms and leaving no stone unturned. He has yet to walk his talk on fighting corruption and taking back PNG out of this dreadful dilemma.
Another pressure is from companies regarding their economic interests in Porgera mine, Pn’yang gas, Papua LNG, Ok Tedi offshore funds, Cayman Island funds, reviewing of existing project development agreements and other resource projects.
As far as these projects are concerned, the ball is in Marape’s court.
To “take back PNG”, it has to start with getting these projects back on PNG’s side. We have taken back Ok Tedi, Tolukuma, and Marape must add Porgera to the list and let it remain as his legacy.
Third is the pressure from within his coalition partners and middle bench politicians, all with their demands and interests for Marape to honour and accommodate. One aspect of pressure from these politicians is the demand for Marape to cover up their corruption cases in exchange for their loyalty to his regime.
He should remain vigilant and selectively engage people.
Fourth is the pressure from institutions for timely disbursements of school or educational budget subsidies and other funding aspects for Government agencies to continue to function, including the mandatory allocation of district improvement grants and so forth.
These pressures relate to social and development budgets which the Government must deliver.
Fifth is the pressure from diplomatic community on cross border issues of mutual interests such as the military forward base on Manus to be built by the Australian and American militaries and the pressure from China to allow its presence in PNG and the region.
Marape has to weigh out the concerns raised by the Manus islanders as against the geopolitical interests of foreign powers.
Sixth is the pressure from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Only one third of the total population on Bougainville voted for independence, in which 98 per cent of the one third voted for separation.
The other two thirds of the population abstained or had no access to the ballots.
This majority who oppose independence fear repercussions and fear that the Bougainville Revolutionary Army militants might come back to destroy them when they are exposed to be on Papua New Guinea’s side.
Independence for Bougainville is not possible under the PNG Constitution.
They already have the necessary powers and functions transferred and that’s more than enough of autonomy given.
Seventh, back at home, Marape has to accommodate the pressure coming in from his people of Hela and their plight for fair share of development whilst their son is on the throne.
Their interests may range from funding of petty projects to grand development prospects.
For instance, the Hela treasury and administration building needs to be funded to be fully completed, including public service housing and basic infrastructure projects for the new province.
The issue of social decay caused by ethnic violence is ripe and prevalent.
In February alone, about 100 people were killed, 17 of which in a single day.
While so much pressure may relate to interests that can be managed, a big junk of this predicament definitely tends to challenge Marape and his Government’s leadership capability and the ability to manage these pressures and challenges.
And it must be done swiftly and strategically with great thought and energy, as much as maintaining the bold policy platform of taking back PNG and elevating it to an affluent society.
The best Marape can opt for is to balance the equilibrium by slightly deviating from his own policy platform whilst maintaining his position to walk his talk and importantly, whilst keeping his numbers in the Government are above threshold.
The onus is on his to strike a balance in the equilibrium without having to deviate from his manifesto as well as without upsetting the coalition in his Government.
Above all, he has to sail the country out of downward trend and put it on course to our destiny of affluent society.

Sekinolo Sawala,
Private Consultant,
Sirinumu Dam