Our resources are our future

Letters

PAPUA New Guinea has so far lived-up to its slogan as “the land of the unexpected” and “the island of gold that floats on a sea of oil, amid the atmosphere of natural gases”.
However, it is seemingly known that we are contemporary architects who will determine the lives of our future generations.
And this brings forth the necessity to be considerate across all areas.
PNG had seen little blood shed when granted liberty, unlike other countries around the world.
PNG is fortunate when it comes to freedom, but it is disappointing to realise the fact that citizens are unable to maintain their national pride.
Even though PNG is blessed with an abundance of resources, we are stagnant in several sectors.
Our minerals give us the soft power that assists us to operate in the global arena.
But the absence of hard power pillars – the size of our economy, military capacity, land mass and population (human capital) – have traditionally lessened our sovereignty. We have been enslaved by our choices for far too long.
Our so-called “allies” have misled us with their distorted debt-traps and have always played the neo-colonialism narrative.
Factually, many scholars claim that it is unhealthy to depend on non-renewable resources as resource curse is the following outcome.
This is evident in the case of Nauru and her only resource, phosphate.
Her economy was crippled by resource curse when her minerals, mined by the British, New Zealand and Australia, ceased operations.
This required more foreign assistance and dependence, showcasing Nauru as a failed state in the Pacific.
A lot of our prominent leaders have departed the physical realm, handing us the burden to safeguard our genealogy.
And it is hoped that a new pace of progress will bring us peace and prosperity.
Not only will it prepare us for the journey ahead but to cover for the election disaster.
After a systematic breakdown intrigued by inefficient coordination between the government institutions, normalcy was restored without foreign interference.
The circumstances build a considerable momentum that will empower our leaders to avoid the track that led to tensions.
Hence, PNG needs to take cautious steps in sustaining its economic, political and social livelihood.
Nationalise all of our extractive-industries and erect enabling facilities that will cater for our human capital as our natural resources are depleting annually.

Petrus GAND
UPNG-BH2O-SOB
Anti-Corruption-Activist