Pioneer Jiwaka leader passes on  

TRIBUTE

By PAUL MAIMA 

THE fertile Waghi valley in Jiwaka was once home to the biggest coffee plantation in the Southern Hemisphere.
It also hosts the historical site of Kuk where agriculture was first believed to be developed some 40,000 years ago.
The Waghi valley is home to many political oleaders of Jiwaka and one of the finest in both Jiwaka and Western Highlands was former Member for Anglimp-South Wahgi Roger Tongai Palme. He was a man who has dedicated his life to serve these two economically important provinces in Papua New Guinea.
Roger Palme was described by many of his close associates and families as a leader who was always ready to serve others and give with a generous heart until his last breath.
He passed away at the Pacific International Hospital last week at the age of 67.
Hundreds of family members and colleagues attended the haus krai and funeral service at the Evangelical Brotherhood Church (EBC) at Waigani last Friday to bid farewell to a champion and pioneer of Jiwaka.
The late Roger Palme, OBE was born to the Berega tribe in Tongil village, Minj in the Angilim South Whagi district of Jiwaka on the Sept 6, 1952. He passed away on Aug 10, 2020.
He was the third born from six siblings. He received his primary school education through the EBC Missionaries who came to settle in the Whagi valley in Western Highlands then in the 1950s. His parents were converted to Christianity.
Young Roger attended Kugap Primary School and completed Grade 1 to 5 from 1962 to 1965. He completed Grade 6 at Sigmil Primary school in 1967. He did Grade 7 to 10 from 1969 to 1972 at Mt. Hagen High school. He spendt a year working in coffee plantations raising his own school fees.
From 1973 to 1975 he was studying to be a health extension officer at the Paramedical College in Madang.
He graduated with a diploma from the medical college when PNG had just got independence from Australia in 1975.
As a pioneer from his Berega tribe in the 70s, he got his first employment as a health extension officer (HEO) in Mt Hagen General Hospital in 1976. In 1977 he was then sent to work in Tambul district in Western Highlands. From1978 to 1980 served his own people in both North and South Waghi.
In 1981 he quit his public service job and ventured into coffee business after many of the Australian businessmen who were running the coffee and tea plantations in the Whagi valley left after independence.
He mobilised his tribesmen to reclaim some of the coffee plantations. He became a successful businessman in coffee.

His popularity in his ambition to help his people reclaim back their coffee plantations in the South Whagi paid off when he won the national election in 1982.
His served his first term as as a member of the People’s Progress Party headed by former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan. He represented Anglimp-South Whagi from 1982 to 1987.
During his term he was very vocal about Papua New Guinea ownership in business.
He used his political support from the National Government then to reclaim the South Whagi coffee plantations for his people, a move that was criticised by some politicians. Roger believed the millions of kina evolved from coffee must remain amongst his people.
“I will never back down until I achieve what I set to do,” he had declared. That was achieved when most of the coffee plantations were taken back by locals from foreigners.
While focusing on his coffee business after losing the 1987 election, Palme was appointed by the National Government as the Chairman for PNG Banking Corporation, now Bank South Pacific (BSP). He was also appointed chairman of the Agriculture Bank now National Development Bank( NDB), a position he held for three years from 1989 to 1991.
After that he concentrated on his coffee estate in both North and South Whagi.
He was again appointed by the National Government as a member of the Jiwaka Transitional Authority preparing instruments to get provincial status. On July 12, 2012 Jiwaka was given that status through legislation passed in the National Parliament.
Palme contested the 2012 elections but lost. In 2017 he contested in the Jiwaka Provincial seat. The people of Jiwaka voted back Dr William Tongamp as governor for a second term.
Although he had lost links to political decision-making in Waigani, he did not give up but insisted on contesting in elections after he had lost. Maybe he had a vision he desired to achieve for his people in Anglimp-South Whagi and Jiwaka.
That vision can perhaps be reincarnated in his sons Manu and Junior  Palme if they want to follow the footprints of their dad and mentor, in leading and serving the people of Anglimp-South Whagi.
Junior Roger Palme said in a moving eulogy to his dad that the late Roger Tongai Palme would be remembered as a father of Jiwaka in the years to come.
“We are really sad and worried that our dad has passed away. After hearing from his various his friends, we are truly humble and amazed about his great achievements on his journey on earth.
“During his term as a national politician, our daddy has achieved so much as part of his contributions to the nation and province.”
Eldest son Manu Palme who is a former PNG Kumuls player and a former Australian NRL Canberra Raiders reserve grade player and now a businessman said his dad fought hard for the creation of Jiwaka Province.
“Daddy’s aim when he was a politician was to see Jiwaka separated from Western Highlands. He wished to see his province have its own financial capacity to serve its district and people well.
“He lost his seat but did not give up his dream of the new province. He was always part of the technical team.
“In 2010 Jiwaka was separated from Western Highlands and Hela from Southern Highlands and became separate provinces.
“He has left a very big vacuum for us to fill as a national politician, businessman and a Christian leader,” Manu said.
The late Roger Palme’s body was flown on Monday to Jiwaka, the casket was draped in the national flag to signify his services to the people of Papua New Guinea as a public servant, businessman and parliamentarian.
The provincial government is expected to be host a State funeral fitting a great leader and founding father of Jiwaka.

• Paul Maima is a freelance writer.