PNG civil groups must unite for one solid voice

 The PNG Civil Society Organisation (CSO) leaders should unite to have a voice at regional and global levels, says an expert.

Pacific Island Association for Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO) executive director Emele Duituturaga said the voice of PNG CSO was missing at regional and global levels and it was high time it started tuning in to be heard.

PIANGO is a regional network of national umbrella NGOs and national focal points or coordinating bodies known as National Liaison Units in 21 Pacific Island countries and territories and it represents common voice of Pacific National NGOs at regional and international forums responding to priority regional and global concerns.

Speaking at the PNG National CSO roundtable meeting in Port Moresby yesterday, with the theme “Together we can tune it right for sustainable and inclusive society”, Duituturaga said PIANGO was there to help tune and link that voice and encouraged the organisation to unite to make an impact.

“It’s all about partnership. We must also revisit our policy framework and start rethinking development.” 

She urged the organisation to go back to basic fundamental principles and have a coordinated mechanism in place so that people at the local level were tuned in with what was happening at the national level.