PNG Vision 2050 is here to stay

Letters, Normal

IN recent days, critics have declared in this column the demise of the PNG Vision 2050.
I wish to tell Papua New Guineans that the vision will not be derailed and hijacked by a few individual critics with vested personal interests.
This vision is the dream of our forefathers in 1974, a year prior to independence, when the final report of the constitutional planning committee made a direct reference to the need for a visionary road map for development of our country, including service delivery to our people.
The directive principles and the eight-point plan were set to help us achieve those objectives.
However, we know that did not happen over the last 35 years.
Academics and public servants visited the 89 districts in PNG to get views from a cross section of the community prior to the launch of the PNG Vision 2050 in November last year.
PNG Vision 2050 is a long-term road map, calling on the public service, government departments and agencies, private sector, civil society and the 6.5 million people of PNG to sustain the seven focus areas, referred to as the pillars and work towards fulfilling its objectives and goals.
The ultimate aim is to have PNG among the top 50 countries in the United Nations human development index (HDI), and achieve its medium development goals (MDGs).
The book of Proverbs in the Bible states in Chapter 29:18 that “without a vision, the people perish”.
Therefore, if we want to succeed in the 21st century and beyond, we must have a dream that would guide us to sail smoothly into a successful future for our country.
If we do not have that dream, we will not succeed and will get lost.
We only have to look at our neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore to see how they have advanced in political, economic and social development as a result of visionary leadership such as their prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Lee Kuan Yew.
Mahathir was in power for 22 years while Lee ruled Singapore for 40 years.
These two visionary men took Malaysia and Singapore from being underdeveloped countries at independence to developed country status within 40 years.

 

John M. Samar
Via email