Polygamy no longer viable in PNG culture

 I WOULD like to express my views on the polygamous marriage system in our culture. 

Polygamy has been part of our culture and society since the age of our forefathers. 

Back then, in the old age, polygamy has been linked to the establishment of status, ties and peace as well as a source of support and good relationship between tribes and villages. 

However, in today’s society, many polygamous marriages have been established for the wrong reasons and have brought about negative impacts into the lives of many. 

I believe in keeping our culture intact as it is a source of our identity, but I also believe that it is necessary to change certain traditions in our culture to prevent negative societal impacts such as polygamy. 

In the past, polygamous marriages brought about beneficial deeds as it paved the relationship between tribes and villages as back then our people depended on each other to survive. 

However, in the present day, civilisation has flourished modernly with Christianity indoctrinated and I see that polygamy is no longer fit for our society and should be done away with. 

I am not implying that the ones who are already in a polygamous relationship be separated, but rather, put a stop to any further occurrence of polygamous marriages. 

Presently, polygamy in most cases has brought about nothing but family wreckage and heartache. 

Children have been abandoned, there have been sexual and domestic violence within families and most of these cases derive from polygamous marriages. 

It is also unfortunate that PNG is one of the leading HIV/AIDS-infected countries in the world and it is obvious that one of the main reasons is our polygamous marriage system of having more than one spouse. 

Therefore, polygamy is no longer suited in our society and should be discouraged. 

Prentice Walila

Port Moresby