Sinebare’s bird’s eye view of leadership in PNG

 PRINCIPLES and Practices of Papua New Guinea Leadership is certainly Musawe Sinebare’s most ambitious undertaking yet, and it eventually opens up into a rousing episode of the writer’s experiences and observations on leadership issues in our beautiful country. 

The author, Dr Musawe Sinebare has held many key administrative positions in the past, as a senior bureaucrat and academic, including deputy director of the National Research Institute. 

He was under suspension as Secretary for Education in 2012, when  he put his energy into completing this book. 

Instead of being antagonistic about the decision of some covetous politicians, the writer redirected the negative energy into a positive direction.

And it’s a special message for Papua New Guineans – if you have a passion for this country, write about it.

This book by Sinebare is a collection of essays about the theory and practice of leadership. 

It contains reflections of the writer when he used to be a regular columnist with a Sunday newspaper.

These write-ups were transformed into 17 chapters, and 176 pages of practical and theoretical examples of principles and practices of leadership, as experienced by the author.  

As an emissary of PNG Vision 2050 and advocate of good governance, Sinebare’s writings are  thought-provoking and charismatic.

This book is another personal milestone. 

His other books – Melanesian School Mathematics Dictionary, Path to Success, Papua New Guinea: Developmental Strategy for Socio-Economic Empowerment, are written in a similar fashion, to inspire and enthuse PNG citizens to participate evocatively in national development.  

His fifth book, Vision 2050 is due to go on sale in the next few months.

Principles  and Practices of Papua New Guinea Leadership is written in an informal, but fluent, style.

 Sinebare’s writing has a little bit of everything – humour, wit and satire.

Apart from its key messages, it also contains plain illustrations, photos and cartoons to enhance the story lines.

In each chapter, the writer uses explanation and analysis to present a subject, or clarify an idea. 

Although the text in some graphics may be a bit blurry, the moral and depth of the story are contained in every chapter.

The foreword to this book is written by Sir Paulias Matane, the eighth Governor-General of PNG. 

“I am happy to find that Dr Musawe Sinebare, who has vast experiences in administration, has attempted a book, Principles and Practices of Papua New Guinea Leadership, explaining his own experiences (using) in language within the comprehension of a reader with average calibre. 

“He has provided in this book a bird’s eye view of the principles and practices of Papua New Guinea leadership experiences that he had acquired and experienced in his career in leadership roles spanning many years in academic and public administration.” 

UNWRITTEN TESTIMONIES

And it’s atypical for PNG administrators and managers in leadership positions to record testimonies, as the writer has done – piecing together knowledge and experience, more like an artwork. 

Even past events can be built into as a probable guide to the present and the unborn generation. 

Most of our past and present leaders have challenges and testimonies that are worthy of being printed, and distributed to our youths of today. But they remain unwritten. 

There is a school of thought that the past 10 or 20 years are lost years for PNG – largely due to corruption and poor leadership. 

As this book indicates, there is no school of learning that can simply turn out effective leaders this country needs. 

So the past decades of mv PNG were actually driven by young and potential captains – but their views of the horizon were ambiguous.

 The country’s poor social indicators is a result of the poor decision-making processes of inexperienced leaders.

Although the lost years are  gone, most of the lessons in this book sing a perkier tone today.

Chapter nine – Lessons from The Titanic –  and chapter 10 – Lessons from the Noah’s Ark – are an amusing read.

Chapter one – The arithmetic of the landcruiser – explains a typical decision-making dilemma faced by senior managers and administrators: Make a decision that benefits the majority, versus a decision that’s not lined up with the medium term development plan, or benefits only an  interest group. 

Here the writer analyses the responsibility of a leader.

The scenario, common in most PNG  electorates is this: You  either buy a Landcruiser with K100, 000, which is beyond the reach of many Papua New Guineas, or spend it on a need. 

The writer imagines how such an amount can be effectively used in society if it were wisely spent on medical care instead: 

“A six-tablet Panadol packet costs K6.50 at a local supermarket. 

“Most of the Aid Posts or Health Centres do not have these tablets. 

“For the money spent on the Landcruiser, aid posts or health centres could be supplied with 15,384 six-tablet packets of Panadol.”

LOST YEARS

The example about Panadol draws a parallel with a recently completed ANU/NRI survey which the writer knew nothing about at time of writing. 

The survey results, presented in September confirmed that the availability of medical supplies has declined in the past 10 years (2002-2012). 

Coincidently, Panadol was available in 89% of the surveyed aid posts in 2002 but this had declined by 14% by 2012.

It could be more lost years according to many rural dwellers. And how effective leadership and accountability could have changed all that in those years.

So in chapter nine, the writer, while trying to make a difference to his people and help change the social dynamics, was unsuccessful in the 2007 national election for the SinaSina-Yongumugl seat.

One clear message from this chapter is to make a difference.

For where ever we are or whatever we are doing, it is the impact that we can bring in a shorter span of time that is indispensable, to our character and also self-esteem.    

Chapter 15, Good Governance for Vision 2050 makes reference to leadership as one of the enablers of Vision 2050.

In general, even though book chapters are standalone, the advantage for readers is that they may press on or reflect on any chapters as they choose.

 PROVACATIVE COVER

Each chapter is gleaned from wider sources and provides a rich source of information, as the author states in the preface: “By attempting this book, I only wish to share my experience with the people at large so that they should be able to take a pragmatic view while dealing with leaders in their life to come.” 

The book’s cover should provoke some discussion.

It depicts former Komo-Magarima MP Alfred Kaiabe in traditional attire. 

The Hela wigman is speaking in Parliament with past and present MPs such as Dame Carol Kidu, Bart Philemon and Sir Michel Somare in attendance. 

The book is published by Rajan Jain in India. 

It is currently on sale at the UPNG bookshop.

As a textbook it’s ideal for students who want to study “PNG leadership”.

It could also be a reference for members of Parliament, bureaucrats or anyone interested about “PNG leadership and management”.

At end of each chapter there are questions for personal reflection and discourse.

I was enlightened after reading through it, and am sure others will too.

• Dennis Badi works is a research communications specialist with the National Research Institute.