Time to reflect on achievements, losses

AS we are celebrating independence, I sit at 9-Mile market and notice a couple of PMV trucks packed with passengers and their cargoes destined for Kerema town and villages along the Hiritano Highway.
I paused for a moment and ponder sadly.
Why would our wantoks from Gulf struggle to make the long-distance travel to Port Moresby and return?
This question makes me angry because in the short history of our country, Gulf has produced many educated elites.
This province still holds the record of producing two governor generals; Sir Tore Lokoloko and Sir Vincent Serei Eri.
It also produced two Prime Ministers; late Sir William Skate and Sir Mekere Morauta.
The current Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta was once a deputy prime minister and finance minister as well.
The question still puzzles me.
Did those prominent leaders ever thought about developing their province during their terms?
Kerema town could now be a bustling port city because of its strategic position in relation to the liquefied natural gas development in Southern Highlands and Hela, Ok Tedi mine, and the recently-discovered Elk Entelope.
I’m from Chimbu and I don’t have any close connections to Gulf but when I see our Gulf folks struggling almost every day to come to Port Moresby to access better services through dinghies, planes and PMVs, I feel for them.
But then the sad fact hits me that the struggles of our Gulf wantoks probably explains all the missed opportunities of our nation in the last 45 years.
It’s time for us to reflect on our journey.
We should learn from our mistakes, and take the necessary actions to move this country forward.
We don’t need scientists and PhD holders to spell our problems out for us.
We know our country like the back of our palms so let’s all be the agents of change.

Freddy Gigs
9mile, NCD