Traditional flavour to celebrate launch

National, Normal

THE launch of the Papua New Guinea Vision 2050 was witnessed by thousands of people in the
nation’s capital who had gathered at Independence Hill at Waigani as early as 4am yesterday.
Those who gathered welcomed the plan with traditional songs and the beats of kundu drums from the 20 provinces.
The day began with a march led by the combined disciplinary forces followed by school children, scouts, guides and the PNG Vision 2050 document that was blessed by the moderator of the United church of PNG and the Solomon Islands, Rev Samson Lowa.
Rev Lowa quoted Psalms 127 which says that hard work was done through God and PNG Vision 2050 was a masterpiece with inputs from different organisations and individual that needed God’s hands to direct the nation for a “smart, wise, vibrant and happy country by 2050”.
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu encouraged everyone to remain positive and proud of how far PNG had come in the 34 years since independence in 1975.
He quoted the statement of the foreword of Vision 2050 by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare: “After three decades of political independence, my Government has had the courage to step back and reflect on our journey as a young nation. Most importantly, we have taken critical stock of our level of progress and have now set a new path for our future, to ensure that positive development is not left to chance.”
And this new path, Sir Puka said was the PNG Vision 2050 with inputs from the most qualified citizens who are products of the past 34 years of nation building.
PNG Vision 2050 comes after a 12-man task force who undertook the largest comprehensive public consultation by visiting all 89 districts where the original framework was tested.
“I’m proud to declare that PNG Vision 2050 is indeed the people’s vision,” Sir Puka said.
Student representatives dressed in their traditional attire read the seven pillars which were later taken into the Parliament chamber to be tabled during the Parliament session by the Prime Minister.