A retired soldier makes Manubada Island home

I wanted to live here because every day out here is paradise to me and the nights overlooking the sea towards Port Moresby’s Toguba Hill and vicinity gives me a feeling of renewal and serenity, Mr. Heau Solien.

Mr. Heau Solien, a retired soldier in his early 50s is a local from Vabukori and he owns part of the beach front on Manubada island through his mother and father’s side.   

After spending 16years in PNG Defense force, he resigned to live in the village with his three (3) daughters, two (2) boys and his beautiful wife whom he met at Aiyura National High School days.

Living on an island within the city of Port Moresby sounds exciting but isolated from electricity and water supply systems of Port Moresby city is one of the biggest challenge Mr. Solien and his family has to face each day. His elder son has become a good fisherman and he manages to catch fish each day for the family while his two daughters works in the city and the other one is still in school. The family live an isolated life on the island but self-sustaining.

The Mr. Solien family fetch water from the mainland and bring to the island on a family owned dinghy for their needs. A 20 minute of commuting between the mainland and island is costly but the family have no regrets and manages to live there for nearly two years. Mr. Solien regrets of never saving enough money to develop the area to attract tourist interest but he is always on the island to accommodate needs for picnic or camping out on the island. The bigger picture is of potential in tourism is there on the island but Mr. Solien is starting the tourism business in a small way. It will be a hotspot tourism hub within the city after the installation of the necessary tourism amenities on the island and change the idea of isolated island to island of tranquility and fun for those who need a break out of the city.

When asked of why he made the decision to live on the island; Mr. Solien says, ‘’I wanted to protect my island’s land which some people think its there without anyone’s ownership. I’m scared of the land grabbing trend in Port Moresby so I have settled here to protect my land which I own through my mother and father’s side.’’ I might not have the money to pay for my children’s school fee but I have the land here that my children will settle and live here with their families when Im gone. I want to teach them and show them the importance of living on our own land.

Despite the hurdles in life each day on the island, the family lives a content life on the island with natural see breezes providing coolest atmosphere by the local winds known to the Motuans as Laurabada (South-East) and Lahara (North-West) . The winds sometimes appear bad for the island which is also same to the coastal Motuan villages but at times it brings firewood to the shores and fish as well.  The Solien family have been surviving the two winds on the little bay under their makeshifts and adapted to the island life despite either wind being test to their lives.

Manubada Island is a rocky island and located few miles away from Ela Beach or Vabukori with a little impressive bay which has a white sandy shoreline frequent by Port Moresby local residents on weekends for a day’s picnic.

I was invited to attend a colleague’s son’s birthday and had a chance to met with Mr. Solien who is calm and never speaks a lot but always have something funny to share. Whilst looking around, the island exists within the fringes of Port Moresby but most of the people do not know how to get there and who to inquire before going there. The Yacht Club, individuals and other business houses in Port Moresby which owns boats do go there on their boats and anchors near the shore to use the beach but that has damaged the coral and the reefs which is the biggest concern for Mr. Solien and he wanted to have a jetty installed on the island before boats can be allowed to the island.

Anyone interested to visit Manubada Island or to help Mr. Solien to install tourism amenities on the island then call Mr. Solien on Phone 76762250;

Contact Nathan for further information

nathan.lati@papuanewguinea.travel

Pictures;

1.(L-R) Mrs. Solien and Mr. Solien and Nathan Lati on Manubada Island Beachfront  

2. Children on Manunada Island Beachfront

Get into Port Moresby, Roll over to Hood Lagoon

Get into Port Moresby and get out of Port Moresby is a reality for adventurers to PNG because of the reality of tourism products in the rural areas of PNG.

The city of Port Moresby has boundaries and outside of Port Moresby still exists the rural village life setting with modern touches on the living standards. Over the years the livelihood of the most communities have been improved with agriculture, tourism and other economic turnovers in the rural areas. 

Keapara Village on the Hood Lagoon Point in Rigo District in the Central Province is only 130km from Port Moresby by 4WD vehicles during the wet seasons after the Kupiano turn-off.

The village is first to host the European missionaries in the Papuan Region dating back to 1800s and the then South Seas or LMS missionaries HQ was built there before being shifted to Hula where it is now. The pioneer missionaries in the likes of Dr. Los and James Chalmers were based there before Chalmers met his fate in the hands of Iokea people in Mouru Bay (Kerema).

Dr. Los returned to Britain and the family legacy lives on with possibilities of pilgrimage activities beforehand when tourism development advances in Keapara.

Hood Lagoon itself has its own unique features in terms of marine biodiversity and geographical importance of how the lagoon was formed. For the interest of tourism; the lagoon is best place for kayaking, bird-watching within the waterways of the aged old mangroves, dolphin watching and game fishing are some of which are feasible.

Not far from the lagoon and between Hula point is a long stretch of reef that starts with sea-grass that appears like a garlic garden on a white sand just covered by over flooded sea and colored with different types of starfish. The undersea garden connects to the seaweed of greenish and brownish origin which becomes the colonies for small and colourful school of fish. The garden connects with coral and reef which is geologically connected to Great Barrier Reef between Australia and southern coastlines of PNG.

For the comfort of the visitors who need a weekend our of Port Moresby or holiday in a village setting holiday, the Hood Lagoon Resort is being developed for convenience and ready to be opened early next year. The resort has a 30 meters long jetty built into to the Hood Lagoon and has a bar access to either sides of the deck.
Never forget that, in the afternoon, its the sunset that should cost millions of dollars to be there on the jetty to get a glimpse when it wades off Hula point and horizon.

The resort when opened will comfortably fit 8pax at one time but there is always reserved beds and spaces available for camping in the village or coastline beaches of Keapara village 

For more information and updates follow #raonraonpng 
Photos by:  Wilfred Paka and Stanley Relson (PNGTPA Tourism Product Development Team) 

Sunset view from Keapara Resort Jetty 

Dolphins playing in the Hood Lagoon  in the morning- on the foreground is the Keapara Village 

The Jetty of Hood Lagoon Resort at Keapara Village

PNGTPA to showcase PNG’s Diverse Culture to the world leaders during APEC

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) in conjunction with PNG APEC Authority is showcasing Papua New Guinea’s Cultural Diversity to the world for a half a day at National Football Stadium (NFS) in Port Moresby on Friday.  

Under the theme, “Blending PNG’s Cultural Diversity with the World’’, The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is anticipating to showcase the PNG’s cultural diversity in a mini cultural show fashion to the world when the APEC leaders meet in Port Moresby. This Friday will be the day when the world will have a glimpse of Papua New Guinea’s cultural diversity at once place.

The Mini Cultural Show is intended to showcase PNG’s diverse culture by staging the performance of cultural groups from PNG’s 22 Provinces.   

The event will feature cultural performances from more than 800 different language groups in Papua New Guinea that are regionally represented as Highlands, Momase, New Guinea Islands and Southern Region.

 Apart from the regional dances, the arts and crafts making, traditional cooking, face painting, basket weaving, local bamboo band which forms the part of PNGTPA’s campaign for Million Different Journey experience in Papua New Guinea. This Mini Cultural Show will feature the cultural aspects of PNG’s Cultural Diversity.

The PNG Mini Cultural Show is centralized in one area to have sufficient time for interaction between the local and the APEC delegates with the objectives being;

• Give greater exposure of our culture and traditions to our international visitors
• Create greater awareness of Papua New Guinea as a culturally diverse tourist destination in the region and get inspired to visit

Hosting a Mini Cultural Show will inspire more travelers to visit Papua New Guinea and for the delegates to participate and share their experiences. This opportunity will enable PNGTPA to engage visitors directly through various social media marketing channels and other media outlets to maximize exposure.

This is the only opportunity where our APEC delegates to PNG will get to see, touch and feel the diversity of Papua New Guinea in a day, so brace yourself for the unexpected and be prepared to meet the beautiful people of Papua New Guinea at the PNG Mini Cultural Show.

Apart from the 22 Cultural groups from the respective provinces in PNG which are confirmed to showcase and perform various cultural dances, there are eight (8) of the PNG’s own contemporary genre to sentimental, alternate rock and all-time classical musicians will perform onstage. The old-time favorites like Basil Greg, Laimaka, Robert Okea, Gedix Atage will bring back some memories of the past decades whilst PNG Music Foundation will highlight the importance of contemporary music.  The latest in the PNG music scene and big-name artists like Daniel Bilip and DPJ will also be performing.

A Revisit to Hanza Bay, Bogia (Madang Province) on Tourism Product Scoping Mission

I visited, Bogia's Hanza Bay nearly  Seven (7) years ago when I was working for World Vision. I did not know of the cultural and historical significance the area holds, until the locals invited me for a Tourism Product Scoping as part of my work with PNG Tourism Promotion Authority 

While working with World Vision on Community Projects, we delivered the community oriented projects from WASH to Literacy and Healthcare. Little did I know of was the historical significance the areas holds for tourism. The early European explorers and traders settlement in the area with the establishment of coca and copra plantations which later turned into battle field and Japanese strategic location on the north coast.

This time I  was on a mission for Tourism Product Scoping but was unable to complete the full mission due to severe fever relating to Malaria which caused me to retreat back to Madang and then onward to Port Moresby.

The Hanza Bay in particular holds much of the the WWII relics which are now part of their cultural heritage within some unique cultures and traditions of unexplored Bogia.

The tourism integration is just a trigger into many countless options and opportunities the people are looking forward to harness with the support of a local and community-based NGO.

I was invited to scope the area for tourism product development and had the opportunity to visit many of the sites they have identified for tourism interests.

Cultures are unique to the people of Hanza Bay and the Tumbuan Mask is one of those sacred cultures and it takes three (3) months for the families or tribe to prepare the mask for celebration and cultural show staging. Locally, the event usually hosted when the gardens, food and houses are all ready to celebrate with feast and showcase in the festival like event.

The Tumbuan Mask culture is not merely practiced and displayed like other cultural and traditional shows but it has got its own rules and sacred traditions which the Tumbuan Mask custodian has to comply and follow in order for safe keeping and put out the mask into show during a cultural parade.

These times the Tumbuan Mask culture is slowly fading due to many people in the village have migrated into the cities and towns for job, education and better life but few people in the village still value the cultures and traditions relating to Tumbuan Mask.

Maintaining and safekeeping their culture helps them shaped their life and plays some significant roles to be a good citizen in the community. They know the value that the Tumbuan Mask culture holds and its importance in their lives.

Jeffery Nambia, in his mid 60s  is one of the Tumbuan mask keepers of Numbia village and he was willing to continue from where his parents have left because he says; he has seen great things in life out of the Tumbuan Mask culture and tradition. 'There is discipline, unity, order and respect in the community if you value Tumbuan Mask and participate or keep it', said Jeffry when I approached him at his house where he used to keep one of the tribe's Tumbuan Mask.

The last participation and showcasing of Tumbuan Mask dates back to 2012 when there was a bridge being commissioned and opened by the local Member of Parliament in Bogia area.

Now they are looking forward to host a specific festival within the Hanza Bay of Bogia to showcase the Tumbuan Mask and other cultures and traditions that are well kept by the people. They have the bamboo music similar to didgeridoo, fighting swords made of coconuts, stone axes seems to be from meteoroids comes down with striking lights and many others mystic cultures and stories.

The community of Numbia have been performing in other events in Madang and Highlands which were highlights of the events and they have won several prizes out of their performances.

The communities are willingly planning for varieties of products to showcase while cultural event will be the major event that will attract tourists to Hanza Bay.

The intention for the people of Hanza Bay is to have tourism products that are tourism friendly (soft adventure) so that tourists will have much more time to see what is within the Hanza Bay area (both sea and land).

The curiosity can  form a different view when you hear from other people, the perception can deceive you when you read but when you visit and see it for yourself to experience, it is totally different from the curiosity and perception.

The Hanza Bay has an array of existing plantations like Numbia which dates back to 1900s with German administration and management. Most of the coconuts still survives to this days which is unbelievable but only radiocarbon dating and other scientific tests can prove your own doubts.

PNGTPA Officer , Nathan LATI on Leng Island Beach

 

A girl and a boy from Numbia Village near one of the Tumbuan Masks at Awar Village

Read more soon on #raonraonpng @raonraonpng #madangtourism #bogia #hanzabay #pngtravel  #pngjourneys #pngtourism #mvcb #madangprovince   

Pimaga Revisited - A Childhood Home

when I learnt that my dad will be transferred out of Pimaga Station after the 1997 National General Elections, I had restless nights and literally my nights were so terrible and I cried secretly to avoid adding pressure to mum who had a similar situation. 

Every free times, I would spend whole of the hours fishing and swimming in Wara Sura (Sura River), a river that passes through Pimaga Station. My mum likes fishing and at times we could catch big fish for the family or otherwise it became a leisure fun for all of us in the families. The families and kids from the station would join in the fishing and swimming in the afternoons. 

We the station kids from Pimaga station had a best group that goes around swimming, fishing together or at times we go to Orokana Primary for sports. We had few number of bicycles that we could take chances to ride in the station or elsewhere we want to go and take a bicycle ride for fun. My favorites were Kensa, Ronny and Heysala Lavare. At times, Vincent would lend his bicycle to me for use and take a chance to practice. 

Unfortunately, due to my dad's work relocation, I departed with my family to Mendi and attended the Kumin Primary School from Tente. Since 1997, after my grade six (6) graduation from from Tanuga Primary School I never went back to Kutubu. Those times were so really hard for me to settle in Mendi town and seeing PMVs from Kutubu coming to Mendi in the early mornings and leaving in the afternoon. I could only send my regards to the station boys and girls through the people because we do not have mobile phones and Facebook those days. Those Pimaga station kids that graduated with me from Tanuga Primary were also moving around to other new schools so we do not have consistent communications after I departed Pimaga. 

Ken and Heysala went on to Pabrabuk High School and also I wanted to tried my luck there but the homesickness drew me back to be closer to my mum who was not well at those times when we were shifted back to Mendi. At random occasion, I could meet with Heysala and Ken at Mt.Hagen with Sibi and others but that dates back to late 1990s again. Then on, we all went on our own way and thanks Facebook that we found each other and started communicating since 2010 and up.  

My two Wames aka Wamenes of Kui land Pimaga could remember everything we did as a child growing up in Pimaga Station. The visit to Pimaga this year (2018) was a surprise visit to where we grew up as kids after two decades.

As a kid growing up near Wara Sura, we could never end a day without visiting Wara Sura. If we could not catch up near the DPI station or at the end of the airstrip then the next stop would definitely be Bumsusu to play Peggy Touch over the water. We could tease each others ability to swim and play same time. So to avoid going home with a "meriman" nametag we could play a fair game over it and that was our highlight each time we visit Wara Sura

Among us the SBD boys were big guns like Sibi Kai who is a boss on his own rights and a community leader, Vincent Vege still living in Pimaga, Willie Sese lives in POM with dad and his families, Philipmon Sese is still in Pimaga and one of the influential youth leader. 

On the other nearby villages like Damaiyu Village,  Disibu Waiya still hanging around in Iputapa village and grown his dreadlogs like mine, Maraiyu Sawage lives in Goroka now and facilitates negotiations for Kandobo landowners, Manasa Bogo is now a Pastor with ELCPNG in Morota Church, Port Moresby.

During our childhood adventures, we all could hang around because we from the eastern end of Tanuga Primary School. Whilst on the western side boys from Borotage areas I could remember are Kuiboi, Kolex a local businessman now and Awamena or Albert who was the tallest boy in our class and now a contractor to Digicel PNG in Kutubu area.

From 1994-1997 we had best of our memories recorded with Tanuga Primary School and appreciate the mentors and teachers like Mrs. Jonathan Tai, Mr. Fasinambo retired and lives in Daga Village now. Mr. Esamabo of Yobob Island also retired and lives on the island. Not forgetting the headmaster; Mr. Guguambo for the leadership, he has also retired and lives in Orokana station and works for ELCPNG now. I owe it to these special people whom one way or the other played a part in my education journey.

Few of the female schoolmates from Pimaga Station those times have excelled in life and working elsewhere in the country or became public servants like my sister Roslyn Minape is teaching again in Tanuga where we started our primary school. Lyn Nick is a Policewoman now in Pimaga  station while Linda Gumong is teaching at Mubi Primary School near Mubi river.

I still remember others like; Hersely Haro is a Secondary School teacher now at Inu Seconday, Rose Ware was married to one of my countryman from Enga, Shahabo Tebia is working with Oilseach Moro, Tracy Itonu whose parents where DPI officers in Pimaga and from Samarai but is out of reach at the moment and details are sketchy. Gracelyn Tai lives somewhere in Port Moresby and working with a government department.

Whilst visiting some of those childhood dwelling places in Pimaga weren't the same used to be before, it brought tears into my eyes. One of those special places for us was the Pimiga Council Chamber where I used to live with my family. There used to be a small mango tree on a well looked after lawn. That is the place where I used to learn how to balance myself on bicycles from Heysla and Kensa then learned how to ride bicycles alone. The place is admired by many people in Kutubu because we had a separate pineapple, lemon and banana gardens surrounds the Pimaga Council Guesthouse lawn. The station kids could come around to meet with me over a pineapple or banana for lunch during weekends and then our adventure begins. 

Oh I don't forget that, Heysala was our DJ master. He could easily sneak in with him a mini radio/ cassette player (those times without boombox). We could take turns to rewind or forward the tape with sticks and pens to select the best song during lunch break or while walking home from school in the afternoon.

Heysala could even bring his big stereo to school when there was a term closing picnic in the school. We could try all our best ways to utilize the used batteries to backup the power supply so that we keep the party momentum going with music. Dried bamboo were the best ways to stalk all the dry cell batteries and connect back to the battery terminals of the radio. Now he owns a DJ set in his house and is the best place for station boys and friends to hangout with hardly sought beers of Pimaga anytime - provided your own fuel for his genset.

I remembered that we were best mates within our class and respect for each other meant so much for us. None of us could even try a nib or bottle of beer those times, even we had money, music and freedom on term holiday party at our disposal.

Looking back to these days, there's always a primary school drunk in the term closing parties or loud music everywhere from their many boombox when group of classmates walking home or to school. Chewing buai and smoking cigarettes are norm these days for primary school students but for us was totally different and when I look back. It was the sense of respect that played a major role in our lives as primary school students those days. We have had respect for our teachers with fear and classmates were our best secret keepers in anything at all.

Back in Pimaga station and nearby villages like Daga and Iputapa , most people I knew have grown old and some could not remember me well but when Heysala and Kensa took me over to Daga village for a community gathering and when we sipped in our cash contribution; there came the introduction of wonder boy Nathan David Minape, he is our son , who grew up here and attended Tanuga Primary School with us.

Now everyone could remembered me as a small skinny whiteman that hangs around at Bumsusu and at the end of the airstrip on weekends with my late mum fishing.

It would have been more fun and interesting only if more of my classmates from Tanuga Primary were around so we could track and trace those I'm missing out on this script so it provides some sense of reminiscence.

If Kensa Lavare and Hesala Lavare cannot remembered all of our classmates then I will be interested to trace the student roll book of our days at Tanuga Primary Schools and produce an interesting piece out of the different pathways we took after Tanuga Primary School.

Pics: (L-R ) Kensa Lavare , Nathan David Minape & Hey Lavare at Daga 1 Village

Aussie Completes Kapakapa Trail at 67

''What amazes me is; all the things along the track have changed a little after the war''

Kevin Wainwright -2018

It was a great honor for me to join the group from America; James, Rachael, Donna, Julie, Joe and Australians; Kevin, Peter and Stephen on the 2700km Kapa Kapa Trail.

James has written the book about the trail ''The Ghost Mountain Boy's and this time he came with her daughter Rachel. Kevin has been to nearly all the tracks in PNG with a interest in Wartime stories. Donna's grandfather was a soldier with the American Forces and first walked the track to fight and secure Buna front from the advancing Japanese.

Others on the group are enthusiastic trekkers and have special interests on the track. Kevin Wainwright is one of the older person on the group and I had the chance to meet and chat with him to write this article for him.

I could be one of the first Public Servant from Papua New Guinea to walk the full length of the track from Boregaina in Central Province to Girua in Oro Province and I have one word to describe the track and that one word is; ''Gruesome'' but gives you experiences and memories

Read the detailed story of Kevin Wainwright on this link below
Aussie Completes Kapakapa Trail at 67

PNG's Informal Economy Sustains Despite Recession

Luckily PNG got an Informal Economy that sustains the life of the citizens despite the economic recession that is affecting the country badly.

With the trade of buai/daka/cold-water/ice-block and etc with anywhere convenient without any regulation on the trade is what keeps PNG going as usual. Papua New Guinea is so lucky with the informal economic climate and everyone is minding their own business. Most people are taking economic recession of the country for fun as if it concerns only the working class people and those who pays tax through their wages and salaries. However, GST is what everyone pays to live in the cities and towns to access to goods and services;  hence,  no-one is excluded in the general economic cycle.

If we are a country with controlled economy and without the Informal Economic Sector,  then we would have a different scenario in PNG at this stage. Most of us will be left homeless or broke to death already.

By keeping the Informal Economic Sector out of the picture, the Economic Recession in PNG is real and it is happening in PNG.  We do not have to take it for granted and burden our working parents, boyfriends, girlfriends and wantoks with expectations and requests. The best we all can do is by engaging in something decent and budget wisely for the good of our own life or family  to keep afloat with little we earn from formal or informal economy.

When looking back to the reality of the economic value of our Kina, lets look into the nominal value of a One Hundred Kina note; the nominal value of K100.00 is equivalent to K34.00 when you divide K100.00 by ever inconsistent exchange rate of K0.34. So do note that your K100.00 is only K34 .00 in actual value these days.

We PNG have a tendency to accept and live each day by chances and bookings (dinao) for next fortnight and the norm continues with family commitment and customary obligations each weekend to next fortnight. It is by time, each one of us needs to teach one another about the realities of our own economy these days and try to be vigilant with the income and stop those reckless spending behond the budget with bookings and commitments.

There is already an existing gap between elites and normal citizens of PNG in which Cash is playing a major role and the cash elites are on the upper end doing everything they can with the money they have to make more money in every ways possible they can. One the other hand, the innocent citizens and honest income earners are facing the realities of living the life in the towns and cities with increasing goods and services.

The prices of goods and services are increasing each week and it seems that someone has to sacrifice all he/she earns on bills and utilities expenses only. The reality of having a decent meal for a family is not a everyday thing but families are resorting to cheaper meals like; hard scones and cordials or cold water for most of the days.

The children are going to school without breakfast and lunch which is affection the studies for our future leaders of this nation and its worrisome issue for the future of PNG. The hospitals are running out of drugs and people are  dying of curable diseases.

Adding to the offset of the economic recession is; the major investors and companies in PNG are laying-off their employees and it is leading to unemployment rate which is one of the symptoms of economic recession PNG supposed to manage it with prudent judgement and effective policies. However, it has its long story with cheap labors from Asian countries dominating the skilled/unskilled employment sector as well as technical and SME businesses leaving PNG citizens on the streets jobless.

PNG is just fine and people are fine as usual and seems to me like; we all are living each day by chance and not worried of what is actually happening now with our economy, our future in next 5 years and our children's future. Thankfully its the magic of our informal economy in PNG that keeps us going each day but the reality is; our economy is sinking slowly and the ever predicted Russian Disease is in PNG despite having high hopes in the LNG and the mining sector.

Take care, take control, be wise and manage your income wisely at these times.

Selling convenient goods, sweets, cold water, soft drinks and betel nut are part of PNG's informal sector 

We do not have a lost tribe in Papua New Guinea

the diversity of the country intertwined into the complexity of more than 800 cultures and traditions that are again connects to the nature; which the genealogy and theories will take ages to explain for Papua New Guinea & perception is 100% absurd 

Those news speculated in the media recently which are related to British adventurer Benedict Allen who got lost in a remote and isolated village in PNG mainland, get to read this article on the link below and digest the truth yourself. 

PNG is an adventurer's paradise, the highlands of PNG is tucked away in a rugged terrain with deep gorges, interconnecting ranges, fast-flowing rivers, vast swamps and valleys which forms alleys within the ranges that makes the places inaccessible and unexplored, yet an adventurer’s paradise awaits. The vegetation differs as well as the species of endemic flora and fauna which are rare to the natural habitat. 

The topography and climate also differ from the coastal low-lying islands, valleys and shores to the upper inland (highlands) with cooler climate which falls low as five degrees Celsius or zero during the morning and late afternoon. The highlands region has most of the fast-flowing rivers that have tributaries in the coast and has the highest peak at 4 509 meters above sea level which is apparent of the Bismarck range’s Mt. Wilhelm and highest in the Pacific region and half height of Mt. Everest. 

There are number of other mountains in highlands which are dormant volcanoes with height ranging from 2000-3000 above sea level; that includes, Mt. Hagen, Mt. Giluwe, Mt.Bosave and few others. 

While coastal PNG has scattered and isolated atoll to white sandy islands, fjords and tributaries of many river systems. The coastal regions have best marine biodiversity and isolated islands that are inhibited while some are densely populated. 

The highlands and coast of PNG are connected with Savanna grassland to mid-mountain forests connecting the topical and mountain rain-forests linking the interconnected ranges which ranks PNG the 3rd in the world. 

The early 30s and 60s perception about PNG is merely a hysteria in the minds of people who think they can live in the planet of the aliens to be super humans than the normal life we all humans live on this planet earth by going through changes in life by adapting into the changing world. 

PNG is a developing country and we are moving forward one step at a time with the changing world and past of the 30s life are the years gone with some generations. Looking at a country with more than 800 different cultures and ethnicity which presents Papua New Guinea uniquely diverse to the outside world. Our identities are within our cultures and traditions which we are born into and becomes the cultural values and prides of the individual’s lives, communities and the society we live in. 

It is only rational to comment on issues relating to PNG’s unexplored places and developments relating to rural villages or remote islands, only if one was born into PNG, lived and grew up in PNG then so he/she will get to say things from a perspective of a Papua New Guinean. Apparently, it is so cheap for a foreigner to speculate about a nation with twenty-one provinces and more than a thousand different tribes with diverse cultures and traditions with complex social orders and that genealogy can take ages to explain. But it’s still assumption-based theory that will never explain the whole complexity of PNG’s diversity in culture and the environment.  

The missionary's commentary on the link is fair enough to clarify the well renown media giant 'The Guardian’s speculations and perceptions related to Benedict Allen's planned adventure in Papua New Guinea that The Guardian alleged him to be lost and captured by a primitive and tribal cannibalism village in a remote inland PNG. Instead, Allen was safe at the place that he intended to visit and meet. A place that most people dream to be and meet with the assumed lost tribes that were born into cultures that intertwined into their traditions and customs which have values related to their natural environment that they live in. Hence, they live a self-sustaining life with less worry on the outside world and technology. 

How does it present threat apart from creating curiosity and interest to visit such a place that brings inquest back to hundred years with its people that have less connection with the modern world? Think again to say one negative thing out of the many positive aspects about the diversified nation of PNG which has twenty-two (22) provinces which can supposedly be states of their own or rather countries.  

Outside perceptions will never help nor change the way PNG people have lived, are living and will be living but gives insight to build resilience and patriotism in what we have compared to the outside world.

  There is no lost tribe in Papua New Guinea, we are moving with the change and developing our nation with one step at a time. Our cultures and traditions are our ways of life and connected to our natural environment which appears primitive to outside world, but Papua New Guineans were born into, they lived with and they will live through. 

Engan Male Wig and Face-painting 

On the 90th Anniversary of the First European Crossing Of New Guinea, “Explorer” Benedict Allen Claims to Have Done It For The First Time

The Niche Tourism Product a Rural Development Perspective

In PNG, most of the tourism products are based in the rural villages. The accessibility to the tourism product sites is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to tourism product development. PNG Tourism industry players, tour operators, service industry and the developers are faced with the challenges every time when in the business to develop, promote and market niche tourism products in PNG.

However, on the other side of the challenges are the opportunities to look at the challenges differently. The niche tourism product development at rural areas of PNG is definitely a vehicle for ecotourism promotion, sustainability and conservation related that meets the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Looking into the challenges differently, presents the benefit with huge potential to attract Special Interest Tourists (SIT) into rural areas of PNG.

The prospect of developing and promoting ecotourism and special interest tourism at the rural areas by way of increasing conservation related activities and projects that will entail development and basic services. The idea on this is to integrate tourism into community-oriented programs which can be partly volunteer tourism (Voluntourism) to drive the interest. The responsible government agencies and the development partners tasks are to look into rural tourism product developments seriously and support the initiatives by individuals and community-based organisations. The interrelating of community-oriented activities are to sustain cultural heritage tourism which will determine the interests for other tourist types while targeting Special Interest Tourists.

The exchange of idea and skills between tourists and the communities will improve the living standards in the rural areas. The incorporation of existing public services like education and health into promoting ecotourism as part of voluntourism will help the community sustain themselves economically and continue a resilience livelihood in the community.   

The community-based tourism related activities and product development will also emphasis the rich cultural heritage tourism that are not yet discovered in Papua New Guinea. The interest will attract researchers, specialists in fields of botany, ecology, archology and anthropology which sees PNG has the haven to complement their filed work.  

The secret to development be viewed as; the economic activity of a certain area triggers the changes in the community lifestyles and living standards by making way for other forms of developments and services improvement. The changes generated by the economic activities will attract the infrastructures like; roads, bridges and airstrips into the rural community.

The changes will continue in the process to bring development into the rural areas because of tourism related activities or growing interest in the niche tourism product development and promotion. Hence, with the establishment of the ecotourism management and voluntourism, the conservation and sustainability of the products and projects in the rural communities are major attention to meet Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations. 

This will most likely be the bottom up approach of the development on the rural communities in PNG with promotion of ecotourism and voluntourism at the rural areas.

The challenges now with the tour operators, the tourism industry association and stakeholders of the service industry is to look for the marketing strategies and concepts to promote ecotourism to draw the attention of the Special Interest Tourists to the rural communities for Birdwatching, Kayaking, Surfing, Hiking, Trekking, caving, camping, local food tasting and cultural heritage tourism.

The ecotourism and voluntourism concepts are the idealistic means to develop and promote niche tourism products at the rural villages of PNG. The challenges will only become obstacle in development for niche tourism products at the rural areas if we will never find a solution to overcome them. The view on the challenges to promote niche tourism at the rural areas of PNG is real but the opportunities it presents will put things into different perspective.

PNG need to market the undiscovered, unexplored and unexploited rural areas with a different view of PNG compared to what is seen and heard in the developing townships and urban centres of PNG.

There is so much to be explored in Papua New Guinea for tourism and it’s not just a place to promote only one tourism product but a country with diversity and adversity that presents both the opportunity and challenge.   

Hiya Village Children - Madang South Coast, PNG

The leadership trend in PNG have changed into commodity of high value

Usually, in PNG societies the leadership was vested on a person based on trust and respect due to his or her community standings but now individuals are buying into be leaders of their own people.

There is a complete opposite trend happening in our country where leaders are buying their way into be the leaders of the provinces and electorates they boast to represent their people. In fact, they do not represent the true voice and concerns of their own people, community, district or the province. The agenda of the ruling party and its priorities becomes number one and the voted Members of Parliament (MPs) are tied to the political party codes of conducts which gives no room for individual political decisions by any voted MP.  

It is an indicative fact to accept that reality between Member of Parliament (MPs) who boast to have been voted and mandated by the people and those who have bought the individual votes through bribery, force and intimidation to be the Member of Parliament are the inevitability all voters forget to accept.

This contradicting fact that never convinces the MP or its voters to understand the reality that happens during the pooling day or at the counting venues when it comes to service delivery after being elected through fair or bribery practices. There are several agendas that the voted MP considers as priority than service delivery and development to benefit everyone.  

Those few campaign strategists who manipulates the voter’s rights during the pooling day and the agents for bribery in counting venues benefits from some slice of the privileges enjoyed by the voted MP while rest wait for the next five (5) years to vote him/her again or another new candidate.

The cycle continues to this day since the 1977’s first PNG National General Election. Over the years, the campaign strategies have improved as well as literary of the people also improved to understand the roles of elected MPs. However, money integration into campaign (buying votes) or bribery has been one of the most astonishing fact to know these days in the National General Elections. Every MP or intending candidates will never deny the fact that they have spent almost a million plus to contest for the provincial or the electorates of the country to be a MP.

In fact, few of the funds will be committed to the campaign logistics but mostly all funds are meant to buy favours (buying votes) as a means of bribery.  This gives the understanding that all elected MPs one way or the other buys their way into being the leaders of their so-called people that they represent. 

In this regard, its gives a general understanding that, once a candidate is declared after the counting as winning MP, he/she spends the first three (3) or four (4) years recovering costs of the election campaigns as well as for the supporters. Then last two (2) or one (1) year before the election becomes very intense and effective years for the sitting MPs to propose and initiate projects that have no socio-economical values and no sustainable benefits to the people, community, district and the province.

Most of these projects comes with ground breaking ceremonies one after the other at the last minutes into election campaign but reality never eventuates after the election. Such projects have now become norm to lives of PNG people and those days of living the life with high hopes and expectations have come to the ream of politics.  Under the cover of the last-minute projects before the National General Elections, the MPs usually dashes out DSIP and PSIP funds to their supporters and cronies on projects that never starts even after the official ground breaking. Later these allocated funds have no traces and vanishes into thin air if the same government comes back to the helm after election. These monies are assumed to have funded the campaign logistics and its associated costs like bribery. The proposed project becomes some people’s avenues to milk project money as free handouts and it becomes part of the political corruption.

In the election some MPs retain their political seats while others lose due to their cronies never mastering the bribery strategies carefully to win again. This is such an indication of those who have been faithfully serving the MP are few with vested interest to benefit themselves than the population at large or province and electorates each MPs represent. The parody of the MP retains or loses the seat, it’s a contest between the supporters who have benefited most against less or nothing during his or her tenure as a MP.  

It’s the money that comes to play in politics which determines the leader and not the trust and confidence on a person to serve as a leader. The power that is vested on a person by the community, electorate or the province through free and fair votes.

We see the fact of living in shanty towns, districts with no power, proper water and sanitation services but we tend to support the candidates in favour of money and create rowdy crowd to feel that the intending candidates have support to master the election victory. The feeling of trust and confidence in a leader to provide honest and transparent leadership at both local and national levels have no significance over the years.  The fact of money involvement in politics remains realistically true in a sense that; the leadership becomes a material quality which people can trade with money when people with qualities of leaderships, integrity and ethics are becoming rare in our PNG societies these days.

The supporters for intending candidates of PNG have never learnt enough from the last eight (8) elections. The remains of colonially built roads, schools, hospitals and airstrips are only indication of; there was once few transparent leaders in PNG in the likes of; Late Sir Tei Abal, Sir Peter Lus, Sir Imbaki Okuk, and other former colonial leaders who were so patriotic about developing this nation without any political differences like now a days in PNG politics. Their interest and first agenda were to provide development and services to the people and make it accessible to all the people. Their legacy remains a pure transparent politics and there was no bias or favoritism in service delivery or developments.

Comparing to these days, there is total opposite of what politics has been in the past, the current MPs are delivering developments and services to the places that have their base votes and cronies originates.  

People do not realize that, leadership is simply the capacity of someone to lead by providing guidance with example as a role model. A leader who is transparent in running the public affairs of an electorate or province for fair and equal wealth distribution, developments at the local and national arena.  

A role model, accountable and transparent leader who is well versed with the affairs of the district, province and the nation.

In PNG, the influence from a leader is not the same everywhere due to varying factors of culture, societal influence or socio-economical tends. However, the involvement of powerful cronies with money has a lot of influence in the political systems of PNG. Hence, it is the political power that the most prominent people are contesting in the National General Election to gain access to the prominent seat in the National Parliament as a MP. It is not a just a mere political contest for a leadership to bring services and tangible development to the people that they claim to represent but for personal gains and political power to build own empires.   

People tend to forget Integrity and trust, which are two important aspects of leadership that can never be traded cheaply. However, the leadership at the national level, in the provinces and electorates are fragmented due to business houses, individuals and associations are affiliating with political parties to hang on to the power and hide the corrupt practises under pecks and privileges of the MP. There is a complex scenario to understand how the business houses benefits from political affiliations and impact projects which never delivers to the expectations and exists as ghost projects.

There have been various allegations of leadership misconduct and official corruption towards most of the MPS in the recent years, but none of the MPs have ever indicated to step-down from leadership as MP to clear his or her allegations through the court process. Instead they have gone to all the court systems; from the District Court to the highest Supreme Court to defend themselves while still hanging on to the power. In the course of leadership tribunals on the implicated MP, the people that he/she claims to represent have suffered more due to inefficient service delivery and poor leadership. Such leaders deserve to retain or loose the seat is determined by money coming into play in politics and not the view of quality in leadership and service delivery of the MP that wins him or her the votes to be the Member of Parliament.

It will be absurd if a MP boasts to represent the province or electorate when the MP has never lived and seen his electorate for the last 4 years after winning the election. It is a pity to see people are dying of curable diseases, poor road conditions for public utility access, kids going to school in overcrowded classrooms, mothers and infants dying because of birth complications, hospitals running out of drugs, communities disuniting with tribal fights, ongoing and unresolved election related violence, fights with increasing lawlessness, roads are deteriorating, cities are becoming unsafe and unhygienic.  

On the other hand, the MPs and their cronies are enjoying the luxury, perks and privileges under the expense of the poor and complaining voters. Flying on the business class, driving on the tinted and luxury vehicles under heavily armed police escort, high class medical treatments overseas, families and children living overseas. These are some of the obvious corrupt practices and bias traits of a leader which makes the entire people of the province or electorate feel alienated and marginalized.

Logically, it is not the MP’s own sweat out of the times committed in the business investment or studies to be a leader to benefit his or her own associates and cronies, it is supposed to be a bearer of a politically mandated leadership title. To raise hands to be a leader means, a leader for the voters in favour or those that are not in favour and everyone in the province or electorate. In some cases, it never matters to a MP, as long as he/she has the money to buy votes through bribery, he/she can be a leader and represent the people on parliament sessions only with presence (such leaders that never debates or even raises an issue in the floor of parliament) and then off to conduct their own businesses. It’s a norm to some under-performing MPs who have bought their way to be MP.

Whilst on the privileges of MP, the cost recovery and vote rigging strategies comes to play for next coming election. It is a shame to call those kinds of MPs as leaders of an electorate or province when actually they are serving the interest of their cronies and building their own empires. They are earning respect through money and corrupt acts and not as a mandated leader for the people.  

2017 National General Election has taught most people some good lessons to be judgemental with what kind of leadership they require in their electorates and the provinces. The past has gone and now the trend has changed with money involvement in politics and campaign. People need honest and transparent leadership at every level, one who can deliver tangible service with infrastructure development to improve the lives of people in real time.

It’s better to avoid those leaders that are trying to buy their way into be a leader by buying votes through bribery and rigging the election process. As long as they have the money, they can do anything it takes to be a leader in a self-style means than being voted by the people for the trust and confidence on a person that has leadership quality. A person who can lead with transparency and honesty to serve the best interest of the people he/she has chosen to represent as a leader.

When the 2017 National General Election is over, it is better to revisit the campaign policies that each of the wining politicians have used as their political platform to bring services and developments. The campaign times are different with all good things that brings the people to next level with expectations. However, after the formation of the government, the mystery remains as; the people’s leader is driven away in tinted glass vehicles under heavy armed escort, living in hotels and apartments with gates guarded 24/7.  

It’s the PNG style of leadership which the people wants or the leaders themselves wants it.

The question to; who will change the whole picture of politics and leadership style in the 20^th Century for PNG remains uncertain.     

A Generous Scholar - Mr. Mitio

.. all forms of friendships are formed out of the unknown into reality ... 

He was my language & literature teacher in secondary school. 

In my work life we cross the pathways in Baimuru basins when he was doing internships with Oil Search PNG and I was working with Oilmin Downstream Processing Plant there.

As they say it's a small world, no exception for a diverse Nation like PNG, we came to work and live in Port Moresby where Mr. Mitio works with PNG Ports as the Stakeholder Relations Coordinator.

PNGTPA contributes news article and tourism adverts to the PNG Ports owned Ahoy Magazine which his team coordinates to publish and disseminates industry and related news and information to the public.

Back in our teacher/student days in the school, I would write any piece of writing and bring to his office for corrections and editing. I cannot recall all of those topics but one of the topics was "First Met" a narrative writing practice which has a setting of unknown people meeting and creating lasting relationships at schools.

Now I do send him articles to Ahoy Magazine for publication and it continues to be playing the past days of student and teacher. He has the values to groom students and a role model.

Today I was surprised with this special gift (complimentary of PNG Ports - signature). I told him the stories of my Kayaking adventure in Madang which I did not realized was on a New Year’s Eve and came back to the shore where the fireworks and celebrations setup to welcome 2018.

That gave us a good laugh as this will complement my first weekend of 2018.

At times we PNG people do not go on a holiday for self-revival and renewal from work environments, rather tie our holiday times into customary obligations and it continues with holidays and festive seasons. That was one of the reasons, I forgot it was on a New Year’s Eve I was Kayaking off Madang seas.

Thank you, my teacher, mentor and role. This reminds me of something special in every side of my life.

Pics: (L-R) myself, Douglas, Mr. Mitio