PNG needs to stop the talk & start acting to heighten security

It is believed that North Korea’s missile program is moving close to achieving the range to hit targets as far away as the United States and Papua New Guinea.

But it is premature that vulnerable countries like PNG openly to condemn North Korea’s intentions and possibly provoking the hermit kingdom to see PNG as a target to attack or be threatened, especially as APEC convenes in Port Moresby next year.

PNG has military support from Australia and other allies but not having significant military assets and capability leaves it in a vulnerable state.

The hostile words to North Korea expressed by the PNG's foreign affairs minister in local newspapers recently were childish and regrettable but are too late to recall.

PNG needs to be sensitive to its geopolitical alliances and affiliations so neutrality maintained. We should avoid becoming intertwined in the North Korea – America conflict.

There are already indications that PNG already may harbour terrorist elements and other transnational criminals. These criminals see PNG has a safe haven and a transit point into Australia.

On numerous occasions, unidentified foreign fishing vessels have been sighted by locals in PNG’s coastal waters and most escape with their illegal catches. This has been going on for a long time despite the establishment of the Border Protection Authority which does not have the capacity to perform the border protection task.

Each year some illegal immigrants arrive in PNG and are registered by PNG Immigration. But many more illegal immigrants cross the border from Indonesia or arrive on landing barges that bring supplies to logging camps in remote locations.

There are number of foreign businesses in PNG that recruit non-nationals to do jobs supposedly reserved for Papua New Guineans. Some of these businesses provide false information to labour and immigration officers.

For instance, the Foreign Employment Permit indicates that a migrant claims to be a manager or has trade qualifications but this person gains employment as a stock-filler, cash-register operator, delivery truck driver or something that nationals can do.

These are the obvious indicators of PNG’s weak internal security system which needs to be toughened up for our independent and sovereign nation.

In light of the North Korea issue and APEC 2018, the critical question the immigration ministry and related state agencies must answer is: ''What have you done to eradicate or minimise the internal security threats that are making our country vulnerable?”

The answer to this question will form the basis of our confidence in how secure PNG really is.

The foreign affairs minister’s statement on North Korea was too shallow and has implications for APEC and beyond.

PNG has unresolved internal security issues and, at a regional level, needs to form alliances with Pacific island nations in our mutual security interest.

These matters are much more important than a simple remark to North Korea which pretends that PNG has the capacity to defend itself against the military might and other threats from hostile countries.

PNG needs to stop the talk & start acting to heighten security

End the scourge of so-called leaders who buy people’s votes

Naith N. Lati

IN traditional Papua New Guinean society, leadership was usually vested in a person based on trust, respect and community standing.

But today individuals are able to buy their way to be leaders of their people and do not represent the true voice and concerns of the people, whether community, district or province.

The contradiction between members of parliament who boast to have been voted in by the people and the purchase of individual votes is an inevitability voters too easily forget.

The reality happens after polling day when service delivery fails to match the promises and the bribes and we wait five years for it all to happen again.

The integration into campaigning of money to buy votes has been one of the most astonishing developments. Most MPs or intending candidates need to spend a million kina to contest a national election.

A small proportion of the funds is committed to campaign logistics but mostly funds are deployed to buy votes. This gives the understanding that all MPs, one way or the other, buy their way into be the leadership.

It is a general understanding that, once a candidate is declared after the election and becomes an MP, he spends the first three or four years recovering the cost of the election campaign.

The last year or two are years for the sitting MPs to receive funding for projects that have no socio-economic value or no sustainable benefit to the people, but which get the money flowing.

Most of these projects deliver a last minute ground-breaking ceremony but never eventuate after the election.

Such projects have become the norm in PNG – a few days of high hopes and expectations as MPs dish out DSIP and PSIP funds to their supporters and cronies on projects that never eventuate.

Funds from bogus projects later becomes the cash base for the next election. About half of PNG’s MPs retain their seats and their cronies benefit rather than the population at large. It’s a money game and not a test of trust and confidence in leadership. The losers, and their supporters, lick their wounds.

We see shanty towns and districts with no power, clean water or sanitation services, but we still support the candidates in favour of money and create rowdy crowds so intending candidates feel they have support in the election.

Honest and transparent leadership at both local and national levels have vanished, just like the money vanishes after the election, and quality political leadership becomes rare in our society.

The people of PNG never seem to learn enough from each election. The remains of colonial roads, schools, hospitals and airstrips are the only indication that there was once effective leadership. We are reminded of great politicians of yesteryear like Sir Tei Abal, Sir Peter Lus, Sir Iambake Okuk, and other former leaders who were so patriotic about developing this nation.

These days, the involvement of powerful cronies with money has a lot of influence in the political system and we lack leaders who will bring services and tangible development to the people they represent.

Integrity and trust are two important aspects of leadership that should never be traded cheaply. Nowadays, the power is hung on to and the corrupt practises are hidden. There is never a project that delivers to expectations.

Despite various allegations of misconduct and corruption surrounding many MPS in recent years, few have been forced to step down from office.  Instead they go through various court processes but still hang on to power.

Where is the sense of guilt among MPs for the neglect of people dying of curable diseases, atrocious roads, overcrowded classrooms, mothers and infants dying in childbirth, hospitals with no drugs, social or community disunity, and increasing lawlessness and violence?

On the other hand, MPs and their cronies enjoys the luxury perks and privileges at the expense of the poor and desperate voters. Flying business class, driving behind tinted windows in luxury vehicles under heavily armed escort, making people feel alienated and marginalised.

It is a shame to call these MPs our leaders when actually they are serving the interests of themselves and their cronies and building their own empires and buying respect through money and corrupt acts.

Now the 2017 election has arrived and the voters must judge what kind of leadership they require. The past has gone and now we must try to change the trend. We need honest and transparent leadership at every level; leaders who can deliver tangible services and infrastructure development to improve the lives of the people.

We need to avoid the so-called leaders who try to buy their votes through bribery and rigging the election process.

We must vote wisely and with our conscience to elect transparent leaders who will serve the people’s interest meaningfully and honestly.

End the scourge of so-called leaders who buy people's vote

- Nature has respect for Grand Chief Sir. Michael Thomas Somare more than the people of PNG -

If ever in life, someone has dedicated his/her entire life to be with the people as a leader, there he/she will die restless for the love and affection he instilled with the people. Grand Chief Sir. Michael Thomas Somare, you have connected the lives of PNG into your heart. 

While it was time to bid farewell to the founding father for the nation of Papua New Guinea, the nature has led the day with the farewell. The precedence rainy and cloudy weather in Port Moresby have taken the toll to farewell you (Grand Chief) before the program from your loving and devoted citizens of this nation.


Our respect and gratitude was persistent for the set day, we waited for the nature to end its part of the program to farewell you but never gave us a way off to showcase what we have prepared for the day you bow down to politics. Our hearts sank too low and emotions were running all over as if it was your last day with us in PNG.

You were the native boy, yet with sheer determination, passion and love of this beautiful nation, you have taken the bold stand with courage to make the critical decision for PNG on the 16th of September, 1975.


We have observed the very day for 41 years with you and you still able to leading us on. You have sacrificed your family time and your personal life to ensure that your dreams from the first day of 16th September, 1975 were into reality.

Now you will be retiring from politics of this nation to be with your family and loved ones but the love that every citizens of this nation have  for you is endless as you'll be deeply remembered in our hearts each day or when 16th September clock ticks. As time goes on, we will be devoted to you with admiration and respect until you are called home and legacy will be living with us forever.


This time we bidding farewell to you but we know you will be living among us. You have connected each and everyone to your life and that will ever make you restless when you retire to be with your families. The devoted followers of you  will still keep you a good company and make you restless for it has always been your normal life and we do not want to miss you too soon.

Farewell and have a good rest Grand Chief Sir. Michael Thomas Somare.


Photo: PNGTPA Staff at the rooftop of Pacific MMI Building with their farewell banner.

The Survival of the Engan Traditional Dance – An Analysis of the Mali

By: Nathan LATI
BTHM, DWU 
_________________________________
ABSTRACT
The traditional Enga dance (Mali) is one of the traditional rituals that is gradually dying away at present due to non recognition of its significance from both modern and traditional context and there is a shifting phenomenon in cultures and languages. Previously, the traditional Enga dance (Mali) was hosted for reasons that cannot match today’s purposes. 

Furthermore, the importance of Mali from both modern and traditional perspective is not understood by majority of the Engans at present due to the current trend existing between  modernity and cultures, traditions or customs. Currently, Mali is one of the major tourist attractions in Enga getting popular with the annual Enga Cultural Show with its bandwagon ‘Sili Muli’, an all women dance (Mali) group. However, there are certain shifting cultural factors that have influenced the Engans to overlook the significance of the Mali and the authenticity of the associated cultures, traditions and customs or such of the Mali does no longer exist. The interest and eagerness to participate and learn has been minimal among the youths and the Mali is losing its purpose and authenticity. The shifting in the cultures and languages seems to have highest impact in the lives of the younger Engan generations and the focus in cultures traditions and customs get minimal attention. 

As a unique culture and tradition the Mali needs to be maintained and preserved at these times through promotion by engaging tourism and creating awareness in the best possible ways to sustain and create interest among youths to rejuvenate and protect Mali from losing its values. Enga Province has minimal economic activity and with the support of the Provincial Government with fundings in awareness, cultural promotion and preservation through tourism activities. There are possibilities of encouraging younger generations to learn how to preserve and sustain the Mali
Dance and help understand and values of the cultural and traditional aspects of Engan life. Thus significance of the traditional dance is distinguished from the modern and contemporary dance to ensure the discussions and findings of the research to propose certain mechanisms to help maintain and sustain Mali from dying away silently through modern influence.

Overview
It is interesting to see that through the influence of the one language spoken throughout the province, the cultures and customs practiced in the traditional societies are same throughout also in Enga Province unlike other provinces in the country. However, through church, education, employment and rural to urban migration have much influence on the Engan Mali and its unique cultures, customs and traditions. Hence, among the cultures, traditions and customs, Mali is one of the significant part of the Engan tradition and culture which is silently dying away. 

Though there are some Mali dance performances in the events with contemporary costumes, the authenticity and pride on the Mali dance seems to have lost its value. Out of the Mali analysis thesame detrimental factors are identified to have greater impact on the traditions and cultures of Enga and there is no exception to other cultures and traditions of PNG amid the 800 plus language groups that are dying away in the similar manner. Traditional dance or Mali is seen as a cultural event but its purpose and significances to host this event varies. This view is sported by Akii Tumu’s views on his book titled ‘View of The Enga Culture’ which stated that, in the past most singsings (Mali) took place to gather people to discuss upcoming
feasts or exchanges, but today they are held primarily to raise money for the public facilities, to celebrate holidays or other important events (Akii Tumu et al, 1989:47). That means Mali is losing its cultural values and significance but into commercialization with contemporary costumes which simply means imitating the authentic Mali Dance but of no substance of pride and cultural values into the Mali.

Background and Context
PNG Cultures and its Shifting Cultures and Languages 
Today in most PNG Societies seems to have the oral tradition as a historical source but the reality of the full traditional ways of life are dying away silently as we all shifting our focus to modernity and developments in the country. The concept of imparting skills and knowledge, learning and imitating of traditions and customs from the great ancestors of the tribes or clans seems not to exist these days. The children are living far away from their villages, parents and families for education or work and unable to participate in few of the cultural activities that happen in the village to learn and understand. The language seems to be one main barrier to learn as most of the people now seem to communicate with English, Pidgn and Motu. 

The chances to teach the traditional cultures and customs to the younger generation seem to be narrow leaving a gap for most of the traditions and cultures which can be helped revived and sustained. In Enga, the way of doing things which were passed down the generations to generations are at risk of bridging and living through these days when everyone’s focus is into modernity (Wiessner & Tumu, 1998:27). Thus the Enga traditional dance followed the same pattern of sharing, teaching and imparting knowledge to save and preserve the historical and traditions values, genealogies of historical narratives which became the basis of its existence but the current shift in cultures and languages will have much influence on the younger generation to lose their focus into the traditional values which need to preserve and own by virtue or lose it entirely forever. Yet the practical sides of most cultural and traditional ways of doing things in the country are diminishing as a result of shift in the tradition cultures and languages into modernity and Enga is no exception to losing its cultures and traditions which dominates the province as a monolingual society which is significant to the Melanesian cultures.

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s View on PNG Culture from Tourism Viewpoint
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) identifies cultural tourism as a significant source for national tourism growth due largely to the fact that authentic cultural experiences are Papua New Guinea’s biggest selling tourism product.The UN World Tourism Organisation stated that cultural tourism accounted for 37% of global tourism and forecasts a growth rate of 15% per year. This is particularly true for Papua New Guinea as travel statistics show increased arrivals during the months of July to September as a result of cultural festivals staged in various parts of the country, especially the Mask Festival, Hagen Show, Hiri Moale and the Goroka Show.Cultural festivals, village tours and stays that are worked into travel itineraries always prove attractive for tourists and are a common feature in many successful tour operators’ packages. PNGTPA’s major challenge in cultural tourism has been aligning the modern or ‘Western’ concept of tourism as a business with the Melanesian cultural practices of shared resources and land ownership. Hence, PNGTPA works closely with tour operators, and tourism associations to help reinforce, support and preserve the local communities and their culture. Partnerships in tourism are vital for Papua New Guinea especially in the preservation of culture and the natural resources of a particular community. PNGTPA’s most successful partnership projects have been the Surf Management Plan headed by the Surfers Association of PNG (SAPNG). This project aims to ensure the village communities where surfing tourism takes place receive shared benefits through fees and implement rules that limit the number of surfers to protect the environment. 

The Perceptions, Experience and Lessons on the Research
As a passionate citizen on cultures and traditions of the country, I was always interested to learn and discover the various cultures and traditions in PNG. Reading from the books, hearing and learning from schoolmates or by visiting places have always inspired me to know a bit of different culture and
tradition but those seemed to have been only stories to me. I have intended to know in detail if those cultures do exists in its full contexts today and still being practised. Sadly, the values on cultures and traditions have changed and the contemporary cultures have dominated what used to be a way of life and authentic culture, tradition and customs. I have came to known that, throughout the verbal interviews for my research most of the youths I met could not speak any native languages from either of their parent’s side but English and Pidgn were the only languages most of them know.
Undeniably, most of the traditions and cultures are native and the ways of teaching, learning and imparting is only with native languages because some of them are scared and to understand full, one should be native and fluent with the native languages to know and understand better. It was a good lesson to discover that native languages plays pivotal role in maintaining and preserving cultures for it is the only channel to know and understand cultures, traditions and customs. Hence, the language is part of the cultures and traditions of most people in PNG and losing the language knowledge is directly loosing the tradition and cultures.

Contribution of Research Paper and Recommendations
The research contributes to the remarkable work done on the Enga culture and traditions by Aki Tumu, Alome Kyakas, Associate Professor Roderic Lacey, Polly Wiessner, SVD Missionary Philip Gibbs and few others who have done a tremendous research into the unique cultures of Enga. Their early efforts and contributions have set foundation for a lot of quality research in the field of Enga culture and traditions. Hence, my research is also a contribution to their endless efforts as they paved the way for such specific research into traditional Enga dance (Mali) to occur. This specific research on Mali contributes towards the aims to preserve the traditions and cultures of Enga initiated by some of the mentioned authors and researchers. My research was broad in nature but  other researchers in the future will have to focus into specific cultures, customs and traditions to uncover the underlying factors of its extinction and find solutions to rejuvenate and set up a concept that helps not only Enga but other dying cultures in Papua New Guinea as well.

Portrait of the writer

Link to the LinkedIn for Naith N. Lati

Gulf Provincial Government keen to ascertain its tourism potential

Gulf Province has unique tousim products that is suitable to all tourism segments and available throughout all seasons. All we need is to make the tourism products market ready. James Hasu, Deputy PA - Gulf Provincial Administration 

Gulf province’s Kerema town is one of the least developed provincial townships in PNG with all basic infrastructures that been developed during the colonial era with historical evidences of early missionaries landed at Moru Bay 109 years ago. 

Despite the LNG investment and exploration activities are ongoing in the province; the local villagers’ lifestyles have never changed.  The usual trade of buai (betel nut) with the people from Port Moresby who commutes to Kerema for buai trade brings money for local people’s basic needs of the day and life is usual for the Gulf of Papua dwellers.

Gulf still has an endless prospective to venture into tourism and agriculture while its shores are used as exit points for the lucrative oil and gas fields of the Southern Highlands. 

The location of Gulf Province is logistically ideal for trade and business with accessibly via road; sea and air are practically convenient. Despite the strategic location and ease of accessibility, there are not major economical activities in the province apart from the ongoing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exploration and investments in the area which is connected to the upper level beneficiaries. The livelihoods for the Kerema people revolve around usual activities like fishing, hunting and gardening. Although the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) project is happening at the doorstep; the Gulf people continue to remain passive spectators and with the tourism being introduced to the province, it will set some light into sustainable tourism investments for Gulf people. Hence, the Gulf Provincial Tourism Workshop hosted in Kerema town on November 04^th was intended to set the light for Gulf business owners, community leaders and resource owners to shift their focus into tourism and was overwhelmingly supported by the participants.

The province being located on the southern coast of Papua New Guinea is dominated by highland mountains and terrains with lowland river deltas and wide expanses of seasonally flooded grass plains. The Turama, the Kikori, the Purari and the Vailala are just some of the great rivers that flow into the swampy, delta-land of the Papuan Gulf from the mountains as far as the highlands of PNG.

Generally Kerema has the complex environmental landscape that accounts for unique flora and fauna species and marine biodiversity. The vegetation within the gulf differs and not vastly covered by one particular vegetation. The complex vegetation consists of savannah to swamp that connects with lowland rainforests to the high mountain rainforests that connects with nearby Highlands and Momase Provinces.  The vastness of the complex vegetation and landscape for Gulf of Papua is home to the world’s biggest Black Bass and Catfish as well as Barramundi. This has been confirmed by Gulf Provincial Tourism Office from the statistics gathered with National Game Fishing Association. The Game Fishing is currently, the only tourism activity in the Gulf Province and benefits at the community level are said to be tangible.

The Gulf Provincial Government though its Commerce and Tourism Division having greater interest to tap into the tourism potential after not seeing any benefits towards the communities out of the LNG projects and investments in the province. Hence, the first Gulf Provincial Tourism Workshop at Hotel Kerema was the opportunity for the Gulf Provincial Government, stakeholders and resources owners to discuss the way forward to make the tourism potentials of Gulf a reality. The PNGTPA official have been invited to the workshop which has more than thirty (30) participants; especially the community leaders, councillors, resource owners, tourism business operators and general business operators in the province.

The acting District Administrator, Mr. James Hasu officially opened the Gulf Provincial Tourism Conference with the emphasis on tourism being one of the sleeping giant for Gulf Province which have been hidden by the perception that LNG investment and developments will generate more spin-off and improve livelihood of the people but it never eventuates as such economy operates on the upper level economy and never scales down to the individuals at the village level like tourism investment can deliver.

Being the TPA officer on the ground, I visited the selected tourism product sites that were presented at the Gulf Provincial Tourism Workshop by the Gulf Tourism Officer (Mr. Vincent Ehari) and without doubt I admitted that Gulf of Kerema has the tourism products that can be offered to tourists all year round from and water sports to trekking and relaxation on the nice and peaceful beaches like Pariva and Iokea which have vast stretch of beach that breaks the waves which sweeps the beach clear. The beaches in Kerema area ideal for board and kite surfing or camping and lazing by the beach while quenching the thirst with a young coconut juice (kulau) and wait for the sun to wade off over the breaking waves to get a glimpse of the striking sunset off the horizon sending out the rays to the sky, the sea below that reflects the rays on the surface naturally colouring the sky, sea and the beach.

The Gulf Province has already triggered the tourism interest domestically and to some extend internationally by Iokea villager and self-talented singer/song writer Robert Oeka with his 90s hit song ‘Kerema Yu No Save.’ The video clip, lyrics and musical composition have created interests for many people in PNG and overseas enticing them to visit Kerema by themselves.  The song literally mean to listeners to go and explore Kerema, a place you have not known yet, now it is time to explore Kerema and tourism will pave the way.

Thanks to Gulf Provincial Administration for inviting me to visit Kerema, now it makes me realize that the province truly has its unique allure. Kerema is a place someone has to visit to know better than the curiosity out of the song from Robert Oeka’s ‘Kerema yu no save’ and it’s truly a gulf with vastness of beauty and attraction. It is certain the name ‘Gulf of Papua’ derived as the provincial name and gulf has what it envisages of Kerema.

Pariva Conference Room - Hotel Kerema

  

Sunset at Pariva Beach - Kerema 

Canoeing at Lake Kamu Basin

Words and pictures by;Nathan LATI- Product Development Officer (PNGTPA)