I'm from Papua New Guinea - #ImFromPNG

Why in PNG, people don't get patriotic over this beautiful nation and instead inclined towards ethnicity, provincialism & regionalism?

 When meeting up with a fellow citizen in PNG, this question seems to be always there. 

Where are you from?

From outside of PNG, the media describes PNG as an improvised island nation in the Pacific or worse the cannibalism practicing island in the Pacific.

I don't mind whatever outside views they have on PNG and my people but I'm proud to call myself from Papua New Guinea and not a province, region or ethnicity that is Unknown to the outside world.  Ethnicity segregation is a basis of domesticated racism in PNG which most people intentionally promote or unknowingly involved but have negative social impacts in the societies.

We have obvious resentments of nambis against highlands or vise versa. Tari or Engans are not anyone's favorite for a friendship, relationships or trust. We always see them as aggressive people, but - is it good putting everyone into the same basket for the convenience of the radical ethnicity assumption?

Individuals in PNG might have their own personal judgement or perception against the Sepiks, Manus, Tolai, Nips, Samarai, Kerema, Papua, Daru, Oro Kaiva or Buka people to satisfy his or her own ethnicity, province and region's radical views. This is how PNG domesticated racism exists but one forgets to understand that; No race or ethnicity is better than another in PNG or anywhere in the world, all humans were made in His own image and likeness - We are the image of the Man Above Us. 

Maybe someone heard from someone saying; those ethnic people, province or region's people are like this and that, etc. It might have happened between two people and that's their experience but we tend to believe what is told and view other persons of the same ethnicity like same species of piglets would behave. We tend to forget the human values, integrity and ethical qualities one human is born with, which makes him/her different and unique human being.

In reality, people are born different and unique, have their own mindsets and personality; not all people are same type of person despite coming from same family, ethnicity, province or region.
Rationally, people are born individually unique and different from each other and not in a day like piglets.

Some people in PNG are so obsessed to say ; I'm from here and there with radical ethnicity related segregation ideologies which are being put up for show at Provincial Day Celebrations in PNG. 

We do not realized that, such ideas are keeping us secured in our little places whilst PNG remains unexplored to ourselves despite a PNG citizen living the entire lifetime in PNG. Hence, you cannot experience change or see it happening to you because you into your little secured world  build on ethnicity ideologies and don't know the diversified nation of Papua New Guinea. 

You still living in PNG, yet you are scared to go to Buka because there is tensions from the decade old crisis, you do not want to go to Enga or Tari because of tribal conflicts, you do not want to go to Samarai because you heard of cultural practices. Similarly you have developed assumptions of some places in PNG and you think your area and people are only the better people all over the world and in PNG but that's definitely a radical ethnicity view and racism. In fact, you are still PNG citizen living in Papua New Guinea and these places are part of your country.    

Even you are from PNG but you haven't seen PNG and explored PNG yet because of your own mindset pinned into ethnicity and racial segregation ideologies which is a fear and insecurity. People hold onto such radical ethnicity ideologies as prides to live in their little world within PNG. However, the outside view of PNG remains as; an improvised island nation in the Pacific where cannibalism is practiced - and in it your ethnicity, province or region is included.

So I don't deny the fact that, #ImFromPNG and have the passion to travel around my own country, meet with people of different ethnic groups amongst the thousands in PNG, share their experiences and stories; be like one of them because we live in a country called Papua New Guinea referred by tourists as last frontier and off the beaten track adventure paradise.

Its a shame if you are from Papua New Guinea but haven't seen more than 5x provinces in PNG, rather lives in your own little world within PNG thinking world knows your ethnicity, region or province but never in your smallest radical ethnicity dreams.

Be rational, end the so called domesticated and radical racial segregation (racism) and be proud of PNG, one of the Unique countries in the world which I proudly see it this way; a continent with 22 countries or a country with 22 states that has thousands of amazing cultures, rare species of flora and fauna with diverse marine biodiversity that are unique to the world.

A country that has natural landscapes that remains eligible amongst the wonders of the world, rare flora and fauna species, diverse marine biodiversity and cultural traditions that are beyond the UNESCO heritage listing criteria. We have more to be proud of as a Papua New Guinean than a radical ethnicity obsessed racist.

Our own limitations are driven by domesticated racism, racial segregation and radical ethnicity promotion in PNG by individuals and groups intentionally or being personally obsessed with ethnicity promotions. 

We need to open up our mindsets and time to explore PNG when you cannot get to man-made monuments, parks and cities of the world due to Covid19 Pandemic restrictions. There is lot more to explore in PNG that will amaze and keep you awe. 

You need to get out of your ethnicity wall, think and act like Papua New Guinean in your own country. 

There's more to see in PNG and yes - #HaveYouSeenPNGyet?

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change4better

PNG Traditional Herbal Medicine - undiscovered mystery

Among the thousands different tribes, cultures and traditions in PNG do exists the mysterious ways of curing illness and diseases by using plants from the natural habitats with generational skills and knowledge.

In PNG, we often get ourselves confused between herbal medicines with witchcraft. They are two separately different topics and witchcraft seems to connect with superstition for better or worse, depends on the user and purposes of its existence. On the other hand, the traditional herbal medicine practice is a set of skill and knowledge passed on from generation to generation to cure diseases and illness.

Leaving out the controversial issues associated with witchcraft, let me discuss the significances of how much I understand the traditional herbal medicines. I'm not a practitioner of the traditional herbal medicine but my grandmother does as well as others I've been with and saw them doing it.

In reality, the lives of the PNG indigenous people are connected to the natural environment one way or the other. Hence, anyone from the family, tribesmen or friends knows one or two plants in their natural habitats that have medicinal values and its uses. One might have lo learnt the skills to prepared and knowledge to apply on specific illness or diseases.

The methods involved in preparation of the traditional herb could be a special generational tradition. It could involve some sort of traditional spells or without it depends on the traditional herbal medicine practitioner, the value and purpose of the medicinal plant and illness types.

Some people in PNG still value to use the traditional herbal medicines to avoid development of modern medicine resisting illness in their body and side effects that could have or they shifted to traditional herbals medicines after developing serious resistant side effects in their body with medical drugs.

Somewhere in PNG, a traditional herbal doctor can help a snake venom victim to live again, mend and heal a fractured bone or joint, heal a terminal illness like cancer, asthma, leprosy, tropical ulcers, TB and others.

It is believed that, those illnesses that ever existed with our ancestors have a traditional herbal cure but we prefer modern medications and treatments for various reasons.

Undeniably, our ancestors have lived through the sicknesses like diarrhea, pneumonia, headaches, joint pains, fever, etc. with the use and application of traditional herbal medicines. There is no good reason to run into pharmacy and hospital all the time with these common sicknesses in PNG. We need the help of our traditional herbal doctors to manage such sicknesses easily.

Sadly, we are loosing the skills and knowledge of the traditional herbal medicine practices because of our own ignorance or we the PNG people want the easiest turn around in life with modern medicines and treatments.  The modern medicines and treatment are modern lifestyle convenience but cost is another considerable factor in the situation with costly side effects in some cases. Hence, the substitute or alternate option is to seek the help of the traditional herbal doctors on the common diseases or illness and those that are manageable by traditional herbal doctors.

There could be conflicting ideas from Christians on the application and use of traditional herbal medicines but all we need is healing and recovery from the illness or diseases just like after receiving treatment from the modern hospital with their medicines.

As mentioned earlier, some of the traditional herbal medicines might accompany special spells and customary observation rules during and after treatments - its no different to hospital treatment requirements and restrictions on the treatment.

Seen the Chinese, Indians and other Asian countries practicing traditional herbal medicines and its a thousands of decade old tradition which we PNG too can do it. The Asian traditional herbal doctors works closely with modern practitioners in medicines and medical doctors. They have traditional herbal pharmacy as well and treatment room for patients. (I might have seen one of those in Taiwans old city in 2018 during a stint with TICA).

In PNG its sad to see or hear of someone dying from curable illness and diseases. Only if our legislators can make some reforms that gives opportunity to traditional herbal doctors to work with modern practicing doctors and pharmacist would make some biggest difference in PNG societies where hospitals are unreachable in a day.

We never know but let's believe in our trade mark expression - Expect the unexpected. A traditional herbal doctor might have the secrets of curing cancer but tucked away somewhere in the inland and remotest parts of PNG or on an isolated island in PNG with his or her traditional knowledge and skills on the herbal medicines to cure cancer. 

How can we bring such person out of reach to ease the costly thermal therapy and other associated cancer treatment costs ?

Through the government reforms and legislation, it will present an opportunity for someone in the areas such as inland Rigo, remote islands off Samarai and hinterlands of Netyam Yalaim to commercialize his/her Traditional Herbal Medicine skills or knowledge to save a life when modern hospitals are beyond their reach.

One of them from the remotest parts of PNG can be brought into save a life of a patient in a hospital which modern treatment and medicines cannot help recover. This will be amazing and wonderful to acknowledge and appreciate but how to make it happen is far from reality with legislation and other aspects of laws surrounding health and medicine needs to accommodate the traditional medicine practice.  

We need to sustain our ways of doing things that are suited to living our lives the PNG way. Most of our traditions are unique and have values that will be lost if not practiced by emphasizing its importance like the traditional herbal medicines practicing skills and knowledge.

If PNG has more than 800 different cultures and traditions that fascinates the visitors and citizens too, then among them are our traditional herbal medicines that can do unbelievable wonders if we can legislate to protect and value them.

It does not require intensive lab tests and research skills to discover a traditional herbal medicines. It is our value, our tradition and our way of life that have sustained and protected the lives of our ancestors for ages.

In conclusions, if a legislated reform permits  herbal doctors to practice traditional herbal medicines, one might surely have the secrets to healing Covid19 and other diseases like HIV AIDS too.

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change4better

A turmeric plant which has many medicinal uses.
Source. Internet 

PNG's founding Chief's unsettled chiefly farewell and tribute amassing.

 

A hero is someone who has given his life to something bigger oneself. _Joseph Campbell_

I was born after 1975 but growing up hearing stories of my dad and older people, the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare (GC SMTS) was one profound leader who led with pure gold coated heart to unite a country that would have been into fragments if it was late 80s or 90s if we did vied for independence.

This native PNG bloke with teaching interests, a radio personality turned politician was a brilliant tactician behind PNG's Independence. 

He presented precisely to the people at the rallies to inform people of self governance and independence. As a former radio announcer, he did tremendously well on the airwaves to bring awareness to the wider PNG audience. 

He was loved, admired and followed by many PNG people those times because of his ability to lead the nation into independence was a dream bigger than himself.

The radio announcements and rally presentations in major townships were never enough for GCSMTS, he flew to the provinces and walked miles, rode the rough seas on the boats or hiked to the mountainous districts in the Highlands.

His Highlands tours includes remote Baiyer in WHP and Laiagam in Enga including parts of Simbu. My dad met up with him when he was a translator for Kiaps in Laiagam and told me of this Wanwara Sepik dude. He was open, transparent and charismatic in all his approaches, a rare Sepik personality. He always reference him with Late Malipu Balakau whom my dad had close relations back those days. 

88They were blokes who could lead as true leaders because they grew up in Hausman and Chieftaincy genes were naturally instilled whilst  the Western leadership traits (Westminster) were learnt and blended well for a PNG's own style of leadership to take the country forward.

A unique kind of leadership that can negotiate for power between our European colonizers and more than 800 different tribal leaders of PNG. A daunting task without the support of modern luxury and convenience. Late GCSMTS took the bull by its horn to win a battle with personal sacrifice and the ultimatum goal was won on 16th September, 1975.  

So looking back to the historical data, GCSMTS visited the Highlands (including Laiagam) in June 1972. Then on, I do not know when again the now Late Grand Chief set foot in Enga or Laiagam. I grew up hearing stories from my dad about him, his province during his Kiap patrol duties to Strickland River and Sepik boarder areas.

I began reading his profile when I was in Grade Six through a Oil Search Magazine and I was his great follower. At times, I paused to understand how he was born and his parents took care of him during the WWII days. If there's anyone that GCSMTS does shares his childhood growing up experiences and memories, my curiosity will settle at ease because he is no longer around to tell me and others himself of his childhood days.

A village kid has had the destiny and dream set straight on his mind that no-one knew but the Man above knew and planned that he would be one day significant leader of the nation of many tribes and his people shall happily called him Grand Chief (Papa bilong PNG), yes I'm one of his fortunately an independence child.

As his fan and follower, I've never lost focus on him with his active leadership as MP and Prime Minister of PNG or after he retired from politics in 2016. I do not know how it felt like to quit on a fatherly role over his sons and daughters of PNG. I'm for sure, he made a very difficult decisions ever in his life which could be another lesson for us to learn and follow.

An agony that has been never settled in my life is the time when some young immature leaders have shown no respect for him and took the PM portfolio by force in 2011 when he was on the sick bed in Singapore. A total disgrace with no show of respect and empathy over the situation a father of PNG was in - how can such be forgive?

That was never enough, they called him stranger in the Parliament when he attended Parliament sessions after the illness.
For GCSMTS, he forgives and forgets, that's his unique and gold coated leadership trait. However, for me as a follower of Late GCSMTS, I've never forgiven those people yet.

For now, I'm seeing and reading various tributes and sentiments expressed by PNG sons and daughters towards our late GCSMTS as well as from fellow foreign colleagues, friends and diplomats during this time of grief and sorrow but there's nothing satisfying yet for nearly 80% of the PNG population to agree or disagree about his burial site at Kreer Heights in Wewak.

The late GCSMTS prepared himself to rest at Kreer Heights in Wewak some 5years back which most people of PNG did not know and the MPs of Parliament knew but seems like an intentional oversight by the MPs.

The late GCSMTS planned for himself to be buried out of Independence Hill and at Kreer Heights in Wewak which none of the MPs talked about it earlier or debated in the floor of the parliament when he was alive because this is of national importance too.

Now, it's too late for the MPs or other concerned parties to talk about the change in burial site because a Will is before his coffin.
Any debate now will not have effect on the change of the burial site, hence the Will needs to be honored now.

If I were one learned MP then I would have planned and invited late GCSMTS (when he was alive) to my district or province to give him a fitting farewell when he retired from politics. Kudos to Hon. Pila Ninigi, the MP for Imbongu who knew what he was doing by inviting the Late GCSMTS to Imbongu on September 2019 for celebrating the District Cultural Show. 

The Imbongu people hosted late GCSMTS and bided a fitting farewell and now they should be proud of what they did for the Grand Chief.

Credit also to Hon. Sir Julias Chan for hosting the Late GCSMTS for the 45th Independence Celebrations in New Ireland Province.
I'm sure the late GCSMTS honors you and Hon.Pila Ninigi's efforts to host him as a special guests during those events in your provinces.

I only wish if my Governor of Enga or Lagaip/Pogera MP did something similar to what Imbongu MP or Governor Sir. Julias Chan did for late GCSMTS so he could touch and feel the 20th century Enga and Laiagam when he was around to reminisce the 1973 memories.

Now, the request for flying late GCSMTS dead body over to 22 provinces seems higher wish for people of PNG but this won't make any significant impact for our wish to see him alive and well. We all missed his lively presence to smile and hand wave us once and for a lifetime farewell - not over his coffin.

My only hurtful feeling combined into my sorrow and grief over GCSMTS is that, why didn't he scheduled with those MPs and revisited the highlands places of 1973 he visited as a young Sepik fellow - I know, its too late now.

Rest in Eternity GCSMTS, Enga's Laiagam bai still stap Wanwara bilong Sepik olgeta taim.

PNG Community Information Center (PNGCiC) donates reading books to Sirinumu Primary School

“A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.” Salman Rashdie

During the 2020 Graduation for Sirinumu Primary School the school board decided to send an Invitation to PNG Community Information Center (a voluntary reading book collecting and donating origination)

The PNGCiC advocates reading to improve literacy from elementary to adult in the communities. It is a voluntary activity in which PNGCiC partners with interested community-based organizations, churches and schools to promote this concept of reading books for literature improvement.

Hence, Sirinumu Primary School is one of the selected sites for PNGCiC and setting up of the Community Library started in 2015 when a feasibility study into tourism product viability was conducted in the area. The need for Community Information Center (Library) was proposed and the school took the ownership on the proposed idea to make it a reality and the first boxes of books were donated to the school in 2018.

Additional sports equipment (soccer balls, volley ball with net, basketball) and exercise books were sponsored by @Theodist through the good friends Ryan and Jason Pini.

In the recent 2020 Graduation Day, PNGCiC presented more than 80kg books in 3x boxes with a pledge to collect more books for the school in the near future with focus in; (i) collecting books/literature and documents relating to Koiari people (culture and history) (ii) collecting books/articles/research documents and information relating to Sirinumu Dam (iii) and encourage the locals to document their own traditional stories ,myths and legends to preserve in literature form instead of oral histories.

PNGCiC will be working with interested schools (especially in the remote areas) on voluntarily basis to setup similar Community Information Center (library) to help improve the literature levels of our children as well as the adult population.

If any individual, group, organization, state agencies, institutions or companies would like to donate any used reading books, copies of research documents, case studies about communities in PNG then do not hesitate to contact us. We will liaise with you with our volunteers on the ground for collection of the donations.

Follow this site for other updates of PNGCiC;

https://business.google.com/u/2/dashboard/l/12483113598050573355

The photos attached are from the recent reading books donation at Sirinumu Primary School during the 2020 graduation ceremony.

Local youths carrying the book boxes from the boat to school

The graduation grandstand with donated reading books on the left

The graduating students of 2020 

loading of books onto the community boat from the Dam Bridge

UNDP (PNG) continues to help rehabilitate Varirata National Park

 UNDP in Papua New Guinea is partnering with the Conservation and Environment Protection Agency (CEPA) to upgrade facilities at Varirata National Park.

The Rangers’ Lodge construction is part of 2020 AWP planned infrastructure for the park. The Varirata National Park (VNP) Guard House was the first infrastructure established and was launched on Thursday 21st May 2020 by the UN Resident Representative.  

The cost of the construction of the Guard House was USD36,500 and the cost of the Rangers Lodge construction was USD85,781. 

The engagement of the UNV Rangers was funded at the cost of USD67,023.40 and additional funding support was for training (e.g., First Aid and UNDP mandatory courses plus biodiversity transect surveys with PAU and Ranger training under Queensland Parks Wildlife Services) and resourcing (e.g., Uniforms, shoes, maintenance tools etc…).

At the moment, CEPA continues to maintain the Rangers operations at the park. 

The UNDP ssupports the government on the implementation of the Protected Areas Policy via the enhancement of the VNP that is managed by CEPA, through funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The CEPA Management Team is credited for the leadership and commitment to the implementation of the Protected Areas Policy and the current conservation legal framework to; improve conservation of areas in high biodiversity values.

The importance of VNP in the context of Protected Areas (part of the 3.69% Terrestrial PA coverage of PNG) and a model National Park, managed by the CEPA.

The VNP was one of the UNDP GEF 5 Project sites and engaged 10 UNV Rangers to provide oversight and management of the Park.

Rangers are the backbone of protected area systems. A strong, capable and supported Ranger workforce is critical to conserve culture and biodiversity, deliver community benefits and increase capacity, including in the most remote and disadvantaged parts of PNG. 

The UNDP Resident Representative acknowledged that; Ranger is a critical profession in the protection of nature and culture of Protected Areas.

The presence of Rangers in the Varirata National Park has enhanced security and visitors to the Park has increased as evident by gate takings that has increased by 400%.

The Rangers are in need of a resting Lodge; hence this Lodge will make their work easier than used to be different in the past where pickup and drop off shifts are extra operational expenses to the park. 

Some of the Rangers are customary landowners of the Park and custodians of traditional cultural knowledge that includes biodiversity, and such knowledge has enhanced activities such as bird watching and the Koiari Tree House.

The UNDP have a long history of robust partnership with the government to serve as delivery partner for various conservation initiatives and this will continue, the UNDP Resident Representative added. 

The UNDP supported CEPA in the establishment of the PNG Protected Areas Policy and also the drafting of the Protected Areas Bill that CEPA is currently facilitating, to enact soon.

The UNDP Resident Representative thanked the PNG Government for facilitating the Global Environment Facility support and glad to support conservation initiatives in partnership.

Last but not least, I would like to invite you all to join me witness the official handover of the Rangers’ Lodge to CEPA to strengthen partnership and contribute to conservation management and administrative arrangements.

In June this year, a new office was constructed at the entrance gate. Renovation work will also begin on the toilet facilities shortly. The Project is also funding United Nations Volunteer Community Rangers to manage and maintain the Park.

UNDP has also assisted in building the capacity of these Rangers with the support of the Queensland Parks Wildlife Services, who are also assisting with developing a Business Plan to ensure the Park’s sustainability.

Front View of the Rangers Lodge at Varirata National Park

Side view of the Rangers Lodge at Varirata National Park