PNG’s Promise

Britain's Princess Anne chats with the designer of the Papua New Guinea flag Susan Huhume during her participation in the country's 30th independence anniversary celebrations. Looking on is Papua New Guinea Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu and Princess Anne's husband Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence. (Photo: Alex Rheeny)

Independence Hill overlooks the city's Morata settlement, an enclave of hundreds of matchbox houses accommodating illegal settlers and harboring many of the city's criminals. It's a stark reminder of the country's bumpy ride since its independence from Australia on September 16, 1975.

As thousands of Papua New Guineans beat their intricately designed drums, danced, and witnessed the rising of the familiar red, black and gold colored flag over Independence Hill, those in the corridors of power took time to take stock of how the country has fared and plan for the future.

They shared their thoughts with Pacific Magazine and in independence messages published in the country's two daily newspapers, Post-Courier and The National.

"It is time we give serious consideration to getting rid of the provincial government system altogether. We need to look at the merits of transferring functions back to the national government, and using local level governments as agents for development." -- Sir Mekere Morauta, MP for Moresby Northwest in the National Capital District, former prime minister and Governor for the Bank of PNG

"They (provincial governments) can no longer sit back and wait for handouts from the national government. The onus is on provincial governments to grapple with their own problems and solve them with the national government providing both human and financial resources." -- John Momis, Former governor for Bougainville and chairman of the post-independence Constitutional Planning Committee in 1972.

"Don't knock our nation's progress and development in our first 30 years of sovereignty. We are a small nation subject to swings, shocks, and fluctuations of the global economy and must cease to blame ourselves for everything that has gone wrong or unfulfilled in our country in our first 30 yeas of independence. Papua New Guineans must develop attitudes of tolerance and self sustenance in a world plagued by terrorism, trade imbalances, the HIV/AIDS scourge and racial slants." -- Sir William Skate, Current Regional MP for the National Capital District and former prime minister.

"New district authorities, bringing together local MPs, council presidents, and administrators will go a long way to bridging that gap (of lack of services in rural areas), increase coordination among key decision makers and implementers, and accelerate the timely delivery of much needed goods and services." -- Peter O'Neill, Current Ialibu-Pangia MP and Opposition Leader.

"The record rise of the Kina Index to over 3,830 points, more than 1,600 points this year, is indicative of the ability of the Papua New Guinea-based companies to perform to world standards. Over the next 30 years, Papua New Guinea must reinforce its reputation at every opportunity as a secure investment destination, that it remains easy to do business in the country and that the perception of corruption is historically back in the last century." -- Syd Yates, Chief executive officer of PNG finance company Kina Finance.

"I want women and children in Papua New Guinea to feel free; I want women to walk side by side with men in the development of Papua New Guinea. As stated in our constitution, our resources should be equally distributed and we need to have leaders who are very vocal and support issues that will bring peace and harmony into our communities." -- Lady Hilan Los, Executive director for the Individual Community Rights Advocacy Forum.

"Our problem in this country is we have three governments with powers to legislate and those legislations are in total conflict, and inhibiting service delivery in Papua New Guinea. So we've got to get down to simplification of structure of government and I think based on natural self-reliance of Papua New Guineans, this country will really steam ahead." -- Sir Barry Holloway, Former MP for 19 years from 1964. Also served as speaker and government minister.