Government must heed new voices

By Ben Yamai

The need for government and authorities to heed the new voice representing youth and the generally marginalized is increasingly evident with the increasing use of information and communication technology through mobile telephones and internet accessing devises. This was the message drawn from a one-day workshop run by the Lowy Institute for International Policy at the Gateway Hotel earlier this week. The workshop was intended to bring together representatives from the government sector, businesses, civil society, media and individuals to discuss the country’s “economy, the changing role of civil society and media, the political power of social media and PNG’s international choices and place in the Asian Century”. Several speakers were invited to present short papers covering policy initiatives undertaken by government agencies and departments regarding the country’s economic performance in the past decade, youth and rural sector representation, and Papua New Guinea’s potential within the burgeoning Asian economy. Opening speaker and agricultural businessman Allan Bird from the East Sepik Province while acknowledging the unprecedented economic growth PNG has experienced in the past decade, stated emphatically that much of these economic gains had not translated into tangible and material developments at the “people level”. He said the uncomplaining attitude of the community exacerbated this situation, calling for “real leaders to rise up”, and to ensure that Papua New Guinea’s “social data and economic score card” is reflective of the country’s “balance score card”. Mr Bird also said that Papua New Guineans “should never be satisfied with low or mediocre standards” from government and leaders. He called for people to “desire a better standard of living”, with access to better health, education and infrastructure and employment opportunities. Mr Bird also decried the lack of innovative thinking at the policy level, saying that the country’s poor international ranking in social indicators could be reversed and improved by replacing the “fighting fires” attitude with strategic thinking and innovative policy formulation at the bureaucratic and government levels. The workshop also heard from speakers from the national Department of Treasury and the Bank of PNG. The Lowy Institute is an independent international policy think tank, with objectives to generate new ideas and dialogue on international development