4/9/06; www.postcourier.com.pg/
Papua New Guinea can’t blame its former “colonial master,” Australia, for its failures since independence, former prime minister Mekere Morauta said today. The country must instead look to its “big man†culture and political leaders’ use of state power and privilege for personal gain, he says. PNG’s leaders had failed to make difficult decisions, invest wisely for the future and rein in waste and corruption in the public sector, Mr Morauta said in a speech in Madang on Friday.
He said health standards were worse now than 25 years ago, the gap between the haves and have-nots wider, and population growth outstripping the Government’s capacity to provide services.
“Our country is rich in resources, rich in natural wealth. Why has the wealth not been used to promote real social and economic development?†he asked in his speech. “A combination of lack of clear foresight and vision by leaders, and growing weakness in state institutions, are at the core of the answer to this question.
“We cannot blame our former colonial master or any other outsider for our failures. We alone are responsible.†Mr Morauta, who was prime minister from 1999 to 2002, said the “big man culture of politics†had a lot to answer for.
Waste and corruption in the public sector and the “use of state power and privilege for personal gain†were factors that had constrained PNG’s development. Mr Morauta said it was a major disappointment that the reform agenda he initiated as prime minister had been stopped, but it was not too late to start moving again towards good governance and development.
Key to that would be ethical, reform-minded leaders who pursue transparency in government and help build strong, accountable state institutions, bolster political stability and foster an active business sector.
Mr Morauta said the past four years had provided the most favourable economic circumstances PNG had ever experienced thanks to high commodity prices driven by booming demand for raw materials from China and India.But the opportunity had not been taken to push ahead with reform, he said.
Former Treasurer Bart Philemon, who was sacked earlier this year by Prime Minister Michael Somare, had imposed commendable fiscal restraint but government services were not functioning properly, Mr Morauta said.
Recent disclosures of corruption within the Finance Department were examples of an institution destroying the principles of good governance despite the good intentions of Philemon, he said. Mr Morauta urged the abolition of PNG’s troubled provincial government system, and the privatisation of some government functions to ensure greater efficiency.