hope for normalcy in southern highlands png. Hope for normalcy...

hope for normalcy in southern highlands png. Hope for normalcy in Southern Highlands


Thursday, 3 August 2006


THERE was cheering in the public gallery of parliament when the PNG Government announced its decision to declare a state of emergency in Southern Highlands Province. By Brian Gomez


Many people in the country's most populous province will also be glad the Government has finally acted to bring normalcy to life in what is arguably the country's richest region.

It is an anomaly that billions of kina worth of oil has flowed into export markets for the past 14 years from the province, where development has generally stalled despite its tremendous potential. Once discovered, it could be a world-class ecotourism destination as well!

The Kutubu, Moran and Gobe oil fields have provided millions of kina in royalties to local landowners and enabled the Southern Highlands to boast one of the biggest provincial budgets.

Assuming the Government moves quickly to convince people in key centres in the province that emergency rule will bring peace and order, and to ensure better provision of public services, there will be wholehearted local support for this long-anticipated initiative.

The Government has allocated K8 million ($US2.7 million) in its supplementary budget for police and army units that will enforce the state of emergency.

It is probably unfortunate a further allocation was not made available for upgrading of essential services.

One expatriate doctor who visited the province's main general hospital in Mendi a few years ago was shocked by its state and was told that at time that doctors at the facility did not even have Panadol to give to victims of domestic violence or tribal fighting.

It was in the Southern Highlands that the 2002 national election had to be abandoned because it was a total mess. Hopefully, a more peaceful climate will ensure this will not be the case when national elections occur next year.

If public amenities in Mendi, Tari and Ialibu can be improved, along with a better law and order, there will be public acclaim within the province and elsewhere for this initiative. But it is not going to be easy.

The Government has already signalled that one of its early priorities is an amnesty for surrender of firearms. As shown in last year's Gun Summit, this will be welcomed by most people in the community, particularly women, and would contribute to a less troublesome environment.

Oil Search managing director Peter Botten also has reason to be pleased with the Government's initiative because he has already shown since taking over as operator of the nation's oil fields that he is an ardent supporter of regional and national development.

Southern Highlands Governor Hami Yawari has been the sole dissenting voice, but even he will come to realise that the tide of development cannot be held back for much longer and many more people in this resource-rich province must enjoy the fruits of this prosperity.

Opposition Leader Peter O'Neill, who hails from the province, has also supported the government's decision. He noted that the province receives K180-200 million annually as a budget allocation, even though no development has taken place anywhere in the province.

With some luck the emergency rule will see a turnaround in the province's fortunes and many more in Southern Highlands will enjoy the fruits of development, which is slowly spreading through the rest of the country.


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