PNG ASSISTING PACIFIC NATIONS WITHOUT REGIONAL POLICY A CONCERN: POLYE //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// PORT MORESBY: The Opposition upon learning Papua New Guinea’s financial commitment to small Pacific Island nations without any regional policy today (Monday) urged the government to have one to deal with emerging issues in the region. Opposition Leader Don Polye said the policy would set the framework for the government to look into the affairs of Smaller Pacific Island countries for assistance within the region. “PNG has growing interests and strong values in the region, thus its position has dramatically shifted to a higher height and its role has significantly increased prompting the country to assume leadership role,” a concerned Mr. Polye said. PNG’s interests, he said, are derived from security, trade and economic aspects of relationships whilst its values area derived from history, cultural and ethnical backgrounds with smaller island countries of the region. He said PNG’s values are viewed as determinants for choosing smaller island countries of the region for partnership but significantly PNG’s interests determine the practical aspects of relationship with these countries. He said there is no doubt that PNG has deep interest and strong values in the region and its perceived leadership is evident. “It would be inappropriate for PNG to sit with a ‘juvenile attitude’ and assist Smaller Island Countries of the Pacific on an “ad hoc” basis as resources have to be spent properly based on a regional policy”, said Polye. He said an alternative government’s (Policy called) ‘Regional’Polye’ should focus on the following: • PNG should assist smaller island nations to eradicate poverty and the main Missions in the region especially Kundu Honiara and Kundu Fiji should be resourced with financial capacity to fund projects which have poverty alleviation objectives; • PNG should assist smaller island nations during emergency situations whereby the PNG military and police personnel should have a ‘quick response approach’ with humanitarian aid when such countries encounter natural disasters; • PNG should assist smaller island nations when such countries experience internal conflicts or ethnic tensions which have potential to erupt into major civil unrest. Such a program should be initiated by PNG, putting itself not to provide ‘quick fix solutions’ but provide long term strategies for achieving stability and peace; • PNG should review its existing bilateral arrangements with countries of the region to help overcome fragility and vulnerability.PNG has good and strong relationships with countries of the region but it should utilise the relationships to consult more regularly instead of participating from a wire sub-regional bloc like the Pacific Island Forum; • PNG should develop an ongoing human resource development program especially with tertiary education scholarships for countries of the region and such programs should be administered by Kundu-Honiara and Kundu-Fiji to ensure appropriateness and transparency in the selecting process; and • PNG should restructure the National Volunteer Services with a view to fully resource the organisation and it will recruit PNG doctors, magistrates, engineers, accountants, teachers, business development officers, agriculturalist, nurses, etc on a volunteer arrangement and assign them to Smaller Island nations to assist with capacity development programmes and help improve service delivery in those countries. Mr Polye said PNG’s relationships with smaller island countries of the region have grown comprehensively and deepened recently. “PNG requires an effective system of government of the smaller island which would reflect socio-economic values,” It would be important for PNG to demonstrate influence and make a difference within the region for the benefit of smaller island countries,” said Polye. Approved for Release ........................................... Don POMB POLYE, CMG, BE (Civil), MBA, MIEPNG (Reg), MP
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 08:44:32 +0000
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