Book Review

Sinebare, Musawe. 2014. PNG Vision 2050: A Critique for the Development of Papua New Guinea. India, Rajan Jain. 

Dr Sinebare Musawe
Photo credit: MEDTEC

Review by Ismael K. Isikel

Introduction

Dr Sinebare’s latest book is a critique of Papua New Guinea’s long term development strategy that was introduced in 2009 that envisage the country and its citizens to be smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy by 2050. It touches on our everyday lives, our well-being, and our future as individuals and as a nation.

The book consists of 189 pages and is divided into 18 chapters. There is an index for quick access to topics in the chapters. A bibliography is located towards the end and comprises 62 items.

PNG Vision 2050 appears to join futuristic thinking of our time and drew my attention to two internationally acclaimed futuristic thinkers. These two leading futuristic thinkers are Alvin Toffler (The Third Wave) and John Naisbitt (Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives).  I read these two books over twenty years ago and reread them again this year while researching to do this review. While futuristic thinkers envision the future based on past and current experiences, PNG Vision 2050 plans to get there.

In the process of working on this review I also found another PNG writer’s article. The author is, Tabian Ambang, who looked at Vision 2050 in his work “Progress and the challenges of implementing PNG Vision 2050:  Reflections from Human Development Index ranking for 2011 – 2012.  This is the second work that I have come across relating to critique and analysis of PNG Vision 2050.

The purpose of this review is to draw attention to PNG Vision 2050: A Critique for the Development of Papua New Guinea.

Review

PNG Vision 2050

A synopsis of PNG Vision 2050 is presented next to help the readers in the beginning follow this review.  At the end of 2007 the National Executive Council (NEC) decided to develop this framework strategy to chart the future course for a better Papua New Guinea reflecting our aspirations. The NEC made the decision on advice from the National Planning Committee (NPC) and the result is “The Papua New Guinea Vision 2050” and commonly shortened as PNG Vision 2050.

PNG Vision 2050 is characterised by seven Strategic Focus Areas, also referred to as the seven pillars and these are:

1. Human Capital Development, Gender, Youth and People Empowerment;

2. Wealth Creation;

 3. Institutional Development and Service Delivery;

4. Security and International Relations;

5. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change;

6. Spiritual, Cultural and Community Development; and

7. Strategic Planning, Integration and Control.

PNG Vision 2050: A Critique for the Development of Papua New Guinea.

In the first chapter the author notes a significant difference between the original and current versions of the mission statement of PNG Vision 2050.  The term “united” was in the original version but when the Final Report to National Development Summit 2008, was presented the term “united” was omitted and it now  reads‘ We will be a Smart, Wise, Fair, Healthy and Happy Society by 2050.’ The earlier version read We will create a united, smart, wise, fair, healthy, and happy Papua New Guinea by 2050.

Two Complimentary Government Plans is the topic of discussion and analysis in the second chapter where the author analyses PNG Vision 2050 and PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030. Here the author gives a snapshot of the similarities, differences, and complementaries between these two long term plans by the government.

There have been calls for the abolition of the dual salary system in the country and again the author reiterates this call in his discussion of Attitude and Mindset in chapter three.  The chapter points out that it is easy to criticise public servants for poor performance and attitude in the workplace.  Of course it is easy to criticise, but no one has made a thorough study of the causes of the poor performance and attitude.  However, there are some causes that stand out and one of them is the dual salary system. I also reiterate the author’s call for the abolition of the dual salary system. It is an outdated system and one of the contributing factors to a divisive situation where the national and the expatriate are treated differently in terms of reward even if they have equal educational qualification and work experience. This is not to say that some expatriates have educational experience and skills that nationals do not posses. However it is time for a paradigm shift, a change of the mindset.

We aspire to be a smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy people and country by 2050. Our aspirations require conformity, individually and collectively, to government directives in order to achieve this smart, wise, fair and happy state.  Chapter 4 concludes that key stakeholders have an important role to play in executing their roles, functions and responsibility in delivering their roles, functions and responsibilities in delivering government services to the nation. Tabian[i] makes similar observations and explains further thus, PNG can be transformed into an emerging developing country if all the directional statements under Vision 2050 are articulated, institutionalized and implemented efficiently and effectively by the government and by its development partners and agencies including the business sector. However there are challenges as the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI), for 2011 shows that PNG is among the group of low human development countries, being ranked 153 out of 187 countries and falling below most of its smaller South Pacific Island countries .

As You Sow So Shall You Reap is the topic of chapter 5 and appropriately illustrated with an analogy of the algorithm that immediately sent me off to the dictionary and I came back with this definition from Google:

Algorithm is a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

I note in my readings elsewhere the term algorithm is now used more and more in the social sciences and in here the author uses systems approach such as in project management as a systematic way of doing things in order to achieve better desired results.

A social science translation of this computer algorithm simply is, if we put in good quality work in conformity with government policies or PNG Vision 2050 guidelines we can expect good quality outcome. If we put in half-hearted performance without conforming to and understanding of government directives, then let us not expect the best outcome.

Now, back to the systems approach! The chapter suggests a systems approach such as project management as the most potential to help us achieve PNG Vision 2050. Added to the systems approach the author discusses Pursuing the Smart Approach in chapter 6 where SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

Indeed we need wisdom, both traditional and introduced, to exercise fairness in carrying out our decisions and work. Chapter 8 warns that, if we continue to plant the seed of unfairness and greed in the way we conduct our affairs now, there is little or no hope to see PNG society become a fair society by the year 2050. The chapter encourages reading as a means to collecting information on wisdom from other countries to supplement traditional wisdom to help us assimilate and exercise fairness in carrying out our duties. Most books do not tell us that this is wisdom and that is not. Some of the books we read and work out the wisdom in them. For example, we can be able to work out wisdom from reading the Third Wave by Alvin Toffler. The wisdom comes from our deductions of the changes in society and what to look for in anticipating or planning for change.

Health of body, mind and spirit forms the discussion of chapter 9. A healthy workforce serving a healthy society is something that we should all aspire to have by 2050 and beyond.

People aspire to live happy lives. No matter the ups and downs in their lives, happiness should be long lasting. Chapter 10 treats enduring happiness for people and their communities. It goes on to ask and discuss the following questions that are central to PNG Vision 2050:

1. Is PNG smart?

2. Is PNG wise?

3. Is PNG fair?

4. Is PNG healthy?

5. Is PNG happy?

Papua New Guineans should be asking these questions as basis for acting together or individually in order to contribute to achieving PNG Vision 2050. Let me put these five questions into one main question and that is: What is the current state now?

After dealing with enduring happiness the book next touches on “knowledge is wealth” and basically focuses on development of the human capital for creating wealth.

In discussing Strategic Plans and their Implementation the author points out in chapter 12 some investment decisions appear not to be in line with strategic plans. It also notes the lack of conformity by majority government departments and agencies to directives.

Towards Political stability is treated in chapter 13 and concludes that strong political leadership with high integrity and moral values are needed to shift towards political stability. Leadership of such quality could be groom from within our education system.

The discussion on political stability is followed by Institutional Development and Service Delivery. This chapter call for improvement in critical areas such as political option, public sector reform, and infrastructure and utilities.

Chapter 15 addresses Human Capital Development for Knowledge Economy.  In order to achieve this it concludes discipline must be exercised in apportioning funds according to the percentage distribution required in PNG Vision 2050.

National Security and International Relations forms the discussion in Chapter 16 and includes Prospects for Security in PNG, Social Security, National Security, International Relations, and Deteriorating Law and Order Situation. A strategy is needed to guarantee security for all citizens and good-natured relations between our country PNG and other countries.

   

Vision 2050 and Futuristic

Vision 2050 is not just an ambitious isolated plan, but one that John Naisbitt[1] had foreseen long before it was written. In Chapter four of Megatrends Naisbitt writes in summary, “We are restructuring from a society run by short-term considerations and rewards in favour of dealing with things in much longer-term time frames” (Naisbitt 1982, p.1). Then it is reasonable to state Papua New Guinea Government and its people aspire to restructure and move away from short-term considerations and rewards towards long term planning to achieve better and long term desired results. Another futuristic thinker, Alvin Tofller, wrote, “Today the First Wave has virtually subsided. Only a few tiny tribal populations, in South America or Papua New Guinea, for example, remain to be reached by agriculture" (Toffler 1980, 13). This was noted in 1980 and it would be interesting to analyse the agriculture sector in terms of how much has it achieved in order to guarantee food security between 1980 and 2015.

A shift in leadership style is necessary. We need to move away from the type of leadership styles that are described as the mercenary, merchant, and maniac which the author talks about in his previous book Principles & Practices of Papua New Guinea Leadership. In this book the mercenary  is described as…”an opportunist who uses scare tactics to threaten staff, suppress procedures, pillage resources, and grab what he can and dash” (Sinebare 2013, p.68).

What kind of society do we move away from?

We must move away from a society that is unfair. It is crucial to remove all forms of unfair practices. For example, let us remove the dual salary system and move over to a society where the national is treated equally by reward as the expatriate. Let us give a better education to our children in order for them, and generations after, to acquire knowledge for wealth creation.

Sources

Dr Sinebare used a variety of sources to write this critique. Sources include newspaper articles that were consulted to find out what people are currently expressing on national issues that bears relevance to PNG Vision 2050. The reader will note that each chapter begins with a quotation. These quotations are from various notable people from around the world, including scholars and world leaders that set the gist of each chapter. Dr Sinebare has been a senior academic administrator and senior public servant and draws from his long years of experience in writing this critique.

Conclusion

Understanding, appreciation and acting upon directives to implement Vision 2050 are needed in order to maximize achievements of desired results of PNG Vision 2050 by 2050 and beyond.

Despite the attempts, slow progress is noted in the first two years of Vision 2050’s implementation.

I think one other contributing factor is for leaders to align themselves with and understand futuristic thinking because PNG Vision 2050 joins long-term thinking and planning.

Sinebare and Tabian are the two known authors that have made individual study - analysis and critique - of PNG Vision 2050.

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Note

Any misrepresentation in this review is entirely the responsibility of the reviewer and not the author.

References

Ambang, Tabian. 2012. Progress and the challenges of implementing PNG Vision 2050: Reflections from Human Development Index ranking for 2011–2012 in Contemporary PNG Studies: DWU Research Journal Volume 17, November 2012, p.83 -93.

Naisbitt, John. 1982.   Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. New York, Warner Books.

National Strategic Plan Taskforce. 2009.  Papua New Guinea Vision 2050. Government of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby.

Sinebare, Masuwe. 2013. Principle & Practices of Papua New Guinea Leadership. India, Rajan Jain.

Toffler, Alvin. 1980. The Third Wave. US, Bantam Books.

Footnotes

[1] Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. New York, Warner, Books.

[i] Ambang, Tabian. 2012. Progress and the challenges of implementing PNG Vision 2050: Reflections from Human Development Index ranking for 2011–2012.