PRIME MINISTER

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

[Greetings]

[The naming of the Library]

Many of you may have expected to see the Hon John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister and for that matter our own Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Michael Somare here this morning and I admit that it is disappointing that circumstances beyond out control prevented their visit today. In the case of our Prime Minister, he is attending the Funeral of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the former President of Fiji. The Prime Ministers friendship with Ratu Sir Mara and the close relationship we as a nation share with Fiji should be understood. Sir Michael sends his regrets that he could not be with us today to open the “Friendship Library”. Sir Michael has a special place in his heart for this fine University and has asked me to wish you all well and asked me to present his speech:

Friendship is the reason why the Friendship Library is here, and why the Friendship Library is so named.

Another friend, His Excellency Michael Potts, High Commissioner for Australia in Papua New Guinea is here. I know him to be a friend of Papua New Guinea in the widest sense. Each contact with me as Prime Minister – and with other people and agencies in our country is concerned with how he can direct resources to assist our country. It is particularly appropriate that he should be here at the opening of the Friendship Library.

The Friendship Library is a magnificent gift. Divine Word University has promised that this gift will be fully used. It will be a resource for the university, and all institutions of higher education and training institutions in Madang. It will be a resource for teachers and students of the schools in Madang.

The High Commissioner was involved in discussions on how Friendship Library was to be named. It was with his agreement that the library was named after an ideal.

‘Friendship’ is not a theological, philosophical or sociological word. There are theological and sociological equivalents which teach us the importance of friendship in our everyday lives and in national policy.

[Friendship and the Order of Divine Word]

The Order of the Divine Word is an international order. Its Priests and Brothers come from Papua New Guinea, but also from nations across the world – Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Wherever they come from, the members of the Order of the Divine Word are true friends of Papua New Guinea.

I know that when Fr Jan Czuba, President of Divine Word University, speaks with me, he will speak with love for this country. He will speak with the knowledge of Melanesian community which comes from years of work up the Sepik River in my own province. He will have far-reaching and carefully considered plans for how this University can provide the graduates that will serve this country.

Thank you Father Jan, your staff and your brothers in the Order of Divine Word.

[Friendship at a Provincial Level: “Civil Society”]

The sociological concept of friendship on a large scale is of ‘civil society’. ‘Civil society’ is willingness of citizens to work together for their common good. ‘Civil society’ is absence of nepotism, patronage, and greed in public life. ‘Civil society’ is trust in each other.

I am very conscious of the importance of ‘civil society’. As Prime Minister, I see both the value of ‘civil society’ and the damage inflicted by its absence. Certain provinces progress because of the presence of civil society organizations, and trust and friendship between the people. Other provinces regress because of the in-fighting, patronage, clientelism and greed of leadership. At least, one province through its choice of an enlightened and humble leader reversed a long-term decline in services and infrastructure.

Part of the ideals of Divine Word University is to produce professionals and citizens, who emerge with a philosophy of service to their communities.

Thank you staff of Divine Word University for the love for the country shown in your work here.

[Friendship of Australia and Papua New Guinea]

Australia and Papua New Guinea are true friends. Each approaches the other with patience and kindness. We should not boast or make ourselves better in some way than the other. Some differences annoy us, but we can ignore them in the wider friendship. Neither we nor Australians are perfect in our relationship, yet I hope we will always be ready ‘to excuse, to trust and to hope.’

Friendship Library is part of this friendship.

Other parts of the friendship are shown in the generous sponsorship of programs in health administration, justice and police education. These, besides the financial assistance, have included partnership with Australian academics and aid workers.

Thank you, High Commissioner and the people of Australia, for this ongoing contribution. As you walk round this campus, you may see the development of buildings and infrastructure, much of which is through Australian assistance.

More broadly, we see your contributions bearing fruit in better health administration and better health, and the beginning of better police work, and secure and safe lives for our people.

We can reciprocate by saying that these gifts will be fully used for the benefit of our people.

It would be remiss I did not take this opportunity to thank the Australian Government, AusAID for the establishment of the PNG Incentive Fund. If it was not for this initiative, we would not be here today celebrating the opening of this fine library, nor the Auditorium which was opened several months ago. The Incentive Fund is about excellence and he today we see a living example of this excellence.

Last week I heard that it was rumoured that the PNG Incentive Fund may be withdrawn, may I say he that the PNG Government recognises the initiative taken and is appreciative of the discipline that are encouraged through the PNGIF and support it’s continuation.

Thank you to Bill Hamlin, John Davidson and all the representatives here today from PNGIF and the Incentive Fund.

Divine Word University is developing an ethic of international service. There are, for example, students from East Timor. This is also a Melanesian country – although isolated. I have an immense pride that we Papua New Guineans can stretch the hand of friendship to others from far beyond our shores.

[Divine Word University and International Friendship]

Divine Word University is reaching out its hand in friendship. There are, for example, students from East Timor. This is also a Melanesian country – although isolated. I have immense pride that we Papua New Guineans can help others from far beyond our shores. Australian generosity will help us become more effective friends to others.

[Friendship at International Level: “South Pacific Community”]

International friendship is also important. Nations in the South Pacific are now examining the warmer and more relaxed relationship that comes through friendship.

Increasingly, we are aware that easier travel and easier work permits may be in each nation’s interest. The nation welcoming migrant workers benefits by more skills. The nation sending the migrant workers gains by income and experience. Professional workers coming to Papua New Guinea often bring with them a very large investment in their education, and bring skills and competencies we do not yet have. We see this in the overseas academics at Divine Word University who are here because they wish to contribute to the well being of our country and because they enjoy their Melanesian experience. They are not here for the pay which is far lower than national staff receive in Government universities, and far lower than they could receive in their home countries. They bring international perspectives to complement the Melanesian. The training they provide adds – not subtracts – from job opportunities for Papua New Guineans.

Thank you, international volunteers, specially the VSO, AVB, AESOP for being good friends of our country. And I hope that you have found our people good friends to you.

[State-Church Partnership in Higher Education]

Church agencies have long contributed to our country: in education, in health and higher education.

Divine Word University is part of that partnership in teacher education – through St Benedict’s Teachers’ College in my home province of East Sepik, in Nursing Education through Madang Lutheran School of Nursing, and in paramedical education through Madang College of Allied Health Sciences.

We work with church agencies because we know they will serve our people.

Under this partnership, we consider church and State agencies equally when it comes to funding. We consider the need of the community or nation, relevance and quality of the program, and cost-effectiveness and capacity of the agency to deliver.

In 2003, NEC recognized Divine Word University as an agency for higher education in the same way as Teachers’ Colleges, and Schools of Nursing are agency institutions. Where Divine Word University offer comparative cost-effectiveness, quality and relevance, the Government should support it.

[Effective and Efficient Use of Facilities]

I am asking all Government agencies to review their use of facilities. Where agencies do not use and cannot maintain facilities, those facilities should be transferred to those who can use them and who can maintain them.

Sometimes transfer of facilities will be between State agencies.

Other times, the transfer of facilities may be to a church or Non-Government Organisation.

In line with this policy, I promised last year that the Government would examine the possibility of transferring the Momase Regional Training Centre from the Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration to Divine Word University.

We have completed that examination. We see Divine Word University using its resources effectively and efficiently in the interests of the people of Papua New Guinea. Divine Word University’s facilities are well maintained and fully used. Demand from students, employers and donors show that they can fully use – and maintain – other facilities such as the Momase Regional Training Centre.

By contrast, the PNG Institute of Administration has not used or maintained the Momase Regional Training Centre. It lies derelict. It is used only by squatters. This is not necessarily the fault of the PNGIPA, but nevertheless it remains a liability which will now become an asset, not only physically, but productively.

Yesterday the Government therefore has ordered the immediate transfer of the Centre to Divine Word University. The transfer will be without payment, and without reversion to the PNG Institute of Public Administration. The transfer will give the PNG Institute of Public Administration access to the teaching facilities, this library, and student accommodation so that they can mount their courses here. As a result of this transfer, the Institute of Public Administration will have the facilities they need to teach here – and which they do not have now. The Government has also requested that DWU in consultation with PNGIPA formulate relevant courses for Public Servants to improve the capacity of those serving the people in districts and Local Level Governments.

Conclusions

The future is what we make it.

The Friendship Library, the generous gift of our Australian friends, will be part of the future of academic life in Madang.

I am sure that Divine Word University will itself make wise and generous use of the facility for the benefit of the nation.

I look forward to seeing the benefits of this generosity, vision and commitment.

As they say, a friend in need, is a friend indeed.

M. T. Somare

P Barter

Leaving the speech prepared by the Prime Minister, I personally would like to play tribute to everyone involved with the success of the Divine Word University which has become one of the finest Universities in PNG. This could not have happened without the leadership conveyed by the President, his academic staff and the support of the students. The team work displayed here in all divisions should be duplicated throughout PNG which will continue to make PNG a greater country.

Madang has become a prime educational center in PNG and it is my belief that it will one day become a prime education center of the Pacific. In Madang we have an excellent environment for learning and this library will become the heart of the educational center.

On behalf of the Madang people may I take this occasion to personally congratulate Fr Jan Czuba and his team and lastly to our friends the Australian people. Thank you, God Bless.

Peter Barter