Professor Richard Jackson did a paper on relocation of PNG’s
national capital to Arona Valley in the mid-seventies. His paper was based on
an earlier work he did for the then Chief Minister, Sir Michael Somare prior to
independence in about 1973/4 period. The University of Papua New Guinea would
be more than pleased to revisit the topic and commence a national discourse on the
subject matter, according to Associate Professor, Dr Norlie Miskaram of the
Department of Geography, University of Papua New Guinea.
Yonki is part of the
Arona Valley System. This week, the Member for Kavieng and Minister for Public
Enterprises, Ben Micah raised an important point, when he impressed upon the sMembers
of Parliament to consider relocating the nation’s capital to Arona Valley in
Eastern Highlands Province. The topic is important for many reasons; it is
about strategic positioning of PNG in the region and the world. Port Moresby is
and for a long time to come a land mark of colonial relic, and outpost made a
reality by those who sought to control the world and created empires.
When Professor
Richard Jackson made a submission to NEC then in the Cabinet of the Chief
Minister, Michael Somare in the early seventies, the Australian advisers told
the NEC, that Port Moresby was the center, relative to Australia’s strategic
and security interest. The Richard Jackson NEC papers never found the light of
the day.
Almost by coincidence
towards the end of 2012 the subject of relocation of PNG’ national capital was
raised in a private conversation in Goroka with Merrha Minne Kipefa the new
Member for Obura- Wanenera. The Member hinted that he would have as a matter of
priority and an audience, and that he would take the matter up with the Prime
Minister, Peter O’Neill.
There is a bit of
history to this important topic for Papua New Guinea having to pursue further a
national discourse. This is the most relevant and important time to revisit
these discussions. In about five years after independence, a well-regarded
eminent scholar at the University of Papua New Guinea, Professor Richard
Jackson, made it his business during his inaugural Professorial lecture
presneted the same topic- he argued for the relocation of the nation’s capital
to Arona Valley. The compilation of that lecture is being held in the New
Guinea Collection at the Michael Somare Library, University of Papua New
Guinea.
The question of
relocation of the nation’s capital comes at this crucial time, when PNG is
doing everything possible as a maturing nation in this region, including
investments in infrastructure, thus getting itself for a huge leap into the
middle income country bracket by the 2030 as forecasted in the Development
Strategic Plan 2030, and for which this twenty year plan is linked to the PNG
Vision 2050.
Minister Ben Micah in
every sense correct, when he says that the timing is right now for leaders to
start a national discourse on a number of national strategic issues, one of
which is about where the country’s capital should be located. Port Moresby was
chosen and poorly planned and developed for the interest and security of former
colonial powers. Many of us, citizens have found our way into the NCD as poor
squatters, trying to a promised land, but really eking out a haphazard and
precarious living.
There are countries
that have decided to relocate their capitals- two that come to mind are Brazil
and Tanzania. Others have also taken definite decisions on investment to build
their national capitals around the natural lake areas or they rerouted river
systems that are running through their national capitals such as the USA and
Australia. Elsewhere in the history books, one reads of the early civilizations
which begun on temperate zones around two rivers- the Tigris and Euphrates in
modern day Iraq.
Arona Valley has all
the credentials going for its selection. It just has the naturally climate to
allow economic use of space and allows the human brains to usefully and fully
function; it has the vistas and the Yonki and the surroundings of un-spoilt
mountains and hills that give that picturesque exceptional aura of energy and
life to an emerging Melanesian regional power; not only that, but it is also a
center of PNG’s national population. Professor Richard Jackson has had more
convincing and pleasant descriptors than what can be usefully said here in this
column. What can be said here is that, it is worth considering; the Government
takes the bold step forward by funding a feasibility study of this very
significant project.
First
posted on 7th December 2013 in http://tiikiiembshiiemb.blogspot.com
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