​Commentary by George Lemako,
Australia has been a longstanding development partner of Papua New Guinea (PNG) since its independence in 1975. Over the decades, Australia has provided significant financial aid and technical assistance aimed at fostering development in the country. As PNG’s closest geographical neighbor, Australia has played a pivotal role in supporting various sectors, including governance, education, health, and infrastructure. Notably, Australia’s engagement has emphasized strengthening cultural and historical ties between the two nations.

A recent highlight of Australia’s support to PNG is its backing for the country’s ambition to establish a team in the National Rugby League (NRL). This initiative reflects a shared passion for rugby league and serves as a tool for cultural diplomacy. The establishment of a PNG NRL team aims to foster national pride, provide opportunities for PNG athletes, and deepen the bond between the two nations. This initiative, while symbolic, holds potential to inspire PNG’s youth and create pathways for greater representation in international sports.

Here is a list of Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea along with their periods of office:

1. Michael Somare
   • First term: 16 September 1975 – 11 March 1980
   • Second term: 2 August 1982 – 30 September 1985
   • Third term: 5 August 2002 – 2 August 2011
   • Fourth term: 5 August 2011 – 23 April 2012
2. Julius Chan
   • First term: 11 March 1980 – 2 August 1982
   • Second term: 30 September 1994 – 22 July 1997
3. Rabbie Namaliu
   • 22 July 1988 – 7 August 1992
4. Paias Wingti
   • First term: 9 August 1985 – 4 July 1988
   • Second term: 4 August 1992 – 22 July 1994
5. Sir William Skate
   • 22 July 1997 – 14 July 1999
6. Sir Mekere Morauta
   • 14 July 1999 – 5 August 2002
7. Peter O'Neill
   • 4 August 2011 – 30 May 2019
8. James Marape
   • 30 May 2019 – present (as of my last update in January 2022)

These leaders have played significant roles in shaping Papua New Guinea's political landscape during their respective tenures as Prime Minister.

By David Lepi
Weaponising state institutions to use against political opponents is a new trend Prime Minister James Marape is setting. 
Allow me to qualify this.. 
Last Thursday 08th June 2023, the high court notified former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill his Supreme Court Reference on the legality of the government formation last year will be heard by a full Supreme Court bench on 30th August 2023.
The same news also reached the government and that set into motion interesting events. 
Immediately the next day, Friday 9th June 2023, Marape and team quickly retreated to Loloata Island and convened a 'war' council. 
The best part is on Saturday 10th June 2023 in the middle of the night when all public service comes to rest Police Commissioner David Manning worked overtime summoned Peter O'Neill by way of media statement to report to Police Headquarters, Konedobu, for questioning on perjury relating to the Commission of Inquiry report on UBS Loan. 
Never in the UBS CoI recommendation which is now available for the public, not even a single line, stated perjury, or O'Neill giving false statement to the CoI and needed to be further investigated. 

Every year came and passed. Seconds adds up to minutes, and then to hours and days, and to years, decades, and centuries to as far as a millennium. And they have all vanished as if it was just a second in a lifetime.

All the days seemed to remain the same even though our Westminster system replaces leaders every election in a span of five years.

Time is not of our concern as the individual demands for every nation surpasses their existential capacity to fully afford them.

And it waged the possible need for foreign influence in which we are loyally playing the neocolonialism narrative, merely to blend in, fall into the groove and survive.

Witchcraft and sorcery related instances are a societal norm that existed for centuries in our world. And it has sparked growing controversy that became the hottest woes in the lives of every individual.

But the government has supported the supernatural beings by enacting laws that protected them and is unfair, especially from a biblical and cultural perspective and needs to be removed.

The holy bible maintains that one-third of the angels were cast out from heaven when obeying Lucifer’s command. It is evident when Jesus Christ went over to a possessed person at Galilee and casted out the demons as they instantly went into a sounder of swine and were then hurtled into the water. With that, the SDA’s embrace the doctrine and are forbidden to consume pork and entitle it as an unclean animal.  

​May We Be Free!

With PNG’s national calendar that annually celebrates the queen’s birthdate, her death would now be remembered in every anniversary, or we might dedicate another day to respect the crowning day of our new king.

The globe grieved over the death of the queen of England as tears fell from the most prominent faces of the world – naming from senators, prime ministers, presidents and inventors to conglomerated giants. Although her timely passing is a great loss, it is about time the systematic shackles are broken, especially on a political and economic standpoint.

As a member-state to the commonwealth since 1975, our nation’s sovereignty has given a portion of our constitutional powers to the governor-general who is representing the kingdom of England, reflecting our neo-colonialism status.

Image caption: PNG needs to move on without any foreign interference in our political and economic affairs.

My friend, why would you be stressed over the things that you cannot control. Why would you suffer from a course that will not benefit you? Is it necessary to encounter those psychological, spiritual and emotional warfare? Why are you worrying too much? This life is precious.

Every mortal being will depart the physical realm.  With the intent, why would you pretend to make for someone’s happiness? You are special and a role model that one treasures. And a resource to this nation. An asset, precisely.

Just imagine the billions of individuals that occupied our planet since the BC-Julian calendar to this AD-Gregorian calendar. We are just a pint of the heaves of souls.

Papua New Guinea Politicians are not the only ones in the quest for overall prosperity. Every citizen is part of the quest and so has an important role to play. But people are deeply bound by a belief that politicians will provide everything to their doorstep. And such perception prevents collective efforts from many individuals, diminishing unity overtime.

In order for a vehicle to move from point A to point B, it must be road worthy. Naming from a vehicle driver, steering-rod, clutch and injector to a tire, they must all be positioned firmly to make the trip possible. And that is exactly the case with our political culture. The politicians need our collective roles to better our lives as a whole.