Single, Free And Independent
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Papua New Guinea celebrated its first birthday as an independent nation on September 16. How has the country fared in that first 12 months and what will the future bring? Prime Minister Michael Somare, in this Independence Birthday message, believes the first year has been a good one, bearing in mind the many problems facing the new nation. With an air of restrained optimism, he believes the next 12 months will see “many hopes fulfilled and ambitions realised ” “if the national spirit remains as it has been for the past year”.
“One year after the Australian flag was lowered in our country for the last time and our national flag raised in its place it is a good time to reflect on the events of our first year of independence and look forward to the next.
“When I look back to this time last year it seems that we started our first year of independence with a mixture of problems and hopes.
Some of the problems we faced on September 16, 1975, seemed to challenge our future success as an independent nation. Outsiders must ■ , , . e have wondered how we would face .. .. e . . . the problem ot strong regional r pressure for real involvement of all r . . . , , . . people in government and decisionr & making.
“Others pointed to world economic problems and asked how PNG as a new independent nation would survive in a depressed economic situation outside our own direct control.
“This time last year, too, it seemed that a national strike could threaten our economy at a vital time. At this time, other countries watched and waited to see how we would handle our international negotiations and our commitment
to develop our resources, while at the same time, retaining our control over them.
“Personally, I did not doubt for a minute PNG’s ability to handle these problems but looking back on the final months of last year it did seem that some of these problems would test our every strength. Today September 16, 1976, not all these problems have been overcome and not all of our hopes have been realised. It does not matter how many problems we solve there will always be more, and with each .. r» N , n succeeding generation in PNG .« ... . c , . . there will be fresh hopes and new ... ambitions. ..
“But, at the same time, progress , . . . . £. . has been sure and steady. I he first provincial governments are now being established. We can be hopeful that the worst of the world economic recession is over and know that through this period our own currency, the Kina, held steady and only recently was revalued.
“I believe the near future will bring us positive commitments and plans in resource development. In these, and other areas, I believe we have won the respect of the world with our proven ability to peaceful-
|y resolve problems at home and deal fairly in our negotiations with others.
“Qur success, in part, has been due to the national spirit of the peo pje 0 f during our first year of independence. As Prime Minister, I believe that the nation is indebted to a those people who showed this spirit of responsibility in a sometimes frustrating and difficult year ... . ... „ e *. ear ’ ere Wl frustrations and more d.fficulties but I believe that if the national . . . ... r .. spirit remains as it has been for the v . ... ... . past year, then there will be many ’. , , ... .. hopes fulfilled and ambitions realis ,r, ... ed during the coming months, b * “Less than a hundred years ago our country was divided between many villages, each with their own small area of land. During the past on c hundred years we have seen several different administrations w h° ave on ma P s divided our land again to suit their own purposes, “Today we recognise and respect each other’s regional differences and needs. But without a doubt and above all else, we are a single free and independent nation.’’