MY PEOPLE, MY CRY

Reminiscing the past and hoping for the future

The concept of Development in the world is debatable. Regardless of all this, at the heart of the concept of ‘development’ are the notions of improvement or betterment (Willis, 2016). The author then further reflects that, these days, development theories seek to explain development processes and development inequalities based on particular definitions of development.

Reflection

In the developing countries like Papua New Guinea, development and development projects are all defined by the World Bank and other International institutions. Development in this beautiful nation is powerfully described as a huge tidal wave from the West crashing on the Melanesian society (Narakobi, 1980). The Melanesians were not even prepared for the change. One prominent academic lamented the fact that the people right throughout this beautiful nation even to the fringes should be helped to understand this new gigantic waves framed by Christianity and Colonialism (Nekitel, 1989). Nevertheless, this cry is still ringing from the ages and it is exceptionally true for the people of Aitape and Lumi.

Aitape Lumi peoples’ cry of the years gone by since independence has reflected the district’s engagement in only a similar form of development. This development comes in the form of foreign companies extracting natural resources from the local villages.

For Aitape (both East & West LLG areas), logging industry very much dominated the area. These logging companies operate using different permits, some under the guise of SABL (agro-forest projects), others using road permits, yet others empowered by peoples' ILGs have engaged in logging activities that are illegal in nature (Numapo, 2013).

For Lumi, others of similar nature are in operation at various scales. One of the recent project since the late 90s is the Tree Kangaroo Conservation project. Through the signing of 'Moratorium (temporary agreement to stop hunting Tree Kangaroos), the project since then has significantly grown to a new level (Tenkile Conservation Alliance, 2017).

 

A local person’s development reflection

 

With this brief description of the Aitape-Lumi district’s development cry of the ages, there are certain vital development points that are essential to foster development and mitigate underdevelopment.

Firstly, these forms of development, apart from our Government, have brought some changes to the lives of the people without doubt. However, the impact of the change and the extent of the benefits are still debatable. Generally, all the villages and the lives of the people have very much looked the same. This obviously leads to the conclusion that forms of development that includes foreigners, Government (Political influence) and Middle Man (so called Chairman) is a model that does not really benefit the people. Too many partners involve too many pay cheques and expense. Alas, the poor village people only receive a trickle.

Secondly the cry from the past has indicated explicitly that the discussed form of development includes a lot of third parties. In this context, the people, who are the primary stakeholders- for whose interest the projects, are undertaken at most times became spectators. They have lost their rights over their own land and have become strangers in their own paradise home.

Furthermore, such development practices and models serve various interests because a lot of unnecessary partners are in partnership.

 

The probe

 

These thoughts lead to a new probing question of, “how can we maximize development benefit to the people and make it more sustainable?”  A recent discussion in development reveals that the key lies in the need to consider the culture and views of the people in the community which is the vital cog or the key to any initiative designed to benefit the people (Astanga, 2018).

So for development and any initiatives to be successful, people’s perspectives, conceptualizations and knowledge on development is very importation. There should be equal and ample contribution by the communities before any development project is carried out.

When considering indigenous peoples’ (landowners) perspective, culture is also another factor that should be considered as it is integral to development and could not be separated (Marana, 2010). It is indeed a vital element in any development practice that is connected to the people. It is also important to note that culture itself is not static but is dynamic and is fluid and changes every time people interact with one another (Hermes, 2014).

In this setting, a proper understanding and incorporation of culture in any development planning and execution is paramount for success.

Concluding thoughts

 

In reminiscing the past and hoping for the future, a Wape and Aitape person is naturally a Melanesian. It is clear in his culture that they as a people are a communal people. They strive to collectively make their communities better. Yes, the cry from the past is a reaction to the deep wounds caused by ignorance and negligence of their own ways in their quest to adapt and adopt the foreign notions of development. The future is now, let the Wape and Aitape man put aside Western notion of individualism which is destroying him and start building himself from within.

 

"BOTTOM UP- COMMUNITY BASED MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT IS THE WAY FOWARD"
 

Reference

Astanga, F. A. (June, 2018). Development expert want public perception of development changed. Ghana News Agency. Retrieved from https://search/proquest.com/docview/2057530779?accountid=191104

Hermes, K. L. (2014). Yumi olgeta papua niugini: cultural identity formations and national consciousness among urban-educated youth in Papua New Guinea (Doctoral dissertation, [Honolulu]:[University of Hawaii at Manoa],[December 2014]). Retrieved from https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/101225/Hermes_Karin_r.pdf

Marana, M. (2010). Culture and Development: Evolution and prospects.

 

Narokobi, B. (1980). The Melanesian way: Total cosmic vision of life. Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies.

Nekitel, O. (1989). Communicating the concepts of development. In C. Thirlwall and P.J.Huges (Eds.), The ethics of development: Language, communication and power (pp.  57-61). Port Moresby, PNG: University of Papua New Guinea Press.

Numapo, J. (2013). Commission of inquiry into special agricultural and business leases (SABL) final report. Retrieved from https://www.coi.pg.

Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2017). Tree kangaroo. Retrieved from http://www.tenkile.com

Willis, K. (2016). Development theory. doi: 10.1093/OBO/9780199874002-0007