My Thoughts on the Parliament Kitchen Cabinet

The informal economy of PNG is a thriving sector, it is a sector which has the potential to boost and drive the entire economy of PNG. We can talk about mining and its huge benefits, but in the long run, it is unsustainable.  Here are just some ideas I came up with of creating some ministerial portfolios which I believe would address the formal and informal economy domestically in PNG. I suggest that there should be three more ministries added to the current number of ministries in the parliament’s executive arm of government. Just as well, I also propose an idea to abolish a ministry which I believe is a waste of public money to keep it functioning. These are just view points from my thoughts.

The Ministry for Internal Migration and Settlements

Being that internal migration will become an issue for development in Papua New Guinea, it is important that there should be a ministry set up to address this. We are now seeing the effects of settlement problems in the urban centres all throughout the country.

This ministry will be tasked to monitor and control the domestic migration and settlements alone, so as to avoid the buildup of illegal settlements, thus; causing land disputes and costly eviction exercises.

It is inevitable that the issues of settlement and internal migration will become a challenge as modernization has brought a gradual influx of rural migrants into major centres throughout PNG. All the more, the centralization of service delivery (mostly in urban areas) has made this trend become more of a problem then a challenge, and I believe that if the government does not address the issue of internal migration and settlements in due time; it will spill over into other sectors and hinder development.

 
Ministry for Infrastructural Development and Maintenance (to replace or merge with the department of works and civil aviation)

There should be a ministry that is mandated to address infrastructural maintenance alone, and with the defunct works department; there should be a whole revamp of the capacity of this department.

I believe the Defense Force should also be allowed to have a hand in this ministry as a means to train the capacity and increase efficiency and effectiveness of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force. In this way, the military can be economically and constructively utilized to assist in the development of infrastructure of this nation. And as well it increases the outreach of the PNGDF right throughout the country and at the same time keeps them active in peace times.

Ministry for Domestic Informal Economy

Since 85% of PNG’s economy is made up of the informal sector, it is important to stimulate economic activity in this sector in order to build the domestic economy. At the moment the Ministry for Agriculture is tasked to look after agriculture and this has led to the continual disengagement of the rural sector economy.

This sector should not only look at lucrative cash crop produce (coffee, cocoa, copra, etc), but facilitate and create local markets for local producers right throughout out the nation. Locally produced goods will be provided markets internally and externally so that this stimulates subsistence agriculture and therefore I believe will encourage mass production of locally produced goods. In other words, help local people sell their produce by facilitating or creating markets both domestic and international.

This will ensure the continuity of subsistence agriculture, but with a modernized intention of creating wealth for the informal sector economy. From this we can ensure the participation of the informal sector in the development of PNG’s domestic economy.  

Abolishment of the Ministry Assisting the Prime Minister

There should be an abolishment of the Ministry Assisting the Prime Minister. I believe this ministry is using up much needed funds and as well it undermines the function of the Deputy Prime Minister’s position. The functions of the Ministry Assisting the Prime Minister seems to overlap the role of the Deputy PM, hence it should be abolished as it is a waste of money to sustain such a ministry.

Conclusion

These are just ideas which I have cooked up in my head as a thinker and a concerned citizen at heart. The underlying intention of these points of views is to stir up conversations and criticism so that I we can better understand and be more rational in thinking. I would welcome any ideas, comments or criticisms. 

The "Boi" Social Identity Phenomenon

There is this social identity trend developing subconciously among young males. "Em boi yah" "Yu  boi stret" "Bata boi man"...are a few popular remarks I receive from friends. This social identity is very much asociated with male youths, and in Madang, this has become so popular. The thing that intrigues me about this 'boi' identity among male youths is the general awareness of its existence without us realising its influence on young males. I believe that it has become a subconciously institutionalised form of social identity.

Young boys which I often associate with often would call me a 'boi' or 'boi man' every now and then I come across them. Even if walking past a group of boys having conversation, they would always refer to each other in that kind of language. It is a complementing remark as boys would often commend one and other for doing something seen as good or accepted in the eyes of their peers. "ah yu boi stret"  "boi man!" "yu boi!" are some of the popular remarks.

The question that always come to my mind everytime I hear these remarks is "What exactly does it mean to be called 'boi'? This question has led me to the concept of the Boi Social Identity Phenomenon, which is widespread, well known and a generally accepted form of identity among youths in Madang town. I have heard stories that this is not only popular in Madang, rather it is also a familiar identity used in the Sepik (East & West) and Morobe provinces as well, but I have yet to find out more on this.

It is innate for social groups to have some rules or code of conduct, whether ethical or unethical, members will have to conform to these established formalities in order to be part of the group. In this case, 'boi' groups (from my small analysis) in order to be recognised or "kisim Luksave" (as most refer to this) as a boi' and be part of the group; you have to have what they call "pasin" (way/attitude/behaviour/trait/characteristic/quality,etc) that is generally accepted by 'boi' groups.There are many 'boi' groups in Madang town, but more or less they have the same way of behaving. Therefore, if I were to be recognised as a boi in my peer group; I will have to live up to the expectation of those already in the peer group so that I be recognised as a boi and ultimately become part of the group.

This has led me to believe and assume that from these boi groups developing in and around Madang town, it has help greatly in creating negative social behaviour, resulting in youths turning to illegal/ illicit and anti-social behaviour and acts. I believe boi social groups contribute to harbouring and breeding criminal behaviour in young youths in Madang town, I will assume the same for other places outside Madang.

With the social and economic challenges being faced by many Papua New Guineans today, one can argue or dispute my assumption to say that it is the social and economic inequalities that causes youths to turn to crime, however; one would not dispute the fact that most, if not, all crimes commited are done by persons from the area (example; ol boi lo sisiak 3, gavsto, phd compund, ol mangi lo newtown, etc), and are often young and within the youth age range. Boi groups become that perfect channel for the so called 'disadvantaged' and 'marginalised' to commit crime, because boi groups provide that conducive environment for young male youths to do something they would not do alone. And they also do it because they have support from within their own group and this further strengthens their will to commit to any act.

Therefore, the boi social identity phenomenon may be a link to understanding the way youths behave. For the case of youths in Madang town, the boi identity is very much influential on young male youths nowadays as they grow into the stage where socialising and peer bonding become strong and creates more challenges for parents, community, society, and the province as a whole.