{"id":455037,"date":"2022-01-02T23:44:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T23:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=68285"},"modified":"2022-01-02T23:44:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T23:44:50","slug":"the-bleak-and-black-covid-year-that-shook-papua-new-guinea-to-the-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/01\/02\/the-bleak-and-black-covid-year-that-shook-papua-new-guinea-to-the-core\/","title":{"rendered":"The bleak and black covid year that shook Papua New Guinea to the core"},"content":{"rendered":"
ANALYSIS:<\/strong> By Patrick Levo in Port Moresby<\/em><\/p>\n In all of the meandering years in the life of Papua New Guinea, 2021, which ended on Friday has to be it.<\/p>\n The colours were there, the love and laughter were there, the sadness, emotions, losses, highs and lows, the bleakness of our long-suffering population and blackness of ethereal poor governance were all intertwined with making 2021 standout.<\/p>\n In a nutshell, 2021 will be remembered as the year that shook PNG to the core.<\/p>\n The biggest and most enduring life changer was covid-19. Like a thief in the night, it descended on our lives. It robbed our children of their innocence. It stopped our businesses dead in their tracks. It stole our bread. It stole the breath of our nation builders.<\/p>\n This year, we will still be waking, walking and wandering with covid-19<\/a>. It was and is the most tumultuous health issue ever, hovering over the gardener in a remote valley to a bush driver in a town to a business executive in the city.<\/p>\n Big or small, rich or poor, we all face the same anxiety.<\/p>\n Covid-19 was on everyone\u2019s lips and in everyone\u2019s ears. It is a global event that is still unraveling and we cannot predict what it holds for us in 2022.<\/p>\n The Kumul will fly<\/strong> So many of our fathers and forefathers left us over the past year. Men, who walked and talked with giants, whose dreams and aspirations \u2013 covid-19 or not \u2013 we must carry in our hearts and move forward. That is the challenge that awaits our bones in 2022.<\/p>\n Sir Mekere Morauata (2020), Sir Pita Lus, Sir Philip Bouraga, Sir Paulias Matane, Sir Ramon Thurecht, Sir Ronald Tovue and the Chief of Chiefs, GC Sir Michael Thomas Somare.<\/p>\n One could only wonder as we wandered, tearfully from “haus krai” to the next mourning house. Why?<\/p>\n In one swoop, 2021 took our history book and shook the knights of our realm out of its pages.<\/p>\n Men whose colourful and storied existence led to the birth of our nation. How said indeed it is that a country loses its foundation so suddenly. Shaken to the core.<\/p>\n While mainland PNG mourned the loss of Sir Mekere, Kerema MP Richard Mendani, Middle Fly MP Roy Biyama and recently Middle Ramu MP Johnny Alonk, Bougainville was not spared.<\/p>\n The island is reeling from losing its Regional MP Joe Lera and just two weeks ago, Central Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai. Our leadership shaken to the core!<\/p>\n Historic year for PNG<\/strong> Two weeks ago, its president declared: \u201cLet my people go!\u201d Shaken to the core!<\/p>\n Ethnic violence — 1000 tribes in distress with violence becoming an everyday happening, Tari vs Kerema, Kange vs Apo, Kaimo vs Igiri, Goi vs Tari, threatening the very fabric of our unity. Our knights in their freshly dug tombs would be turning in their graves.<\/p>\n Family and Sexual Violence against women and children and the ugly head of sorcery related violence.<\/p>\n I mean, how dare we call ourselves a Christian nation and tolerate such evil? How dare you men accuse our women, mothers, sisters and daughters, and murder them in cold blood?<\/p>\n What more can we, as a newspaper say? We have spent copious amounts of sheet and ink, more than enough on these issues, we have raised our anger, we have commiserated with those in power about these issues. The message is not getting through to the men of this nation. Where have all the good men gone?<\/p>\n\n
\nNow you can\u2019t go anywhere without a face mask. But we must rise to the occasion. We must be resilient like our forefathers. We must face it. The Kumul will fly.<\/p>\n
\nThis is also a historic year for PNG. Sixty-four years after Sir Michael shook his fist at Australia and demanded: \u201cLet my people go,\u201d Bougainville has done the same, voting overwhelmingly to secede from PNG in a referendum.<\/p>\n