If we look back to 1973, as Papua New Guinea prepared for independence, a powerful set of ideals was laid out: the National Goals and Directive Principles. At their core was a bold vision: Integral Human Development.
What Does ‘Integral Human Development’ Really Mean?
It’s a foundational concept, and it’s quite clear in its intent. The architects of these principles envisioned a Papua New Guinean society where every single citizen – no matter if they called a remote village, a bustling town, or a growing city home – had the chance to fully develop as a whole person. It’s about ensuring everyone gets a fair shot at reaching their full potential.
Leveling the Playing Field
Of course, we know that people aren’t born with identical talents, nor do they always have the same drive. But the key principle, the one that remains crucial, is that everyone absolutely should have an equal opportunity to develop their unique abilities. Whether you’re a budding farmer, a dedicated teacher, an artist, a tech enthusiast, or pursuing any other field, the chance to grow and contribute should be there for you.
Yet, the reality, both then and to some extent now, has been different. The simple fact of a child’s birthplace often had, and still can have, a massive impact on their life’s trajectory. This includes everything from access to basic education, securing a place in high school, essential health services, and the ability to participate in the formal economy.
Bridging the Divide: Why Equality is Non-Negotiable
This uneven playing field largely emerged from historical neglect. Many areas of PNG simply missed out on vital economic development, proper education infrastructure, and crucial health services in the past. Unsurprisingly, this led to widespread resentment. It was identified as a major source of disunity at a truly pivotal moment for the emerging nation. So, achieving equality of opportunity and participation wasn’t just a hopeful aspiration; it was, and remains, a vital necessity for genuine national integration.
Back then, the government was actively working to address these inequalities, particularly in education, economic opportunities, and access to services. This policy was strongly supported.
Preventing a Class Divide from Taking Root
Beyond regional disparities, another concerning trend was emerging: the beginnings of a class structure that hadn’t previously existed. Educated Papua New Guineans were starting to lose connection with their village relatives, often gaining significantly more opportunities than their counterparts back home.
The message from the 1973 principles was clear: firm action was needed to stop this trend in its tracks. The idea was to reshape society then and there, before this emerging class structure became entrenched. The ultimate aim? To ensure everyone had an equal chance to develop, to find personal fulfillment through their abilities, and to make a full contribution to the welfare of the nation.
The Long Road Ahead: A Commitment to Action
Achieving this ambitious goal of equality and broad participation was never going to be easy, and the authors of these principles certainly didn’t underestimate the challenges. But they were deeply convinced that it was time to direct all major policies towards this end. Anything less than a full-scale, concerted effort, they believed, wouldn’t succeed.
It’s important to remember the lasting impact of development policies vigorously pursued by the Australian Administration in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These policies, focused on maximizing economic return in the shortest possible time, had widespread effects that were, and are, not easy to reverse.
The Imperative of Equality for a Unified Nation
But reversing these effects remains crucial if PNG is to achieve this fundamental goal. Without equality of opportunity, participation in the political process and other aspects of national life will inevitably be uneven. Those with fewer opportunities will struggle to advocate for their rights against those who are more educated, more mobile, and more experienced in making their voices heard. There’s a real risk that more privileged groups could dominate the less privileged. And that, the principles emphatically stated, simply cannot be allowed to happen.
The call then, as it echoes now, was for broad-front action, starting immediately, to bring about real equality of opportunity for all citizens. It’s a powerful vision that continues to shape discussions about fairness and progress in Papua New Guinea.
What are your thoughts on these foundational principles from 1973? Do you see their relevance in Papua New Guinea today? Share your comments below.
