Ambassadors: For Better of For Worse...

By GDW


I walked down the streets of Suva in a T-shirt proudly declaring “I LOVE PNG”. In the wake of a recent Rugby League clash between the Kumuls and Fiji Batis—the Kumuls thrashing the Batis 26-Nil—I was sort of rubbing it in on our Melenesian brothers. The few I chatted with conceded how strong PNG was. “The first game was a fluke eh?” one of them said. I don’t know. Our boys made too many handling errors the first game in Mt. Hagen and “gave the game away”. Maybe…

In stark contrast to my beloved capital city, Suva looked very…“international”. Everyone was from everywhere. We travelled into Nandi the day before and the international Airport was packed! The connection to Suva even more so. Tourists! They flocked in and out like we flock to our buai-markets every day at home.

One word sticks out when I arrogantly contrast this city to mine back home: CLEAN. Anyone who’s been here knows this. Not only was there no beetle-nut sputum anywhere, there was no rubbish. No plastic bags, chewing-gum packets, soft-drink cans, bottles. Nothing! (It wasn’t perfectly clean of course, but you know what I mean). I dream of POM city being like this. Yes as much as the realists hate to see it, some of us still dream. Impossible? Not in a hundred years? I dream.

At breakfast (sandwich and coffee) at the market I helped out a beggar (yes they have one or two). A Fijian, seated next to my colleague and I, seems impressed and asked where we’re from. I proudly tell him. He mentions he met a PNGean not many days ago: a law student here at USP. We talk about the rugby. We ask about Fiji, the Melanesians. We are seated at a bench at the markets were the native Fijians have set up stalls to sell coffee, cakes, sandwiches and packs of cassava and fish. This seems to be what they can do. And we are only too happy to support them. Our friend says thanks for supporting. “You’re welcome.”

Since I’m wearing the T-shirt—but not only because of that—I am conscious that people not only see me, they see my country. I reflect my beloved nation. I feel an urge to say things like “Oh do come to PNG, we are a great people!” but I refrain. I’ll just do my thing and hope that my conduct is sufficient to arouse within them a desire to come visit our country.

In the evening I went to a small PNG men’s fellowship where five guys meet to share the Word of God and pray together. My former lecturer Douveri invited me. We study God’s Word. We pray for PNG. We pray for Fiji. And we pray for Israel. Driving home afterwards my brothers lament to me how they have observed many PNGeans—not all, but many—who come to visit Suva, squander their lives by living loosely and wrecklessly: to their own disgrace and country’s. In fact one of the main reasons they started having the regular fellowship was to strengthen each other in upholding the Godly principles they had subscribed to. To live well and honourably, attempting to keep from being negative ambassadors for God and country.

Everywhere in the world there are Papua New Guineans: living, working, schooling, playing. They are ambassadors, clothed with the beauty of our nation. All who look upon them see not only the individuals, they see PNG. Being overseas might demand a more conscious watch over every word and deed you say or do. You need to deliberately choose to be good.

I know people are not dumb. They won’t conclude automatically that a PNGean they see out there is what every PNGean is like back home. Indeed it may be a far cry. But they catch a glimpse of who we are. I hope that when you give the world a glimpse of our nation, they will like what they see.

I don’t really know how you would do that. I know how I would if I was out there. I’d be proud of my country. Carry its flag always. Physically whenever I can—on a t-shirt, an armband or scarf—but always in my heart. I’d try to ensure that whatever I did was both an accurate reflection of my people, and a good one. This means I would have to understand my country: its fundamental ideals, our collective character and conscience. I would have to know what we stand for. What makes us unique in this world apart from our geographical location, skin colour, and diversity? What is the common thread that runs through our divergent individual cultures? Because when I’m out there I won’t be a Sepik, Tolai, Papuan or Engan. I’d only be Papua New Guinean. Therefore my philosophy would have to correspond to whole of Papua New Guinea’s.

Are we a kind? Hospitable? Decent? Family-oriented? Fun-loving? Teachable? Patient? Are we “wiser, smarter, fairer” yet? What kind of people are we supposed to be?

We need to be great people. Which means we need fundamental shifts in the way we behave. Which means we need fundamental shifts in the way we perceive ourselves. Our beliefs need to be re-affirmed.

I started out talking about the streets and ended up with international representatives of our nation—short trippers to permanent residents. We are all PNG. Why? Because our conduct, both abroad and local, reflects what we believe of ourselves. Our squandering of our Moresby and Lae streets, or our representation at an international meets, reflects badly on us. Let’s change it around. For our nation to be greater, we must become better. We are clothed with our nation’s beauty. Change Starts With Me.

Heavenise Day!

Ganjiki