In a male-dominated society, you ask me why a woman passes the marks of a true political leader compared to her male counterparts. Here is why I think Dame Carol is a better leader than all her male colleagues as I briefly dissect them one by one with a short introduction on leadership.


Some say leaders are born. While they may have their own perceptions of someone in mind, I must confess leaders are not born but bred. You can have some personal traits that you uniquely inherited from your parents such as good voice, similar looks to your father or mother, chieftain heritage and so forth. But all these don't guarantee you to be a leader to influence the people within your sphere. You still have to come under the tutelage of others to learn and muster the important skills and traits of a leader.


Now let us analyse PNG top guns in terms of their legacy or what they'll leave behind after they leave politics.


Grand Chief Sir Michael – consummated in the mandate of being a grand chief for too long that he still can't accept the fact that the time has caught up with him to relinquish the position to someone else. His failure is thinking that he'll live forever young and finding his successor. The latter doesn't have to be your relative. The test is for you to find out whom you think could do better than you. Harness them and let them know about your experiences. It is better for them to learn from you rather than to go through those ordeals themselves.

Sir Julius – Similar to Sir Michael, he can't give up the fact that time has caught up with him too. Still trying hard to regain the post of PM someday but he must accept the fact that he'll never will and sooner or later the veteran must call it quits.

The above two thinks their political leaderships should stay within their blood line. People respected that and gave Arthur and Bryon the chance to prove themselves. The result is their kids have been riding and living under their fathers' popularities for so long that they can't connect with ordinary people or harness people's power. The result is they have both became arrogant and sooner or later they would fade from the political scenes.

Bart Philemon – Nothing to show for all these years. As a leader of New Generations Party, what does he actually mean? Irony is that he is still holding onto the leadership portfolio of the party. So does new generations means him, Sir J and Sir Michael and their likes? I leave it to you forumers.

Sir Mekere – Has done the right thing knowing that sickness and time has caught up with him. He has left his legacies in putting strictness measures on how state entities are run and to do better by opening them up for competition.
In terms of leadership, again he has failed by endorsing Mr Laoni Henao. Like him Mr Henao must earned the mandate from the people when there are other pools of leaders vying for the same Port Moresby Northwest seat. What makes him say he endorses Henao? Did he train him under his wings? Was Henao is apprentice before trying to gain support for the seat? The answer is NO.


Dame Carol – Fought for the grassroots and unfortunates especially women and the children. Did well but her failure was compliances in her own ministry of Community Development where women and youths come under. Those reporting to her fail to grasp her visions and act accordingly. The result is brilliants ideas buried dead.


Peter O'Neil – an opportunist who sees a chance and grasps the moment. Just lately, he has been making commitments here and there on the basis that if he gets elected as PM he’ll deliver. Judging by development in his electorate of Pangia-Ialibu in the last ten years, I'd say he has done little. On his current status, no one knew O'Neil was going to become the PM though he had only 3 or less members in his PNC party. Polye was bragging here and there that he was going to get NA leadership after Sir Michael since NA had more highlands MPs in the block. They say a barking dog doesn't bite and I can't think of anyone better that suits this description than Polye.


Sir Puka – easily prone to cons. Polye conned him to break away from NA and he caught the bite. For instance, Polye realize that Sir Puka was the only threat for him in getting the leadership reins of NA from Sir Michael. Again Puka got caught on the sweet talks of a beautiful woman who says she is now divorced and he can have her. Those decisions done without proper reasoning caught up with him in the end.


William Duma – Has good leadership traits but is not firm enough to make solid decisions and stand by them. Delving on important issues for too long and indecision on important issues can become very costly as Sam Abel has learn very well. To the highlands folks, Sam Abel portrays a unique type of leadership that counteract the ‘big man’ system and we need to take note of that.


Anderson Agiru – Very good dreamer but little actions. He'll be the perfect person to direct a Hollywood screen play where more imaginations are needed.


Paias Wingti – Very cunning and still rides on the ignorant of the Hageners. With Wingti, you better be careful when you say you are his friend.
So when can we tell the Hageners that if they are not satisfied with Olga why not put someone else? You got Prof Nonggorr and other top guns there. Sealed roads and a quiet town are not signs of development. True leadership stems into changes in peoples attitudes so they can look after public properties and in turn contribute to the development of the community, township and thus country as a whole in whatever little ways they can.


Peter Ipatas – Rides on the success of his free education policy for far too long. Has run out of ideas and initiatives. However, his main policy of free education is is not enough. Where do you fit the people into the workforce after schooling? Especially on the technical sides or those who can't further their education. Means are not an end. He has to decide the ends if he returns. Forget about dreaming to become the PM of PNG.


Patrick Pruaitch – Likes to works his deals behind the close door. Like the rest, he definitely knows that he's got a handful in his backyard. He won't push for anything and will just bide his time for things to be given to him on a golden plate.


Belden Namah – If you need someone for drastic actions look no further than Namah. That's what money power can do to your poor soul. But proper knowledge without temperament can be destructive. Willing to do the dirty jobs for others and doesn't mind being on the spot light. If he becomes PM, PNG would definitely be thrust into chaos unless Namah sought advices from the best brains with characters he can get.

Powes Parkop – Thought he'll fool the NCD people with all beautification and all that sorts. Hasn’t addressed the real issues of over population and people's burden on limited infrastructures, traffic congestion, city expansionism and so forth. Need to step up if he is given a second term. But his association with Justin puts him on the wrong path. Forget about vying for the PM’s post. Your house isn't in order yet.

Sam Basil – Has done very well for a first-timer. Must remain focus for the next term otherwise women and cash can divert your attention and energy elsewhere.

Bob Danaya – I don't know if he sleeps in the night well. His province is one of the least developed in the country. That says enough and please do something tangible about it. I don't know if he should be given another ride. For far too long he is being riding behind PNGSDP initiatives and claiming credit.

Timothy Bonga – Like most other Morobean leaders, they depend too much on their past achievements don't think of anything further.

Sir Arnold Amet – A classic example of things can go wrong when you don't do your research enough. Just because you have been a former Chief Justice doesn't mean you know all about law. Even Professors continue to interact and do research in order to update themselves on the current trends in their areas of specialities.

Dr Allan Marat – Knew O'Neil and Namah government was illegitimate but chose to remain silent. When capable people remain silent, definitely something must be wrong somewhere.

Gabriel Kapris – Has done well since wrestling the seat from his relative to put in projects into Maprik compared to what his predecessor has done in more than 3 decades. But he has to be solid before he can vie for anything bigger within his political realm. Now even he feels a little alienated amongst other Sepiks.

Luther Wenge – A classic example of priorities go wrong. Wenge loves the courts but that is not what Morobeans need. They need basic services and goods.

Peter Yama – Like Sirs J and Michael, he also has the wrong perception of thinking that his son should be like Arthur and Bryon. Again my point, you aren't born a leader. But you are bred a leader. Take the examples of Elias and Samuel in the bible. Elias thought his sons would take over his place. Never spend time with them to nurture them up. Because of their evil conduct God forsake them and chose Samuel instead. Likewise, sadly Samuel ensured the same path as Elias. He didn't have time for his kids or taught them real leadership and in the end the Israelites demanded for a king/ They got King Saul which became a tragedy for them.

Sir Rabbie – with the return of Sir Kaputin to politics, there is not much said about him. Definitely, the ENB people may not want him back but we PNG people need him because he has so much potential to offer as a likely PM candidate.


There are others who are not PM as yet such as Peter Donigi, Gary Juffa, Sir Ila Geno, Dr. Clement Waine and few others wanting to become PM. My advice to them is, forget all about the PM. Concentrated on winning your seat first and develop your electorate. Then you can look at the outside.

More than half of the people you mention are known to be habitual thieves but not once did you mention the allegations of corruption against ANY of them even though you saw nothing wrong with putting up other kinds of allegations. WHY? Why did you ignore the money stealing aspects?

I'd rather put specific cases here which is based solely on investigation. I am no investigator and I don't like basing my analyzes on someone's else allegations because I don't know where the money came from at the first place and where it ended up. What I was concerned about is the issue of political leadership and not corruptions. The latter is a very big topic which I intentionally left out.

Papa inap yu rait igo lo tupela newspaper na larem ol displa pawa agre lidas blo png ken ridim na looksave lo pasin blo ol yet.
em bai gutpela tru.

mi laikim toktok blo you pikinini.

mi filim olsem yu bai kamap naispela advisor stret blo PM blo png.

The problem is that if you only look at one side of the paper and ignore the other, it doesn't tell you anything about the whole package which makes your analysis hard to use to judge if the person is worth supporting or not. In other words you wouldn't want to support someone with great leadership qualities who can't keep their fingers out of the public money pot.

Good piece.And don't forget the con-cool-aid drinking public.They should make it mandatory for the public to take a competency test befor voting.

No.That would be abusing the rights of idiots and the uneducated.

What does it matter the votes are going to be changed after voting anyway by the topshots,

The list continues ….

Janet Sape – It's great to have a woman's voice out there in a male-dominated society but can Sape really represent the women's folks? Like one trait of male leadership I have noticed, she thinks that she can do better than most other females and enjoys the spotlight. Leadership is harnessing the powers of other women's folks which I must say Janet lacks. Janet also has to delegate responsibilities to others without too much control and this message goes out to other aspiring leaders including males. Delegate the task to someone who can do better than you without being envious of the spotlight or recognition they may receive.

Jeffery Nape – A man of little understanding gone arrogant. Likes to think that he decides the government. Haven't seen anyone in PNG political arena that totally abuses the democratic processes in play than Nape.

Sir John Kaputin – His time for political leadership has gone. Sir Rabbie would be a better candidate than him.

John Tekwie – Hasn't made his mark yet into the political arena. Belden from the same province receives more coverage than him in the media. They must cohere for the betterment of West Sepik (Sandaun) and thus PNG as a whole for I doubt John would want to come under Namah's umbrella or vice versa. And I don’t necessary mean political parties but submission to each other.

Andrew Kumbakor – Had been really quiet so far but lately has been thrust into the spotlight. Need to sort out PANGU party leadership issues with Haiveta. The problem with our leaders is that everyone wants to be at the forefront. It's a great shame that people want the 'name tag' only but their track records of serving the people amounts to nothing or if not nil at all.

Chris Haiveta – Need to concentrate on his health for he has done nothing to show during his term as the governor of Gulf Province.

Ben Micah – a potential successor to Sir Julius and a very good strategist. With New Ireland underdeveloped with its vast resources, it again reflects on the leadership. The New Irelanders must learn from their nearest neighbours – leaders from ENB Province on how to deliver.

Paul Tiensten – A clear example of diverting resources on un-prioritized areas. The result is big money spent with little impact on the people.

Bire Kimisopa – An ideal PM candidate from the highlands region. Has the ability to be a law enforcer on corrupted leaders.

Joseph Lelang – Has said a lot but must prove that he is not only a talker but a man of action if ever he gets a chance to the House of Representatives.

Moses Maladina – A sleeping giant from the Papuan Region who lacks charisma. I doubt if he would do any big difference if he returns for the leadership reins of the Rural Development Party now lies with Nape.

Francis Awesa – An example of when business interests collide with political leadership. The result is unproductive domain and whatever little services provided are given at immense cost.

Fr John Momis – He needs to give the reins to someone else for his record as a pioneer of the constitution is now a bygone. For the Island of Bougainville to progress, someone like James Tanis would do much better. Tanis is a former president of Bougainville after Kabui died and is now undertaking further studies overseas.

In the highlands region, a name stands out from the current crop of MPs. Benjamin Poponawa of Tambul-Nebilyer electorate. Like Basil, he is a first-timer and bringing much needed services to his people. The challenge now is that both he and Basil must extend those services to other parts of their respective electorates should they return. Whoever forms the next government must reward such leaders with ministries. The chances are they would deliver unlike other old-timers who ride on status quo.



Responses to feedback.

If I compile this list and send to Post Courier or The National Newspapers, the truth is they won't publish it because it is like character assassination. One thing our local newspaper lacks is investigative journalism which is a pretty tough task to do in our society where harassment is common because cowards (offenders) often use their people as puppets to defend them. Laws must be passed to give our journalism more power such as they must not be harassed and have the rights to name offenders by doing thorough investigations.

Secondly, I am banking on a few candidates whom I know to win the election so I can play some role there. I always stay by the principle that once you become corrupted so is your advice.

Finally, leadership can say something about character. Not possessing the right traits of a leader can easily influence one to become corrupt.

An excellent summary on each politician. However, I would not leave my reputation with any of them except for one...Bire Kimisopa. What about Mekere Morauta, Bart Philemon, Ila Geno, Toguata, Rabbie Namaliu, Puka Temu, Caro Kidu, etc, etc.

Until and unless the people you ahve idntified "live and walk the talk", in my view, they are not fit to lead this country.

PUKA TEMU? You think HE's honest? He's the biggest MP customary land grabber facilitator we've got right now. Totally corrupt, ethically and morally.

What a laugh that you'd put him on your 'good' list!!!

Not only that, Temu is one of the strongest supporters of the rice project scam supposedly to be invested by that indonesian convict turned PNG citizen. That rice land is also gonna be grabbed from the customary landowners and put into foreign hands with Temu's help.

PNG cannot progress without mobilizing customary land. Imagine 97% of land in customary ownership and 3% alienated land. It is even worse when only 200,000 formally employed people were carrying the burden of providing sevice to 6,800,000 PNG'ns through income tax?

Puka moved in the right direction. He did not grab all the land for foreigners and not even for himself. He was only heping PNG'ns to participate in national development by putting in place mechanisms that can free up customary land in congruence with the Land Act.

Let us look at the bigger picture and not lose focus. PNG needs ppoliticians and leaders with nationalist ideals.