PAPUA NEW GUINEA 50 YEARS INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS _ 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2025

HAPPY 50 YEARS OF NATIONHOOD – PAPUA NEW GUINEA

  

Golden Jubilee Celebrations – 16th September 2025

Today, we stand united as one people to celebrate 50 years of independence — a golden milestone in the life of our great nation, Papua New Guinea. Born on 16th September 1975, our nation emerged from the shadows of colonial rule into the bright light of self-governance, guided by the bold vision and unwavering determination of our founding fathers. Their dreams were not for their time alone, but for generations yet to come — for you and me, standing here today. We honor the legacy of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, the architect of our independence, and the many unsung heroes—from the mountains to the islands—who helped shape our nation’s destiny through sacrifice, perseverance, and patriotic service.

 A Moment of Celebration and Reflection. As we rejoice in our rich history and cultural heritage, we must also pause to reflect on the journey. The last five decades have brought both triumphs and trials — from infrastructure development and growing education to law-and-order challenges, tribal conflicts, rising inflation, and the devastating toll of pandemics and preventable tragedies. We’ve lost too many – fathers, mothers, children, future leaders – to disease, violence, and injustice. But even in grief, we rise. Because in our pain, we find purpose.

 A Call to Renew Our Commitment. Our diversity—over 800 languages and countless customs—is not our weakness; it is our greatest strength. Our forefathers laid a firm foundation rooted in Christian principles, embedded in our National Constitution, and driven by the values of honesty, unity, and service. Now, the onus is on us—our political leaders, educators, clergy, youth, mothers and fathers—to rebuild, realign, and reimagine the nation we want for the next 50 years. Let this golden jubilee spark a national awakening—a movement of responsible leadership, inclusive development, spiritual revival, and patriotic pride. Let it stir the hearts of every Papua New Guinean to stand up and say: "I will be the change this nation needs." 

Our Future Begins Today. As we step into the next 50 years, may our shared vision be one of peace, prosperity, and unity. Let the story of Papua New Guinea be one of a nation that rose from humble beginnings to become a beacon of hope, strength, and resilience in the Pacific and beyond. One Nation. One People. One Country. God Bless Papua New Guinea.

 🇵🇬 📸 Photo Insert: 040925 Family Photo geared for celebrating PNG’s Golden Jubilee in Port Moresby. #PNG50Years #GoldenJubileePNG #50thIndependence #PapuaNewGuinea #OneNationOnePeople #UnityInDiversity #GodBlessPNG #CelebratingPNG #PortMoresby #ProudlyPNG

GOD PROTECTS THE INNOCENT

GOD PROTECTS THE INNOCENT Proverbs 17:26: > “It is not good to punish the innocent, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.” (ESV) This proverb teaches that justice must protect the innocent and honor those who are righteous, not harm them. Now, here are biblical references and examples that support this: 1. Protecting the Innocent Exodus 23:7 > "Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked." God commands His people to avoid false accusations and harming innocent people. Deuteronomy 27:25 > "Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood." God places a curse on those who pervert justice for their own gain. Example: Jesus before Pilate (Luke 23:4, 14-15) > Pilate said: "I find no fault in this man." Even though Jesus was innocent, He was still condemned because of political pressure, fulfilling the injustice Proverbs warns against. 2. Honoring the Upright Isaiah 5:20-23 > "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil... who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!" God condemns leaders who fail to honor the righteous and instead reward evil. 1 Peter 2:19-20 > "For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God." God sees and honors those who suffer for doing good. Example: Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6) Daniel was punished even though he was faithful and righteous. God protected him and later honored him by rescuing him and exalting him before the king. 3. God’s Justice Standard Micah 6:8 > "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Justice involves protecting the innocent and promoting uprightness. Zechariah 7:9-10 > "Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother." Summary: Proverbs 17:26 reflects God’s heart for true justice — that the innocent must be protected, and the upright honored, not punished. Throughout the Bible, God shows strong disapproval when people oppress the innocent and afflict the righteous.

A SON TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL MOM. "LIFE OF A TRUE PATRIOTIC MOM"

A Son tribute to A Special Mom. A Life of True Patriotic Mom. 

"Life in Papua New Guinea is dictated by cultural norms and customs. In the Highlands Region, mothers suffer severely due to fathers marrying more than one wife. The cultural norms have dictated the marriage life and caused disharmony and disloyalties in the families. In the turn of such occurrences mother agonizes the worse when abandoned by their husbands when turning to new bridal.”

We little knew that morning on the 26th of March 2019 that God was going to call your name. In life we love you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our heart to lose you.

My Mom, I salute you for your commitment and dedicated service to embrace the value in your sons and a daughter. Despite the agony and pain life faced in your lifetime marriage, you shouldered the burden with a double parental role. 

Always My Mum, Mommy. She took this role earnestly and never hesitated. No matter what. But she played this role in our lives well, doing it all alone.

My mother was one of those people who rejuvenate strength in times of despair and turbulence. Despite the obstacles, she bounced back continually: extremely difficult marriage, scarce financial resources, and daily care for her children. 

My Mom, when there was no firewood she collected herself, cooked food, and feed us. When the house got rotten and rain spoiled the house, she prepared a bed for us at the fireplace. A hope in her sons that they would build a decent house for her in the future.

With zero education, basically no prior education she had a dream, hope, and aspiration for her offspring to be educated and be professionals in various fields. For several years she struggled to make it work, doing everything possible to make it succeed. Mom, you only have harvested the first fruits of your two sons and leaving us early which I dearly miss you. You never quit. A resilient Mother. You are a Champion and Hero.

A devoted Christian mother who truly practices what you discoursed. You possessed all outstanding attributes, generous, kind, love, caring, honest, and elegant, brave, strong, energetic, resilient, thoughtful, hopeful, and selfless.

My mother was an extraordinary woman, she had impacted families, Christian members, society, community, clan, and the tribe. It is a strong, beautifully vibrant, legacy.

You left us treasurable memories. Your love is still our guide and though we cannot see you. You are always by our side.

 Thank you Mom for giving me the freedom and space to dream.

Thank you for pushing me to go to the school even though you never had the chance.

Thank you for making a beautiful home every way; for making breakfast and dinner making sure we all ate together regardless of the oppressive schedule.

Thank you for teaching me how to compassionate and forgiving.

Thank you for telling me you loved me every time we saw each other and every time before you hang up the phone.

Mom, you were our pillar, our anchor, and our true Compass

Be light-hearted now, Mom as you never could be in life. Breathe easy finally. Don’t worry Mom, we’ll be fine.

 May God give you Eternal Resting Peace.

Farewelled by Joe Puna 200419

Papua New Guinea has rich resources for Agriculture Investment in the South Pacific

            By Joe Puna                    PC Joe Puna 2019
Papua New Guinea is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, we have a huge landmass with forest resources, marine resources, mineral resources, and petroleum resources, and most importantly the vast landmass with rich soil for agriculture.

We have already touched our non-renewal resources, the petroleum and mineral sectors in which the corporate giants have benefited enormously almost 90% where our share of value benefit is less evident in the development of our country in terms of infrastructure and human resources capacity building, and other long term savings. We have extracted many resources out from our land with lesser visibility of benefit acquired and our people living poor for many many years.

The forestry sector is deflated every day without having concerned for environmental pollution to our forest inhabitants, much of the endangered species of flora and fauna have been extinct. The monetary benefit or physical infrastructure benefit is very much less to the landowners of this land. Much of the land is contaminated with chemicals and deforestation is massive. Not much of the people benefited out of forestry sectors, very big logging companies benefited 99%, it shows that we have green robbers in the forest of Papua New Guinea.

We have to refocus our attention on a very untapped sector that can alleviate poverty in wealthy Papua New Guinea, is Agriculture which has never been much talked about by our past leaders of this great land of ours. When observing closely "Agriculture" with a microscopic lens you will discover the blood veins of the people of this country. People die when there is no food, people work for money for food. we stay alive because we consume food." No food you will die" therefore we must turn to Agriculture the backbone of this country.

The New Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Hon. James Marape has realized the potential of this nation with a Vision to make this country a "Richest Black Christian Nation in the World".This Vision is for us Papua New Guinea to embrace and collectively contribute meaningfully to realign to see the opportunities forthcoming. In the past decades, we have relied on Asian Manufactured Food products so it is by the time we unveil the possibilities of becoming Papua New Guinea an Asia Pacific's Food Basket with our fresh food produces from the garden. Please view the Prime Ministers' statement. https://postcourier.com.pg/make-png-asia-pacifics-food-basket-marape/