Marking the 51st Independence Anniversary of Papua New Guinea, Chief Secretary to Government, Ivan Pomaleu, OBE, has issued a definitive call for excellence across the nation's Public Service.
Addressing the staff of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council (PM&NEC) at Melanesian Haus, Mr. Pomaleu framed the anniversary not just as a celebration of the past, but as a mandatory “National Reset” for the future.
In his keynote address delivered to commemorate the September 16th anniversary, the Chief Secretary highlighted the symbolic importance of the Melanesian Haus.
He noted that the nine-floor facility, purposely built for the Executive Government, represents a “deliberate recovery of things that belong to us,” moving away from the era of leasing office space from external parties.
Reflecting on the address recently delivered by Prime Minister Hon. James Marape at Independence Hill,
Mr. Pomaleu emphasized that while the first 50 years established freedom, the next 50 must focus on making that freedom meaningful for every citizen.
“We are the second generation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. We did not have to fight for the flag; we inherited it,” said Mr. Pomaleu. “The question this anniversary puts to each of us is simple: what are we doing with what was handed to us?”
The Chief Secretary detailed the significant economic strides made under the 13-Year Budget Repair and Reconstruction Plan which he highlighted that our economy has grown from approximately K83 billion in 2019 to an estimated K148 billion in 2026.
He said under the National Government's Connect PNG Program, major engineering feats have ended the isolation of rural communities, with road connections now established between Lae and Port Moresby, Mount Hagen and Kikori, and Alotau and Port Moresby. In addition, over K4.87 billion has been budgeted for education (2020–2026), and K3.2 billion was appropriated for health in 2026 alone.
Mr. Pomaleu reminded the PM&NEC staff of their critical role as the “nerve-centre” of the nation. He warned that administrative delays within the department are not mere details but have “national consequences,” impacting the delivery of hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.
“This Department will not build the road, teach the class, or nurse the patient. But nothing is delivered well if the centre of Government does not perform,” he stated. “We are the Department that makes the system work.”
The Chief Secretary closed his address by demanding a return to the core values of the Public Service Code of Ethics: Honesty, Integrity, Accountability, Respect, Wisdom, and Responsibility.
He specifically urged public servants to improve the “unglamorous habits” of government, such as
answering phones promptly, attending to counters, and acknowledging emails. Mr. Pomaleu stressed that the reputation of the government rests on the punctuality and courtesy of its officers.
“Let us be a Department that answers its phone, turns up on time, and treats every colleague with the consideration we would expect for ourselves,” Mr. Pomaleu concluded. “A Department is only as strong as the wellbeing of the men and women in it.”