PAPUA NEW GUINEA NEEDS A PATRIOTIC AWAKENING
- Kotu Akema
- Nov 14, 2025
- 2 min read
The Pacific Guardian
Port Moresby
14th November, 2025
In times of national crisis, the strength of a country is not only measured by its economy or institutions, but by the resilience and patriotism of its people. The United States, despite facing repeated government shutdowns and political gridlock, has shown the world what it means to put country first. Even when federal workers go unpaid for weeks, many continue to serve as security officers, air traffic controllers, and public servants show up, driven by a deep sense of duty and national pride.
We, by contrast, has seen troubling signs of fragility in its civic fabric. In recent years, even minor delays in public service salaries have sparked unrest, protests, and, in some cases, the destruction of public property. While the frustration is understandable, the response often reflects a deeper issue: a lack of collective identity and patriotic commitment to the nation.
Patriotism is not blind loyalty as it is a conscious choice to uphold the values, stability, and future of one’s country, even in difficult times. It is the glue that binds diverse communities, languages, and cultures into a single national purpose. For PNG, a country rich in resources and cultural heritage, the absence of this unifying spirit is a missed opportunity.
American public servants often continue working without pay during shutdowns, understanding that their roles are critical to national function. Citizens engage in democratic processes, volunteerism, and community support, reinforcing national cohesion. Even amid political disagreements, there is a foundational respect for the rule of law and national symbols.
We must cultivate a culture where national interest supersedes personal grievances. This means instilling civic education in schools that emphasizes national history, unity, and responsibility. It means celebrating national heroes and public servants who serve with integrity. It means condemning violence and destruction as forms of protest, and promoting dialogue and lawful advocacy.
The urgency is even clearer when we look at the numbers. Just 3% of our population its public servants consume approximately K300 million every fortnight in salaries. That’s K7.8 billion annually, nearly 25% of the country’s K28 billion national budget. With such a significant investment in the public sector, it is not just a duty but a moral obligation for public servants to work, serve, and uphold the nation’s interests.
As citizens, we must ask ourselves: Do we love our country enough to protect it, serve it, and build it even when it’s hard?
Let us rise above tribalism, entitlement, and short-term thinking. Let us embrace a new era of patriotism, where being Papua New Guinean means standing tall, serving with pride, and putting our country first.
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