As the country opens the chapter into the next 49 years, Prime Minister James Marape called on men across Papua New Guinea to take greater responsibility for leadership and accountability, drawing on the national anthem’s call, “O Arise All You Sons of This Land.”
“Men of our country, as the national anthem calls, must take responsibility. It is us men who starts tribal fights, who block road, who is rough and reckless in the society,” Marape said.
“No wonder in 1975 from our prophetic eyes of our founding fathers and mothers of our country, they embedded into the national anthem ‘O Arise All You Sons of This Land.’ Sons of our country must take up leadership, not leadership to abuse, but to contain and shape the country into the next 49 years that we are stepping into.”
He then expanded on what he said the founding leaders intended when the anthem was written half a century ago.
“Fathers of our country saw it correct that 50 years later the sons will be reckless, so they wrote it down, ‘O Arise All You Sons of This Land.’ Sons of this country, take leadership with grace, love and care of this country, including mothers, daughters and women amongst us,” he said.
Marape also drew on Genesis 3:9, which recounts God asking Adam, “Where are you?” after Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree.
He used the passage to illustrate his view that men in leadership must accept responsibility rather than shift blame to others.
“Do you ever realize that when Eve picked the fruit, Genesis 3:9 said God didn’t come looking for Eve. God came looking for Adam and God called out to Adam, ‘Where are you?’ Because the reason is simple. God created Adam first. God gave work to Adam first. Adam was supposed to look after Eve,” Marape said.
He then extended the message to leaders across the country’s institutions.
“And God calls to all of us in leadership, Prime Minister, ministers, chief secretary, judiciary, the Parliament and in all levels of leadership. That when you are leading the point of accountability comes to the greatest,” he said.
Marape said the call to accountability applies beyond political leadership to men in communities and other institutions.
“I extend this to all men in the society that claims as leaders, clan leaders, tribe leaders, church leaders, business leaders, community leaders, that women will support, but men O Arise all you sons at step into our 51st” he said.
He said the words of the national anthem remain relevant as the country enters the next stage of its development, urging men to understand leadership as a responsibility to society rather than an opportunity for abuse.
Marape made the call during the closing ceremony of the weeklong Reset@50 forum at SILAG on Sept. 14, linking the anthem’s words to the responsibility he believes men carry in leading families, communities and the country.