Somare serves PNG best by retiring

By InvestSMART · 8 May 2012

By InvestSMART ·
8 May 2012

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MICHAEL Somare's apparent retirement is welcome news for Papua New Guinea. Sir Michael has for years indicated his intention to retire, only to find it too hard to give up office and the power and wealth that goes with it. The nation is alarmingly corrupt, chaotic and undeveloped 37 years after he led Papua New Guinea to independence in the first of three spells as prime minister. If this is the end of the Somare story, the final chapters have seen the "father of the nation" become a dishonoured and divisive force, whose followers even attempted a coup in January after Parliament voted to confirm the incumbent, Peter O'Neill. The latter is not a shining knight, either, but Sir Michael's withdrawal from the political contest raises hopes of stability.

Sir Michael himself hoped elections in July would begin a new era. "We have seen over the past nine months what we do not want to happen in PNG," he said, oblivious to the irony as he ignored his own role while condemning the O'Neill government. It is troubling that government legislation threatens the independence of a judiciary that ruled against Mr O'Neill in his stand-off with Sir Michael over who was the nation's legitimate leader. However, Parliament is where government is formed and the Governor-General accepted Mr O'Neill had Parliament's support, giving him democratic legitimacy. Mr O'Neill has also thought better of plans to delay the election, which means the people will soon have their say on who should govern them. That is as it should be.

Sir Michael may have been PNG's longest-serving prime minister, but the bid to bypass Parliament and politicise the military in order to seize back power showed him to be unfit for office. This was not the only stain on his record. Long before Sir Michael returned as prime minister in 2002, concerns about cronyism and other abuses of office abounded. Back in 1989, a report by Justice Thomas Barnett linked the Somare family to corruption in the logging industry.

Even if he was not guilty of self-enrichment, Sir Michael failed miserably to improve the lot of his people. PNG is corrupt, violent and unstable, as competing factions and tribes squabble over the spoils of meagre development. The opening of liquid natural gas projects in the next few years is as much a source of potential conflict as a desperately needed boost to national income. The elections and Sir Michael's departure may pave the way to better governance. An essential starting point is to end the cronyism, abuses of power and vainglorious Big Man politics that Sir Michael came to embody.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Michael Somare and why does his apparent retirement matter for Papua New Guinea?

Michael Somare is often called the 'father of the nation' and was Papua New Guinea's longest-serving prime minister across three spells. His apparent retirement matters because his withdrawal from politics removes a divisive Big Man figure and raises hopes for greater stability ahead of upcoming elections.

How could Somare's retirement affect political stability and the July elections in PNG?

The article says Somare’s withdrawal could help pave the way for stability and that elections in July may give the people a chance to decide their leaders. Stability depends on a peaceful vote and whether politicians move away from attempts to bypass Parliament or politicise the military, which have previously heightened tensions.

What governance and corruption concerns in Papua New Guinea are highlighted in the article?

The article highlights chronic issues such as cronyism, abuses of power, vainglorious 'Big Man' politics, alleged links between the Somare family and logging corruption (noted in a 1989 report), and government moves that threaten judicial independence. These governance weaknesses are blamed for PNG’s ongoing instability and underdevelopment.

What happened between Peter O'Neill and Somare, and what does it mean for democratic legitimacy?

There was a stand-off in which the judiciary ruled against Peter O'Neill, but Parliament confirmed Mr O'Neill and the Governor‑General accepted that he had parliamentary support. The article points out that Parliament is where government is formed, and that parliamentary backing gave O'Neill democratic legitimacy despite the dispute.

How might Papua New Guinea's liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects affect the economy and investment climate?

The article notes LNG projects due to open in the next few years could provide a much‑needed boost to national income, but they are also flagged as potential triggers for conflict as factions compete over the spoils. For investors, that means LNG can be both an economic opportunity and a source of political risk.

What risks should everyday investors consider about investing in PNG given the article's analysis?

Everyday investors should consider political risk (including coups or attempts to bypass Parliament), weak governance and corruption, threats to judicial independence, and potential local conflict around big resource projects like LNG. These factors can materially affect investment outcomes in PNG.

Why does the article say politicising the military and bypassing Parliament are problematic for PNG?

The article argues that attempts to bypass Parliament and politicise the military—including a follower-led coup attempt in January—show leaders to be unfit for office and undermine stability. Such actions erode democratic norms and increase the risk of unrest, which is bad for governance and investor confidence.

What steps does the article suggest are essential for improving governance and investor confidence in PNG?

The article suggests ending cronyism, stopping abuses of power and moving away from Big Man politics as essential starting points. Better governance and respect for democratic institutions are portrayed as necessary to turn PNG’s natural resource potential into sustainable development and a more stable investment environment.