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PApua New Guinea prepares to welcome world leaders including Xi Jinping, Mike Pence, Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit (APEC), to be held this week in the capital , Port Moresby.
While the city, one of the most dangerous in the world, is preparing for the arrival of 5,000 to 7,000 people, including world leaders, CEOs and journalists, we have asked our Papuan-Guinean readers what that they thought of their poorest country in the Apec bloc, hosting the meeting.
We received more than 200 responses to our call. The general feeling was anger, with more than two-thirds of respondents saying they felt negative about Apec coming to PNG. "I hate it," wrote a person living in the Eastern Province of New Britain. "There is no other way of saying it. When I hear the acronym Apec, it makes me shudder.
Many have expressed anger over what they perceive as excessive spending for Apec as the country grapples with a polio epidemic, rising rates of malaria and tuberculosis, and shortfalls in funding for services. of education and health. Many of them announced the government's purchase of 40 Maserati and three super-luxurious Bentley.
Many felt that the benefits of Apec would only be felt in Port Moresby, where less than 5% of the population lives. One person, who was asked if PNG would benefit, asked, "Well, Lae [the second largest city in PNG] the grass mowed around the old botanical gardens, so that's it.
Here is the view of eight Papua New Guinea residents.
"At first I was ecstatic, now I'm worried"
Nona Susanti Diya, 39, Port Moresby, working for a project funded by Australia
At first, when I learned for the first time that PNG would organize such a global event, I was delighted and really proud of my country and the government. But then, when I realized that all this useless infrastructure was loan-financed and implemented by the Chinese, I started worrying. On top of that, it was common knowledge that our country was bankrupt, which even more worried me.
Will it have a positive impact? I would like to believe that this will be the case. But honestly, I do not know anymore. I fear that the Chinese will take control of this country and that we are only second citizens in our own country. Our government has clearly demonstrated its ability to spend money and make bad investments.
"I have a headache just talking about that"
David Boga, 39, from Port Moresby, works for an airline
It is always a good thing to organize a world event such as Apec and I would gladly accept it if PNG is economically ready, which we are unfortunately not.
Our health system is in a sad state. Hospitals are running out of drugs and people are dying of curable diseases. Yes, it could be 2018 for the rest of the world, but it's a few dog years back for us.
Teachers on government payrolls are reduced in salary without any explanation. You simply can not play with health and education. If only PNG acted as a developing country instead of pretending to be a developed country.
You may have heard of the purchase of 40 Maserati, a Bentley couple and some extra vehicles worth millions of kina. The money that could have solved the problems of health and education.
I do not know what our government is trying to prove. My head hurts just talking about it.
"Build it and they will come"
Angela Tomkins, Cultural Officer
Personally, I think it's great. I know it costs a lot of money for the infrastructure, but build it and they will come. Countries are like water – if you do not advance, you stagnate. What must happen is that there must be a balance between all things.
There is no doubt that the money intended to host Apec, including tax credit options, contributes to the economy even in the form of infrastructure.
"In the highlands, nobody knows what Apec is and nobody cares"
Isaiah Tare, 23, lives in Port Moresby, from Enga, a student at the university.
My local community is located in the rugged highlands of Papua New Guinea. People struggle to survive every day, no one knows what Apec is and nobody really cares about it.
Of course, the few educated elites know what Apec is, but the majority of people in my local community are busy recovering from a tribal war unleashed by the 2017 national elections. houses were burned, people were killed, the whole town stopped, schools were closed, it was total chaos!
People are too busy fighting for survival – Apec or no Apec.
However, Apec has evolved a lot in Port Moresby … The rapid paving of roads in the city, the construction of buildings and security measures to ensure the smooth running of Apec have displaced many people and put end to their daily subsistence form. What will this part of the population do as we discuss "economic integration" in our posh hotels, eat fine food and travel with millions of recently purchased kina Maserati?
"PNG is drowning"
Samantha Michael, 22, Port Moresby, University Student
I think the government did not think about it when they got their hands on it.
The country is not ready for an event like this, and the timing could not be more wrong. PNG is drowning, economically and socially. We are on the brink of bankruptcy, our health services are declining rapidly, our education sector is suffering; we can not afford to pay the salaries of our teachers.
The only areas where improvements have been observed have been observed along the Apec roads. They even ripped and closed the roads perfectly well. However, the rest of the city is still struggling with terrible roads and infrastructure from the 90s and 80s.
"Apec is not a magic pill"
Patrick Kaiku, 38, University of Port Moresby
It's just a sad case of bad priorities. It does not serve the national interest when the social and economic situation of the country is sacrificed for the benefit of a superficial and extravagant event.
The effects will be negative. PNG, and in particular Port Moresby, already has a serious image problem abroad because of public order, corruption and a whole range of other problems. Apec is not a magic pill. Papua New Guinean leaders praise Apec as an opportunity to address PNG's image problem. But the reality is that the civil service and other government agencies will not accept Apec's legacy after its execution in November. When Apec is finished in PNG, the same complacency, ineptitude and corruption will continue.
"Such events give us hope"
Jordan Peara, 24, from the highlands, studying at the university
PNG may have health, education and security problems, including a resurgence of polio, but such events give us hope. We have a lot to offer the world. I want to seize this opportunity and put aside our internal quarrels and our negativity for a moment. Hosting Apec tells the world that we are not cannibals, primitives, idiots and poor people. We are a nation capable of hosting world events.
We could struggle to build buildings, housing and infrastructure, wages could go down, equity prices could go up, and my life and everyone else's lives could be affected at the moment. But, being connected to the world and part of the community, our future is much brighter.
Such events open doors to the world of commerce. Such events provide local farmers with the opportunity to market their products in international markets. It offers PNG students opportunities to access the best universities in other parts of the world. It gives local researchers the opportunity to collaborate easily with the best scientists around the world. It highlights the diversity of PNG's beautiful cultures around the world. This creates opportunities for PNG to acquire and share knowledge and technologies.
"Leaders should boycott Apec"
Louisa Dira, 40, Port Moresby, works for a development program
PNG was never ready to host an event like Apec! The leaders of Apec know that PNG is the poorest of the Apec nations. If the leaders are human enough with compassion, they will show their support to the affected people by boycotting Apec or not being part of the Maserati.
Contributions have been edited for clarity and length.
