Hon. Keith Iduhu’s call for a decentralised, district-based service town model in Central Province is not just an administrative proposal—it is a cry for justice for the Motuan people. For decades, the designation of Port Moresby as the National Capital District has created a paradox: while the city has grown into the political and economic hub of Papua New Guinea, the very people whose land it sits upon have been steadily marginalized. The Motuans, once central to the cultural and social fabric of the region, now find themselves sidelined in their own homeland.
The growth of Port Moresby has brought infrastructure, commerce, and national prominence, but it has also eroded the Motuan way of life. Villages have been swallowed by urban expansion, traditional land rights have been diminished, and cultural institutions have weakened under the weight of modernization. Central Province itself has been overshadowed, with resources and opportunities concentrated in the capital while surrounding districts remain underdeveloped. This imbalance is not merely economic—it strikes at the heart of sovereignty. A nation cannot claim to be truly sovereign if it fails to protect the dignity and heritage of its first peoples.
Decentralisation offers a pathway to restore balance and dignity. By establishing service towns across Central Province, development can be distributed more equitably, reducing dependency on Port Moresby and empowering local communities to thrive. Such a model would allow Motuan villages and traditions to be revitalised rather than subsumed under the pressures of urbanisation. It would also strengthen political representation, ensuring that governance is closer to the people and that Motuans, along with other Central Province communities, have a stronger voice in shaping their future.
This is not simply about infrastructure—it is about identity, justice, and sovereignty. Protecting the Motuan people means protecting the soul of Papua New Guinea. Decentralisation is both a practical necessity and a moral obligation. Practically, it will ease the burden on Port Moresby, create new economic hubs, and foster balanced growth across the province. Morally, it will restore dignity to the Motuan people, whose cultural survival is inseparable from the nation’s integrity. Sovereignty is not only about political independence—it is about ensuring that no community is sacrificed for the convenience of others.
The Motuans must no longer be forgotten. Their rights, heritage, and future must be safeguarded through deliberate policy and structural reform. Hon. Iduhu’s call is therefore a timely reminder that true nationhood requires justice for all its peoples irrespective..
Photo Credit: Umi Blo Ples
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