What does it mean to be a democratic nation? Is it having the freedom of speech? Is it having the freedom of movement?

Does it mean the freedom to vote? Or it is the freedom of worship or the freedom to marry? It is having the right to education? Is it having the right of inclusiveness?

What all these suggestions are, and so many more, each individual comes up with are components of what democracy or being a democratic nation really means.

Coming from a political background, democracy is practically found in over three quarters of the world’s 196 countries.

Papua New Guinea has been declared a democratic country since its independence was declared almost 45 years ago.

The reason for this being so is simple. Before declaring independence, our founding fathers of the nation appointed a Constitutional Planning Committee to travel to all parts of the soon-to-be-nation to gather the views of people before creating the Nation’s Constitution.

Our Constitution is called “home grown” because of the actions of the founding fathers and it clearly goes to show the first act of direct democracy in action.

Over the years PNG has adopted representative democracy whereby the people are represented by members of parliament.

The sad thing though is that despite the proclamation of being a democratic country there are still setbacks which put into question its democracy.

The boundaries between National, Provincial, District and Local Level Government for instance seem to be very much independent showing no signs of coherence.

Indeed those national leaders commanding the majority of the members in parliament shows every sign of increasing authoritarian political system.

This causes the government to lack the abilities to deliver minimum services in health and education to the bulk of the population.

The NGO’s, community based organizations and churches should only be a supporting hand for the government and not a full-time service provider with unequal recognition.

What is weak is not the government but citizen’s organizations which are able to challenge the government and hold it to account. Only then will the true depth of democracy be revealed.

Much talk among donor countries and civil society agencies having a role in holding the government accountable is ongoing to this date as issues of social welfare and development are yet to be diminished.

When Papua New Guineans come together to amplify their political voice, leaning toward the use of civil society groupson their own behalf, they will at some point restore some form of democracy.

However if allthe levels of government continue the charade of personal competition over resources or wealth, the prospects of development are poor.

Unfortunately due to that the citizens are placed between a powerful-powerless forces that act as one of the crucial inconsistencies of power.

The marginalized and those who work closely beside them are left voiceless and unheard making an ongoing practice for over many years.

What is more is that when there is a more equal distribution of power amongst the people, there will be obvious signs of development.

It is time to shift the power relationship from the powerful to those marginalized and oppressed managing the order of social relations.

Civil societies and the citizen’s organizations should stand up and empower grassroots communities to have a critical conscience and be ready to hold accountable the individuals mandated to deliver them services.

Every voice deserves to be heard, every need attended to, every cry silenced with joy and every tear wiped with rejoicing.

Amanda Kundil

Melanesian Institute