Leave with more than a piece of paper, Sir Rabbie challenges graduates
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| Rt. Hon Sir Rabbie L Namaliu GCL KCMG CSM. |
He said this means doing things the
right way, both ethically and legally.
Sir Rabbie was speaking at the
University’s 21st Graduation Ceremony yesterday.
A total of 134 students graduated in
various fields of study. One student graduated with a Masters Degree in Management,
while 8 graduated with Graduate Certificate in Management. 53 students
graduated with Bachelor of Tropical Agriculture (BTA), 5 with Bachelor of
Fisheries Marine Resources (BFMR), 51 with Diploma in Tropical Agriculture and
16 with Diploma in Fisheries Marine Resources.
Vice Chancellor of the University Professor
John Warren also used the occasion to introduce and welcome the new members of
the University Council headed by Chancellor Professor Kenneth Sumbuk.
Sir Rabbie said: “You leave this place with
more than a piece of paper and letters after your name. You leave with a
responsibility to take your learning and your knowledge and apply it to good
works. You leave with a responsibility to care about the most precious things
that God has entrusted to use; our land, water, air, plants and animals. And
you leave with a responsibility to yourself- to make good on the promise others
have seen in you and to work hard and true for those who will follow in your
footsteps.”
He told the graduands that as the
University’s name suggest, their education has been about wisely managing the
natural resources and the environment so that their children and their
generation of children who follow them can enjoy the benefits that come from
the land, water, air, plants and animals.
Sir Rabbie said he hoped students can
learn from past mistakes of leaders before and not to repeat them, particularly
in regard to the wise management of mineral and petroleum resources,
agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries.
He said in spite of the fact that PNG
has abundant minerals, oil and gas, it remains one of the world’s poorest
nation. He said the root cause of this inequity lies in the laws of economics,
politics and people.
“During my public life, our nation has
witnessed three major resource and commodity booms. The first in 1970s, then
the 1990s and we are emerging from the third. When I looked back I wished we
had managed these booms better,” he said.
Sir Rabbie informed the graduands that
when they enter workforce they will come across many challenges and some of
these conflicts will involve generational differences about how best to use
customary land for the benefit of all.
“You will see lack of government
capabilities to deliver services, you will see political interference as for
instance in the appointment of public servants or in the awarding of contracts,”
he said.
“You must be alert to these issues, to
be patient with those who have not shared your education. To be mindful that
your ideas may challenge thousands of years of tradition, to resist the easy
way, and to work diligently so you can sleep straight and well each night,
knowing you have done your best.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor Professor Sumbuk
thanked Sir Rabbie for accepting the invitation to be the guest speaker at the
occasion.
