A benchmark period for PNG women

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 22, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

IN her opening remarks to the 2015 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Papua New Guinea, held last week in Port Moresby, last week- the prime minister’s wife, Lynda Babao-O’Neill, hailed the last few years as the benchmark period in the achievements of the Papua New Guinean woman.

Aligning the pageant’s theme of ‘Our spirit of Adventure’, with the evolving development roles women in more prominent stages of society- the pageant was now one part of a big change in the country.

“We have many women move up the corporate ladder holding high managerial roles, we have seen an entire female crew fly the Prime minister, we have seen a number of women become the heads of government departments,” she said.

“We have women enter and being promoted in our disciplined forces, and we have seen women doctors take the forefront in addressing national health and most importantly we have seen more girls attend school due to the free education policy.”

“Many of our grandmothers and mothers would have never dared to dream of such achievements.”

She emphasized the most notable contribution of woman in the country in the recent Pacific Games where women achievements were most notable.

“I watch in amazement and in awe at their strength, fighting spirit and discipline.”

“To see our female athletes bring home gold especially male dominated sports such as Philo Magaiva and Debbie Kaore in boxing, Dika and Thelma Toua, and Linda Pulsan in weightlifting, and Noelyne Hetana in taekwondo was so inspirational that insights pride in being Papua New Guinean.”

“Our female athletes contributed to over 55 percent of team PNG’s gold medal tally. Courageous women setting the benchmark,” Mrs O’Neill added.

Adding to the benchmarks mentioned was that of the hosting of the Pacific Islands forum that saw the PIF’s first female Secretary General take the helm of the region’s biggest meet.

“PNG was honored in hosting the Pacific Islands Forum this year. This was also a milestone for Papua New Guinea particularly when we had our own Dame Meg Taylor at the helm as the Secretary General for the PIF- the first woman to hold this position.”

“Only fitting that we end an amazing year with the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG. A platform that not only promotes our beautiful, intelligent PNG Ambassadors , our contestants, but gives them and avenue to build their confidence and establish a professional supportive network to allow them to achieve and thrive in their chosen field.”