Where Do We Go Now?

Given how much I write about Papua New Guinea, it would be much to my discredit if I didn't wish the nation a happy 36th birthday before I split for the weekend. Here's to hoping that things start looking up for the country in the post-Michael Somare era; as newly minted prime minister Peter O'Neill noted today with exceptional frankness, there is much progress to be made:

"As a nation we have come a long way in 36 years, but our record is one we cannot be very proud of…Regardless of where you are, look around you. Our infrastructure, like roads and bridges, airports and wharves are in a shamble. We have fallen short of our national goals and principles enshrined in our constitution."

You know what they say: the first step is admitting that you have a problem.