The National Cultural Policy 2022 – 2032 is set to go before the cabinet for endorsement the week after next. National Cultural Commission board chairman and secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, Ivan Pomaleu, said the policy document should go before cabinet for endorsement “if everything goes well according to plan”. Amb. Pomaleu issued the timeframe while making his opening remarks at the validation workshop of the National Cultural Policy 2022 – 2032 at the Crowne Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday (Thursday 24th March, 2022).

The National Cultural Policy, if endorsed by cabinet, will become the first-ever policy document that will provide guidance, direction, and become the roadmap for the National Cultural Commission to strategically and effectively deliver cultural services to the people of Papua New Guinea. NCC never had such a policy since its inception in 1994.”With all things going according to plan, we should after next week submit the policy to the Minister for Tourism Art and Culture for presentation to the National Executive Council for endorsement. It will be a proud moment of accomplishment for NCC when we do that,” Amb. Pomaleu said.

He thanked all the key stakeholders and cultural service practitioners to attending the validation workshop and further thanked the chief executive officer of Tourism Promotion Authority Eric Mossman Uvovo for supporting and funding the regional policy workshops in the country. Amb. Pomaleu also thanked the departments of National Planning and Monitoring, Treasury and Finance for their funding support towards realizing a national policy on the cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea. The chairman of NCC also thanked his executive director Steven Enomb Kilanda and Minister Isi Henry Leonard for their strong leadership in ensuring a policy document on culture is delivered after almost four decades of not having one.

Minister Leonard, who opened the validation workshop said the cultural sector has experienced neglect when it came to government development plans and sector priorities, and added that it is the hope of the cultural sector that the policy will offer clear directions in planning and prioritizing cultural services and development of culture in the country. “Equally, we hope culture is realized for its value and worth towards communities and its contributions towards nation-building efforts.