Saturday, May 29, 2010

Wantok system, PNG time and going overboard

Before I begin, you need to know the following things:

1. Wantok system - this is the system in Papua New Guinea that traditionally means you have support from your 'wantoks' (i.e relatives, people from the same area or, if your in a different country - people from your home country) when you need help with something and vice versa. The negative implication of that is what is reffered in western circles as nepotism.

2. PNG Time - this is usually 1 hour after the time appointed. It works well in PNG because everybody is switched on to the same time.

Now, this system has worked quite well for so long because time didn't really matter that much. As long as it got done today (i.e before the sun set) things were okay. Well, now with western influence, we have to change. I don't mean change completely and lose our identity but learn to differentiate between when PNG time and wantok system is okay, and when you are going overboard.

For example, I'm sure you've been in a very long queue growing by the minute and someone has skipped the queue because he knows the person at the counter. Frustrating isn't it. Or someone has to come do some work for you and turns up three hours after they were supposed to. Worse, they turn up and then ask to use your phone/borrow stationary/etc instead of doing their job.

My only statement is that if you've experienced the above, don't do it to others...... The more people who think like that, the better for PNG.

1 comment:

  1. I think the statement about Wantok system is okay but about PNG Time we need to change from that. This is because when we are oe our late we miss alot of things where we should do to change our-self and the country as a whole.

    ReplyDelete