The 45th Independence Day celebrations come at a time of grave concern for the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Death, sickness, strain on the health system, loss of jobs, and anxiety are the most visible effects of the virus that has attacked mankind at the beginning of the year. Papa New Guinea is still coping well in terms of lives lost, while the numbers are by the hundreds and the thousands, especially among the elderly, in other more developed and organized nations. We are grateful to God and to nature for sparing our weaker and older citizens. We are also thankful to the countries and the development agencies that came to our rescue in providing medical equipment and expertise.

 All this tells us once more that independence cannot be confused with isolation. Countries need each other and support each other especially in times of difficulty. Self-determination is something we grow into. It coincides with mastering one’s destiny. The journey started for Papua New Guinea on 16 September 1975. But the struggle for universal education, health care, end of gender and domestic violence, personal honesty, prosperity for all, development and necessary infrastructures is far from won.