A Tribute to Sir Peter Barter

The biggest regret I have is not being able to visit him in Madang while I was close as the Provincial Administrator of the East Sepik Province 2018 – 2020. I should have had the opportunity when I was so close and yet so far away! Sir Peter is one of the three pillars in my life that shaped my professional courier as a public servant. Sir. Peter, yes, my heart is broken! Words cannot truly express what you did for the Health Sector in Papua New Guinea and for Bougainville.

At your passing Sir Peter, I want to make a very special tribute to you and I wished I had a more aliquant way of do this. It had taken me two full days to work out what to say and this is the result of trying to reflect on how he hand impacted my life as a senor public servant and that of the health sector in Papua New Guinea.

First and foremost, I want to say thank you to Lady Janet Barter, son Andrew Barter and the extended family for this man of unimaginable characteristics. Sir Peter was a philanthropist, an outstanding Papua New Guinean with a warm, ever-giving spirit always and one with a sincere heart.

I am still shocked and confused as to what to say, it had taken some time to digest and say what I have to say, focusing on his incredible life of being a; “A Master of all Trades”. A philanthropist, an airline pilot, a helicopter pilot, an advocate for good governance, a musician, a boat pilot and a rescuer of people and a peace advocate and so many more. I pay this very special tribute to Sir Peter Barter.

Apart from my personal, parental, tribal and close colleagues and family, I owe my successes in life to three prominent personalities that I have had the experience and opportunity to follow in life.

To set the context, here are my three interchangeable heroes in life:

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare – A giant of a role model, that provided all the opportunities for all Papua New Guineans, including me to grow up in a free, fare, just and democratic nation that provided the environment for me to be well educated. The highest of these values this great man has influenced me in is the value of, “Moral Capital”.

Sir Peter Barter – Acknowledging my potentials and providing me the opportunity to be Secretary for Health 2007 – 2011, he provided the encouragement and opportunity to reform the health sector for the better. Prudence in development of vision and aspirational goals to achieve positive goals for the good of all in the health sector.

Professor Johnathan Mann – A Harvard School of Public Health Professor, Jonathan Mann (1947-1998), founding Director of the Fran?ois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. This man gave me the international perspective of health and development from a human rights perspective. He highlighted humane values to development, in particular human rights as a basic right of all persons by fostering equity in development. ?He also highlighted the value of decision based on evidence. ?

The attributes of three champions make me visualize the philosophical relationship one can attribute to that of the Holy Trinity. I cannot judge one being of a higher value then the other, and so, I consider my acquired values and characteristics as a public servant, being shaped by all these three Champions. ?I therefore owe it to Sir. Michael, Sir Peter and Professor Mann as role models in my life.

Sir Peter was a giant of a person, I got to know him in two important occasions. From a health sector perspective, he valued me and engaged me as the Secretary for Health in 2007. Secondly, he worked with Fr. Jan Czuba as a Council Member of the Divine Word University (DWU) to invite me to join the DWU to be the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and begin work on a new medical school for the country. To me the development of the 2011 – 2020 National Health Plan and the creation of the new Medical School in Madang’s Divine Word University are significant contributions that must be acknowledged as significant contributions made by Sir. Peter to the health sector in Papua New Guinea. This must be seen together with all the many significant contributions to Bougainville and the so many personal sacrifices he has made to individuals and institutions throughout PNG.

The following is a repeated quote by Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare about Sir Peter Barter: “The people and government salute Sir Peter dedicating most of his private and public Life to the development of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea will remember Sir Peter for his untiring efforts in trying to find lasting peaceful solution to the Bougainville crisis. He has also been a true Papua New Guinean at a heart and had represented the country well internationally. ?But I will remember Sir Peter as a colleague who was there when his people needed him urgently. His mercy flights to help an expectant mother, an injured youth or victims of national disaster are all well documented. On a personal level, Sir Peter pushed for the health sector to be given greater attention. Some of his achievements include, real increase in budgetary and aid supports for HIV/AIDS, more orderly procurements of drugs and other medical supplies and the efforts to recruit doctors from Cuba. More often than not he had also expended his personal resources.” ?https://www.newington.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Biography_Peter_Barter_image.pdf??This quotation is taken from the Bibliography of Sir Peter documented in the Newington Medallist Awarded in 2009. I believe it truly reflects the life and services of Sir. Peter Barter. ?

Sir Peter also created the Melanesian Foundation in 1980 and has no doubt set the precedent for high value tourism promotion in Papua New Guinea. His Melanesian Explorer and the Kalibobo Spirit were boats that exposed people of the Sepik River and the Trobriand Islands in ways that not many could have expected. Him exposing the Sepik People to their arts and culture in his own hotel compound is yet another of his commitment to people locally and world-wide. This he did by constructing a traditional arts and graft market in his backyard. A remarkable demonstration of doing things locally and exposing people to the global community.?

He was conscious of the environment and constantly lawn mowed his and others yards when needed, and often cutting the grass around business houses and buildings around Madang town. ?One could also assume and by observing, note that he was doing things despite health constraints that he could have had at the time of his activities. Despite hardships he continued what he had to do for the good of all. ?I believe that he would have come out of his own way to do things for others despite his own impediments. ?Only very special people can do this. “A large shaded hat and a lone elderly while man driving and lawn mowing grass in and around Madang”, a site that I saw while working as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Divine Word University.?A sight that I will never forget, Sir Peter!

I would now like to acknowledge the work done by so many in the health sector following his decision as Minister for Health to approve my appointment as Secretary for Health. Here I wish to demonstrate the work done by so many people, by capturing pictures of what was done for the Health Sector in Papua New Guinea. By observing this I wish to honour Sir Peter for the work done by all that had contributed. It is worth noting that visions are created and the visions can become a reality. As quoted by Grand Chief Sir Michael, “On a personal level, Sir Peter pushed for the health sector to be given greater attention”. Yes, we did try to deliver according to the wishes of Sir Peter by developing the National Health Plan 2011-2020 with clearly laid out health services standards. In acknowledging that human resources were an important part of the implementation of this plan the dreams were to set up a new medical school that would boost the number of leaders in the health workforce. This was done in accordance with his dreams to bring Cuban Doctors to support the health services in PNG, which is in accordance with the need to boos human resources for the health sector.

It is hoped that the pictures captured in this tribute portrays the outcomes of the planned intentions to give a greater attention to the health Sector by Sir Peter. I hope that these pictures speak louder than words. The pictures show some aspects of your personal life and enjoyments, showing pictures of a few selected individuals and friends that were close to you in carrying out work for the health sector. Some of which have been posted on Facebook.

The Provincial Health Authority was also a key reform agenda pushed by you, Sir Peter as you departed from your political life. ??

The bureaucracy at the time saw the visions that you had as the Minister for health, and so these pictures are a reminder that political intentions can be made real if the bureaucracy and administration arms of governance work effectively together. The following pictures therefore can be seen from three main perspectives;

1.??????Sir Peter your personal connections and interactions with people was a joy to see. Your fun for music and the piano was always great to see, hear and enjoy.?Incidences like you making a presentation with the Late Rodger Hau'ofa (a distinguished radio talk show host) at your own house wind was always enjoyable. You provided numerous trips on your boats to show case the Madang harbor and the islands off the coast of Madang. You were a tour guide to numerous numbers of people, often free of charge guests and providing opportunity for guests to relax from hectic work schedules in Port Moresby. Thank you, Sir Peter!

2.??????Secondly, the pictures show the community health post concept and an example of a district hospital as an output of the National Health Plan 2011 – 2020 in compliant with the National Health Service Standards. Sir Peter, your inspiration for us to construct the plan and state the policy standards for health reforms and enhancing the health sector resulted in the outcomes that can be seen. Well-designed district hospitals and Cross shaped 3-person community health post can now be seen all trough out the country.

3.??The last set of pictures illustrate your friendship with Fr. Jan Czuba the past President of the Divine Word University indicate your commitment to human resource development for the health sector in the creation of the second medical school in Madang, Papua New Guinea. You provided the insight and support as Minister for Health and as Council Member of the Divine Word University. The Government has now confirmed that creation of the New Medical School. The pictures provide a historical perspective and the new Medical School. It now has the buildings and infrastructure for a medical school. Thank you, Sir Peter! ?

I hope that this short reflection of Sir. Peter’s life can portray the enormity of the way he envisioned life in capturing the imagination of those who were committed to working with him. To young Papua New Guineans my Sir Peter be a role model for inspiration of others to do the right things for the good of all.?

I hope that Sir Peter’s passing can be seen as a lesson for all young Papua New Guineans to see the impact of a person and a true leader that can shape and influence the lives of people in a profound manner. There is still a lot more to do for the country but for this great man, Sir Peter Barter, I wish to express a big thank you for being the inspiration for allowing me to be part of transformational change that had taken place in the health sector. Though small it may seem, the consequences of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and doing something about it can make an enormous difference. There is still so much to do but you have inspired many to do and carry out the intended tasks. May this alone be a lesson for all to see.

I express sincere thank you to those that provided aid and support; the Asian Development Bank, the People of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the many who had come to know you and trusted and believed in what others with the same spirit and intentions can do for you and then in the long term for the good of all. Thank you, Sir Peter, you were and will always be an inspiration!

To Lady Janet Barter, Son Andrew Barter and the family, I express my family, my tribe and friends in the health sector a very special message of thank you and gratitude to the distinguished services of Sir Peter Barter.

To conclude, I pray to God Almighty, that God will acknowledge the goodness of Sir Peter’s heart and bless his angels to escort him to Heaven. And may Sir Peter be a shining light for young Papua New Guineans to emulate the life, the work and deeds of Sir Peter. I pray this in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.?So, help me God!?