MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS
As Papua New Guinea celebrates 51 years of Independence, Chief Commissioner David Towe shares a special message of reflection, duty, and service with all PNG Customs Service officers and the general public.
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"At 51 Years of Independence, Our Duty Continues: Chief Commissioner Urges Customs Officers to Serve with Pride and Purpose"
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My dear fellow Customs Officers,
Today our beautiful country that is so diverse yet united as one nation will turn 51 years old since we gained Independence on 16 September 1975. We as Customs Officers, and as an organization, celebrate this anniversary.
Last year we celebrated the Golden Jubilee and assessed how we have journeyed, counting our successes and failures in terms of development. The Marape-Rosso Government made it clear that this year will be the beginning of the hard reset for Papua New Guinea.
Hence, we must use this 51st Independence Anniversary to reinforce the measures and actions that we are taking as individuals and as an organization to progress the journey of hard reset. The journey of hard reset for PNG must begin with a reset of our mindset, standards, discipline, systems, performance, and commitment to the people and Government of Papua New Guinea. Our country is under pressure as we grapple with rising costs of living. Communities want safety and order. Businesses need certainty and fairness. Government needs revenue to deliver schools, health care, roads, security, and essential infrastructure. Papua New Guinea needs institutions that are trusted, disciplined, and ready to perform.
PNG Customs must be one of those institutions. We stand at the gates of the nation. We are the first line of defence against illegal goods, illicit trade, border threats, and revenue leakage. We are also a key partner in legitimate trade, investment, business growth, and national development.
This hard reset begins with us. Integrity must be non-negotiable. Discipline must be consistent. Accountability must be real. Service to country must come before personal convenience. We must reject corruption, delay, carelessness, favouritism, and complacency every day, in every decision, and at every border point.
Each and every one of us is part of this beginning. Whether you serve at the border, wharf, airport, maritime frontier, revenue desk, intelligence unit, compliance team, technology section, administration office, or command post, your work, discipline and honesty matters.
Our vision is clear. We are here to work and build PNG Customs Service into a modern and robust Customs Administration to effectively ensure strong border security and foster economic growth. I must remind you all that our mission is of high national significance as strong borders protect our people and sovereignty. Efficient trade supports business, jobs, investment, and growth. Effective revenue collection gives the State the resources to serve our citizens.Border protection, trade facilitation and revenue collection are not just Customs functions, they are nation-building duties.
When we do our work well, Papua New Guinea becomes stronger. Dangerous goods are stopped. Honest traders move faster. Businesses grow. Revenue is protected. And PNG Customs becomes a force for national renewal.
This reset will demand courage, stronger leadership, better supervision, smarter systems, faster service, tougher enforcement, and higher personal standards. It will require us to confront weakness, correct mistakes, and build a culture where performance is expected and integrity is protected.
That is the Customs Service our country needs and our children deserve. Secure borders, fair and efficient trade, protetected public revenue, stronger institutions and greater hope for the next generation.
So today, I call on every officer to stand up for PNG Customs and serve without fear or favour, remain steadfast in your vocation as a Customs Officer, determined to serve our people and country well with loyalty, commitment and dignity. This is a call for us to stand up for our children’s future. Let this be the year we become more disciplined, more united, more accountable, and more effective than ever before.
As Chief Commissioner, I ask you to walk with me. Let us move from routine to mission, from average to excellent, from complacency to accountability, and from obligation to national duty. Let our actions prove that PNG Customs is ready to help lead Papua New Guinea into a stronger future.
May we serve with courage, lead with integrity, protect with vigilance, facilitate trade with excellence, and collect revenue with honesty. May our service help build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Papua New Guinea for our children and for generations to come.
With that, I wish you and your family a Happy PNG 51st Independence Celebration!
Thank you, God bless PNG Customs Service, and God bless Papua New Guinea!
Authorized by
David Towe
Chief Commissioner of Customs