PNGBLOGS

OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 electi

OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 ele

ALJazeera Papua New Guinea is cashing in on its wealth of natural resources. Last December, Sir Michael Somare, the country's prime minister, signed a $16bn deal to pipe liquid natural gas to Asia, promising to double the nation's GDP. But despite these economic windfalls, wealth and life expectancy are on the decline. Frustrated locals are up in arms, saying they no longer trust the government or developers to deliver on promises. On this edition of 101 East we ask, how much of Papua New Guinea's wealth of natural resources is reaching its people?

ALJazeera Papua New Guinea is cashing in on its wealth of natural resources. Last December, Sir Michael Somare, the country's prime minister, signed a $16bn deal to pipe liquid natural gas to Asia, promising to double the nation's GDP. But despite these economic windfalls, wealth and life expectancy are on the decline. Frustrated locals are up in arms, saying they no longer trust the government or developers to deliver on promises. On this edition of 101 East we ask, how much of Papua New Guinea's wealth of natural resources is reaching its people?

PNGExposed Blog While the activities of unscrupulous ‘carbon cowboys’ have attracted much attention in Papua New Guinea over recent years, a confidential proposal shows that the PNG government is itself hoping to carry off the biggest scam of all. The Papua New Guinea government has submitted a proposal to the Norwegians that would see up to US$ 1 billion flow into the corruption riddled Pacific island country. The Somare government came into power in 2002 promising to immediately fast-track 10 large-scale logging projects and soon after threw a World Bank funded forest conservation project out of the country. Since then it has also sanctioned more than 2.5 million hectares of forest clearance for spurious ‘agriculture projects’. But now it is claiming it will change its ways and will bring this forest rape under control – if the Norwegians will just deposit anything between $750 million and $1 billion in its coffers. As we reveal here, the PNG government’s proposal to the Norwegians

PNGExposed Blog While the activities of unscrupulous ‘carbon cowboys’ have attracted much attention in Papua New Guinea over recent years, a confidential proposal shows that the PNG government is itself hoping to carry off the biggest scam of all. The Papua New Guinea government has submitted a proposal to the Norwegians that would see up to US$ 1 billion flow into the corruption riddled Pacific island country. The Somare government came into power in 2002 promising to immediately fast-track 10 large-scale logging projects and soon after threw a World Bank funded forest conservation project out of the country. Since then it has also sanctioned more than 2.5 million hectares of forest clearance for spurious ‘agriculture projects’. But now it is claiming it will change its ways and will bring this forest rape under control – if the Norwegians will just deposit anything between $750 million and $1 billion in its coffers. As we reveal here, the PNG government’s proposal to the Norwegians