PNGBLOGS

JEREMY HANCE On May 28th the parliament in Papua New Guinea passed a sweeping amendment that protects resource corporations from any litigation related to environmental destruction, labor laws, and landowner abuse. All issues related to the environment would now be decided by the government with no possibility of later lawsuits. Uniquely in the world, over 90 percent of land in Papua New Guinea is owned by clan or communally, not be the government. However this new amendment drastically undercuts Papua New Guinea's landowners from taking legislative action before or after environmental damage is done. Essentially it places all environmental safeguards with the Environment and Conservation Minister. Comparing the amendment to the US deregulation that paved the way for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Papua New Guinea environmental and human rights lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr, said the amendment seeks "to remove the checks and balances of the Environmental Act for proje

JEREMY HANCE On May 28th the parliament in Papua New Guinea passed a sweeping amendment that protects resource corporations from any litigation related to environmental destruction, labor laws, and landowner abuse. All issues related to the environment would now be decided by the government with no possibility of later lawsuits. Uniquely in the world, over 90 percent of land in Papua New Guinea is owned by clan or communally, not be the government. However this new amendment drastically undercuts Papua New Guinea's landowners from taking legislative action before or after environmental damage is done. Essentially it places all environmental safeguards with the Environment and Conservation Minister. Comparing the amendment to the US deregulation that paved the way for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Papua New Guinea environmental and human rights lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr, said the amendment seeks "to remove the checks and balances of the Environmental Act for

SPEAKER of Parliament, Jeffery Nape, bowed to pressure from the Government to declare Sir Paulias Matane as Governor-General for a second term against advice from his own Parliamentary legal counsels. This is according to Parliamentary witnesses who said Mr Nape had been advised by his lawyers to seek a Supreme Court interpretation on the uncertainty surrounding Section 87(5) of the Constitution following a point of order raised by East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu. They said this was to maintain the integrity of the Chair and the House in accordance with adopted and normal parliamentary best practices. They said despite clear advice also on maintaining the independence of the Chair, the Speaker announced the Government’s interpretation of the constitutional provision. Parliament had taken a vote on the eligibility of Sir Paulias as the incumbent Governor-General under the provision which saw him muster 84 votes with only 13 against. Mr Wararu’s point of order was for the Speaker’s rul