PNGBLOGS

REPORTS have surfaced suggesting that Papua New Guinea female scholars sponsored under Australian Aid have been involved in extramarital affairs which has gone unreported until recently when it was brought to the attention of AusAID in PNG. It has been revealed that female scholars have been perpetrators of domestic violence among PNG families while studying in Australia under Australian Government funded scholarships. This has drawn an array of reaction on social media Facebook through a group called Papua New Guineans Against Domestic Violence (PNGADV). Members of the group, numbering over 5,500, some of whom were former beneficiaries said this attitude has been on-going over the years where PNG women who attend institutions in Australia are involved in such behaviour. Several members of this group who are currently studying in Australian institutions also said it was an embarrassment to those who are under the scholarship. "As a student also under the Australian government

REPORTS have surfaced suggesting that Papua New Guinea female scholars sponsored under Australian Aid have been involved in extramarital affairs which has gone unreported until recently when it was brought to the attention of AusAID in PNG. It has been revealed that female scholars have been perpetrators of domestic violence among PNG families while studying in Australia under Australian Government funded scholarships. This has drawn an array of reaction on social media Facebook through a group called Papua New Guineans Against Domestic Violence (PNGADV). Members of the group, numbering over 5,500, some of whom were former beneficiaries said this attitude has been on-going over the years where PNG women who attend institutions in Australia are involved in such behaviour. Several members of this group who are currently studying in Australian institutions also said it was an embarrassment to those who are under the scholarship. "As a student also under the Australian govern

I wonder why not much has been discussed by the political leadership and PNG media on the very limited "middle class" population in Papua New Guinea? This is the productive population contributing to government tax and also it is this group that bridges the divide between the rich and the have-nots. Vagrancy, settlements and street sales are all cascading results of a society with a very thin middle class. PNG has to ask serious questions about the drivers of vagrancy and unregulated urban growth in settlements. You look at the demography of most settlements around the country and you will be surprised on the calibre of people who live there. Low salary for the working class, high employment tax and an unregulated real estate industry are the key drivers for growing urban settlements in our country. Papua New Guinea professionals in the private sector are some of the lowest paid in extractive resource industries and it is almost criminal when you look at most of their terms a

I wonder why not much has been discussed by the political leadership and PNG media on the very limited "middle class" population in Papua New Guinea? This is the productive population contributing to government tax and also it is this group that bridges the divide between the rich and the have-nots. Vagrancy, settlements and street sales are all cascading results of a society with a very thin middle class. PNG has to ask serious questions about the drivers of vagrancy and unregulated urban growth in settlements. You look at the demography of most settlements around the country and you will be surprised on the calibre of people who live there. Low salary for the working class, high employment tax and an unregulated real estate industry are the key drivers for growing urban settlements in our country. Papua New Guinea professionals in the private sector are some of the lowest paid in extractive resource industries and it is almost criminal when you look at most of their terms

On Tuesday11th October the Development Policy Centre and CARE Australia launched a joint report [pdf] on a case study of rural poverty in remote Papua New Guinea.  The report draws on data from a baseline study conducted by CARE for a project that seeks to build the capacity of people in these communities to gain access to the services and facilities that will help secure their livelihoods.  The data paints a bleak picture of a vulnerable population, with very few resources to fall back on when illness or other shocks hit. Yelia Local Level Government Area is in Obura-Wonenara District in Eastern Highlands Province. Part of the district is accessible only by air, with the remainder having limited road access. Villages are spread out, with groups of up to three households separated by a 20-30 minute walk. The closest markets are in Menyamya, which is a two day walk away from some parts of Yelia. In Yelia, the majority of households live within 60 minutes walk of a health

On Tuesday11th October the Development Policy Centre and CARE Australia launched a joint report [pdf] on a case study of rural poverty in remote Papua New Guinea.  The report draws on data from a baseline study conducted by CARE for a project that seeks to build the capacity of people in these communities to gain access to the services and facilities that will help secure their livelihoods.  The data paints a bleak picture of a vulnerable population, with very few resources to fall back on when illness or other shocks hit. Yelia Local Level Government Area is in Obura-Wonenara District in Eastern Highlands Province. Part of the district is accessible only by air, with the remainder having limited road access. Villages are spread out, with groups of up to three households separated by a 20-30 minute walk. The closest markets are in Menyamya, which is a two day walk away from some parts of Yelia. In Yelia, the majority of households live within 60 minutes walk of a hea

At least two people are dead after violent rioting over the past few days which has crippled Papua New Guinea's main industrial centre of Lae on the country's north coast. The government is warning it may have to declare a state of emergency. Ironically the rioting was sparked by youths concerned at the city's growing lawlessness. It began last Thursday when a group of local youths gathered to present a petition to the provincial government. They were concerned by a perceived increase in crime, particularly at Eriku, one of the city's main markets and public transport hubs. The youths blamed people who have moved to the city from PNG's Highlands and set up camp in Lae's many squatter settlements. Lae has a reputation for being one of PNG's roughest cities but even long-time residents like Meck Minnala say they have never felt so scared. "The rioting was big. They were throwing stones at each other even in the restaurants of Lae," he said. "A s

At least two people are dead after violent rioting over the past few days which has crippled Papua New Guinea's main industrial centre of Lae on the country's north coast. The government is warning it may have to declare a state of emergency. Ironically the rioting was sparked by youths concerned at the city's growing lawlessness. It began last Thursday when a group of local youths gathered to present a petition to the provincial government. They were concerned by a perceived increase in crime, particularly at Eriku, one of the city's main markets and public transport hubs. The youths blamed people who have moved to the city from PNG's Highlands and set up camp in Lae's many squatter settlements. Lae has a reputation for being one of PNG's roughest cities but even long-time residents like Meck Minnala say they have never felt so scared. "The rioting was big. They were throwing stones at each other even in the restaurants of Lae," he said.

UPDATES FROM FACEBOOK PNGNEWS PAGE All highlanders met at Kamkumu and said they agree with the cause of the actions of the morobeans but disagree with the nature of the actions in which innocent people were hurt and innocent properties damaged. The highlanders told senior polices reps that should the morobeans approach their neighourhoods and pose a threat their lives and properties then they will retaliate in self depense The highlanders also called for morobean leaders to intervene and contain the situation or else more blood will be spilled as they will neither retreat nor surrender.  People fleeing the scene have just brought reports that morobeans are looting, burning and chasing highlanders who stay at Bumayong and Tent city. The situation is still tense. About 40 recent grad cops were reported to have been sent to Lae from Pom as reinforcement.   All other areas of Lae city is virtually quite. Families will soon run out of food ration, fuel and other necessaties as a