PNGBLOGS

THE evidence now being presented to the Commission of Inquiry into the so-called Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) tell the story of a national shame of gigantic proportions. It is absolutely disgusting and no words can adequately describe the pain that small landowners feel about their land going into the hands of foreign corporations. Former prime minister and now New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan said it well when he described it as nothing less than a conspiracy between the national Department of Lands international corporations to grab land from unsuspecting little landowners from the rural areas. This is probably the worst of any government policy on agriculture development ever formulated by the government since self — government and the extent of its effects on the local landowners will only be known when the inquiry presents its report to the government. We hope the report will be tabled in Parliament and be made public for the people of Papua New Guinea to know th

THE evidence now being presented to the Commission of Inquiry into the so-called Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) tell the story of a national shame of gigantic proportions. It is absolutely disgusting and no words can adequately describe the pain that small landowners feel about their land going into the hands of foreign corporations. Former prime minister and now New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan said it well when he described it as nothing less than a conspiracy between the national Department of Lands international corporations to grab land from unsuspecting little landowners from the rural areas. This is probably the worst of any government policy on agriculture development ever formulated by the government since self — government and the extent of its effects on the local landowners will only be known when the inquiry presents its report to the government. We hope the report will be tabled in Parliament and be made public for the people of Papua New Guinea to

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

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 nece

I would  like to commend Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for bringing back the revised Enhanced Cooperation Programme (ECP). When it was first introduced, the ECP got off very well until that ultra-nationalist, Luther Wenge, sought legal interpretation of brought an end to the bilateral agreement. I urge the government to move it one step higher – placing ECP officers in all government departments, both at the national and provincial levels, to monitor bureaucratic practices of public servants to ensure decisions and actions are legal. The ECP may be our only hope to eradicate corruption that is eating away the government structure at all levels. There will obviously be critics who will say it is neo-colonialism reinvented or against the post-indepen­dence principles of localisation of government positions. Some will argue that ECP flies in the face of national intellect and competence – not to mention rhetoric and clichés like threat to national pride and loss of belief and confidence in

I would  like to commend Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for bringing back the revised Enhanced Cooperation Programme (ECP). When it was first introduced, the ECP got off very well until that ultra-nationalist, Luther Wenge, sought legal interpretation of brought an end to the bilateral agreement. I urge the government to move it one step higher – placing ECP officers in all government departments, both at the national and provincial levels, to monitor bureaucratic practices of public servants to ensure decisions and actions are legal. The ECP may be our only hope to eradicate corruption that is eating away the government structure at all levels. There will obviously be critics who will say it is neo-colonialism reinvented or against the post-indepen­dence principles of localisation of government positions. Some will argue that ECP flies in the face of national intellect and competence – not to mention rhetoric and clichés like threat to national pride and loss of belief and confidenc

The national government’s aim to cleanse the entire government machinery of corrupt practises has gained momentum, following the setting up of the Investigative Taskforce Sweep team. Recently, the National Executive Council met and resolved to advise the head of State to make various changes to several heads of Missions overseas as well as top bureaucrats of State agencies in the country. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Cabinet considered the changes as necessary as some of the officials have been implicated in allegations of misconduct in office and will be investigated while others terms in office have expired. One such suspension is that of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Gaming Control Board, Simon Sanangke who has been replaced by Eddie Mike Jondi as the acting CEO. Another officer who has been suspended is Meck Kuk, the Director of the National Museum & Art Gallery. Joseph Nobetau, the Acting Chief Migration Officer’s appointment was revoked and he has be

The national government’s aim to cleanse the entire government machinery of corrupt practises has gained momentum, following the setting up of the Investigative Taskforce Sweep team. Recently, the National Executive Council met and resolved to advise the head of State to make various changes to several heads of Missions overseas as well as top bureaucrats of State agencies in the country. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Cabinet considered the changes as necessary as some of the officials have been implicated in allegations of misconduct in office and will be investigated while others terms in office have expired. One such suspension is that of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Gaming Control Board, Simon Sanangke who has been replaced by Eddie Mike Jondi as the acting CEO. Another officer who has been suspended is Meck Kuk, the Director of the National Museum & Art Gallery. Joseph Nobetau, the Acting Chief Migration Officer’s appointment was revoked and he ha

It seems to me that NBPOL is highly acclaimed by the World Economic Forum from purely economic point of view. I stand to be corrected but if I am not mistaken, a certain law guarding people's rights to their land and virgin forests in PNG, prohibits Oil Palm Companies to clear virgin forests to plant oil palm. Obviously NBPOL is guilty of this directive. Hectors and hectors of virgin forests had been cleared and is being cleared to plant Oil Palm in West New Britain in SILOVUTI, Kove area. I see people's livelihood destroyed in terms of their life's sustenance. Huge parts of the virgin forest cleared used to be where people do their gardening, hunting, and collecting of different food stuff and materials for building their local traditional houses and homes. Their natural rhythm of life based on their association with this virgin forest is nolonger there. This disrupts so much of their normal sustainable living and there is already discontment,dissensence, anger and upheava

It seems to me that NBPOL is highly acclaimed by the World Economic Forum from purely economic point of view. I stand to be corrected but if I am not mistaken, a certain law guarding people's rights to their land and virgin forests in PNG, prohibits Oil Palm Companies to clear virgin forests to plant oil palm. Obviously NBPOL is guilty of this directive. Hectors and hectors of virgin forests had been cleared and is being cleared to plant Oil Palm in West New Britain in SILOVUTI, Kove area. I see people's livelihood destroyed in terms of their life's sustenance. Huge parts of the virgin forest cleared used to be where people do their gardening, hunting, and collecting of different food stuff and materials for building their local traditional houses and homes. Their natural rhythm of life based on their association with this virgin forest is nolonger there. This disrupts so much of their normal sustainable living and there is already discontment,dissensence, anger and uph

What is happening in Libya, and the rest of the Muslim world is about imposing the removing the tenets of Islam & Autocracy and substituting it with the best vehicle of extraction (by the West) called democracy. Democracy itself is no answer to all the problems of the world. If you look deep into the abyss of democracy, you will hear the wailing of the poor and the hungry, the desperate cries of the dispossessed and the oppressed. It is not the will of the people as such expressed. It is the rule by a few, or in the case of PNG, Parliament and Cabinet have become rubberstamps for the Prime Minister. So it is in other countries, where under the guize of democracy, the World Bank, ADB, IMF and other UN Agencies have created poverty by sinking the hooks of debt into resource rich countries to enable them to dictate their terms of extraction. This has left many nations in Africa in crisis and civil war. In PNG, we continue to have the mindset that someone else is going to come out of

What is happening in Libya, and the rest of the Muslim world is about imposing the removing the tenets of Islam & Autocracy and substituting it with the best vehicle of extraction (by the West) called democracy. Democracy itself is no answer to all the problems of the world. If you look deep into the abyss of democracy, you will hear the wailing of the poor and the hungry, the desperate cries of the dispossessed and the oppressed. It is not the will of the people as such expressed. It is the rule by a few, or in the case of PNG, Parliament and Cabinet have become rubberstamps for the Prime Minister. So it is in other countries, where under the guize of democracy, the World Bank, ADB, IMF and other UN Agencies have created poverty by sinking the hooks of debt into resource rich countries to enable them to dictate their terms of extraction. This has left many nations in Africa in crisis and civil war. In PNG, we continue to have the mindset that someone else is going to come out

An insider within Tutumang Development Limited today spilled the beans on how he was used and manipulated by the company to 'sweet-talk' landowners into signing the fraudulent land deals involving the SABL on New Hanover. Councilor of Ward 17 in the Lavongai Local Level Government where the SABL are located, Mr. Kamsal Maraleu told the Commission of Inquiry that he was a major player in what transpired amongst the directors of Tutumang. He says the company used him because of his status in the community as he can easily influence the people. Mr. Maraleu is the elder brother of Miskus Maraleu, company lawyer of Tutumang Development Limited, and nephew to the company's chairman Mr. Peddy Yanis. Mr. Maraleu says, Tutumang is a Malaysian company, that has been logging under various company names in Kaut, Central New Ireland and Namatanai. After logging these areas, the company came up with a plan to go to New Hanover because of the island's vast forest resource. But realizi