PNGBLOGS

ISLAND Business The Papua New Guinea government will legislate to ensure free education is compulsory, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says. He said this would ensure “no child is left out of school”. O’Neill told graduating students from Divine Word University yesterday that people were the most important resource. The prime minister said his government supported their education. Addressing the 31st graduation at the Madang campus, O’Neill said the government and public servants alone could not develop the country’s economy and needed all citizens to contribute. He appealed to the new graduates to make their contributions for their country wherever they would be engaged. The prime minister was accompanied by Madang Governor Jim Kas, West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, chief of staff Isaac Lupari and businessman Sir Peter Barter. O’Neill said the government was putting in place policies such as “free education” and “breaking down obstacles” such as lowering the interest rate at

ISLAND Business The Papua New Guinea government will legislate to ensure free education is compulsory, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says. He said this would ensure “no child is left out of school”. O’Neill told graduating students from Divine Word University yesterday that people were the most important resource. The prime minister said his government supported their education. Addressing the 31st graduation at the Madang campus, O’Neill said the government and public servants alone could not develop the country’s economy and needed all citizens to contribute. He appealed to the new graduates to make their contributions for their country wherever they would be engaged. The prime minister was accompanied by Madang Governor Jim Kas, West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, chief of staff Isaac Lupari and businessman Sir Peter Barter. O’Neill said the government was putting in place policies such as “free education” and “breaking down obstacles” such as lowering the interest rate

THE gruesome killing of a woman last month in Mt Hagen for the charge of witchcraft or sorcery has been roundly condemned by all and sundry. This may appear an inexcusable act perpetrated by uneducated and illiterate village folk but the first step to solving any problem is understanding. What makes a normally sane person/s act in such a barbaric manner to another fellow human being? And, more importantly, what are the factors that make such violent and brazen acts still prevalent in the 21st century? The belief systems in Papua New Guinea are very much dominated by culture and tradition. Such significantly social norms such as marriages, deaths, lineal relationships, conflict resolution, leadership and decision making are still oriented toward our cultural roots. Christianity and western philosophies (education) on law and order and moral conduct are not always aligned with how our ancestors ordered their lives. Unfortunately, many people in this country still hold fast to customary p

THE gruesome killing of a woman last month in Mt Hagen for the charge of witchcraft or sorcery has been roundly condemned by all and sundry. This may appear an inexcusable act perpetrated by uneducated and illiterate village folk but the first step to solving any problem is understanding. What makes a normally sane person/s act in such a barbaric manner to another fellow human being? And, more importantly, what are the factors that make such violent and brazen acts still prevalent in the 21st century? The belief systems in Papua New Guinea are very much dominated by culture and tradition. Such significantly social norms such as marriages, deaths, lineal relationships, conflict resolution, leadership and decision making are still oriented toward our cultural roots. Christianity and western philosophies (education) on law and order and moral conduct are not always aligned with how our ancestors ordered their lives. Unfortunately, many people in this country still hold fast to

By JONATHAN ROGERS PAPUA NEW GUINEA bonds anyone? If all goes according to plan, the Pacific Ocean nation will soon make its debut in the international debt markets with a dollar issue led by Barclays, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan. Whatever the merits of such a deal as an investment proposition, you would have to say hats off to bankers from these three houses for escaping unscathed from the beauty contest for the deal held in Papua’s capital Port Moresby, perhaps the world’s most dangerous city. Port Moresby was last year ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the second-worst place to live among the world’s 140 capitals. So-called “raskol” gangs control the city and are rather fond of robbing banks while toting M-16 machine guns. Never mind the mandate, you’d be lucky to escape the pitch with your life. The same is true of those brave blokes from the ratings agencies who came up with a Single B rating for the benighted country, assuming they paid a visit. That puts it on a par wit

By JONATHAN ROGERS PAPUA NEW GUINEA bonds anyone? If all goes according to plan, the Pacific Ocean nation will soon make its debut in the international debt markets with a dollar issue led by Barclays, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan. Whatever the merits of such a deal as an investment proposition, you would have to say hats off to bankers from these three houses for escaping unscathed from the beauty contest for the deal held in Papua’s capital Port Moresby, perhaps the world’s most dangerous city. Port Moresby was last year ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the second-worst place to live among the world’s 140 capitals. So-called “raskol” gangs control the city and are rather fond of robbing banks while toting M-16 machine guns. Never mind the mandate, you’d be lucky to escape the pitch with your life. The same is true of those brave blokes from the ratings agencies who came up with a Single B rating for the benighted country, assuming they paid a visit. That puts it on

A Papuan New Guinea environmental advocacy group has accused Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of “falling silent” on the controversial  Solwara 1 deep sea mining venture planned off the coast of Madang. “Why has our Prime Minister fallen silent on this core issue?” asked Wence Magun, national coordinator for the Madang-based Mas Kagin Tapani and also a steering cvommittee member of the Deep Sea Mining (DSM) Campaign. The campaign wrote to O’Neill last December about its environmental concerns about the Solwara 1 mine and asked for documents relating to the approvals process of Nautilus Minerals Solwara 1 deep sea mine be made publicly available. The campaign is still awaiting a response from the PNG government. The group’s statement today said: Wence Magun, national coordinator for Mas Kagin Tapani, said: “After receiving our letter last December, Our Prime Minister described the environment as a “core issue”. “But communities are still waiting to hear how he will address the many risks as