PNGBLOGS

NEWS.COM.AU AUSTRALIA'S last-minute surge of support for Papua New Guinea's 2012 election stopped what would otherwise have been "an even larger failure", says corruption watchdog Transparency International PNG (TIPNG). A recent report by TIPNG says 21 per cent of polling place observers said the process was unfair or very unfair, while 45 per cent said it was mostly fair. "These numbers are troubling," the report said. "No Election commission should see it as acceptable that in 45 per cent of polling places observers found elections were only mostly fair. "A large number of people appear to be disenfranchised as a result of roll inaccuracy and possibly wrongful removal from the roll. This brings into question if the will of the people was truly expressed." Just 37 per cent of election observers reported that the process was very fair. TIPNG sent 282 election observers around PNG for the 2012 election, double the number it sent for the 2007 el

NEWS.COM.AU AUSTRALIA'S last-minute surge of support for Papua New Guinea's 2012 election stopped what would otherwise have been "an even larger failure", says corruption watchdog Transparency International PNG (TIPNG). A recent report by TIPNG says 21 per cent of polling place observers said the process was unfair or very unfair, while 45 per cent said it was mostly fair. "These numbers are troubling," the report said. "No Election commission should see it as acceptable that in 45 per cent of polling places observers found elections were only mostly fair. "A large number of people appear to be disenfranchised as a result of roll inaccuracy and possibly wrongful removal from the roll. This brings into question if the will of the people was truly expressed." Just 37 per cent of election observers reported that the process was very fair. TIPNG sent 282 election observers around PNG for the 2012 election, double the number it sent for the

By Susan Merrell In the past week, PNG Blogs has given voice to: • The first issue of Sovereign Bonds • The latest on the controversial deep water mining (Solwara) • Witch burning  - both news and analysis • News and analysis of the 'Unitech saga' • Serious allegations of corruption within the Central Supply and Tenders Board. (CSTB) • A tell-all (?) exposé about Susan Merrell (who?) Some of those articles have made it onto the site's "Most Popular" list (right hand side, under the comments), such as articles on witch burning, the CSTB and Unitech. Also deemed worthy by readers are a couple of older efforts about how Belden Namah is acquitting himself as opposition leader and what issues he's tackling in parliament. Peter O'Neill also gets a guernsey with an article about his curious immigration decisions (fugitives welcomed, professionals deported).  And of course no 'Most Popular' list would be complete without something about PNGs collecti

By  Mariël Lancee I am writing this blog in English because I want the whole world to know about this deceiving travel agent based in Mt. Hagen in Papua New Guinea. After living for 2 ½ years Port Moresby in PNG it was time I discovered a bit of the remote areas in this country. Until then I had only visited various tropical islands which was a very nice experience. For going to remote areas, I decided to do a Sepik tour with a friend and found online the travel agent Niugini Eco Tourism Services: http://www.png-tourism.com/ . A very nice website and easy to find the trip you want. We chose the adventurous ‘Upper Sepik River Tour’. On 18 February 2013 I asked them for a price quote and the email correspondence with Daniel Stanley went very smooth. On 19 February I told Daniel we wanted to be sure to be booked in the In Wewak Boutique Hotel, because we heard from other people that the other hotels/guesthouses were of poor quality (in the trip itinerary they promote on the w

By  Mariël Lancee I am writing this blog in English because I want the whole world to know about this deceiving travel agent based in Mt. Hagen in Papua New Guinea. After living for 2 ½ years Port Moresby in PNG it was time I discovered a bit of the remote areas in this country. Until then I had only visited various tropical islands which was a very nice experience. For going to remote areas, I decided to do a Sepik tour with a friend and found online the travel agent Niugini Eco Tourism Services: http://www.png-tourism.com/ . A very nice website and easy to find the trip you want. We chose the adventurous ‘Upper Sepik River Tour’. On 18 February 2013 I asked them for a price quote and the email correspondence with Daniel Stanley went very smooth. On 19 February I told Daniel we wanted to be sure to be booked in the In Wewak Boutique Hotel, because we heard from other people that the other hotels/guesthouses were of poor quality (in the trip itinerary they promot

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