Comments

Great article Heather "we don't have another decade to waste"!

Many people who live in PNG or have spent time there would relate to the tale relayed in this blog post. Thank you Fr Joseph for sharing it. Another similarly interesting story is Dek Joe Sum's account of trying to secure NID cards and passports for students selected to travel to Australia for a summer school. See: https://devpolicy.org/2019-anu-upng-summer-school-and-png-nid-project-20190227/ Amanda

Is it true what Irene is implying to?

PNG accounts for 85% of the entire Pacific Island population. The target of 8,000 is still low. They should consider the three practical steps mentioned in this blog and target over 20,000, for instance, if given the opportunity. Vanuatu, with a much smaller population of approximately 320,000 people, has successfully sent 16,522 workers, in stark contrast to PNG, a country with a significantly larger population of around 10.33 million, which has only managed to send 1,459 workers. PNG needs to take these work opportunities seriously and leverage them more effectively. Ref: 1.) https: //datacommons.org/place/country/VUT?category=Demographics#Population 2.) https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/PNG/papua-new-guinea/population 3.) https://pacificaidmap.lowyinstitute.org/Lowy-Institute-Pacific-Aid-Map-Key-Findings-Report-2023.pdf

very true indeed,the government should look into this. Rather those who are in authority so do their part rather then accepting bribes and etc.

It's interesting to see the changes in the Bank of Papua New Guinea's monetary policy statement and their focus on exchange rate arrangements and excess liquidity. However, I couldn't help but notice the lack of discussion on other key reforms that are part of the IMF program. Do you think this omission will impact the effectiveness of the overall program?

Hi Vincent, thanks for your comment. Agree with you that CDA and MOA are the remaining opportunity to put in place a fund that will carry the landowners and Porgera-Paiela district's socio-economic future beyond the mine. PNG SDP had more than US1.547 billion (about K5.74 billion) in 2022. This will continue to grow and will fund key social and economic development projects/services for Western Province in perpetuity. It has strong governance mechanisms, including an independent board. This is the type of fund that needs to be established to support the landowners and the district when gold eventually runs out on the mountain in Porgera.

Hi TimA, thanks for your comment. I agree with your point on the importance of good and upright leadership on key agencies of the district, which must be recruited on merit for better management of public resources and mining proceeds.

Thanks Jacob for your feedback. Porgera-Paiela district surely needs visionary and upright leadership that would ensure strong administrative and governance mechanisms are in place to better administer mining benefits and other public resources of the district. Importantly, it (leadership) must be neutral and be able to work with ALL stakeholders. They must be recruited on merit as well.

I, John Kombuk from Jiwaka and President of Papua New Guinea Rural Development Inc Association would really thank you for vital information update addressing the issuing of the PNG government's fail policies. As The NGO (PNGRDI) taking holistic approach for untouching neglected remoteset people of PNG. They were missed out alot from PNG Government in basic goods and services since independence in 1975. Resulted with the boom of highly population, mostly dominate by youths involving with social violence and practice in their respective societies as per. It's become ongoing problems and issues arising in the societies and communities at large. PNG Rural development Inc Association is the source of information provider to your attention for partnership and request to step into these areas for more physical information will assess by yourself is what the concern.

For the yesteryears, Porgera SML landowners were the ones who dreamed of living in Cairns Australia and accused a man Like Kurubu Ipara for wasting funds on sustainable projects and programs in Porgera Valley. Kurubu Ipara was true leader, who was visionary, patient and courageous enough to change our world for better, but we failed. I think, all the major services Wabag District have now would have been ours. Why don't we just let Kurubu Ipara lead us for another round?

Is there any date for PEV form application? Please inform if any date is released. Thank you.