Comments

Dear Tihomir, Thank you for your question on the definition of diaspora. By “diaspora”, I was referring to the stock of people born in the country (or holding citizenship) who reside abroad on a medium- to long-term basis, drawing on UNDESA/IOM migrant stock estimates. It does not include short-term seasonal workers counted at a given moment, but rather accumulated migrant stocks over time. In small countries like Vanuatu with a population of around 320,000, even relatively modest absolute numbers can produce between 8-15%. My argument in the blog does not rest on whether the figure is 8%, 1%3, or 15%. The structural point remains: in small island economies, outward migration stocks, especially of working-age and skilled populations, are proportionally far more consequential than in large countries.

There is saying that goes like this; Don't make plans in the hope that what is in another man's basket will finance/fund it.

What is the definition of diaspora here? If it's the number of citizens who reside abroad, 15% for Vanuatu seems very unlikely. Even if you count non-Melanesians who have been naturalized, and even if you count those that may be doing seasonal work abroad at any given time (around 2% of the population I believe).

Thanks for sharing your experience. This is realities in this country. Loud noise of the politicians has no real impact in the grassroots level.

This is rather shocking. I arranged for His Excellency Suidani to visit Japan in 2023 to hold discussions with the Japanese government and other stakeholders, primarily concerning the fisheries sector. I had assumed China was providing substantial support to Malaita. I hope Japan's hospital construction project will constitute long-term support, including operational assistance.

A country is not country with its history is not being preserved and valued hence , it must be one of national governments priority to sufficiently fund this institution

This is a beautiful piece Graham. Thank you. I admire the way in which you have connected your own experience to broader issues, and with such humility.

Dear Amantha, A piece on this blog by Bruce Hill refers to information laundering. See: https://devpolicy.org/pacific-launder-information-20180823/ I wonder whether this strategy is still being used by journalists to avoid being silenced. Another resource that may be of interest to you is a 2018 research report that presents the findings of research into the experiences of female media workers in Papua New Guinea. See: https://www.abc.net.au/abc-international-development/png-women-in-media/10469310 Amanda

Dear Erin, Two articles by our late colleague Elise Howard may be of use to you. Her article titled ‘Whose Security are We Protecting in a Time of Climate Change? How Gender Bias Affects Human Security for Pacific Women’ was published in the journal Geopolitics in 2023. It’s available at the following link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14650045.2023.2273829 Her article titled ‘Linking gender, climate change and security in the Pacific Islands Region: A systematic review’ was published in the journal Ambio in 2022. It’s available at the following link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-022-01813-0 My apologies if you're already familiar with this material. Amanda

Thank you, Graham I'd echo others. I'm so glad you're recovering and still pushing us all to think hard about critical things and how to achieve them (in our own organisations, governments etc. and in the development assistance we provide). You may be whispering or writing but you have a loud and persuasive voice!

Been in and out of that office for quite awhile now. No ones interested in you and your wellbeing. We need action leaders to summonized the plight of every citizen of this country. God bless this nation!

The longer the delay, the economic suffers and it leads to more unnecessary loans by the country itself. PNG needs a man of action to progress with the project so that the economic stimulates. Far too long this project has been dragging along and nobody knows why. It's a God given blessings and should be validated as soon as possible otherwise in the long run and the persistent loans in the future, this whole nation will go to the dogs. Sialauo Ara leatiro! @ Mangi East West Kerema 👍🙏