Comments

Thanks Dr. for our digest. The law is home grown and is very necessary to make people responsible when they have the fiduciary duties to serve the people. Issues that become public concern and is affecting the welfare of the people but cannot be addressed when the people do not have the power as forbids by law is resolved through this avenue. Courts and Ombudsman Commission salvaged on behalf of the people is relieving. It will disallow public protest when the government is neglecting its duties and responsibilities.

Anticorruption funds for south Asian developing countries like Nepal is urgently essential. How is this perceived to control corruption where more than 25% people are below poverty line. What are your views and support?

I really support the RAMSI with their hard work to bring back peace in nation Solomon Islands,but the problem in Solomon Islands is all about our politicians they need to leading people's of this nation in a way that people's doing their own things and stopping the corruptions politics, there nation of Solomon Islands will have a ever lasting peace indeed,and the leaders of this nation need to understand to the increase of human population in this nations Solomon Islands, to me I really supporting RAMSI in Solomon Islands. Thank you

Thanks Michael, From my observation in Morobe Province, coffee and cocoa are not going to catch up with palm oil in the foreseeable future. Massive hectares of cocoa and copra plantation land owned by Markham Farming Company Limited is now being bought by NBPOL. NBPOL replaced almost all the cocoa and copra with palm oil and they are even extending their palm oil plantation. This palm oil plantation has advantage of being in peaceful part of the country during the elections and also people are being contracted and employed to work in the plantation. Though there are recent may be one off aggressions like burning of ballot papers in Morobe during election. But its far from plantation area. Palm Oil plantations also has the advantage of being close to towns and cities with good government services which could attract more labours from rural areas who are mostly coffee farmers to migrate to and work in the palm oil plantations. I head similar stories of labour shifts with palm oil plantation in Ramu Valley, Madang Province. The conversion of huge cocoa planation into palm oil plantation between Markham Farming Company Limited and NBPOL could partly explain the nose dive experiences of cocoa exports from 26 800 tonnes in 2020 to merely 37 tonnes in 2021 as shown in the Devpol PNG economic database.

Thanks for your comment, Paul. I had a quick look at Rod's paper and saw that though the sign of election variable is negative, its impact is not statistically significant-similar to ours. Using election festivities and election violence as Instrumental Variables could possibly help capture the impact of elections on coffee exports. But consistent time series data on specific election festivities and election violence for PNG to my novice experience is non existent.

Coffee and cocoa were important non-minerals exports in the early years after independence. But as the Development Policy Centre’s PNG economic database shows, they are now been replaced by palm oil, logging and fisheries (tuna). It remains to be seen if coffee will be competitive against palm oil especially. Otherwise market will reallocate resources and labour to more productive sectors.

“‘Visit diplomacy’ has often been used to seduce leaders, by playing on their ego and sense of self-importance ... Large Solomon Islands delegations have visited other countries. Beijing is a master of visit diplomacy. The Chinese government has rolled out the red carpet, mounted guards of honour and pampered Solomon Islands politicians ... Other countries are likely to entice Solomon Islands with such visits, but they are unlikely to outmatch Beijing.” Beijing pampering Pacific leaders during visits to Beijing plays into the Bigman tendencies of these leaders, especially those from Melanesia. It’s a cultural expectation, which Beijing meets with perfection. In Melanesia, you get the loyalty of the Bigman you gain influence among his people. Despite education and exposure to Western values diminishing Bigman politics somewhat, national elections have shown how much of an influence Bigmen still have. These Bigman, when they return from such trips, can sway parliament’s decisions - most of which are weak and dominated by the executive branch. Prime Ministers are the Bigman among their peers in parliament, having control of resources such as the constituency development funds (Solomon Islands and PNG). After Sogavare’s visit, PNG’ Jame Marape will follow. Fiji’s Rabuka delayed his due to an injury but will be visiting China. Whist the US invites and meets the Pacific leaders as a “groups”, China plays one-on-one with the same leaders, giving them culturally expected treatment. China is said to be playing the long game. And it seems like a well researched, well budgeted, game. Exploiting the cultural tendencies exceptionally well.

Information production and consumption in Papua New Guinea is a complex issue, with a number of factors to consider. On the one hand, Papua New Guinea has a rich oral tradition, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and the transmission of knowledge through generations. This tradition is still very much alive today, and it plays an important role in shaping the way information is produced and consumed in the country. On the other hand, Papua New Guinea is also a rapidly developing country, with increasing access to digital technologies. This has led to a growing demand for information, and a shift towards more formal modes of communication.

Thanks for this, Raymond, David and Kingtau... yes this a feature of the coffee and election cycle, and 2022 was expected to be a great coffee season despite the growing spread of CBB, but especially because of the high coffee price. unfortunately the main harvest season also coincides with election times every 5 years, and with progressively more disruptive elections, especially across the Highlands, with violence but also more money politics and feasts, etc, luring farmers from harvesting, the impact has become greater. It's interesting that in the mid-2000s we raised this issue, and during the PNG Updates, that were then held in 2 provinces each year as well at NCD. Rod Duncan (son of Ron Duncan of ANU Crawford School) did some analysis that found, which he presented I think at the forum at UOG, no significant correlation between election and reduced crop or returns. I wasn't fully convinced by his findings then, but I think the case is much clearer now ... you can look up his paper in the PEB from around 2007.

Thank you Mr/Sir IIa Geno, the true son of PNG

Thank you for sharing such heartfelt words about Peter, Ian. He was not just a colleague but also a dear friend, and his absence will be deeply felt. My visits to Peter at ADBI revealed his immense popularity, both within the Institute and beyond, a testament to his character and impact on those around him. Peter's willingness to share his time and offer valuable advice to others was a true reflection of his generous nature. However, what truly leaves an indelible mark on my memories of him is his sharp and witty sense of humor, which never failed to brighten any moment. As we bid farewell to Peter, let us remember the joy he brought to our lives and the positive influence he had on so many. His legacy will continue to inspire us, and he will always be dearly missed. May he rest in peace, my dear friend.

Surely it is better to be a small island country facing two global powers, than one facing a single global power? At least when there are two, there's scope (if the political capacity exists) to play them off against one another. But if local vulnerabilities mean there is a risk local leaders being misled, is that risk likely to be greater or less if there are two superpowers around?