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From Francis Hualupmomi on Kina devaluation revisited
Political economy narrative of development clearly indicate anecdotal experience that international financial institutions solution package may not necessarily solve structural problems in developing economies.
Developing countries tend to suffer more from systemic dependency trap caused by weak political institutions and policy and legislative regime. Political governance must be the engine turbine to whirlwind the economy.
In part, capitalist prescription of laissez-faire may seem a promising package for some countries with stable political and policy regimes. The undisputable fact remains yet that power complexity determines economic outcomes. That is politics tend to influence market forces more than the opposite force.
We must learn from political economy stories of international financial institutions and their impact on developing countries.
Fiscal and monetary policy regime change must consider our economic competitive advantage and comparative advantage. Monetary policy shift in currency devaluation depends on our economic capability and quality governance institutions. Without strong export-base market, devaluation of currency may have negative effects on social wellbeing. As an import-dependent economy, we expect inflationary reaction as price of goods increases with weak purchasing power. The economy at this time lacks import substitutes to sustain demand for basic goods.
Currency devaluation as a structural adjustment to the economy should be treated with caution.
From Nelson Tai on Four paths to a better governed state in PNG
I read from 'The National' newspaper of 28 June 2023 the article entitled "Four parts to a better governed state in PNG" and that has led me into this blog.
The lens on governance in PNG should scan both the situation now and that in the colonization era to make a judgment based on a holistic picture.
It was interesting to note from your article points of:
● possible piecemeal improvements in governance blossoming from individual communities;
● participatory budgeting process, fairly and transparently done, to give communities a direct say in the provision of projects;
● the clientelist nature of PNG's politics;
● transformation from a contest over resources to a conversation about shared rules: something more like customary community governance or deliberative democracy;
● democracy in PNG does not have to inhabit the straitjacket of laws it inherited from its former colonial powers;
● in PNG's unique context, there's no guarantee that changes, informed by theory or adopted from other countries, will work;
● it requires politicians voting away many of the powers they currently hold;
● bottom up political change;
● forming of national social movements, leading ultimately to coherent blocs of politicians or parties in Parliament;
● every well-governed country on earth owes its politics to the rise of national social movements in its past;
● the latent potential for this happening in PNG is there - nascent social movements exist;
PNG has in the colonial era been and still is ethnically, linguistically and geographically diverse. All these three form the first and fundamental reference frame or platform from which consideration for better governance should be staged. For the next layer on the frame - the external factor - we consider the greater and long-term implications on the PNG society the attitudes of the colonizers and the events of miss-judgements and missed opportunities in the transition to an independent (or more appropriately nationhood) state.
From Nelson Tai on Four paths to a better governed state in PNG
Monitoring and evaluation for the District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 (PNG) is very poor despite having in place the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM). The DNPM office is centralized in Waigani, too far away from the districts, and this combined with an absence of an effective monitoring program leaves a vacuum in the monitoring space for government programs and funds.
What we need for a way forward is a system whereby reports on acquittal and projects coming from the districts into the Office of Rural Development (ORD) are made published in the public domain for the people to evaluate the performance of their MPs and district administration officers. This will be the most effective incentive on the performance of the DSIP in PNG.
As a taxpayer, I would want to see my sacrificed hard-earned money effectively making development impact - not squandered by politicians and their cronies for their selfish, popularity-seeking programs.
From Nelson Tai on Is it morally wrong to donate to NGOs? Part two
This is a highly relevant feature to development and governance overall.
I would be following this now with great interest.
From General Jerry Singirok on A matter of conscience? Jerry Singirok, Sandline and Bougainville
I am forced to respond to Dr Henry Ivarature on his critical analyses of my autobiography A MATTER OF CONSCINCE OPERATION RAUSIM KWIK.
As I figured that the good Dr from his comments clearly indicates a person consumed by prejudice not only on my book but clear distaste for me. As an academic he was not objective in his analysis of my book. He failed to comment on the consequences in the use of mercenary force under the Constitution of Papua New Guinea as the raising an illegal army was unlawful. The deal was clearly corrupt and criminal as the government officers and politician who gave permission to kill unarmed civilians. He failed to point out behavior of the Prime Minister and his Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister as the Deputy Prime Minister unilaterally signed a contract committing USD38m to Sandline and serious breach of Finance Management Act.
The Dr asserted that I was part of making the decision to hire Sandline Mercenaries. On record I was ordered to engage them by PM and his Deputy and Minister for Defence. It was imposed on me. He asserted that I was responsible for the Kangu massacre, assassination of Theodore Miriung. It happened in my time but I did not order these murders. In fact the situation was out of control and it bothered my conscience.
The good Dr said my story was a tale and oddly structure. That is an insult to me as a soldier and a military commander and an international author. My book is not an academic book subjected to strict academic standards and asserted that they the tales tales of Sandline is not complete. Over 2 million people have access to my book on Amazon Books. I dare him or any other person to write an equivalent account of Sandline and Operation Rausim Kwik as I was the authority and main protagonist. Nobody will be able to as the subject is beyond their limits.
In all respect Dr. Henry Ivarature showed clear dislike for me as a person and his comments clearly reflects his prejudice and questions his own conscience about whether he agrees that an illegal army can murder thousands of civilians just to open a mine pit and allow mercenaries to enter the Pacific. What would Dr Henry Ivarature do if he was placed in my situation as Commander PNGDF?
He clearly lacks wisdom and foresight and I am force to defend myself about my own conscience. I sleep comfortably at night because Operation Rasuim Kwik had triggered off unprecedented peace on Bougainville and even the rebel commander Hon Ismael Toroama is now a legitimate President of Bougainville and indeed they have a bright future if the can overcome major constitutional challenges. Our collective effort was t save humanity.
As for me the book was selected among only 48 books last year at the Miami Book Show to be nominated for a Book to Screen Pitch in February this year in Hollywood where my book was highly rated and recommended for a movie. I was sworn to serve my COUNTRY with DUTY and HONOR and I did exactly that. I wrote a book based on my own thoughts and freedom of conscience in my own words and hand.
From Coleman on The Pacific Engagement Visa needs to be delivered
Hopping this bill passes by Senate, waiting with high hopes
From Sanjeshni lata on The Pacific Engagement Visa needs to be delivered
the Pacific Engagement visa need to be delivered
From anne on A Pacific Mobility Index to strategically guide the Pacific Engagement Visa
it has not yet been passed thru paliment in australia
From Terence Wood on Four paths to a better governed state in PNG