Comments

Hello Stephen, I agree with your assessment. The point made by the Solomon Islands opposition that the money would have been better directed towards healthcare is correct. Let’s be sanguine here. Unlike a stadium or dormitories, healthcare does not leave a lasting monument. Only people living in and around Honiara are likely to have an opportunity to attend the South Pacific games. For ninety percent the games are an example of a foreign culture and a meaningless waste of money. The implication that this support addresses a priority for the Solomon Islands, is disingenuous. So is addressing the effects of rising sea levels around atolls, but I don’t believe Australia has been rushing to address this. Further, the continued reference to the “Pacific Family” is beyond a joke when historically people from this part of the world have been treated as anything of the sort. The expression is patronising and odious to those who have experienced the reality of the countries in question. Look at the state of health and education services starting just four (4) kilometres beyond Queensland’s most northern border. Following the games, women and children in communities will continue to suffer and die needlessly from preventable conditions while the stadium in particular will lie vacant as a monument to ego and stupidity. It evokes images from Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley. I am not against prestige projects provided such support does not detract from resources allocated for human capital development. The application of AUD$17million as part of development assistance does not pass the pub test. And I doubt you would get any disagreement from Solomon Island women and children living in remote settings.

This piece by Richard Herr on Solomon Islands and China (https://www.cis.org.au/publication/state-capture-behind-sogavares-marriage-of-convenience-with-china/) refers to the fact that the Solomon Islands Opposition spoke out in 2022 against the Solomon Islands' hosting of the Pacific Games, saying that more funding for health was more important. (https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1119881/solomon-government-dismiss-opposition)

Well summed up Mr. Lepani. Where do we fit into the next 50 years for Papua New Guinea? If we cannot insert our influence today, we will never affect the next 50 years like what Namaliu, Mekere, Siaguru, Lepani and others did in the first 50 years when Somare gave them Papua New Guinea. It must have been an exciting time for these men as they embarked on creating the Constitution and the public service and its institutions before and after the independence. Indeed, Namaliu disapproves Shakespeare. __"The evil that men do lives after them; The good isoft interred with their bones.”__ Shakespeare

I did not attend the PNG Update last year but recent developments has forced me to really read into and try to understand the country’s current economic status and what we can do to try to help our National Government to improve our economic situation and I must say I agree with you in supporting rural empowerment and encouraging the work of cooperatives, NGOs and associations as they are well placed in communities and can correctly address social problems when it arises. This takes off some burden off the National Government’s shoulders and I would also like to think that it can reduce the occurrences of emergencies as they are being managed and monitored through the work being done by the associations, cooperatives,Churches and or NGOs. This way, we create lesser dependence on awaiting government intervention every time.

Hi Jonathan, I read your post and I'm very impressed and touched, its not always do bosses keep track of their employees. I am very much interested in farm work if you ever need a hand please do let me know how, for it is my dream to work and save overseas.

Thanks for this comment, David, which I have just seen. As far as I am aware information on the occupation and qualifications of RSE visa arrivals is not collected in NZ or at source in the country of destination. Tonga's Statistics Department did include some questions on participation in labour mobility schemes in their 2021 Census, at our request. We are in the process of analysing these data now and will keep your point in mind as we work through what the data tell us about characteristics of participants in the Australian and NZ schemes. The results of our analysis will be reported in a blog in due course.

Brilliant 👏 with God in the center. son, your story made me cry as a mother and I too had a similar story of my up bringing from Matupit to Manus. To be where I am today as a UPNG graduate in pure politics and Public Administration now rename Public Policy Management. Your story can help parents who are struggling to make their children think out of the box. It will help students still in studying. May God three in One keep Blessing you in your 3rd phase of Accademic life. God First !

Such a very inspiring story. Congratulations for your achievement. Your parents are very proud of you.🙏

In my lecturing in the School of Business and Public Policy at UPNG, I have often wondered about the backgrounds of my students and what education and personal determination it has taken for them to reach University. Thank you Robert for setting out so clearly what your journey has been and your many educational successes. And congratulations to your magnificent and supportive parents. With many best wishes for your graduation and eventual employment.

Very inspiring and a lesson to those who give up easily. Life is tough and we need to embrace it to be who we want to be. Never give up hope coz there is a saying goes, there is always light in every tunnel. Your story is helpful to those who are struggling right now and a great enjoyment to those who have overcome those struggles and could not express it. My brother you made it through and I am a proud sister here. Keep your head held high and strive for what you believe in. Most of us believe in you and you have something very important in you which one day you will show it to our little community (Gulka) and to the whole country. God Raise David from trash and made him great King. The God of impossible is with you.🙏Praise to God and Congratulations to you on your big day. 🥳👍

The scenario raised was recently discussed in Vanuatu media and therefore has been raised as a concern. For a Vanuatu perspective the predominance is heavily in favour of workers who have primary or secondary education. (In my agency's case, 1% zero education, 70% primary education, 25% at least one year secondary, 3% at least one year tertiary, 0.6% degreed). Such data is not captured in a 403 visa application. The Act here states that a seasonal worker who holds a degree can only apply if they have no current employment or have written permission to go working from their current employer. So going by my (statistically significant data size (n=976)) the scheme is not affecting what you call the formal sector.

Indeed some repairs of things like this take years.