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As a junior AusAIDer at the time my strongest memory of One Clear Objective was a deep level of institutional cynicism, and not only from senior management. Unfortunately I can't recall my impressions of the actual detail of the report. It did however offer some excellent fodder for that year's end of year revue!

Ninasema kiswahili vizuri sana kwa sababu nimekaa Tanzania kwa mwaka nane. (I speak Kiswahili very well because I was living in Tanzania for eight years.) I was engaged on a project in Dar es Salaam by the Norwegian Aid Agency and before I was sent to Tanzania I was called to Oslo (together with my wife and our infant son) to take a two week intensive course in Kiswahili and the culture of East Africa. This enabled me to be much more effective in my work and to make close personal friendships with my Tanzanian counterparts and their families. Often when we went for meetings with Government officials that I had not met before my counterpart would jokingly warn the Tanzanians to be careful of what they said in kiswahili because I would be able to understand it! After a few months my son became friendly with the children and was speaking and understanding Kiswahili as well, if not better, than me. He went on to become a linguist at school back in the UK and now speaks German, French, Spanish and Italian. I believe that learning a second language at an early age is a powerful way to understand linguistics. There is a story told to me by one of my counterparts in Tanzania (I don't know if it is true or not) that when the British colonized East Africa, as an experiment, they decided that Government officials in Kenya should conduct business in English, but that Government officials in Tanzania must learn Kiswahili and conduct business in that language. When each nation gained independence, the Kenyans thought that the British were arrogant for not learning the local lingua franca, and the Tanzanians were upset that they were not taught to develop English which is a very useful language to have in the world! An aspect of colonialism that cannot be won!

Thanks Richard, great to get some history - for a view from the other side, of those who experienced Western-style international development, try Lea Ypi Free: Coming of Age at the End of History and her interview with the Irish Times politics podcast. Great account of living under change in post 1991 Albania.

Good point. Sam Basil was in a way was the forerunner of leaders like Brian Kramer, Garry Juffa, and Alan Bird. For 10 years he maintained a strong position against the likes of Somare & O’Neill who had their share of controversies. Basil’s decision to join O’Neill erased all the good work he did. Due to the constant votes of no confidence in PNG politics, once you join the government, you go silent on corruption issues. You need the support of the “corrupt” to remain in power. Something that Alan Bird, Brian Kramer, and Gary Juffa found out when they joined the Marape-led government in 2019. These three made their name - for politics that is - by criticising the O’Neill Government. But when the government changed, most of O’Neill’s friends remained in the government led by Marape, including MPs that Kramer, Bird and Juffa would regard as corrupt. The Marape-led coalition has everything: those accused of corruption, those who quote scriptures, and those referred to by the foreign media as “tsar of anti corruption”. All bound by the common desire to stay in power.

That's a good thought too when it comes to Government political point of view. I'm not against to anyone thoughts however, speaking from the low level profile is different. In my own opinion, the Economy of a Country doesn't start from the workforce more particularly with our Pacific Nation. Perhaps, I believed it all starts from economy within the family and as an individual. Creating and having opportunities like these allows commoners and a person from a low profile income to be elevated. I can guaranteed it boosts individual economies which provides the best option in life for kids and with an affordable life. In reality, This Pacific scheme initiation and strategy doubling or tripling the incomes of others who were public servants and had good jobs, while in Samoa while others who were unemployed is like winning a lottery. Nothing wrong too for Public Servants who decided to stay they are just fine. I'm just predicting and analysing life. Parents from low standard of living are have a chance investing more to their kids by schooling with those rich and high profiles, while others ensuring taking all kids in school. Every family tribes in Samoa I'm pretty sure got either Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Nurses, Doctors and others professions. Meanwhile, the economy of most of families are still in need of help. In example, if a government sacrifices a teacher I'm having faith based on my experience, that teacher will invest more to their kids, relatives to be a recognised given qualitative son or daughter which eventually added more value with massive contribution not only financially, economically to the Governments Economy. It is a "win win situation" to both governments Australia and Samoa but also both parties Samoa Government and the Scheme candidate. Last but not the least, please just a humble request to fix the problem of -underpayment of employees by few Australian Companies -avoid misleading our Pacific people who are working in Australia - put a stop on fraudulent employment contract done by some employers and Agent - avoid manipulating Human Resource systems eg. falsifying records - increase awareness and initiate an independent body to assess and investigate inappropriate behaviour of only the employers who are in compliance with international laws and regulations - avoid psychological abuse of Pacific, also any foreigners no matter what colour or nationality. - and more as speaking from evidence I have on hand Congrats to the new Australian Government.

Will Australia scrap the nuclear submarine deal with the UK and USA now Labor is in power?

Indeed an accurate description of an important member of the current political class. Before, during and after Sam Basil, the lack of development and progress for the large majority people of Morobe and PNG, and the fantastic levels of corruption, remain a permanent fixture. The question must therefore be asked, however, whether with this type of opportunistic leadership the results in the future for the country will be different from those of the past. If posturing as an anti-corruption fighter and reformer remains no more than an electoral ploy, not much will change.

Thank you for this report. Your report is confirmed by the very few visits of the officers of the GPA and National Officers serving in the province. I sincerely hope the Provincial Administration has copies. If only Gulf had a road system that linked all stations and most villages. With this road system, services would easily be accessed. Schools and health facilities would remain open. Public servants would move to stations, towns and stores in villages that have the facilities to access their salaries, and return on the same day safely. From May to October, most government services are on hold. The rough weather and the rains make travel a personal choice of whether to live or die. Salaries are paid into bank accounts and have to be accessed where there are electronic banking facilities. Today the cost of teachers and public servants travel by dinghies is very expensive – one way. If they must return the same day, they will not have the basics to last till the next pay day. That is why teachers and public servants do not last in the remote places. In the mountains of the province they walk to Aseki in Morobe province for their banking needs, and whatever they can carry back. Those who have not lived in Gulf Province will not know, and so will continue to look down their noses at the province's lack of progress. We who live here in the province have not given up, and will not give up – ever. With the Connect PNG road coming through from Wau and will be linking all the mountain stations to Kerema, and the road that has got as far as the East bank of Vailala River, and is now progressing from the Western bank – we can say "never die" We are praying and hoping that Papua and Pasca LNGs will help us get going – with roads, communication facilities and uplift of all our facilities – that will enable our teachers and public servants to continue to serve in the remote places. Then we can get off the bottom of the barrel.

Excellent work by Development Policy Centre for relentlessly pursuing work on Labour Mobility (arguing in favour of the Pacific) over the years, which has significantly contributed to discussions in both Australia and the Pacific, and have also helped shape policy debate/positions at the national level in Australia. Well done!

Another player is just making claims to get involved on the Solomon Islands issue and it's not anywhere near the Pacific but at the other side of the world. Aparently the EU simply doesn't have enough on it's hand with the EU Proxy War in Ukraine. EU to step up Indo-Pacific defence presence over China fears and Ukraine example European Union’s special envoy cites concerns ‘multilateral rules-based order will not be fully respected’ in region. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/18/eu-to-step-up-indo-pacific-defence-presence-over-china-fears-and-ukraine-example

It's a question. Is it necessary for our government to continuously sending police forces in the Highlands because it's dangerous during election? I mean, look at the real picture, most of those warlords are uneducated. Some of these illiterate warlords can not afford to buy pair of shoes and some cannot even enter flex into their phone. Yet they have some of high powered weapons which our security personnels don't have. Now, the question. How did they get those guns? How do they get ammunitions? I believe, it's a complicated process for those illiterate warlords to get guns into the country and ammunitions supply. It's the educated and prominent individuals, businesses men, intending candidates and politicians who are continuously equipping those uneducated warlords to fight each other for their prestige and glory. It's better and proper to address the issues from the root course rather than band-aid solutions.

Hari Ini Sun, 15 May 2022. TEMA CARI FREEDOM MBISIKMBO. WE ALL ONE BIG FAMILY IN THE WORLD COUNTRY. FREEDOM IN THE WORLD COUNTRY NOW. AND FREEDOM FOR WEST