Comments

Great analysis, Grant and Husnia. Your work continues to improve and inspire my present research project. Cheers, Teddy

Firstly, I think the there's no short cut in elections for women in Papua New Guinea. I believe that the idea that legacy candidates have a chance of winning in an election doesn't quite sound appealing because the ordinary voter is more concerned about over-coming the challenges poised to him or her in terms of a lack of basic service deliveries such as access to clean drinking water, access to reliable power supply, etc. Secondly, the dynamics of politics and how it is conducted in East Sepik Province is an issue too given the tendency for East Sepik to be a Patrilineal society in which the man own the land. Not the women. Hence, men would have more say in any election for public office compared to women. Thirdly, my views is that although there is advantages or disadvantages of being a legacy candidate, it still does not guarantee an absolute certainty that Dulciana Somare Brash would win in the 2022 National General Elections. I think my view is that if she doesn't underestimate any candidate and that she does more awareness and focuses more on her strengths in focusing on basic service delivery for all the people rather than only just a few support bases where a vote came from. I think the chances of her winning the open seat would be enhanced a great deal more.

Cronyism and patron-clientism seemed to be definitional features of Niu Ailan politics.

Thanks Ross for this wonderful reflection on Sir Mekere. He was a visionary leader, very strategy. He was a philosopher King.

The Voice Inc is a great platform to advocate for youth empowerment and make them as valuable partners in the development of our country. It is great to see it evolve as a student group back at UPNG and has now developed into an institution that can create and influence policy changes for our developing nation. Thumps up to the leadership of Voice Inc, you guys have shown the right leadership skills in nurturing it from its initial stage to what it is mow to be reckon with in Australia and the Pacific policy arena. Its a great networking avenue and platform to collaborate and raise policy issues that affects us all. I think some more of such platforms to be created to give policy voice to the voiceless.

The outlook for societal trends in Papua New Guinea is bumpy at best. The combined headwinds of a youth bulge approaching its peak, few formal sector employment opportunities and weak service delivery will be difficult to overcome. The government will need to redouble its efforts to implement existing policies and develop new ones that will ensure growing opportunities for Papua New Guineans.

What an excellent summary of the issues. What the federated states of Micronesia did not explain in their statement, is their conflict of interest, being in a much deeper security relationship with the US with their compact of Free Association by which the US guarantees their security.

Well written. However, the criminal negligence of rulers to save their country from such down sliding speedily must be highlighted. Generally corruption and corrupt practices of rulers ruin the country. Pakistan is also in trouble due to its bad economy. A comparison between both countries may be made for opening eyes.

This is a very motivational piece. Very encouraging. If all Papua New Guineans can think and act that way. PNG would now be already the richest Black nation.

It's good to think business and talk SME as it is the way forward.

An incredibly well written article which sums up almost everything that took place.

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