Comments

After reposting a service of Al Jazeera on gangs in PNG with the police being just another gang https://bit.ly/pnggangs, and another one the life of a taxi driver in Port Moresby https://bit.ly/pngtaxi, I got a lot of reactions echoing your comment "Police brutality is only perpetrated by a minority of ill-disciplined rogue police officers and does not reflect the mindset of the Royal PNG Constabulary (RPNGC) in its entirety". I take issue with the view that it is about a few rogue police officers. First because the frequency and extent of power police abuse suggest otherwise. Secondly, because the police is part of the political system and is being used to neutralize government opponents, the issue is structural. Finally, in my own experience foreign professors were constantly being asked for bribes or other favours with the menace of violence or deportation. In fact, between 2012 and 2018 I was refused entry to the country 4 times, and in 2018 the foreign Vice Chancellor decided to flee before it would come to that point. This is the tip of the iceberg. I could give numerous examples, but I fear these would be seen as unproven accusations of major corruption of members of the police force, judiciary and the Peter O'Neill government. Unless structural reform of the police force is undertaken, PNG will continue with law and order issues and many cases of disrespect of human rights and the rule of law.

I had emailed my research project on Climate Change Institute to ANU to support the University of Goroka in Papua New Guinea to set up the National Institute of Climate Change in Papua New Guinea.

I am doing a research project in Papua New Guinea to implement the national public sector anti corruption institute of the state. There are three major areas of corruption. Theses are 1. Political corruption of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. 2. State Public Service Corruption of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. 3. Corrupt Mindset of Citizens of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. These are impediments to success in the implementation of Papua New Guinea Vision 2050.

And what about those who came and worked for several months on prunning and are awaiting to go back for in NZ, are they also eligible to go back and work in NZ?

What about those who have worked for several months in 2019 and are still waiting to go back and work in NZ?

Only if men and women, leaders of Papua New Guinea work together truthfully and honestly according to thier vows then the country will be governed well. And CORRUPTION should be stopped in Papua New Guinea.

Very good point.

all of us have had to make sacrifices.. i have not seen my new grandchildren born in 2020 why are Indians returning to india in a pandemic??the second to last perth outbreak was caused by an Indian who returned to india to get married-hardly essential? others in australia have missed out on attending family funerals in 2020-weddings cancelled. etc the PM told everyone to return by march 2020..and yet still Indians are travelling??

Bula vinaka Alipate Thanks for your comment. Under the first border exception for 2,000 workers in January 2021 only experienced workers were eligible. However, on 10 May the NZ government announced another border exception for an additional 2,400 RSE workers who will start entering the country from June onwards. Under the latest announcement, both new recruits and return workers are eligible to apply. Vinaka vakalevu Charlotte

Literacy is a major concern globally as well as in the Pacific. Reading comments and PILNA reports "Literacy is still a concern for many countries" speaking for the Pacific my personal view is that early literacy skills should be strengthened in the early years compared to upper primary. Very little has been discussed about early childhood education and care whereas this area is the most significant section in an education system.

Please do notify me about the next deployment of Labours to Auckland New Zealand, I gathered that I do not qualify for this particular since "The 2,000 spaces are for skilled, experienced workers who are being brought in for seven months to perform specific orchard and vineyard tasks. New recruits are not eligible under the border exception." Vinaka vakalevu!

Thanks John, point taken and true. I did have another colleague mention this to me also. Informal loans can be very valuable. In my defence, I do say "somewhat perversely" - or, perhaps "having the appearance of perversity" would have been clearer. I say this because there appears to be a belief in some circles that formal loans will be used to replace reliance on informal loans entirely. Although admittedly I was initially surprised to find it, yes, a greater understanding of these dynamics would show that it is both legitimate, and not in fact surprising behaviour at all. To start with, clearly, owning a formal bank account would be a positive signal to an informal lender that a person is able to pay back a loan. Those who are wealthier are more likely to qualify for larger formal, or informal loans. I wonder whether the rate of informal loan use across locations would say something about the differences in the experienced level of service provided by formal banks.. And perhaps could assist in the identification of areas where better formal services would add value? Would be interesting to look in to.