Comments

Nice review, Matthew. Thought this paper might interest to you and anyone else who reads through, if you have not already seen it. A neat modern test of HK vs. signalling in university by Carolina Arteaga, coming out in favour of the former also: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272717301809?via%3Dihub Cheers, Ryan

The post here and comments are really informative and touch on some important issues that impact on the Covid discourse in PNG, and neighbouring Solomon Islands. I have seen the same type of responses on every Solomon Islands' forums, and have no doubt it is reflective of the conversations on the streets, in the villages and households. Points made about the amount of misinformation and 'bullshit' that has been spread by the 'West', to, for and about Pacific Islanders and other indigenous populations, since colonial times, certainly creates an environment of inevitable distrust, as stated by previous commentators. Not surprising that 'hope and prayer' become the ultimate 'solution'.

Many thanks for this thoughtful analytical piece. It accords with my own experience among the people and cultures of Vanuatu. What seems clear is that sorcery and magic are integral to the world view of the local people, and are therefore deeply entrenched. Contrary to assumptions, it seems not to be the case that increased levels of 'western' education or 'Christian conversion' will automatically eradicate these practices. The fact that they remain prevalent across PNG (and I would think all Melanesian communities) attests to this. Your own proposals about how to engage with these practices seems well informed and appropriate.

Thank you for this blog post (and yesterday’s first part). The image on this blog post is of a smartphone. In yesterday’s post, you mentioned that the online portal can be accessed on any internet-capable device (‘smartphones, tablets or computers’). Do you know what percentage of RSE workers have smartphones or other suitable devices? Thanks, Amanda

From Peter Dwyer and Monica Minnegal Thanks to both Sue and Yvonne for your important and thoughtful article and comment. We do wonder whether antivax sentiments are stronger in PNG than they are elsewhere in the world and agree with Yvonne that, in PNG, many people are simply questioning ‘the way things have been done so far’ and would like access to answers they can trust. MP Bryan Kramer wrote on Facebook that he would take the Covid-19 vaccine and said why it was important. Thirty-two of 86 comments on his post rejected his argument: they asserted that vaccination was not in accord with God’s plans, the disease was fake, so-called medical ‘experts’ could not be trusted, ‘whites’ were treating ‘black’ people as guinea pigs, Kramer had no authority to speak because he lacked medical qualifications, and Kramer had himself been infected because (unlike most Papua New Guineans) his immune system was weak. Eight brief comments agreed with Kramer, nine wrote that vaccination should be a matter of personal choice and 28 wrote of their sense of confusion and their desire for more information. Eight correspondents asked for details of the late 2020 report that University of PNG scientists had discovered a cure for Covid-19 disease and had been awarded a grant of K10.2 million. [This issue recurs often in social media posts.] And, as is common in PNG, one correspondent asked what had happened to all the money that had been allocated to handle the pandemic. So about one third of the comments on Kramer’s post were unambiguously opposed to vaccination. Reasons for opposition on this and other posts vary enormously. They are often inconsistent. In one stream, Australia is thanked as ‘our mother country’ for providing vaccines to PNG. In another stream, responding to the same news item, Australia is party to a plot to destroy ‘PNG people’ and gain unrestricted access to the mineral wealth of that country. In one post, God has sent floods to Australia as punishment for forcing vaccines on PNG. In another, ‘high profile’ PNG citizens keep dying at the Pacific International Hospital because the expatriate doctors employed there have fake qualifications. The theme that often recurs, and warrants attention, is an understanding that God has blessed Papua New Guineans with ‘natural’ immunity. Our optimistic guess is that people will assess available evidence, respond to what is emerging as a dire situation and, in the end, for the most part, decide to be vaccinated. Regrettably, there are some senior politicians who, though stressing that vaccination will not be mandatory, are not forthcoming about the importance of achieving high levels of vaccination. Other politicians are unwilling to speak to the press on this issue (Post Courier, Mixed reaction over vaccines, 24 March 2021). These men are not being helpful, some of them could do with re-education. So too, it seems, could Mark Zuckerberg. Today, in a mix of Tokpisin and English, the administrator of the Facebook group Fly River Forum advised that posts opposed to vaccination may be rapidly taken down to avoid the possibility that the group itself will be closed by Facebook. ‘Olgeta post or comment where mipla workim against long kissim sut em line blong yumi long Facebook ol rausim same speed. … Please bear in mind the platform is privately owned by bata Zuckerberg na ol mobs blong em.’ With that kind of censorship, who wouldn’t be inclined to conspiratorial readings of the world of Covid and rich white men’s power.

I'm late to this, but it seems to me that the Pacific Islands Forum "simply isn’t that important to its members" might be correct if the measure of the body is deep regional integration or the regional provision of services. However I would argue that the value of Pacific regionalism is, as much as anything, linked with the assertion of Pacific regional identity, and as a forum for collective diplomacy in pursuit of shared interests. As Greg Fry explains, Pacific island societies have deployed a regional identity “as a shield against global forces” and regionalism has been embraced by island leaders, not as a means to achieve market efficiencies or to pursue deeper integration, as per the model of regionalism in Europe, but rather to achieve political ends. Thus, Pacific regionalism has served as an “arena for negotiating globalisation, as a source of regional governance through agreed norms, as a regional political community, and as a diplomatic bloc” (Fry 2019. Framing the Islands: pp.21).

Thank you, Charlotte, for an excellent piece. Great to know about the progress with RSE workers' superannuation deductions. It makes a lot of sense that this part of workers' income, though voluntary, goes back to their NPF accounts. It supports a long-term goal of Pacific labour mobility programs of workers' earning helping to improve families' economic and social well-being. Hoping very much that the Australian labour mobility programs take a similar approach - there are too many workers here who still don't know how or if they could withdraw their superannuation when their contracts end.

This is a very valid point, and as a consultant based in Fiji and working on a regional Pacific islands project I am experiencing first hand the challenges communicating via emails and online meetings. I would add that Pacific islands / Oceania are also disadvantaged in global negotiations that are mostly scheduled to fit the European or US time zones, the middle of the night in our region.

Not all naysayers on social media entirely believe Covid in PNG is a hoax, many common people believe that COVID does exist in PNG. Many just question the way things have been done so far due to growing frustration associated to other factors. The low number of testing has painted an unclear picture of the actual situation on the ground so far. By this stage, it is suspected by many Papua New Guineans that the virus has been widespread and many have already had experience with COVID like symptoms. Some have been unfortunate to lose their lives, all unrecorded. A majority have recovered from the virus hence perceive it as just another sickness so they question authority. Especially given that a huge sum of money was available for COVID operations but that seems to have vanished into thin air. And with the growing number of COVID cases the lack of trust grows too. Unfortunately, the disappointment is now been directed to Australia for the gesture of donating vaccines. Perhaps if the PNG government took the lead in sourcing the vaccines without Australian intervention it would have reduced suspicion. Despite the generous gesture many Papua New Guineans feel it suspicious. For noting that suspicion some Papua New Guineans have been subject to a mouthful from some Australians who seem to be trolling PNG groups arguing with Papua New Guineans speaking up. Facebook is perhaps not the best place to have a professional conversation as I have learnt but it proves to be the best place to learn what's happening in the world. Part of the raised suspicion is influenced by global movement against the use of experimental vaccines. Facebook has allowed users in PNG to read other news from around the world. And with the spike in COVID cases Australian media seems to have a better coverage of the situation here in PNG compared to PNG media. This observation has raised concerns about the possible underlying reason. What's new? In Australia there are protests about the vaccine rollout too.

Great article, thank you Sue. I and my team, Wantaim PNG, work in rural PNG. Working with local government partners in April 2020 we kicked off a province wide delivery of regular soap supplies and flyers with preventative measures. 12,000 households, 133,000 bars of soap. Being for the most part the only voice talking about COVID made it enormously challenging. The 8,000 vaccines from Australia is a welcome but small step. I despair about the likely uptake: how receptive can we expect folk to be when for the most part little info has reached them about COVID at all? I despair over the loss of the (ABC) short wave broadcast which was the platform to do that and so much more. It was a trusted (Australian!) voice reaching far into rural communities. Imagine. Thank you Sue for putting the case for more, so clearly.

Hi Joseph, Have you got any udpates on daily life in Moresby and PNG and how people are managing the rising cases on a social level? Thanks.

This is a very good question. It is difficult for us to control for other factors. Nonetheless, given the pronouncements about the expected impacts of the cable as it was being laid and then launched, we felt it was important to start this research. We will continue to monitor retail prices and any other relevant data that is available. Amanda