Comments

It's a vexed problem isn't it! We all have an innate desire to form groups and plan together, but from the footy club to the UN it's another thing entirely to follow through without being distracted by the next big thing. The way ahead needs to be grounded and to appear sufficiently achievable if it is going to work out. But the best plans will also have a measure of inspiration. When I read this article yesterday I was frustrated that it seemed to be saying 'why bother'? Looking again today I think that its intention is to be more constructive than that, saying that any plan needs to get practical. I agree, but I think that the article misses the importance of inspiration. The Pacific Plan has been criticised as being overly technocratic. The Framework for Pacific Regionalism seems to have been overtaken. It implemented some tantalising consultation processes but may have lacked both inspiration and a plan for grounded implementation. Perhaps the Blue Pacific has that inspirational component that the others lacked, which is why it has shouldered the Framework to one side. The Pacific as the Ocean Continent speaks to Pacific identities and values in ways that the earlier initiatives did not, which may create stronger imperatives for longer term collaboration and the survival of the idea. It is interesting to read the piece by Eerishika Pankaj that was published on the Lowy Institute blog this week (https://t.co/E4bp5hWxsX) which explores the relationship between the Blue Pacific and the 'Quad'. It's a useful indication of the weight that the Blue Pacific concept can have, both in the region and beyond. Hopefully that can transcend the shortcomings of any individual strategy. The Blue Pacific is too compelling an idea.

Key benefits of multilateral organisations are that they provide opportunities to build communities among their members and for members to exchange views and learn from each other. All such organisations, however, struggle with the detail of how to construct opportunities for these benefits to occur. Rather than look at the limited outcomes of these efforts, it might be more interesting to look at the benefits of the processes and the underlying convergences they can build, which are particularly important for small isolated island states. Are there better processes tied to more specific outcomes that can be built? There probably are, although I’m a bit sceptical of always seeking very specific outcomes for every long term strategic discussion. Driving towards specific outcomes is a different sort of discussion and process.

Help loan is still in effect this year. Instructions to apply for the help loan including loan forms will be provided by tertiary institutions on behalf of the DHERST. For any further information on help, you can check DHERST main office in POM if you are in POM. Otherwise, visit this site: https://web.dherst.gov.pg/help Thanks

Any tertiary loan scheme for this year? Can I apply? Or how can i apply for loan to help my grand daughter for her tuition fee for 2021. She scored all straight A's and one B.

This is a sad reality in the Philippines and perhaps there is hope for all children. Poverty, lack of knowledge on the rights of a child are some of the root causes of this issue. I know that there is an organization in the Philippines, Hope for All Children, that helps children in the same situation, particularly they are giving hope to children who are orphans, child sex slaves, and starving children.. If you are interested to help them, you may visit their website, https://hopeforallchildren.org/. You may see the works that they do on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/hopeforallchildren/), Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/hopeforallchildren/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HopeForAllChild).

Hi Bernard, Thanks for your comment. PNG famously produced its Vision 2050. You can debate the value of that, but at least it didn't try to produce a Strategy 2050 - which is what the Pacific Islands Forum is now trying to do. It is really hard to see the value of that - especially at this current time of great uncertainty.

I totally agree with your commentary. PNG is a typical case where government rushes to draw up new policy & plans but never implement them. It 's good to raise awareness to these domestic and regional failures. It would be good to involve the private sector more in these debates as policies and development plans affect investment etc.

Dear Roderick - thanks for this additional piece of info on the rising scarcity of ag scientists in the ag value chains. The need for adequate skills is also pertinent in developing the ag chains in developing countries. It highlights the role of agriculture related education, something we could have highlighted more. We do so in the full Food Policy article. Best wishes and feel free to share any additional insights. Luc

Any tertiary loan scheme for this year? Can I apply? Or how can i apply for loan to help me for my tuition fee.

Recent Developments – Barrick (Niugini) v. Papua New Guinea (ICSID Case No. CONC/20/1). The Chairman of the ICSID Administrative Council announced on 7 Jan 2021 that Anne-Karen Grill (Austrian) had accepted the Council’s appointment of her as conciliator. Ms Grill joins the Barrick appointed conciliator Mr Menon. The ICSID rules (Article 29) require one or an uneven number of conciliators. The two parties, Barrick and Papua New Guinea, must now agree on the selection and appointment of a Chairman conciliator. In the event that the two parties do not agree then the reponsibility for the choice of a Chairman conciliator falls on the Chairman of the ICSID Administrative Council (Article 30). Ms Grill is known for her alternative dispute resolution and commercial mediation expertise. Vailala

Thanks for a great article Luc, Zachariah and Edward. The shortage of farm labour is of great concern in many countries. Paradoxically, it coincides with a time where jobs in agribusiness in Australia are booming. As an ag scientist, I have been waiting 40 years to be able to say that! In June last year, the Australian government reduced student fees (known as HECS here) to just $3,700 p.a for ag science degrees, while the government subsidy of the ag degree course increased to the same level as medicine and dentistry. Many international development workers started out as ag scientists. In the words of our former Prime Minister 'there has never been a better time to be' ... an ag scientist (in Australia anyway).

Sarah, on point. There is no reflection of those big aids coming into the country on the ground.