Comments

Wonderful article, thank you for writing this Akito. The ANU through the Seeds of Life of program recognised the importance of agriculture to the future of young Timorese. An evaluation I did for Plan International revealed the need for the Timorese government to listen to young Timorese who wanted to stay in their villages because they had access to water (in Aileu) and could see their future in agriculture IF ag systems and infrastructure was supported by the government.

Hi Newman, Hope a lawyer will clarify on that. Here’s what I understand from researching for this article: 1. The NEC declared an emergency lockdown. This is consistent with the Constitution. When there is an immediate threat/s, and there’s no time to call for a parliament sitting, NEC can act as it did. 2. The parliament must be called, however, within two weeks to vote on it. If there’s an extension, only parliament can decide on that (NEC cannot extend an SOE/lockdown). 3. So far, this is what happened. NEC declared lockdown, parliament was called to sanction it within two weeks - end of two weeks - and parliament extended it for two more months. 4. Now parliament will decide on 2 June whether to extend it. For relevant provisions in the constitution that provides for SOE, click on the links in the article.

Obrigadu Barak Maun Jose

Very well outlined Mr M. Kabuni. Thank you 🙏 I have a few relevant questions that I'm confused about and really need help regarding the "DECLARATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY". The question is: for two weeks (23 March to 3 April), all classes throughout PNG were disrupted, then cancelled following the declaration of the State of Emergency and general lockdown throughout PNG. What really happened during the period and how was the Constitution of PNG and the relevant laws used to manage the situation? Your response will be highly appreciated. Regards, ISRAEL NEWMAN

Thanks Maun Jose.

Michael, thanks for your very generous comments. There was complete business shut down for Khaimo with his Edics Holdings during the SOE restrictions. I called by once during the restrictions and Khaimo's warehouse was like a ghost town. The only vendor, albeit moving about rather surreptitiously, quietly spoke of the heavy handed clamp down by a combined force of Police and Defence Force personnel. "Nau monin ya, em bikpla smash wantaim police na army!" he explained. Vendors were sent scattering for their lives, nuts strewn all over, stall tables and umbrellas smashed and torched. After some twenty minutes of cautious moves with his female partner the vendor produced me five buai nuts with mustard for K20. These were picked up from different spots among the flower hedges of a nearby residential fence perimeter. At that time the highest price for a nut was said to be selling at K20/nut, whilst a neighborhood vendor stubbornly maintained a K15/nut rate for at least five days. Yes, its now down to K1/nut or even lower to 50t/nut due to the easement on restrictions with rural buai supply. Metoreia market at the northern end of Hanuabada village is however the only outlet that is observably thriving with buai sales thanks to its ostensible semi-autonomous privilege. Its quite interesting observing the inter-ethnic dynamics that go with the whole buai sociality. The other buai outlets in the city have all shut down and local individual vendors have resorted to clandestine tactics for survival! A classic example is the obstinate Erima spot under the Fly Over freeway drive. I hope to have an audience with Khaimo one day soon and confirm much of the stories about him and his business relations with all and sundry. It had been fairly difficult to have a direct contact with him as one can imagine. But you have no doubt hit the irony of the whole story behind buai operation vis-a-vis the ban in Port Moresby on the head. I hope to find out more soon.. linus

Thanks Fabrizio. Glad you like the piece.

Sharp’s ’haggling Highlanders’ captures the eesence of how buai has become a commodity and as such has a thrving supply chain that Khaimo has tapped into. A once traditional practice: ritual pastime, of the coastals and islanders, is now commodified. And Highlanders are it's biggest chewers. And when there are chewers (consumers) there are growers (producers), buyers and vendors (middlemen) along the supply chain to serve this niche market. The ’haggling Highlanders’ as a regional group make up a large proportion of the population as consumers and middlemen in the buai supply chain. They see the profitability of linking the transportation businesses into that supply chain. In other parts of the country but particularly in the Highlands, a ’haggling Highlander’ will go to great lengths to source, transport and sell the ’best’ buai bags they can get back home. They will travel to remote parts of Oro, East Sepik and the NGI if they have to. It certainly will be interesting if a specific national study is carried out to assess the impact of COVID19 on this niche market. And perhaps inform policymakers about how to develop holistic measures that counters the ill socio-economic effects of the thriving ’buai bisnis’.

Well done Maun Akito.

It is always a pleasure to read Dr. Denghua Zhang's analysis

Mr Sinopane. Am Just confused who Will the For Recent Legislation on SOE passed By the National Parliament. How / What will be the Impacts of this Legislation will have on the Economy with or Incorporateing with the Seven Pillars of the PNG Vision 2050. Your Response to this is Hoghly Appreciated. Thank you

A really great piece, thanks Linus & Joshua. It would be interesting to follow up with Khaimo on how business is under the SOE restrictions. At the initial stages, one buai cost K10 (it’s now down to K1) as roadblocks prevented buai coming into POM. Also, is Khaimo still supporting Powes Parkop after he introduced several buai bans sometime back, and called for more regulation a few years back?