Comments

A very good article by Kylie. The onus is on the people of Bougainville to decide their fate. But PNGans perception is for Bougainville to remain a part of us with greater autonomy. For this to happen and for lasting peace, here are four suggestions: 1. Compensation - as a Melanesian society it is culturally appropriate for the National Government to compensate the people of Bougainville for the destruction of properties and loss of lives on the Island as a result of the 10 year crisis. Every Bougainvillian family affected by this crisis either by loss of lives, injuries or destruction of properties must be compensated. 2. New Strategy for ABG's funding commitments - the national government must come up with a new realistic funding strategy with realistic time frames to honour ABG commitments. 3. Awareness of the referendum and the two options - the parameters of the autonomy should be agreed by all parties. The people of Bougainville, both old and young, should be fully aware of the terms of the autonomy and independence to make a better decision to vote in the referendum. 4. Resource laws must be amended and must consider equal equity participation by investors and locals. This must be clear in the autonomy terms. The actions of successive governments before and during the Bougainville crisis has now affected the political future of this country. If successive governments of PNG after this crisis do not learn from this terrible crisis and change PNG's resources laws and clamp down on corruption, we stand to face a greater challenge in the future as indicated by the main article. If in this referendum, the Marape-Steven Government can achieve the option of having greater autonomy for Bougainville to independence then it would be win-win for both parties, and a big win for PNG as a nation state.

It is interesting only in one discussion made in the meeting is about Climate change

How does one apply for the Seasonal Worker Programme?

Great to have some continued discussion of these issues in this and previous blog posts. The 'development contractor' industry deserves some in-depth analysis in the region. And I agree that improved monitoring and evaluation of outcomes can assist. Many private sector contractors are ultimately accountable to DFAT with the result that research efforts, communication and knowledge sharing are skewed to serving DFAT's needs (rather than those of countries and communities). And some facilities are set up explicitly to play this internal-facing role. The risk of course - as with any business/industry looking to grow and sustain itself - is that the constant pressure to please the client can introduce many biases in monitoring and evaluation and communication processes.

A new way forward. An insightful article.

Thank you for an enjoyable, interesting, thought-provoking read. Thanks also for the beautiful photos. Amanda 🙂

Very insightful summation. An added dimension from an effectiveness perspective, is the nature and utility of engagement among facilities that operate at regional and bilateral levels, and the extent to which they drive coherence and collaboration in the delivery of Australia's aid investments.

Thank you for your blog Bobby. It's an excellent survey of the pros, cons, and limits of CDD - based on the hard grind of experience, and not theoretical speculation. My takeaway is that CDD works best when it sticks to what it does best (delivering small-scale infrastructure in an environment where centralised governance is weak), and loses traction when it starts shooting for bigger and wider social transformation and change. But I suspect that's its strength, and not its weakness. In a wider governance environment where public investment and donor funding may struggle to find fertile ground, CDD delivers. This deserves to be lauded. Well done on playing your part in bringing this fact to wider attention.

With the world advancing into digital era with the use of technology its better to have people like you who are innovative in serving in this area to better inform our younger generations to be wise in their decision for better Papua New Guineans to takeover from current leaders in the future. Leaders are not born but are nurtured and groomed, so thank you very much. I hope your dreams and visions for our youth are achieved.

I suggested 2-3 years ago to ETG that they build a tunnel NOW across the end of existing runway between airstrip and Comoro River, so that a runway extension to the river bank could go over the top economically. Into the sea your map shows a smaller extension into the sea is feasible. Step by Step! I have thought the Suai airport was to attract oil and gas business (probably via helicopters!). The Oecusse airport development is impossible to explain logistically.

I agree that "Conflict has always been a barrier to progress, but the ways in which today’s wars are being fought are putting children firmly on the frontline. The rise in reported attacks on safe spaces such as schools and hospitals represent an assault on children’s rights." You might like to hunt out The Canberra Times of 22 January 1993 and read page 3 (I have a copy). It's an article on "Soldiers Fighting Hunger, not War". It sought to develop the next steps after Australia's 1991 "Operation Habitat. Humanitarian aid to the Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq". Details are in the Medical Journal of Australia, 155(11-12):807-12 · December 1991. Which can be read here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/21410968_Operation_Habitat_Humanitarian_aid_to_the_Kurdish_refugees_in_Northern_Iraq

Only way to solve corruption in the nation is to make men to make Godly moral nation in PNG