Comments

Thanks Michael for this commentary PNG Politics is always fluid, never at one time will it be smooth and fixed. This was always noted by former PNG political commentators and analysts like Dr Anere, Dr Okolo and Dr Hegarty. PNG is a fluid democracy that survive for over 40 years now. When you look critically at the demise of O’Neill and rise of Marabe, it has more to do with the unconventional political realm than the conventional party politics in a Westminster system. Why the O’Neill government changed depends on the views the general population and the MPs on both sides of the House have on the socio-economic and law and order dynamics of the country, and how it was governed. PM Marabe seized this opportunity. How the new PM allocates portfolios, depends on unconventional political realm like Party influence based on numbers, not on party policies. Based on individual, regional and provincial conveniences and not based on competency to govern. That would explain why the PM allocates more MPs to the Highlands or more to Chimbu. Or why he pulled two strong opposition men into the government side and served them with portfolios. The new PM also considers representation in cabinet and ensuring that key parties have a voice in there; that is where the new minister for foreign affairs comes in as a voice from the gas resource province. Another unconventional impact is the unseen influence from key players in the making or breaking of government - evidently their interest and offer needs to be entertained. As a political analyst, you investigate the formation of this current government. You will prove me right by agreeing with me that the PM, and deputy PM positions, are between Hela and Enga. Not what used to be previously along regional representation after general election or after a vote of no confidence in PNG history.

Well, I actually think that while setting the high political direction as espoused in James Marape's address to the Nation about "becoming the richest Christian black nation on earth" seems feasible. I also think that to get there there is a range of social, economic, democratic good governance and infrastructural issues that need to be addressed or rectified. There are large gaps at every tier of PNG society and as echoed in many other comments preceding mine. Clearly, the Prime Minister needs to get a good team of advisers around him with a balanced mix to bring a wealth of experience, youth, qualifications, knowledge and wisdom to bear in ensuring that we strive for dynamic equilibrium in development of our country rather than static equilibrium.

Thank you for your very valuable insights Miranda and the illustrations of harnessing the power of culture and theology to support change. Just one "picky" point about your use of "learnings". Yes, usage of this words is becoming more common, as is the related "trainings". Learnings is the pluralisation of an erroneous form of learning as a singular noun. That singular noun (a learning) does not exist, it is a non-countable noun. Although there is debate about the word, it still reads to be ungrammatical and broken English - or a business buzz word at best.

Banking is also an issue: it was reported some time back that Mastercard (which wasn't all that widely accepted, but at least could be used for some major expenses like hotel bills and rental cars) is no longer able to be used in Timor-Leste. In addition, the ANZ ATMs which were a mainstay for years for getting cash are no longer there (or so I understand) since the local ANZ bank moved out of personal banking. And it is really, REALLY difficult to get accurate and reliable official information on what international cards are now usable in what ATMs. That in itself would be enough to put off plenty of potential tourists. The issue of doing away (and then not doing away) with visas on arrival, discussed in the article, was a classic example of failure of whole-of-government policy making in relation to tourism. Not only was it a bad idea, but it was on the point of being very badly implemented. Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, for example, have such a requirement, but they also have processes for applying and paying online, which didn't seem to be part of the Timor-Leste plan. The Timorese embassies abroad didn't seem to have been well briefed, and there was some suggestion that applicants would need to send in bank statements (!) with their applications. And there was different information to be found on different websites. Just how the requirement might have affected, for example, former UNAMET staff in Africa minded to return for the much-trumpeted anniversary of the 1999 popular consultation doesn't seem to have crossed anyone's mind, nor was it clear what rules would apply to people coming onshore from cruise ships, and so on, and so on. Flights are only part of the problem. I've been to Timor-Leste dozens of times, lived there for several months at one point, and will keep going back to see my friends, despite the problems. But if I didn't have that history, I suspect the challenges under discussion here would have been quite enough to take it off my bucket list.

Very insightful and thought-provoking.

Dear Michael, I take time out from my schedule to provide my comments and thoughts on your article. Firstly, I think it is a useful and insightful article and could be improved further particularly in understanding the motives of Members of Parliament in voting or moving from one party to the next during the grace period leading up to a possible vote of no confidence. Secondly, while I do concur that PNG politics is fluid especially before, during, and after a vote of no confidence. I think politics in Milne Bay is even more fluid and unpredictable given that not everyone finds their MP 'their professed cup of tea', to phrase it rather politely. Thirdly, I believe that this article is a good one and should be further strengthened by uncovering why MPs behave the way they do. Is it do to with party affiliations or political views shared fairly broadly in their own constituency? Cheers bro!

Very insightful and relevant in today's world. After all, children are the future.

Wow!! What a piece! Well argued.

Raising GDP alone won't necessarily benefit most PNG citizens. Equatorial Guinea, number 5 on your list has a per capita GDP almost 6 times that of PNG but it is not much better than PNG on the UN's Human Development Index (141 compared to PNG's 153). Fiji, with barely a third of Equatorial Guinea's per capita GDP, fares much better on the more broadly based HDI ranking at 91. As you rightly point out, PNG catching up to Fiji's GDP would take more than a decade of unprecedented growth. Catching up with Fiji on the HDI would be more challenging still. Its not just about money, its about how you get it and what you do with it.

A very flash new airport opened this month in the enclave of Oecusse. Currently only serviced by a small domestic flight from Dili but hopefully international connections at some point soon.

Dear Editor and Author, Teaching and learning mother-tongue is a human right to a child. I was in born in a Mon language spoken mother and father. I was unable to learn my mother-tongue at my local public school but my parents enrolled me at the local monastery when I was eight years old. I had learnt basic Burmese from the age of 6 to 7 but I could not progress at secondary level. When I was 16 years old, I was able to read Mon, Burmese, Pali and basic English. However, until to our new democratic transition in Myanmar, close to 70% of children cannot attend basic education in their own mother-tongue. Children in IDPs camps and in rural areas have been struggling with basic access to text books in their mother-tongue languages. Education for All is not only not reaching to the poor, but it is underfunded in our country. Children shall be cared, provided and nurtured through learning in their own tongue, play with local environment and they shall be placed for priority to education and health outcomes. Language is the foundation of thinking and working in our daily tasks and in all aspects of life. Thank you to the author for shedding the light on this front.

Just to note, the agreement for Air Travel flights from Hong Kong is far from being signed, sealed and delivered. It is one of many options being pursued, but has not even got close to consideration by the regulator, AACTL, as yet. Air access is critical to the development of tourism in Timor-Leste, and currently a significant issue due to both lack of flights and ticket prices. The Governance for Development program is working closely with the Government of Timor-Leste, as well as the various tourism programs here, to identify and objectively assess options for improvements on both fronts.