Comments

Overall a very positive and detailed report on "in the community" feelings. Koo Wee Rup is a major area of SWP participation and has been so over many years now so you hit bulls eye on location Rochelle.

Same old story without an end in sight. This is PNG Politics. Almost very predictable.

A very intetesting post, many thanks Stephen. I'd be interested to hear from those familiar with the GIZ model. My understanding is that it still implements projects with defined timeframes and budgets so it would not necessarily be more efficient approach than the managing contractor approach. I'd also be interested in any evidence of efficiency or effectiveness gains from facilities versus other models. The aid stakeholder survey gives us informed opinions but triangulating these findings with some cost-benefit analyses would be useful. Given the changes within DFAT over the last 5 years, an evidence-informed discussion about how best to deliver the aid program is very timely.

I wonder if all the people of Papua New Guinea, especially those ones that are in rural areas have gained some benefits from hosting APEC. In my observation so far, i've come to realized that the people in rural areas are at least benefiting in terms of road, education and health services which are the three key areas of development. Why are the people in rural areas suffering and being deprived? part of the wealth that was used to host the APEC also belongs to the people residing in rural areas. Investing only in urban areas is unfair.

There are some great observations in your article. However, your visit to only "one" region of PNG where you pretty much based your point of view of the whole of PNG from explains how limited some of your observations are. I still think PNG is part of the Pacific Island nations in many ways. We have much more in common than differences! Cheers

An interesting perspective by Chief Ila Geno given PNG's current political leadership turbulence. You continue to inspire our leadership ambitions.

I am indeed so humble to salute the initiative undertaken to change and influence the youth through leadership training.There is a saying going"To liberate the nation you liberate the person".

Article is misconceived. PNG is another decolonised country similar to its sister Pacific islands all connected through the same ocean. We either pursue our interest in the global arena in collective representation with the rest of the Pacific islands, or we use power of attraction to maximise on national interest similarly to other Pacific islands. In that same ideology/approach (PNG or Pacific islands ), we deal with our challenges as a region. The only distinction one could draw is that PNG has a huge land mass that gives essence to our land resources, and a huge population of diversity in cultural and traditional practice and foremost have the biggest market relative to its population. Otherwise, I would say PNG is a unique and fortunate Pacific island country.

Thanks to Richard for bringing out the very truth of this issue. My name is Helen Paul and I live in Madang PNG. I am a volunteer working with Catholic youth. When the seasonal workers scheme started I started helping register their applications. About 115 youths from Madang. Six of my youths went in the pioneer year of the scheme. This how it happened the first time: the farm wants 20 labourers; the office chooses 6 each from 4 provinces for a year only; after that all the people living Moresby have excess, not other provinces. From my group only 6 took part. I am still waiting for the rest to have their turn but their passports expired. So my question is - can the government allow all registered youths from Churches to participate? Set up an office in the mission office, do proper coordination, and there must be follow ups after return from work. He or she must start doing small projects in village. I want to help them have a second chance in life that they will never forget.

Hi Brian, you make a good and important point, no one working in development should forget about who it is we work to support. Some things to consider, SIRF employed a large number of Solomon Islanders including as senior managers and program experts who led day to day work and knew a lot about their country. The facility was required to take a back seat in its profile, ensuring that the relationship was between Australia and the Solomon Islands. The facilities profile was intentionally very low so as to not distract from that relationship and dialogue

I have to agree with the comments by Matt Andrews and William Tondopan...we are Melanesian and The vast majority of the population of New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville, Manus and most of the coastal provinces live right on the coast, not up in the mountains..one thing I can say is the article is thought provoking but clearly lacks any substance. for instance you state "The other reason why I don’t think PNG is Pasifika is about the nature of the relationship the state has with society in PNG, as opposed to other Pasifika countries"..almost all Pacific Island Nations are comprised of one group..eg Fiji local population is Itaukei and so the Nature of relationship is uniformed..PNG has over 8 Million People with and a variety of Cultures...you cant expect the State to have a distinct relationship with its people..there is no such thing as one common uniformed approach government can have with society in PNG....People in Hagen are different from people in Milne Bay... and as for the Ocean...we have the largest coastline in the Pacific.. when my family comes from Fiji to PNG..they say its just like fiji..but bigger take the NGI region...traditional cooking such as Lovo is very similar to mumu done in ENB and NGI.... The tradition of placing gifts to people while they dance in Tonga and Fiji same in the Central Province..and finally the True Traditional Central Province Greeting of Rubbing ones nose when welcoming a guest is done by maori people...(find extacts from early missionaries in Central to confirm this) PNG will always be PASIFIKA

I totally disagree to your conclusion that PNG is not a member of Pasifika family of nations. It is absurd and disturbing. Our identity is Melanesian and therefore we are part of the larger Melanesian race of people and grouping of islands. We share the same body of waters. Only major difference being our landmass and topography. If we are not Pasifika then who are we? Asians?