Comments

I agree with their emphasis on changing the rules of the international economic system but can't we do this at the same time as providing useful development assistance? Like so many people the authors appear to have an inflated view of the scale of aid both in terms of donor and recipient income and energy. Given how little effort is put into aid it is amazing what has been achieved especially in areas that are well understood such as basic health services, water, sanitation, education and agriculture. The progress to date shows that the main impediment to further progress in all of these areas is lack of funding rather than lack of knowledge or international economic arrangements.

Brilliant Michelle, many thanks for sharing this solution. I too have agonized about whether I have my Zambian mining mining impact research story right and how to share the findings to those involved who are not big readers. It also picks up on an aspect of a paper I wrote for the last Dev Bull, No. 79, Jan. 2018, about the problems of research. This inspires me to do some more work on this aspect when I finally finish the seemingly endless editing.

Another excellent short read. I wonder, though, whether it is possible even in the medium term to strengthen the judiciary and the Ombudsman Commission to a stage where they can begin to function openly, honestly and effectively. Numerous programs over many years have had that aim, but politicians have continued to erode institutional independence, objectivity and functionality, undermining competence, honesty and good intentions, and transparency and accountability.

Why does AU continue to ignore that a Vanuatu private sector-led initiative is already building a cable to SI without aid support? VU has awarded the cable supply contract to a USA supplier (not China). The enormous AU cable grant to SI and PNG is distorting the market.

Genius, Ashlee! And so insightful. I'm definitely saving this one, and sharing it widely. Thank you!

Once again, sadly, one of the main frontline institutions to protect the security of our blue continent is missing from diplomatic discourse. While there are easy aid millions for police, spies, politicians, bureaucrats, judges, business people and all manner of "civil society" organisations, journalists and news media must scrimp and save pennies to be the first and last recourse of the public. In short, there is a fatal lack of public policy space for the Fourth Estate. If Biketawa+ is to have any hope of success, along with myriad other declarations past, present and future, the main avenue for the ears and voice of the people must be paid full and proper attention. Journalists and news media have subsidised the rest of society for far too long, through long hours, low pay, high stress and poor profits. As climate change assumes ever more severe proportions, along with myriad other complexities, our islands cannot afford to ignore this sector any longer. https://www.forumsec.org/biketawa-declaration/

My first try on the name: Keeping Ante-Natal Youth Engaged (KANYE). This failed project attempted to encourage ante-natal care visits by engaging older children to encourage their mother to seek care. It turns out mothers (and parents) the world round don't like being told what to do by their 8 year olds. Thanks for writing this - I teach international development courses, think I may use it in class this year. If you find yourself in DC holler (you can find my email on danhonig.info), maybe we can get you to do aid-as-the-Kardashians live?

Exellent piece of work! Gives me a better and clear understanding of the differences between political stability and instability in the PNG context since 1975 and how the Govt systems are manipulated in PNG politics espexially under the O'Niel Govt. Thank You.

Refreshing analogy!

Good information for ordinary Papua New Guinea citizens. Thank you Michael.

So good. Though I feel like STORMI should be something related to climate change adaptation or disaster resilience? STOrm Resilience Mapping Initiative? Strengthening Trajectories for Online Resource Mobilisation Integration? TRUE looks like something in the anticorruption space, but I can only come up with Transforming Rural Under-Employment. SAINT would probably be run by a Catholic NGO, and might stand for Securing Adult and Infant Nutritional Targets.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for the questions. 1. Yes, our system of government does gives the prime minister leverage. The Westminster parliament gives the executive side the right to distribute ministries and to a certain extent control resources like DSIP and PSIP (executive monopoly over resource distribution). MPs move to the government side to access these portfolios (and vice-ministeries, parliamentary committees, chairman of parliamentary committees etc). Only the executive has the right to distribute these positions. As I discussed in the post, the executive also has influence over distribution of DSIP and PSIPs. 2. Is our democracy at stake? It's subjective, different people would have different opinions. I don't think it's at stake, but it has a very negative impact on development. Style of leadership: I think what we're seen is the increasing role of the prime minister. Again the Westminster system elevates the role of the PM above those of his peers. In PNG, this seems to be taken very seriously. The PM acts: fires MPs from portfolios, demotes, appoints, re-appoints etc. This has been referred to elsewhere as the presidentialisation of democracy. That is, a parliamentary system which operates as though it is a presidential system.