Comments

Thank you, Busa for the interesting and thoughts-provoking contribution. It outlines several key-areas to focus on. The one on a series of user-friendly consultations should deserve a big praise! The issues surrounding betel nut saga are much larger and wider. Some additional issues are briefed below for further deliberation, discussion and consultation. - Any type of "ban" on betel nut industry are very harmful to the nation given the tens and thousands of people involved in this and associated industries. Women are particularly affected as the production and sale of lime, betel nuts and mustard are largely in their hands. The impacts on women and their livelihoods resulting from such a ban are obviously huge and over several years - A ban without providing an alternative solution (for chewers, service providers and sellers) is not only harmful but also is not going to be effective - What would be the fate of thousands of women (in particular) involved in lime production, sale, mustard production and sale and, betel nut production, sale if this informal sector was banned? Visit to coastal villages such as in Morobe (lime), Oro and Buka (betel nut) and Central (mustard) amplify the hard-work of women in this trade as their primary source of livelihoods - A considerable land area is already under betel nuts. What alternative land use we can think of resulting from measures to reduce sale in betel nuts? Are there other uses for land under betel nuts? - Government should encourage more research on this sector. Among issues for further research are other ways to utilize betel nut and lime, collect statistics on children consumption of betel nuts, contribution of the trade to livelihoods especially women, alternative use of land currently nut into betel nuts. Collaboration with global research entities is very useful - As mentioned above, all recommendations should target NOT only betel nuts but also lime and mustard -Any future program on this matter should be inclusive of schools, churches and other social networks. History tells us one successful way to discourage future consumers of betel chew is to educate school children. For instance, Maori children smoking in New Zealand was as high as 35% in the past has come down to 5% now. If we educate children, the future is in safe hands! - The value of betel nut and associated informal industries should be worth more than Kina 100,000.

This is an excellent article illustrating the direction that educational development needs to focus on, that is, collaboratively addressing local needs and problems in context, rather than imposing solutions developed elsewhere. The limited evidence we have on the important place of 'ownership' in the sustainability of benefits from donor-supported education programs suggests that the authors' hope that the outcomes will be sustainable will be realised.

A good application of social well being uplifted by the common provider.

Malaysia hosts many legal and illigal migrants. I think we can view that as Malaysia’s contribution to an alleviation of the refugee problem, even if the refugees do not enjoy the same status as Malaysian nationals. (At least Malaysia generally does not expel refugees like Australia.) Each country can contribute to helping refugees in proportion to their capacity to help. I would have thought that wealthier countries have greater capacity to contribute, and lightly populated countries have even more capacity to take in migrants. As in climate change, the wealthy countries want to spread the burden in proportion to population. The emerging countries (legitimately in my view) would call on the wealth countries to bear most of the burden. Pointing to China’s or Malaysia’s “inadequate contribution” ought not be an excuse for inaction among wealthy countries. It’s an argument that ultimately leads to inaction, as we have seen in relation to climate change.

Great quality article! Thank you 😉

Charlie, thanks for your comment and query. The jobs in the three main migrant destinations are low-skilled which means that workers do not require post school qualifcations to do the work - so no loss of valuable human capital. On how to access the February 2018 Labour Market Outlook Timor-Leste, it was launched at a public forum at Timor Plaza Hotel on 8 February. The report has not been posted on the website of the Secretariate of Youth and Labour as yet. However, I can send you a copy to post on the La'o Hamutuk website.

Interesting, although it's disappointing that Timor-Leste is exporting some of its most valuable human capital when there's so much that needs to be done here. But more concretely, where can I find the February 2018 Labour Market Outlook Timor-Leste? I can't locate it on the ILO or DGE web sites. Thanks.

Going back to 2007 when Governor Pawes Parkop was first elected to Parliament or as Governor, one of his powerfull policy platform was this, "I did not have millions of kinas to campaign like the other canddiates, but I have millions of ideas and strategies for the city that no other candidates had," people trusted him and voted for him. Now we see the outcome of his millions of ideas to controll betel nut (buai) ban in NCD...very interesting he has a very poor idea that is not suitable for chewers and sellers of betel(buai) nuts in NCD. The sellers and chewers have millons of ideas to evade his idea of buai ban, it works the opposite way. Therefore, the good Governor should go to the people and seek advice how the buai stain and littering can be controlled in the city...sellers and chewers have millions of ideas than the Governor...Alas!

Australian employers will only employ quality and those who do not cause issues such as drinking . Adding extra agents will not increase the uptake but upskilling workers with both work skills and social disciplines will help to build the competitive advantage for nivan staff

Taking a 10 000 steps walk for water yesterday and today for WASH did not hurt. However, when I walk down memory lane of my recreation leave last December, I found myself in a water poverty stricken situation. I had to walk a kilometer down into the gully to collect water, wash and drink. On two occasions I fell and rolled all the way back down hill, picked myself up, went for second round of bath, rewash my laundry and up again. I then figured out another way to climb back up to the top where my sister's house is in Bongiora village, Mambleif/Albiges LLG, in the East Sepik Province of PNG. This is just me- one women. Looking beyond are more women and girls from my area and beyond in PNG doing the same daily without complaining to the outside world or even have the courage and communication skills to get their message to their honorable MP for Maprik. Are there any philanthropists out their to listen to this cry for clean and safe drinking water and sanitation practices? It will cost only PGK 80,000. Labour will be provided free by the village youth.

Thank you Sam and Stephen and for raising the question and the discussions which to some extent were educational. It brings out the facts of the matter - why so long. To answer this question, it is important to look at the law. The law under section 57(5) is very clear on who is supposed to be undertaking the Full Scale Social Mapping and Landowner Identification Studies (FSSMLIS). It is the licensee (Exxon Mobil). The State through DPE did not vetted the work done by Exxon Mobil and accepted what was done and given. It is understandable, DPE has capacity issues and so poor work was done on vetting the work Exxon Mobil submitted. The matter was brought to the courts and the national Court ruled in favour of the landowners and the ADR/mediation process is pending completion. This means landowners are yet to be identified so people can start to receive benefits including royalty. The channel for distribution of benefits is the ILG and when the ILG process is employed properly, every landowners will benefit and social license will be provided by the process enabling people benefit directly. The problem now is that crooks are not providing funding for the ADR/Mediation completion which will ultimately require ILG form. Formation of ILG will mean some of the so-call landowner leaders Exxon Mobil deals with now will be definitely exclude and this means loosing their Status as well. For this reason some landowners benefiting now will not support the ADR/Mediation processing as the ILG process will definitely bring out the genuine landowners and exclude some crooks who are benefiting now. Considering this brief background and the law as it is, any laymen can conclude that Exxon Mobil is responsible for the long wait and the government been partners in the project cannot say much as there is conflict of interest, as the government has equity in the project as well. It is such reason why governments of some countries do not carry out business but rely on tax revenue and other sources of revenue for government operation. In the circumstance the people suffer the most and these discussion is not isolated anymore. The petroleum Minister Hon. Dr. Fabian Pok confirmed this during the 2nd PNG Petroleum Energy Summit on Tuesday 20 March 2018 (The national News Paper, page.3). In sum the answer to - why so long, is that there appears to be conspiracy between the State and Exxon Mobil to do wrong, it is the reason. To this end, thank you for the discussions and lets hope Exxon Mobil will soon realize the potential for project disruption it is creating as a result of its failure to comply with Section 47(5) requirement of the Oil & Gas Act, the law we all really on for identification of genuine landowners for project benefits to flow through and reciprocation of PNGLNG project smooth operation. regards

Duncan, thanks for your question about whether Australian banks are charging higher fees than those in other countries to remit workers' savings. I do not have the fees Australian banks charge to transfer money to Timor-Leste. However, I was going on the rate Australian banks charge for sending money to the Pacific. These data are available from a valuable website funded by Australian Aid and the New Zealand Aid Programme called Send Money Pacific https://www.sendmoneypacific.org. Taking Fiji as an example, the average bank charge to send AUD 200 from Australia is 14.53 per cent. To send NZD200 to Fiji, the average bank charge is 13.02 per cent.