Comments

From Terence Wood on Poor governance in the Pacific: the forgotten issue June 20, 2024 at 1:47 pm

Just looking at these numbers now and, although I don't disagree with your overall point, I wonder about the metric: Haiti scores better than FSM and the Marshall Islands. The Democratic Republic of the Congo scores better than Kiribati, Tuvalu and PNG.

From Estelle Stambolie on Facebook use in the Pacific: all over the place June 20, 2024 at 9:27 am

Very true Facebook is not the big issue! But it is something that there is data available for. Agreed on shortcomings of income class and population data. Improving big issues is first order and improving data can help with that.

From Aileen Bamu on Like-minded peers embrace education and leadership June 19, 2024 at 11:13 pm

Experiences of life are better motivators, the boost it gives cannot be worn nor drained out easily. Keep reaching up, the bottom is too crowded, continue climbing. Blessed testimony, to GOD be the glory.....👏

From Stephen Charteris on Facebook use in the Pacific: all over the place June 19, 2024 at 8:21 pm

Yes Roland, statistics, half truths and damn lies. Classing PNG as a lower middle income country is far from instructive. 75-80 percent of the population are subsistent farmers/fisherfolk. Only a fraction of them live in an area with network coverage or have the means to buy and top up a smart phone. To add a bit more perspective, the population is estimated to be between 10 and 17 million. Nobody actually knows. And 0.35 - 0.4m are in formal employment. Don't think FB is the big issue.

From Estelle Stambolie on Facebook use in the Pacific: all over the place June 19, 2024 at 3:45 pm

Indeed it would be interesting to look into the possible factors of PNG's unexpectedly low use of Facebook. Thank you for mentioning these suggestions, I think you are onto something to see if there is a relationship between inequality and Facebook use - I might look into this. I also like the idea of looking at data prices and special packages. I wonder what other aspects other than internet access impact on people's Facebook use - maybe peer effects from people around them?

From Roland Allbrook on Facebook use in the Pacific: all over the place June 19, 2024 at 8:57 am

Possibly one of the reasons that FB usage in PNG is so low is an indicator of the extreme divergence in income distribution. The rich are very rich where the majority, both rural and urban do not have enough money to buy smart phones. Most rural people have dumb phones, and generally have very little credit on them. The middle class can often afford a cheap smart phone but credit is expensive, even with Digicel’s special FB price.

From Peter Graves on Is Labor rebuilding the aid program? June 18, 2024 at 1:08 pm

Thanks for this analysis, Stephen. A complementary article could also consider the priorities of those aid Budgets over the years and whether these have changed. Especially to the extent that DFAT's aid programs actually address ending poverty around our world. I would really prefer to see that the expenditure in the aid budget achieves results.

From Jim Epeol on The Pacific Engagement Visa in PNG: a how-to guide June 18, 2024 at 7:08 am

I am interested in this programme. Please kindly consider my request.

From Shweta Devi on Pacific Engagement Visa application factsheet 2024 June 17, 2024 at 3:18 pm

Please advise when is the Draw for this Ballot?

From Daniel Goi on Will James Marape become the third PNG PM to complete a full term? June 17, 2024 at 12:08 pm

Hi everyone, I'm new here, however that's not the case, we know many news popping up through Marape leading Government. If this an influential factor, we as a citizen of PNG needs to pray for the goodness of our country. Anyways, I think we should just hang on the fence - meaning not taking sides and thankyou for the above ideas contributed. Thanks very much. Let's look carefully to what's happening next.