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The irony is of course that the capital expense or national "development" budget, has not produced a substantial increase in the levels of development indicators, such as health and education outcomes, sometimes even a decrease. The political economy of the "development budget" is that it is much more discretionary in nature, and therefore helps elected politicians to deal with their own and their constituents "needs". At specific institutions, such as the Papua New Guinea University of Technology, the "development" budget is only 10-20% of the recurrent budget. The totality of this budget is invested in infrastructure which is there for everybody to see. Of the "recurrent" or operational expenses over 90% goes to salaries or personal emoluments. Dr. Albert Schram, Vice-Chancellor.

Perhaps Dr Narsey would like to explain what principle was involved when Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and the John Howard-led Coalition government imposed sanctions against Fiji after the military coup in 2006. Was it the same principle that Downer-Howard employed against the military coup that ended the People's Coalition government in 2001? Or did the 2001 election victory of the Laisenia Qarase-led SDL justify jettisoning principle, overlooking the overthrow of a popularly elected government, even though this election outcome was predetermined because the military commander had announced publicly that only an SDL victory would be acceptable? If the latter, how useful is the idea of principled to describe Australian and New Zealand foreign policy towards events in Fiji? If principle is so flexible that it can be employed at convenience, perhaps PM Frank Bainimarama is wise to jettison any so-called special relationship with Australia and New Zealand, including in organisations like the Pacific Islands Forum. Construct Fiji's international relations not on principle but pragmatic opportunism, just as the former colonial `masters' do.

Thanks for this commentary Jon. You will have seen from the 'Pacific Conversations' interview with the prime minister of Vanuatu that political reform with particular reference to registration of political parties is very much on his agenda and careful attention is being paid to what is happening in our neighbouring jurisdictions. Missing from this item (because of timing) is a reflection of the implications of yesterday's ruling by the High Court that unregistered parties cannot contest the elections and those standing as independent candidates may not form coalitions. The next few days will no doubt reveal more about how this will be accommodated within the electoral activities in Solomon Islands.

To improve the current situation we need to focus on the following three; 1. A system of laws/regulations, policies, management (planning, budget, resource, implementation) and continuous improvement 2. Persistent awareness and campaigns, targeting schools and institutions, and individuals 3.legislation that can be

Good to see 2015 budget to meet the development aspirations. From past experiences the stereotypical image of public sector bureaucracies in PNG is one of the bloated payrolls and inefficient, corrupt, even indolent behavior. The budget expenditures must be focused on economic growth and development. Recurrent outlays on education and health for example, are investments in human capital that can have major long-term benefits. Wages and salaries constitute a large fraction of the recurrent outlays of government but nothing feasible and tangible is shown on the ground. We can realize economic growth and development and change our living standard if our budget expenditure is focused on setting up institutions, incentives, capital investment, human capital, technological knowledge and that implies growth.

It's a great thing you are doing out there. I believe, as an educated elites, we need to start at our homes, families, tribes, and up to the nation as a whole. The root of all issues are at home....we need to go back to save this beautiful nation.

Interesting analysis - which basically once again highlights the fact that Pacific aid and the measures chosen to establish its effectiveness are fundamentally the playthings of statisticians. You would think that the question of which donors are the biggest and most important players in the Pacific would be straight forward enough to establish? Think again. The PDI illustrates this conundrum. But any list of players in the Pacific that does not have the US, France, EU, Japan and China right up there with Australia and NZ is basically flawed. An awful lot hinges on how one defines the categories used to measure donor assistance. And suffice it to say that ODA is not the only category that is relevant.

Is it wise for the NEC to mortgage the future LNG revenue on an investment that in all respect is speculative and subject to market forces? Or should it mortgage LNG revenues in investments that have a proven potential to increase the generational credit worthiness of PNG, such as investment in free education, health and infrastructure facilities. What worries me is the burden that such reckless spending of public funds bring upon the future generation who are innocent and have no knowledge nor play any active part in making decisions on where and how the LNG revenue should be spent. The complete disregard by the NEC to comply with the procedural requirements for obtaining such loans is noted with great concern. PNG leaders must know that their actions have wide and long ranging implications on the lives and livelihoods of every individual Papua New Guineans, particularly the poor and destitute who are struggling each day to make ends meet.

Very interesting analysis Jonathan. As you say the comparison with other donors outside the region is probably not very useful. The Commitment to Development Index highlights many of the key areas that are important in supporting development and I think it is very useful at a global level. However perhaps the CDI should just be a guide for a Pacific Index which might also examine additional policy areas of greater local relevance and have more appropriate performance indicators under each area.

Carmen, your story is worth reading.

Dennis, As part of my final year thesis for my My Major Research Paper, I'm interested in writing about the need for a more viable and proactive National policy approach on the subject on Municipal solid waste management, given that NCD is the first to pioneer with its waste management policy. Would really appreciate your input on the viability on other alternative waste management practices that is cost-effective in the long run as well as environmentally friendly, such as the project that you are initiating. i can be reached on my email nebanisam@gmail.com kind regards Ben

Carmen, thanks for your lovely insights. I agree that PNG gets a very bad wrap because of POM and parts of the Highlands where tribalism is rampant. One forward looking leader is Hon. Anderson Agiru from Southern Highlands. His message is consistent, plain and bold. "You keep fighting tribal wars, then don't come and ask me for compensation." I grew up in POM (my Mother tongue is Motu). I've been in a lot of places in PNG. Even remote villages in Goroka, and the Gulf and tiny Islands like Malie in New Ireland Province. Life goes on. People in 'rural' places have products to sell, fish and game to catch and children to feed. What happens in Port Moresby, or other parts of the country, in a 24 hr cycle, is of no direct significance to them.They look after their land. I'm not bragging, but I had seen most of the world by the time I was 23. I have lived, travelled and worked in a lot of places! Once, in Sardinia, my taxi driver told me that his island was not Lebanon or Damascus! Go figure. Yes, I've walked Kokoda, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Amman, Harlem, Cairo, Sofia, and Aiwo in Nauru too. They had their risks. I caught the same bus as Kofi Annan to the UN most mornings from Roosevelt Island,NYC without private security. Thank God, nothing happened. I have used common sense. Well, well, my house got burgled in Suva, but all they got was my Cuban and Pacific CDs and my leather jacket! I lived in "Domain" on Ratu Sukuna Rd, two minutes walk from town. I moved from Fiji to Cairns, Australia. After 5 years, my two cars got stolen outside my yard in the City! Damn, I thought I was in a civilized world. Crime happens everywhere. In Cairns, a guy just dissolved his partner in acid thinking he could get away with intentional murder. Is Cairns still safe and touristic? Yes, yes, Yes. I look outside my house in POM in the morning, and see mums and dads taking their children to school, hoping that they get a good education and succeed in life. I wish things could be less expensive and tougher in this city. I now work in PNG (with Carmen), and the one big contrast with PNG and other developing and developed countries is that elsewhere I have lived, 'you do the crime, you do the time.' Sadly, in PNG, this is still not evidently so, and the Good Samaritans, that Melanesians are known for, seem too afraid to help others in trouble, because of the psyche they grow up with in this city, and come to accept that it's the norm, so as to survive another day. But they are there, plentiful, the PNGean that is a proud landowner, hard-working, happy, peaceful and kind. They need to turn the tide, so that the fences and Walls, like the Australian fortress at Konedobu, (Ozcatraz), near to where I grew up with my aunt, with a small wire fence, expat neighbours, a mango tree, a cricket ball, and no crime - can eventually come down. Sadly, I doubt this will happen very soon. Perhaps. Adam