By Grace Auka Salmang, Post Courier

FOR development to be fully recognised in Papua New Guinea, it must be initiated and collectively agreed by the landowner themselves, says John Chitoa from the Bismarck Ramu group.

"We are therefore demanding that the PNG government cancel all SABLs and return the titles to their customary landowners.

Almost one third of customary land taken by foreign companies

By Grace Auka Salmang, Post Courier

PAPUA New Guinea is the latest victim in a modern era of land grabs orchestrated by foreign corporations, an investigative report and a film reveal.

From POST COURIER and PACNEWS

Papua New Guinea Parliament has taken the first step in setting up the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in a 92-0 votes.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in presenting the ICAC Bill just after the passage of the 2015 Budget, said when taking office in August 2011, one of the first NEC decisions was to adopt the anti-corruption strategy 2010-2030, setting a path way to address corruption and improve good governance.

A SPREADING SICKNESS IN PNG

By PNGBLOGS

Martyn Namorong

Youths arrested for stopping logging on conservation area

By Grace Tiden, Post Courier

Twelve youths from Bairaman in the Ralopal Concession area under the Sigete/Mukus Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) Project Site in East New Britain have been arrested and charged for allegedly threatening logging company workers.

The 12 men have appeared for mention at the Kokopo District and were supposed to appear again yesterday for hearing to commence but the case was deferred to a later date.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the latest known victim in a modern era of land grabs orchestrated by foreign corporations according to an investigative report and a film, On Our Land, released today by the Oakland Institute and the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) on behalf of PNG partners Act Now! and Birmarck Ramu Group.

Source: Joel Simo* writing in the Sydney Morning Herald

To visiting Australians, my home, the island nation of Vanuatu, is either paradise or a Third World backwater. Holidaymakers prize our beaches and clear waters. But workers from aid organisations such as AusAID see limited employment opportunities and poverty.

Both groups have ideas for "improving" Vanuatu through holiday homes, tourism and a commercial track to "development", including the establishment of Western-style property rights.

Source: Islands Business

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has told Parliament that constitutional changes would be made to establish the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

The body is likely to be in place by the middle of next year. It is expected to take over the functions of the Task Force Sweep and the police fraud squad.

O’Neill announced an amendment to the Organic Law on Provincial Government and Local Level Government to establish the district development authority.