We need to think about whether development brings any benefits to those who are largely self-sufficient – like many of the world's 150 million tribal people including many Papua New Guineans
Lawyer Alois Jerewai is familiar with the buzz of mosquitoes and the sweet aroma and taste of ‘saksak’, the staple of every sago loving ‘saki’ in PNG, reports the Post Courier.
Mr Jerewai, from Sepik, has also heard that famous folksy ‘saki’ tune made famous by the Hollie Maea band many times.
So when it finally lured him to Kerema, the little ‘yu yet kam na lukim’ river port west of Port Moresby, Mr Jerewai thought the Gulf provincial capital deserves better.
When the O’Neill-Namah Government took over from the Somare regime in early August, I was given the task of sorting out the mess which had been created among all of the state owned enterprises by the former Minister for Public Enterprises, the (currently suspended) Member for Angoram, Arthur Somare.
The Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and MiningWatch Canada and have released a new report called “Out of Our Depth”. It details serious environmental and social impacts expected as a result of unprecedented mining of the ocean floor in PNG.
The Commission of Inquiry into Special Purpose Agricultural and Business Leases (SABL) in the Western Province has heard more damning evidence of local landowners losing their land to conniving loggers without their knowledge, reports the Post Courier.
Commissioner Nicholas Mirou is hearing into SABLs granted for land portions 27c, 1c and 14c in the North Fly District where tragic tales of land loss similar to cases recorded in West Pomio and New Hanover are emerging.
Papua New Guinea's land grab is part of a global phenomina that is being resisted by indigenous people across the planet. The fight against land-grabbing is a fight against capitalism, neoliberalism and a destructive economic model.
Another story about our wrong model of development
Everyday I meet interesting people.
Two months ago, it was a doctor - the Director of Medical Services at a provincial hospital. During our discussion, he said we – the PNG government – are putting money into areas that won’t improve the nation’s health.
The Commission of Inquiry (“the Commission”) hearing on SABL in Kiunga, Western Province which commenced on Wednesday (16/11/2011) has already revealed some very disturbing information.
