By Tim Anderson

Aid worldwide runs at more than $120 billion per year (World Bank 2011a), yet there is very little correlation between this expenditure and the often stated goal of poverty reduction. The failures of aid are legion. Yet this ‘development assistance’ has become a massive and semi- permanent global industry which in western countries is often erroneously equated with ‘development’. Nothing could be further from the truth. Aid programs, despite the stated good intentions, certainly deserve some critical scrutiny. 

By Scott Waide

Prior to 1995, Papua New Guinea's roads were constructed and maintained by the Department of Works. In 1995, structural and legislative adjustments shifted the role of the Works Department from maintenance and construction to monitoring and supervision.

"Seeds Blong Yumi”, is a 57 minute documentary that celebrates traditional food plants and the people that grow them and stresses the importance of maintaining traditional farming practices [see video tralier below].

Indigenous farmers around the world face increasing pressure from agribusiness corporations that push their low-diversity seed stock. Many of these varieties require costly inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

Emirau is an island in New Ireland province of PNG.
 Evidence at the SABL inquiry has emerged that Emirau and its surrounding waters are owned by an Australian, reports the Post Courier newspaper.


This is the result of an agreement signed on November 10, 2004 by former Kavieng MP Ben Micah and businessman Edward Carr, the counsel assiting the inquiry Paul Tusais said last week.


By Effrey Dademo

One issue that rarely gets the prominence in the Papua New Guinea media is the struggle by West Papuans for recognition of their territory – West Papua.  Although Papua New Guinea is very close to the struggle, having dealt with the influx of thousands of refugees across the border, the silence on the part of the Papua New Guinea government and it’s people, to atrocities and blatant abuse of human rights of our “wantoks” is deafening!

From PMIZ Watcher

Community leaders from the site of the troubled proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone have reacted angrily to newspaper stories that their communities have agreed to allow the project to procede, as reported on Monday.

Ebert Kaing who is the Program Manager-Education at Sumkar District living in Rempi village and a landowner said, "there are more issues which needs to be addressed before the PMIZ agreement signing". 

Concerned Officer

The Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Steven Mera, should be commended for putting his re­putation on the line to call for a full financial audit of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project from 2008 to 2011.


This period effectively covers the administration of former secretary Anton Kulit and acting secretary John Andrias.
 We know very well that this project was politically hijacked by a former minister.

Observers of the operations of New Britain Palm Oil have raised serious concerns about a recent audit of the companies operations and their certification as sustainable. The concerns (see below) include health and saftey issues, sanitation and overcrowding, environmental issues and even corruption.

1.     Occupational Health & Safety

By PMIZ Watcher

Landowners in Madang are fighting over the crumbs rather than worrying about their futures once their land is gone, their environment polluted and thousands of low paid jobs bring myriad social problems....

By PMIZ Watcher