With the World Bank drafting the legislation for Special Economic Zones in Papua New Guinea and the government eager to use the new Act to declare the Pacific Marine Industrial Park in Madang as PNG's first SEZ, it is timely to review a report on the Untold Agonies that SEZs have created in SE Asia and critically examine some of the benefits they supposedly bring

In its latest briefing paper, the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) looks at the need for political reform to governing systems across Melanesia as its young population booms.

It asks a troubling question – will democracy be sunk by demography?

The Pacific in general, but Melanesia in particular faces a serious demographic challenge. More than half the population is under 24 and in broad terms, urban populations are doubling every 17 years while national populations are doubling every 30 years.

Spotted on PNG Blogs

BETWEEN 2003 and 2008, the Somare government amassed a whopping K6 billion in extra revenue. That is money over and above what was budgeted each year. The excess billions were parked in trust accounts and drawn down in one-off payments which were approved in a number of mid-year supplementary budgets.

By SAM BASIL, Bulolo MP

I refer to the comments by the first legislative counsel, Mr Hudson
 Ramatlap, and note with great concern that a person who is supposed to 
protect the independence of Parliament legislative process is now
 making outlandish comments in support of the contemptuous behaviour of
 the Prime Minister.


His statement is not only misleading, but calculated to undermine the 
seriousness of this matter.
 This is not just another political scoring issue here it is an issue 
of national importance. 


The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has joined the Asian Development Bank in denying it is involved in supporting the government's controversial Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang.

JICA’s public relations division has told ACT NOW! "JICA PNG Office has never been a party to this project both at the initial designing stage as well as construction”. 

“If some one is using JICA then, someone is doing it for his own benefit without the consent of the JICA PNG Office.” 

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has written a strongly worded letter (copy below) to the Papua New Guinea government demanding answers about the granting of agriculture leases over large areas of customary land.

The letter, signed by the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, also raises concerns about the impacts of controversial amendments to the Environment Act last year, that took away citizens rights to challenge approvals for large-scale resource projects and seek compensation for any damage.

By Ilya Gridneff, AAP

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has been found guilty of 13 charges of misconduct in office for submitting annual financial statements late or incomplete.

A three-member tribunal sitting in Port Moresby handed down its decision on Monday afternoon and will reconvene on Tuesday to hear recommendations for an appropriate penalty.

Somare, 74, who has been at the forefront of PNG politics for 40 years, will remain in the top job and is expected to be punished only with a small fine.

Local people living around the site for the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone north of Madang town, have taken out a newspaper advertisement opposing the project.

The PMIZ will be the first Special Economic Zone in PNG, under new laws being drafted by the World Bank.

By SAM BASIL, MP for Bulolo

The Prime Minister published the names of the national ministers 
constituting the National Executive Council and their respective 
responsibilities in the National Gazette on Thursday 3rd March 2011,
 National Gazette No. G57 of 2011.

Local leaders of the Kananam and Dapu people have spoken out in opposition to the governments controversial Pacific Marine Industrial Zone, and declared they will not allow the project to be built on their land.

(Photo: Adolf Skarmai (second from right), Vitus Kai (right) and other leaders)

"We hear we may be moved elsewhere but this cannot be! This is our land, our birth right," said Augustine Lalo.