There has been growing concern in Papua New Guinea (PNG), in the past, and more so, recently, at the manner in which the people's Parliament has performed it's functions.

The three components of the State, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are intended to operate independently of each other, providing checks and balances to ensure transparency and accountability. But, have they?

 Let's respect and follow the Constitution and laws

Three media stories published on New Years Eve foretell what could be a calamitous year ahead for the giant Exxon-Mobil Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project in Papua New Guinea.

The LNG project has already faced countless delay's and shutdowns caused by landowner disputes, poor working conditions, deaths and allegations of corruption.

Massive oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) projects in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea have not yet delivered any meaningful assistance to the people of the region, says Peter Korugl, and worse, have promoted greed and corruption while making the people mere spectators on their own land.

By Peter Korugl

By Billy Boram 

Members of ACT NOW! and PNG as a whole, I suggest the formation of a Coalition against Violence against Woman.

There are certain coalitions and civil groups formed to fight corruption, graft, HIV and child abuse. I appeal to good-thinking professional men and women to mobilize and form a group similar to what we already have and lets combat Violence against woman.

By JOHNNY POIYA

Highlands Divisional Police Commander Simon Kauba has issued a warning to his men that anybody who bashes his wife will be automatically suspended.

The ACP made the stern call during a luncheon with his senior officers and it follows a similar statement of zero tolerance from the Police Commissioner in Port Moresby.

ROYAL PAPUA NEW GUINEA CONSTABULARY

MEDIA RELEASE

By Hon. Sam Basil, MP

The Department of Conservation (DEC) is failing  to properly regulate the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and ensure mine operations are environmentally safe.

DEC has a responsibility on behalf of the Nation to ensure that mining operations are safe and will not damage the environment. Yet time and again the mines end up causing massive pollution problems while DEC sits by and watches.

On December 11 the ACT NOW! blog featured a story about a policeman's wife who has suffered repeated violence at the hands of her husband. On December 21 the Post Courier newspaper followed up with the story below, by Nellie Setepano, about another policeman's wife.

As a result of these two stories ACT NOW! has contacted the Police Commissioner to demand action.

Joy's story

By Scott MacWilliam, Pacific Media Centre