How is it that a country as richly endowed with natural resources as Papua New Guinea with multinational mining companies flocking there like bees to a honey pot is actually going backwards when it comes to key social indicators such as wealth and life expectancy?

Well, in looking for answers to that imponderable, Dateline video journalist Amos Roberts travelled hundreds of kilometres into PNG's rugged highlands where the latest mega-project - the biggest in the history of that troubled nation - is under way. Here's Amos. 

THE NATIONAL: PUPILS from the Salvation Army excitedly take their seats and have to be ushered in by several people.

They get a wave from NCD Governor Powes Parkop, and some wave back, happy a “big man” has recognised them. Parkop himself is standing deep in conversation with Member for Sumkar Ken Fairweather, who was first in the chamber but still late.

By John M. Jambert President PNG Victoria Students Association (International Business & Global Leadership Program) Swinburne University of Technology Melbourne.....

By Tony Flynn - WAU...

This is not about someone stealing our money or goods, this corruption relates to a systematic denial of our future as viable farmers and a denial of our ability to be self sufficient.

THE NATIONAL: People do rightly demand and they do deserve an apology from Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare.

He must also retract the public outburst he made in Parliament where he described last week’s demonstrators as “longlongs” and to members of the media as “sadang”.

He, of all people, should never call any member of the PNG public “longlong” or “sadang”.
“Longlong” in Tok Pisin means mentally retarded or depraved while “sadang” means the devil or satan.

THE Opposition has called for the sidelining of Minister Paul Tiensten and an investigation into an allege K13 million fraud within the National Planning and Rural Development Department.

Deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to investigate the alleged K13 million fraud. The Opposition claims the money was siphoned out through ghost projects and contracts by private firms and individuals who colluded with the Department.

These are alleged to have included:

Former Justice Minister and Attorney General, Dr Allan Marat, has said the proposed 'Maladina' amendments would "legalise previous wrongful conduct of any member of [Parliament]."

"Justice and righteousness would therefore demand that the amendment was not pursued".

His comments were made in his resignation letter which was given to the media last Friday.