Source: Special Correspondent in Bougainville

The leadership of President John Momis is continually being scrutinized heavily by people from both within and outside Bougainville. In his most recent doing or undoing (as seen by critiques) through the passing of the controversial Transitional Mining Bill, the President is seen to have pulled the last straw of confidence that many have in the father of Papua New Guinea’s constitution.

Source: Radio Australia

Three months after Papua New Guinea's cabinet ordered the cancellation of flawed land leases, only 5 companies have voluntarily handed back their titles.

Millions of hectares of traditional land has been affected by a land-lease scandal centred on Special Agricultural and Business Leases.

Source: Special Correspondent in Bougainville

From The National via Islands Business

Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) secretary Dr Eric Kwa says Papua New Guinea will have to adopt a more-positive attitude and shrug off the inferiority complex if the country is to move forward.

Kwa, Papua New Guinea’s foremost legal expert who is spearheading the review into the Organic Law on provincial government and local level governments, said nothing would happen without positivity and faith in public servants as service deliverers.

Source: Special Correspondent in Bougainville

Source: PNG Mine watch

This past July a young man was murdered deep in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea, and Canadians should care.

Why?

Why concern ourselves with this one act of violence in a far away corner of the Pacific, at a time when there is so much violence in the world?

Source: The National

People gathered at the Divine Word University in Madang last week to discuss the importance of restoring Pacific identity.

The gathering coincided with a celebration dance, that signified a protest against western influence of exploiting land and sea resources in the Pacific. .

In attendance were artists, musicians, chiefs, academics, clergy, activists, youth and civil society representatives.

Source: The National

The West Sepik provincial government is seeking a licence from the Government to export logs.

Acting Governor Paul Negai told Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa and PNG Forest Authority managing director Kanawi Pouru during their visit to the province on Monday that West Sepik wanted to export its own logs.

Source: PNG Mine Watch

Matangi Tonga

Parliament has passed a Seabed Minerals Act 2014, an act that regulates mineral exploration and potential mining in Tongan waters.

Tonga currently has no mining industry as the Kingdom has yet to discover mineral resources such as oil or precious metals. Past oil explorations have been made, but without success.

Source: PNG Mine Watch

Barrick Gold’s Porgera Joint Venture Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has long been associated with extreme violence against local men and women by mine security and state police associated with the mine. The level of human rights abuses at the mine has spiked again this year.