By LNG Watch

While the facts surrounding the tragic Hides landslide remain sketchy, prima facie evidence is being produced which indicates this was not purely a natural disaster. While it is important at this stage that people remain focused on the rescue efforts, serious attention must be given to the cause of this disaster. LNG Watch, therefore, fully supports James Marape’s (Hela Transitional Authority Chairman) call for an independent investigation into the landslide.

By Luana Paniu

A massive total of 2 million hectares granted under four but bordering Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) reportedly for poultry and vegetable farming is not practical according to former Lands Secretary, Pepi Kimas.

The sub-leased areas which are located in the Western Province and extends onto the borders of both the Southern Highlands and West Sepik Provinces, includes one individual SABL totalling a land mass of 790,800 hectares.

By Catherine Wilson

Although Papua New Guinea is known as a resource-rich country, 85 percent of the population depends on the informal economy for a living.

Photo: Women at Gordons market (Catherine Wilson/IPS)

The need for a grassroots-led economic enterprise to aid equitable and sustainable development is nationally recognised, but awaits better governance, infrastructure and facilities. 

THE majority of the people in the Sausso local level government in East Sepik want the Special Business Lease (SABL) granted by the government under portion 144C for development of oil palm on the Sepik plains to stay, claims The National (which is owned by logging giant Rimbunan Hijau).

They said a recent statement by Jimmy Harinagu, from Rofundogum village, claiming that the people of the LLG area were unhappy with the SABL was incorrect.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Lease will not be stopped, says the government.

Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Lucas Dekena told Parliament last Friday, in response to questions from Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, that the inquiry was initiated by the former regime and the government had extended it for another three months to allow the commission to complete its work in the selected provinces.

He said the government would not stop the Commission but allow it time to submit its report to Parliament by March.

By Martyn Namorong*

FORMER Papua New Guinea Customs Commissioner Gary Juffa has condemned the recent announcement that Papua New Guinea would return to talks related to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty (SPTT). Mr Juffa described its as one of the many worse deals Papua New Guinea’s ruling elite continue to enter into on behalf of the country.

This short video documents the broken promises of oil plam company Sylvania Limited which has deserted the people of Marova leaving them with only broken promises after logging out their forests; mirroring the experiences of communities in Papua New Guinea who have suffered the loss of their forests under Special Agriculture Purpose Business Leases.  You can view further episodes from this documentary here vimeo.com/album/1806605

The campaign to prevent environmental damage from experimental deep-sea mining has gone global, reflecting the mounting worldwide concern about this new form of mineral extraction.

Care2, an on-line community of more than 17 million people, has launched an on-line petition [1] asking the United Nations to stop experimental deep-sea mining until the potential impacts are known.

The petition has attracted more than 10,000 signatures in just a few days - more than double its original target of 5,000 - and it is still growing.

By Alexander Rheeney

Parliament-elected Prime Minister Peter O’Neill continues to up his popularity stakes when his government yesterday nullified a law which shielded resource companies from environmental damage lawsuits.

Reports from the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby indicate that the O’Neill government has revoked the 2010 amendments to PNG’s Environmental Act, which the then Somare government pushed and got parliament to pass to protect the $1.5 billion Chinese-owned Ramu nickel mine.

Ralph Regenvanu has been sacked as Vanuatu's Justice Minister, allegedly over his opposition to Vanuatu's recent membership of the World Trade Organisation. But, as his statement below reveals, Ralph is truly a politician with integrity and has consistently stood for what is right and just for his people. Lets ensure that in the forthcoming elections in both Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu we elect more politicians with the same strength, honesty and commitment. 

I acknowledge that the Prime Minister has the Constitutional right to appoint and dismiss any Minister.