Concerned Officer

The Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Steven Mera, should be commended for putting his re­putation on the line to call for a full financial audit of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project from 2008 to 2011.


This period effectively covers the administration of former secretary Anton Kulit and acting secretary John Andrias.
 We know very well that this project was politically hijacked by a former minister.

Observers of the operations of New Britain Palm Oil have raised serious concerns about a recent audit of the companies operations and their certification as sustainable. The concerns (see below) include health and saftey issues, sanitation and overcrowding, environmental issues and even corruption.

1.     Occupational Health & Safety

By PMIZ Watcher

Landowners in Madang are fighting over the crumbs rather than worrying about their futures once their land is gone, their environment polluted and thousands of low paid jobs bring myriad social problems....

By PMIZ Watcher

By Luana Paniu

Three portions of land situated on the island of New Hanover are the subject of controversy with allegations of illegal SABL’s and selling of customary land to foreign investors, reports the Post Courier.

Earlier last week, allegations were made against the Department of Lands and Physical Planning by former Custodian of Trust Land, Manasupe Zurenuoc, that three Special Agriculture and Business Leases were illegally issued for the said portions of Land without reaching his (then) office first.


By Luana Paniu

Two of New Ireland’s most scenic islands are practically off limits to their own people under the Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL).


They are Emirau in the Mussau Group of Islands and New Hanover, situated North West of mainland New Ireland. These were revelations made at the Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday last week by the former Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLLGA) who was the then Custodian of Trust Land.

Watch this short video clip to see how you can bring light into any dark space using just water and an empty plastic bottle....

In 1974, a group of visionary Papua New Guineans began writing the constitution - a document that would later become the corner stone of a young nation. Their wisdom and vision is conveyed in five goals set out in the preamble in the National Goals and Directive Principles.

In this short video, produced by Scott Waide, young Papua New Guinean's explain those Goals and Directive Principles and reflect on how successive governments have failed to follow the path set out in the Constitution.

If you haven't joined the new email action on the terrible 2010 amendments to the Environment Act, please follow the link and ACT NOW!

www.actnowpng.org/action

There has been already been a good response and we have raced past 200 signatures - which is a great start, and a BIG thank you if you have already signed - but we still need another 300 signatures to reach our target.