For most of us, the Pacific means exotic islands where the people are happy, beaches are lined with coconut palms and there is a unique genetic sequence for rugby players.
In many ways the Pacific has huge wealth - natural resources, cultural diversity and resilient, capable people. These are vital ingredients for a decent standard of living for all.
The red, black and gold, with a touch of the bird of paradise flew for the first time on Independence Hill, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 16th September 1975. I was 6 months old, and, I had no idea what had just happened!
Papua New Guinea will celebrate 35 years of Nationhood today - 16th September 2010.
We have problems. We have difficulties. But we are a country that can still make choices.
In this video, Students from the Divine Word University in Madang, Papua New Guinea, talk about what it means to be an independent country and to be Papua New Guinean.
The Australian based Lowey Institute says Papua New Guinea's massive new Liquified Natural Gas project1 and large mining investments will not reduce poverty unless there is a radical re-thinking of the government's approach.
The US$18 billion LNG project has been heavily hyped by the PNG government as providing a rich future for the country but the evidence presented by the Lowey Institute suggests otherwise.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics.
This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently.
I HAVE BOTH the final and draft copies of the Scottish Association for Marine Science report for the PNG government of expected impacts of the Ramu Deep Sea Tailings Disposal (DSTP) plan for Basamuk Bay.
THE country’s political and administrative elite has failed to deal with widespread corruption that is becoming a major killer in Papua New Guinea, a business leader said.
The World Bank is pushing the government of Papua New Guinea to open tax free zones across the country where foreign companies can operate duty free and ignore labour and health and safety laws.
Special Economic Zones, as they will be called, are common cross Asia where in fenced enclosures companies operate sweat shop factoies producing cheap manufactored goods for export.
