Papua New Guinea

New Report: Timber Legality Risk Assessment for PNG

New addendum added below on 20 November 2023

There is a very high risk that almost all logging occurring in natural forest areas in Papua New Guinea is illegal.

This is the damning verdict in a new Timber Legality Risk Assessment published ACT NOW!

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District Plans and Budgets still Missing

The initiative by the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) in setting up the Bilum Digital Platform is commendable. A step in the right direction in promotion greater transparency and accountability in our public expenditure. Development partners especially AUSAid should be thanked as well for funding the Initiative.

The issue of corruption is huge in PNG especially when dealing with government funds and deprive the rights of citizens to have access to basic health and education services, particularly the majority of our rural population.

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When free education isn't free: creeping corruption in education

Source: DevPolicy Blog

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Jury still out on whether seabed mining is good for Pacific

Source: Radio NZ

The Pacific Community says it is still not clear whether the potential economic benefits of sea bed mining will outweigh the negative effects on the environment and on local livelihoods.

The comments come after the SPC's proposed legal and regulatory framework on sea bed mining was accused of neglecting indigenous and environmental safeguards.

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Where is the justice? how our courts aid grand corruption

Papua New Guinea Correctional Service, Bomana Prison

Source: PNG Exposed Blogs

Here we go again. It appears there is a two-tier justice system, one for the poor and one for the rich.

Earlier this month the National Court sentenced a Bank of South Pacific employee David Poholi to five years imprisonment with hard labour, for misappropriating K688,000 from his employer, BSP. 

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Seabed Mining hyped, but serious concerns remain

Source: PNG Today

A cost-benefit analysis released by the Secretariat of Pacific Communities (SPC) and the European Union on potential deep sea mining (DSM) projects in three Pacific countries found that the projects can be viable.

But other research suggests there remain serious concerns about the new, untested DSM industry.

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PNG Forest Minister urged to allow audit

Source: Radio NZ

The Papua New Guinea Forest Minister has been urged by a transparency and environmental NGO to allow an audit of financial reporting by the logging industry.

Despite a new report by the Oakland Institute tracking massive tax evasion by foreign companies involved in PNG forestry, the minister Douglas Torumiesa has defended the loggers.

Mr Tomuriesa attacked the report's findings as being inaccurate because the companies do pay log export taxes.

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IRC yet to confirm logging taxes in PNG

Source: Post Courier online

Minister for Forest, Douglas Tomuriesa and Goodwill Amos with the Oakland Report during a press conference.

THE Internal Revenue Commission is yet to confirm whether many foreign logging companies are in the country are avoiding to pay taxes in Papua New Guinea.

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Losing Papua New Guinea's rainforest

Source: ABC News

An area of Papua New Guinea's internationally significant rainforests in excess of the size of Australia's entire Wet Tropics Heritage Area in north Queensland has been cleared or logged in the 10 years to 2014, a new report has found.

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Putting a halt to the great timber heist in Papua New Guinea

Source: The interpreter

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