New report shows so-called growth is 'bleeding Africa dry'

By Sarah Lazare

Africa's so-called growth is heavily dependent on exports of goods like oil, which siphon wealth out of the country.

(Photo: The Global Poverty Project)

‘…Vanuatu is forcing the rest of the MSG to take a stand on West Papua - something that is bound to test the integrity of the grouping in the months and years to come. Its boycott of the leaders’ visit to Indonesia, which incidentally has observer status in the MSG grouping - is rooted in its conviction and clearly not mere politicking’

From Islands Business

The Chief Commissioner of Papua New Guinea's land scandal Inquiry says a whole new system of land-leasing is needed to put traditional landowners in the driver's seat for agricultural and other development.

From Radio Australia

Hundreds of thousands of landowners are waiting for the PNG government to act on its promise to cancel flawed Special Agricultural and Business Leases, or SABLs, issued for their land.

By Dr. Odongo F Odhuno*

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) is one of the fastest growing economies in the Pacific region. And in terms of the country’s current and future economic growth, PNG workers too expect to have a fair share of the benefits associated with the accelerating pattern of growth.

Booming Economy

BY JACK LAPAUVE EMTV News

Community Advocacy group ACT NOW has welcomed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s statement of revoking SABL leases however it is disappointed in the delays in implementing the process.

ACT NOW says there can be no excuses for the government to sit on the commission's recommendations, which was presented 6 months ago.

From ABC Radio Australia

One of the whistleblowers who gave evidence at the Commission of Inquiry into Papua New Guinea's land scandal is urging the government to act on calls for companies named in the final report to be investigated.

A company called Independent Timbers and Stevedoring stands accused of manipulating the supposedly independent lease approval process.

Landowners who thought they had only given approval for leases for a road project, found all their land had been leased out.

From Radio Australia

By Joy Kisselpar on PNG Edge

The Ministerial Committee appointed by the National Executive Council (NEC) last year to look into recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) is yet to convene its first meeting.

The three-member committee was appointed by the prime minister when the final reports from two commissioners of the inquiry were submitted to government.

Community Advocacy group ACT NOW! says while it welcomes the Prime Minister's statement that illegal SABL leases need to be revoked, the delays in implementing this commitment are totally unacceptable.

On Thursday Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced he is appointing a Ministerial committee to look into implementing the Commission of Inquiry recommendation that illegal leases be revoked.