By Martyn Namorong

This week Papua New Guinea celebrates 36 years of Political Independence. Amongst the euphoria and celebrations, I thought I’d throw in something more sobering. Something for you folks to think about whilst you’re dancing and feasting.

By Martyn Namorong

Doctors are failing health

Planners are failing Planning

Lawyers are failing Justice

Educationists are failing education

Etc...

It's time to turn the spotlight onto the people who are really running the country or rather doing is bad job at running it.

By Ganjiki D Wayne

Last year I wrote a piece challenging Papua New Guineans to be patriots beyond September 16. This year I can’t think of anything better than remind us of that message again. It seems come this month and day we slap on the colors, dance to the tunes, sing the anthem and share opinions on how great we think our country is. Come September 17, for most Papua New Guineans...it’s back to square one.

By Martyn Namorong

“IT IS NOT POWER THAT CORRUPTS BUT FEAR. FEAR OF LOSING POWER CORRUPTS THOSE WHO WEILD IT AND FEAR OF THE SCOURGE OF POWER CORRUPTS THOSE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO IT.” Aung San Suu Kyi

PMIZ Watcher

By David Putulan

While the Oil Palm Industry in Papua New Guinea is preaching millions of kina in profit, it has come at a cost to the local inhabitants that once use to occupy the areas under oil palm. I am not talking about the environmental cost as loss of biodiversity through mono-culture is inevitable. The essence of this article is about the erosion of the social structures that forms the foundation for functional Melanesian communities. These social structures cannot properly exist when people are displaced from their land and forced to live another way of life.

Papua New Guinea has a new government and this creates an excellent opportunity for us to again press for the reversal of controversial amendments to the Environment Act that breach the Constitution and which were bulldozed through Parliament in May last year.

By Luana Paniu

Landowners crying foul over issues surrounding the 72 SPABLs in question, should be interested to know that the Department of Agriculture and Livestock never gave their approval for 31 of them, says the Post Courier.

By Luana Paniu



People of remote Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Lease sites have the opportunity to air their grievances over proposed projects with potential environment risk but judging from the number of environmental issues surfacing, this has not been happening, reports the Post Courier.

Acting Secretary for Environment and Conservation, Dr Wari Iamo, clarified the processes and procedures within his department when appearing before the Commission of Inquiry last week.


New Crisis, Old Story, by Martyn Namorong

The $14 Billion PNG LNG Project is viewed by many as the economic engine of Papua New Guinea. Does that ring any bells? Remember the copper mine at Panguna, it was set up by the Australians to be the economic engine of the newly independent State of PNG. A lot is at stake economically, with regards to the LNG Project in the Southern Highlands, just as it was with Panguna.