Comments

A powerful reflection and uplifting note of optimism on Vanuatu’s 45th birthday.

What a wonderful article Anna!

Thank you, Dr Watson, for these great insights and links to resources. On recognition of risks in the Pacific Islands, we fully agree, and we do mention this. On strategies, our advice is that each country needs to develop a national AI strategy and local governance mechanisms which are crucial to addressing emerging risks. In principal, we agree with the possibility of building AI issues into broader digital policies, but on the other hand, given how fast AI is evolving we may need specific AI strategies to ensure more flexibility and the ability to adjust and update frequently. We note that, in ASEAN, the AI Guide was recently updated in January 2025 specifically to deal with risks and opportunities of generative AI, for example. Equally important is enabling strong regional cooperation, which remains key for the region to foster the responsible adoption of AI. This is why we’ve proposed an AI Technical Facility as a potential mechanism to support such efforts. Thanks again and looking forward to future engagement. AI Asia Pacific Institute

Thanks for a helpful post. It is encouraging to hear all the great things happening through the church partnership program in PNG. Many of the challenges (and opportunities) associated with such partnerships (including Western secularism) are discussed in detail in a book by Bryant Myers, who worked for World Vision for many years. I explain why I like it so much in a blog post. https://revelation4-11.blogspot.com/2021/11/how-might-christians-respond-to-poverty.html BTW. I also recommend Duncan Green's book, From Poverty to Power, having given it to some Christians in South Asia to help them in their desire to be agents of positive social change.

Thank you for the link.

Thanks Ian, really appreciate you taking the time to read and share those stats. I hadn’t seen the latest Sustainable Development Report but those figures paint a pretty stark picture. It’s hard to argue we’re on the right trajectory when no country in the Pacific is on track for meeting SDG 3. Also, I have to give credit where it’s due. The phrase “under the bonnet” in the article was one I borrowed from you in your description of the Health Sector Support Program in Solomons a few years ago. I always thought it perfectly captured the nature of HSS focused programs. Thanks again.

It was all there and we need to work at it and deliver results for PNG.

Great to see. We need to get it rolled across the whole Districts and Province to give us national database thar could be used for planning and other uses including Civil Registry and Ward and Common Rolls.

That is exactly the system that is available and can be done cheaply yet we looking at doing the end of the process meaning work on the Common Roll rather than the Village Book that would give us the Common Roll.

A ‘ruckus’ is rather a mild way of putting it! The whole thing is appalling. But as you imply, the buck stops with whomever hired them. I would hope Ms Malimali finishes up with at least double the initial sum offered, all things considered. Even though she’s probably tempted to tell them to shove it at this stage! The sad thing is this sort of nonsense only serves to discourage high calibre individuals from public service. And goodness knows, Fiji needs them.

I love what you are doing for Vanuatu and Pacific as a whole. I'm from Papua New Guinea and I have the vision to fight climate change by mobilizing my people and registered an Association with relevant authorities and I'm making awareness and therefore need such people like you to help me to fight the climate change fight in our small way as our contributions. Thank-you, John

Thanks Wilson. I've always argued for use of ward records. In my ward back home, the most updated data about the ward and its estimated 1000 population is kept by our Ward Recorder. He operates mostly on a voluntary basis, but his data is the most accurate of any government record about the ward. There are departments already set up with the mandate to coordinate data collation as you point out, which are cheaper and relatively reliable. I am not sure if the political leaders ask these departments before coming up with millions of Kina worth of alternative ideas.