Comments

The findings from this research confirms the reality. It highlights the actual security risk situation in Port Moresby. This report is a very good tool for policy makers on law enforcement and legislation.

We must first appreciate that PNG is a price taker, I mean that most of the price controlled basic items are imported and have become a staple in both rural and urban areas. The ICCC had no interest in stretching its price control powers until Covid. Business back then relied on the imports and when they closed borders, they hiked prices up to 500% much to the detriment of the majority of its citizens. If we must encourage competition then price controls imported goods and encourage the production of locally produced substitutes. If price controls encourage local production them kudos to the ICCC.

Whilst appreciating your research paper, I support ICCC ammendments to price setting for one basic reason is that so much counterfeit products sold at 300 to 400 per cent (markup) in the street and restricted areas and ripped our PNG economy. This must be regulated. Secondly, the influx of foreigners migrated illegally into PNG is because of this uncontrolled attraction of micro-economics where foreigners taking over reserved activities designed and meant for PNG CITIZENS to participate and grow there SME. economy. Therefore, ICCC is doing the right thing to control and regulated which will not affect in any way because the fake goods and counterfeit products will continue to flood this country. PNG as a Nation will control and set prices and regulate it to ensure PNG survives in this one-sided ripping off from fair competition.

I need your team to come down to my remote place of Madang Province, which is Aindai ward, one of Gama LLG Usino Bundi District, Madang, for addressing our community state of development policies.

Very informative article, Stephen. It is disheartening to read that many PALM workers are applying for asylum, most of which are bogus. I hope that their cases are swiftly dealt with and then deported forthwith! The PALM scheme was never meant for this. There are more deserving Pacific Islanders who genuinely want to get on the PALM scheme to make a difference to their families with the income they earn.

I came across a similar situation involving a mother who her community accused of sorcery. She lived in fear and isolated herself after being blamed for an infant's death, resulting in severe injuries from a coffee tree branch. Despite her efforts to sell goods at the market to support her children, she struggled to earn an income as customers avoided her. During an Adult Literacy Teachers Training programme run by the Baptist Union of PNG in Mt Hagen, funded by the Australian Government, she learned about the importance of community engagement and participated in a group exercise called "power walk." After the training, she returned to her village to advocate for adult literacy classes, encouraging the accused woman to join, believing literacy and skills in hygiene and financial management would benefit her. In class, she introduced the power walk exercise, which revealed the isolation felt by the accused woman. Sharing her own story of hardship, the victim began attending classes regularly and engaged in community activities, including church events. As she practiced healthy living and connected with her classmates, community and church leaders also supported her. Over time, the community's perception of her shifted. She gradually regained acceptance, with people coming to buy her goods at the market and visiting her home. This change highlighted the community's previous misconceptions about her being a sorceress. During my monitoring visit as the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer for the Baptist Union of PNG, I learned the importance of identifying and supporting those accused in the community before tragedy strikes. We must advocate for open dialogue and involve survivors in community advocacy. It is ineffective to rely solely on organisations or CSOs that intervene only when someone is at risk of harm. Instead, we should focus on engaging accused individuals with their communities and addressing the root causes of the accusations. In the Highlands, marginalised individuals—often malnourished, from poor families or with visible illnesses—are frequently targeted. Women from polygamous families or those belonging to historically rival tribes are also vulnerable. Identifying these individuals and working to change community mindsets is essential. This insight emerged during my interview with the survivor and reflects broader patterns I observed.

Is the ballot still open??

The UN supports govt in its development work, not the other way around. If U5 Mortality is high even after all the years on intervention, it's as much a national problem as it is for those supporting national programs. Kiribati is an independent island state. Not a UN state. This article, however well meaning, is confusing.

Please try and support the remote places with cocao beans to plant in our communities. Thanks.

We need the latest update on the draft constitution.

This is a beautiful photo of a smiling happy mother with her baby inside the mosquito net. Knowing that her child is safe makes her happy. Net is the way to go against mosquitoes.

Excellent piece on an important issue, and congrats again on the report and use of this excellent data. I am struck that this is also just so important to consider in the context of thinking through potential child impacts of parents away in labour mobility programs. The tragic reality seems to be that the baseline levels here, in several countries, is really high regardless of migration status (as always, we need good and credible counterfactuals to talk about any effects/impacts). While the PNG DHS does not cover child treatment other than indirectly through health and other indicators, MICS surveys have specific questions around certain dimensions of issues and paint a similarly grim. In Vanuatu, 2023, 88% of children 1-14 experiencing any violent discipline method and 84 percent psychological aggression. In Fiji in 2021, 81 percent and 65, respectively. And more than half of the respondents think kids need to be physically punished (slightly higher for men). In Samoa in 2019-20, the figure is 91 percent and 83 percent, respectively, with 80 percent justifying it (slightly higher for women this time). In Tonga, 87 and 73 percent in 2019 but just 37 percent justify it. I wonder what these figures might look like for PNG, although hard to see them get much higher than already listed above.