Source: The Christensen Fund

In the language of modern economics, the small island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific is labeled one of the world’s ‘least developed countries’. At the same time, Vanuatu has ranked number one on the pioneering Happy Planet Index. This incongruity points to major issues with today’s standard measures of human progress, and has many policymakers rethinking notions of wealth and how they shape development policy.

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. 

Source: Cosmas Makamet, PNG Eco-Forestry Forum

Source: PANG

Blue Ocean Law and Pacific Network on Globalisation Release Legal Analysis of SPC-EU Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework –

Calls for Greater Indigenous and Environmental Safeguards

Regional partners Blue Ocean Law and PANG.

Source: Legend FM News FB page

Sir Julius Chan, Governor of New Ireland Province, has challenged recent statements by the Forest Minister, Douglas Tomuriesa, concerning a recent report from the Oakland Institute that was critical of the way the forestry industry is run in PNG.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Forest Minister Douglas Torumiesa’s attack on a report alleging the logging industry is failing to pay hundreds of millions of Kina in taxes is full of errors.

“The Forest Minister’s statements attacking The Great Timber Heist are full of inaccuracies and must be challenged”, says ACT NOW! Program Manager, Effrey Dademo.