University of Adelaide researchers have helped create a new industry for Papua New Guinea (PNG) farmers based on producing charcoal from locally grown firewood crops. 

A six-year project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and working with PNG researchers and landholders, has seen the development of successful small businesses surrounding the production and selling of charcoal from new quick-growing tree crops.

Sourced from PNG EDGE

The PNG-Eco Forestry Forum has called on the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to appoint a new and neutral chairman for the Ministerial Committee reviewing the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) commission of inquiry report.

Having Forestry and Climate Change Minister Patrick Pruaith in charge was like “giving the keys of the blood bank to Dracula’’, the forum said.

By Catherine Wilson for Inter Press Service

Photo: Villagers in Papua New Guinea point to their village destroyed in a landslide from a quarry being excavated for a liquefied natural gas project. Credit: Catherine Wilson/IPS

Aisake Casimira

Parlt passes ICAC Bill with 91-0 vote

By Isaac Nicholas in the Post Courier

PARLIAMENT has passed the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Bill with an overwhelming 91-0 votes.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who introduced the Bill, said that was the first hurdle towards realising the establishment of an anti-corruption body.

By Pasifika Wardrobes

The Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) is still an outstanding matter before the O’Neill led government, and the much talked about delay into addressing this massive corrupt scheme has prompted the blame game.

The blame game started when there was a delay by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the SABL, and when one of the three commissioners in the inquiry failed to produce his report.

By Pasifika Wardrobes

Since the reports of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) were presented in parliament last October, Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill appointed a ministerial committee to look into the findings and recommendations of the inquiry.

ACT NOW!

The government must be congratulated for protecting PNG interests and rejecting the very poor agreement signed by the Somare government to support the proposed Solwara 1 experimental seabed mine, says community activist group ACT NOW!

From PNG Edge

Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) has urged all arms of government to immediately act on the recommendations into the SABL Commission of Inquiry (COI).

Executive Director of TIPNG, Emily Taule said the COI reports from commissioners John Numapo and Nicholas Mirou contained sufficient evidence of massive corruption, mismanagement and lack of coordination by key agencies including relevant government departments.

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)