30 years on from independence PNG questions its path
This month Papua New Guinea will celebrate 30 years of independence from Australian rule. The anniversary comes as at a time when local Papua New Guineans are assessing the impact that aid and openness to the global market has had on the local way of life. Australia has spent $15 billion in aid in PNG since independence but development projects paid for with this money have not improved the living standard of many locals. Many locals are concerned about this, and the impact of conditions placed on loans from aid donor agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF. An issue of concern major concern currently is a push by the local PNG government to force the registration of customary land. Presently, this land is owned by the many separate groups in society. Grass roots groups within PNG remain concerned that if the ownership of land is transfered from the many to the few, multi-national companies, seeking to assess the country’s abundant natural resources, will end up controlling the land. Two PNG activists are in Australia to highlight there concerns about PNG’s development path so far. Annie Kajir is the head lawyer at the PNG Environmental Law Centre in port Mosresby. Yat Paol is community trainer with the Bismark Group, which works with grassroots communities on sustainable development projects and I spoke with them both earlier today. This story begins with comments from Annie Kajir, explaining her views on the development path PNG has taken so far.