From The Crowd

2nd March

The University of Papua New Guinea – Reflections after a decade

THIS year, 2021, marks 10 years since I started teaching at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). Regardless of what kind of state it is in today, UPNG’s history and continuity fascinates me. As...

1st March

Fiji and PNG – No room to move on COVID-19

Neither Fiji nor Papua New Guinea, the two economic giants of the Pacific, has been able to increase spending to respond to the health or the economic fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. In both countries, after adjusting for inflation, spending in 2021 will be about the same as it was in 2019....

27th February

The unsung heroes

Bula readers! This week I wanted to focus on people in the community who are down to earth, humble and hardworking citizens of this country, plus they really are essential in keeping our nation going during these hard times with their selfless acts of charity. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to...

Darknet: Cyberattackers marketplace

With cyberattacks increasingly threatening businesses through ransomware attacks and data theft, executives need new tools, techniques, and approaches to protect their organisations. Unfortunately, criminal innovation often outpaces their defensive efforts. Wide-scale cyberattacks are becoming more common, too. Cyberattackers always seem to be one or two steps ahead of the defenders. Are they more technically adept,...

Is the freeze on rent fair and justified

At the outset it is imperative to state that the key objectives of the Commerce Commission Act as stipulated under Section 2 (1) (d) inter alia includes: (a) to promote the interests of the consumers and (b) to ensure equitable returns for businesses with fair and reasonable prices charged to consumers. This is further amplified...

Sugar-coating no more: The blame game is running out

The modus operandi of the FijiFirst government is abundantly clear. First, spew fire and brimstone both in and outside Parliament in an attempt to sugar-coat the truth. Certainly not the Kit Kats the Prime Minister was seen handing out this week to students. Second, play the blame game. Blame climate change for the declining sugar...

Why are we poor – Rampant poverty takes it toll on thousands

There is a lot of talk about the rampant poverty in Fiji. More than 250,000 live below poverty level — about 28 per cent of the population. Thousands do not have a penny in their FNPF, hundreds of families do not eat three meals a day. Kids as young as six have to help their...

Fiji’s perilous debt sink-hole

FOR the first time in Fiji’s history our national debt level is approaching the level of our GDP. It is time to ask where the borrowed billions are going. It had become quite clear, even before the COVID pandemic struck, that Government finances were in a precarious state, business confidence had fallen to record lows...

Power Plants of the Pacific

Fiji is such a blessed land overflowing with pure nature foods, foods that are of the highest mineral rich oxygenated life force and electric alkaline properties for heightened health. The underlying secret to real true health and longevity is right here, within Fiji’s wild flora. The native cuisine that is in abundance in these...

26th February

Living in hardship – No poverty reduction in Fiji over the past 6 years

THE Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBS) released its preliminary report on the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) on February 8. The survey is based on a representative sample of 6000 households and was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020. Thus, the 2019-2020 HIES report provides a snapshot of poverty before the impact...

25th February

Impacts of COVID-19 – The special challenges facing Pacific Parliaments and audit institutions

APART from the millions of lives lost, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy, with serious consequences on national economies, businesses, communities and individuals. The global pandemic has forced numerous governments to activate emergency response mechanisms, testing the resilience of governance systems. Pacific Island populations have remained relatively unscathed...

24th February

The 2021 Madang roads ruling

THE National Court of Papua New Guinea made a landmark court decision on Saturday, January 30, 2021, by ordering the Madang Provincial Government, the District Development Authority, and the Urban Local-level Government to fix the roads in Madang Town. The orders prescribed the specific financial contributions and administrative responsibilities of each level of government, including...