A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Our sincere condolences to the people of Tonga on the passing of King George Tupou V. ADB criticises PNG sovereign wealth fund The ADB has criticised the design of the PNG Sovereign Wealth Fund, saying that more funds from the resources boom should be saved and less spent “until the government undertakes necessary public financial management reforms.” The ADB…

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Concerns mount over media freedom debates Ironically, as censors leave the newsrooms and Radio Australia is poised to resume broadcasting in Fiji, concerns are mounting about media restrictions in other Pacific countries. In Samoa, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has defended the government's move to set up a body to regulate the media. Industry representatives have labelled the government's…

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Russian courting shakes up the Solomon Islands Russia’s courting of Pacific island states continues to cause political fallout, with the Solomon Islands foreign minister, Peter Shanel, sacked by Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo. This was for allegedly agreeing to forge closer diplomatic relations during a recent meeting with Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in Fiji.  Russia claims that the issue of…

A roundup of development policy issues in the Pacific by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy and the Development Policy Centre. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the floods in Fiji and the landslides and ferry disaster in PNG. Unravelling PNG politics The ongoing political tension in Papua New Guinea escalated briefly last week with the  failed mutiny staged by elements of the military said to be loyal to  Sir Michael Somare. Relying on the December 2011…

PNG’s power struggle appears locked in political combat, with an old Sepik strongman trying to claw back power from a new generation Highlander who made a pre-emptive raid on parliamentary numbers to secure the riches of electoral incumbency. In classic Melanesian fashion, both are upping the ante with payback moves that are starting to spiral dangerously. Politics here does not always follow the niceties of process and protocol. Power is rarely given – it is taken. A circuit breaker is…