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much to its mineral, forestry, and fish- Papua eries resources. The year 2014 marks another period Although ranks in Papua New Guinea’s political as the second-biggest recipient of history that saw a number of unprec- Australian Aid (AusAID) after Indo­ edented challenges facing the govern- nesia, Prime Minister O’Neill contin- ment of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. ues to make aid commitments to other An accountant by profession who has Pacific Island countries. The PNG held various senior ministerial portfo- government declared at the September lios in previous governments, O’Neill 2013 Pacific Islands Forum meeting in is the leader of the People’s National Majuro that in 2014 it would intro- Congress (pnc) Party and was sworn duce a special budget allocation to in as prime minister on 4 August 2012 fund a regional development assistance after a period of political impasse that program. The announcement was saw the deposition of the government followed by O’Neill’s proclamation of Sir Michael Somare, the country’s of “ongoing support to the Govern- founding prime minister, who had ment of Marshall Islands, with a us$1 enjoyed the prodigious feat of almost million grant to assist with Forum ten years in power. costs” and to assist with droughts and After the 2012 election, the flooding that affected the atoll nation O’Neill government made a num- (Maclellan 2013). ber of significant domestic invest- Noting that Papua New Guinea had ments and regional commitments, provided assistance to Sāmoa after ­exhibiting Papua New Guinea’s Cyclone Evan in 2012, O’Neill also clout as the rising regional power. As announced the allocation of k5 million Papua New Guinea expects to host each to Tuvalu and Tonga for pro- the Pacific Games in July 2015 and grams in climate change assistance and the Asia Pacific Economic Coopera- cyclone relief, respectively. (In 2014, tion (apec) meeting of world lead- one PNG kina [k] averaged us$.38.) ers in 2018, the government looked In addition to these direct grants, toward China’s construction industry, Papua New Guinea was also support- awarding a bulk of the construction ing smaller Pacific nations through contracts to major Chinese compa- regional agreements such as the Parties nies to fulfill its endeavor of hav- to the Nauru Agreement on regional ing the necessary infrastructure in fisheries (Maclellan 2013). place to cater for these major events. In May, Exxon Mobil PNG Ltd China’s ­investment in the coun- sent the first shipment of 80,000 try has expanded exponentially; in tonnes of liquefied natural gas (lng) 2014, almost 80 percent of China’s to Japan. Prime Minister O’Neill EximBank loan and project financ- stated that Papua New Guinea has ing component in the Pacific region been elevated to the exclusive club of was dedicated to Papua New Guinea nations that produce and export lng. (Middleton 2014). This goes to show The economic growth of the project the country’s economic ­prominence resulted in the employment and train- among Pacific Island nations, owing ing of thousands of locals, more than 520 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) k10 billion spent on the project, and Sweep (itfs), which was established hundreds of millions of kina invested by the National Executive Council in infrastructure and community in 2011, became one of the most programs. It was expected that the controversial issues of the year. The benefits would flow to landown- itfs investigation looked into a letter ers through the payment of royalties signed by the prime minister autho- (O’Neill 2014; The National, 15 May rizing a payment of k71.8 million to 2014). lawyer Paul Paraka’s firm. The prime Although the first lng shipment minister, however, claimed that the marked a milestone for Papua New signature on the letter authorizing the Guinea, the government acknowledged payment was a forgery. In late 2013, that the country would not see actual the principal of the law firm had been profits from lng export immediately, charged with eighteen counts of alleg- but rather in the next few years. As edly receiving a$30 million (us$29 revenue trickles in, it is crucial that million) in fraudulent payments from the government not lose sight of the the PNG government (Radio value of the PNG Sovereign Wealth 2013). Fund initiated by the last government. In June 2014, police attempted to The organic law establishing this arrest Prime Minister O’Neill after fund “was designed to ensure that all the Investigation Task Force Sweep ­government revenues from minerals received the findings of an analysis and petroleum passed through a stabi- of the prime minister’s signature lisation fund prior to flowing through by a Sydney forensic analysis com- to the National Budget in accordance pany, confirming that the signature with a specified formula, and that was O’Neill’s (Cochrane 2014). The PNG lng dividends accruing to the attempted arrest of the prime minister PNG Government would be paid spiraled into a flurry of court injunc- into a development fund for PNG’s tions challenging the process by which economic and social development” the referral was made and questioning (Osborne 2014). the impartiality of the police fraud Among the many issues that squad, labeling the move as “politi- haunted the government were the cally motivated”; this became the prime minister’s arrest warrant as a catchphrase used by other members result of a letter supposedly signed of Parliament who were also referred by him authorizing illegal payments to the Ombudsman Commission or to one of the biggest PNG law firms, accused of other instances of alleged Paul Paraka Lawyers, and O’Neill’s misconduct. signing of a k3 billion Union Bank of The prime minister was served Switzerland (ubs) loan purportedly a warrant of arrest and ordered to without following the Public Finance present himself to the Police Fraud Act procedures and seeking the Squad for an interview. Police Com- endorsement of the National Execu- missioner Toami Kulunga at that time tive Council (nec). had recently taken leave, after the The investigation of the prime min- court found him guilty of contempt ister by the Investigation Task Force for having failed to follow a National political reviews • melanesia 521

Court order to reinstate another police to establish whether Police Commis- officer, Geoffrey Vaki, who himself sioner Vaki had standing to challenge was suspended for a disciplinary case the validity of a warrant of arrest (Papua New Guinea Today 2014). obtained by a Police Fraud Squad In a dramatic turn of events, the ­officer for the arrest of the prime National Executive Council replaced minister. The reference stemmed from Kulunga, who had voluntarily stepped a judicial review application filed by down after his conviction, with Vaki to challenge the District Court’s ­Geoffrey Vaki as acting police com- decision that issued the warrant for missioner (The National, 17 July the arrest of O’Neill with regard to 2014). As soon as Vaki was appointed, the letter approving an alleged fraudu- he immediately suspended Assistant lent payment to Paul Paraka Lawyers Police Commissioner for Crimes (PNG Post-Courier, 21 July 2014). Thomas Eluh, who was leading the After the disbanding of the itfs, Police Fraud Squad, along with other the prime minister also announced the members of the squad. This action setting up of a Commission of Inquiry, raised doubts as to the impartiality of to be headed by retired Australian the new police commissioner. When judge Justice Warwick Andrews, to Vaki allegedly failed to enforce the investigate the controversial payments warrant of arrest for Prime Minister to Paraka Lawyers (Islands Business O’Neill, the fraud squad immedi- 2014a). ately instituted contempt proceedings The prime minister’s decision not to against the police commissioner (PNG step down and the itfs disbanding led Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). to growing calls from former Attor- The National Executive Council is ney General Kerenga Kua, Opposi- chaired by the prime minister and his tion Leader Belden Namah, and the cabinet ministers, who met soon after general public for O’Neill to resign and resolved to have the Investigation (Islands Business 2014c). In June, Task Force Sweep disbanded. In July, Prime Minister O’Neill had removed the National Court issued a permanent Kua and replaced him with Minister stop order preventing the nec deci- Ano Pala. The prime minister, in a sion regarding the itfs disbanding. meeting with Kua, explained that he Sam Koim, the itfs chairman, filed an was sacking him because of Kua’s application in court to review two nec unwillingness “to amend section 145 decisions, the first concerning the itfs of the constitution to further restrict disbanding, and a second regarding the rights of members of parliament the establishment of an Interim Office to move a motion of no confidence, to for Anti-Corruption to replace the restrict the nomination of an alterna- Investigation Task Force Sweep (PNG tive candidate as pm to the ruling Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). party, [and] for allegedly instructing The National Court also stayed the solicitor general to act against the the arrest of Prime Minister O’Neill interests of the Prime Minister” (PNG pending the hearing of a constitu- Facts website 2014). tional reference at the Supreme Court. In November, Attorney General The Supreme Court reference was and Minister of Justice Ano Pala 522 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) was charged with having conspired 6,116 ballot papers containing serial with others on 11 July to pervert the numbers at the back with bar codes course of justice in relation to the were found at a public cemetery (PNG Paraka Lawyers legal bills payments Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). case. However, he obtained interim In July, the Office of the Registrar injunctions from the National Court of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu “restraining the police from executing announced that there would be certain that warrant of arrest until his matter­ changes to the Organic Law on Integ- was heard and determined” (PNG rity of Political Parties and Candidates Post-Courier, 14 Nov 2014). that would also see constitutional The Pacific Islands Forum leaders at amendments for the registrar’s office their retreat in July appointed Papua to access bank accounts of individual New Guinea’s Dame Meg Taylor as mps and political parties. The changes the new Forum secretary-general, the will address party and candidates’ first female to be appointed to the accounts, fundraising, and donations position. Dame Taylor was serving as from businesses and other organiza- a senior official at the World Bank’s tions (PNG Post-Courier, 25 July International Financial Corporation. 2014). While this approach may be The Pacific leaders also announced applauded as a way forward in hold- that Papua New Guinea would be ing mps and political parties account- hosting the 46th Pacific Island Leaders able and promoting transparency, Forum in 2015. particularly when it comes to election- Election petitions with the Court related funding, it also raises issues of of Disputed Returns continued to privacy and the constitutionality of haunt many members of Parliament accessing mps’ private bank accounts. (mps) with challenges to 2012 elec- There is to be yet more consultation tion results. This has been one of the on the legal basis of this proposal as negative features of the PNG electoral well as more discussions with other system and has prevented mps from relevant stakeholders, such as banks fully performing their roles in deliver- and financial institutions, on laws ing goods and services. regulating confidentiality and privacy. One of those election petition cases In August 2014, the National is that of the Madang Open electorate. ­Executive Council suspended the In June 2013, the election of Nixon Clerk of Parliament Vela Konivaro Duban was voided by the National over ­serious allegations of finan- Court due to allegations of bribery of cial mismanagement (PNG Post- potential voters. Duban is a member Courier, 8 Aug 2014). It surfaced of Prime Minister O’Neill’s pnc Party that ­Konivaro also was involved and was minister for police (Albaniel- in manipulating and changing the Evara 2013). A by-election was called, content of draft bills that came before and Duban won the election, return- the National Executive Council to be ing to his portfolio as police minister. presented in Parliament. This was con- The challenge was not over, however, sidered a very serious allegation, given as Madang businessman Peter Yama ­Konivaro’s title. filed another petition, arguing that The government takeover of the political reviews • melanesia 523

PNG Sustainable Development Pro- Morauta argued that Prime Minister gram (pngsdp) emerged as another O’Neill was continuing to issue false highlight of the year. In early 2014, statements (PNG Post-Courier, 4 the government discovered that Sept 2014). The pngsdp commenced pngsdp, under the chairmanship of legal action against the state in the former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Singapore courts and also in the Morauta, had removed any represen- International Centre for Settlement of tation by the PNG Government and Investment Disputes. In May 2014, the people of Western Province from the Singapore High Court dismissed its board when it met in Australia the state’s application to appoint a and had also amended its Articles of receiver to take control of pngsdp Association, specifically article 24(b), assets. which provides for the appointment As the country prepares to host of directors by the PNG government major events such as the Pacific (Islands Business 2014b). Games and the apec meeting, national The pngsdp had been set up after law enforcement and security agencies the exit of mining company bhp from have been tasked to improve security the Ok Tedi mine in Western Province. and intelligence capacity to show The main tasks of the pngsdp were that Papua New Guinea is capable of (1) to invest two-thirds of Ok Tedi’s ensuring and having necessary security dividends into a long-term fund to arrangements in place for these events. be available to the people of Western The country’s response to such reports Province after the closure of the mine is crucial to show that its national and (2) to spend the other one-third agencies are able to act swiftly to on development projects throughout address any terrorist concerns in the Papua New Guinea (Howes 2013). country. When the action taken by pngsdp In September, in response to a to allegedly remove PNG representa- headline article in the local newspaper,­ tion from its board was discovered, the PNG Post-Courier, the prime the government unanimously passed minister ordered national agencies legislation in Parliament to give Papua to investigate alleged international New Guinea ownership of the coun- terrorist links in the country. This try’s largest company, Ok Tedi Mining followed media reports of a Middle Ltd, and control over pngsdp as the Eastern family with alleged ties to second-largest development organi- terrorists that has invested in Papua zation. This also led to the sacking New Guinea over the past ten years. of Chairman Morauta. The PNG The report stated that at least three shares are in a trust fund registered in companies with Australia-based Singapore as a public company, and principals had family members who the government’s taking ownership of were connected with terrorist activities them did not go without a challenge (PNG Post-Courier, 4 Sept 2014). A from pngsdp, which took action in task force led by the National Intel- the Singapore Supreme Court against ligence Organisation was set up to the state for what it claimed was a lead the investigations. The task force continuing breach of court rules. was given thirty days to conduct the 524 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) investigation, take appropriate action constitution in that the Parliament, to dismantle the alleged terrorist which authorizes such loans, did not network, and report on the outcome do so in this case through the annual of actions taken (PNG Post-Courier, ­budget process. It was believed that 12 Sept 2014). the proceeds from the lng project Also in September, the National were mortgaged toward repaying the Executive Council approved the loan and that the country will not expenditure of a massive k2 billion benefit from the project until years over the next ten years for a complete after the loan has been repaid (Yalo overhaul of the police force’s opera- 2014). However, the prime minister tional activities. A committee will maintains that there was nothing comprise top police hierarchy to look improper in obtaining the loan and at all police needs and priorities (PNG the government had complied with all Post-Courier, 4 Sept 2014). relevant laws. He also claimed that the As the government continues with purchase of shares would benefit the major infrastructural developments nation ­(Walton 2014). in the capital, , it also In August, Public Prosecutor endeavors to connect the capital to Pondros Kaluwin received the refer- other provinces by road. The road ral of Prime Minister O’Neill from network among most provinces is the Ombudsman Commission to still nonexistent. However, the gov­ determine whether there was suffi­ ernment’s proposed highway to con- cient, credible, and cogent evidence nect the highlands provinces to Port to ask the chief justice to appoint Moresby and the Papuan region was a Leadership Tribunal. The refer- met with stiff resistance from political­ ral was for alleged misconduct in leaders, especially from the latter office (PNG Post-Courier, 14 Aug region. This has somewhat rekindled 2014). The subject of the referral secessionist sentiments in the Papua relates to ­allegations that (1) the Besena movement of the 1970s by prime minister had failed to comply astute Papua secessionist leader and with adminis­trative and financial former mp Dame Josephine Abaijah processes, ­including normal overseas (PNG Post-Courier, 3 Nov 2014). borrowing processes in the approval In another controversy facing of the ubs k3 billion loan; (2) the Prime Minister O’Neill, the gov- prime minister had sacked former ernment obtained a loan of k3 bil- Minister for ­Treasury Don Polye, lion from the global finance service accusing the ­minister in the media company Union Bank of Switzerland of causing instability in the govern- (ubs) to buy shares in the company ment, when the actual reason was Oil Search Ltd. Commentators say Polye’s refusal to sign the ubs loan that not only is the loan economically deal, which the prime minister had unwise but the manner in which the unilaterally approved on 6 March loan was obtained also breached the 2014; and (3) the prime minister had relevant laws of the country. It was made a ­misleading ­statement on local argued that the process of obtaining television station emtv that he had the loan breached section 209 of the obtained advice from state ­agencies political reviews • melanesia 525 including Bank of Papua New Guinea victed corrupt public official since on the ubs loan to purchase Oil PNG independence. Search shares, which was contrary to In December, Kandep mp Don the evidence received (PNG Post-­ Polye became the new Opposition Courier, 14 Aug 2014). leader when the six-member Opposi- The Ombudsman Commission tion caucus called a meeting without investigated the prime minister’s the former leader, Vanimo-Green mp alleged misconduct in office, which Belden Namah. Namah disputed the arose from his failure to uphold his election of Polye by Opposition caucus duties and responsibilities of office members; however, Polye’s election as required under section 27 of was recognized by Speaker of Parlia- the Constitution and the Organic ment Theo Zurenuoc (PNG Post- Law on Duties and Responsibili- Courier 2014). ties of ­Leadership. The Ombudsman The Manus Island Regional Pro- ­Commission was satisfied that there cessing Centre, which was reopened was a prima facie case and conse- in 2012, continues to raise the ire of quently made the referral to Public human rights groups against Austra- Prosecutor Kaluwin. lia’s transfer of irregular maritime Among the politicians charged arrivals (or “boat people”) to Manus for misappropriation was Komo- Island in Papua New Guinea. The Magarima mp Francis Potape. The Australian government aims to com- National Court found Potape has a bat people smuggling by seeking PNG case to answer in relation to alleged support in this regional approach. On misappropriation of k60,000 (PNG 19 July 2013, the Australian and PNG Post-Courier, 14 Aug 2014). In Octo- governments entered into a Regional ber, the National Court found Potape Resettlement Agreement, which states guilty of misusing k330,000 in public that Australia would transfer asylum funds, of which k60,000 was awarded seekers who have arrived by boat to to himself as an allowance. He was Papua New Guinea for processing of sentenced to thirty months in prison their asylum claims, and that Papua (The National 2014). New Guinea, not Australia, would In October, Gulf Province Gov- settle, on a permanent basis, those ernor Havila Kavo was also found asylum seekers who are determined guilty of misusing k130,000 from a to be refugees (PNG icsa 2013). On trust account belonging to the people 6 August 2013, the PNG and Aus- of Kikori district for infrastructure, tralian governments entered into a and he was sentenced to three years’ new memorandum of understanding, imprisonment (Mathias 2014). which supports the resettlement agree- Earlier in April the National Court ment and supersedes the memoran- had sentenced former Finance Minis- dum of understanding of 8 September ter and mp Paul Tiensten to nine years 2012 (mou 2013). with hard labor for misappropriat- The operations of the Manus ing k10 million in public funds. His Regional Processing Centre and the ­sentence was the most severe penalty Regional Resettlement Agreement any PNG Court has given to a con- policy brought the Australian immi- 526 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) gration policy on offshore processing and national purse will be critical to centers to a low point and became a ensure that these dividends translate focus of controversy for the Australian into tangible economic outcomes, not and PNG governments on the treat- only changing the infrastructural face ment of asylum seekers after a riot at of Port Moresby but, most important, the processing center in February 2014 raising living standards and improving led to the death of Iranian asylum the livelihoods of those in rural areas seeker Reza Barati, allegedly caused by giving them the opportunity to by security personnel working at the participate in the country’s economic center (The Guardian 2015). Austra- development. lian and PNG authorities commenced solomon kantha separate investigations into the death of Barati and have identified the The views expressed in this review alleged perpetrators, but they have yet are those of the author and do not to be prosecuted. represent those of his employer, the While the O’Neill government PNG Immigration and Citizenship deserved praise for a number of Service Authority. important milestones in terms of meeting the government’s prioritized ­policies and development plans and References the government’s commitment to investment and economic growth, Albaniel-Evara, Rosalyn. 2013. PNG there continue to be significant Police Minister Duban Loses Election ­challenges to ensuring that major deci- ­Petition. PNG Post-Courier, 4 June. ­Available via Pacific Islands Report: sions affecting the country are made http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/ within defined procedures, policies, 2013/June/06-05-09.htm [accessed and the rule of law. 16 Feb 2015] The fight against corruption is yet to be tangibly seen, when the dis­ Cochrane, Liam. 2014. PNG Prime ­Minister Peter O’Neill Instructs His banding of the team and delay itfs Lawyers to Withdraw All Appeals over in the establishment of institutions His Arrest Warrant. abc news, last such as the Office of Anti-Corrup- updated 8 July 2014. http://www.abc.net tion continue­ to engender a loss of .au/news/2014-07-07/png-legal-monday/ ­confidence in the government in 5579210 [accessed 16 Feb 2015] ­tackling corruption. There remain The Guardian. 2015. Links to several many unresolved cases involving the Guardian news reports regarding Reza prime minister, ministers of govern- Barati from February 2014–February ment, and members of Parliament, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/ with most of the cases often hampered australia-news/reza-barati [accessed by court processes. 16 Feb 2015] As Papua New Guinea enters a Howes, Stephen. 2013. The Remarkable period of economic boom from its Story of the Nationalization of PNG’s mineral resources and enjoys the Largest Mine and Its Second Largest proceeds from the lng project, the Development Partner, All in One Day. management of the country’s revenue DevPolicyBlog, 24 September. http:// political reviews • melanesia 527 devpolicy.org/ok-tedi-sdp-20130924/ Government Department of Foreign [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Affairs and Trade website: http://www .dfat.gov.au/geo/papua-new-guinea/Pages/ Islands Business. 2014a. PNG Temporary memorandum-of-understanding-between Anti-Corruption Office Set Up. 26 June. -the-government-of-the-independent-state http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/ -of-papua-new-guinea-and-the-government papua-new-guinea/5651/png-temporary -of-austr.aspx [accessed Feb ] -anti-corruption-office-set-up/ [accessed 16 2015 21 March 2015] The National. Daily. Port Moresby. http://www.thenational.com.pg ———. 2014b. pngsdp Board Cuts Ties with Government. 30 April. http://www The National. 2014. PNG mp Found .islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new Guilty of Misusing Public Funds. -guinea/5260/pngsdp-board-cuts-ties-with 17 October. Available via Pacific Islands -government/ [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Report: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/ pireport/2014/October/10-17-19.htm ———. 2014b. Thousands Want PNG [accessed 16 Feb 2015] pm to Step Aside, Police Minister Vows to Take Demands to Govt. 25 June. O’Neill, Peter. 2014. Address by Prime http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m Minister Peter O’Neill, PNG lng Project =read&o=76955599953a9f4e6aaf9091 Celebration Dinner, Port Moresby, 15 daa481 [accessed 2 July 2015] August. http://www.pm.gov.pg/index.php/ news-centre/media-releases/33-address-by Maclellan, Nic. 2013. PNG Rolls Out -pm-o-neill-at-the-png-lng-project-dinner Aid Program for Pacific. Islands Business, [accessed 27 March 2015] 6 September. http://www.islandsbusiness .com/news/44th-pacific-islands-forum/ Osborne, David. 2014. What Has Hap- 2779/png-rolls-out-aid-program-for pened to Papua New Guinea’s Sovereign -pacific/ [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Wealth Fund? DevPolicyBlog, 28 October. http://devpolicy.org/what-has-happened-to Mathias, Adrian. 2014. Gulf Governor -papua-new-guineas-sovereign-wealth-fund Found Guilty of Misusing PNG lng Trust -20141028/ [accessed 21 March 2015] Fund. PNG Post-Courier, 25 September. Available via Pacific Islands Report: Papua New Guinea Today. 2014. PNG http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/ Police Commissioner Toami Kulunga Faces 2014/September/09-25-02.htm [accessed Imprisonment with Hard Labour. Papua 16 Feb 2015] New Guinea Today, 3 June. Posted on PNG Facts website: http://news.pngfacts Middleton, Alison. 2014. China Exim .com/ / /png-police-commisioner Bank Eyes Continued PNG Investment. 2014 06 -toami-kulunga.html [accessed 16 Feb PNG Industry News, 21 November. http:// ] www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp 2015 ?storyid=826939219 [accessed 16 Feb PNG Facts website. 2014. Kua: Calls 2015] On Prime Minister O’Neill to Resign. PNG Facts: The Niuguini Voice, 20 June. mou, Memorandum of Understanding. http://www.pngfacts.com/-news/kua-calls 2013. Memorandum of Understanding -on-prime-minister-oneill-to-resign between the Government of the Indepen- [accessed Feb ] dent State of Papua New Guinea and the 16 2015 Government of Australia, relating to the PNG icsa, Papua New Guinea Immigra- transfer to, and assessment and settlement tion and Citizenship Service Authority. in, Papua New Guinea of certain persons, 2013. Regional Resettlement Arrangement. and related issues. 6 August. Australian http://www.immigration.gov.pg/manus 528 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

-rpc/81-regional-resettlement-arrangement mon Islands Police Force (rsipf). It .html [accessed 16 Feb 2015] was also an election after civil society PNG Post-Courier. Daily. Port Moresby. ­organizations aired frustrations with http://www.postcourier.com.pg a Parliament that had legitimated the channeling of state resources into the PNG Post-Courier. 2014. Polye Appointed hands of legislators who were alleg- New PNG Opposition Leader. 3 Decem- ber. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/ edly not very prudent in their decision pireport/2014/December/12-03-13.htm making. Moreover, the election was [accessed 16 Feb 2015] the first to be conducted after new legislation on political parties’ integ- Radio Australia. 2013. Papua New Guinea rity was passed and implemented, Lawyer Paul Paraka Charged over $30 Million in Fraudulent Payments. 24 Octo- and it offers an opportunity to assess ber. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/ the impacts and effectiveness of that international/2013-10-24/papua-new legislation. The election also offers -guinea-lawyer-paul-paraka-charged-over the chance to comment on political -30-million-in-fraudulent-payments/ stability and gender equality ideals in 1209478 [accessed 16 Feb 2015] the country. Finally, the review should Walton, Grant. 2014. PNG Anti-Corrup­ enable us to assess what the future tion Agencies Show Their Teeth. DevPoli- holds for the newly elected Demo- cyBlog, 4 April. http://devpolicy.org/png cratic Coalition for Change (dcc) -anti-corruption-agencies-show-their-teeth Government. -20140404/ [accessed 21 March 2015] I highlighted in the conclusion to Yalo, Nemo. 2014. Commentary: the 2013 Solomon Islands review that Actions of a Dictatorial Government. there was anxiety and uncertainty The National, 15 May. over what 2014 had in store for the country (Nanau 2014). Certain events made 2014 seem like business as usual. Throughout the year, tertiary Solomon Islands students from regional universities Solomon Islands sailed through and local institutions continued to another turbulent and attention-grab- suffer from delayed allowances and bing year in 2014. Natural disasters stipends. At the University of the struck the country, arson and looting South Pacific and other Fiji-based marred efforts to national unity, and a tertiary institutions, students contin- new government was formed. Notable ued to be distressed by serious delays events on which this review focuses in their monthly stipends throughout are those leading up to and following the year (ssn 2014e). The same can be the national general election. Indeed, said for those studying in Papua New this was a critical general election for Guinea’s tertiary institutions as well as a variety of reasons. It was the first in the country’s own local university, election after the Regional Assistance the Solomon Islands National Uni- Mission to Solomon Islands (ramsi) versity (ssn 2014d). These students’ announced the commencement of its concerns highlight the fact that the transition and gradual handover of government failed to work within policing control to the Royal Solo- budgetary provisions earmarked for