PNG’s paradox

Papua New Guinea

PNG’s paradox in fortunes

WITH a fortune in natural resources, Papua New Guinea leads the region in growth. But along with wealth comes a plague of less fortunate ailments. In politics, the lure of big business has seen Ted Diro fall from grace and the exposure more recently of the Loans Affair. In mining, the forecast for vast fortunes generated a violent push for a bigger share of the action for land owners in Bougainville in 1989, and again at Mt Kare last month. In agriculture, farmers are turning to more profitable cannabis cultivation for export. Countries such as Australia are redefining their relations with PNG (see page 23) and, with elections scheduled for this year, perceptions of PNG's paradoxes in fortunes could influence the path which the country takes itself.

Picture: Herald & Weekly Time Strife at the mines: a soldier on helicopter patrol over Bougainville in 1989. Last month CRA had trouble at Mt Kare (see page 9).