Giving a voice to the informal economy is vital to PNG

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

INFORMAL economy is defined as that part of an economy that is not taxed, monitored by government or included in gross national product (GNP).

Informal activities occur outside the bureaucracy and may transgress its rules. They may avoid certain obligations but also forgo some of the benefits of conformity with the requirements of bureaucracy.

The informal economy plays a critical role in income and employment generation and mitigating poverty in developing economies. Without the informal economy, it is likely that socio-economic pressures will drive many people to destitution.

Despite the contribution of informal and subsistence agriculture to the PNG economy by way of providing employment and income to almost 85% of the population, especially women, very little has been done to promote it.

A survey that looked at the PNG informal economy found that, in addition to agriculture’s dominance, 14% of respondents were in production and manufacturing while 4% were in personal services.

Where activities involved small-scale trading, most people were selling the same things (local produce, betel nut, cigarettes, second hand clothes, bilums, handicrafts) and competition was very intense, seriously affecting already meagre incomes. The informal economy is continuously beset by these and other problems that hinder its development and growth.

The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) is concerned that there is insufficient information available to guide government policy action to support this important part of the economy.

The National Informal Economy Policy 2011-2015 was designed to offer concrete guidelines for achieving the aspirations of the Informal Sector Act.  It was the product of wide and thorough consultation at all three levels of government and with private sector, NGOs, civil society organisations and development partners.
It was informed by studies on the PNG informal sector as well as experience from abroad. A host of activities have been identified and captured in the policy and currently CIMC is developing an implementation plan.

The idea of creating a “voice” for the informal economy would enhance the influence of interest groups involved in and affected by it. The “voice” mechanism would ensure that issues such as consumer protection were taken into account.

Underpinning this planning activity, though, is the fact that the PNG informal economy is negatively perceived by both government and public. Coupled with this, people do not really understand what the informal economy is. Most have a narrow perception centered around the notion that informal economy is mainly to do with the sale of betel nut and cigarettes.

The ‘2008 Feeding Port Moresby’ study, revealed that nearly 90% of fresh food supplied to the city each year is sourced almost entirely from the local informal economy.  Despite such figures, a survey commissioned by the CIMC found that the informal economy has been long neglected: 95% of respondents said they had never received any form of assistance.

The rapid growth of the informal economy in PNG has been driven by three economic factors including reductions in statutory minimum wages, the floating of the kina and the doubling of the population to seven million people over 30 years. That the informal economy has been able to sustain the needs of the majority of Papua New Guineans without any form of assistance from government is a great achievement. 

Giving voice to informal economy participants is very important for a country like PNG. It can be likened to achieving much of what the Constitution seeks in “development [taking] place primarily through the use of Papua New Guinean forms of social and political organisation”.

The establishment of a “voice” mechanism, perhaps modeled upon the Chamber of Commerce concept, is vital as most of vendors see the importance of being organised to get assistance from the government, sharing information with members and protecting members’ rights.

In Cambodia the establishment of Micro Vendors Association led to a more responsible informal economy. In Zimbabwe the establishment of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association resulted in many benefits for informal economy workers.

There is a danger that a mechanism such as a Chamber would come to be dominated by big operators whose interests conflict with those of small operators. This is something that will require consistent feedback from members. It is an area requiring further research to ensure that the Chamber is fair and equitable.

A recent National Urbanisation Forum recommended that the Office of the Urbanisation be upgraded to a department to give more prominence to urbanisation in PNG. Yet the practical challenge is huge with a limited amount of alienated land available for urban development and increasing demand from foreign investors.

Given the governments’ priority to drive the PNG economy through stimulating growth in the formal sector, the informal economy may be pushed further and further away from the planning process.

This is where the proposed Chamber of Informal Economy would try to ensure that the interests of the informal economy were explicitly captured in planning. Establishing a voice will bridge the communication gap and provide a medium for informal economy participants to be heard and given adequate support and attention.

In addition, the informal economy will become more a partner rather than a competitor with the formal sector.

In light of PNG’s massive resources projects, it is even more important for government to heed the 85% of its population in the informal economy. The spillover effects from external investment - rising cost of living, lifestyle changes, escalating migration of people to urban areas - may make most Papua New Guineans merely spectators in their own country.

A “voice” mechanism, representing the bulk of the low income population, will ensure that more effort is put into making the informal economy a “distributional focal point” so revenue from the mineral sector is diffused more equitably to the majority of the people. 

Stakeholders such as town planners, city authorities, business councils and formal sector Chambers of Commerce would be invited to be part of this new Chamber of Informal Economy.

With its establishment, information relating to the vendors will be captured in a database to facilitate estimates of income and levels of activity and support the sector's claims for political attention.

Without such data providing an evidential base, it may be difficult for the Chamber to advocate changes to policy or legislation.

In the longer term, it is envisaged that the informal economy’s voice mechanism will be built into the governance structure at ward and local government levels and that informal economic activities will link with the formal sector of the economy. In this way, informal economy participants can play an active role in resolving issues which affect them.

So the overall objective of the proposed Chamber of Informal Economy will be to give a “voice” to the informal economy for the sake of dialogue and consultation with key stakeholders and by this means deal systematically with the problems, issues and challenges affecting informal economy participants.

Tackling the urbanisation problem is central to a livable city

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

FOR anyone following the development of Gordons Market over the years, it may seem as if the problems arising in and around it are never ending.

Gordons Market was at one time the best managed and well-kept in Papua New Guinea. The city council was able to enforce laws and regulations effectively, unlike today when rampant lawlessness has significantly tarnished its reputation.

Growing up in Port Moresby, I have many fond memories of the once glorious market.

The sight of pigeons dashing across the sky or mooching along the walkways or the carpark, in those days free for shoppers to use unlike today where the space has been taken over by illicit activities such as gambling.

The pigeons in those days belonged to the city council, and the public was prohibited from touching or hurting them. As kids we were tempted to touch them but my parents discouraged me.

The environment inside the market was friendly with a market inspector on the lookout for litter bugs. Petty crime like pickpocketing was unheard of.

Unfortunately nowadays the market is infested with criminals and drunkards who have no regard for the rule of law. The police stage raids every now and then but the status quo remains.

I have been frequenting Gordons Market especially in the mornings as our bus pick-up zone is just opposite Gordons Police Station.

Every time I hurried towards the pick-up zone, I had to swerve and nudge my way through a sea of street vendors screaming at the top of their voices to convince me to buy their items.

Most of the vendors are youths who are good at preying on unsuspecting passer-by. The number of these vendors is increasing by the day, so much so I get a feeling that the government will have to come up with measures to prevent people migrating into cities from the villages.

Failure to do that may mean we could lose important civic infrastructure such as the Gordons Market to thugs and drunkards. The signs are already there and the situation does not look like easing anytime soon.

Most of these vendors don’t appear genuine, in fact they are opportunists. These are the very people whose inhumane behaviour has led to the police dishing out unfair treatment on innocent mothers and fathers who are trying their best to sell a few things to meet their family’s needs.

For the sake of our law abiding citizens trying to make an honest living, we have to regain control of Gordons Market and return it to its former glory.

To this end it is commendable to note that National Capital District Commission in partnership with UN Women is planning to modernise Gordons Market under the Safe Cities Market Program.

Even more encouraging are initiatives spearheaded by leaders like Justin Tkatchenko who recently renovated the old Koki and Sabama Markets.

Yet the issue of space is still a problem and vendors can be seen selling outside the market gates or peddling along the streets of Port Moresby. It is clear that the government will have to confront the challenging and sensitive issue of migration and urbanisation.

Already there have been suggestions that the government should enforce the Vagrancy Act. Others see the government’s National Identification Project as key to monitoring the movement of people.

People like me believe that formalising land tenure in settlements and creating a central property registry will address at least some problems of urbanisation, law and order and unemployment by converting property into assets that can be used to access loans or to build trade stores through the Stret Pasin Stoa scheme.

Whatever the approach the government decides to take, it has to make sure it addresses the uncontrolled flow of people from rural areas into the urban centres like Port Moresby.

Only then will we be able to regain public utilities that have been lost to the uncompromising nature of lawlessness that is plaguing public places like Gordons Market. 

Common tap diplomacy: Addressing Port Moresby’s water woes

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

LACK of access to water in Port Moresby is the result of a number of factors chief amongst which is the rapid rural urban drift that has led to a population explosion.

City planning has dragged behind population growth putting enormous pressure on existing infrastructure.

Along with illegal squatter settlements, the city’s water woes are a clear examples of these capacity constraints.

There are communities such as Erima that have not been able to access water on a consistent basis for many years. Eda Ranu, the water company responsible for supplying water in Port Moresby, blames illegal water connections for this state of affairs.

Instead of completely disconnecting the flow of water into these settlements, Eda Ranu  - as a responsible citizen - has adopted what I term “common tap diplomacy”.

This entails the setting up of taps at strategic points where surrounding communities can access water at certain times.

The community does not pay for this; perhaps the National Capital District Commission subsidises the cost. Or maybe it’s provided as cross-subsidies from well-to-do taxpayers or as part of Eda Ranu’s community service obligation.

Regardless, it is the right of every human being to have access to clean, treated and healthy water. On that note both Eda Ranu and NCDC have to be commended for providing water to the disadvantaged communities.

However, is common tap diplomacy the way to go in addressing the city’s water woes? Living in Port Moresby, by now all of us should realise that water is no longer a free good but its availability has to be paid for.

Recently, local political leaders prioritised the provision of water as one of their key policies. Justin Tchatencko and Labi Amaiu have come good with their promise, making payments to Eda Ranu to re-connect water in communities within their respective electorates.

They have boldly announced that water will be supplied without interruption and there is even hope that water will run into houses where pipes are still in existence.

Yet it looks certain that common tap diplomacy will still be the guiding principle in delivering water to communities.

It is easy to say that all houses in the settlements should be connected with their own water meter so they are responsible for their water use. However, lacking essential data such as section and allotment numbers, it is very difficult to monitor and track water usage.

Formal property titles would allow entities like Eda Ranu to track payment for the use of water and subsequently reduce waste.

Common tap diplomacy has a place in most PNG urban societies characterised by low incomes and high unemployment but over time it will have to be replaced with the installation of individual water meters.

Providing water through common taps can work only if every individual or family within a community takes equal responsibility for paying their dues.

However, in most settlements, there is a high possibility that the number of rate payers are outnumbered by non-rate payers. Unfortunately, when it comes to water, it is often the case where the majority takes advantage of the few honest rate payers.

Also when people responsible for collecting rents from the community to pay Eda Ranu misuse the money, the community is discouraged from paying.

Common tap diplomacy can only work if there is community commitment to take ownership of the service. For instance, if the youths in a particular community vandalise pipes and common taps, then the community needs to act responsibly by handing the culprits to the police or demanding some form of restitution from their families.

If leaders charged with collecting rents steal the money, they should be referred to the police or replaced with someone who is more competent and transparent.

Failure to act upon such problems usually leads to further problems and eventually the community at large is unfairly penalised.

At this juncture, all forms of negotiation and diplomacy are of no use so what can the government do?

The only possibility is to take a hardline approach to bring order into communities and the city as a whole.

In this modern dystopia, a thousand steps for water

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

AS dawn approaches the morning, the women and girls head out in search of water to beat the rush hour.

One by one they go to the oasis carrying empty bags full of water containers. It is a tough life and, while the kings of men are still fast asleep, the subjugated of our society trudge on.

When the privileged ease from their slumber to start their day, the unfortunates have already made a mile of progress. By the day’s end, their female body is bruised, the spirit battered but the dream of a brighter future remains unchanged.

As the sun’s rays chase the darkness away and the shadows disappear, the real face of struggle can be visibly seen conglomerating at the sanctuary of the water pipe.

As far as the eye can see, desperados line the side of the road, women, now joined by men and children. It’s another day and another journey in the search for fresh water.

Port Moresby is a city where modernity has no respect for human rights. In the name of development, dreams are lost in the rubble.

Development brought broken pipes and dusty roads into most people’s lives while the young became pretenders, wannabes who have declared war on moral values and principles.

Respect and admiration for elders is no longer a norm as disobedience and gluttony have taken hold. While these young people are caught up in the euphoria of modernity, their folks are sweating and shedding tears of suffering to make ends meet. What a sad situation.

The light of hope is dimming, no more than specks of light flickering in the midst of a universe of doubt and confusion. There is no silver lining in the struggle for water. These poor people can only watch helplessly as the conmen and irresponsible flourish.

So they tramp to the common taps, slaves to the deficit of their own country. And, as they hear of destruction elsewhere, confusion reigns. They fear that soon they will join the mass exodus of displaced and hopeless city dwellers with no place to call home. They fear that their future is to drown in the same tears of sorrow.

Look at them, deprived of comfort, support and, increasingly, sanity. For years they have been on this journey in the hellhole of society in the unremitting search for water. Water, the well-spring of life and civilisation.

When dusk approaches, the hordes reappear like bees in search of the hive. Their number is more plentiful than in the morning as those who have finished the day’s work join them.

More men now in the slow march to the pipe. Like a colony of ants they scurry to the goal. Old and young battle the heat to quench their thirst, cool off or fetch water to be used for the household.

In a place abandoned by negligence and broken promises, every drop of water counts. The only time water becomes bountiful is when it rains and the settlement comes alive. It is the only time they are relieved from the daily burden of looking for water.

The journey to the spring of life seems to have no end. For some it’s a walk that they take to find God and change the direction of their future. For many it’s an intergenerational journey marking the continuing struggle.

The young kids grow up knowing they must bear some of the load. For few hours each day these kids see the suffering and hardship and they too can see no hope. Laughter and joy replaced by anguish and despair.

They have begun their thousand steps to water. And, like the generation before, they hope water is on its way and that soon the end of their hardship will arrive. 

Long walk for water: the modernisation of Port Moresby

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

IT is overwhelming when one tries to comprehend the pace of development taking place in Port Moresby.

A drive around the city gives a clear impression of the huge level of investment the national government is putting into the Papua New Guinea capital in the hope of transforming it into one of the best cities in the Pacific.

The amount of money spent so far has already reached the billon kina mark. The much talked about flyover at Erima is alone costing K800 million.

This is just one of the many huge impact projects that the government through the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) is embarking on.

Initially the hype around the city was greatly optimistic as residents were hopeful of the positives that would come out of the planned developments.
However, recent cases of forced eviction have brought anxiety and confusion into the minds of residents. Many people are now beginning to wonder what the future holds for them.

It is clear that, while these developments are long overdue, they are bringing many problems, the magnitude of which is greater because the city has continuously suffered from poor planning since independence.

The city is now in the middle of a major housing crisis with settlements outpacing formal development and occupying most of the state owned land. Sudden injections in the form of big developments have resulted in many of these settlers being made homeless.

There are countless public servants and working class people who are resorting to settlements due to being priced out of the rental market.

Even public servants with genuine and clear land titles do not have access to basic services such as water and electricity.

Two years ago my family and I moved to Erima after I managed to secure a mortgage over a house there. Although the house was a decent high post three-bedroom place, there was no water running even though we had a bathroom and toilet.

Nevertheless, faced with limited opportunities, we had no choice but to move in and do the best we could. Regardless of the huge costs we would have to bear, we saw this as God’s blessing.

To me it was a one in a million chance for me to get a house with a state title at a bargain price. After we moved in we were told by our neighbours that the only means of accessing water was to walk to the main road and fetch it from common taps.

But we found that water flows through the taps only at certain times of the day, 6-9 in the morning, 12-1 in the afternoon and 6-9 in the evening. There is no exception and mothers, children, fathers, youths, the elderly, employed and unemployed carry bucketloads of water day in and day out from the roadside taps to their houses.

For the few living near the road, distance is not a problem. However the majority have to negotiate the heat of the sun and oncoming vehicles when heading home.

Already a couple of accidents have occurred. One involved a child who, while waiting for his mother, was hit by an oncoming vehicle. Fortunately quick action by the community resulted in the child being rushed to the hospital to receive treatment.

I often wonder what the travelling public think of us when they see people struggling to find water in the heart of the city.

The sight of mothers, fathers and children armed with water containers and convoying it back to their homes is surely a sight that no right thinking government would want to entertain.

Port Moresby as the capital city of Papua New Guinea should portray an image of a city that is setting a benchmark in terms of development.

But this scenario makes me realise that this government does not care for its 
people and I now to understand the hopelessness that I see in the eyes of the people who live here.

This problem is not confined to Erima, of course, but is widespread and includes 8 Mile, 9 Mile, ATS and other parts of the city.

Given that these areas are home to the majority of city residents one can imagine the magnitude and complexity of the problem.

A couple of days after we moved in, I was informed by neighbours that water had not been a problem until recently when the Eda Ranu (Our Water) utility decided to reduce water pressure due to illegal connections and the ensuing “out of control” water bills.

While I acknowledged Eda Ranu’s move to cut costs, I feel that the State failed me miserably as a land title holder.

I came to the conclusion that nothing would happen in the near future and purchased a 4,500 litre water tank for my family’s use. Given the large size of my family the water runs out quickly and it costs me K330 a month for a water company to refill the tank.

I consider myself lucky but I feel for the majority of people in the community, especially babies, kids and mothers who need water on a regular basis.

Last week I read about NCDC’s plan to inspect houses in the city to make sure residents conform to certain acceptable hygiene and health standards.
I commend the Commission for this initiative, however I see a problem.

Although many ratepayers are willing to pay for garbage collection, the services cannot get to our houses due to poor roads. As a result, I had to dig up the remaining portion of the land at the back of my house to dump the family rubbish.

Other people put rubbish into plastic bags and either burn them or discard them on the side of the road.

There is now a mountain at the back of our house we have to climb to dump our rubbish. The last time I checked, this place was overflowing with rubbish. Oh dear!

I observe the development taking place around Erima. The flyover and Erima junction roundabout currently under construction and people like me who have titles hope they will open up opportunities for Erima to become an attractive suburb.

However, for the majority of landless settlers, these developments are bringing anxiety and confusion given that eviction follows whenever there is development in our city.

The Paga Hill and the Erima Junction incidents show us what the government can do in pursuit of development.

We have read and seen on TV what the government has in store for settlers in 8 Mile, 9 Mile and Burns Peak but so far there has been nothing said about Erima.
In the information vacuum, residents are bombarded with so much speculation and rumour but I remain skeptical until I get some sort of clarification from the horse’s mouth.

As a citizen born and raised in Port Moresby, I have high hopes for the city and I am proud of the development that is taking place. To me it is a breath of fresh air after so many years of stagnation.

However, being a family man, I worry about the future of my community.
Every day as I walk around Port Moresby or pass across the new Erima flyover I ask myself, “Modernisation at whose expense?” I guess only time will tell.

Life in the settlement: The long wait for water

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

IN the distance their shadows can be seen stretched along the pavement by the rising sun as they sat surrounded by an army of water containers.

Although the morning coolness is still in the air, sweat can be seen around their eyebrows. Each takes turns to fill their containers while a group of patiently waiting women starts a conversation.
Other women with containers slung in both hands stroll towards the water tap. Their kids are still fast asleep while their husbands are out and about.

Anyway, the men prefer not to carry the water containers, believing it’s a task best left to their wives and daughters.
It is unusual to find men walking alongside their wives to and from the water tap, let alone standing around chatting.

In our own family’s search for water, I make it my business to help as much as possible. I am determined to show the men in my community that it is wrong to display discriminatory attitudes towards their wives and daughters.

If an educated person like me can help my family carry water containers, I see no reason why these men should not to do likewise.

Several months have gone by since the last time our Member of Parliament committed to connect water to our homes. Since the grand announcement we have awoken each day with hopes becoming dimmer.

By now everyone is convinced that the promises mean nothing. For some this is a major disappointment but for others, conned for so long, it is just another of a politician’s many unfulfilled promises.

I joined the struggle for water three years ago when I moved into this community. Since then we have sweated our guts out to build a new life but without much to celebrate.

Every time when I leave the gate of our family’s house, I pray to God to protect them. Whenever I see hardship in my family’s life, I deeply regret bringing my family here. It was a life we did not choose but out of desperation we had to do it.

Although we had no choice, I felt things would be different over time. Yet, deep down, I feel this is God’s way of preparing me and my family for something great and fulfilling.

There are things in life one has no control over and the best we can do is it to make the most of what we have.

This thought has driven me to carry on even when in pain from carrying three containers or trudging back and forth from the house to the water taps.

There have been times when it seemed my family could not take this lifestyle any longer. I sympathise with their views and, in those moments, try my best to reason with them, restraining my frustration because I know they are doing their best to get through the day and they have a right to complain.

I take responsibility for this misery for I brought it upon us in my optimism that this settlement would improve.

But the best I can do now is to comfort them and assure them that somehow the water will be connected, so we just have to be patient.

It has been almost three years now that we have been waiting for the water to be connected. For many people in this community, of course, their wait has been far longer than that. These people have decided to live with the thought that water will never come back.

My father is nearing retirement while my mother is highly susceptible to sickness. Whenever she carries water containers she is prone to fall ill. My wife, fully aware of my mother’s condition, tries her best to help but I can see on her face that her determination is wearing thin.

All around me I see exhaustion, frustration and regret and I have decided that it is time to move on.

Last year a potential buyer for my house pulled out at the very last minute before we closed the deal. That was a major setback for us.

We felt drained after the failed attempt and decided not to sell the house and go on for another year.

This year I have again decided to launch my bid to sell the house and still we wait for the water to be connected. How long this will go on nobody knows.

Formalising squatter settlements to create capital in PNG

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

THERE is growing concern in Papua New Guinea that the increasing size of the informal economy is giving rise to more petty crime such as pickpocketing and other law and order problems.

In Port Moresby, markets such as Gordon and Koki are frequented by pickpockets and drug dealers. It is common to see drunkards roaming the markets armed with a bottle of SP and no sense of care or respect for the rule of law and fellow human beings.

The situations is such that law abiding citizens, especially women, are encouraged not to attend these markets either as a buyer or a vendor in fear of falling victim to harassment and abuse.

A couple of weeks ago, a policeman was harassed by market vendors while on patrol in Gordons Market. Police retaliation was swift and the canopy of umbrellas sheltering vendors was set alight. People ran in all direction as police fired bullets into the air.

It is also about time municipal authorities took stock of the alarming rise in criminal activities orchestrated by young people usually residing in squatter settlements in and around the fringes of Port Moresby and other major urban centres.

Most of these youths retract to the informal economy due to the lack of employment opportunities within the formal sector.

Many end up spending much of their time taking drugs and drinking cheap homemade alcohol such as “coffee punch”.

Looking to the future, the constant movement of people from rural areas to urban centres will further intensify this problem.

A lot of law and order problems affecting major urban centres have been attributed to the rise of informal squatter settlements.

These unplanned settlements are said to harbour people who are unemployed and to have a high prevalence of violence and crime. Not conforming to the rule of law through formally registering their properties also allows them to take advantage of their anonymous status.

Criminals who originate from these settlements take advantage of this situation by avoiding the arm of the law and instilling fear into the community.

On the other hand they are able to secure the community’s support through a Robin Hood existence where they rob the better off and share the spoils with their communities.

They may be seen as heroes and protected by the community through a “keep your mouth shut for your own good” policy. This makes it very difficult situation for police to track down these criminals.

When I first thought about this issue, I drew inspirations from Hernando De Soto’s book The mystery of capital, in which he argues that the absence of a national formal property system supported by appropriate legislative reforms has prevented most of the poor in developing countries from unleashing “capital” to transform their lives and the economy as a whole.

As a result capitalism has been blamed for many miseries and much suffering in the developing world while at the same time benefiting only a few elite individuals.

De Soto stresses the importance of governments creating laws around prevailing social contracts to facilitate transition from the informal economy into the formal sector.

He offers developing countries such as PNG a set of policy tools that address squatter settlement issues and the petty crime and violence associated with informal economic activities.

If settlements in PNG are turned into suburbs with house owners holding their own titles and homes connected to basic household utilities such as water and power, municipal authorities will be able to better address law and order problems and tackle challenges posed by the informal economy.

Records of homeowners kept in a central property registry will enable agencies like the police to tap into them if ever they are after a person of interest.

A formal property system will effectively instill accountability when house owners are securing loans or when government is providing services such as garbage collection, electricity and water.

Even traffic infringement or parking charges can be billed to the allotment number of the house. There can be confidence that violations of laws and regulations can be dealt with thoroughly.

Informal squatter settlements are now home to most working class Papua New Guineans who cannot afford to own a house or rent decent accommodation. And this movement into settlements is gradually changing their situation and image.

For people who dream of owning a house one day, informal arrangements are explored with landowners to access cheap unused land in settlements to build houses.

Houses built on this land are usually high covenant and of similar design and market value as those approved by the Building Board. They are built to win the favour of landlord and authorities so that a formal title may be secured.

There are also reports of people colluding with bureaucrats to secure titles over land in major towns and cities.

These examples illustrate the need for the government to develop laws that will allow people access to titles that can be used for multiple purposes.

Informal squatter settlements are not necessarily the fundamental problem so much as the system and laws that are in place. If informal squatter settlements are converted to properly titled areas, these homes can become assets that can be used as capital to grow the PNG economy.

Through such action ordinary Papua New Guineans can own assets and aspire to leverage them to become successful entrepreneurs.

The informal economy, historically responsible for filling in the gap and clearing up the mess left behind by the formal sector, can be the remedy to address stagnation in formal sector growth and not an ailment.

De Soto and his team of researchers found that the value of most informal squatter settlements around the world is trillions of dollars but they remain dead capital.

By government introducing appropriate laws to formalise these squatter settlements, they can inject life into dead capital and transform the economy.

Could this be an Easter to remember for Erima people

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

EASTER, of course, reminds Christians of Christ who sacrificed himself to redeem mankind of our inequities.

Above all else, Easter reflects God’s unconditional love for His children who have been separated from Him due to the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

For the poor, struggling settlers of the Erima community where I live in Port Moresby, it is hoped this period will usher in some salvation from the daily bondage of searching for water. Water. It is so basic. A life fundamental.

Yet water in this settlement is a big problem and has been so since water authority Eda Ranu (Our Water), citing problems associated with illegal water connections and unpaid bills, several years ago decided to significantly reduce water pressure into this community.

However, a recent development could indicate there is light at the end of the tunnel. A couple of days ago Eda Ranu sent its workers with a backhoe to dig up roadside ditches to install water pipes.

Mothers shouted in jubilation at seeing the men and equipment hard at work. Our neighbour could not hold back her joy and bought betel nut and cigarettes for the Eda Ranu workers.

The whole community was excited and the workers were asked questions about how the water was to be channeled into the settlement.

Some speculated that several common taps will be placed close to the settlement while others even suggested that water would be reticulated to individual houses.

In any event, this provides me with an opportunity to directly connect water to my house given I have formal title.

The jubilation and curiosity among my community was a clear sign of the long period of hardship and desperation for water we have been going through all these years.

Coming from work the following day I could not hold back my joy when I asked my family if Eda Ranu had come back to work on the water pipes.

I was told that they had not but the sound of the backhoe digging could be heard a kilometer or so from where we live.

Later we found they were searching for existing pipes in the other neighbouring streets to determine their usability before water is allowed to flow through them.

From my memory this is the first time such an exercise has been undertaken by Eda Ranu since the water was disconnected.

One weekend, a couple of weeks after we moved into Erima, my uncle, my father and I joined the rest of the men in the community to dig a ditch along the road that led to our street in the hope of connecting water.

Each member of the community contributed money to acquire poly-pipes for water. Yet we soon came to realise that the money did not yield anything. Instead of fresh hope all we got were rumours and complaints of the money being misused by so-called community leaders.

This time we are more hopeful because Eda Ranu is doing it.
The days to come look exciting as we are optimistic Eda Ranu will re-connect water to the community. If it happens this weekend, it will certainly be an Easter worth remembering for the residents of the Erima settlements.

Yet deep down I remain concerned that problems which led to the reduction in water pressure in the first place could resurface. Problems such as illegal water connections and unpaid bills are prone to occur here due to the poor economic status and volatile law and order situation.

For the people in my community, the idea of having water connected to their houses is remote from their memory. In fact, most of them refused to entertain these thoughts given that they have been victimised with unfulfilled promises of water time and again by their elected leaders

Even the visible presence of Eda Ranu in the community has done little to remove skepticism from their minds. They will only believe when they see the water flowing.

As Christian pilgrimages gather at various locations around Port Moresby to pay homage to Christ Jesus for his act of unselfish love for us, settlers in my community are hoping that the days of searching for water are nearly over.

During this Easter, we hope that the redemption, salvation and restoration offered by Christ through His crucifixion on the cross can be practically realised through the efforts of Eda Ranu in reconnecting the water.

If it happens then it will become an Easter full of hope because of its significance to an impoverished settlement.

In a community lacking serious commitment to the word of God, such a development coinciding with one of the most significant events in the Christian calendar could reignite faith.

Perhaps it will set in motion transformative effects to change the community permanently for the better. 

The road that became a bridge – but what now for the settlements?

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

THE Erima flyover bridge is the first truly remarkable example of public infrastructure built in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.

Costing K160 million, its construction represents a noteworthy achievement for the government and people of PNG.

Prior to the construction of the bridge, the Erima shopping centre was linked to the Erima Settlements located near Waigani Golf Course by a couple of tracks that ran through the old Hugo sawmill.

Over time these tracks developed into roads and then into a new freeway to be connected to the bridge from the Waigani Arts Centre.

It is hoped that the road running to the settlement will be expanded into four lanes. This would further free up traffic for the residents from 8 and 9 Mile and allow them better access to Erima, the airport, Gordons and Waigani Central.

Currently, even after numerous attempts to free up the traffic on Sir Hubert Murray highway, a long convoy of slow-moving vehicles extends as far as 8 Mile.

Internationally, flyover bridges are built mainly to ease traffic congestion or prevent traffic obstruction. Their unique design ensures that traffic congestion is freed up so it does not impede existing infrastructure.

That said, building a flyover bridge was an expensive way to address traffic congestion in this part of Port Moresby and there is still uncertainty over its use.
Questions are being raised as to whether it will be open to the public or only be accessible to certain people like VIPs or dignitaries. There is a feeling that the flyover bridge was built just to cater for VIPs during the hosting of international events like the 2018 APEC Summit.

Some people are even more skeptical, suggesting that the bridge is merely an attempt by government to blindfold foreign dignitaries to the filthy and disorganised state of Erima. Whatever, one thing is for sure and that is that the flyover bridge will bring the Erima settlements into full view.

This could spell trouble for the settlers if the government is determined to present a more progressive illusion of Port Moresby to foreign dignitaries.
Settlers living near the bridge are also anxious that it will increase the likelihood of attracting development that may jeopardise their wellbeing. Already there are rumours that remnants of the Waigani Arts Centre settlement will be evicted.

The scenic views and proximity to Central Waigani and the airport could turn this part of Port Moresby into a most sought-after address.

Plans are already in pipeline to turn the old Hugo sawmill into a “city within a city” development. Equipped with all the amenities suitable for the middle to top income earners it is expected to change Erima into a top class suburb.

A few months away from the flyover bridge’s official launch, more people are of the view that it has been a waste of taxpayers’ money. A walk or drive under the bridge makes one realise that it would have saved a lot of money if the government built a four or six lane road instead of a bridge. This would have still produced the same net result (better traffic flow) but at lower cost.

Last year the project management unit of Hawkins Constructions assured the city government and residents that the bridge would be ready on time, that is earlier this month. However, the deadline has been moved back and it is expected to be completed before the Pacific Games in July.

The flyover bridge at Erima will forever be remembered as the road that became a bridge. It will be interesting to see what the public’s perception is once it comes into operation. Being a first for PNG it has certainly captured the imagination of city residents.

There are those optimistic that such a development set the stage for a brighter future for Port Moresby. They see the settlements dispersed across the hills of Port Moresby as a threat to that future and hope that they will become extinct.

On the other side of the spectrum, those who call Erima home are sensing that change is coming that will alter their lives forever.

For them it is important that the government clearly informs them about Erima’s future. In the absence of information settlers live in uncertainty and anxiety.

For these people it is time to brace themselves for what could be a most challenging and life-altering event.

Moresby’s settlements: Protect the voiceless not the reckless

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

FOR some time now I’ve been closely following developments regarding members of parliament promising to issue land titles and provide water to settlements in Port Moresby.

From the outset, I treated these announcements with caution and suspicion although, as someone deprived of such services, I earnestly hope to have access to them.

Regardless, I was concerned that these announcements lacked substance in the sense that they seemed to bypass normal processes involved in granting titles as well as access to water.

Coupled with this is the reality that politicians have always been associated with grandstanding where they make alot of noise but rarely deliver.

For instance, late last year in Erima, payments were made to Eda Ranu by Labi Amaiu MP to reconnect water to the settlements. However, three months have passed and so far nothing has been forthcoming.

Time and again it has been shown in PNG that it is illogical for the government or a politician to provide these services on a platter and expect the people to act responsibly.

Our people have been indulging in handouts for so long that it will take time for them to adapt to a user pays environment.

Where I am living in Port Moresby, water is provided through common taps and yet only a minority turns up to pay the rent while the majority is interested only in accessing “free water”.

The prevalence of a handout mentality among the majority of our people is a direct result of politicians dishing out cash and unrealistic programs and policies to advance their political ambitions.

This is where the government and MPs have to be careful. Their noble intention to protect a neglected segment of the population such as unemployed settlers should not go so far as to allow irresponsible citizens to propagate all manner of filth and reckless behaviour.

Of great importance is that these programs do not further promote a hand out mentality.

There are genuine but often voiceless Papua New Guineans, including public servants, who live in settlements, behave decently and want a better life for themselves and their families.

These are the very ones that the government should be doing seeking to protect.

They should be identified by the government and provided with the opportunity to own a decent home that has access to basic services such as electricity and water.They should not be suffering due to the ignorance and folly of a minority.

The government should not undertake a blanket exercise to cover everyone when it comes to the provision of essential public utilities such as water and electricity as there is no guarantee that recipients of these services will act responsibly.

Time and again politicians have insisted on the need to conduct surveys to identify houses and owners to enable issuing titles and connecting water. But this does not make sense when the majority of the landless settlers are unemployed.

While most of them are part of the informal economy, what they earn is not sufficient to pay land rates, water bills and related cost and at the same time put food on the table.

The cost of living in the city is rising at an exponential rate and it will always be difficult for these unemployed settlers to sustain the services rendered to them by the state.

Such a rights-based approach by government can only work if there is a social protection component attached to it where these people are provided with unemployment benefits and subsidies to support low-cost housing.

Yet our people’s lack of a savings culture means they will not have the capability to plan and budget their income streams. Also one must hope that social protection policies would not further encourage laziness and recklessness.

Regardless, the idea to formalize illegal settlements through property rights is a good solution. I have previously elaborated on the need for government to formalise squatter settlements.

As shown in many developed countries, effective and well managed property rights can bring immense benefit to a nation. Yet in PNG the cultural issue has to be addressed as a prerequisite to formalisation of settlements.

Most settlements are characterised by people living in their own ethnic groups. Some people argue that this minimises antagonism compared to a multicultural set-up where various groups are living together in one area.

Past experiences indicate that these normally led to ethnic tension, but this could be largely due to lack of community ownership and poor leadership in settlements and consequent law and order problems.

Integration and diversification supported by a strong government presence should be encouraged so different ethnic groups learn to live with one and other in harmony.

The government, for its part, should ensure that there is an equal distribution of different ethnic groups within a settlement. This could help neutralise flare-ups.

No doubt it is the role of any responsible government to provide the best for its citizens and initiatives like providing land titles and water are highly commended.

Yet these cannot be done in a vacuum. Culture and tradition in PNG are so diverse that it is very difficult to dissect the good from the bad and create a system based on a generic cultural norm.

This can only be done over an extended period of time and its success will depend on continuing government support.

Protecting the rights of its citizens especially the “voiceless” should be a government’s core responsibility but this has to be done in a carefully planned way so everyone benefits.

Otherwise, we will continue to support recklessness and irresponsibility at the expense of the interest of law abiding citizens. 

Haves & the have-nots contest for space as Moresby expands

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

A drive to 2 Mile in Port Moresby will expose one of the biggest problems facing urban development in Papua New Guinea’s capital.

Separated by a road under construction, the high class residences of this precinct overlook the squatter settlement dispersed across 2 Mile Hill.

The tail end of this settlement is connected to Gabutu Settlement which links up with Kaugere Settlement. On the other side is Badili, cluttered with combination of industrial warehouses, shops and houses.

It is a clear example of the challenge faced by the municipal authority in progressing Port Moresby’s development.

While the city is in a middle of a development boom spurred by favourable economic growth, what is clear is that the divide between the haves and have-nots is set to widen.

This phenomenon is expected to increase significantly as the city prepares to host international events such as the upcoming Pacific Games and the 2018 APEC Summit.

Existing developments such as the Erima Flyover Bridge have resulted in the eviction of settlers at the Waigani Arts Centre settlement and there is a high possibility that, as more infrastructure projects of similar magnitude begin, the evictions will accelerate.

In addition, the municipal authority has already embarked on a massive clean-up campaign in the city by imposing a ban on the sale and consumption of betel nut. This has affected the livelihoods of thousands of poor households who rely on the buai trade to sustain their life in the city.

Out of desperation a number of /vendors have already lost their lives while many more are each day subjected to abuse and physical harassment from city rangers.

Efforts to rid betel nut from the streets of Moresby have been frustrated by regular violations of the ban including smuggling and the growth of lawlessness around the trade.

Despite all that, the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) remains undaunted and is still fully committed to its endeavour.

The 2 Mile scenario is a common sight in Port Moresby. Not far from 2 Mile Settlement is the notorious Talai Settlement. Its growth is ominous to those who wish to develop that part of the city. Removing settlements is not easy.

Not far from Talai settlement, several high class apartments can be seen on the other end of the mountain. Konedobu and along the Poreporena Freeway present a similar situation.

On Konedobu Hill, fancy high rise apartments with fortress walls overlook the semi-structured shanty houses with rusty iron roofs and cardboard walls which paradoxically look out to the picturesque Fairfax Harbour.

Further towards Hohola, the Burns Peak Settlement emerges around a corner. Much of it is surrounded by decent houses but settlement itself is rapidly crawling its way to the top of the hill.

Other settlements such as Erima, Morata and 4,5, 6, 8 and 9 Mile are about to find themselves in a similar predicament as development permeates these areas.

A couple of years ago the 2 Mile Settlement and the neighbouring Talai Settlement were at the centre of a controversy involving NCDC and water utility Eda Ranu over huge unpaid water bills.

Eda Ranu alleged that the city commission owed millions of kina in outstanding debt for water provided to settlers at 2 Mile and Talai, although NCDC argued otherwise.

In other settlements such as Erima, unpaid water bills and illegal water connections have resulted in water supplies being severely restricted. Water is accessible only at ordained points and at certain times of the day.

Attempts are being made by the respective MPs for Moresby South and Moresby North-East to connect their constituents to water, especially those in the settlements.

These initiatives are highly commendable; however the real challenge is to ensure that the communities take ownership of the services by paying for them so that they can be sustained. A repeat of the contagious and unproductive “hand-out mentality” will hinder development.

What is interesting about the 2 Mile Settlement is how the government, through the municipal authority, has made a decision not to evict the settlers living near the road.

Road resealing has already sliced off a large chunk of the slope on which stand the high covenant houses. Logically it would have made sense if the settlement houses on the opposite side of the road were removed or pushed back several metres to free up space.

Yet the tax paying residents of this part of Moresby had to forego a bit of space for the sake of road expansion. One gets the feeling that this decision was driven by political considerations rather than a cost-benefit analysis.

If so, the government’s strategy will be tested when the 2 Mile settlement becomes more visible to the travelling public. If the government persists with its agenda to turn Moresby into one of the most livable cities in the Pacific, then it may mean these settlements days are numbered. 

Betel nut ban is promoting lawlessness in Port Moresby

BUSA JEREMIAH WENOGO

TUESDAY’s front page Post-Courier headline, ‘Buai thrives’ would have had Governor Powes Parkop demanding answers from his police reservists.

But perhaps most importantly, the headline and its accompanying article raised skepticism amongst city residents about the effectiveness of the betel nut ban.

Since the day it was introduced, the buai ban has divided public opinion. Already it has claimed several lives and led to countless cases of harassment by the city rangers.

Furthermore, the public is well aware of betel nut bags by the truckload being smuggled into the city with the assistance of officers who have been entrusted with the responsibility of imposing the ban.

To add insult to injury, law enforcers have been seen supplying confiscated buai to their families there have been complaints about it being sold freely in police barracks.

To be blunt, the buai ban has turned law enforcers into criminals. Apart from defeating the intentions of the ban, their actions have been nothing short of appalling.

It is obvious that the police reservists and their comrades are profiteering big time. They have been relentless in chasing down every opportunity, even unfortunate mothers peddling items other than buai on the streets.

Every one of Port Moresby’s vendors has been victimised by the imposition of the ban and criminal elements, now robbing bags of buai from growers, have elbowed their way into a very lucrative trade.

A couple of nights ago I was amazed to hear a story on the NBC radio news of youths along the Hiritano Highway dressed in police uniforms who stole 100 bags of betel nut from producers on the way from villages in the Kairuku and Mekeo area.

The Central provincial police commander has vowed to track down and prosecute those involved. However, the burning question concerns how the robbers were able to secure the police uniforms. Until it’s proven the uniforms were stolen, all fingers are pointed at the police.

The Post-Courier shed light on what has developed into a cartel composed of producers, law enforcers, transporters and buyers.

While the city authority has pumped in millions of kina to rid Port Moresby off the infamous “green addictive” and its disgusting red stains, the supply chain of betel nut has not been broken.

Instead the ban has facilitated a tenfold increase in the price of buai which has more than compensated producers for their perseverance. If buai was deemed to be a lucrative commodity prior to the ban then the situation since can only be described as insidious.

A trade that was once worth hundreds of thousands is now a multi-million kina industry. The Post-Courier article estimated that about K500,000 changes hands every day. That’s nearly K200 million a year.

The buai ban has grown in contention as time has gone by and the ugly side of it came to the forefront of public attention. There is a widespread outcry for it to be reviewed or done away with altogether.

Some segments of the public have questioned whether the imposition of the ban has been justified given that it was introduced mainly to clean up the city. If cleaning the city was the objective, it is said, then surely other alternatives can be explored at lower cost than the imposition of the ban.

And while the ban is in full swing, the betel nut trade is very visible in the city. Buai is seen being sold openly in public places making a total mockery of the law.

Sadly the buai ban has turned into a cat and mouse game. Every time the commission steps up its fight to enforce the ban at the expense of taxpayers’ money, it makes little if any progress. Already millions of kina has been channeled into its implementation.

As much as Governor Parkop would like to get to the bottom of this issue, it is imperative that he explain to the public what he intends to do next.

The idea of buying patrol boats for the rangers will only incur more money. A lot more.

All eyes are on the Governor and the Commission to see what strategies they plan to undertake to break the systematic corruption that the ban has enabled.

Failure to do that could see millions spent encouraging lawlessness with little or nothing done to address the core issues.