Making ICT more relevant and practical for SMEs in rural areas

Many development practitioners and researchers – including Papua New Guinea - have traditionally regarded the area of communication either as a technical field, or as a means of "delivering messages" and not so much as a tool for enterprise development.

Yet, these assumptions are increasingly questioned, as media and communication tools become more accessible to marginalised people, particularly those in micro and small enterprises in rural areas.

Rural areas such as Memyamya in Morobe province, Marawaka in Eastern Highlands province, Oksapmin in Sandaun province, Karimui in Chimbu province, Kaintiba in Gulf province, and the list goes on and on.

We have to find ways of making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) more relevant and practical for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas.

Information and Communications Technology can also be used as a powerful weapon in the battle against the scourge of HIV/AIDS that is sweeping the world, including Papua New Guinea, where it now threatens the very livelihood of our people.

Examples can be found in uses of participatory video, community radio, print media such as newspapers and magazines, theatre-for-development, music, Internet, community television, and mobile phones and many other various forms of media.

These are used all over Papua New Guinea but have not been harnessed as much as a tool for enterprise development.

The technology is already there to take Internet to the rural areas of our country, such as Very Short Aperture Terminal (VSATs), but for reasons known to themselves; those in authority seem to be working at a snail’s pace to let our rural areas see the light of ICT.

We have to make ICT affordable and accessible for our people or they will continue to remain in the dark.

All over this increasingly-globalised world, a massive Information Revolution is taking place as economies use ICT as a passport to what economists call the “New Economy”.

Papua New Guinea will continue to remain light years behind the rest of the world if we do not jump on the ICT bandwagon in this globalised world.

Success in this globalised world is predicated on ICT knowledge and successful knowledge-based economies will be based on the efficient and widespread use of ICT by all sectors within any given country.

On the other hand, an increasing number of development projects on promoting mass media for development, such as the International Labour Organisation’s Business Development Services (BDS) Zambia project, are beginning to demonstrate creative and innovative ways of unleashing the power of mass media for accelerating market information services and creating relevant and accessible social dialogue platforms for lobbying for enabling small business environments.

Leap-frogging technologies such as mobile Short Messaging Services (SMS) are enabling Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in rural areas to access market information and opportunities in real time.

We only need to look within our own country to see the massive improvements in accessing market information and opportunities in real time since the introduction of mobile phone competition through Digicel.

There are real life stories of farmers, fishermen, artisans, PMV owners, trade store operators and many more seeing marked improvements in developing markets through their mobile phones.

The days of yodelling over the mountaintops to broker barter of goods is long over and our rural areas must also reap the benefits of the massive Information Revolution that is sweeping the globe.

Journalists also have a very important role in disseminating information to the bulk of our people in the rural areas rather than the bread-and-butter “shock and horror” stories.

The BDS Zambia project has been facilitating the capacity building of mass media and target MSEs in a few ways:

 

* Building the capacity of media to deliver market information services that are relevant and practical to MSMEs in rural and urban communities;

 

* Training and sensitising journalists on role of media in promoting access to service and commodity markets, creating a business enabling environment and promoting an entrepreneurial culture;

 

* Promoting a community journalism culture among farming communities to talk back to the media and make their views on access to services, information, markets known. And in turn, promote sustainable social enterprises whose business models thrive on harnessing a market of satisfied audiences;

 

* Enhance their participation in social dialogue processes and bottom-up communication on issues that concern micro-enterprise and community development, particularly at local government level by empowering Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) rural and urban business communities to support and work with media that addresses their specific needs;

 

* Helping people in small businesses on how to cope with AIDS through relevant and practical information materials such as the HIV and AIDS Handbook for Entrepreneurs in Zambia.

 

The project has produced short videos highlighting the lessons and experiences of the ILO Business Development Services project in Zambia, working with media to facilitate information services for micro and small enterprises in rural markets.

Perhaps Papua New Guinea can take a leaf out of Zambia’s book as we ponder the future of ICT in our beloved country.

Something to ponder over Christmas/New Year period as we wonder what benefits ICT will bring to us in 2009 and beyond.

 

Post-Courier scoops media awards and causes a drunken brawl!

I notice the Post-Courier came out big today, expect, extolling its own virtues about how good it was.
The fact of the matter is that they nominated themselves for the awards they and their reporters received.
The National could have beaten them any day, in any way, but nominations didn't go in as expected.
I am widely regarded as the best feature writer in the country but I don't go around boasting like some of these drunk Post-Courier journalists last Saturday evening at the Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby.
Post-Courier journalists cannot behave themselves if their behaviour at the 2008 media awards last Saturday night were any indication.
They caused a big drunken brawl after scooping up the awards!
And don't forget that the Post-Courier is now history as The National is by far Papua New Guinea's leading daily newspaper!

Malum Nalu

Chinese 'living longer than ever'

By Michael Bristow

BBC News, Beijing 

 

A UN report on China says the lives of its people have been vastly improved over the last three decades, BBC News reports.

Poverty has fallen, adult literacy has climbed and Chinese people are now living longer than ever, it says.

But despite rapid economic progress, new problems have emerged, such as the gap between rich and poor.

The United National Development Programme (UNDP), which published the report, says these problems need urgent attention.

The report, entitled Basic Public Services for 1.3 Billion People, comes just weeks before China celebrates 30 years of economic reforms.

During this period, the Chinese government has largely ditched central planning in favour of the free market.

'Stunning achievements'

These reforms, started by the late, former leader Deng Xiaoping, have brought spectacular results, as the report makes clear.

"The speed, scope and magnitude of the improvements… rank among the most stunning achievements in the history of human development," says the UN's chief representative in China, Khalid Malik, in the report.

Between 1978 and 2007, rural poverty fell from 30.7% to just 1.6%, according to the UN.

But new problems have emerged, with not everyone benefiting equally from rapid economic expansion.

Rural areas lag behind urban areas, the east coast is richer that the western hinterland and there is a large wealth gap between different social groups.

Schoolchildren in the wealthy coastal city of Shanghai receive 10 times more funding than some rural pupils, the report says.

Rural registration

According to the UNDP, one problem is the Chinese system that requires all citizens to be registered in one particular place.

People usually receive welfare benefits in the area they are registered, which brings difficulties if they move.

This is a particular problem for the tens of millions of rural people who move to the cities to find work.

Chinese leaders have already acknowledged the existence of some of these problems, and have launched programmes to solve them.

The report makes it clear that the country now has the money to fix some of these problems.

 

 

 

PUBLIC AFFAIRS BY SUSUVE LAUMAEA

No gain in shooting or silencing messenger

TO shoot or to silence the messenger is more and more becoming a copy-cat past-time for governments in the Pacific region. It is a development all supporters of democracy, media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights must strike out against vigorously. It’s a worrying trend especially in Fiji under the interim government of military strongman Frank Bainimarama, in Samoa and is voiced ominously in Papua New Guinea from time to time by “big wigs” in the three arms of government. We must never remotely suggest to shoot or to silence the messenger. No gain will be made for any nation going that way. Such is tantamount to ripping out heart and soul – the very fabric of democracy as system of government of the people, for the people by the people. It was not surprising that this scribe and Frank Senge Kolma, a journalist colleague writing for a daily newspaper also as a columnist have been singled out and warned to walk the “straight and narrow” journalistic path and “take heed that (we) are treading on dangerous grounds” – a reference made by a senior judge on Thursday in relation to respective commentaries we have written in the past week for our respective newspapers about less than convivial “mouthings” coming from the hallowed halls of the judges. There is no bad blood there nor is there loss of respect all round. No doubt there is misunderstanding. But the implied threat against freedom expression and freedom of the press stands out like a sore thumb. At stake is denial of media and journalistic freedom of expression and publication with responsibility of public information, critique, analysis and commentary on prevailing and emerging issues of national interest and concern. Often times this scribe writes about freedom, liberty and human rights, and usually in terms of threats to or the reduction of these precious commodities by officialdom that is usually perceived to suffering or huffing and puffing under the weight of an acute case of insecurity and inferiority complex. We in PNG do not have to go the way of repressive and suppressive regimes elsewhere within our own Pacific region or further afield. Officialdom does not have to be suggesting situations similar to restrictions that have all but eroded freedom of media and freedom of expression by journalists and the public of Fiji. We are nation with a great deal of potential to strengthen our institutions of democracy – a pillar of which is free press, freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom to be free. Papua New Guinea’s National Constitution enshrines and bestows freedoms, liberties, rights and social obligations upon every man, woman and child of PNG in the Preamble and in Constitution Sections 32 inclusively through to Section 63. The letter, intent and spirit of the safe-guards provided in the National Constitution are awesome. They’re massive and are a must read for all citizens of PNG.  Lest we all get hoodwinked by those in the know who can manipulate the laws to serve self-interest. The relevant constitutionally-guaranteed freedom that this scribe and Frank Senge Kolma are being warned and threatened – by implication -- not to exercise freely is Section 46 – Freedom of Expression. Constitutional Section 46 stipulates that:

1.      Every person has the right to freedom of expression and publication, except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by law -

(a)    that imposes reasonable restrictions on public office-holders; or

(b)   that imposes restrictions on non-citizens; or

(c)    that complies with general qualifications on qualified rights

2.      Freedom of expression and publication includes:

(a)    freedom to hold opinions, to receive ideas and information and to communicate ideas and information, whether to the public generally or to a person or class of persons; and

(b)   freedom of the press and other mass communications media.

This freedoms, liberties and rights are as good as how they can be freely exercised. When they are interfered with, obstructed or usurped through a public official’s insecurity or inferior complexes, the chances are that the values that we all take for granted in democratic systems of government come unstuck big time. Having created the premise upon which horns might lock in relation to the latest warning by a senior judge to me and my colleague let me present my case without fear or favour. Some events have overtaken the discussions in publications that have stirred some degree of judicial ire. That’s to be expected. People in high places must always know and appreciate that when they start wagging their tongues or utter a sound they have a willing audience who want to hear them but who are also critical or analytical of what may be said. Journalists – as news hounds – keep the public informed, educated and aware through their print and electronic media writings, commentaries and broadcasts. The role-play of investigative and provocative journalistic commentators, columnists and analysts is a little different from that of the normal news beat journalist or reporter. The commentary column is where the journalist writes analytically and investigatively and with a great deal of care and responsibility. That’s where one calls a spade and spade if evidence justifies the label. For instance, when there is smoke obviously a fire burns. Likewise when there is vomit there is bound to be smell. For both situations, a newshound worth his or her salt does not get the whiff of smell and go back to sleep. An inquisitive newshound – whether from Uritai village on the banks of the Lakekamu River in Gulf Province or from the mountain tops of Jimi in the Jiwaka area of Western Highlands will trace the smell to its origin and investigate it for its news value. That’s basically what the Laumaea and Kolma commentaries were about. The facts stack up. For instance, three judges sitting as a Supreme Court made a ruling that affected another judge presiding over the same case in the National Court. The judge in the National Court felt seriously aggrieved that he had not been fore-warned. He made a statement – more or less – as a personal explanation and also to abundantly register his displeasure to his colleagues. That’s fine. But then there was that other reactionary statement a day later from another judge lending support to the aggrieved judge.  Hello, stand back. The smell is getting stronger. To this newshound the situation became a vomit case. Any dog could smell that. Vomit is contents of the stomach expelled through the mouth. Among many animals dogs are usually drawn to human vomit. They explore the contents of the vomit and consume some or all of it. Watch them sometimes and you will agree. But where is this analogy taking us? The analogy is in relation recent judicial utterances by Justices Bernard Sakora and Mark Sevua -- two of the nation’s senior judges of the National and Supreme Courts. They vented displeasure in no uncertain terms in the media about a certain decision of the Supreme Court. The facts are that on Monday November 3, a three-judge Supreme Court comprising then acting but now confirmed Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, Justices Nicholas Kirriwom and Sao Gabi removed a stay order on the Commission of Inquiry into the management of public monies by the Department of Finance. The stay order was issued by Justice Sakora who was presiding over a judicial review sought by former senior public servants Zachery Gelu, Isaac Lupari and Tau Liu to disband the commission of inquiry. The Supreme Court also ruled that the judicial review be taken away from Justice Sakora and be given to another judge. On Tuesday, November 4, Justice Sakora – in compliance with judicial protocols -- issued a seven-page judicial statement in court wherein he slammed the Supreme Court decision as “hijacking” a case that was before him and giving it to another judge without informing him. He felt “insulted, abused and denigrated.” It is objectionable and offensive to be treated this way, apart from, of course, the disrespect and nonsense that was perpetrated on the laws and legal procedures that we are bound by,” Justice Sakora said. “In my considered opinion, there has been a blatant interference with my judiciary functions, in the process questioning my judicial integrity and independence.”
He also said the entire proceedings were “hijacked” from him without proper legal processes being followed to remove the matter that was currently before him.
“In my considered opinion, no law or procedure, or combination of both, would support and justify the intervention and interference of the Supreme Court in the way that it did -- (On Monday November 3).
“And the way it did was to ride roughshod over the constitutional powers, duties and functions given to this court by section 155(3) (a).
“In the process, the Supreme Court interfered with my judicial independence, a valuable and cherished doctrine of democracy and constitutionalism.”
He said the Supreme Court decision was “both objectionable and obscene as contrary to the principles under which our independence Constitution was based.
“It is intolerable by any democratic standards.”
He said the law and proper process to disqualify him from hearing this case were not followed.
“Duly appointed authorities exercising people’s powers under the Constitution, be they legislative, executive or judiciary, who ought to know and appreciate the laws and procedures of this country – the principles that the Founders of the Constitution unequivocally adopted to help, guide and govern us – do not appear to have any respect for those principles.
“Some of us who are committed to doing things right by all manner of people, true and faithful to our judicial oath and declaration, not to mention the Lawyers Oath we all took on admission to practice law in this country, are now constantly frustrated.
“Those of us who are duty-bound to enforce the laws of the country, are being constantly frustrated in this very serious task, by those who wish to evade and avoid the requirements of the laws and procedures of the country, by those who wish to cut corners, as it were.”
He added: “There is an assault on the democratic principles adopted on Independence (of PNG). As a necessary adjunct to this is the popular tendency these days to condone and reward mediocrity, irregularity, unconstitutionality, and illegality.
“The unusual become the usual (way of doing things), the unacceptable become acceptable, and the irregular becomes regular.”
The judge said the people’s judicial power was not a “popularity contest” as in the case with the Miss PNG contest. On Wednesday November 5, Justice Mark Sevua -- in support of Justice Sakora -- made a statement denouncing the actions of the Supreme Court.
“I support the comments made by Justice Sakora and endorse his concerns,” Justice Sevua said. The newspaper continued to quote Justice Sevua as having said that such an action of the Supreme Court was indeed “insulting” to a judge whom he described as one of PNG’s leading and most experienced judges on the bench. According to the newspaper Justice Sevua also said it was not the first time such a decision was made in recent times when interlocutory matters were before National Court judges and while they were still pending before those judges (as individual National Court judge hearings), the matters were taken to a higher court and then “hijacked” and given to be heard by another judge.
“This is a very dangerous trend and must be stopped by all means,” Judge Sevua is quoted as having said. He is further quoted as having said the rich and well-to-do could run to the Supreme Court and have matters before judges “hijacked”, but the “little people” could not because they could not pay and that the public should know that such “hijacking” of cases amounted to interference in a judge’s judicial duties.
“It is a blatant interference of a National Court Justice executing his judicial functions,” Justice Sevua is quoted as having said. Wisdom, freedom, restraint and responsibility come with a great deal of self-sacrifice and maturity is how this scribe would sum up this storm in a tea-cup. Here are a couple of quotes as food for thought: "More and more, if you're not in the digital conversation about your community, you're not in a conversation that matters" --   Alberto Ibargüen, President of The Knight Foundation. And former US president and founding father John Adams once said: "You will never know how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."

·        Share your views with the writer at susuve.laumaea@interoil.com or SMS (675) 684 5168

 

The National confirms status as favourite daily

THE National daily newspaper has again surpassed the 30,000 mark in the third quarter of this year, confirming it as PNG’s favourite English daily and well ahead of the older Post-Courier. The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), in its latest report, said the average daily circulation of The National during the July-September period was 30,053 copies, 6.6% more than the previous quarter’s 28,168.
On the other hand, Post-Courier dropped about 4% from 24,140 to 23,139 copies.
The latest figures, based on 63 days of publication for both newspapers, mean that the average daily circulation of The National is about 6,900 copies or about 29% more than the Post-Courier which started almost 40 years ago.
The National, which marked its 15th year of publication this week, recorded an average daily circulation of 30,632 in July-September last year while Post-Courier’s average was 27,488. Both newspapers enjoyed high circulation during that period due to the country’s general election. The ABC is a worldwide organisation which verifies publishers’ claims on circulation. It audits more than 450 publications in the region.
Meanwhile, Pacific Star, the publisher of The National, recently signed an agreement for the purchase of two presses for the company’s printing plants in Port Moresby and Lae. Both presses are expected to be commissioned before the middle of next year.

Top of the charts

Who’s the top dawg of them all?

 Check out Rob@PNG’s listings of the top PNG websites and I think some very important pointers for successful blogging and on how he hit No.1 on Alexa’s rankings.

Could this be the end for online newspapers?

 

How PNG can benefit from Blogging

In my 20-odd years in journalism, I have written hundreds of stories and taken hundreds of photographs on a vast array of subjects, covering everything from rugby league to politics, from Kavieng to Daru.

Many of these articles were written before the age of computers, in the era of typewriters and fax machines, hence could not be saved.

Only after computers and the Internet came on the scene, in the late 1990’s, could these articles be preserved on floppy disks and CDs.

I couple of years ago, as I was cleaning up my house, I was faced with the dilemma of what to do with this myriad of stories and pictures.

Family and friends, particularly my late wife Hula – my greatest fan – had often encouraged me to compile a book of all that I’d written over the years.

After considering all the possibilities, I decided to set up my own Blog on the Internet, featuring my articles and photographs, and with the express purpose of promoting our beloved country Papua New Guinea.

So, I copied some of what I’d written and photographed over the years on a flash drive, and spent long hours on weekends at Internet cafes posting them on my Blog.

Slowly, but steadily, readership of my Blog grew and I started receiving emails from all over the world.

These came from former PNG residents, tourists who wanted to know more about the country, students doing assignments, academics, researchers, businessmen, writers, book publishers, and many, many more.

Needless to say, I’m proud that my Blog has, in one way or another, served to promote PNG around the world and may have brought in an extra kina or two into our coffers.

At the height of the Taiwan scandal earlier this year, I was surprised to receive an email from a leading TV station in Taipei, wanting to know more about Timothy Bonga and Dr Florian Gubon.

The TV station had apparently found my Blog on the Internet!

A Blog gives you your own voice on the web.

It's a place to collect and share things that you find interesting— whether it's your political commentary, a personal diary, or links to web sites you want to remember.

Many people use a Blog just to organise their own thoughts, while others command influential, worldwide audiences of thousands.

Professional and amateur journalists use Blogs to publish breaking news, while personal journalers reveal inner thoughts.

Whatever you have to say, Blogging can help you say it.

Blogging is about more than just putting your thoughts on the web.

It's about connecting with and hearing from anyone who reads your work and cares to respond.

With Blogging, you control who can read and write to your Blog — let just a few friends or the entire world see what you have to say!

Blogging let anyone, anywhere, to offer feedback on your posts.

You can choose whether you want to allow comments on a post-by-post basis, and you can delete any comments you don't like.

Access Controls let you decide who can read and who can write to your Blog.

You can use a group Blog with multiple authors as an excellent communication tool for small teams, families and other groups.

Or as a single author, you can create a private online space for collecting news, links, and ideas, to keep to yourself or share with as many readers as you want.

Blogging let you find people and Blogs that share your interests.

Your profile, where you can list your blogs, your interests, and more, lets people find you (but only if you want to be found).

Whether you're starting your Blog or just think it's time to give your existing Blog a facelift, user-friendly editing tools help you easily design a great-looking page.

A collection of templates will get you started with an attractive site right away without you having to learn any HTML, though you can edit your Blog's HTML code whenever you want.

When you're ready to take the next step, you can further customise templates to create a design that perfectly reflects you and your Blog.

You can easily upload photos on your Blog.

The fastest way to understand Blogging is to try it out, and in less than five minutes, you could be part of the phenomenon that’s transforming web and media to a participatory approach.