PNG NRI

The one-week intensive study covered key aspects of research methods skills ranging from how to do proper research, research design, sampling techniques, data collection, data processing and analysis and, report writing.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, PNG NRI Council Acting Chairman Wilson Thompson said PNG NRI saw that the public and private sector needed research methods skills that are important.

PNG NRI Discussion Paper No.190 that highlighted the findings of the study titled, “Strategy to improve the living conditions in informal settlements in Papua New Guinea: Evidence from Port Moresby”, aimed to examine informal settlements residents for infrastructure and services and find effective guidelines for the upgrade of the settlements.

The study, based on research in the Enga Province, found that police and magistrates intervene only in a few of the cases. It was usually a local leader or a pastor or religious figure that intervenes.

“When mediation is unsuccessful and violence ensues, it is most often a pastor or a religious figure, village leader or immediate family member who intervene to try to stop the violence,” states PNG NRI Issues Paper No.37 on Sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) in Enga Province.

Dr Hukula joined the Think Tank as a project officer in 1998, working her way up to become senior research fellow and program leader for the ‘Building Safer Communities Research Program’ and Co-Program Leader for the  ‘Gender in PNG Research Program’.

She was also involved with other government organisations in Law and Justice, and was Deputy Chairperson of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission.

Deputy Electoral Commissioner, John Kalamoro, revealed this during the two day seminar on the review of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections and related laws.

This is one of the loopholes currently in the Organic Law which needs to be addressed by parliament.

Kalamora said while the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) can make recommendations on the electorates to cater for any changes it must be part of a re-distribution review.

This was the process undertaken by the EBC and Parliament for the creation for Hela and Jiwaka.

The seminar began on Thursday 20th September in Port Moresby as part of the current nationwide consultation to review the Organic Law.

It allows stakeholders and the general public to give their views and opinions on the review.

PNG NRI Director, Dr, Osborne Sanida, called on participants to contribute meaningfully to the review

The objective of the seminar is to facilitate independent evidence-based views and opinions towards the review of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government elections in Papua New Guinea.

Dr Yala left the Institute on April 7, 2017 due to personal reasons.

He was Director since mid-2015 and leaves having had a 22-year association with the Institute since graduating with the University of PNG.

The NRI Council appointed Dr Sanida, who took over as Acting Director from April 10, 2017, until a permanent appointment is made.

Dr Sanida acknowledged the very important contributions of Dr Yala to the PNG NRI and the country, not only in his role as Director, but also in his time as a researcher and policy advocate.