CONTENTS

 GOVERNMENT
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare…                  7
Getting ready for Integrated Financial
Management System                                       13
Chief Secretary on performance standards      17

 ECONOMICS

Growth is essential to the future of PNG            19

Wealth of information from rural
informal sector survey                                      25

People in urban informal sector earn good incomes                                                           47

 CUSTOMARY LAW

Alienated customary land and the
‘compensation frenzy’                                       39

 POLITICS

Bougainville works towards peace
dividends                                                          51

Chimbu elects a new Governor                          51

Political reform – will it change the system?         52

The evolution and dynamics of political
parties                                                               56

Plans for a Hela province                                    63

 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Australia’s enhanced aid package for PNG           55

French Ambassador’s ‘Enchanting
experience’                                                        73

Sir John Kaputin elected secretary
general of ACP                                                152

PNG prepares for Pacific Island leaders
meeting                                                           153

China trip yields dividends                               154

 CULTURE

Sorcery – An aspect of Melanesian
spirituality                                                       68

 EDUCATION

Integrated planning for the future                   74

 GEOLOGY

Colliding plates are cause of PNG’s
many earthquakes                                          82

 MINING & OIL

‘Exciting times’ for mining and oil sectors         89

Oil Search – Delivering great results                93

Gold producer eyes copper and nickel
ventures                                                        99

Small scale mining is thriving business            102

 CONSTRUCTION

Sustained pick up coming for building
activity                                                         105

Cover picture: The Hiri Moale festival in Port Moresby is among the highlights of the country’s Independence Day celebrations on September 16. This will be on a grander scale in 2005 – the 30^th independence anniversary

 Continued.....