Somare Jr holds key

NIUGINI PRESS

SIR Michael Thomas Somare is not new to political challenges.
Throughout his illustrious career as the longest-serving member of parliament in the Commonwealth, controversy has never been too far behind him.
He has lost almost all the challenges that have been directed at him on the floor of parliament but, at the same time, he has won, both on his own and for his party and followers, every single election he has contested.
He might not be popular with the leaders, but he is certainly the most popular leader in Papua New Guinea – from the highlands to the coast and surrounding islands.
Yesterday, as he faced the suggestion of yet another struggle and as he struggled to defend his decision to appoint his son as Finance and Treasury minister, his voice faltered.
As is often said of great people, you can defend others but not yourself.
Arthur Somare, three-time member for Angoram (which makes him one of the most senior members in the National Alliance party after the prime minister) is indefensible: not by the prime minister. He is flesh and blood of the prime minister.
Yet, the question posed yesterday by Sir Puka Temu, the man who, of his own accord, decommissioned himself as deputy prime minister, has much merit.
Sir Puka asked his former boss and mentor whether it was right that he (PM) appoint his own son, who faces a leadership tribunal, to the powerful Finance and Treasury ministry.
It is noteworthy that former Finance and Treasury minister Patrick Pruaitch was removed from office by the courts on grounds that he was referred by the public prosecutor to a leadership tribunal.
Somare, who stands referred since 2006, falls in the same kettle. That he did not suffer the same penalty is grounded in vigorous court challenges he has pending.
The fact remains, however, that he stands referred.
The question from Sir Puka to the prime minister was: Why appoint a man who is referred to a leadership tribunal and not any other one of the 26 or so ministers?
The prime minister attempted to answer it, but he failed. Yes, Somare has been elected member by the people of Angoram in three separate elections. He is a senior MP in parliament and one who is there, selected on merit.
Yet, the fact will never convince anyone when his own father is the appointing authority in ministerial allocations, when 27 others with qualifications as good as or better are available to be chosen.
It is a tough one.
It will get tougher.
From what we gather from the dissident ministers and MPs, nobody appears particularly concerned about the burning issues about which The National and others have been most concerned about.
They complain about a “dynasty”, about too much influence by the prime minister and his son.
They will not have any more of the “kitchen cabinet” as it were.
It is a voice that must be listened to.
In our summation, the very first person to listen to that voice is not the father, but the son.
It is Somare’s decision that will make or break the government this week.
To sustain the government for the balance of this term, Somare needs to make some hard choices.
If he were to relinquish all and allow his father to survive this one, perhaps the last, political battle of his illustrious career, he will be remembered. And, perhaps one day, the people will reward him.
He will not and cannot succeed his father under the current political climate.
The accusation stands that it is the “family” aspect that is worrisome. To stand down would remove the accusation altogether.
That would appear to be the proper thing to do.
Somare will survive and will make his comeback.
The senior Somare is in the twilight period of his career. In this regard, if it were to come to it, the son must make the decisions that are necessary so that the father exits politics as he should – full of honour and glory.

Comments

Post a Comment

Please free to leave comments.

Popular posts from this blog

HIGHLANDS FRAUD F*CKS RUNNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY,,,

Image
A Fraudster and unqualified person has been shortlisted for NEC submission for the position of CEPA Managing Director. The candidate in question is Jude Tukulyia. His academic credentials are subject to scrutiny. Further investigation is required to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of his qualifications, particularly the reported diploma in accounting, Bachelor of Laws, MBA from Divine Word and UPNG respectively. It is very suspicious and unprofessional  when the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change, Hon Simo Kilepa, wrote to UPNG Vice Chancellor asking to confirm Jude’s questioned education qualifications. This very due diligence work is the core responsibility of the Public Service Commission and Department of Personnel Management. What authority does the portfolio minister have to write to the Universities? Dumbfounding indeed if one asks. Ulterior motives written all over the letter. This amounts to  Questionable Academic Qualifications of Mr Tukulyia.    
Read more

MARAPE & PAITA ABOUT TO SIGN AWAY PNG GOLD

Image
By: Andrew Arthur Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and his planning minister Reinbo Paita are the parties behind the theft of all Papua New Guinea’s gold for the next 100 years! They have given approval for the STATE of Papua New Guinea to sign away all gold rights to an Australian paper company in Refinery Holdings PTE LTD. First, they have done the deal with a paper company even before there is a LAW that says they have the right to do the deal. We see how the real manipulation works out. Marape and Paita now need to get the law passed by Parliament. The law is before the Parliament to set up Papua New Guinea’s first National Gold Corporation. The National Gold Corporation Bill first surfaced in 2012 but successive Government of Sir Michael Somare and Hon. Peter O’Neill, in their wisdom, had refused to pass this Bill as there have been some sinister motives and constitutional issues associated with the Bill. The new bill will allow Refinery Holdings LTD PTE to own 70% of the National
Read more

AUGUSTINE MANO PNG'S PREMIER CORPORATE CROOK

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN In a significant setback for Mineral Resources Development Corporation (MRDC), the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has dismissed the company's appeal to stop criminal investigations into its dealings with landowner funds held in the Pacific Balance Fund (PBF). The court ruled that MRDC's appeal was an "abuse of process" and ordered the company to pay costs of the proceedings. MRDC, a unit holder in PBF, had taken legal action against the National Court's decision to dismiss its case, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. However, the Supreme Court disagreed and held that MRDC's appeal was nothing more than an attempt to interfere with the police's criminal investigative process. The court found that MRDC had no authority to conducted its own investigation into the activities of the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited (MTSL), the fund manager of PBF, and that its actions were in violation of the Trust Deed
Read more

PNG, VERY RICH YET STILL A VERY VERY POOR COUNTRY

Image
by GARY MONDULAME Papua New Guinea (PNG), a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with economic challenges that belie its potential wealth. The nation's economic narrative is a paradox—rich in resources yet burdened by poverty. The explanation for this paradox lies not only in economic mismanagement but also in deep-seated corruption that has permeated the political landscape since independence in 1975. Following its independence from Australia, PNG was entrusted to leaders who lacked a vision for a holistic national development. This absence of foresight is evident from the lack of long-term development plans that could have distributed the country’s wealth fairly across all regions and communities. Successive governments failed to establish foundational strategies such as building satellite townships or creating robust rural housing schemes. Instead, they resorted to short-term, reactive measures that did not foster sustainable growth. The nascent l
Read more

James Marape's Missteps Openly Exposed at Australian Forum

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN  In a recent event that highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy and governance, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, faced a challenging situation during his appearance at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia. The Lowy Institute, known for its role as an independent think tank focusing on international policy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, provided a platform for a candid assessment of Marape's governance. Following his formal address, Marape engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Michael Fullilove AM, the Executive Director of the Institute. Dr. Fullilove, a respected figure in public and international policy, scrutinized Marape's past promises and statements, contrasting them with the current state of affairs in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The discussion took a critical turn as Dr. Fullilove revisited Marape's 2019 speech at the same venue, where Marape had outlined his vision for PNG in a speech titled “A New Boo
Read more

BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, WHY THE PNG ECONOMY STILL SUCKS

Image
Elizabeth Genia, Acting Governor Bank of PNG (BPNG) by MICHAEL JOSEPH PASSINGAN The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is at a crucial juncture. Despite some signs of recovery, the country faces several structural challenges that continue to impede its economic progress. The March 2024 Monetary Policy Statement from the Bank of Papua New Guinea sheds light on these issues, providing a comprehensive overview of the economic landscape and the policy responses being implemented to navigate through these turbulent times. In 2023, PNG's economy grew by a modest 1.4%, a significant slowdown from the 5.2% growth witnessed in 2022. This tepid growth is largely attributed to delays in major projects and ongoing economic issues that have not been fully resolved. The anticipated growth for 2024 is around 3.0%, buoyed by the resumption of production at the Porgera gold mine. While this marks an improvement, it remains subdued compared to the potential of this resource-rich nation. One of the mo
Read more

A Call for Local Ownership and Fairness

Image
by JUSTIN PARKER In recent discussions surrounding the establishment of a gold refinery in Papua New Guinea (PNG), concerns have been raised regarding various aspects of the proposed project. Spearheaded by foreign investors, the initiative has sparked debates over ownership, exclusivity, tax concessions, underwriting, management rights, control over currency, legal protections, and historical failures. These concerns, if unaddressed, could potentially undermine the interests of PNG and its people, particularly the hardworking alluvial miners who form the backbone of the nation's mining sector. At the heart of the issue lies the question of ownership. The proposed ownership structure, favoring foreign investors with a substantial 70% stake, raises eyebrows, especially considering PNG's past experiences with failed ventures like seabed mining. Instead of ceding majority control to foreign entities, many argue that PNG should assert full ownership over the refinery. With the coun
Read more