PNGBLOGS

By: Dionisia Tabureguci of ISLAND BUSINESS It wasn’t too long ago that a partnership between the World Bank and its sister organisation the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in some countries in the region was frowned upon. Critics called it a ‘conflict of interest’. Through multi-million dollar loans, the IFC—the World Bank’s private sector financing arm—was funding the Pacific expansion of Irish-owned Digicel. At the same time, the World Bank was offering policy and technical assistance to governments in the region interested in opening up their telecommunications market. Words like “double standard” and “inappropriate” were used to describe their involvement in the Pacific’s telecommunication market. The World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific at the time, Nigel Roberts, had to defend the organisations’ involvements as independent of each other. “The process we’re involved in on the Wo

By: Dionisia Tabureguci of ISLAND BUSINESS It wasn’t too long ago that a partnership between the World Bank and its sister organisation the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in some countries in the region was frowned upon. Critics called it a ‘conflict of interest’. Through multi-million dollar loans, the IFC—the World Bank’s private sector financing arm—was funding the Pacific expansion of Irish-owned Digicel. At the same time, the World Bank was offering policy and technical assistance to governments in the region interested in opening up their telecommunications market. Words like “double standard” and “inappropriate” were used to describe their involvement in the Pacific’s telecommunication market. The World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific at the time, Nigel Roberts, had to defend the organisations’ involvements as independent of each other. “The process we’re involved in on the

UNAIDS Approximately 0.92% of the adult population in Papua New Guinea was living with HIV in 2009, according to new estimates from the National Department of Health and the National AIDS Council Secretariat. This latest round of estimates of HIV prevalence—carried out by a panel of national and international experts—is based on extensive data from antenatal clinics in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, Southern, Momase, and New Guinea Islands regions. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducting HIV tests among pregnant women—from 17 in 2005 to 178 in 2009. New data collected at these facilities have provided a clearer picture of the country’s HIV prevalence than ever before. “These new estimates have greatly enhanced our understanding of the scale and scope of Papua New Guinea’s AIDS epidemic,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, in an official visit to Papua New Guinea. “They provide an opportunity to r

UNAIDS Approximately 0.92% of the adult population in Papua New Guinea was living with HIV in 2009, according to new estimates from the National Department of Health and the National AIDS Council Secretariat. This latest round of estimates of HIV prevalence—carried out by a panel of national and international experts—is based on extensive data from antenatal clinics in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, Southern, Momase, and New Guinea Islands regions. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducting HIV tests among pregnant women—from 17 in 2005 to 178 in 2009. New data collected at these facilities have provided a clearer picture of the country’s HIV prevalence than ever before. “These new estimates have greatly enhanced our understanding of the scale and scope of Papua New Guinea’s AIDS epidemic,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, in an official visit to Papua New Guinea. “They provide an opportunity to r

ELLEN TIAMU (National Newspaper) The National reports allegations of institutional corruption and blatant abuse of public money have been levelled against Morobe Governor Luther Wenge by his provincial treasurer, Andrew Namuesh. Namuesh provided documents to substantiate his claims against Wenge, amounting to more than K6 million. One of the major issues was the sale of the former government store to Steamships Trading for K5.9 million. The sale was auctioned by Arthur Strachan Ltd of Lae for a 2.5% commission of the gross offer.The transfer of titles and consultation of sale were conducted by Steeles Lawyers. Namuesh claimed that the provincial executive council, under Wenge, had invested K4 million of the proceeds in an interest bearing deposit at the Westpac Lae branch. Against that deposit, the provincial government would take out a loan to fund the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea. The university’s establishment committee was chaired by the principal of Steeles Lawyers, R

ELLEN TIAMU (National Newspaper) The National reports allegations of institutional corruption and blatant abuse of public money have been levelled against Morobe Governor Luther Wenge by his provincial treasurer, Andrew Namuesh. Namuesh provided documents to substantiate his claims against Wenge, amounting to more than K6 million. One of the major issues was the sale of the former government store to Steamships Trading for K5.9 million. The sale was auctioned by Arthur Strachan Ltd of Lae for a 2.5% commission of the gross offer.The transfer of titles and consultation of sale were conducted by Steeles Lawyers. Namuesh claimed that the provincial executive council, under Wenge, had invested K4 million of the proceeds in an interest bearing deposit at the Westpac Lae branch. Against that deposit, the provincial government would take out a loan to fund the Lutheran University of Papua New Guinea. The university’s establishment committee was chaired by the principal of Steeles Lawyer

PUBLIC, private and non-governmental institutions tasked with delivering public services and those in receipt of public funds have to improve their governance performances for Papua New Guinea to achieve its strategic targets set out in Vision 2050 and the 2030 development strategic plan. Service delivery institutions, over the last 35 years, have not been adequately equipped to meet the development challenges of a developing nation to improve the lives of the rural masses. Hence, the ongoing calls for more funding towards service delivery will not achieve much; rather, such resources would only be captured by conduits. Speaking at the annual Certified Practicing Accountants of Papua New Guinea (CPAPNG) conference in Lae, Morobe, last Thursday, University of Papua New Guinea academic and Vision 2050 national strategic plan task force chairman Prof David Kavanamur highlighted the need for service delivery institutions to be adequately geared for the implementation of the government’s Vi

PUBLIC, private and non-governmental institutions tasked with delivering public services and those in receipt of public funds have to improve their governance performances for Papua New Guinea to achieve its strategic targets set out in Vision 2050 and the 2030 development strategic plan. Service delivery institutions, over the last 35 years, have not been adequately equipped to meet the development challenges of a developing nation to improve the lives of the rural masses. Hence, the ongoing calls for more funding towards service delivery will not achieve much; rather, such resources would only be captured by conduits. Speaking at the annual Certified Practicing Accountants of Papua New Guinea (CPAPNG) conference in Lae, Morobe, last Thursday, University of Papua New Guinea academic and Vision 2050 national strategic plan task force chairman Prof David Kavanamur highlighted the need for service delivery institutions to be adequately geared for the implementation of the government’s Vi

PNGExposed Blog While the activities of unscrupulous ‘carbon cowboys’ have attracted much attention in Papua New Guinea over recent years, a confidential proposal shows that the PNG government is itself hoping to carry off the biggest scam of all. The Papua New Guinea government has submitted a proposal to the Norwegians that would see up to US$ 1 billion flow into the corruption riddled Pacific island country. The Somare government came into power in 2002 promising to immediately fast-track 10 large-scale logging projects and soon after threw a World Bank funded forest conservation project out of the country. Since then it has also sanctioned more than 2.5 million hectares of forest clearance for spurious ‘agriculture projects’. But now it is claiming it will change its ways and will bring this forest rape under control – if the Norwegians will just deposit anything between $750 million and $1 billion in its coffers. As we reveal here, the PNG government’s proposal to the Norwegians

PNGExposed Blog While the activities of unscrupulous ‘carbon cowboys’ have attracted much attention in Papua New Guinea over recent years, a confidential proposal shows that the PNG government is itself hoping to carry off the biggest scam of all. The Papua New Guinea government has submitted a proposal to the Norwegians that would see up to US$ 1 billion flow into the corruption riddled Pacific island country. The Somare government came into power in 2002 promising to immediately fast-track 10 large-scale logging projects and soon after threw a World Bank funded forest conservation project out of the country. Since then it has also sanctioned more than 2.5 million hectares of forest clearance for spurious ‘agriculture projects’. But now it is claiming it will change its ways and will bring this forest rape under control – if the Norwegians will just deposit anything between $750 million and $1 billion in its coffers. As we reveal here, the PNG government’s proposal to the Norwegians

MILA KUNGUP I had the benefit to read the article by Mone Paiknoai Sam in the Sunday Chronicle on 7/2/2010 and the reply by the member on the 14/3/2010 in the same paper. Having vast local knowledge of the Mendi Open Electorate I made certain observations and to some extend concluded without due care that the Member is abruptly absorb devouring Christian thieving and totally absurd. First, I congratulate the honorable member for his recent extravagant wedding. Hot on the topic in various waterholes in the city and elsewhere is the Members recent wedding where one enters Parliament Impecuniously single and marries a pretty girl in the sums of Hundreds of Thousands of kina in the absence of decent enamour. Street kid in the aspersion of a pastor, Isaac Joseph Towang got elected to be served and not to serve. Member, even necessary, you are distressed, well done member. Let me remind the leader that he was too quick to forget the very fact that his biological polygamist father left him wi

MILA KUNGUP I had the benefit to read the article by Mone Paiknoai Sam in the Sunday Chronicle on 7/2/2010 and the reply by the member on the 14/3/2010 in the same paper. Having vast local knowledge of the Mendi Open Electorate I made certain observations and to some extend concluded without due care that the Member is abruptly absorb devouring Christian thieving and totally absurd. First, I congratulate the honorable member for his recent extravagant wedding. Hot on the topic in various waterholes in the city and elsewhere is the Members recent wedding where one enters Parliament Impecuniously single and marries a pretty girl in the sums of Hundreds of Thousands of kina in the absence of decent enamour. Street kid in the aspersion of a pastor, Isaac Joseph Towang got elected to be served and not to serve. Member, even necessary, you are distressed, well done member. Let me remind the leader that he was too quick to forget the very fact that his biological polygamist father left hi

PNGExposed Reports Contrary to his public claims, Health Minister, Sasa Zibe, has cut K223 million in potential funding for provincial hospitals and medical staff housing in order to fund the Pacific Medical Centre. A confidential Ministerial Briefing Paper leaked to this website show how Zibe personally intervened to amend a proposed funding request to the Chinese government to slash the money intended for “priority medical equipment” in provincial hospitals and instead insert a request for K230 million for his own pet project. The potential funding that the Minister has personally ordered be cut includes: * K81 million for the replacement of outdated and obsolete medical equipment across all Provincial hospitals including life support systems that are more than 10 years old. * K17 million for the replacement of static plant like sterilizing units, oxygen plants, incinerators, sewerage systems, water supply systems and stand-by generators * K124 million for staff housing for doctors,

PNGExposed Reports Contrary to his public claims, Health Minister, Sasa Zibe, has cut K223 million in potential funding for provincial hospitals and medical staff housing in order to fund the Pacific Medical Centre. A confidential Ministerial Briefing Paper leaked to this website show how Zibe personally intervened to amend a proposed funding request to the Chinese government to slash the money intended for “priority medical equipment” in provincial hospitals and instead insert a request for K230 million for his own pet project. The potential funding that the Minister has personally ordered be cut includes: * K81 million for the replacement of outdated and obsolete medical equipment across all Provincial hospitals including life support systems that are more than 10 years old. * K17 million for the replacement of static plant like sterilizing units, oxygen plants, incinerators, sewerage systems, water supply systems and stand-by generators * K124 million for staff housing for do

COUNTRYSIDE The Muruk is a powerful creature. It can reach two meters in its prime and has the ability to travel long distances. Unable to fly because of its body weight, this animal has adapted well. With its powerful claws, and muscular hinds, it defends well and is effective in overpowering preys. Even in the presence of a hunting party, it can easily over power, arrows, buckshot it indeed is a powerful animal. However, like all animals, it has its vulnerabilities and for the cassowary, it is the prism above its head, its brain. Meticulous planning, surveillance must be carried out before hinting it. The conventional way many tribes in PNG catch them is by chasing a herd into dense scrubs by burning the forests. There they will force the cassowary to adapt to this environment. With the fear of losing its balance, the cassowary is left with little option but hide. In this state, the hunt is virtually over as the big bird is fully exposed. However, the fact that its alive,

COUNTRYSIDE The Muruk is a powerful creature. It can reach two meters in its prime and has the ability to travel long distances. Unable to fly because of its body weight, this animal has adapted well. With its powerful claws, and muscular hinds, it defends well and is effective in overpowering preys. Even in the presence of a hunting party, it can easily over power, arrows, buckshot it indeed is a powerful animal. However, like all animals, it has its vulnerabilities and for the cassowary, it is the prism above its head, its brain. Meticulous planning, surveillance must be carried out before hinting it. The conventional way many tribes in PNG catch them is by chasing a herd into dense scrubs by burning the forests. There they will force the cassowary to adapt to this environment. With the fear of losing its balance, the cassowary is left with little option but hide. In this state, the hunt is virtually over as the big bird is fully exposed. However, the fact that its alive