PNGBLOGS

By LUCAS KIAP                        My faith and hope about the Task Force Team to fight corruption has diminished after I saw the headline of the front page of Post Courier this morning (Friday, May 31, 2013), which read, “Wartoto nabbed”. The Chairman of the Task Force Sweep Team, according to this paper (Post Courier), said and I quote, “As a matter of Law, Mr Wartoto remains innocent until proven otherwise by a court of law”. He also said and I quote again, “The intentions of the government may have been genuine but greed, lack of management and monitoring, parking funds in authorities/agencies that lacked capacity to managed them and political patronage had resulted in millions of Kina being stolen and wasted”. We are forced to believe and have faith in our laws which had never been used successfully to prosecute and put behind bars white collar criminals. If there are such laws exist to prosecute white-collar criminals, then the people of Papua New Guinea no longer have faith in

By LUCAS KIAP                        My faith and hope about the Task Force Team to fight corruption has diminished after I saw the headline of the front page of Post Courier this morning (Friday, May 31, 2013), which read, “Wartoto nabbed”. The Chairman of the Task Force Sweep Team, according to this paper (Post Courier), said and I quote, “As a matter of Law, Mr Wartoto remains innocent until proven otherwise by a court of law”. He also said and I quote again, “The intentions of the government may have been genuine but greed, lack of management and monitoring, parking funds in authorities/agencies that lacked capacity to managed them and political patronage had resulted in millions of Kina being stolen and wasted”. We are forced to believe and have faith in our laws which had never been used successfully to prosecute and put behind bars white collar criminals. If there are such laws exist to prosecute white-collar criminals, then the people of Papua New Guinea no longer have

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill likes to talk tough about cracking down on corruption but his own Chief of Staff was recommended for prosecution in the Finance Department Commission of Inquiry report for fraudulently claiming K3.7 million as part of the Paraka Scams which have cost PNG hundreds of million… Former Ambassador to the European Union, Departmental Head and Consultant to the Prime Minister, Isaac Lupari stole K3.7 million from the people of PNG through false claims for breach of contract according to the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Finance Department. The false claims were drafted and submitted by Guguna Garo, of Paul Paraka lawyers, and were illegally settled by the then Solicitor General, Zachary Gelu. In addition to the K3.7 million, a further K800,000 was paid to Paul Paraka lawyers from public funds for their role in facilitating the fraud. The Commission of Inquiry has recommended Isaac Lupari, Zacchary Gelu and Guguna Garo all be investigated by the po

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill likes to talk tough about cracking down on corruption but his own Chief of Staff was recommended for prosecution in the Finance Department Commission of Inquiry report for fraudulently claiming K3.7 million as part of the Paraka Scams which have cost PNG hundreds of million… Former Ambassador to the European Union, Departmental Head and Consultant to the Prime Minister, Isaac Lupari stole K3.7 million from the people of PNG through false claims for breach of contract according to the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Finance Department. The false claims were drafted and submitted by Guguna Garo, of Paul Paraka lawyers, and were illegally settled by the then Solicitor General, Zachary Gelu. In addition to the K3.7 million, a further K800,000 was paid to Paul Paraka lawyers from public funds for their role in facilitating the fraud. The Commission of Inquiry has recommended Isaac Lupari, Zacchary Gelu and Guguna Garo all be investigated by the

PARLIAMENT yesterday gave a resounding aye to amendments to the Criminal Code Act that raised penalties for serious crimes including stealing and misappropriation. The death penalty will apply for crimes such as aggravated rape, sorcery-related killings and robbery with violence.  The Criminal Code Act (Amendment Bill 2013), which was passed on a voice vote, repealed the Sorcery Act 1971. Killings connected with sorcery will now be treated as wilful murder and the penalty is death. Aggravated rape is defined as rape using dangerous wea­pons or rape in the company of one or more persons or where grievous bodily harm is caused and where the victim is a child under 10 years.  The new laws have increased the penalties for kidnapping which will now carry a maximum prison term of 50 years without remission or parole while kidnapping for ransom, a new kind of crime, now carries maximum penalty of life imprisonment without remission and parole. As for stealing of monies between K5 million and

PARLIAMENT yesterday gave a resounding aye to amendments to the Criminal Code Act that raised penalties for serious crimes including stealing and misappropriation. The death penalty will apply for crimes such as aggravated rape, sorcery-related killings and robbery with violence.  The Criminal Code Act (Amendment Bill 2013), which was passed on a voice vote, repealed the Sorcery Act 1971. Killings connected with sorcery will now be treated as wilful murder and the penalty is death. Aggravated rape is defined as rape using dangerous wea­pons or rape in the company of one or more persons or where grievous bodily harm is caused and where the victim is a child under 10 years.  The new laws have increased the penalties for kidnapping which will now carry a maximum prison term of 50 years without remission or parole while kidnapping for ransom, a new kind of crime, now carries maximum penalty of life imprisonment without remission and parole. As for stealing of monies between K5 milli

By SONJA BARRY RAMOI "Indai blo Ludwig soim mi olsem mi i mas reconcile wantaim Grand Chief" (Ludwig's death has shown me that I must reconcile with the Grand Chief) - the Opposition Leader Belden Namah said inside the packed Catholic church in Angoram during the funeral service held for the late member for Angoram, Ludwig Schulze who sadly passed away in April this year. The self made, straight talking multi-millionaire member of parliament representing the West Sepik electorate of Vanimo Green knows he has to not just say sorry. He must perform kastom to show that he is truly sorry the traditional way - Sepik style. When Mr. Namah was asked "how many pigs can you put?'", he replied "find 1000. He is the Grand Chief you know". Former East Sepik Provincial Speaker and the a/Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Isaac Wrongkalm wants the Member for East Sepik, Right Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to forgive Belden Namah for his role in the politica

By SONJA BARRY RAMOI "Indai blo Ludwig soim mi olsem mi i mas reconcile wantaim Grand Chief" (Ludwig's death has shown me that I must reconcile with the Grand Chief) - the Opposition Leader Belden Namah said inside the packed Catholic church in Angoram during the funeral service held for the late member for Angoram, Ludwig Schulze who sadly passed away in April this year. The self made, straight talking multi-millionaire member of parliament representing the West Sepik electorate of Vanimo Green knows he has to not just say sorry. He must perform kastom to show that he is truly sorry the traditional way - Sepik style. When Mr. Namah was asked "how many pigs can you put?'", he replied "find 1000. He is the Grand Chief you know". Former East Sepik Provincial Speaker and the a/Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Isaac Wrongkalm wants the Member for East Sepik, Right Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to forgive Belden Namah for his role in the politi

With only seven MPs left following a rash of defections to the government ranks, Belden Namah should be a very worried Opposition Leader. But the firebrand Member for Vanimo-Green remains unperturbed by it all and even boasted to journalists at a media conference last Thursday that he is prepared to be a “one-man opposition”. The “never-say-die” spirit has always been a characteristic of Namah – from his early days as a Defence Force soldier and a key fi­gure in the Sandline affair in the 1990s to his first-term election to Parliament in 2007 and subsequent elevation to deputy prime minis­ter under controversial circumstances in August 2011.  One of the principal players in that torrid affair was Namah himself and as opposition leader. His re-election in the ge­neral election last June was another personal achievement for Namah. But his split from the coalition with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill – less than a year after their infamous parliamentary coup to remove the Somare regime – and

With only seven MPs left following a rash of defections to the government ranks, Belden Namah should be a very worried Opposition Leader. But the firebrand Member for Vanimo-Green remains unperturbed by it all and even boasted to journalists at a media conference last Thursday that he is prepared to be a “one-man opposition”. The “never-say-die” spirit has always been a characteristic of Namah – from his early days as a Defence Force soldier and a key fi­gure in the Sandline affair in the 1990s to his first-term election to Parliament in 2007 and subsequent elevation to deputy prime minis­ter under controversial circumstances in August 2011.  One of the principal players in that torrid affair was Namah himself and as opposition leader. His re-election in the ge­neral election last June was another personal achievement for Namah. But his split from the coalition with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill – less than a year after their infamous parliamentary coup to remove the Somare regime

By LUCAS KIAP When it comes to infrastructure development and providing basic government services in the country - is where billions and billions of Kina of public funds are pumped into every year. Year-in-year-out, every government, when comes into office makes headlines across the country when announcing big budgets to tackle the infrastructure woes (and basic government services) in the country, raising the hope of the people because they want it badly. Despite billions of kina have been spent every year on infrastructure alone to deliver basic government services to the people, people still complain about the lack of such vital services and how they struggle to survive without it. Sad tales of such struggles are reported everyday by the media. It has been and it seems, the cries and struggles of the people desperately wanting basic government services will never stop as most of the existing infrastructures have deteriorated and run down due to decades of lack of funding, mismanagem

By LUCAS KIAP When it comes to infrastructure development and providing basic government services in the country - is where billions and billions of Kina of public funds are pumped into every year. Year-in-year-out, every government, when comes into office makes headlines across the country when announcing big budgets to tackle the infrastructure woes (and basic government services) in the country, raising the hope of the people because they want it badly. Despite billions of kina have been spent every year on infrastructure alone to deliver basic government services to the people, people still complain about the lack of such vital services and how they struggle to survive without it. Sad tales of such struggles are reported everyday by the media. It has been and it seems, the cries and struggles of the people desperately wanting basic government services will never stop as most of the existing infrastructures have deteriorated and run down due to decades of lack of funding, mi

A JUDICIAL inquiry revealing a $300 million scam perpetrated by top officials and leading lawyers has provoked a sensation in Papua New Guinea, with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill warning that he may sack everyone in the Finance Department. He is seeking the support of the Australian Federal Police and of Interpol in a “high-level investigation” of the corruption, with initial funding of $1 million. He suspended Finance secretary Steven Gibson and his deputy Jacob Yafai yesterday. The 811-page report of the inquiry – which was conducted for the parliament by PNG judges Maurice Sheehan, a New Zealander, and Cathy Davani, and by prominent businessman Don Manoa – was injuncted three years ago by the law firm of solicitor Paul Paraka, who is named throughout the report. The report reveals a large number of bogus compensation claims made by and settled within the senior bureaucracy. And fresh information reveals that massive corrupt payments have continued, despite the comprehensive findi

A JUDICIAL inquiry revealing a $300 million scam perpetrated by top officials and leading lawyers has provoked a sensation in Papua New Guinea, with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill warning that he may sack everyone in the Finance Department. He is seeking the support of the Australian Federal Police and of Interpol in a “high-level investigation” of the corruption, with initial funding of $1 million. He suspended Finance secretary Steven Gibson and his deputy Jacob Yafai yesterday. The 811-page report of the inquiry – which was conducted for the parliament by PNG judges Maurice Sheehan, a New Zealander, and Cathy Davani, and by prominent businessman Don Manoa – was injuncted three years ago by the law firm of solicitor Paul Paraka, who is named throughout the report. The report reveals a large number of bogus compensation claims made by and settled within the senior bureaucracy. And fresh information reveals that massive corrupt payments have continued, despite the comp

By LUCAS KIAP                                                                                                     If someone is asked in year 2050 to go back in time to study the history of PNG, I believe the year 2013 will be the starting point in shaping the future of the country for better or for worse. After so many shocking news crimpling the country over the last couple of months, yet we have another one yesterday (23 rd May 2013) but weird one too. This time, according to the mainstream media, the numbers of Parliamentarians in the Opposition had been reduced to only six MPs by migration of MPs joining the Government ranks - portraying the Opposition as unworthy and meaningless in our democracy government system. One may question the loyalty of these MPs. If one cannot be loyal, then we may as well question the integrity, credibility and reputation of these MPs, as well as their underlying reasons of switching. It is very obvious that our MPs talk like men but they act like

By LUCAS KIAP                                                                                                     If someone is asked in year 2050 to go back in time to study the history of PNG, I believe the year 2013 will be the starting point in shaping the future of the country for better or for worse. After so many shocking news crimpling the country over the last couple of months, yet we have another one yesterday (23 rd May 2013) but weird one too. This time, according to the mainstream media, the numbers of Parliamentarians in the Opposition had been reduced to only six MPs by migration of MPs joining the Government ranks - portraying the Opposition as unworthy and meaningless in our democracy government system. One may question the loyalty of these MPs. If one cannot be loyal, then we may as well question the integrity, credibility and reputation of these MPs, as well as their underlying reasons of switching. It is very obvious that our MPs talk like men