PNG is NOT a banana republic

                                                                                                 
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 (23rdMay 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 boys - preaching one thing and doing the opposite.

In fact, the year (2013), has been the year of shocking news, hitting the news headlines around the globe.  

The country has stayed awakening by very disturbing events happening around the country, over the last couple of months. The year has recorded some of the most horrific killings and rapes.  
 A woman burnt alive in Mt. Hagen followed by raping and killing of another young woman in front of her one year old baby, whom was left overnight beside her bleeding dead body.

As still not enough, there was another killing of an expatriate man in Mt. Hagen and raping of his Pilipino girlfriend. This followed by killing of a young man in Lae and raping of an expatriate academic/researcher in Madang.
                                                                                                                        
These killings and rapes have left the nation in great shock and raked in public outcry, for the government to take immediate actions before the country become a grave yard for innocent women, men and children.

As the government was trying to respond to public outcry over the violent crimes, there was more shocking news.

This time, the infamous bank robber, murder and rapist Walliam Nanu Kapris has escaped twice from the maximum prison at Bomana, outside Port Moresby. It may appear that he was deliberately let out to kill and rape more victims to continue the trend of violent crimes in the country because he was supposed to be securely locked away and guarded.   

When Kapris was first escaped last year, the exercise of recapturing him cost the State dearly in millions of public funds. Looks like the first escape didn’t teach them any lesson as the government is spending or going to spend the same amount or more to recapture the wanted criminal again.  Maybe they deliberately are doing this so that someone can benefit from this expensive exercise of recapturing him.
                                                              
While the nation was absorbed with violent crimes and news of Kapris’s second escape, there was another story crept into the mainstream media unnoticed. This time it was not about murder, rape or notorious criminals escaped from prisons but about misappropriation or theft of public funds.

According to the mainstream media in the country on May 15, 2013, a businessman from East New Britain, Eremas Wartoto was accused of misappropriating more than K61.1 million from the PNG government.
                                                                                                                     
In the next day, (May 16, 2013), the same mainstream media reported yet another fraud against the State of more than K71 million by the country’s largest Law firm, Paul Paraka lawyers. This whopping amount has been paid between 2012 and 2013, making business with the government even more attractive. But the government said they will spend another K2 million for an enquiry.

Many such enquiries have been carried out before and their findings and recommendations are yet to be tabled in parliament and implemented. But the PM has given his words to get down to the tea boys so the nation is waiting for the outcome if by this time it will be different.

The continuous theft against the State by individuals and firms is indicating that the government has a lot of money to entertain certain already well-off individuals, in the name of providing and rendering services to the State.
                                                                                                                                 
But that is not the case when it comes to providing basic goods and services in the country, which the rural people badly need.

After all of the above, the people have been wondering what might happen next.
                                          
The next event didn’t take that much long as the mainstream media, on May 23rd, 2013, reported the migration of Parliamentarians from the opposition to join the government ranks, leaving the opposition with only six MPs.   

Can anyone think of any country in the world that had seen majority of members moving from the opposition to join the government ranks, leaving behind a skeleton opposition?

They may have better excuses but the paranoid reason of serving the people better in the government is not new and in fact misleading because every MP have one thing in common and that is to serve the people whether in the government or in the opposition.  

One thing common about political leaders around the world is they do argue and disagree with each other on certain policy issues but they don’t migrate in big numbers from the opposition to the government like what has been happening in PNG. 

We may as well assume that they are switching political parties to serve their own interest. May be they are seeking immunity to protect themselves from investigations by the Task Force Team of possible or future corruption allegations. Or maybe they are seeking opportunities to personal wealth creation so that they can become rich quickly and the surplus can be used to successfully defend and seek re-election after their five-year term expires. Or maybe for some other reasons only god knows what they are.

All these are not only happening in this government. We had seen and witnessed the current trend of shocking news in previous governments led by former Prime Ministers as well.

Whatever the reasons are we have been over many years a laughing stocks for the world because of running down a natural rich country by serving our own interests first before the country and its people.

The question now asked is – are we going to be forever a laughing stock for the world or do we need to change here right now to shape a better future, which we all desire.

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

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

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

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

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

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