Pacific Games contract brings more rumours of corruption

PNG Exposed Blog

We believe that the focus here should not be China Harbor Engineering Company. They are here to make money, by whatever means. We should instead scrutinise the actions of our leaders involved in the awarding of the contract, beginning of course with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko Given the bad or negative profiles of these Chinese companies how on earth did we give out such contracts. If there were any tender procedural issues or bending or breaking of our Public Finance Management Act then these two leaders are to be among those people we need to question.

What’s in it for them? K73 million?

Rumours are being circulated almost on a daily basis but no-one has come out to disprove or confirm them. To me it stinks when our leaders have been brought into question by their actions – whether genuine or not, the perception remains in our mind that something or someone stinks somewhere.

Whilst Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s anti-corruption pet the Task Force Sweep Team have been making a lot of noise – there has been over 60 arrests – but no conviction as yet. It leads me to draw the conclusion, whether true or not, that the team is basically a smoke screen for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. There are numerous stories about the company that our Prime Minister keeps and the multi-million kina deals PNG has entered into.

Here are a few examples:


1. LNA Constructions was given a K24 million contract to tile the National Parliament without going through tender processes. The Principals of the company, Nii and Luciano Cragnolini as very close friends of the PM. Rumour has it that this money came from K54 million which the PM parked in the National Parliament Imprest Account during the political impasse. Part of the money was paid out to lawyers who defended O’Neill during the impasse. The Speaker of the National Parliament actually instituted an investigation into how the funds were spent but was threatened and abandoned the investigation.


2. LNA was awarded a multi-million contract to rebuild the Pineapple building. Again, this is a company whose owners are very close friends of the PM; Was it tendered? If so can the details be made public for the people to see if the process was fair.


3. Curtain Brothers was awarded a K60-plus million contract to build a ring road around Paga Hill when the company which owns the land offered to do it for three times less. Rumors have it that the PM actually flew to Australia to give the cheque to the owner Mick Curtain. Don’t know what relationship the PM has with the Curtains but it makes no sense why build something for K60-plus million when you can do it for K20 million. Where is the additional K40 million going to?

4. Carson Pratt/Southwest Air. Rumors has it that PM O’Neill has amassed a huge personal fortune in the short time in office. Some say he is now worth between K300-K500 million. Rumor has it that he has bought out Carson Pratt/Southwest Air in Mendi for a substantial amount of money. Can this be confirmed? This we understand was in preparation to tap into the spin-offs from the K6 billion Chinese loan for the Highlands Rehabilitation Program. Again, all rumors but if true, then this is something every thinking and concerned Papua New Guinean should be aware of. Do we need a Prime Minister who has personal business interests as well? Can he serve two masters?

5. Pokies. And lastly, it pains me to lean also that the Prime Minister and former Mendi Open MP Michael Nali own a pokies/club in Port Moresby. He says he is against gambling but does not hesitate to have them in his establishment.

Again, these are all rumours but would appreciate if someone can confirm or deny them.

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