PNGBLOGS

by JONAH IRUM Well, well, well; The Pacific Games are over. Every good thing must come to an end but the walk of life is all about moving on. The excitement and the achievements of the event is now history. When we beat farewell to our wan solwara wantoks the environment in Port Moresby is beginning to slowly adjust into its normal way of life. For the rest of PNG it is business as usual. Since the so called spectacular opening ceremony through to the closing ceremony PNG once again reaffirmed its position as the big boy or bikpla mangi of the Pacific region. The announcement by the Governor General to render assistance to Tonga as the host nation for the 16th Pacific Games come 2019 is yet another commitment from the bikpla mangi besides the financial assistance it rendered to Fiji during its National Elections and to Solomon Islands recently. Anyway, many of us especially the Port Moresby citizens will share many fond memories of the games. The people to people

by BERNADETTE W. WINGERE When the RD Tuna Canners Corporation first set foot in Madang in 1997, the Papua New Guinea government had envisioned that the company would create employments, landowners would get royalties, the spin of businesses will be distributed to the surrounding communities and as a result it will boost the economy and vital service delivery in the country. However, after 18 years of sucking all the resources in PNG soils, the innocent Pilipino girl has grew into a matu (leader) of businesses in the country. First it came as a RD Tuna canner, now she has her sister company RD Fishing PNG Limited and other small contractors from Philippines and they also have great influence in PNG politics and economic systems as well. The company now owns 12 fishing vessels, 7 fishing carriers and it employs more than 3000 people whom she does not see as her strong workforce or the backbone of the company but rather her slaves. During her establishment, the aim was to produce qua

by PAUL J REINBARA The Prime Minister was quoted in the Post Courier of 21st August 2012 as announcing the National Executive Council decision to terminate the K31.52 million Public Service Home Ownership Program (PSHOP) contract and the contractor, Australasia Pacific Panel Limited (AUSPAC), has offered to repay the money in full. Mr O’Neill said significant increases in property development and building costs over the last five years had made it impossible for the contractor to deliver fully serviced land and 200 houses at Eight Mile in the National Capital District. Mr O’Neill commended Australasia Pacific Panel Limited for its offer to repay monies it had received from the State for the PSHOP project. “The vast majority of cancelled contracts with the State end up costing the State millions of Kina. It is to the credit of the contractor and its executives and affiliates that the monies advanced by the State are being repaid in full,” he said Although the announcemen

by YAKAN LEPAKALI This article stems from Sunday Chronicle (July 26 2015) titled “Budget Cut and East Sepik to lose K276 million in 2016”. According to the above article, public machinery in ESP is into crisis management mood to make adjustments and take drastic steps with stringent measures to cut back on unnecessary expenditure and tighten up in readiness for 2016 budget cut. The article merely featured East Sepik Province; however, same is true with the other provinces in the country. Yet, intriguingly, nothing much is heard from the respective provincial administrations and perhaps waiting for the dream rainfall. Should K276 million cut in reality is somewhat true for all provinces, it is to the tune of K6 billion plus. We don’t know yet how many national departments and state institutions will have their share of the cut in 2016 budget. It was also speculated that DSIP will also suffer cut courtesy of this ruthless totalitarian regime. The predictability o

by BRYAN KRAMER Today's post Courier ran a front page story suggesting the Commissioner of Police Gary Baki is querying how confidential investigations by National Fraud & Anti-Corruption ended up being posted on Social Media. The daily paper quoted Baki having concerns as to why there was a need to go to media on public matters which are supposed to be confidential police investigations. He added that the actions of Mr Damaru and Mr Gitua undermined the integrity of the office of the Commissioner of Police. "This is a serious breach of discipline and amounts to insubordination. In fact they are treating the office of the Commissioner of Police with contempt. Why wasn't I briefed prior to the securing of the warrant of arrest?" Mr Baki said. "Why wasn't I briefed in the three days prior to my directive for the briefing after having read this matter on Facebook?" he said. In response I would like to clarify that I never obtai

by SAM BASIL MP, Deputy Opposition Leader The Opposition have always been critical of how Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) economy has been financially mismanaged by the O’Neill government and we still believe this, when the 2015 Pacific Games has placed a further financial burden on PNG’s economy. As Deputy Opposition Leader, I do not question that all those associated with the 2015 Pacific Games, held here in PNG, should be acknowledged for a successful event given the short time span to organise; credit must be given to all these professionals, volunteers and sponsors for their commitment and determination. But the reality check needs to occur when the Pacific Games have left PNG’s shores and we are reminded about the recession we are currently in, and the loans that the O’Neill government have exposed PNG to; both issues will be strongly denied by the O’Neill government through their media propaganda announcements. What the O’Neill government won’t tell you, is that most major s

by BRYAN KRAMER Part 1 of this article was relation the Secretary of Treasury Dairi Vele being wanted by Members of Task Force Sweep and National Fraud & Anti-Corruption over allegations of Official Corruption, Misappropriation and Fraud. The article canvassed the allegations that facilitated a secret payment of K50 million to procure the purchase of two turbine generators in December 2013. This article will cover an in depth analysis on the issues and facts as presented in Part 1; charges defined by law and the key elements of the offence to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Official Corruption is a criminal offence prescribed under the Section 87 of the Criminal Code. It relates to a person employed in the public service or holding any public office, who corruptly asks, receives, or procures (facilitates) any property or benefit for himself or any other person, is guilty of a crime. The penalty is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years and a fine at the discretio

Diari Vele Secretary of Treasury is wanted by Members of Task Force Sweep and National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Directorate to effect his arrest and lay formal charges of official corruption, misappropriation and fraud. Sources at the District Court confirmed warrant of arrest was issued on Wednesday 22nd July 2015. It's alleged Vele has gone into hiding after being tipped about his planned arrest. The charges against him relate to allegations he facilitated a secret transaction of K50 million through Bank of PNG to an Israeli Company LR Group for the purchase of two power generators on 19th of December 2013. It's alleged Vele acted on the written directions of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to secure K50 million from the 2013 Budget and transfer the funds to Bank of PNG to facilitate the transaction. In doing so breached the proper processes under the Public Finance (Management) Act rendering the payment unlawful. Thus amounting to Official Corruption,

by PAUL J REINBARA Name alike, do alike –Geoffrey Vaki v Gari Baki It is not an uncommon incident to see those who are named alike do alike. The two names Geoffrey Vaki and Gari Baki rhyme but do they in conduct? Some Commonalities observed are as follows. APPOINTMENT Both men were budded (taken from outside) into the post of the Commissioner of Police by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill under very suspicious circumstances. The appointments were made amidst imminent arrest of PM O’Neill relating to his approval of fraudulent payments to controversial law firm Paul Paraka Lawyers. The appointment and/or removal of Commissioner of Police just like any other head of a Department, goes through a merit based appointment process, which includes public advertisement, consultation with the Public Service Commission and NEC. Public records show that none of these processes were invoked in the appointment/removal of these two Commissioners. THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AFTER APPOI

Maprik Open MP, John Simon (centre) celebrating the golden victory of the Simbinali family; Cesley (left of MP Simon) displaying her double gold medals and mum Angela (right of MP) also displaying her gold medal while dad Alois (left of Cesley) was flanked by the Maprik community in Port Moresby in the celebration. Pic by CYRIL GARE. by CYRIL GARE PORT MORESBY: Debutant twenty two year old East Sepik lass, Cesley Simbinali will never forget the events of the 15 th Pacific Games held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea July 4-18, 2015 where she fought the odds to bag two Gold medals respectively for her country in Lawn Bowls. The apogee of her life was out-shone in the women pairs (doubles) final playoff against a strong competitive Fijian side after she and team mate, Ju Carlo outclassed their opponents for the top spot. Fiji settled for Silver instead while Cook Islands took out Bronze.   That wasn’t all, she snatched her second Gold medal in the women 4’s category, even mor