THE BASIL STANDOFF

by ROBERT SALMON MINAK 

Every story has 2 sides. The story we know has Hon Sam Basil and Co. referring Hon Bryan Kramer to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. Kramer has had Basil in his crosshairs since the day after Basil left for government.

The range of issues Kramer has been raising have popular resonance. Truth be told, I am beginning to believe in Kramer's consistency in "shaking the monkey filled corruption tree". And its getting heated!

Now, in the glamor of all that we are made to see, we may not realise certain aspects of a game as murky as politics. Someone once said politics is a game of convenience. No permanent friends, no permanent enemies. Nothing personal. All for show.

Just in July 2017, Pangi Party leader Basil, now Oneill's minister for Facebook, authored and promoted the slogan "Friends to all enemy to one". The one enemy being PM Peter Oneill.

How fortunes can change so quickly in PNG. As you read this, Oneill and Basil are now friends. Strange bedfellows?

That is the nature of the game. Everything has a price tag in politics. Marriages and divorcess of convenience dictate the game.

Now, if we care to remember, recent history (last year) has Kramer, working as a strategist plotting the Pangu Party resurgence. Basil and Kramer were running the engine of Pangu and performed extremely well in the National Elections.

When Oneill secured a return to the PM seat, Basil switched sides with a faction of Pangu MPs. Kramer remained on the other side with Hon Sir Mekere Morauta and a handful of young MPs.

Oneill bought Sam Basil and co to keep United Resource Party's William Duma humble. Duma wielded the balance of power before Basil made the move. Part of the reason was that the opposition had 46 MPs (the Alliance then). Oneill was on nervous grounds. Duma flips and Oneill would have been history (Manumanu land deal investigations was O'Neill's political leash on Duma). So, by bringing Basil's herd into camp, Duma's leverage was neutralised with the net effect cementing Oneill's position.

Word is that Basil was promised the Deputy PM's post. We all know he didnt get it right? To hand over DPM to Basil within the safety net period is suicidal. There is no political need for PM Oneill to rush the DPM position to Basil. Time will come. The promise still remains. That is Oneills carrot. Duma wants it too but Basil is primed for it....for now.

Just a few weeks ago, facebook accounts, Vincent Moses, Talitha Rosenberg, Michael Pasingan, Eddie veda and few others circulated news of a cabinet room altercation between PM Oneill and Education Minister Hon Nick Kuman.

Kuman rubbished those versions as fake news. But the ferocity of the words he chose to deploy in his rebuttal were serious words. He would have chose to ignore them(like Oneill does). But Kuman saw the need to officially respond. When a cabinet minister responds to "fake news" then you can bet your bank balance there is an element of truth about it.

Now, roundabout that time last month, the PM was caught offguard in another "fake news" incident in Brisbane Australia during the annual Australia/ PNG Business Council meeting. Economist Paul Flanagan and a team of scholars from a think tank released a dossier highlighting the negative effects of the PNGLNG project. While he totally rejected it as fake news, his deputy, Hon Charles Abel, indicated the article had substantial merit and conceded its findings.

Shortly between those events, Sam Basil and Pangu publicly re-arffirmed their commitment to Peter Oneill. Few days later, Oneill promoted Pangu Deputy Hon. William Samb to "assistant PM". This is a nothing ministry( but leave that to another time). So far the winds of fortune are slowly but surely blowing Pangu's way.

This is where Pangu's fortune engineer comes in. Enter Hon Bryan Kramer.

Hon Kramer's no holds barred frontal assault on Basil and the latter's response with equal tenacity is pushing Basil deeper into the Oneill ranks.

Basil is a leader of almost 12 years standing. Being no slouch when it comes to facebook attacks on fellow MPs he is taking particular offence on Kramer's posts. He has a thick skin. Is he hurt?. Is he putting up a facade?. If acting hurt and reacting in the manner he is makes him Oneill's darling, its a win for him.

If one cares to look carefully at Kramer's dumb'n'dumber post on Basil really, there is nothing there. Kramer's referral while. premised on a misconstruction of the law, is political. Kramer knows how it will play out and so does Basil.

While the Privilleges committee recomendation may struggle to stand up in court, it only makes Kramer and Basil's fight look genuine (Even if it were, politics is too good of a game to be taken seriously at the personal level. Its a game of ideals where the best strategist wins. Nothing personal, just plain old politics).

Basil has the nation at heart. He is as patriotic as they come. He will die for this country without a second thought. By being in government he is closer to the throughs of the throne than he has ever been in his entire political career.

Remember, when he first joined government, word was that ministers in cabinet treated him with suspicion. They found his criticism of government harder to forgive.

But its many months now, and thanks to Bryan Kramer's pen (keyboard or mouse) Basil now finds a comfortable seat at Oneill's table.

Peter Oneill is enjoying the sideshow. He would love nothing than to see two former buddies locking horns on an epic scale. He just doesnt want to play any part of it. Choosing to watch from the fringes, he has appointed DPM Charles Abel to manage the proceedings.

But this fight has far reaching consequences for Oneill if he under estimates the intent of the catfight. That is the other side of the story.

Bryan Kramer, may never be friends with Basil any more but Kramer shaking Basil's branch so hard is causing Basil to gravitate closer and closer to the monkey king atop the tree.

Intentionally or not, Basil's reacting to Kramer's facebook post is working in favor of Basil.

Whether this is a ploy by the opposition and Basil or not, only time will tell. But like everything, politics has two sides. Dont be blinded by the picture they show you. Keep your minds open. It's politics....played as a game of convenience all the time..nothing personal.

The author is a Lawyer and Writer who has written several books on PNG. Please follow him on his blog over HERE

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

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

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

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