PNGBLOGS

by Belden N. Namah MP As in the game of Chess, O'Neill’s opening in assuming power was indeed truly remarkable because people like me made it possible. While he did not take us all to the moon it was still a remarkable ride. Two major loss he suffered recently may perhaps lead to the beginning of his end game. The two major losses he suffered recently are of his own making. First, by dragging his foot on an Electronic Election with the hope of influencing the outcome of the 2017 O'Neill woke up after the 2017 election results started coming in to see his majority in Parliament decimated from 60 members to only 23. We also saw for the first time under his leadership unprecedented level of election-related violence in the Capital of all the highlands Provinces with over 25 deaths and millions in losses and damages to property. The election violence continues unabated today in his own Capital of Mendi where he remains powerless in restoring normalcy and where the enti

by HOPE PNG The sale of Oil Search shares by UBS resulted in it recovering part of its principal from the US$1.2 billion (K3 billion) loaned to PNG Government to purchase the shares initially. Of that K3 billion loaned to PNG Government, UBS only recovered K2.22 billion from that sale. Simple math dictates that UBS made a loss of K780 million on the principal amount loaned. • The first shipment of PNG LNG was made in the last week of March 2014 (source: PNG Business Advantage) • PNG LNG proceeds were held in a UBS bank account as collateral in Singapore. • The State offloaded (by directing UBS) the Oil Search shares and made a loss of US$250 million (or K780 as stated by Wapu Sonk). • The actual loss would be well over K1.8 billion when calculating collar costs, commissions to advisors and all other costs associated with the UBS loan. • O’Neill claimed Government made a net gain of K100 million from that sale. • The only logical conclusion one can draw is that UBS dippe

by DAVID LEPI Behind this charming and unfailing gracious persona lies a shrewd and unflinching calculative mind. A mind of a brilliant and accomplished political tactician the country has ever seen. Peter Parre O’Neill is the maker and breaker of political parties, a mover and a shaker of political will and even those whims of titanium craftily engineered by the seasoned and well-placed hands that many thought wouldn’t stand the test of the boy from Ialibu/Pangia’s political ingenuity. Born to Brian O'Neill, an Australian-born magistrate of partial Irish descent and local mother Awambo Yari, from Pangia Southern Highlands. In Parre’s veins run 'Kamari'- the blood of those destined for higher callings. O'Neill was educated at the Pangia Primary School, Ialibu High School, and Goroka High School. After leaving the school he was educated at the University of Papua New Guinea, graduating with a Bachelor of Accountancy and Commerce in 1986. O’Niell's tentacle

by CYRIL GARE One of the greatest challenges for our new first time politicians is to acquaint themselves with and understand the country’s foreign policy among others. It is even challenging for a first-time Minister. In many democracies in the world, a first-time politician does not become a Minister immediately. The reason is obvious. He or she must first understudy and learn the trade skills of the game before taking on a ministerial responsibility in Government. Last week, we boasted about the launch of PNG’s first ever National Trade Policy (NTP). In time, many Papua New Guineans including myself will be able to read and understand the NTP from an available copy. For now, let’s just deduce from information provided in media reports that the NTP now “gives an upper hand to negotiate trade with its partners”. In essence, trade involves supply and demand; i) we supply others with what they do not have, and ii) in reciprocate buy from them what we do not have such as medicine an

by MELL LAKA The Attorney General is empowered to brief private lawyers/counsel to act for the State. This occurs when there is need for particular expertise or the Attorney General is unable to undertake the work itself. From Finance Department records a Commission of enquiry found that over the period 2000 to 2006 the State incurred liability in payouts of approximately K100 million in legal fees. The Inquiry saw that there has been no compliance with the Public Finances (Management) Act procedures of expenditure for approval prior to engaging in those brief outs. A  Commission of enquiry after making extensive examination of these payments with ready assistance from all the law firms concerned except Paul Paraka Lawyers which has been the recipient of at least the K41 million in brief out fees for January 2003 to August 2006 noted in NEC records.  Let me illustrate what I mean by excessive legal fee with our so called Chief Secretary of the National Government, Mr. Isaac Lupari

by MELL LAKKA Mr. Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea does not need to amend the constitution to cater for an individual's  greed. We need intelligent people to debate on controversial issues affecting our lives. I hope your newly appointed CIS Minister looks into the deplorable Prison conditions in Papua New Guinea. Having said that it begs the question, What happened to the mass killing of the prisoners last year and the year before that, its been almost two years and it seems like the government had slaughter pigs and no one even cares about it. Look at the  Correctional Institution Service of Papua New Guinea, it has been facing problems of organization, administration, training, lack of community support and finance.  So far, it has asked for and received advice and financial help from the Australian government to surmount these difficulties. The invited organizations and specialists have presented several reports with many recommendations to improve the situation. But up unti

by MELL LAKA I would like to shed some light with you on the proposed Bills that are being pushed by the government to be passed in parliament, namely the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) 2014. First of all it must be understood that any alteration to the Constitution must be passed by an absolute majority vote in parliament as per section 14 of the Constitution which means that the government needs the opposition's number. The introduction of the Bill (ICAC) was introduced 2014 where we saw a number of politicians and high profile individuals being investigated and prosecuted by several bodies that were not subjected to the directions of the NEC or for that matter. The purpose of the bill before parliament is to alter the Constitution by inserting a new Division under Part VIII of the constitution and that is Division 3. The purpose of Division 3 is to give effect or establish a Commission called the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The main fun

  by PAUL FLANAGAN Alotau II (see here ) fails as a vision for PNG’s future. It insults women, the rural poor, and business credibility. It insults the majority of PNG’s population by placing women’s economic empowerment as only the 89th item of its list of 90 priorities – and it does so under the heading of “PNG Immigration and Customs Services”. It makes no mention at all of women’s social empowerment – so taking action to address issues such as domestic violence and killing “witches”.  And there is also no mention of women’s political empowerment. PNG’s 111 member all male parliament will have to do better. It insults the majority of PNG’s population by having no path forward for agriculture, the source of livelihood for over 80 per cent of its population. Mentioning e-agriculture (priority 80), and only talking about reviving plantations (priority 15) is no way to deal with the malnutrition and stunting still facing too many in PNG. Much can be done to improve the produ

by  SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP Prime Minister Peter O’Neill should just hand himself in to police instead of abusing the legal system any more, former Prime Minister and Member for Moresby North-West Sir Mekere Morauta said today. “Enough is enough. Judge Collin Makail’s words are crystal clear: the arrest warrant is not reviewable,” Sir Mekere said. “The request to overturn it by the Police Commissioner is ‘an abuse of process’, according to the judge. “It is time to do the right thing and the reponsible thing for the nation and for the Office of the Prime Minister. Go to the police and allow due legal process to take place. Justice will always prevail in the end.” Sir Mekere said Papua New Guineans are sick and tired of Mr O’Neill’s legal trickery and his abuse of public office and the public purse. He said it appeared that taxpayers are footing the Prime Minister’s personal legal bills, at a time when the nation is destitute. “We see from official Treasury documents that Tw

PRESS RELEASE by  Rt. Hon SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP Former Prime Minister and Member for Moresby North-West Sir Mekere Morauta said today that at last some members of the PNC Government have admitted that the Papua New Guinea economy is in difficulty.  Sir Mekere referred to the media statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Caretaker Treasurer Charles Abel, who said that the focus of the government in its first 100 Days would be on “economic recovery”. Sir Mekere noted that this was an interesting admission and use of words by Mr Abel, because the Prime Minister has consistently refused to recognise that the economy is in recession, and has mismanaged public finances in such a way that has allowed the recession to intensify. “My advice to Mr Abel is that before he launches into any “recovery” measures, he needs to repair the budget and reform his Prime Minister and curb his extravagant and uncontrolled spending and borrowing,” Sir Mekere said. “The non-mining sector, on which the