PNGBLOGS

ABC Radio reports that Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance party has denied reports that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is preparing to step down at the party's national convention next month, PNG's Post Courier is reporting that Sir Michael is planning to relinquish the party leadership before August 14. But party spokesperson Stephen Pokawin says those reports are false. However Mr Pokawin has confirmed the party's leadership will be the meeting's number one agenda item. Deputy leader Don Polye has reportedly announced he will make a bid for the top job. The National Alliance Party's general secretary says the party constitution restricts Sir Michael from contesting the leadership for a third time.

ABC Radio reports that Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance party has denied reports that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is preparing to step down at the party's national convention next month, PNG's Post Courier is reporting that Sir Michael is planning to relinquish the party leadership before August 14. But party spokesperson Stephen Pokawin says those reports are false. However Mr Pokawin has confirmed the party's leadership will be the meeting's number one agenda item. Deputy leader Don Polye has reportedly announced he will make a bid for the top job. The National Alliance Party's general secretary says the party constitution restricts Sir Michael from contesting the leadership for a third time.

SOLOMON STAR PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest. Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. "I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here". Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji. “He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing. “And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is

SOLOMON STAR PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest. Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. "I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here". Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji. “He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing. “And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is

TUBUANS & DUKDUKS The Australian recently published an article about John Momis, the President-elect of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. There is no doubt that Momis is widely respected in both Bougainville and PNG – respect achieved through an established track record entrenched in his invaluable contribution as a founding father of PNG and an equally insatiable commitment to seeing things through. Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract. I would argue that after the Bougainville Revolution and blackbirding, Musingku’s U-Vistract ranks as the next event that has had the most devastating impa

TUBUANS & DUKDUKS The Australian recently published an article about John Momis, the President-elect of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. There is no doubt that Momis is widely respected in both Bougainville and PNG – respect achieved through an established track record entrenched in his invaluable contribution as a founding father of PNG and an equally insatiable commitment to seeing things through. Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract. I would argue that after the Bougainville Revolution and blackbirding, Musingku’s U-Vistract ranks as the next event that has had the most devastatin

THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence. Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority. Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament. It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government. But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minister -- usual

THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence. Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority. Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament. It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government. But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minis

ROWAN CALLICK - THE AUSTRALIAN PAPUA New Guinea's wily, veteran fox of a Prime Minister, Michael Somare, contrived yesterday to escape what seemed a likely sudden political death by having parliament adjourned until November. Buoyed by his win, Sir Michael, 74, crossed the chamber as MPs began to leave the house, pointed at rising young opposition star Sam Basil, and shouted in Pidgin: "If you were outside, I would kill you." He was constrained by his son, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare. This is the second year running that he has avoided a no-confidence challenge by simply shutting parliament down. But this time, he is also likely to face a legal challenge, with a strengthened yet bitterly frustrated opposition claiming they were robbed by a ruse in which the Speaker, Jeffery Nape -- a member of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- played a crucial role. Legal appeals may come over the nature of Mr Nape's ruling in parliament, and the consequent fa