PNGBLOGS

Merita Huch By the end of this year, the remaining 10 Pacific United Nations members should be ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This is the expectation of the United Nations as stressed in a recently held seminar towards ratification of the convention. The Pacific region has the lowest ratifying rate on this convention. A total of 10 countries have not signed and the UN Offices in the region is moving in to further push awareness of what the UN describes as a vital agreement when it comes to protecting the Pacific’s integrity and allowing this small region more involvement in international cooperation to fight corruption nationally and internationally. Senior officials from around the region have been at loggerheads with members of the UN Pacific Centre in finding ways to devise the best framework that will suit the Pacific when the islands do decide to sign this agreement. Only Palau, Fiji and Papua New Guinea from the region have ratified UNCAC. For t

Merita Huch By the end of this year, the remaining 10 Pacific United Nations members should be ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This is the expectation of the United Nations as stressed in a recently held seminar towards ratification of the convention. The Pacific region has the lowest ratifying rate on this convention. A total of 10 countries have not signed and the UN Offices in the region is moving in to further push awareness of what the UN describes as a vital agreement when it comes to protecting the Pacific’s integrity and allowing this small region more involvement in international cooperation to fight corruption nationally and internationally. Senior officials from around the region have been at loggerheads with members of the UN Pacific Centre in finding ways to devise the best framework that will suit the Pacific when the islands do decide to sign this agreement. Only Palau, Fiji and Papua New Guinea from the region have ratified UNCAC. F

OP/ED The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) was established in 1992 following the enactment by parliament of the SBDC Act in 1990. It is explicitly mandated by the national government to implement policies and programmes aimed at developing, expanding, promoting and growing the informal sector and the small and medium-scale indigenous businesses under the SME policy of 1998 through the development of entrepreneurial skills, provision of financial assistance programmes and other support or extension services. Core functions of the SBDC included support and development of village-based cottage industries and informal economic activities through the development and application of appropriate technologies that are affordable with the aim to increase community participation and maximise use of local resources. Following a small to medium enterprises (SME) policy in 1998, the organisation was tasked to identify constraints in developing indigenous businesses in the country. The

OP/ED The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) was established in 1992 following the enactment by parliament of the SBDC Act in 1990. It is explicitly mandated by the national government to implement policies and programmes aimed at developing, expanding, promoting and growing the informal sector and the small and medium-scale indigenous businesses under the SME policy of 1998 through the development of entrepreneurial skills, provision of financial assistance programmes and other support or extension services. Core functions of the SBDC included support and development of village-based cottage industries and informal economic activities through the development and application of appropriate technologies that are affordable with the aim to increase community participation and maximise use of local resources. Following a small to medium enterprises (SME) policy in 1998, the organisation was tasked to identify constraints in developing indigenous businesses in the country.

THE NATIONAL THE government lost K54 million to fraud and bogus claims disguised as compensation for the Highlands Highway rehabilitation project, an expert has claimed. Consultant Mori Resources said the fraud was perpetrated by the absence of legislation on road corridor managements. The fraud and bogus claims were pushed by public servants colluding with dishonest villagers, the firm said. Further claims lodged by villagers with the Department of Works escalated to K68 million, compelling the state to put on hold the Highlands Highway rehabilitation project. This had abruptly disrupted all rehabilitation and upgrading work on the Highlands Highways and other major roads in the country. The Asian Development Bank, which loaned the money to fund the project, has pulled out. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Works Don Polye received the report of this fraud last Friday by the consulting firm which was engaged to undertake structural mapping, verification and

THE NATIONAL THE government lost K54 million to fraud and bogus claims disguised as compensation for the Highlands Highway rehabilitation project, an expert has claimed. Consultant Mori Resources said the fraud was perpetrated by the absence of legislation on road corridor managements. The fraud and bogus claims were pushed by public servants colluding with dishonest villagers, the firm said. Further claims lodged by villagers with the Department of Works escalated to K68 million, compelling the state to put on hold the Highlands Highway rehabilitation project. This had abruptly disrupted all rehabilitation and upgrading work on the Highlands Highways and other major roads in the country. The Asian Development Bank, which loaned the money to fund the project, has pulled out. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Works Don Polye received the report of this fraud last Friday by the consulting firm which was engaged to undertake structural mapping, verificati

NOEL PASCOE WHETHER you call it sorcery, magic, poison, sanguma or . . . it is a subject guaranteed to make all Papua New Guineans take a deep breath. Indeed, matching the words like sorcery and sanguma can get arguments going on just the definition of what they represent. A book published by the Melanesian Institute in Goroka, called Sanguma in Paradise: Sorcery, Witchcraft and Christianity in Papua New Guinea, is on sale and will add to the debate in villages and towns around the nation. Some societies in PNG have been caught up with Western, introduced ways for more than a hundred years, others are in the first generation of such exposure. This writer believes that the period of exposure to alien ways, so-called sophisticated Western ways, has not wiped out the inherent beliefs in sorcery or witchcraft. When somebody dies, many immediately cast around to isolate the person who they believe has caused that death. It doesn’t matter if a doctor performs a post-mortem examination and de

NOEL PASCOE WHETHER you call it sorcery, magic, poison, sanguma or . . . it is a subject guaranteed to make all Papua New Guineans take a deep breath. Indeed, matching the words like sorcery and sanguma can get arguments going on just the definition of what they represent. A book published by the Melanesian Institute in Goroka, called Sanguma in Paradise: Sorcery, Witchcraft and Christianity in Papua New Guinea, is on sale and will add to the debate in villages and towns around the nation. Some societies in PNG have been caught up with Western, introduced ways for more than a hundred years, others are in the first generation of such exposure. This writer believes that the period of exposure to alien ways, so-called sophisticated Western ways, has not wiped out the inherent beliefs in sorcery or witchcraft. When somebody dies, many immediately cast around to isolate the person who they believe has caused that death. It doesn’t matter if a doctor performs a post-mortem examination and

NATIONAL CORRUPT? OR CRAFTY JEFFREY NAPE NATIONAL Parliament Speaker Jeffery Nape has been referred to the Ombudsman Commission for not entertaining in parliament the opposition’s vote of no-confidence motion against the government in July. The opposition delivered its complain to the Ombudsman Commission last month and referred the abrupt adjournment of parliament for three months to Nov 16 was a tactic used by the government to avoid defeat through a vote of no-confidence. The complaint, which the Ombudsman confirmed receiving, said Nape was in breach of his duties and responsibilities of the leadership code provided under the National Constitution. “Our notice of motion for a vote of no-confidence was lodged but the speaker never had the matter listed on the notice paper for mention that day,” deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon said. “Nor did he (Nape) mentioned that such a notice of motion had been presented before his office and the manner in which it was to be dealt with.” Ph

NATIONAL CORRUPT? OR CRAFTY JEFFREY NAPE NATIONAL Parliament Speaker Jeffery Nape has been referred to the Ombudsman Commission for not entertaining in parliament the opposition’s vote of no-confidence motion against the government in July. The opposition delivered its complain to the Ombudsman Commission last month and referred the abrupt adjournment of parliament for three months to Nov 16 was a tactic used by the government to avoid defeat through a vote of no-confidence. The complaint, which the Ombudsman confirmed receiving, said Nape was in breach of his duties and responsibilities of the leadership code provided under the National Constitution. “Our notice of motion for a vote of no-confidence was lodged but the speaker never had the matter listed on the notice paper for mention that day,” deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon said. “Nor did he (Nape) mentioned that such a notice of motion had been presented before his office and the manner in which it was to be dealt wi

PNGEXPOSED British High Commissioner David Dunn  hands over anti-corruption funds in front of NPF fraudster Peter O'Neill The British High Commission in Papua New Guinea has undermined the fight against corruption in the Pacific island nation by sharing an anti-corruption stage with National Provident Fund fraudster Peter O’Neill. British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, David Dunn, said the UK government was pleased to be able to share the stage with Finance Minister O’Neill and endorse his efforts to steal from the people of PNG. Peter O’Neill was implicated in major fraud by the Commission of Inquiry into the National Provident Fund and recommended for prosecution. He now provides concrete advice, best practice and support to more than 100 like minded leaders who have decided to profit from corruption. “Ensuring that the PNG government is un-transparent, unfair and an unequal playing field is critical for the future development of corruption,” said David Dunn. Supporting k

PNGEXPOSED British High Commissioner David Dunn  hands over anti-corruption funds in front of NPF fraudster Peter O'Neill The British High Commission in Papua New Guinea has undermined the fight against corruption in the Pacific island nation by sharing an anti-corruption stage with National Provident Fund fraudster Peter O’Neill. British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, David Dunn, said the UK government was pleased to be able to share the stage with Finance Minister O’Neill and endorse his efforts to steal from the people of PNG. Peter O’Neill was implicated in major fraud by the Commission of Inquiry into the National Provident Fund and recommended for prosecution. He now provides concrete advice, best practice and support to more than 100 like minded leaders who have decided to profit from corruption. “Ensuring that the PNG government is un-transparent, unfair and an unequal playing field is critical for the future development of corruption,” said David Dunn. Sup

Niugini Spy It seems that no government department and agency is without Corruption. CSTB is one state institution that has corruption and malpractise firmly embedded. I see the lifestyle of the heavies and relatives of the heavies of CSTB go from rags to riches in a short span of time. This is not possible under the small government salaries they earn as contracted government staff. Take the care of CSTB Chairman Brian Kimmins. Mr. Kimmins was a no good water driller in Lae before in become land transport board chairman. He was running his sister's drilling company in Lae for many years then migrated his family to Brisbane, Australia. As the Land Transport Board Chairman, he absolutely did nothing for the agency. Through political cronisim, he was elated to the post of CSTB. Appointed by the then Bart P. Lae Mp (some 7 years ago) and found his way to survive politicly. He collects his fees/cuts by lining up contracts. The latest is the awarding of the police house constructions wi

Niugini Spy It seems that no government department and agency is without Corruption. CSTB is one state institution that has corruption and malpractise firmly embedded. I see the lifestyle of the heavies and relatives of the heavies of CSTB go from rags to riches in a short span of time. This is not possible under the small government salaries they earn as contracted government staff. Take the care of CSTB Chairman Brian Kimmins. Mr. Kimmins was a no good water driller in Lae before in become land transport board chairman. He was running his sister's drilling company in Lae for many years then migrated his family to Brisbane, Australia. As the Land Transport Board Chairman, he absolutely did nothing for the agency. Through political cronisim, he was elated to the post of CSTB. Appointed by the then Bart P. Lae Mp (some 7 years ago) and found his way to survive politicly. He collects his fees/cuts by lining up contracts. The latest is the awarding of the police house constr

AFP A SYDNEY pilot and three others were killed when a charter plane skidded off a runway, crashed into trees and burst into flames in Papua New Guinea yesterday. Chris Hart, who worked for Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), was a passenger onboard a Transair Cessna Citation jet. It is understood that the plane overshot a runway on Misima Island, a remote area in southeast PNG, about 4.30pm yesterday. The only survivor was the pilot - a New Zealander who is a permanent Australian resident - who was rushed to hospital last night. He suffered heavy bruising but was still conscious. Two other Australians and one other New Zealander died in the accident. ARP chief executive officer Craig Southerwood said staff waiting on the ground to meet the Sydney man witnessed the horrific crash. "[They] are obviously quite shocked," Mr Southerwood said last night. "Our understanding is there were other Australians on board the plane and there are other fatalities. "This area is very rem

AFP A SYDNEY pilot and three others were killed when a charter plane skidded off a runway, crashed into trees and burst into flames in Papua New Guinea yesterday. Chris Hart, who worked for Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), was a passenger onboard a Transair Cessna Citation jet. It is understood that the plane overshot a runway on Misima Island, a remote area in southeast PNG, about 4.30pm yesterday. The only survivor was the pilot - a New Zealander who is a permanent Australian resident - who was rushed to hospital last night. He suffered heavy bruising but was still conscious. Two other Australians and one other New Zealander died in the accident. ARP chief executive officer Craig Southerwood said staff waiting on the ground to meet the Sydney man witnessed the horrific crash. "[They] are obviously quite shocked," Mr Southerwood said last night. "Our understanding is there were other Australians on board the plane and there are other fatalities. "This area is very

By: Dionisia Tabureguci of ISLAND BUSINESS It wasn’t too long ago that a partnership between the World Bank and its sister organisation the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in some countries in the region was frowned upon. Critics called it a ‘conflict of interest’. Through multi-million dollar loans, the IFC—the World Bank’s private sector financing arm—was funding the Pacific expansion of Irish-owned Digicel. At the same time, the World Bank was offering policy and technical assistance to governments in the region interested in opening up their telecommunications market. Words like “double standard” and “inappropriate” were used to describe their involvement in the Pacific’s telecommunication market. The World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific at the time, Nigel Roberts, had to defend the organisations’ involvements as independent of each other. “The process we’re involved in on the Wo

By: Dionisia Tabureguci of ISLAND BUSINESS It wasn’t too long ago that a partnership between the World Bank and its sister organisation the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in some countries in the region was frowned upon. Critics called it a ‘conflict of interest’. Through multi-million dollar loans, the IFC—the World Bank’s private sector financing arm—was funding the Pacific expansion of Irish-owned Digicel. At the same time, the World Bank was offering policy and technical assistance to governments in the region interested in opening up their telecommunications market. Words like “double standard” and “inappropriate” were used to describe their involvement in the Pacific’s telecommunication market. The World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific at the time, Nigel Roberts, had to defend the organisations’ involvements as independent of each other. “The process we’re involved in on the