PNGBLOGS

BY JAMES MONDOLAME It has been reported in today’s National newspaper that a number of Opposition MPs including firebrand opposition spokesman on Finance and Treasury Imbongu MP, Mr Francis Awesa, his son in law and Mendi MP, Mr. Isaac Joseph along with John Garia (Chimbu), Ferau Orimyo (Henganofi) and Steven Kama (South Bougainville) deserted to Mr. Agiru’s URP (United Resources Party). While media reports are sketchy about the confrontation with the current party leader and Hagen MP Mr. William Duma, a lot of questions are now being thrown to the Prime Minister if he is aware of this new move. Is this a ploy to shake the current partnership and test the possibility of wrestling the Deputy Prime Minister post away from NA? Is this a scheme setup by the opposition as a Trojan horse to snatch the numbers in government and breaking the bond with the current coalition? Many questions need asking, but at the same time, the quality of opposition is legendary with the brain trust at helm ri

BY JAMES MONDOLAME It has been reported in today’s National newspaper that a number of Opposition MPs including firebrand opposition spokesman on Finance and Treasury Imbongu MP, Mr Francis Awesa, his son in law and Mendi MP, Mr. Isaac Joseph along with John Garia (Chimbu), Ferau Orimyo (Henganofi) and Steven Kama (South Bougainville) deserted to Mr. Agiru’s URP (United Resources Party). While media reports are sketchy about the confrontation with the current party leader and Hagen MP Mr. William Duma, a lot of questions are now being thrown to the Prime Minister if he is aware of this new move. Is this a ploy to shake the current partnership and test the possibility of wrestling the Deputy Prime Minister post away from NA? Is this a scheme setup by the opposition as a Trojan horse to snatch the numbers in government and breaking the bond with the current coalition? Many questions need asking, but at the same time, the quality of opposition is legendary with the brain trust at helm

DAVID MURI WHILE Papua New Guineans nationwide saluted our flag with happy celebrations, in Nipa district of Southern Highlands, two sisters publicly asked a question few politicians will take seriously. Sisters Ruth and Janet Sol wore black on September 16, PNG’s 35th Independence Anniversary to protest what they see as a lack of real development, prosperity and improvement in law and order and advancement for the common people. Their question was simple - why celebrate when all around, there is little or nothing to show for celebration? It’s a question that nags at the fabric of PNG’s economic growth and prosperity, a question politicians sweep aside with political rhetoric that would rather paint a rosy picture for a country anchored by its natural mineral resources but well known to be mismanaged and poor. Its poor are faceless that Ruth and Janet Sol so courageously stood up for on a breezy mountainside in Nipa, not far from where the nation’s oil and gas wealth will be extracted

DAVID MURI WHILE Papua New Guineans nationwide saluted our flag with happy celebrations, in Nipa district of Southern Highlands, two sisters publicly asked a question few politicians will take seriously. Sisters Ruth and Janet Sol wore black on September 16, PNG’s 35th Independence Anniversary to protest what they see as a lack of real development, prosperity and improvement in law and order and advancement for the common people. Their question was simple - why celebrate when all around, there is little or nothing to show for celebration? It’s a question that nags at the fabric of PNG’s economic growth and prosperity, a question politicians sweep aside with political rhetoric that would rather paint a rosy picture for a country anchored by its natural mineral resources but well known to be mismanaged and poor. Its poor are faceless that Ruth and Janet Sol so courageously stood up for on a breezy mountainside in Nipa, not far from where the nation’s oil and gas wealth will be extrac

LEADERS past and present, including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, are right in saying that Papua New Guineans must have a stake in their own economy. Politicians have been saying this for the past 35 years. Papua New Guineans must be given the business opportunities and preference must be accorded to local business.The leaders are also right in arguing that locals must have a share in corporate PNG. Partnership or joint ventures are good arrangements and, handled properly, the benefits accruing cover more than just the matter of ownership. But, what must be given careful thought right now is the continuous call for legislative review of laws governing foreign investments. Many have argued that all businesses owned by permanent foreign residents must be restructured to include local equity. The question is whether legislation is the solution. Whatever the experiences elsewhere, and given PNG’s own special circumstances, it may well be the answer 35 years after independence. Indeed,

LEADERS past and present, including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, are right in saying that Papua New Guineans must have a stake in their own economy. Politicians have been saying this for the past 35 years. Papua New Guineans must be given the business opportunities and preference must be accorded to local business.The leaders are also right in arguing that locals must have a share in corporate PNG. Partnership or joint ventures are good arrangements and, handled properly, the benefits accruing cover more than just the matter of ownership. But, what must be given careful thought right now is the continuous call for legislative review of laws governing foreign investments. Many have argued that all businesses owned by permanent foreign residents must be restructured to include local equity. The question is whether legislation is the solution. Whatever the experiences elsewhere, and given PNG’s own special circumstances, it may well be the answer 35 years after independence. Indeed,

REUTERS The PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea will stay within its original cost estimates of $15 billion with the first sales by 2014, a government minister said speaking at a conference in Singapore on Wednesday. Paul Tiensten, Papua New Guinea's minister of planning and development, said PNG LNG is still expected to make it's first sales of LNG in early 2014. "We want to sell the first gas by 2014, that is our target... in case of some slippage, we have a contingency plan in place, but so far, we are on target," Tiensten said. Media reports have suggested that the project could be delayed due to landowner disputes with the government. But Tiensten said current landowner disagreements were among the approximately 60,000 landowners affected by the project, some of whom question the division of benefits from the PNG LNG. "I think there are some dissatisfied people because they feel that they should be part of it. This project is a mega-project, it has generated