PNGBLOGS

OP/ED Don Polye is a good man. Well that is what we like to believe. The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare must have faith in this bearded Highlander for he has allowed him to act as Prime Minister when the Chief had left to tackle work overseas for Papua New Guinea in recent months. And the future looks bright for the man from Kandep, who is seen as the next Prime Minister from the Highlands. The only other Highlands PM was also another bearded man from Western Highlands, Paias Wingti. Mr Polye is very vocal on corruption. He has gone public many times telling the country that corruption has no place in PNG. At one point in time, he was heard threatening to throw his own family behind bars and throw the keys away, should they get themselves involved in any corrupt dealings involving public funds. It is comforting to know that today, when the public has lost confidence in the Government and its implementation arm, the public service, there is at least one senior politician who is stand

OP/ED Don Polye is a good man. Well that is what we like to believe. The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare must have faith in this bearded Highlander for he has allowed him to act as Prime Minister when the Chief had left to tackle work overseas for Papua New Guinea in recent months. And the future looks bright for the man from Kandep, who is seen as the next Prime Minister from the Highlands. The only other Highlands PM was also another bearded man from Western Highlands, Paias Wingti. Mr Polye is very vocal on corruption. He has gone public many times telling the country that corruption has no place in PNG. At one point in time, he was heard threatening to throw his own family behind bars and throw the keys away, should they get themselves involved in any corrupt dealings involving public funds. It is comforting to know that today, when the public has lost confidence in the Government and its implementation arm, the public service, there is at least one senior politician who is stan

MAUSPASS ST GEORGE Illawarra star Neville Costigan has had an appeal to play for Papua New Guinea in this year’s Four Nations rejected. Costigan knew he was most likely sacrificing his Kumuls jersey when he made himself available for Queensland this season but had enlisted the help of PNG coach Adrian Lam and the Rugby League Professionals Association in having an exception made for him. “I got an email from the RLPA saying they were going to stick to the rules,’’ Costigan told sportsnewsfirst.com.au. “So it looks like I can’t play.’’ The contradiction is that Fiji winger Aquila Uate is being permitted to play for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII against PNG this month even though he is not eligible for Australia. Uate was named Dally M winger of the year. "I’d love to play for the Blues. It’s a great atmosphere and I’d love to get involved with it," he said at the ceremony. The ARL will attract considerable criticism if it allows Uate to play for Australia and NSW but bl

MAUSPASS ST GEORGE Illawarra star Neville Costigan has had an appeal to play for Papua New Guinea in this year’s Four Nations rejected. Costigan knew he was most likely sacrificing his Kumuls jersey when he made himself available for Queensland this season but had enlisted the help of PNG coach Adrian Lam and the Rugby League Professionals Association in having an exception made for him. “I got an email from the RLPA saying they were going to stick to the rules,’’ Costigan told sportsnewsfirst.com.au. “So it looks like I can’t play.’’ The contradiction is that Fiji winger Aquila Uate is being permitted to play for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII against PNG this month even though he is not eligible for Australia. Uate was named Dally M winger of the year. "I’d love to play for the Blues. It’s a great atmosphere and I’d love to get involved with it," he said at the ceremony. The ARL will attract considerable criticism if it allows Uate to play for Australia and NSW but

OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 electi

OSEAH PHILEMON Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has not made any announcement yet as to his political future and who is likely to succeed him if and when he decides to retire officially from politics. This is despite the much anticipated announcement coming from the highlands where he was visiting recently. All the hype about the eminent changeover of leadership in the ruling National Alliance Party that dominated Papua New Guinea’s political landscape for weeks leading to a political blood bath in Port Moresby seemed to have dried up—at least for now—as opposing parties retreat to their corners to plan their next move. The National Alliance Party was to have had a conference in the newly-created province of Jiwaka in the central Highlands but that conference was suddenly postponed. But no new dates of the meeting has been set. Jiwaka is the home of the National Alliance President Simon Kaiwi who is vying to contest the seat of governor in the 2012 ele

AAP A Papua New Guinea judge has lifted a court injunction that blocked a Chinese nickel mine from dumping waste into the sea off the country's northeast coast. The battle between Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and local Rai Coast villagers, who did not want waste from the mine piped into their bay, came to an end on Friday afternoon. Judge David Cannings lifted the injunction preventing MCC from building a deep-sea tailings pipe from the proposed $1.9 billion Ramu nickel mine in the northeast coastal province of Madang. The costly halt in construction had threatened the entire project. The case was due to resume last Tuesday in Madang's National Court, but the three villagers bringing the action failed to appear and sent a fax message asking the court to drop the proceedings. They also sacked their lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr. Ordered to appear at Wednesday's court session, the three villagers confirmed they no longer wanted to proceed with the case despite months o

AAP A Papua New Guinea judge has lifted a court injunction that blocked a Chinese nickel mine from dumping waste into the sea off the country's northeast coast. The battle between Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and local Rai Coast villagers, who did not want waste from the mine piped into their bay, came to an end on Friday afternoon. Judge David Cannings lifted the injunction preventing MCC from building a deep-sea tailings pipe from the proposed $1.9 billion Ramu nickel mine in the northeast coastal province of Madang. The costly halt in construction had threatened the entire project. The case was due to resume last Tuesday in Madang's National Court, but the three villagers bringing the action failed to appear and sent a fax message asking the court to drop the proceedings. They also sacked their lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr. Ordered to appear at Wednesday's court session, the three villagers confirmed they no longer wanted to proceed with the case despite m

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