PNGBLOGS

Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta said today that Michael Somare is turning Papua New Guinea into “Mugabeland”. “Somare has all the ingredients and recipes in place,” he said. “The two most-important disciplinary forces, the Defence Force and the Police have been tribalised and converted into instruments at his disposal and for his use. “Papua New Guineans should be extremely worried about these developments and must not allow these tribal roots to take hold. “These moves are fraught with danger and set sickening precedents for others to follow in the future. “Michael Somare has to be blamed squarely for these atrocious, self-serving acts.”“This is why this Government has to be changed – to save our country and our future. “The alleged capture by Somare’s bodyguards and alleged bashing of NGO activist Noel Anjo by the Prime Minister and his wife, demonstrate Somare’s preparedness to silence any critic, by any means, including violence and use of the institutions of state. “I remin

Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta said today that Michael Somare is turning Papua New Guinea into “Mugabeland”. “Somare has all the ingredients and recipes in place,” he said. “The two most-important disciplinary forces, the Defence Force and the Police have been tribalised and converted into instruments at his disposal and for his use. “Papua New Guineans should be extremely worried about these developments and must not allow these tribal roots to take hold. “These moves are fraught with danger and set sickening precedents for others to follow in the future. “Michael Somare has to be blamed squarely for these atrocious, self-serving acts.”“This is why this Government has to be changed – to save our country and our future. “The alleged capture by Somare’s bodyguards and alleged bashing of NGO activist Noel Anjo by the Prime Minister and his wife, demonstrate Somare’s preparedness to silence any critic, by any means, including violence and use of the institutions of state. “I re

BY ROD MITCHELL Ten years ago, PNG faced a very different development path, mired in the middle of a credit crunch, collapsed financial institutions and a low demand for major commodities. Sir Mekere Morauta taking over the reigns as prime minister from the haphazard Bill Skate, quickly drove a major reform agenda that saw the liberation and repair of the financial sector, which since has become a well documented international case study of successful reform. These reforms combined with an uptake in commodity prices from 2002 have underpinned the PNG economy over the last six to seven years. The revenues collected from a stable economy with growing resource and commodity income, led to bankable surpluses which helped underpin the PNG economy through the global financial crisis. We mention the reforms of early 2000 for another reason. For without those reforms of stability and independence of the financial system, we would not have had the capital formation that has allowed for such a m

BY ROD MITCHELL Ten years ago, PNG faced a very different development path, mired in the middle of a credit crunch, collapsed financial institutions and a low demand for major commodities. Sir Mekere Morauta taking over the reigns as prime minister from the haphazard Bill Skate, quickly drove a major reform agenda that saw the liberation and repair of the financial sector, which since has become a well documented international case study of successful reform. These reforms combined with an uptake in commodity prices from 2002 have underpinned the PNG economy over the last six to seven years. The revenues collected from a stable economy with growing resource and commodity income, led to bankable surpluses which helped underpin the PNG economy through the global financial crisis. We mention the reforms of early 2000 for another reason. For without those reforms of stability and independence of the financial system, we would not have had the capital formation that has allowed for such

SOUTH PACIFIC POST NON-GOVERNMENT Organisation activist Noel Anjo yesterday dropped a bombshell, claiming he was “kidnapped” allegedly on orders from the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in 2009. In a press conference yesterday afternoon, flanked by the Member for Vanimo Green Belden Namah, Sam Basil (Bulolo Open) and MP for Anglim South Waghi Open Jamie Maxton Graham,  Anjo told his story about how he was “kidnapped” by persons he claims were plain clothes policemen who dragged him into a car from the Lagatoi Haus in Waigani at about 5pm, on February 16, 2009. Post-Courier became aware of the allegations early this month and took the matter up with Anjo who confirmed the story. This newspaper had tried to speak to Sir Michael and his office advised on two occasions that Sir Michael would give the interview but the appointments did not materialise. Two weeks ago, Betha Somare, his daughter responded and denied the allegations, saying the PM was not in a position to comment since he ha

SOUTH PACIFIC POST NON-GOVERNMENT Organisation activist Noel Anjo yesterday dropped a bombshell, claiming he was “kidnapped” allegedly on orders from the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in 2009. In a press conference yesterday afternoon, flanked by the Member for Vanimo Green Belden Namah, Sam Basil (Bulolo Open) and MP for Anglim South Waghi Open Jamie Maxton Graham,  Anjo told his story about how he was “kidnapped” by persons he claims were plain clothes policemen who dragged him into a car from the Lagatoi Haus in Waigani at about 5pm, on February 16, 2009. Post-Courier became aware of the allegations early this month and took the matter up with Anjo who confirmed the story. This newspaper had tried to speak to Sir Michael and his office advised on two occasions that Sir Michael would give the interview but the appointments did not materialise. Two weeks ago, Betha Somare, his daughter responded and denied the allegations, saying the PM was not in a position to comment sinc

PURIA IGINI Allow me to express my disgust at the attitude of a few selfish people whose conduct (prima facie false claim) has led to the sudden closure of the Tari Airport recently.   Benson Mangope, who claims to be the deputy chairman of the Tari Airport Association, has alleged landowners from Tari township have been left out by the state in the LNG project and, therefore, feels justified holding the travelling public into and out of Hela at ransom.  Mangope and his faceless men behind the association found that their action was justified. He said the airport was a strategic asset for the state. Of course, it is an important asset for PNG and the Hela region. The LNG project is a completely different subject matter and has no connection at all with Mangope’s alleged claim against the state for compensation. To engage in a self-indulging thinking process that such behaviour is justified in law epitomises nothing but a mental state that borders on idiocy of a worst kind. To