PNGBLOGS

OP/ED PARLIAMENT passed on voices the motion to form a parliamentary committee on the ombudsman so it is uncertain who voted for, who voted against and who abstained. It would be interesting to know because now one member of parliament is calling for the abolition of this committee. Governor Bob Danaya of Western told the media this week that he wanted the committee to be disbanded because it could very well act to deter the Ombudsman Commission from conducting investigations into the duties, functions and responsibilities of politicians as it is tasked to do by the constitution. Danaya said it seemed odd and improper that such a committee was formed to monitor the work of the ombudsman when the OC was tasked to deal with misconduct by leaders. At a time when many leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, have been referred by this body for investigation by leadership tribunals, the existence of such a committee could be seen by the public as creating a perfect opportunity

OP/ED PARLIAMENT passed on voices the motion to form a parliamentary committee on the ombudsman so it is uncertain who voted for, who voted against and who abstained. It would be interesting to know because now one member of parliament is calling for the abolition of this committee. Governor Bob Danaya of Western told the media this week that he wanted the committee to be disbanded because it could very well act to deter the Ombudsman Commission from conducting investigations into the duties, functions and responsibilities of politicians as it is tasked to do by the constitution. Danaya said it seemed odd and improper that such a committee was formed to monitor the work of the ombudsman when the OC was tasked to deal with misconduct by leaders. At a time when many leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, have been referred by this body for investigation by leadership tribunals, the existence of such a committee could be seen by the public as creating a perfect opportun

AAP PAPUA New Guinea has pledged 10 million kina ($4 million) in support for flood-ravaged Australia. PNG, which receives close to $457 million a year from Australia in aid, has also offered military and logistical help. PNG's Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal said he wrote to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressing sympathy and condolences to victims of the ongoing tragedy. Mr Abal said in a statement the donation was the least PNG could do for a neighbour and close friend who had helped PNG in numerous natural disasters. The money would benefit those suffering severe flooding in Queensland and parts of NSW, he said. "We are truly sorry and our hearts are with you at this time of great tragedy. "For up to three weeks now, we in PNG have observed and learnt from the media devastating reports of the flood-induced tragedy including the bushfires our southern neighbours have being experiencing. "Australia's steadfast generosity and charity must and should be

AAP PAPUA New Guinea has pledged 10 million kina ($4 million) in support for flood-ravaged Australia. PNG, which receives close to $457 million a year from Australia in aid, has also offered military and logistical help. PNG's Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal said he wrote to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressing sympathy and condolences to victims of the ongoing tragedy. Mr Abal said in a statement the donation was the least PNG could do for a neighbour and close friend who had helped PNG in numerous natural disasters. The money would benefit those suffering severe flooding in Queensland and parts of NSW, he said. "We are truly sorry and our hearts are with you at this time of great tragedy. "For up to three weeks now, we in PNG have observed and learnt from the media devastating reports of the flood-induced tragedy including the bushfires our southern neighbours have being experiencing. "Australia's steadfast generosity and charity must and shou

Michael Ogio (Minister for Higher Education and former Forest Minister) has just been voted by Parliament to be the next Governor General, the appointment process takes a few weeks to be concluded, Sir Pato Kakaraya only managed 23 votes. As stated on this blog, Mr. Ogio's past and previous term as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forest goes to show out the dubious and scandalous character that he was. http://www.pngblogs.com/20 11/01/michael-ogios-past-i s-questionable.html

Michael Ogio (Minister for Higher Education and former Forest Minister) has just been voted by Parliament to be the next Governor General, the appointment process takes a few weeks to be concluded, Sir Pato Kakaraya only managed 23 votes. As stated on this blog, Mr. Ogio's past and previous term as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Forest goes to show out the dubious and scandalous character that he was. http://www.pngblogs.com/20 11/01/michael-ogios-past-i s-questionable.html

Contrasting news piece of the same story on the national daily papers.

Contrasting news piece of the same story on the national daily papers.

POST COURIER MAY 10 2002 A LOBBY group has alleged Forest Minister Michael Ogio had wrongly granted a 10-year extension to a company to continue logging in the Western Province. Papua New Guinea Forest Watch said Mr Ogio, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, had acted against the wishes of the local landowners and the advice of Forestry officers. The 10-year extension was granted to the Wawoi Guavi Timber Limited, a subsidiary of an Asian logging company. Mr Ogio, when shown questions about the issue in Buka yesterday, said he knew about it. Documents given to the Post-Courier revealed Mr Ogio had granted the extension for Wawoi Guavi blocks one, two and three on February 4 this year. This means that the company is allowed to log in the area until 2012. The documents also showed that the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority board may not have known about the extension of the permit. This was because the minutes of a PNGFA board meeting number 82 on April 3, stated that the devel

POST COURIER MAY 10 2002 A LOBBY group has alleged Forest Minister Michael Ogio had wrongly granted a 10-year extension to a company to continue logging in the Western Province. Papua New Guinea Forest Watch said Mr Ogio, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, had acted against the wishes of the local landowners and the advice of Forestry officers. The 10-year extension was granted to the Wawoi Guavi Timber Limited, a subsidiary of an Asian logging company. Mr Ogio, when shown questions about the issue in Buka yesterday, said he knew about it. Documents given to the Post-Courier revealed Mr Ogio had granted the extension for Wawoi Guavi blocks one, two and three on February 4 this year. This means that the company is allowed to log in the area until 2012. The documents also showed that the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority board may not have known about the extension of the permit. This was because the minutes of a PNGFA board meeting number 82 on April 3, stated t

PNGBLOGS The choice of the Somare/Abal Government as the preferred nominee for the next Governor General, the current Minister for Education, Michael Ogio, has a history of dubious involvement in controversial illegal logging deals and is not a fit and proper person for the role as Head of State, said Bulolo MP Sam Basil today.  Sam Basil says that as Forest Minister, Michael Ogio, frequently ignored the law to grant illegal access to vast areas of Papua New Guinea forests to some of its most notorious logging companies. The source of the information on Mr. Ogio is on the World Bank funded Independent Review Reports by teams chosen by the then government done in 2003 and 2004 The teams conducted four major reviews of the forestry sector being the 2000/2001 Reviews of Proposed Logging Concessions, the 2003 Review of Disputed Permit Extensions and Timber Authorities under the auspices of the Forestry and Conservation Project sponsored by the World Bank, the 2003/2004 Review of Current Fo

PNGBLOGS The choice of the Somare/Abal Government as the preferred nominee for the next Governor General, the current Minister for Education, Michael Ogio, has a history of dubious involvement in controversial illegal logging deals and is not a fit and proper person for the role as Head of State, said Bulolo MP Sam Basil today.  Sam Basil says that as Forest Minister, Michael Ogio, frequently ignored the law to grant illegal access to vast areas of Papua New Guinea forests to some of its most notorious logging companies. The source of the information on Mr. Ogio is on the World Bank funded Independent Review Reports by teams chosen by the then government done in 2003 and 2004 The teams conducted four major reviews of the forestry sector being the 2000/2001 Reviews of Proposed Logging Concessions, the 2003 Review of Disputed Permit Extensions and Timber Authorities under the auspices of the Forestry and Conservation Project sponsored by the World Bank, the 2003/2004 Review of Curren

ENGAN MIOK PAPUA New Guinea at last knows the key players behind the appointment of Sam Abal as Deputy Prime Minister.Those key players are coalition leaders and senior politicians, Peter Ipatas, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru, Esaala MP Moses Maladina, Pomio MP Paul Teinstein, Arthur Somare, Finance and Treasury Minister Peter ONeill and John Pundari, the Enga Governor revealed last week. Knowing that the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was going to step aside any moment to face a possible leadership tribunal, these senior leaders became major players in the appointment of the next PM definitely not Don Polye. And so they succeeded in killing two birds with one stone; making Abal the acting Prime Minister and splitting the National Alliance Party, though the party says they are still intact. If it was in the Western World where the performances of leaders are critically monitored, maybe, those coalition leaders and Agiru would have long gone off the political scene. To

ENGAN MIOK PAPUA New Guinea at last knows the key players behind the appointment of Sam Abal as Deputy Prime Minister.Those key players are coalition leaders and senior politicians, Peter Ipatas, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru, Esaala MP Moses Maladina, Pomio MP Paul Teinstein, Arthur Somare, Finance and Treasury Minister Peter ONeill and John Pundari, the Enga Governor revealed last week. Knowing that the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was going to step aside any moment to face a possible leadership tribunal, these senior leaders became major players in the appointment of the next PM definitely not Don Polye. And so they succeeded in killing two birds with one stone; making Abal the acting Prime Minister and splitting the National Alliance Party, though the party says they are still intact. If it was in the Western World where the performances of leaders are critically monitored, maybe, those coalition leaders and Agiru would have long gone off the political scene.

BUSINESS DAY EFFORTS by Harmony Gold and its Australian joint-venture partner, Newcrest Mining, to halt legal action at its Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea relating to damage caused by sediment appear to have failed. The equally held joint venture called Morobe Mining yesterday denied allegations contained in a writ "purportedly" served on it by legal advisers acting for Sam Basil, the member of parliament for the Bulolo area, and villagers living along the Watut River. "The writ alleges nuisance relating to mine-related sediment and seeks damages and injunctive relief in relation to the Hidden Valley mine operations," Morobe said. "The joint venturers will vigorously defend the litigation should it proceed." The writ was issued despite an apparent deal reached between the parties last month when it was agreed there would be a "constructive dialogue process" and the setting up of an independent panel of international experts to assess the

BUSINESS DAY EFFORTS by Harmony Gold and its Australian joint-venture partner, Newcrest Mining, to halt legal action at its Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea relating to damage caused by sediment appear to have failed. The equally held joint venture called Morobe Mining yesterday denied allegations contained in a writ "purportedly" served on it by legal advisers acting for Sam Basil, the member of parliament for the Bulolo area, and villagers living along the Watut River. "The writ alleges nuisance relating to mine-related sediment and seeks damages and injunctive relief in relation to the Hidden Valley mine operations," Morobe said. "The joint venturers will vigorously defend the litigation should it proceed." The writ was issued despite an apparent deal reached between the parties last month when it was agreed there would be a "constructive dialogue process" and the setting up of an independent panel of international experts to assess

PNGEXPOSED BLOG Papua New Guinea’s acting Governor General, Michael Ogio, has a history of dubious involvement in controversial illegal logging deals and is not a fit and proper person for the role as Head of State. As Forest Minister, Michael Ogio, frequently ignored the law to grant illegal access to vast areas of Papua New Guinea forests to some of its most notorious logging companies. He also handed the loggers unlawful tax concessions and defied the law and proper process to protect their interests. As Forest Minister Ogio also refused to comply with the Morauta government’s attempts at forest reform and consistently breached government policy to favour his logging friends. As revealed by PNG Forest Watch back in 2002, Ogio’s ‘trail of shame’ includes: Granting an unlawful 10-year extension of the huge Wawoi Guavi Timber Permit to Rimbunan Hijau against the advice of the Forest Authority and in defiance of the National Forest Board Giving three unlawful tax exemptions for the i

PNGEXPOSED BLOG Papua New Guinea’s acting Governor General, Michael Ogio, has a history of dubious involvement in controversial illegal logging deals and is not a fit and proper person for the role as Head of State. As Forest Minister, Michael Ogio, frequently ignored the law to grant illegal access to vast areas of Papua New Guinea forests to some of its most notorious logging companies. He also handed the loggers unlawful tax concessions and defied the law and proper process to protect their interests. As Forest Minister Ogio also refused to comply with the Morauta government’s attempts at forest reform and consistently breached government policy to favour his logging friends. As revealed by PNG Forest Watch back in 2002, Ogio’s ‘trail of shame’ includes: Granting an unlawful 10-year extension of the huge Wawoi Guavi Timber Permit to Rimbunan Hijau against the advice of the Forest Authority and in defiance of the National Forest Board Giving three unlawful tax exemptions fo

THE NEW AGE - South Africa The court action faced by Harmony Gold’s subsidiary in Papua New Guinea was not surprising because most mining companies tended to overlook the effect and consequences of their activities on surrounding communities, said John Capel, CEO of a sustainability monitoring NGO, Bench Marks Foundation. Harmony Gold and its Australian partner seem to have landed in hot water after trying to pay their way out of environmental damages attributed to their operation in Papua New Guinea. The JSE-listed gold miner released a statement last week saying its mining operation in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea, faces possible court action over sediment spillage from its Hidden Valley Mine joint venture. The sediment discharge seems to have caused environmental damage for communities along the Watut River. These damages include possible contamination of crops and home gardens. Led by a parliamentary representative of the Bololo community and a number of land owners, the cou

THE NEW AGE - South Africa The court action faced by Harmony Gold’s subsidiary in Papua New Guinea was not surprising because most mining companies tended to overlook the effect and consequences of their activities on surrounding communities, said John Capel, CEO of a sustainability monitoring NGO, Bench Marks Foundation. Harmony Gold and its Australian partner seem to have landed in hot water after trying to pay their way out of environmental damages attributed to their operation in Papua New Guinea. The JSE-listed gold miner released a statement last week saying its mining operation in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea, faces possible court action over sediment spillage from its Hidden Valley Mine joint venture. The sediment discharge seems to have caused environmental damage for communities along the Watut River. These damages include possible contamination of crops and home gardens. Led by a parliamentary representative of the Bololo community and a number of land owners, th