PNGBLOGS

South Pacific Post ALL petroleum, mineral and gas resources under the ground are owned by the State, according to Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet. He was responding to lawyer Peter Donigi and Warner Shand Lawyers recent claims that the State does not own the natural resources and as such it was not the proper party to sign the PNG Gas Agreement. That assertion, according to Sir Arnold is “not legally correct.” Sir Arnold is the Madang Regional MP and former Chief Justice of the National and Supreme Court of PNG. “The Petroleum Act and the Mining Act vest the ownership of mineral and petroleum resources in the State. As such, State is a proper party to the gas agreement and has validly executed the gas agreement,” Sir Arnold said in a statement released over the weekend. “Both the Oil and Gas Act 1998 and the Mining Act 1992 vest the ownership of mineral and petroleum resources in the State. These two Acts of Parliament adopted the State’s ownership rights in the minerals and petroleum

South Pacific Post ALL petroleum, mineral and gas resources under the ground are owned by the State, according to Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet. He was responding to lawyer Peter Donigi and Warner Shand Lawyers recent claims that the State does not own the natural resources and as such it was not the proper party to sign the PNG Gas Agreement. That assertion, according to Sir Arnold is “not legally correct.” Sir Arnold is the Madang Regional MP and former Chief Justice of the National and Supreme Court of PNG. “The Petroleum Act and the Mining Act vest the ownership of mineral and petroleum resources in the State. As such, State is a proper party to the gas agreement and has validly executed the gas agreement,” Sir Arnold said in a statement released over the weekend. “Both the Oil and Gas Act 1998 and the Mining Act 1992 vest the ownership of mineral and petroleum resources in the State. These two Acts of Parliament adopted the State’s ownership rights in the minerals and petr

Rod Mitchell I write to you in response to the cowardly article posted on your website. There is no evidence for any of the rubbish you have posted. It is highly defamatory. The article is also poorly written and contradictory stating that everyone is innocent until proven otherwise, then one long slanderous attack on myself with no presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Here are some facts Rod Mitchell never worked as an Investment Adviser – I came in after Noel Wright left. The unrealised losses and excessive debt had already been incurred.  Ian Tarutia was head of operations then. He did not get involved in the full business as general manager until 2001 – Leave him out of you smear  Post Courier conducted the Bring Back Jimmy Campaign – Not Rod Mitchell The massive losses (in excess of K150 million) were documented in the largest commission of Inquiry in PNG history – I was not found to be the problem Rod Mitchell did not have any

Rod Mitchell I write to you in response to the cowardly article posted on your website. There is no evidence for any of the rubbish you have posted. It is highly defamatory. The article is also poorly written and contradictory stating that everyone is innocent until proven otherwise, then one long slanderous attack on myself with no presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Here are some facts Rod Mitchell never worked as an Investment Adviser – I came in after Noel Wright left. The unrealised losses and excessive debt had already been incurred.  Ian Tarutia was head of operations then. He did not get involved in the full business as general manager until 2001 – Leave him out of you smear  Post Courier conducted the Bring Back Jimmy Campaign – Not Rod Mitchell The massive losses (in excess of K150 million) were documented in the largest commission of Inquiry in PNG history – I was not found to be the problem Rod Mitchell did not have any

OP/ED Is the present Government involved in a conspiracy to take over all customary land in Papua New Guinea? We ask this question because we are alarmed at the manner and rate at which the Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs) are granted to date. According to our records, 5,114,911.85 hectares of customary land have been leased, much of the leases granted in the last two years. The laws governing the use of customary land are specific in their protection of the rights and freedoms of landowners, who own 97 per cent of the land. What is of concern to us is the manner in which the Government was handling the development of the customary land, because it raises serious questions about its commitment and understanding of the law and issues at play at present. People in the rural areas have one big and most valuable asset. This is their land, which is protected by the National Constitution, which is the supreme law over all other laws. The 85 per cent of the 6 million peole in

OP/ED Is the present Government involved in a conspiracy to take over all customary land in Papua New Guinea? We ask this question because we are alarmed at the manner and rate at which the Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs) are granted to date. According to our records, 5,114,911.85 hectares of customary land have been leased, much of the leases granted in the last two years. The laws governing the use of customary land are specific in their protection of the rights and freedoms of landowners, who own 97 per cent of the land. What is of concern to us is the manner in which the Government was handling the development of the customary land, because it raises serious questions about its commitment and understanding of the law and issues at play at present. People in the rural areas have one big and most valuable asset. This is their land, which is protected by the National Constitution, which is the supreme law over all other laws. The 85 per cent of the 6 million

The star of United States television medical series House , Hugh Laurie, is on his way to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to film a feature adaptation of the novel Mister Pip . Mister Pip , written by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones in 2006, tells the story of the last white man left on the strife-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. He reopens a school and reads his favourite novel, Great Expectations , to the students, inspiring a gifted 14-year-old named Matilda. Laurie, of Blackadder fame, who now stars in House , will film in New Zealand and on Bougainville in May. The New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand on Air, TV3 and a number of overseas parties are funding the project. "It's an immensely touching, unique, yet completely unsentimental story of love. It is unlike any script I have read, or any story I have ever heard. Plus I get to go to Papua New Guinea and call it work. I am a very lucky man," Laurie told the Hollywood Reporter . New Zealande

The star of United States television medical series House , Hugh Laurie, is on his way to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to film a feature adaptation of the novel Mister Pip . Mister Pip , written by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones in 2006, tells the story of the last white man left on the strife-torn island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. He reopens a school and reads his favourite novel, Great Expectations , to the students, inspiring a gifted 14-year-old named Matilda. Laurie, of Blackadder fame, who now stars in House , will film in New Zealand and on Bougainville in May. The New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand on Air, TV3 and a number of overseas parties are funding the project. "It's an immensely touching, unique, yet completely unsentimental story of love. It is unlike any script I have read, or any story I have ever heard. Plus I get to go to Papua New Guinea and call it work. I am a very lucky man," Laurie told the Hollywood Reporter . New Zea

PAUL BARKER Institute of National Affairs It is disappointing that the Papua New Guinea Planning Minister should choose to criticise the feedback being provided by professionals with respect to the 20 year strategic plan (DSP2030), and notably the agricultural forecasts (full page advert in National of 8th April). Constructive feedback should be encouraged, recognised and appreciated, not condemned. Government plans should not be considered sacrosanct, and whilst there was certainly some consultation on the Vision 2050, it was limited for the DSP2030. If these are meant to be national plans, not just government plans, it is critical that there is wide public participation and endorsement. Medium and longer term plans are valuable tools if suitable resources are provided to enable their implementation, but it requires that the targets and forecasts are realistic and well researched. PNG has had many plans and strategies, but, as with the Medium Term Development Strategy (MT