PNGBLOGS

WEST ENGA REPUBLIC The headlines today are telling of what has been really happenning behind the backs of hard-working Engans, The National Alliance Party in the only highlands province to bring in nearly 90 percent of voting population to the NA Block in 2007 appears to be cracking. Sam Abal has decided to crack the whip by removing Don Polye who was the Deputy Leader of The National Alliance Party and the Minister for Foriegn Affairs. The problem Don Polye does not understand is that once he is written off, he stands no chance of getting back the power he hungers for, he is weak, shakey and very emmotional, it is not what he can deliver in 2012, it is the basic fact we the people of West Enga see him as a weak parasite who feasts upon the ignorance of the Party Caucus. It may be fair to say he is the most experienced in the current stable of MPs but his traits dont speak any volumes. Comparing him to Mr. Sam Basil who happens to be a 1st term MP and in Opposition, Mr. Basil has deli

WEST ENGA REPUBLIC The headlines today are telling of what has been really happenning behind the backs of hard-working Engans, The National Alliance Party in the only highlands province to bring in nearly 90 percent of voting population to the NA Block in 2007 appears to be cracking. Sam Abal has decided to crack the whip by removing Don Polye who was the Deputy Leader of The National Alliance Party and the Minister for Foriegn Affairs. The problem Don Polye does not understand is that once he is written off, he stands no chance of getting back the power he hungers for, he is weak, shakey and very emmotional, it is not what he can deliver in 2012, it is the basic fact we the people of West Enga see him as a weak parasite who feasts upon the ignorance of the Party Caucus. It may be fair to say he is the most experienced in the current stable of MPs but his traits dont speak any volumes. Comparing him to Mr. Sam Basil who happens to be a 1st term MP and in Opposition, Mr. Basil has d

The National Editorial By his actions last Friday, Samuel Tei Abal removed an unwelcome but quite common tag that he is the “chief’s boy”, a “political softie” who will toE the line and who will not ruffle feathers. Ruffle feathers he did when, last Friday, he sacked Don Polye, the deputy leader (highlands) of his own National Alliance party and the leader of the second coalition partner in government, William Duma, of the United Resources Party as ministers of state. The action was drastic and unexpected that it brought shock and incredulity to all. Sacking two ministers, who are both architects of the present governing coalition and who are both said to be in the good books of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, must have taken nerves of steel and long hours of deliberation. He would have had to consult many parties, not the least of them the Chief himself and, most certainly, the National Alliance party executives as well as coalition partners like the URP. If he had not done so, he

The National Editorial By his actions last Friday, Samuel Tei Abal removed an unwelcome but quite common tag that he is the “chief’s boy”, a “political softie” who will toE the line and who will not ruffle feathers. Ruffle feathers he did when, last Friday, he sacked Don Polye, the deputy leader (highlands) of his own National Alliance party and the leader of the second coalition partner in government, William Duma, of the United Resources Party as ministers of state. The action was drastic and unexpected that it brought shock and incredulity to all. Sacking two ministers, who are both architects of the present governing coalition and who are both said to be in the good books of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, must have taken nerves of steel and long hours of deliberation. He would have had to consult many parties, not the least of them the Chief himself and, most certainly, the National Alliance party executives as well as coalition partners like the URP. If he had not done so,

PNGBLOGS Deputy Leader of Opposition Hon Sam Basil has began engaging with rural population to educate them on current state of the nation, parliament and politics in general. “The people must know what their leaders are doing and the state of the nation as a result of that leadership. It’s their right – and it should be our privilege to serve them in this way,” Mr Basil said. In what is his first official trip since becoming Deputy Leader of Opposition, Mr Basil travelled to Mul-Baiyer Electorate to one of Lae’s long time businessman Mr Koi Trappe to pay respects to Mr Trappe’s late mother, Ms Mano Enta on Saturday (June 4). Mr Koi Trappe is the managing director of Traisa Transport one of the premier transport companies operating between Lae and Highlands for over 30 years contributing to Lae’s economic development. Mr Koi’s contribution to Morobe, Highlands and Papua New Guinea prompted Mr Basil, on behalf of Morobe leaders, people and the Opposition to show respect and contribute K

PNGBLOGS Deputy Leader of Opposition Hon Sam Basil has began engaging with rural population to educate them on current state of the nation, parliament and politics in general. “The people must know what their leaders are doing and the state of the nation as a result of that leadership. It’s their right – and it should be our privilege to serve them in this way,” Mr Basil said. In what is his first official trip since becoming Deputy Leader of Opposition, Mr Basil travelled to Mul-Baiyer Electorate to one of Lae’s long time businessman Mr Koi Trappe to pay respects to Mr Trappe’s late mother, Ms Mano Enta on Saturday (June 4). Mr Koi Trappe is the managing director of Traisa Transport one of the premier transport companies operating between Lae and Highlands for over 30 years contributing to Lae’s economic development. Mr Koi’s contribution to Morobe, Highlands and Papua New Guinea prompted Mr Basil, on behalf of Morobe leaders, people and the Opposition to show respect and contri

PRESS RELEASE Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bulolo MP Hon Sam Basil has called on the Government to explain the delay on what is the most expensive and prolonged commission of inquiry – the one into the Department of Finance since 2007. “Many months and many millions of kina went into the Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance. And what have we got to show for it?” Mr Basil said. The Inquiry was looking into over 3000 entries recorded in the Finance Department’s Cash Book Report of transactions of K300,000 and above from 1 January 2000 to 31 a concerned Mr Basil said. The Bulolo MP described as “puzzling” the fact that a successful court order was made to effectively “put a lock on that report” when millions (up to K10 million) was already spent to ensure that hearings and findings were recorded. “Many people in this nation are no doubt suspicious about that order: how it came to be made, when it came to be made and where it came to be made,” Mr Basil added. “But we, o

PRESS RELEASE Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bulolo MP Hon Sam Basil has called on the Government to explain the delay on what is the most expensive and prolonged commission of inquiry – the one into the Department of Finance since 2007. “Many months and many millions of kina went into the Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance. And what have we got to show for it?” Mr Basil said. The Inquiry was looking into over 3000 entries recorded in the Finance Department’s Cash Book Report of transactions of K300,000 and above from 1 January 2000 to 31 a concerned Mr Basil said. The Bulolo MP described as “puzzling” the fact that a successful court order was made to effectively “put a lock on that report” when millions (up to K10 million) was already spent to ensure that hearings and findings were recorded. “Many people in this nation are no doubt suspicious about that order: how it came to be made, when it came to be made and where it came to be made,” Mr Basil added. “But we

NEW ZEALAND HERALD Prime Minister Julia Gillard appears ready to dump her plan to build a regional detention centre in East Timor and again send asylum seekers to a camp in Papua New Guinea. Speculation is growing that the centre on PNG's northern Manus Island established under former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard's "Pacific solution" will be reopened to take asylum seekers from overcrowded facilities on Christmas Island and the mainland. Gillard has refused to comment directly on the reports, saying discussions were continuing with neighbouring countries and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "When I've got something to announce arising from those discussions then I'll announce it." But the secretary of PNG's Foreign Ministry, Michael Maue, confirmed to the Australian that discussions about a processing centre were under way following a visit to Port Moresby this week by Australian Immigration Department secretary Andrew Met

NEW ZEALAND HERALD Prime Minister Julia Gillard appears ready to dump her plan to build a regional detention centre in East Timor and again send asylum seekers to a camp in Papua New Guinea. Speculation is growing that the centre on PNG's northern Manus Island established under former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard's "Pacific solution" will be reopened to take asylum seekers from overcrowded facilities on Christmas Island and the mainland. Gillard has refused to comment directly on the reports, saying discussions were continuing with neighbouring countries and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "When I've got something to announce arising from those discussions then I'll announce it." But the secretary of PNG's Foreign Ministry, Michael Maue, confirmed to the Australian that discussions about a processing centre were under way following a visit to Port Moresby this week by Australian Immigration Department secretary And

from     Charlie Gilichibi itsupport@nasfund.com.pg reply-to Charlie Gilichibi to     pngblogs@gmail.com date    Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 5:54 PM subject    NASFUND Clarification on K125 million SCITB mailed-by    nasfund.com.pg     Dear Administrator, Please post this NASFUND Press Release on your blog.   Charlie Gilichibi, There has been a recent Press editorial and articles regarding a sovereign community infrastructure Treasury bill issue (“SCITB1”) which raised funds for essential infrastructure development in PNG. Much of the reporting has been based on incorrect information. The conclusions which might be drawn from this with regard to National Superannuation Fund Limited’s (“NASFUND”) position are simply wrong. Here are the facts:    There was no secrecy regarding SCITB1:   NASFUND emailed the details of its investment in SCITB1 to 25,000 members in March 2010, in its monthly newsletter. The details of SCITB1 were circulated to 65 journalists in Papua New Guinea and abroad in March

from     Charlie Gilichibi itsupport@nasfund.com.pg reply-to Charlie Gilichibi to     pngblogs@gmail.com date    Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 5:54 PM subject    NASFUND Clarification on K125 million SCITB mailed-by    nasfund.com.pg     Dear Administrator, Please post this NASFUND Press Release on your blog.   Charlie Gilichibi, There has been a recent Press editorial and articles regarding a sovereign community infrastructure Treasury bill issue (“SCITB1”) which raised funds for essential infrastructure development in PNG. Much of the reporting has been based on incorrect information. The conclusions which might be drawn from this with regard to National Superannuation Fund Limited’s (“NASFUND”) position are simply wrong. Here are the facts:    There was no secrecy regarding SCITB1:   NASFUND emailed the details of its investment in SCITB1 to 25,000 members in March 2010, in its monthly newsletter. The details of SCITB1 were circulated to 65 journalists in Papua New Guinea an

THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL   IT is curious that the Nasfund board has chosen to put out a K50,000 reward for information to identify anonymous authors who have chosen to name joint chief executive officer Rod Mitchel in a bad light. While malicious and defamatory publications ought never to be condoned, the issue really is the K125 million special and exclusive bond issue for the Kokopo electorate. The Nasfund board needs to make a univocal explanation on exactly what this issue is all about. Contributors would like to know whether their money was at risk in this deal. Apparently, the money had been paid out and much of it spent on projects identified in the electorate. Some of the questions raised in the anonymous blog, complained of by Mitchell, actually does warrant decent answers. Is the bond issue legal or illegal, for instance? What happened to the funds? Why was this bond issued to only one electorate and not the other 88? Will the state repay the K125 million? What are the term

THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL   IT is curious that the Nasfund board has chosen to put out a K50,000 reward for information to identify anonymous authors who have chosen to name joint chief executive officer Rod Mitchel in a bad light. While malicious and defamatory publications ought never to be condoned, the issue really is the K125 million special and exclusive bond issue for the Kokopo electorate. The Nasfund board needs to make a univocal explanation on exactly what this issue is all about. Contributors would like to know whether their money was at risk in this deal. Apparently, the money had been paid out and much of it spent on projects identified in the electorate. Some of the questions raised in the anonymous blog, complained of by Mitchell, actually does warrant decent answers. Is the bond issue legal or illegal, for instance? What happened to the funds? Why was this bond issued to only one electorate and not the other 88? Will the state repay the K125 million? What are th

Douveri Henao Information Communication Technologies has revolutionized our way of life. Whether it’s igniting revolutions in the Middle East or providing markets for poor farmers in Africa, it has become a source of our existence. Papua New Guinea is no exception. The SBAL moratorium could easily be attributed to the campaign activities spearheaded by PNG bloggers and even the corruption that plagues our nation could be traced to the use of financial transactions using various ICT applications. With the introduction of 3G by both carriers, the markets may expect a rise in the use of tablets and smart phones. For those that have these accessories, they would be familiar with the use of apps. From news coverage to telling you where the best restaurant is, they further brought information to us. Maps of all formats are also available, in fact my uncle in the village was so excited he told me he needs an iPad to ,map out his journey. Our major government entities rely on ICT. From the sys

Douveri Henao Information Communication Technologies has revolutionized our way of life. Whether it’s igniting revolutions in the Middle East or providing markets for poor farmers in Africa, it has become a source of our existence. Papua New Guinea is no exception. The SBAL moratorium could easily be attributed to the campaign activities spearheaded by PNG bloggers and even the corruption that plagues our nation could be traced to the use of financial transactions using various ICT applications. With the introduction of 3G by both carriers, the markets may expect a rise in the use of tablets and smart phones. For those that have these accessories, they would be familiar with the use of apps. From news coverage to telling you where the best restaurant is, they further brought information to us. Maps of all formats are also available, in fact my uncle in the village was so excited he told me he needs an iPad to ,map out his journey. Our major government entities rely on ICT. From the

ANDREW MCNEE Basic medicines are essential for an effective health service, yet Papua New Guinea’s health facilities typically go without drugs for half of the year. Why has the situation got so bad and what can be done? In April this year, the PNG Department of Health announced that it has begun a serious effort to confront the dysfunction that has plagued the country’s medical supply system for a decade or more.  Central to this reform are efforts to confront the reported widespread and entrenched corruption in the procurement and distribution of medical supplies in PNG.AusAID is supporting this effort. This is a welcome initiative. Medical supplies are essential to the core infrastructure of an effective health service. Improvements to quality of service through training; supervision; innovation and partnership are almost nonsensical if basic inputs (including medical supplies) are not in place. But reform will not be easy. A new Policy Brief