PNGBLOGS

The opposition’s nomination of Works Minister Peter O’Neill as Papua New Guinea’s new prime minister on 2 August came as a shock to many. But there were clues in some earlier press comments. Last year, O’Neill and the opposition agreed he would become the next prime minister if he crossed the floor before the mid-year challenge. And although Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal was acting prime minister during Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s continuing absence in Singapore following heart surgery in April, the opposition succeeded in declaring the prime ministership vacant without following constitutional procedures. The National Alliance led government’s collapse arose in three phases. First was Somare’s coalition’s gradual loss of public support over the last few years on the back of failing government services across most the country and allegations of corruption over the dispersal of development funds. Second was the increasing frustration among opposition members with Somar

The opposition’s nomination of Works Minister Peter O’Neill as Papua New Guinea’s new prime minister on 2 August came as a shock to many. But there were clues in some earlier press comments. Last year, O’Neill and the opposition agreed he would become the next prime minister if he crossed the floor before the mid-year challenge. And although Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal was acting prime minister during Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s continuing absence in Singapore following heart surgery in April, the opposition succeeded in declaring the prime ministership vacant without following constitutional procedures. The National Alliance led government’s collapse arose in three phases. First was Somare’s coalition’s gradual loss of public support over the last few years on the back of failing government services across most the country and allegations of corruption over the dispersal of development funds. Second was the increasing frustration among opposition members with Som

THE United Nations refugee agency will be sidelined from involvement in the Manus Island detention centre when it is reopened by Australia in several weeks' time. Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the centre, in Papua New Guinea, would be “appropriately” administered. He said the Australian government would talk to the UNHCR, but the agency would not play a role in the centre's management. “We certainly don't envisage UNHCR involvement,” he told ABC radio. The Gillard government was anxious for the UNHCR to give its imprimatur to its Malaysian refugee swap, but the agency refused to endorse the deal. Australia and PNG reached an in-principle agreement on the use of the Manus Island centre, previously used by the Howard government, following the election last week of new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Mr Bowen said the two governments were still working to finalise the details of the arrangement. He said it would be several weeks before the centre became operation

THE United Nations refugee agency will be sidelined from involvement in the Manus Island detention centre when it is reopened by Australia in several weeks' time. Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the centre, in Papua New Guinea, would be “appropriately” administered. He said the Australian government would talk to the UNHCR, but the agency would not play a role in the centre's management. “We certainly don't envisage UNHCR involvement,” he told ABC radio. The Gillard government was anxious for the UNHCR to give its imprimatur to its Malaysian refugee swap, but the agency refused to endorse the deal. Australia and PNG reached an in-principle agreement on the use of the Manus Island centre, previously used by the Howard government, following the election last week of new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Mr Bowen said the two governments were still working to finalise the details of the arrangement. He said it would be several weeks before the centre became op

WE hear loud and clear the case made by the promoters of transferring ownership of resources to the land owning groups in the country. There is much credence in the arguments. Basically the arguments arise from inequity, not wrongful ow­nership. For decades, landowning groups from Guava v­illage in Panguna to the Min people of the Star Mountains and the Foe and Fasu of lake Kutubu have played obser­vers to the harvesting of billions of kina worth of mine­ral and hydrocarbon wealth on their land. Only a few landowner­ managers and leaders might have come into some real money but the majority received next to nil and remains destitute and frustrated. Transferring ownership to the landowners of their resources will not improve their case. Indeed, it will make murkier the muddy waters of land tenure system that we have in PNG. Since land ownership itself is a taxing question vesting ownership of wealth in the hands of a group of landowners is akin to giving a child a loaded pistol with the

WE hear loud and clear the case made by the promoters of transferring ownership of resources to the land owning groups in the country. There is much credence in the arguments. Basically the arguments arise from inequity, not wrongful ow­nership. For decades, landowning groups from Guava v­illage in Panguna to the Min people of the Star Mountains and the Foe and Fasu of lake Kutubu have played obser­vers to the harvesting of billions of kina worth of mine­ral and hydrocarbon wealth on their land. Only a few landowner­ managers and leaders might have come into some real money but the majority received next to nil and remains destitute and frustrated. Transferring ownership to the landowners of their resources will not improve their case. Indeed, it will make murkier the muddy waters of land tenure system that we have in PNG. Since land ownership itself is a taxing question vesting ownership of wealth in the hands of a group of landowners is akin to giving a child a loaded pistol with th

PAPUA New Guinea's new Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has vowed to introduce free education up to Year 10, create a centralised medical supplies base, rebuild the nation's core highways, extend the key airstrips in Port Moresby and Lae and rebuild the army and police. This highly ambitious program will fully occupy his large ministerial team through to the election due mid-next year. Mr O'Neill became Prime Minister after the parliament voted last week to declare that the position had been vacated by Michael Somare's four-month absence, and subsequent treatment in a Singapore hospital. He won the ensuing vote by a thumping 70 votes to 24. The first legal challenge to his election indicated that the proceedings may have been unconstitutional, but the court found that Mr Somare's lengthy absence had already introduced an element of dubious constitutionality as well as considerable uncertainty. The court also found that by participating in the vote those who were i

PAPUA New Guinea's new Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has vowed to introduce free education up to Year 10, create a centralised medical supplies base, rebuild the nation's core highways, extend the key airstrips in Port Moresby and Lae and rebuild the army and police. This highly ambitious program will fully occupy his large ministerial team through to the election due mid-next year. Mr O'Neill became Prime Minister after the parliament voted last week to declare that the position had been vacated by Michael Somare's four-month absence, and subsequent treatment in a Singapore hospital. He won the ensuing vote by a thumping 70 votes to 24. The first legal challenge to his election indicated that the proceedings may have been unconstitutional, but the court found that Mr Somare's lengthy absence had already introduced an element of dubious constitutionality as well as considerable uncertainty. The court also found that by participating in the vote those wh

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says his cabinet has approved an asylum seeker detention centre on Manus Island. Mr O'Neill told reporters in Port Moresby on Thursday a timeframe on the re-establishment of the centre was "entirely up to the Australian government", which would manage the centre. "The Papua New Guinea government has now approved that arrangement and we have invited officials from Australia to immediately set this facility up so that we can battle this ongoing regional issue," he said. "We also have similar problems in Papua New Guinea but it is not on the scale that is confronting our neighbour. But as a responsible government, we see that is a regional issue." He expects Australian officials to arrive in PNG at some point next week. While the Australian government would meet the cost of running the centre, PNG officials will assist and work closely with Australian officials ... "so that we can also build our own c

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says his cabinet has approved an asylum seeker detention centre on Manus Island. Mr O'Neill told reporters in Port Moresby on Thursday a timeframe on the re-establishment of the centre was "entirely up to the Australian government", which would manage the centre. "The Papua New Guinea government has now approved that arrangement and we have invited officials from Australia to immediately set this facility up so that we can battle this ongoing regional issue," he said. "We also have similar problems in Papua New Guinea but it is not on the scale that is confronting our neighbour. But as a responsible government, we see that is a regional issue." He expects Australian officials to arrive in PNG at some point next week. While the Australian government would meet the cost of running the centre, PNG officials will assist and work closely with Australian officials ... "so that we can also build our

A confidential report on Papuan separatists prepared by Indonesia's elite Kopassus military unit claimed armed groups stood ready for guerrilla war but had proof of just one weapon for every 10 men. The report "Anatomy of Papuan Separatists" was published by Australia's Fairfax newspapers Saturday, and claimed the people of the resource-rich eastern province were "easily influenced by separatist ideas". "Irrational demands for customary rights to land and limited transportation infrastructure (have) hampered economic growth," the report said. "Obedience and loyalty of Papuans towards their customary/religious leaders is very high, to the point that it has primacy over law and creates opportunities for horizontal conflict." Based on extensive surveillance operations in the special autonomous region, home to some 2.7 million people, the report contains dossiers on key figures in the Papuan independence movement, and lists its international

A confidential report on Papuan separatists prepared by Indonesia's elite Kopassus military unit claimed armed groups stood ready for guerrilla war but had proof of just one weapon for every 10 men. The report "Anatomy of Papuan Separatists" was published by Australia's Fairfax newspapers Saturday, and claimed the people of the resource-rich eastern province were "easily influenced by separatist ideas". "Irrational demands for customary rights to land and limited transportation infrastructure (have) hampered economic growth," the report said. "Obedience and loyalty of Papuans towards their customary/religious leaders is very high, to the point that it has primacy over law and creates opportunities for horizontal conflict." Based on extensive surveillance operations in the special autonomous region, home to some 2.7 million people, the report contains dossiers on key figures in the Papuan independence movement, and lists its internatio

I commend Peter O'Neill for setting up a commision of inquiry into the mismanagement at the Dept of National Planning. As a illiterate landowner from the SHP, may I ask him to do the same at MRDC.  MRDC is an entity that manages the PNG Oil and Gas Landowners equity and royalty benefits and Future Generations Funds. Under Mr. Mano's management, the landowners from Gobe, Kutubu, Moran and Ok Tedi have lost hundreds of millions of kina.  The board of directors of MRDC's subsidiaries such as Petroleum Resources Kutubu, Petroleum Resources Gobe, Petroleum Resources Moran, MRSM, MROT etc are semi educated people, especially the landowner Chairmen and directors.  In the name of investing for the landowners, Mr. Mano and his team have stolen tens of millions of kina investing in questionable business deals that brings no revenue for the landowners: May I call upon the current goverment to investigate the follwoing investments by MRDC for the landowners: 1. Purchase of Heavy Lift

I commend Peter O'Neill for setting up a commision of inquiry into the mismanagement at the Dept of National Planning. As a illiterate landowner from the SHP, may I ask him to do the same at MRDC.  MRDC is an entity that manages the PNG Oil and Gas Landowners equity and royalty benefits and Future Generations Funds. Under Mr. Mano's management, the landowners from Gobe, Kutubu, Moran and Ok Tedi have lost hundreds of millions of kina.  The board of directors of MRDC's subsidiaries such as Petroleum Resources Kutubu, Petroleum Resources Gobe, Petroleum Resources Moran, MRSM, MROT etc are semi educated people, especially the landowner Chairmen and directors.  In the name of investing for the landowners, Mr. Mano and his team have stolen tens of millions of kina investing in questionable business deals that brings no revenue for the landowners: May I call upon the current goverment to investigate the follwoing investments by MRDC for the landowners: 1. Purchase of Heavy L

The son of former Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare has warned the government of Peter O'Neill against making any major decisions ahead of an expected Supreme Court challenge over its legitimacy. Former state enterprises minister Arthur Somare said ministers and public servants should refrain from major decisions until the constitutionality of Mr O'Neill's government had been decided by the nation's Supreme Court. "The interim regime in Waigani (the capital district) and public servants need to act with due care and in recognition of the serious constitutional challenge now before the Supreme Court regarding the way forward for this nation," Mr Somare said in a statement on Friday. Officials from East Sepik, Sir Michael's home turf, recently filed the Supreme Court reference alleging no grounds had existed for parliament to declare the prime ministership of Sir Michael vacant when MPs voted to oust acting prime minister Sam Abal on August

The son of former Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare has warned the government of Peter O'Neill against making any major decisions ahead of an expected Supreme Court challenge over its legitimacy. Former state enterprises minister Arthur Somare said ministers and public servants should refrain from major decisions until the constitutionality of Mr O'Neill's government had been decided by the nation's Supreme Court. "The interim regime in Waigani (the capital district) and public servants need to act with due care and in recognition of the serious constitutional challenge now before the Supreme Court regarding the way forward for this nation," Mr Somare said in a statement on Friday. Officials from East Sepik, Sir Michael's home turf, recently filed the Supreme Court reference alleging no grounds had existed for parliament to declare the prime ministership of Sir Michael vacant when MPs voted to oust acting prime minister Sam Abal on Augu

There once was a man named Peter O’Neill, With very dark skin yet an irish man’s name, Yes Peter once tried all that bisnis stuff too, But he never could pay his way, Chorus: Heads up, heads up for Peter O’Neill, he’s now the PM, ok? HOORAY for Peter O’Neill, O’Neill, he’s managed to have his way. --- Maladina and Peter, a dream team for sure! They took on the fund with the NPF name They cleaned it all up then they cleaned all out, Herman Leahy was helping, they say, (Repeat Chorus) A bladi success was that NPF theft, ‘cause they managed to hide it away, While Jimmy got fat, our poor Peter went broke, It was high time he learnt a new way. (Repeat Chorus) Nape plus Peter, a second team WOW! Somare would hate them but where is he now? The door is wide open and Peter’s walked through, Scheming and planning to get rich anew. (Repeat Chorus) Now Abal was honest, that’s not a good trait, In our PNG parliamentary circus of late, Peter promised them something, we still don’t know what, NA trai

There once was a man named Peter O’Neill, With very dark skin yet an irish man’s name, Yes Peter once tried all that bisnis stuff too, But he never could pay his way, Chorus: Heads up, heads up for Peter O’Neill, he’s now the PM, ok? HOORAY for Peter O’Neill, O’Neill, he’s managed to have his way. --- Maladina and Peter, a dream team for sure! They took on the fund with the NPF name They cleaned it all up then they cleaned all out, Herman Leahy was helping, they say, (Repeat Chorus) A bladi success was that NPF theft, ‘cause they managed to hide it away, While Jimmy got fat, our poor Peter went broke, It was high time he learnt a new way. (Repeat Chorus) Nape plus Peter, a second team WOW! Somare would hate them but where is he now? The door is wide open and Peter’s walked through, Scheming and planning to get rich anew. (Repeat Chorus) Now Abal was honest, that’s not a good trait, In our PNG parliamentary circus

As the sun sets on the career of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, what should be his swansong? Sir Michael, known as the father of the nation of Papua New Guinea, actively led the push for independence in the 1970s and for 43 years served the people of PNG in its parliament—18 of those as Prime Minister. He is the only PNG Prime Minister to have seen out a full parliamentary term—aided by the Organic Law on Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) that made it illegal for party members to defect to the opposition. (This law did not survive a recent court challenge as to its constitutional legality but in the interim, since 2002, Sir Michael’s government has benefitted from the law, originally proposed by Sir Mekere Morauta, now in opposition.) Arguably, it was thanks to this law and Sir Michael’s ability to successfully meld together and lead a loose coalition of political parties that PNG gained a reputation as a politically stable nation. This attribute enhanced PNG’s attractiveness