PNGBLOGS

The O’Neill-Namah government has a solid development agenda and is looking to improve governance, invest in infrastructure and deliver better education and health services to Papua New Guineans. This was the crux of the message delivered by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during his lecture at the ANU last week at a Development Policy Centre event. In a speech that addressed the challenges facing Papua New Guinea with refreshing frankness, the Prime Minister outlined his government’s plans for reform ahead of elections slated for 2012. He also explained the reasons behind the change in government that saw him take the PM position in August this year. Citing leaders who became reckless during former PM Sir Michael Somare’s lengthy stint in hospital, as well as concerns over misappropriation of the PNG development budget, O’Neill said that MPs on both sides of parliament were left with no choice but to take “assertive and corrective action” to deal with those who were not pru

The O’Neill-Namah government has a solid development agenda and is looking to improve governance, invest in infrastructure and deliver better education and health services to Papua New Guineans. This was the crux of the message delivered by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during his lecture at the ANU last week at a Development Policy Centre event. In a speech that addressed the challenges facing Papua New Guinea with refreshing frankness, the Prime Minister outlined his government’s plans for reform ahead of elections slated for 2012. He also explained the reasons behind the change in government that saw him take the PM position in August this year. Citing leaders who became reckless during former PM Sir Michael Somare’s lengthy stint in hospital, as well as concerns over misappropriation of the PNG development budget, O’Neill said that MPs on both sides of parliament were left with no choice but to take “assertive and corrective action” to deal with those who were not

Whether you talk about merging the two airlines or the decision to terminate the Project Agreement with Interoil, or even to sack and appoint certain controversial persons to Boards of statutory corporations, this O'Neill Namah government does not have the legitimacy to govern this Country while the Jury is still out in the pending legal cases. Peter O'Neill does not have the democratic legitimacy to govern. His position is somewhat similar to Frank Bainamarama of Fiji who is a leader by the point of the gun, who usurped democracy. Australia and New Zealand have consistently upheld the rule of the law and disengaged with Frank Bainamarama. What has happened in the PNG Parliament is no different. What has happened is the subject of court proceedings at the Country's Highest Courts. We therefore in effect have a care taker government, not a real government with the legitimate mandate of the people of Papua New Guinea. The people will express themselves at the po

Whether you talk about merging the two airlines or the decision to terminate the Project Agreement with Interoil, or even to sack and appoint certain controversial persons to Boards of statutory corporations, this O'Neill Namah government does not have the legitimacy to govern this Country while the Jury is still out in the pending legal cases. Peter O'Neill does not have the democratic legitimacy to govern. His position is somewhat similar to Frank Bainamarama of Fiji who is a leader by the point of the gun, who usurped democracy. Australia and New Zealand have consistently upheld the rule of the law and disengaged with Frank Bainamarama. What has happened in the PNG Parliament is no different. What has happened is the subject of court proceedings at the Country's Highest Courts. We therefore in effect have a care taker government, not a real government with the legitimate mandate of the people of Papua New Guinea. The people will express themselves at

I refer to the on-going public media releases by the Managing Director of MRDC, Mr Augustin Mano. It is clear that he is using resources of the landowners to defend himself from all accusations leveled against him. I have been interested as a landowner in following his media releases and public information through MRDC websites and prints. There is only two points he seems to say in all of these media releases. First that he followed proper financial management procedure for all the landowner investments and secondly, he has improved the value of shareholders asserts since taking office as the Managing Director. While this may be true, he should wait patiently for normal investigation which has already been ordered to prove himself rather than constantly defending himself over the media. This investigation will confirm whether or not proper financial management procedure was followed. The Terms of Reference (TOR) should also find out if any ‘kick backs’ or bribes (as we commonly know

I refer to the on-going public media releases by the Managing Director of MRDC, Mr Augustin Mano. It is clear that he is using resources of the landowners to defend himself from all accusations leveled against him. I have been interested as a landowner in following his media releases and public information through MRDC websites and prints. There is only two points he seems to say in all of these media releases. First that he followed proper financial management procedure for all the landowner investments and secondly, he has improved the value of shareholders asserts since taking office as the Managing Director. While this may be true, he should wait patiently for normal investigation which has already been ordered to prove himself rather than constantly defending himself over the media. This investigation will confirm whether or not proper financial management procedure was followed. The Terms of Reference (TOR) should also find out if any ‘kick backs’ or bribes (as we commonly k

BEHIND Papua New Guinea's resource-fuelled growth - 9 per cent this year - and its febrile uptake of mobile phones and social media lies a world, hidden in misty valleys and on remote islands, of grinding poverty. We might have learned more of such poverty's true dimensions from a national census conducted in mid-year. But there are growing signs that the census, already postponed for a year because of inadequate funding, has effectively failed. Such issues need to weigh on the minds of leaders from PNG and Australia as they meet in Canberra today. While Julia Gillard holds talks with new PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, eight PNG ministers, including former prime minister Mekere Morauta, will be meeting a group of Australian counterparts. The Australians, who will include Finance Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Pacific secretary Richard Marles, will be led by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. They will discuss replacing the 12-year-old bilateral aid agree