PNGBLOGS

By: Barry Holloway and James Macpherson  The Danger  The next Parliament risks unconstitutional membership. Elections for provincial and open electorates could breach the Constitution. Such a breach would undercut a national strength: our Parliament. This Parliament needs to make informed decisions quickly so that elections to the next Parliament are constitutional. Achievements of this Parliament  Parliament has enacted the first changes to its electorates since Independence. Provision for Jiwaka and Hela provincial electorates is the first change to boundaries of any electorate since before Independence. Amendment of the Constitution to provide for women’s electorates shows willingness to consider radical changes by the overwhelmingly male majority. These achievements can form a foundation for a stronger Parliament. Unconstitutional Elections for Provincial Electorates  Elections to provincial electorates will breach the Constitution. Section 126 of the Constitution re

By: Barry Holloway and James Macpherson  The Danger  The next Parliament risks unconstitutional membership. Elections for provincial and open electorates could breach the Constitution. Such a breach would undercut a national strength: our Parliament. This Parliament needs to make informed decisions quickly so that elections to the next Parliament are constitutional. Achievements of this Parliament  Parliament has enacted the first changes to its electorates since Independence. Provision for Jiwaka and Hela provincial electorates is the first change to boundaries of any electorate since before Independence. Amendment of the Constitution to provide for women’s electorates shows willingness to consider radical changes by the overwhelmingly male majority. These achievements can form a foundation for a stronger Parliament. Unconstitutional Elections for Provincial Electorates  Elections to provincial electorates will breach the Constitution. Section 126 of the Con

(Reuters) - Papua New Guinea's investment risk has worsened after a failed mutiny, with Standard & Poor's revising its outlook to negative on Friday and warning that the political crisis, with two competing prime ministers, was impeding the resource-driven economy. Early Thursday, up to 20 soldiers raided the main army barracks in the capital Port Moresby, seized their chief commander and placed him under house arrest, and announced a new military commander. The rebels demanded the reinstatement of deposed prime minister Sir Michael Somare, but by Thursday night the mutiny had failed and the government of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was back in control. "Political settings in PNG have weakened following the detention and later release of the defense force chief," said S&P in revising down the outlook for South Pacific nation, whose 'B+/B' sovereign credit rating was affirmed. "We would lower the ratings if the political frict

(Reuters) - Papua New Guinea's investment risk has worsened after a failed mutiny, with Standard & Poor's revising its outlook to negative on Friday and warning that the political crisis, with two competing prime ministers, was impeding the resource-driven economy. Early Thursday, up to 20 soldiers raided the main army barracks in the capital Port Moresby, seized their chief commander and placed him under house arrest, and announced a new military commander. The rebels demanded the reinstatement of deposed prime minister Sir Michael Somare, but by Thursday night the mutiny had failed and the government of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was back in control. "Political settings in PNG have weakened following the detention and later release of the defense force chief," said S&P in revising down the outlook for South Pacific nation, whose 'B+/B' sovereign credit rating was affirmed. "We would lower the ratings if the politi

Australia belongs to the ASIA PACIFIC GROUP ON MONEY LAUNDERING (APG). This group consists of many countries in the region including Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. In addition these countries have international Interpol obligations and have also entered into bi-lateral law enforcement cooperative arrangements with Australia, especially in the wake of 9/11 and the Bali Bombings. Under these arrangements, and especially under APG, all transactions above a certain amount in the banking system or known by other intelligence  automatically triggers internal reporting in Member countries, as well as to Member countries and their law enforcement agencies. Ever since the 9/11 bombings, (when  as I revealed large amounts of money were transacted by terrorists through Fijian banks)  the controls have been tightened, and the intelligence is followed and analysed on a daily basis, particularly because it has become a life and death business. In Australia, recently passed Anti-Mo

Australia belongs to the ASIA PACIFIC GROUP ON MONEY LAUNDERING (APG). This group consists of many countries in the region including Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. In addition these countries have international Interpol obligations and have also entered into bi-lateral law enforcement cooperative arrangements with Australia, especially in the wake of 9/11 and the Bali Bombings. Under these arrangements, and especially under APG, all transactions above a certain amount in the banking system or known by other intelligence  automatically triggers internal reporting in Member countries, as well as to Member countries and their law enforcement agencies. Ever since the 9/11 bombings, (when  as I revealed large amounts of money were transacted by terrorists through Fijian banks)  the controls have been tightened, and the intelligence is followed and analysed on a daily basis, particularly because it has become a life and death business. In Australia, recently passed Ant

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill, shaken by yesterday’s mutiny by rebel troops, will move to dissolve parliament next month and go to early polls to end the current political impasse. He said he would seek his government’s blessing to bring forward the scheduled June general election. O’Neill said this after announcing that the day-long mutiny by the 30 rebels, led by retrenched colonel Yaura Sasa, at Murray Barracks headquarters, was over. Fifteen of the soldiers have been arrested and Sasa was being “dealt with” but O’Neill declined to clarify what this meant (details, see Page 2). O’Neill said he would ask his government during the February session of parliament whether they should pursue the option of an early election. “We are looking at going for early election as quickly as possible to end this political impasse and we hope the Electoral Commission is ready for early elections,” he said. O’Neill said this yesterday when he accused the Somare camp of inciting mutiny at the