PNGBLOGS

Papua New Guinea and Australia have signed an agreement of zero tolerance to fraud in the multi-million dollar AusAID program. Australia's international aid agency, AusAID provides more than $AU480 million in aid each year to improve PNG's worst health and education outcomes. But the program's been plagued by fraud and corruption from both sides, affecting the delivery of services. PNG's National Planning Minister Sam Basil has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the zero tolerance initiative aims to address those concerns. "Some people have termed it corrupt, or even boomerang aid," he said. "So I think...we are now stepping into the right direction." Mr Basil is confident the new agreement will ensure corrupt officials from both governments are held responsible and prosecuted. "I know that it will build confidence of PNG citizens and the receipients of the aid money and expatriates of Austraia that we are doing something about corrup

Papua New Guinea and Australia have signed an agreement of zero tolerance to fraud in the multi-million dollar AusAID program. Australia's international aid agency, AusAID provides more than $AU480 million in aid each year to improve PNG's worst health and education outcomes. But the program's been plagued by fraud and corruption from both sides, affecting the delivery of services. PNG's National Planning Minister Sam Basil has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the zero tolerance initiative aims to address those concerns. "Some people have termed it corrupt, or even boomerang aid," he said. "So I think...we are now stepping into the right direction." Mr Basil is confident the new agreement will ensure corrupt officials from both governments are held responsible and prosecuted. "I know that it will build confidence of PNG citizens and the receipients of the aid money and expatriates of Austraia that we are doing something

Sir Michael Somare has indicated he might stand for re-election in Papua New Guinea's June poll, although the 75-year-old says age is a factor to consider. Sir Michael, who was deposed last August after nine years as prime minister, is being urged to stand by his supporters. However insiders say the future remains uncertain, as the ongoing political dispute in PNG heads into another round of court battles. "People think they can get me out with their numbers," Sir Michael said on Thursday, referring to the 70-24 vote on the floor of parliament to dump him and form a government under Peter O'Neill. "I am having second thoughts. I want to prove to them that I will come back, not with a few numbers, with a big margin. "You know, age is another thing to consider." One Somare camp insider who asked not to be named said Sir Michael was being urged to stand again by loyalists. "But I don't think he'll do it," the source said. "He

Sir Michael Somare has indicated he might stand for re-election in Papua New Guinea's June poll, although the 75-year-old says age is a factor to consider. Sir Michael, who was deposed last August after nine years as prime minister, is being urged to stand by his supporters. However insiders say the future remains uncertain, as the ongoing political dispute in PNG heads into another round of court battles. "People think they can get me out with their numbers," Sir Michael said on Thursday, referring to the 70-24 vote on the floor of parliament to dump him and form a government under Peter O'Neill. "I am having second thoughts. I want to prove to them that I will come back, not with a few numbers, with a big margin. "You know, age is another thing to consider." One Somare camp insider who asked not to be named said Sir Michael was being urged to stand again by loyalists. "But I don't think he'll do it," the source said.

THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA DEFENCE FORCE has been asked to help conduct arrests, following an investigation into the misuse of public funds in East Sepik province. A plane carrying investigators with a government-appointed Investigation Task Force Sweep Team were prevented from disembarking and told to return to Port Moresby on Wednesday. They were sent to investigate allegations of misuse of public funds under the court-reinstated Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, and the East Sepik provincial governments, and East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu. Some residents and political supporters have converged at the Wewak airport and told the Air Niugini management to return the investigators and police back to Port Moresby. They claim it was politically motivated when their MP Sir Michael was ousted, and the matter is before the courts again. PNG's Deputy Prime Minister, Belden Namah, has called them acts of terrorism. “I condemn the actions of holding up of the national airlines service to Wew

THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA DEFENCE FORCE has been asked to help conduct arrests, following an investigation into the misuse of public funds in East Sepik province. A plane carrying investigators with a government-appointed Investigation Task Force Sweep Team were prevented from disembarking and told to return to Port Moresby on Wednesday. They were sent to investigate allegations of misuse of public funds under the court-reinstated Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, and the East Sepik provincial governments, and East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu. Some residents and political supporters have converged at the Wewak airport and told the Air Niugini management to return the investigators and police back to Port Moresby. They claim it was politically motivated when their MP Sir Michael was ousted, and the matter is before the courts again. PNG's Deputy Prime Minister, Belden Namah, has called them acts of terrorism. “I condemn the actions of holding up of the national airlines service to W

By John F.M. Kocsis, Harvard Political Review In one of the coming decades’ most important developments, tensions between the United States and China have begun to escalate on a whole host of new fronts. Prospects for the presidency have soared to new heights of monetary nationalism, the Obama administration has announced plans to station 2,500 marines in the Pacific, and Chinese diplomats have turned up the heat on American allies in the South China Sea. As in all great rivalries, China and America both have proxies whom they support, provided the junior partners act in their interest.  One such proxy nation is Papua New Guinea, the resource-rich Pacific nation whose domestic political instability has made it a surprising focus of American and Chinese geopolitical maneuvering. Of potential flashpoints for conflict in the Pacific arena, Papua New Guinea is generally less studied than its regional counterparts, such as the Philippines and Vietnam.  New Guinean history is

By John F.M. Kocsis, Harvard Political Review In one of the coming decades’ most important developments, tensions between the United States and China have begun to escalate on a whole host of new fronts. Prospects for the presidency have soared to new heights of monetary nationalism, the Obama administration has announced plans to station 2,500 marines in the Pacific, and Chinese diplomats have turned up the heat on American allies in the South China Sea. As in all great rivalries, China and America both have proxies whom they support, provided the junior partners act in their interest.  One such proxy nation is Papua New Guinea, the resource-rich Pacific nation whose domestic political instability has made it a surprising focus of American and Chinese geopolitical maneuvering. Of potential flashpoints for conflict in the Pacific arena, Papua New Guinea is generally less studied than its regional counterparts, such as the Philippines and Vietnam.  New Guinean histor

Papua New Guinea's Defence Force has been placed on alert to help arrest people who tried to prevent investigations into alleged misuse of public funds in PNG's East Sepik province. A plane carrying investigators with a government appointed Investigation Task Force Sweep Team was prevented from disembarking and told to return to Port Moresby on Wednesday. They were sent to investigate allegations of misuse of public funds under the court-reinstated Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and the East Sepik provincial governments, and East Sepik Governor, Peter Wararu.  Some residents and political supporters converged at the Wewak airport and told the Air Niugini management to return the investigators and police back to Port Moresby. PNG's Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has condemned the actions and called them as acts of terrorism. "This is an act of criminals," he said. He says soldiers with the Moem Baracks in Wewak will be called in to arrest those people who