PNGBLOGS

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has rebuffed pressure from Australia to hold elections on time. Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday ratcheted up pressure by contacting Mr O'Neill directly, but he yesterday said the timing of polls was PNG's own business. Canberra has repeatedly called on PNG to adhere to the June deadline for elections as set out by its constitution. Ms Gillard's office issued a statement saying the pair "discussed the importance of holding national elections on time" and Ms Gillard had "welcomed Prime Minister O'Neill's statements that he supports the election proceeding on time." But Mr O'Neill shrugged off the pressure yesterday. "We appreciate the support of the Australian government, but it is for us to determine where we go with the elections in the coming months," Mr O'Neill told the ABC. Australia is impoverished PNG's major aid donor and has pledged significant assistance

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has rebuffed pressure from Australia to hold elections on time. Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday ratcheted up pressure by contacting Mr O'Neill directly, but he yesterday said the timing of polls was PNG's own business. Canberra has repeatedly called on PNG to adhere to the June deadline for elections as set out by its constitution. Ms Gillard's office issued a statement saying the pair "discussed the importance of holding national elections on time" and Ms Gillard had "welcomed Prime Minister O'Neill's statements that he supports the election proceeding on time." But Mr O'Neill shrugged off the pressure yesterday. "We appreciate the support of the Australian government, but it is for us to determine where we go with the elections in the coming months," Mr O'Neill told the ABC. Australia is impoverished PNG's major aid donor and has pledged significant assist

SIR Michael T Somare’s unbroken nine years in office were the best in terms of economic gains for the country, but flimsy on translation of gains into tangible benefits for the people. At the height of its tenure with K6 billion parked in trust accounts outside of consolidated revenue, all the major highways of the country remained in desperate need of maintenance, health facilities were running out of drugs and schools were shutting their doors to students. So much so that when the O’Neill-Namah regime muscled its way into office in August last year, the PNG public so welcomed the change that it was most willing to forgive the new government its very first and most crucial error – that of violating the Constitution to get into power. Ever since then, this government has never had any opposition except through its own actions. Laws were passed to correct the Aug 2 error and new laws were passed to snuff out the ripple effects of those acts and so on and so forth. One more such act was

SIR Michael T Somare’s unbroken nine years in office were the best in terms of economic gains for the country, but flimsy on translation of gains into tangible benefits for the people. At the height of its tenure with K6 billion parked in trust accounts outside of consolidated revenue, all the major highways of the country remained in desperate need of maintenance, health facilities were running out of drugs and schools were shutting their doors to students. So much so that when the O’Neill-Namah regime muscled its way into office in August last year, the PNG public so welcomed the change that it was most willing to forgive the new government its very first and most crucial error – that of violating the Constitution to get into power. Ever since then, this government has never had any opposition except through its own actions. Laws were passed to correct the Aug 2 error and new laws were passed to snuff out the ripple effects of those acts and so on and so forth. One more such ac

Helen Hugh's does not live in the Pacific. But as a good academic she gathers information from the comfort of her laptop and bunch of Aid Funded friends who regularly travel or traverse the Pacific; and then from these dinner parties and coffee sessions and telephone calls she writes and produces  articles such as this. This is clearly a generalized piece of garbage from someone supposedly of scholarly standing! No wonder Australia never understood the Pacific and will never understand the Pacific, if Canberra keeps taking its Foreign Policy cues from people like her! Helen Hughes enjoyed great patronage from the Howard-Downer Regime for over 11 years. She makes little effort to hide her political biases in Australian politics, but her painting of Downer ( the 2IC of the Deputy Sherriff -Howard) as someone who cared or even understood the Pacific is so far off line, she must be talking about some fictituous disney character. Australia-Pacific relationships were at its lowest ebb w

Helen Hugh's does not live in the Pacific. But as a good academic she gathers information from the comfort of her laptop and bunch of Aid Funded friends who regularly travel or traverse the Pacific; and then from these dinner parties and coffee sessions and telephone calls she writes and produces  articles such as this. This is clearly a generalized piece of garbage from someone supposedly of scholarly standing! No wonder Australia never understood the Pacific and will never understand the Pacific, if Canberra keeps taking its Foreign Policy cues from people like her! Helen Hughes enjoyed great patronage from the Howard-Downer Regime for over 11 years. She makes little effort to hide her political biases in Australian politics, but her painting of Downer ( the 2IC of the Deputy Sherriff -Howard) as someone who cared or even understood the Pacific is so far off line, she must be talking about some fictituous disney character. Australia-Pacific relationships were at its lowe

The Papua New Guinea government is continuing to pass legislation critics say will weaken the nation's judiciary. The government on Wednesday passed a law to restrict the powers of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill stops the Supreme Court issuing stay orders on behalf of people who "cannot prove that their powers, rights and privileges". Critics of the amendment say the government is eating away at the edges of the nation's constitution by stripping powers from the court system. "The Supreme Court has been empowered by the constitution," former chief justice and attorney-general Sir Arnold Amet told reporters in Port Moresby. "It cannot be undermined by legislation, or rules, or motions. "Fundamentally the provisions in these acts are unconstitutional." But Deputy Prime Minister, Belden Namah says the law is necessary because judges have given themselves too much power, and have no right to block parliamentary legislation.

The Papua New Guinea government is continuing to pass legislation critics say will weaken the nation's judiciary. The government on Wednesday passed a law to restrict the powers of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill stops the Supreme Court issuing stay orders on behalf of people who "cannot prove that their powers, rights and privileges". Critics of the amendment say the government is eating away at the edges of the nation's constitution by stripping powers from the court system. "The Supreme Court has been empowered by the constitution," former chief justice and attorney-general Sir Arnold Amet told reporters in Port Moresby. "It cannot be undermined by legislation, or rules, or motions. "Fundamentally the provisions in these acts are unconstitutional." But Deputy Prime Minister, Belden Namah says the law is necessary because judges have given themselves too much power, and have no right to block parliament

Intel on money laundering and PNG parliamentary hijack: Treasurers for districts in Vanimo-Green are in Singapore on a joy ride courtesy of DPM - smokescreen/decoy for what is about to take place.  DPM Belden Namah scheduled to arrive in Singapore tomorrow - clue: watch those who travel with him if he boards tomorrow's flight.  K5 million offered to a certain political party (name withheld) to dissolve party and join PNG party.  Foreign backers in Singapore - watch who flies into Singapore from the 2PM PX flight leaving POM.