PNGBLOGS

PARLIAMENT sits this week for the last time before the general election. It is assumed that today’s session will be a mere formality for both the government, middle and opposition benches with all members practically in unison on the election schedule. If there were voices of dissension or a push from whichever quarter to stall the election, or defer proceedings, then that time has come and gone. Rumours of an impending motion to remove Prime Minister Peter O’Neill must be seen for what they are, simply the uttering of individuals who have lost touch with reality or are just intent on causing unnecessary anxiety. With the issue of writs on Friday, we are just a little over five weeks away from the moment the first voter casts his or her all-important vote on June 23 in the 109 electorates of PNG. Election fever has not quite reached a crescendo yet but, be rest assured, it will start building up in the coming days and weeks. Campaigning is set to shift into high gear from next week. On

PARLIAMENT sits this week for the last time before the general election. It is assumed that today’s session will be a mere formality for both the government, middle and opposition benches with all members practically in unison on the election schedule. If there were voices of dissension or a push from whichever quarter to stall the election, or defer proceedings, then that time has come and gone. Rumours of an impending motion to remove Prime Minister Peter O’Neill must be seen for what they are, simply the uttering of individuals who have lost touch with reality or are just intent on causing unnecessary anxiety. With the issue of writs on Friday, we are just a little over five weeks away from the moment the first voter casts his or her all-important vote on June 23 in the 109 electorates of PNG. Election fever has not quite reached a crescendo yet but, be rest assured, it will start building up in the coming days and weeks. Campaigning is set to shift into high gear from next

Without publishing anything in the report, generally, our investigations have revealed very frightening trend of corruption in this country. The level of corruption had migrated from sporadic such as occasional incidences of bribes to systematic and now to institutionalisation where Government institutions are dominated by corrupt people who orchestrate corruption using their lawful authorities. Institutions that supposed to practise openness and provide check and balance are now becoming a secrecy haven, where they sanction illegality and secrecy. Unlike in the past where people use existing loopholes to steal public funds, this time they use their position, authority and institutions of government to orchestrate the passage of legislation, gazettal of instruments or even devising of guidelines to create loopholes and loot the country’s wealth using those loopholes. Corruption is legislated in some instances. Equal distribution of scarce resources as enshrined in our Constitution has

Without publishing anything in the report, generally, our investigations have revealed very frightening trend of corruption in this country. The level of corruption had migrated from sporadic such as occasional incidences of bribes to systematic and now to institutionalisation where Government institutions are dominated by corrupt people who orchestrate corruption using their lawful authorities. Institutions that supposed to practise openness and provide check and balance are now becoming a secrecy haven, where they sanction illegality and secrecy. Unlike in the past where people use existing loopholes to steal public funds, this time they use their position, authority and institutions of government to orchestrate the passage of legislation, gazettal of instruments or even devising of guidelines to create loopholes and loot the country’s wealth using those loopholes. Corruption is legislated in some instances. Equal distribution of scarce resources as enshrined in our Constitution ha

Papua New Guinea's political impasse has rattled along for nine months with barely a week passing without some constitutional or national crisis. Having two prime ministers, two cabinets, two governors-general, two police commissioners and at one point – during a short-lived mutiny at army headquarters – two military commanders has brought a new level of uncertainty, even by this country's standards. While most of PNG's public institutions have supported the administration of Peter O'Neill, the standoff over who is the legitimate government has undermined the Melanesian country's democratic pillars. If there was initial enthusiasm for the new-look government after the parliamentary ousting of long-time prime minister Sir Michael Somare, a subsequent arm-wrestle between O'Neill's coalition and the judiciary, as well as moves to defer elections, have eroded much of that. Repeated attempts by the O'Neill government to remove the chief justice, Sir Salamo In

Papua New Guinea's political impasse has rattled along for nine months with barely a week passing without some constitutional or national crisis. Having two prime ministers, two cabinets, two governors-general, two police commissioners and at one point – during a short-lived mutiny at army headquarters – two military commanders has brought a new level of uncertainty, even by this country's standards. While most of PNG's public institutions have supported the administration of Peter O'Neill, the standoff over who is the legitimate government has undermined the Melanesian country's democratic pillars. If there was initial enthusiasm for the new-look government after the parliamentary ousting of long-time prime minister Sir Michael Somare, a subsequent arm-wrestle between O'Neill's coalition and the judiciary, as well as moves to defer elections, have eroded much of that. Repeated attempts by the O'Neill government to remove the chief justice, Sir Salamo

If this was a news release by a geologist, alarm bells would be ringing around the Pacific and international scientific community. But retitle it “Pacific politics tilting to PNG” and the alarm bells would be ringing in Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks (as I am sure they already are). However, if Papua New Guinea ever decides to flex its burgeoning muscles, encouraged by a belligerent Fiji, the alarm bells would be ringing loudest in Canberra and Wellington. Without doubt, Pacific politics is tilting towards the west, drawn by the all-powerful and inexorable gravitational forces of the massive LNG and other minerals wealth being generated in Papua New Guinea (and in West Papua – another sorry saga). Pacific regional initiatives such as PICTA and EPAs with the European Union (administered by Forum Secretariat in Suva) or PACER Plus (administered through the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser in Vila) are going to be largely eclipsed by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islan

If this was a news release by a geologist, alarm bells would be ringing around the Pacific and international scientific community. But retitle it “Pacific politics tilting to PNG” and the alarm bells would be ringing in Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks (as I am sure they already are). However, if Papua New Guinea ever decides to flex its burgeoning muscles, encouraged by a belligerent Fiji, the alarm bells would be ringing loudest in Canberra and Wellington. Without doubt, Pacific politics is tilting towards the west, drawn by the all-powerful and inexorable gravitational forces of the massive LNG and other minerals wealth being generated in Papua New Guinea (and in West Papua – another sorry saga). Pacific regional initiatives such as PICTA and EPAs with the European Union (administered by Forum Secretariat in Suva) or PACER Plus (administered through the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser in Vila) are going to be largely eclipsed by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of PNG, Fiji, Solom

Kilman , looking at removing the Wesminster system of government in Vanuatu The culture of school yard bullying is very much alive in Canberra, and every now and then shows its ugly head in the diplomatic discourses between Australia and its Pacific hosts.  Bullying is a cultural phenomenon as much as it is a sociological malaise predominant in the English public school system in the form of crude ritualistic excesses by persons who practise it as a rite of passage to perpetuate exclusion, inclusion and or even acceptability. It is a deep form of social ill that in itself may not necessarily and immediately yield the reasons for a quick fix or solution. It has much to do with identity as much as belonging, but more often than not it has to do with lack of identity than anything else. And on the national stage of a country such as Australia, this is a deeply rooted problem in the psyche of Australia as a nation, and Australians as a people.  They do not belong here in our Pacific. They

Kilman , looking at removing the Wesminster system of government in Vanuatu The culture of school yard bullying is very much alive in Canberra, and every now and then shows its ugly head in the diplomatic discourses between Australia and its Pacific hosts.  Bullying is a cultural phenomenon as much as it is a sociological malaise predominant in the English public school system in the form of crude ritualistic excesses by persons who practise it as a rite of passage to perpetuate exclusion, inclusion and or even acceptability. It is a deep form of social ill that in itself may not necessarily and immediately yield the reasons for a quick fix or solution. It has much to do with identity as much as belonging, but more often than not it has to do with lack of identity than anything else. And on the national stage of a country such as Australia, this is a deeply rooted problem in the psyche of Australia as a nation, and Australians as a people.  They do not belong here in our