PNGBLOGS

CABINET PORTFOLIOS: Peter O'Neill              Prime Minister Leo Dion              Deputy Prime Minister; Inter-Government Relations. Don Polye              Treasurer James Marape              Finance Charles Abel             National Planning Loujaya Toni              Religion, Youth and Community Development. Ben Micah              Public Enterprises and State Investment Rimbink Pato              Foreign Affairs and Immigration Education              Paru Aihi Michael Malabag          Health and HIV-AIDS Patrick Pruaitch          Forests and Climate Change Ano Pala              Transport Tommy Tomscoll          Agriculture and Livestock Sir Puka Temu              Public Service John Pundari              Environment and Conservation David Arore              Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Kerenga Kua              Justice and Attorney-General Fabian Pok              Defence William Duma              Petroleum and Energy Paul Isikiel              Housing and Urba

IN the days of the Cold War, the Pacific firmly belonged to the United States’ Pacific Fleet. The Pacific consisted, in the minds of US military strategists as a theatre, a wide expanse of ocean with a sprinkling of islands and dreamy islanders in grass skirts swaying on white sandy beaches like the coconut palms to the strum of ukuleles. Simplistic, perhaps, but that is how the islander felt he was being treated. If the US needed to dump highly toxic nuclear waste or test nuclear weaponry, or even transport nuclear arsenal through the region, it did not feel anybody deserved the courtesy of being informed. The ANZUS Treaty collapsed as a direct result of this arrogant stance by the US. But times are a-changing. US influence in the region, while still very influential, is being challenged both militarily and economically by the rising might of China and India. What does it all mean for little nations in the South Pacific like Papua New Guinea? The first thing really is to wake up to th

IN the days of the Cold War, the Pacific firmly belonged to the United States’ Pacific Fleet. The Pacific consisted, in the minds of US military strategists as a theatre, a wide expanse of ocean with a sprinkling of islands and dreamy islanders in grass skirts swaying on white sandy beaches like the coconut palms to the strum of ukuleles. Simplistic, perhaps, but that is how the islander felt he was being treated. If the US needed to dump highly toxic nuclear waste or test nuclear weaponry, or even transport nuclear arsenal through the region, it did not feel anybody deserved the courtesy of being informed. The ANZUS Treaty collapsed as a direct result of this arrogant stance by the US. But times are a-changing. US influence in the region, while still very influential, is being challenged both militarily and economically by the rising might of China and India. What does it all mean for little nations in the South Pacific like Papua New Guinea? The first thing really is to wake up

By ERASMUS BARANIAK   Our moments of triumph on the Olympic stage have not been many. We have had our moments over the last 37 years in the regional sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, the Arafura Games, the South Pacific and the Mini South Pacific Games. In an Olympic year, we are contemplating playing host once again to the next South Pacific Games and the government and the ONeil-Namah political Leadership has not been serious about what is and what ought to have been a matter of priority and pride. The nation is about to face its moment of truth on the regional and international stage. We are about to reveal once again for all to see what we have been about for the last 37 years, at least since the last time we hosted the Games here- then courtesy of the kind people of the People’s Republic of China. At least we had a Sir Anthony Siaguru to lead us out with a committee of equally talented people, showcased

By ERASMUS BARANIAK   Our moments of triumph on the Olympic stage have not been many. We have had our moments over the last 37 years in the regional sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, the Arafura Games, the South Pacific and the Mini South Pacific Games. In an Olympic year, we are contemplating playing host once again to the next South Pacific Games and the government and the ONeil-Namah political Leadership has not been serious about what is and what ought to have been a matter of priority and pride. The nation is about to face its moment of truth on the regional and international stage. We are about to reveal once again for all to see what we have been about for the last 37 years, at least since the last time we hosted the Games here- then courtesy of the kind people of the People’s Republic of China. At least we had a Sir Anthony Siaguru to lead us out with a committee of equally talented people, showc

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI Some claim Beldon Namah because of his money power. Some feared the former Prime Minister, Paias Wingti because of his wealth and political experience. Seeing Paias taking the front seat at O’Neill’s media briefing in Port Moresby prior to the election of the Prime Minister on Friday 3rd August could not prevent people talking about him. More than that is some very notable MPs like Sir Michael Somare. The feeling of him been the ‘power broker’, the true leader on the battle ground does not provide the direction to talk about him due to his discrepancies and unpopularity of NA during the 2012 National Elections. O’Neill can claim himself as the Chief Executive Officer and yet his operation at the public and within his caucus of MPs does lead to things not unturned. He can be the powerful ruler, however, history has demonstrated that a ruler is made powerful by the number of soldiers and horses the ruler has. He did not score an individual try but there were other

Thank you Mr Speaker, before I congratulate my brother and Prime Minister elect of the 9th Parliament, I would like to congratulate yourself for Parliament having confidence in electing you to the highest office in this parliament, being the Parliament Speaker of PNG. Please convey my congratulations to your family and the people of Finchaffen. On the same token, I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Nape who has held the helm of the Speaker for the last ten (10) years. He has made some unprecedented decisions that kept the country at its toes for the last 10 years. Firstly Mr Speaker, I want to congratulate the members of parliament who have been re-elected and those newly elected members of parliament. Those who have been elected recently, the challenge has just begun for you for service delivery to our people in the most rural parts of our districts in the country. And those who have been re-elected, I hope you will continue the good work that you started in continuing service delivery