PNGBLOGS

Steve Reynolds Papua New Guineans, we are about to celebrate independence day tomorrow. But ALREADY WORRIED to celebrate the eve when : Government (P. O’Neil and his delegation) in Russia are going to spend PNG taxpayers money K12 Million- For absolutely nothing- Its really hard to get that sort of money when we cry for it in our services which takes years for delivery but this government looks fit to make transactions possible within days to finance the trip-WHAT IS PNG BENEFITING FROM THIS TRIP???; Brokering K6 Billion loan in China when we cannot control our accounts and financial management system in the country; My children will suffer to pay this huge loan that is obtained by crooks. In effect, 10-20% of the money will go to the private accounts of people who brokered it…It has been the case and it will be case. And How will this money will be spent? What are the budget or expenditure framework devised to necessitate the expenditure? What are the time line for repayments? Which

Steve Reynolds Papua New Guineans, we are about to celebrate independence day tomorrow. But ALREADY WORRIED to celebrate the eve when : Government (P. O’Neil and his delegation) in Russia are going to spend PNG taxpayers money K12 Million- For absolutely nothing- Its really hard to get that sort of money when we cry for it in our services which takes years for delivery but this government looks fit to make transactions possible within days to finance the trip-WHAT IS PNG BENEFITING FROM THIS TRIP???; Brokering K6 Billion loan in China when we cannot control our accounts and financial management system in the country; My children will suffer to pay this huge loan that is obtained by crooks. In effect, 10-20% of the money will go to the private accounts of people who brokered it…It has been the case and it will be case. And How will this money will be spent? What are the budget or expenditure framework devised to necessitate the expenditure? What are the time line for repayments? Whic

HAVE A GREAT DAY CELEBRATING OUR NATIONAL DAY, SEPTEMBER 16 1975

HAVE A GREAT DAY CELEBRATING OUR NATIONAL DAY, SEPTEMBER 16 1975

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force is made up of three integral parts: the Land, Sea and Air elements. The Land element is the Army. Its flagships are the two Infantry battalions: the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and 2RPIR based at Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby and Moem Barracks in Wewak respectively. The two battalions are also responsible for running the country’s two infantry Forward Operations Bases (FOBs), one located in Kiunga in Western Province for 1RPIR and the other in Vanimo, West Sepik Province, for 2RPIR. Soldiers from the two infantry battalions are deployed to the two FOBs and serve four to six month stints there. Their primary role is to patrol strategic areas of parts of the 700km land border between PNG and Indonesia, gather military intelligence and report back to HQ, carry the flag, promote government’s presence in remote villages, engage in disaster and emergency duties and such other tasks as directed by their commanding officers at the FOBs and back at

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force is made up of three integral parts: the Land, Sea and Air elements. The Land element is the Army. Its flagships are the two Infantry battalions: the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and 2RPIR based at Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby and Moem Barracks in Wewak respectively. The two battalions are also responsible for running the country’s two infantry Forward Operations Bases (FOBs), one located in Kiunga in Western Province for 1RPIR and the other in Vanimo, West Sepik Province, for 2RPIR. Soldiers from the two infantry battalions are deployed to the two FOBs and serve four to six month stints there. Their primary role is to patrol strategic areas of parts of the 700km land border between PNG and Indonesia, gather military intelligence and report back to HQ, carry the flag, promote government’s presence in remote villages, engage in disaster and emergency duties and such other tasks as directed by their commanding officers at the FOBs and ba

Bob Carr's threat of sanctions against PNG if it dared to delay the scheduled election was an important moment in the education of Bob. Not the least problem with Carr's short-lived thought balloon in his first days as foreign minister, as it was explained by his new department, was the reality that Australia would have a lot of trouble getting the rest of the South Pacific to embrace any action against PNG. To follow that thought, come back down the time tunnel to the day after Carr had been sworn in, his first full day as foreign minister. What was virtually Carr's maiden interview was with that old-Labor-mate-turned-TV-interviewer Graham Richardson. Everything was so new the transcript never got posted on the DFAT website; the maiden effort was not kept for posterity because its sentiments were so quickly shredded. Surveying the array of issues about to confront the new minister, Richardson asked about the speculation then coming out of Port Moresby of some de

Bob Carr's threat of sanctions against PNG if it dared to delay the scheduled election was an important moment in the education of Bob. Not the least problem with Carr's short-lived thought balloon in his first days as foreign minister, as it was explained by his new department, was the reality that Australia would have a lot of trouble getting the rest of the South Pacific to embrace any action against PNG. To follow that thought, come back down the time tunnel to the day after Carr had been sworn in, his first full day as foreign minister. What was virtually Carr's maiden interview was with that old-Labor-mate-turned-TV-interviewer Graham Richardson. Everything was so new the transcript never got posted on the DFAT website; the maiden effort was not kept for posterity because its sentiments were so quickly shredded. Surveying the array of issues about to confront the new minister, Richardson asked about the speculation then coming out of Port Moresby of

By Stephen Lee It’s one of our closest neighbours, but there’s a huge gulf between Papua New Guinea and Australia when it comes to gay rights. Less than a thousand kilometres separate the two nations but homosexuality in PNG is still illegal. And despite a new government, there seems little hope for change. Being openly gay in Papua New Guinea could put you in jail for up to 14 years. Homosexuality is illegal, an archaic hangover from colonial British times. Though the laws aren’t strictly enforced, gay men say they face daily discrimination, and often struggle to find work. Moses Tau knew he was gay from a young age but struggled with his identity. “It was very painful my growing up,” he told SBS World News Australia reporter Kathy Novak. “Sometimes I’d ask the Creator – Why am I like this? What’s the reason? Is there any exit or any way out for me?” Moses put his energy into singing and became a recording artist. But when he was picked to represent PNG at Sydney Mardi Gras in 2000, t

By Stephen Lee It’s one of our closest neighbours, but there’s a huge gulf between Papua New Guinea and Australia when it comes to gay rights. Less than a thousand kilometres separate the two nations but homosexuality in PNG is still illegal. And despite a new government, there seems little hope for change. Being openly gay in Papua New Guinea could put you in jail for up to 14 years. Homosexuality is illegal, an archaic hangover from colonial British times. Though the laws aren’t strictly enforced, gay men say they face daily discrimination, and often struggle to find work. Moses Tau knew he was gay from a young age but struggled with his identity. “It was very painful my growing up,” he told SBS World News Australia reporter Kathy Novak. “Sometimes I’d ask the Creator – Why am I like this? What’s the reason? Is there any exit or any way out for me?” Moses put his energy into singing and became a recording artist. But when he was picked to represent PNG at Sydney Mardi Gras in 2000,

The PM has made an open stand on corruption, The task force sweep team has hit some walls..... It's time for people power to stand with this call and Protest for Good Governance.... Lawyers representing MP's and Department Heads current and former should now be asked to table the asset records and cash flow records and their payments received for services to Public Figures as their commitment to serve Good Governance. The penalty for non compliance should be the banning of their rights to practice law in PNG. Accountants should also face the same process and penalties. All found guilty should be penalized to the maximum for white collar crimes equal to those penalized who are not considered Elite. Technology will help through Google Searches on all names, a petition can be done from the people listing all names appearing in relation to investigations for bribery and corruption found through Google Search, word of mouth can drive this commitment further that as many Papua New Gu

The PM has made an open stand on corruption, The task force sweep team has hit some walls..... It's time for people power to stand with this call and Protest for Good Governance.... Lawyers representing MP's and Department Heads current and former should now be asked to table the asset records and cash flow records and their payments received for services to Public Figures as their commitment to serve Good Governance. The penalty for non compliance should be the banning of their rights to practice law in PNG. Accountants should also face the same process and penalties. All found guilty should be penalized to the maximum for white collar crimes equal to those penalized who are not considered Elite. Technology will help through Google Searches on all names, a petition can be done from the people listing all names appearing in relation to investigations for bribery and corruption found through Google Search, word of mouth can drive this commitment further that as many Papua New Gu

The planned borrowing of K6.0 billion by the O’ Neill- Dion Government will bring total foreign debt of the country to K8.6 billion and K14.6 billion overall which is equivalent to 45% of GDP- a level that is considered unsustainable by international standards. This will hasten the country to its economic ruin. All the gains PNG has made in the last ten years will come to nothing. The Opposition is extremely concerned about the impact of this loan to the PNG economy and on future budgets in terms of interest payments and fees. It represents a major risk to the stability of the budget and the country as a whole. At present, the country is paying K460 million per annum in loan interests alone. The K6.0 billion loan will mean this will rise much higher. How are we going to finance this loan when already the country is paying K460 million on loan interests each year? Taxes from the PNG LNG Gas are going to be received by the State by 2022. How is the loan going to be repaid? The Opposition

The planned borrowing of K6.0 billion by the O’ Neill- Dion Government will bring total foreign debt of the country to K8.6 billion and K14.6 billion overall which is equivalent to 45% of GDP- a level that is considered unsustainable by international standards. This will hasten the country to its economic ruin. All the gains PNG has made in the last ten years will come to nothing. The Opposition is extremely concerned about the impact of this loan to the PNG economy and on future budgets in terms of interest payments and fees. It represents a major risk to the stability of the budget and the country as a whole. At present, the country is paying K460 million per annum in loan interests alone. The K6.0 billion loan will mean this will rise much higher. How are we going to finance this loan when already the country is paying K460 million on loan interests each year? Taxes from the PNG LNG Gas are going to be received by the State by 2022. How is the loan going to be repaid? The Opposit

The Member for Bulolo Honourable Sam Basil has slammed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Coalition Government for taking expensive overseas trips which can only add to the K513.2 million deficit already recorded in July. Fueled by the non-payment of MPs wages, Mr Basil who is deputy leader of opposition said: “This is very irresponsible of the O’Neill-Dion Government. How can a large entourage go on what can be described as an expensive globe-trotting trip to China and Russia when the nation is still stunned by a half year report of over a half million kina deficit? “Depressed commodity prices resulted in loss of revenue but Prime Minister O’Neill cannot explain away the fact that there has been an over expenditure of K120 million that added to the K513.2 million. “And on top of this, what is this report of borrowings of K5 billion for infrastructure? Does the Government know the implications of this on the high liquidity within the commercial banks in addition to the PNG LNG Projec

The Member for Bulolo Honourable Sam Basil has slammed Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Coalition Government for taking expensive overseas trips which can only add to the K513.2 million deficit already recorded in July. Fueled by the non-payment of MPs wages, Mr Basil who is deputy leader of opposition said: “This is very irresponsible of the O’Neill-Dion Government. How can a large entourage go on what can be described as an expensive globe-trotting trip to China and Russia when the nation is still stunned by a half year report of over a half million kina deficit? “Depressed commodity prices resulted in loss of revenue but Prime Minister O’Neill cannot explain away the fact that there has been an over expenditure of K120 million that added to the K513.2 million. “And on top of this, what is this report of borrowings of K5 billion for infrastructure? Does the Government know the implications of this on the high liquidity within the commercial banks in addition to the PNG LNG

By HILDA WAYNE of Curtin University, Western Australia THE steady and successful rise of Papua New Guinea’s three new women Members of Parliament has drawn praise from the Premier of Tasmania, Hon. Lara Giddings. Giddings was the youngest woman ever to be elected into Australia’s Parliament at the age of 23 in 1999. However her interest in PNG politics and especially the three women MPs is because she has a much deeper connection to PNG. Giddings was born and raised in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province where she spent much of her childhood. She has been following PNG’s recent elections with much interest and praised Loujaya Toni, Dellilah Pueka Gore and Julie Soso on their win.   In an interview with the Western Independent, Premier Giddings said: “As a woman born in the Eastern Highlands of PNG, and as a member of the Tasmanian Parliament, I have watched with pride the recent PNG elections where a record number of women have been elected to Parliament, including Julie Soso now Govern

By HILDA WAYNE of Curtin University, Western Australia THE steady and successful rise of Papua New Guinea’s three new women Members of Parliament has drawn praise from the Premier of Tasmania, Hon. Lara Giddings. Giddings was the youngest woman ever to be elected into Australia’s Parliament at the age of 23 in 1999. However her interest in PNG politics and especially the three women MPs is because she has a much deeper connection to PNG. Giddings was born and raised in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province where she spent much of her childhood. She has been following PNG’s recent elections with much interest and praised Loujaya Toni, Dellilah Pueka Gore and Julie Soso on their win.   In an interview with the Western Independent, Premier Giddings said: “As a woman born in the Eastern Highlands of PNG, and as a member of the Tasmanian Parliament, I have watched with pride the recent PNG elections where a record number of women have been elected to Parliament, including Julie Soso now

SAM BASIL MP This speech being delivered from the floor of Parliament on the 4th of September, parts of it will be removed from HANSARD because it contains the NPF Issue - Says the Honorable Speaker of the 9th Parliament. 1.0 INTRODUCTION & SALUTATIONS Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak for the first time in this 9thNational Parliament. First of all Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my family and my people of Bulolo Electorate, I would like to congratulate you, and the people of Finschhafen, inyour promotion to this highest office in our Legislature. Congratulations! I would also like to register the congratulations of my Bulolo people – and my own as well as my family’s congratulations – to the Prime Ministerand Member for Ialibu-PangiaHonourable Peter O’Neill for retaining the nation’s top executive post. Mr. Speaker, I would not be here – for a second five-year term – without the overwhelming vote of the people of Bulolo. I would like to convey my special thanks and apprec

SAM BASIL MP This speech being delivered from the floor of Parliament on the 4th of September, parts of it will be removed from HANSARD because it contains the NPF Issue - Says the Honorable Speaker of the 9th Parliament. 1.0 INTRODUCTION & SALUTATIONS Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak for the first time in this 9thNational Parliament. First of all Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my family and my people of Bulolo Electorate, I would like to congratulate you, and the people of Finschhafen, inyour promotion to this highest office in our Legislature. Congratulations! I would also like to register the congratulations of my Bulolo people – and my own as well as my family’s congratulations – to the Prime Ministerand Member for Ialibu-PangiaHonourable Peter O’Neill for retaining the nation’s top executive post. Mr. Speaker, I would not be here – for a second five-year term – without the overwhelming vote of the people of Bulolo. I would like to convey my special thanks and app