PNGBLOGS

By SANJAY BHOSALE PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill deserves to be congratulated for putting together a coalition of unprecedented proportions in the aftermath of the recent elections. Any questions of legitimacy and credibility have now been emphatically answered. And the new government enjoys a level of acceptance around the country and abroad than perhaps any other before it. The challenge for O’Neill lies in keeping his grand coalition together for the duration. They say a week is a long time in politics, and five years is an absolute eternity. To use an Olympic analogy, holding the government together for five years is like running a marathon. The runners know that only one of them will win gold. Still, it won’t stop them from trying to breast the tape first. Those who had ambitions for the top post have been kept at bay. But for how long? It would be wishful thinking to hope that O’Neill will not face any challenges to his leadership until 2017. And as has been pointed out on

Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party leader Don Pomb Polye is the most upset man in this country right now. Sources close to Mr Polye said the Kandep MP was fuming that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has “lied” to him over the Finance and Treasury portfolio. Last night when Mr O’Neill made the announcement, Mr Polye was at a function to celebrate the election victories of Delilah Gore and Julie Soso Akeke for the Sohe Open and Eastern Highlands provincial seats respectively. At that function, he remained calm when told that he was given only the Treasury portfolio but sources close to him said, the man felt cheated. “He had to forgo the Deputy Prime Minister’s post for the Finance and Treasury portfolio. What can he do as Treasurer,” a senior member of the party told Post Courier. At that party, senior MPs and officials from THE Party informed Post Courier that they were also concerned that none of the economic portfolios were given to any of their members and what was allocated to t

Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party leader Don Pomb Polye is the most upset man in this country right now. Sources close to Mr Polye said the Kandep MP was fuming that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has “lied” to him over the Finance and Treasury portfolio. Last night when Mr O’Neill made the announcement, Mr Polye was at a function to celebrate the election victories of Delilah Gore and Julie Soso Akeke for the Sohe Open and Eastern Highlands provincial seats respectively. At that function, he remained calm when told that he was given only the Treasury portfolio but sources close to him said, the man felt cheated. “He had to forgo the Deputy Prime Minister’s post for the Finance and Treasury portfolio. What can he do as Treasurer,” a senior member of the party told Post Courier. At that party, senior MPs and officials from THE Party informed Post Courier that they were also concerned that none of the economic portfolios were given to any of their members and what was all

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

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 delive

By JOHN GADI The Kina TT sell rate is dropping fast in the last couple of days USD 0.4550, USD0.4531, USD0.4526 This is showing sign that this government is throwing the economy down the drain K500million deficit in 9 months is something to worry about Yes the problem list still stand tall regardless of K76billion spend in the last 10 years....constant power blackouts,  incompetent Telikom png with unreliable services, Papua New guineans being paid under colonial pay grade as compared to their expatriate colleague with little experiences, roads system crumbling down  still no company has found innovation in building tar roads that will last for more than a year Housing and health care is a problem for all urban areas in PNG and the worst is still in the rural areas government is not smart enough to develop sustainable agriculture project that can equal the magnitude of the LNG and other mining projects so to save our mineral resources for future industrialization and manufacturing for

By JOHN GADI The Kina TT sell rate is dropping fast in the last couple of days USD 0.4550, USD0.4531, USD0.4526 This is showing sign that this government is throwing the economy down the drain K500million deficit in 9 months is something to worry about Yes the problem list still stand tall regardless of K76billion spend in the last 10 years....constant power blackouts,  incompetent Telikom png with unreliable services, Papua New guineans being paid under colonial pay grade as compared to their expatriate colleague with little experiences, roads system crumbling down  still no company has found innovation in building tar roads that will last for more than a year Housing and health care is a problem for all urban areas in PNG and the worst is still in the rural areas government is not smart enough to develop sustainable agriculture project that can equal the magnitude of the LNG and other mining projects so to save our mineral resources for future industrialization and manufactur

By NATHAN DINGU Photo Credit: EMMANUEL NAROKOBI I find it funny how easily we all are led to believe that something has changed when we hear the word “change”. Papua New Guinea has several parties currently registered, I hear 42 or something like that. Of those political parties, the People’s National Congress has struck ‘gold ‘this time around with others such as Triumph Heritage Party, Papua New Guinea Party and the National Alliance Party tagging along. My question now really is what has changed? I say this because I shall make a rough head count of all the current MP’s who made it back under the banner of People’s National Congress and the Triumph Heritage Party to name a few. The question is, how many of them were part of the former National Alliance team that led the country from 2002 to 2011? Don Polye, Sasa Zibe, Teo Zurenuoc, Paul Tienstan, Paru Aihi, the list is seemingly endless. I don’t have time to really do a head count but a general observation tells me that all the form

By NATHAN DINGU Photo Credit: EMMANUEL NAROKOBI I find it funny how easily we all are led to believe that something has changed when we hear the word “change”. Papua New Guinea has several parties currently registered, I hear 42 or something like that. Of those political parties, the People’s National Congress has struck ‘gold ‘this time around with others such as Triumph Heritage Party, Papua New Guinea Party and the National Alliance Party tagging along. My question now really is what has changed? I say this because I shall make a rough head count of all the current MP’s who made it back under the banner of People’s National Congress and the Triumph Heritage Party to name a few. The question is, how many of them were part of the former National Alliance team that led the country from 2002 to 2011? Don Polye, Sasa Zibe, Teo Zurenuoc, Paul Tienstan, Paru Aihi, the list is seemingly endless. I don’t have time to really do a head count but a general observation tells me that