PNGBLOGS

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says a $A2.8 billion loan from China will greatly improve infrastructure in the country, dismissing criticism that the loan is too big to be repaid. The O'Neill government and China's Exim bank are currently working out the details of the massive loan, first announced two months ago. Mr O'Neill says the money will be used to upgrade the Highlands Highway, a decrepit road running through the heart of the nation, as well as improvements to the nation's airports. "Our infrastructure in the country is declining to a state where some infrastructures are not able to cope with the demands of our people and our economy," Mr O'Neill told Radio Australia. "So when you look at this, what solutions do you have? We need to program a massive overhauling and redevelopment of many of these infrastructures, particularly the transport systems in the country, and we are doing that by borrowing large sums of money."

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says a $A2.8 billion loan from China will greatly improve infrastructure in the country, dismissing criticism that the loan is too big to be repaid. The O'Neill government and China's Exim bank are currently working out the details of the massive loan, first announced two months ago. Mr O'Neill says the money will be used to upgrade the Highlands Highway, a decrepit road running through the heart of the nation, as well as improvements to the nation's airports. "Our infrastructure in the country is declining to a state where some infrastructures are not able to cope with the demands of our people and our economy," Mr O'Neill told Radio Australia. "So when you look at this, what solutions do you have? We need to program a massive overhauling and redevelopment of many of these infrastructures, particularly the transport systems in the country, and we are doing that by borrowing large sums of money."

"We give Australians visa on arrival, they (Australians) dont need to go to Canberra to get a Visa, the same principal should be applied to PNG visitors to Australia" PETER O'NEILL, PNG Prime Minister Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has called on Australia to offer easier access to Australian visas for Papua New Guineans. Mr O'Neill says says Australia's policy of requiring a visa prior to departure is reducing the number of Papua New Guineans able to visit Australia. He's told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program Papua New Guineans deserve the option of visas on arrival, to match the arrangements his country offers Australians. "I think Papua New Guinea deserves the opportunity to have a similar arrangement to that Australia has with New Zealand," he said. "New Zealand has never been a colony of Australia, whereas Papua New Guinea has. "I think Australia ought to learn from such experiences." Mr O'N

"We give Australians visa on arrival, they (Australians) dont need to go to Canberra to get a Visa, the same principal should be applied to PNG visitors to Australia" PETER O'NEILL, PNG Prime Minister Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, has called on Australia to offer easier access to Australian visas for Papua New Guineans. Mr O'Neill says says Australia's policy of requiring a visa prior to departure is reducing the number of Papua New Guineans able to visit Australia. He's told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program Papua New Guineans deserve the option of visas on arrival, to match the arrangements his country offers Australians. "I think Papua New Guinea deserves the opportunity to have a similar arrangement to that Australia has with New Zealand," he said. "New Zealand has never been a colony of Australia, whereas Papua New Guinea has. "I think Australia ought to learn from such experiences." Mr O&

CHEAP KNIGHT JOHN "SNAKE" PUNDARI We call on her majesty Queen Elizabeth II to stop issuing knighthoods to despot countries like PNG as it ridicules and undermines the integrity and prestige of such awards. The process in smaller countries like PNG need to be overhauled so that award committees are chaired by respected individuals who are not prone to bribes and persuasions by their political leaders. The recent award of knighthoods to foreigners such as George Constantinou Jr and Luciano Cragnolini are classic examples of individuals-mostly small time businessmen-who have never served the state on any respectable boards let alone made sacrifices in their own lives that have benefited the majority. Donating K30,000 per annum like Constantinou has done is not a sacrifice when your profits are beyond that, Being a drinking buddy of the PM Peter O'Niell and having your wife Ni Cragnolini- visited the PM residence every night and donating cash to his political par

Administrator, Please post this in the blog in response to Susan Merrells article below. Cheers, Mark Rami Susan, Beldon is in opposition now. Not in charge of the Health Ministry nor responsible for Goilala. Every post of yours in the social networking sites comes with criticism of Beldon, which I see as too personal. Your comments are too personal and I even feel bad reading. It would be good, if Beldon responds to your personal vendetta, not in such forums but somewhere else. If you have a problem with him, please call him personally instead of posting everywhere. Remember, we don’t attack your Australian Leaders, thus we expect same from you Australians. Irrespective of who he is, the people of Vanimo/Green have voted for him and he is one of our national Leaders. Ta, Enough is Enough…

By SUSAN MERRELL In the remote Central Province district of Goilala, all 15 of the government aid posts are closed.   For the villages of the district the nearest facilities are now in the township of Tapini.   Yet, in Port Moresby, the PNG government has, in its employ, 'managers' responsible for the running of the aid posts - they have nothing to do, but they still collect their pay cheques every fortnight.  This notwithstanding, there's no available government money to keep the aid posts operational.  This is sheer bastardry that carries unimagined consequences.  Nowadays, in Goilala, to access medical services, many villagers need to walk for many hours, some for days.  The district is as bereft of roads as it is aid posts.   Goilala has also been left particularly bereft of 'district funds' that are allocated by the government to the sitting Member of Parliament each year for distribution.  Health secretary of the Catholic diocese of Bereina, Leontine Javia, sa