PNGBLOGS

By SUSAN MERRELL Business operations from stolen money, money needed for dire services. Eremas Wartoto was committed to stand trial in the National courts on 2 October - in absentia. The charges were relating to the Kerevat National High School where a company he owned was paid 7.9 million dollars by the state of Papua New Guinea to rehabilitate the school – work that was never carried out. But wait…there's more. Wartoto has outstanding allegations of defrauding the PNG government of 62 million kina according to a press release by Sam Koim of Task Force Sweep.  Koim lists some damning evidence relating to eight separate matters. "Eremas Wartoto is still at large," is Koim's rejoinder and lament. That was in May.   Five months later, Eremas Wartoto, although committed for trial, is still "at large." Notwithstanding, many of Wartoto's alleged partners in crime have been arrested and charged – including former Minister of National Planning, Paul Tiensten  (

Mr Speaker, I rise to present my Maiden Speech to the 9th National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. In doing so, let me again congratulate you, Mr Speaker and all Honourable Members, for your successful elections to Parliament. In particular, I salute our three Honourable female Parliamentarians, for showing other women folk in PNG that when you demonstrate genuine passion for people and exceptional leadership abilities, you will get elected. I look forward to working together with these fine women and all honourable gentlemen, to bring about positive and meaningful changes to the lives of our people, through this Parliament. I also take this rare opportunity to thank most sincerely, my people of Vanimo - Green, for returning me to serve another term in this Parliament. Mr Speaker, It is indeed a great privilege, to stand before you and all Honourable Members as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Alternative government, to present my maiden speech, as we commence business

Mr Speaker, I rise to present my Maiden Speech to the 9th National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. In doing so, let me again congratulate you, Mr Speaker and all Honourable Members, for your successful elections to Parliament. In particular, I salute our three Honourable female Parliamentarians, for showing other women folk in PNG that when you demonstrate genuine passion for people and exceptional leadership abilities, you will get elected. I look forward to working together with these fine women and all honourable gentlemen, to bring about positive and meaningful changes to the lives of our people, through this Parliament. I also take this rare opportunity to thank most sincerely, my people of Vanimo - Green, for returning me to serve another term in this Parliament. Mr Speaker, It is indeed a great privilege, to stand before you and all Honourable Members as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Alternative government, to present my maiden speech, as we commence busine

PAPUA New Guinea's foreign minister has vowed Manus Island residents will be involved in the permanent asylum seeker facility amid threats of sabotage to the temporary processing camp. Foreign minister Rimbink Pato said there has been a lack of communication between PNG's national government and provincial administrators over Australia's plans for the asylum seeker facility on Manus Island. "There has been a lack of communication," Mr Pato told The National newspaper. "Locals will be involved in the permanent processing centre. "We have now resolved the matter and will continue to resolve any matter that comes up." Landowner groups say they have missed out on building and service contracts for the facility and fear most of the spin-off economic benefit will end up back in Australia or on mainland PNG. One landowner representative, Mary Handen, told AAP her group met Manus officials briefly on Friday and have since had a series of meetings reschedule

PAPUA New Guinea's foreign minister has vowed Manus Island residents will be involved in the permanent asylum seeker facility amid threats of sabotage to the temporary processing camp. Foreign minister Rimbink Pato said there has been a lack of communication between PNG's national government and provincial administrators over Australia's plans for the asylum seeker facility on Manus Island. "There has been a lack of communication," Mr Pato told The National newspaper. "Locals will be involved in the permanent processing centre. "We have now resolved the matter and will continue to resolve any matter that comes up." Landowner groups say they have missed out on building and service contracts for the facility and fear most of the spin-off economic benefit will end up back in Australia or on mainland PNG. One landowner representative, Mary Handen, told AAP her group met Manus officials briefly on Friday and have since had a series of meetings reschedule

This article is in response to the derogatory and malicious remarks that appeared in Facebook Papua New Guinea Blogs on 16 October 2012 under the title “Crook businessman in PNGSDP Board”. The author of that article has abused the privileges of Facebook by falsely accusing PNGSDP chairman Prof Ross Garnaut of appointing prominent PNG accountant and businessman Rex Paki to the board. Much of the article is lifted from a recent report on the “Demolition of Paga Hill” by a UK-based non-government organization and is merely a character assassination of Mr Paki on issues that are considered water under the bridge. The key facts of these matters are: •    Rex Paki was appointed to the PNGSDP Board by the Minister for Treasury as the State’s representative. He was not appointed by Prof Ross Garnaut who nonetheless values Mr Paki’s contributions as a Board member and will defend his appointment. CEO David Sode also holds Mr Paki in high regard. •    Rex Paki has appeared before only the NPF Co

This article is in response to the derogatory and malicious remarks that appeared in Facebook Papua New Guinea Blogs on 16 October 2012 under the title “Crook businessman in PNGSDP Board”. The author of that article has abused the privileges of Facebook by falsely accusing PNGSDP chairman Prof Ross Garnaut of appointing prominent PNG accountant and businessman Rex Paki to the board. Much of the article is lifted from a recent report on the “Demolition of Paga Hill” by a UK-based non-government organization and is merely a character assassination of Mr Paki on issues that are considered water under the bridge. The key facts of these matters are: •    Rex Paki was appointed to the PNGSDP Board by the Minister for Treasury as the State’s representative. He was not appointed by Prof Ross Garnaut who nonetheless values Mr Paki’s contributions as a Board member and will defend his appointment. CEO David Sode also holds Mr Paki in high regard. •    Rex Paki has appeared before only