PNGBLOGS

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

By DERRICK NAGUL Sadly despite positive economic growth rates over the last decade, PNG’s social indicators are among the worst in the Asia Pacific. The majority of PNG’s mainly rural population remain poor and an estimated 18 per cent are extremely poor. Many lack access to basic services or transport. Civil utilities have been allowed to deteriorate to a shameful level. Poverty, unemployment and poor governance contribute to serious law and order problems. Improving the lives of poor people and promoting stability is claimed to be the central part of the government interests but the tangible signs of that are very far from being realized. The government’s should aggressively pursue: Eradicate Poverty: Around 40% of PNG’s population lives in poverty and 85% of the population live in rural or remote areas with inadequate access to health care and employment. Increase Education Participation: Estimated that half the adult population cannot read and over 500,000 kids aged 6-12 do not go

By DERRICK NAGUL Sadly despite positive economic growth rates over the last decade, PNG’s social indicators are among the worst in the Asia Pacific. The majority of PNG’s mainly rural population remain poor and an estimated 18 per cent are extremely poor. Many lack access to basic services or transport. Civil utilities have been allowed to deteriorate to a shameful level. Poverty, unemployment and poor governance contribute to serious law and order problems. Improving the lives of poor people and promoting stability is claimed to be the central part of the government interests but the tangible signs of that are very far from being realized. The government’s should aggressively pursue: Eradicate Poverty: Around 40% of PNG’s population lives in poverty and 85% of the population live in rural or remote areas with inadequate access to health care and employment. Increase Education Participation: Estimated that half the adult population cannot read and over 500,000 kids aged 6-1

TRUST ACCOUNTS EARLY AUGUST 2011 1.  Institutional Housing Pilot Subsidiary Trust Acc BSP      1001439771 K 495,383.87 2.  Higher Education Sect Infrast. Reahabilitation BSP       1001241388 K10,062,519.77 3.  Transport Sect. Lae Port Expansion BSP 1001392795       K 1,358,606.68 4.  Transport Sect. National Roads BSP 1001392764      K 9,173,918.22 5.  Transport sect. National & Rural Bridges BSP      1001509985 K 1,900,932.01 6.  Transport Sector Provincial Feeder Roads BSP 1001392785 K 4,064.87 7.  Transport Sector Ports & Jetties BSP 1001392789 K 2,178,050.39 8.  Transport Sector Wewak Wharf BSP 1001392799 K 7,195,373.18 9.  Transport Sector Wewak Roads BSP 1001392805 K 54,115.96 10. Transport Sector Central City Redevelopment BSP 1001392813 K50,436,199.95 11. Transport Sector Pom Wharf Redevelopment BSP 1001392818 K 50,981.84 12. Lae City Roads Rehabilitation Trust BSP 1001389157 K 19,239.92 13. Lae City Roads Rehab Subsidiary Trust Acc. BSP 1002722948 K22,011,958.19 14. Tr

TRUST ACCOUNTS EARLY AUGUST 2011 1.  Institutional Housing Pilot Subsidiary Trust Acc BSP      1001439771 K 495,383.87 2.  Higher Education Sect Infrast. Reahabilitation BSP       1001241388 K10,062,519.77 3.  Transport Sect. Lae Port Expansion BSP 1001392795       K 1,358,606.68 4.  Transport Sect. National Roads BSP 1001392764      K 9,173,918.22 5.  Transport sect. National & Rural Bridges BSP      1001509985 K 1,900,932.01 6.  Transport Sector Provincial Feeder Roads BSP 1001392785 K 4,064.87 7.  Transport Sector Ports & Jetties BSP 1001392789 K 2,178,050.39 8.  Transport Sector Wewak Wharf BSP 1001392799 K 7,195,373.18 9.  Transport Sector Wewak Roads BSP 1001392805 K 54,115.96 10. Transport Sector Central City Redevelopment BSP 1001392813 K50,436,199.95 11. Transport Sector Pom Wharf Redevelopment BSP 1001392818 K 50,981.84 12. Lae City Roads Rehabilitation Trust BSP 1001389157 K 19,239.92 13. Lae City Roads Rehab Subsidiary Trust Acc. BSP 1002

By CHRISTOPHER MORRALL John Perkins I’m a round the world traveller from England and just completed the Kokoda trail in a speedy 5 days during which time I had the pleasure of chatting to and staying with locals in Kokoda and Gona. Not being part of any tour group it allowed me plenty of time to speak openly and honestly about PNG and its history with the local people who let my friend and i stay in their homes. On returning to Sogeri i stumbled across your newspaper and letters section and felt duty bound to respond. With some knowledge of the way western corporations and mining companies act and behave, I thought i might add some points of warning to your readers and leaders in PNG. One thing your leaders and government should be aware of is the objective of any western mining or oil company in PNG is for profit only, they will come smiling and shake hands with pretty photo opportunities and put on great banquets but once the dust has settled they will forget the plight of your count

By CHRISTOPHER MORRALL John Perkins I’m a round the world traveller from England and just completed the Kokoda trail in a speedy 5 days during which time I had the pleasure of chatting to and staying with locals in Kokoda and Gona. Not being part of any tour group it allowed me plenty of time to speak openly and honestly about PNG and its history with the local people who let my friend and i stay in their homes. On returning to Sogeri i stumbled across your newspaper and letters section and felt duty bound to respond. With some knowledge of the way western corporations and mining companies act and behave, I thought i might add some points of warning to your readers and leaders in PNG. One thing your leaders and government should be aware of is the objective of any western mining or oil company in PNG is for profit only, they will come smiling and shake hands with pretty photo opportunities and put on great banquets but once the dust has settled they will forget the plight of yo

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI The World War I began as a result of imperial powers wanting to claim new territories all over the world. Colonization brought civilization into many countries around the world and even now we are tempted to argue that colonization in most countries are gone. This statement is not true because we are living in the period of neo-colonization. Neo-colonization began when we accepted foreign countries’ systems of political administration, commerce and trade. PNG is in the period of this political revolution and international propaganda. PNG imports goods and equipment and conducts international treaties and by doing that PNG absorbs foreign ideologies and personnel. Therefore, where there are foreign goods entering PNG, there are foreigners accompanying them. And PNG faces the daunting challenges of dealing with foreigners because our political history, our economy and national intelligence is new and we cannot exactly tell or identify the prospects of solving these