PNGBLOGS

By JOHN FOW KE Governor Juffa, as you so correctly say in the recent piece featured on this blog, any possible dream of making more than a hand-to-mouth living from one's traditional share of the clan's lands is often sabotaged before it even enters the consciousness of youth, having been already sold by the "dream-sellers" you have identified. These are the half-educated- despite many being "well-qualified professionals" - whose hearts are laden with inhuman greed instead of the idealism and positivism which a fully-educated person normally perceives as his duty to adopt. Its a problem, and it will remain one.  However, Governor, as one with long experience of the effects of PNG's version of forestry-policy, and the social effects of nucleus-estate developments, developments where second, third, and fourth sons become landless and thus live from their wits in a shroud of frustration, I have a really attractive dream for you, quite aside from advising

By RICHARDO TIMAPEN In places like Malaysia, China, Japan, a K20 can be a day’s meal but here in PNG, it’s a cost of a single big rooster lunch pack. Car rentals in aussie for instance, would be like $35 (K80) per day for a sedan but here its K200+. A roadside inn would cost $40 (K90) per night, in PNG its K250+ and a good fortnight’s residential rental would cost $250 (K600), here K1600 per fortnight. I have always wondered why people say it’s expensive to live and work in PNG then in other countries like Ozz. The economic boom boosted about by ministers, bureaucrats, central banks, financial institutions, research agents, and the business communities are exclusive top level good news. Developmental benefits aren't reaching the average and lower level. For instance, a 3% deflation has never been reflected in the prices of goods and services. However, rather a 10% increase in the costs of goods and services was “approved’. ICCC a good strategic agent for corporate fraud? Relevant g

By RICHARDO TIMAPEN In places like Malaysia, China, Japan, a K20 can be a day’s meal but here in PNG, it’s a cost of a single big rooster lunch pack. Car rentals in aussie for instance, would be like $35 (K80) per day for a sedan but here its K200+. A roadside inn would cost $40 (K90) per night, in PNG its K250+ and a good fortnight’s residential rental would cost $250 (K600), here K1600 per fortnight. I have always wondered why people say it’s expensive to live and work in PNG then in other countries like Ozz. The economic boom boosted about by ministers, bureaucrats, central banks, financial institutions, research agents, and the business communities are exclusive top level good news. Developmental benefits aren't reaching the average and lower level. For instance, a 3% deflation has never been reflected in the prices of goods and services. However, rather a 10% increase in the costs of goods and services was “approved’. ICCC a good strategic agent for corporate fraud? Releva

CREDIT RATING: B+/Stable/B Country: Papua New Guinea Rationale The ratings on Papua New Guinea (PNG) reflect the vulnerabilities associated with the country's weak policy environment and shortcomings in governance. The activities of statutory authorities, trust accounts, and other government-controlled entities lack transparency and contribute to the government's off-balance-sheet liabilities. Infrastructure shortcomings and security risks further constrain the rating by impeding investment required to diversify the economy , which is highly concentrated in the resources sector. The government's moderate fiscal deficits, low government debt, modest net external liability position, and the strong potential of the minerals and allied sectors to boost economic growth support the ratings. In our view, PNG's political and institutional frameworks remain weak and pose a key challenge as the government manages large windfall gains from lique

CREDIT RATING: B+/Stable/B Country: Papua New Guinea Rationale The ratings on Papua New Guinea (PNG) reflect the vulnerabilities associated with the country's weak policy environment and shortcomings in governance. The activities of statutory authorities, trust accounts, and other government-controlled entities lack transparency and contribute to the government's off-balance-sheet liabilities. Infrastructure shortcomings and security risks further constrain the rating by impeding investment required to diversify the economy , which is highly concentrated in the resources sector. The government's moderate fiscal deficits, low government debt, modest net external liability position, and the strong potential of the minerals and allied sectors to boost economic growth support the ratings. In our view, PNG's political and institutional frameworks remain weak and pose a key challenge as the government manages large windfall gains from

Sports and Special Events Minister Justin Tkatchenko is not a fit and proper person to be an MP, let alone a government Minister, given his history of unanswered fraud allegations. Parliament’s own Accounts Committee and special investigations at the National Capital District have both thrown up detailed allegations of corruption while one criminal prosecution against Tkatchenko was dropped in circumstances questioned by the National Court. In 2010 it was alleged Tkatchenko received over K3 million in payments from the National Capital District through his landscaping companies Kitoro No.33 and PNG Gardner. It is claimed these payments, were authorised by NCDC Governor Powes Parkop in breach of the Public Finance Management Act, the NCDC Act and the Organic Law on the Leadership Code. The payments, which were made for work on the NCDC Mini Park, Water Fountain, Waterslide and Zoo and Animal Farm, were made with no quotations provided and no public tendering process – brea

Sports and Special Events Minister Justin Tkatchenko is not a fit and proper person to be an MP, let alone a government Minister, given his history of unanswered fraud allegations. Parliament’s own Accounts Committee and special investigations at the National Capital District have both thrown up detailed allegations of corruption while one criminal prosecution against Tkatchenko was dropped in circumstances questioned by the National Court. In 2010 it was alleged Tkatchenko received over K3 million in payments from the National Capital District through his landscaping companies Kitoro No.33 and PNG Gardner. It is claimed these payments, were authorised by NCDC Governor Powes Parkop in breach of the Public Finance Management Act, the NCDC Act and the Organic Law on the Leadership Code. The payments, which were made for work on the NCDC Mini Park, Water Fountain, Waterslide and Zoo and Animal Farm, were made with no quotations provided and no public tendering proces