PNGBLOGS

The government of Papua New Guinea is seeking to extend a parliamentary ban on no-confidence votes from 18 months to two and a half years, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says. Mr O'Neill said extending the ban would allow governments to do more. Under PNG law, a vote of no confidence currently cannot be called in the first 18 months and the last year of a government's five-year term. "Those are options that the coalition partners agreed to in Alotau, and we've passed those issues over to the attorney general's office and other agencies responsible for drafting our legislation," Mr O'Neill told AAP. "What we want to do is create a stable environment where governments in the future can have an opportunity to carry out the policies that they commit to the nation during elections. "We feel strongly that 18 months is too short for any government to work, and for a government to be judged by the people on its performance (it) must be given time to

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI ‘I did all that I can to develop Papua New Guinea. It was very difficult in those days when teaching and learning materials did not reach us. One thing, for sure, I will remember is the little contribution I did to Madang province’, says Moses Gabuogi, the head teacher of Holy Spirit Primary School. Holy Spirit Primary School is a Catholic Agency school with over 1,129 students and 29 teachers (7 male staff, 22 female staff). It is ideally situated along Modilon Drive, right in the heart of Madang town. Next to the school ground are the Madang Catholic Cathedral, Sisters Convent and Community Hall, which therefore, makes it the biggest primary schools in the province. It is better, bigger and the learning environment is best with its spectacular aerial view that has a long profound history since 1964. Mr. Moses Gabuogi, is leaving teaching and administration career that spans more than 36 years, spending many painful hours in the classroom and attending to studen

By CHRISTOPHER PAPIALI ‘I did all that I can to develop Papua New Guinea. It was very difficult in those days when teaching and learning materials did not reach us. One thing, for sure, I will remember is the little contribution I did to Madang province’, says Moses Gabuogi, the head teacher of Holy Spirit Primary School. Holy Spirit Primary School is a Catholic Agency school with over 1,129 students and 29 teachers (7 male staff, 22 female staff). It is ideally situated along Modilon Drive, right in the heart of Madang town. Next to the school ground are the Madang Catholic Cathedral, Sisters Convent and Community Hall, which therefore, makes it the biggest primary schools in the province. It is better, bigger and the learning environment is best with its spectacular aerial view that has a long profound history since 1964. Mr. Moses Gabuogi, is leaving teaching and administration career that spans more than 36 years, spending many painful hours in the classroom and attending to st

After decades of maintaining a relatively neutral stance, the Papua New Guinea government will finally make a strong representation to Indonesia to raise concerns over alleged human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military in the West Papua region. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in an interview with EMTV on Friday that the Foreign Affairs Department will deliver a diplomatic note expressing the concerns of Papua New Guinea citizens over the two Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua to the Indonesian government. The response comes days after representatives of more than 4000 Lutheran women called on Peter O’Neill to look into the difficulties faced by West Papuans. The public appeal for government attention to the West Papuan cause was made by Rose Muingepe, a Lutheran Women’s representative who was attending a conference in Mumeng outside of Lae City. “We are asking the government to raise the plight of the West Papuans on the floor of Parliament.  We know that wom

After decades of maintaining a relatively neutral stance, the Papua New Guinea government will finally make a strong representation to Indonesia to raise concerns over alleged human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military in the West Papua region. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in an interview with EMTV on Friday that the Foreign Affairs Department will deliver a diplomatic note expressing the concerns of Papua New Guinea citizens over the two Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua to the Indonesian government. The response comes days after representatives of more than 4000 Lutheran women called on Peter O’Neill to look into the difficulties faced by West Papuans. The public appeal for government attention to the West Papuan cause was made by Rose Muingepe, a Lutheran Women’s representative who was attending a conference in Mumeng outside of Lae City. “We are asking the government to raise the plight of the West Papuans on the floor of Parliament.  We know that wo

By JOSH FRYDENBERG JULIA Gillard was in New York last week on a much hyped UN Security Council campaign. Multilateralism is the dominant theme. But, closer to home, key bilateral relationships have been left to languish. While it is now well known that Indonesia, China and India have all been left off the Prime Minister's itinerary, there is another important country that receives scant attention. Papua New Guinea is our most immediate neighbour, one of great strategic importance. Since becoming PM, Gillard has not visited PNG, while her Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, clumsily created a diplomatic incident with his condescending language over a potential delay to PNG's local elections. Carr threatened that should there be any delay Australia would have "no alternative but to organise the world to condemn and isolate Papua New Guinea". Such a heavy-handed approach was not only disproportionate, but was severely damaging to the relationship we must seek to build with PNG a

By JOSH FRYDENBERG JULIA Gillard was in New York last week on a much hyped UN Security Council campaign. Multilateralism is the dominant theme. But, closer to home, key bilateral relationships have been left to languish. While it is now well known that Indonesia, China and India have all been left off the Prime Minister's itinerary, there is another important country that receives scant attention. Papua New Guinea is our most immediate neighbour, one of great strategic importance. Since becoming PM, Gillard has not visited PNG, while her Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, clumsily created a diplomatic incident with his condescending language over a potential delay to PNG's local elections. Carr threatened that should there be any delay Australia would have "no alternative but to organise the world to condemn and isolate Papua New Guinea". Such a heavy-handed approach was not only disproportionate, but was severely damaging to the relationship we must seek to

Image Caption: Enga tribal village court magistrates are shown here after returning from negotiating a cease-fire to a tribal war in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. In a new study of war and peace among the Enga, University of Utah anthropologist Polly Wiessner examined how an indigenous village court justice system, sanctioned by the state, sharply reduced wars among the Enga after 20 years of fighting killed 4,816 people during 1990-2010. Credit: Polly Wiessner, University of Utah. Traditions stem gunfire after 4,800 die in Enga, Papua New Guinea  Mostly isolated from outsiders until the 1950s, Papua New Guinea’s Enga tribes fought with bows and arrows until 1990, when their young people and mercenary “Rambos” began using shotguns and semiautomatic rifles, igniting 20 years of warfare that killed 4,816 people. Wars diminished among some 110 Enga tribes when they tired of bloodshed and economic chaos. Clan and church leaders restored peace using traditional indigenous institut

Image Caption: Enga tribal village court magistrates are shown here after returning from negotiating a cease-fire to a tribal war in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. In a new study of war and peace among the Enga, University of Utah anthropologist Polly Wiessner examined how an indigenous village court justice system, sanctioned by the state, sharply reduced wars among the Enga after 20 years of fighting killed 4,816 people during 1990-2010. Credit: Polly Wiessner, University of Utah. Traditions stem gunfire after 4,800 die in Enga, Papua New Guinea  Mostly isolated from outsiders until the 1950s, Papua New Guinea’s Enga tribes fought with bows and arrows until 1990, when their young people and mercenary “Rambos” began using shotguns and semiautomatic rifles, igniting 20 years of warfare that killed 4,816 people. Wars diminished among some 110 Enga tribes when they tired of bloodshed and economic chaos. Clan and church leaders restored peace using traditional ind

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