PNGBLOGS

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA MP Sonoma was an old man who was well known for his legends. That’s what we grew up reading, in the Times, a PNG newspaper of yesteryear which featured PNG legends. Sonoma told many legends that explained the existence of various geographic anomalies or creatures and their relationship towards each other. His stories were entertaining. I reflected today about legends. I myself grew up like many other Papua New Guineans enthralled and entertained by legends by the fireside. It made me think of a modern day legend. Well not really a legend, but I thought it would be an interesting way to begin this Sunday rant. A National Security Policy is being developed by Papua New Guinea. This is according to recent media reports. One wonders why it took 30 years. One would imagine that such a policy would have been designed and developed immediately after independence. National Security is fundamental to economic progress for any nation as its primary intention is to ensure i

IMPLEMENTATION of basic social services like health and education, and basic infrastructure – access roads, bridges, jetties and wharves – has been one of PNG’s biggest problems since independence in 1975. In fact this is one of the main reasons why PNG is currently facing a whole range of development issues or challenges – lack of business opportunities for the people; poverty; poor standards of living and quality of life; high maternal and infant deaths; deaths from TB, malaria, breast and cervical cancer and the list goes on. Imagine the hundreds of millions of kina that have gone to waste over the years, simply because the country’s principal implementation agency – the Public Service – has failed to provide the manpower – public servants – to do the job. We have the Provincial Administrators who are responsible for provincial administrations at each provincial centre. The PAs are assisted by Principal Advisors of divisions like Health, Education, Agriculture & Livestock, Comme

IMPLEMENTATION of basic social services like health and education, and basic infrastructure – access roads, bridges, jetties and wharves – has been one of PNG’s biggest problems since independence in 1975. In fact this is one of the main reasons why PNG is currently facing a whole range of development issues or challenges – lack of business opportunities for the people; poverty; poor standards of living and quality of life; high maternal and infant deaths; deaths from TB, malaria, breast and cervical cancer and the list goes on. Imagine the hundreds of millions of kina that have gone to waste over the years, simply because the country’s principal implementation agency – the Public Service – has failed to provide the manpower – public servants – to do the job. We have the Provincial Administrators who are responsible for provincial administrations at each provincial centre. The PAs are assisted by Principal Advisors of divisions like Health, Education, Agriculture & Livestock,

By NATHAN DINGU You all must be pretty tired of this topic being repeated so often without anything being done about it but hey, the more we talk about it, expose it and ridicule it – sooner or later something will be done about it. So let me show you how our government is taxing its own citizens similar to that of foreigners or even more so. We have a so called minimum wage limit set at K8000.00, but hey, it is only for that group of people. The rest of us have to face the full brunt of the TAX man. Yes, all Papua New Guineans are taxed at a 30% flat rate right across (that is, if you are not married). This literally means that out of every K1000 you earn – we are subject to pay K300 to the government for its so called services. Yes that is ONLY 10% less than an expatriate would but we all know that all expatriates are exempted from paying tax because the companies who bring them in pay for their TAXES! What makes me sick about the above is that the tax rate is simply flat – our gover

By NATHAN DINGU You all must be pretty tired of this topic being repeated so often without anything being done about it but hey, the more we talk about it, expose it and ridicule it – sooner or later something will be done about it. So let me show you how our government is taxing its own citizens similar to that of foreigners or even more so. We have a so called minimum wage limit set at K8000.00, but hey, it is only for that group of people. The rest of us have to face the full brunt of the TAX man. Yes, all Papua New Guineans are taxed at a 30% flat rate right across (that is, if you are not married). This literally means that out of every K1000 you earn – we are subject to pay K300 to the government for its so called services. Yes that is ONLY 10% less than an expatriate would but we all know that all expatriates are exempted from paying tax because the companies who bring them in pay for their TAXES! What makes me sick about the above is that the tax rate is simply flat – ou

FOREIGN Minister Bob Carr has looked to the government of Peter O'Neill to help carve out a greater regional leadership role for Papua New Guinea, and hailed the mid-year elections as a beacon of democracy for developing nations. Senator Carr, who will attend the Australia PNG Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby tomorrow, backed Mr O'Neill's call to establish an anti-corruption commission and unveiled further health and education assistance. In his first visit to PNG as foreign minister, Senator Carr said the forum would also discuss how Australian aid must be recalibrated to assist the initiatives of the O'Neill government, particularly in building health and education capacities. "I think Papua New Guinea no longer has to hide its light under a bushel. The fact that it's adhered to the democratic past without veering off is a great advertisement for it and its people and its leadership," he said. Touching down in a western highland province yesterday morni

FOREIGN Minister Bob Carr has looked to the government of Peter O'Neill to help carve out a greater regional leadership role for Papua New Guinea, and hailed the mid-year elections as a beacon of democracy for developing nations. Senator Carr, who will attend the Australia PNG Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby tomorrow, backed Mr O'Neill's call to establish an anti-corruption commission and unveiled further health and education assistance. In his first visit to PNG as foreign minister, Senator Carr said the forum would also discuss how Australian aid must be recalibrated to assist the initiatives of the O'Neill government, particularly in building health and education capacities. "I think Papua New Guinea no longer has to hide its light under a bushel. The fact that it's adhered to the democratic past without veering off is a great advertisement for it and its people and its leadership," he said. Touching down in a western highland province yesterday morni

THE use of social media is instigating social unrest and political stand-offs in the country and needs to be regulated, a parliamentarian says. Southern Highlands Governor William Powi said people with malicious intent had been posting discriminatory and defamatory messages and circulating them using social media. Powi said that was becoming a concern and something should be done to regulate the use of social media in the country. Several leaders in the country had raised concern on the abuse of social media in the country and called on regulatory measures to be enforced. Powi made the comment after rumours of dubious payments being made to several people by his government were circulated around the country through messages using social media. He said he was unaware of and had not instructed anyone to make such payments. He warned people to be responsible and not to use social media to tarnish his reputation. “I’m not aware of any dubious payment from finance. “This is a malicious atta

THE use of social media is instigating social unrest and political stand-offs in the country and needs to be regulated, a parliamentarian says. Southern Highlands Governor William Powi said people with malicious intent had been posting discriminatory and defamatory messages and circulating them using social media. Powi said that was becoming a concern and something should be done to regulate the use of social media in the country. Several leaders in the country had raised concern on the abuse of social media in the country and called on regulatory measures to be enforced. Powi made the comment after rumours of dubious payments being made to several people by his government were circulated around the country through messages using social media. He said he was unaware of and had not instructed anyone to make such payments. He warned people to be responsible and not to use social media to tarnish his reputation. “I’m not aware of any dubious payment from finance. “This is a malicious a