PNGBLOGS

PNGEXPOSED Blog Recently PNGexposed has posted a series of articles that scrutinize the past of Rex Paki. Paki currently sits on the Board of the PNG Sustainable Development Programmed and the Bank of PNG, in addition to being the Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority. These articles pointed out that Paki was slammed in two Commission of Inquiry reports, two Public Accounts Committee reports and an Auditor General report. In response to these articles, the Chairman of Transparency International PNG, Lawrence Stephens, who is also a Program Manager at PNGSDP, defended Paki, claiming these reports amounted to mere “unproven accusations”. PNGexposed took issue with this slight against PNG’s public accounting agencies and judicial organs, and our view was made known yesterday –  TI dismisses Commission of Inquiry findings . In response, Mr Stephens continued his defense of Rex Paki: “So where do we put a headline which points out that PNG Exposed is involved in astonishing displays of arro

PNGEXPOSED Blog Recently PNGexposed has posted a series of articles that scrutinize the past of Rex Paki. Paki currently sits on the Board of the PNG Sustainable Development Programmed and the Bank of PNG, in addition to being the Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority. These articles pointed out that Paki was slammed in two Commission of Inquiry reports, two Public Accounts Committee reports and an Auditor General report. In response to these articles, the Chairman of Transparency International PNG, Lawrence Stephens, who is also a Program Manager at PNGSDP, defended Paki, claiming these reports amounted to mere “unproven accusations”. PNGexposed took issue with this slight against PNG’s public accounting agencies and judicial organs, and our view was made known yesterday –  TI dismisses Commission of Inquiry findings . In response, Mr Stephens continued his defense of Rex Paki: “So where do we put a headline which points out that PNG Exposed is involved in astonishing disp

THE much glorified PNG LNG project, with its mega-buck promises, has now come to haunt Papua New Guinea. That is the immediate reaction from the Shadow Minister for Public Enterprise and Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang, following media reports of a further K6.9 billion equity injection needed to bring the project into fruition. “This is a scam, concocted by Exxon Mobil knowing absolutely well the vulnerable position PNG is in. The announcement unfortunately comes just a week away from the handing down of the country’s 2013 National Budget, putting further strain on it, and the Government must reject it outright,’’ he said. “Where would PNG look for the extra K1.3 billion to meet such unplanned and ill-forecast announcement when it is just about to borrow heftily from the EXIM Bank of China to fund its development agendas?” The MP fears that Papua New Guinea will now be forced to further reduce its 19.4 per cent stake in the project, which was a reduction from the mandatory 22.5 per c

THE much glorified PNG LNG project, with its mega-buck promises, has now come to haunt Papua New Guinea. That is the immediate reaction from the Shadow Minister for Public Enterprise and Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang, following media reports of a further K6.9 billion equity injection needed to bring the project into fruition. “This is a scam, concocted by Exxon Mobil knowing absolutely well the vulnerable position PNG is in. The announcement unfortunately comes just a week away from the handing down of the country’s 2013 National Budget, putting further strain on it, and the Government must reject it outright,’’ he said. “Where would PNG look for the extra K1.3 billion to meet such unplanned and ill-forecast announcement when it is just about to borrow heftily from the EXIM Bank of China to fund its development agendas?” The MP fears that Papua New Guinea will now be forced to further reduce its 19.4 per cent stake in the project, which was a reduction from the mandatory 22.

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA MP Recently I have been writing serious stuff by my own declaration anyway. Somewhat dreary and inciting spats of anger from various sectors of those who bother to read my writings and comment or give some thought (perhaps I kid myself). I decided to look at something we all in PNG have an idea about. National Security. Many are no doubt quizzical but read on, you will no doubt agree that you know more then you had initially believed. Papua New Guinea is a blind nation in so far as national security is concerned. In fact, it is also severely handicapped. Also malnourished and add to that disinterested. State secrets are openly discussed at every ones usual betelnut stall by anyone and everyone who can speak one of the three main languages or 800 plus languages of Papua New Guinea with anyone who will listen. NEC decisions are also openly discussed along with rumor and rhetoric at the very same stalls where people chew copious amounts of betelnut and compete to sp

By GRAHAM TENAEN ROBINSON The O'Neill- Dion government majestic speeches captured in parliament on consecutive occasions echoed change for this country released a vibe that saw the old and new crop of leaders display unwavering support in changing this country, with the paradox ascertained in reality stating; “the world’s richest and poorest live in this country.” The rather ‘old mix new’ political front brings to the table, a once upon a time enemies that drew fierce lines in battle, sleep together at night with wide-open eyes, adulterous in nature and desperate in kind with intention to keep this country from the one destined to deliver it from the pain and misery faced by a silent majority. So benevolent in nature that commands authority is a man that leads the pack bearing a scar with an untold story to date, how millions of kina found its way into mysterious accounts the writer dreams of knowing to date. Yet time will take it’s toll over the next five years showcasing the work

By GRAHAM TENAEN ROBINSON The O'Neill- Dion government majestic speeches captured in parliament on consecutive occasions echoed change for this country released a vibe that saw the old and new crop of leaders display unwavering support in changing this country, with the paradox ascertained in reality stating; “the world’s richest and poorest live in this country.” The rather ‘old mix new’ political front brings to the table, a once upon a time enemies that drew fierce lines in battle, sleep together at night with wide-open eyes, adulterous in nature and desperate in kind with intention to keep this country from the one destined to deliver it from the pain and misery faced by a silent majority. So benevolent in nature that commands authority is a man that leads the pack bearing a scar with an untold story to date, how millions of kina found its way into mysterious accounts the writer dreams of knowing to date. Yet time will take it’s toll over the next five years showcasing the

By GOVERNOR GARY JUFFA I have been accused of racism by Angels of Change (I know not who this is) and several others who have accused me of being racist simply because I corrected a report by their good friend VLAD SOKHIN who claimed that all PNG men were violent towards their women. I agreed that violence in PNG is a major problem and I abhor violence against women and am trying to address it in my province and country as a leader. However, I am very saddened that a foreign journalist has made a study which is being promoted by the UN which make generalizations that ALL PNG men are violent towards their women. This is insulting to me as a PNG man and it is also insulting to many Papua New Guinean men and women alike. Not all men in PNG are violent towards their women and NOT all men beat their wives as claimed in the report. I was offended by this and said so. I was also offended by many other generalizations which I felt were incorrect and improper. The writer is promoting his image

By JOHN FOWKE 1.   Our agriculturalists are cash-poor subsistence farmers, and their land-entitlements are held under customary clan-authorised usufructuary understandings. The daily life of subsistence-dependant families is dictated by needs both physical and in regard to social obligations. A trading, budgeting, calculating sort of life it is not; and since the cessation of the need for constant preparedness for war, mens’ part in it has lacked imperatives and become accepting of a role where a taste for leisure may be indulged. All these facts militate against any inclination for a typical rural clansman to set up a commercial farming enterprise. And yet, although modified in recent times our extension methods tend to focus upon technology and business-mindedness. Instead of creating sad and silly monstrosities like the  morbid and  bad-debt-ridden 20-hectare coffee scheme and the smallholder cattle schemes of twenty years ago. I believe  we should encourage the production of cash

By JOHN FOWKE 1.   Our agriculturalists are cash-poor subsistence farmers, and their land-entitlements are held under customary clan-authorised usufructuary understandings. The daily life of subsistence-dependant families is dictated by needs both physical and in regard to social obligations. A trading, budgeting, calculating sort of life it is not; and since the cessation of the need for constant preparedness for war, mens’ part in it has lacked imperatives and become accepting of a role where a taste for leisure may be indulged. All these facts militate against any inclination for a typical rural clansman to set up a commercial farming enterprise. And yet, although modified in recent times our extension methods tend to focus upon technology and business-mindedness. Instead of creating sad and silly monstrosities like the  morbid and  bad-debt-ridden 20-hectare coffee scheme and the smallholder cattle schemes of twenty years ago. I believe  we should encourage the production of cas

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