PNGBLOGS

By DANIEL DRAGESET Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill will travel to Jakarta this weekend for discussions with the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. O’Neill will discuss trade, the West Papua situation, border issues and an extradition treaty with Yudhoyono, Radio Australia reports. The visit comes just days before the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meets in New Caledonia to decide if the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation will be granted membership. Support The timing of O’Neill’s Indonesia visit has raised questions on Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports. O’Neill has stated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but has voiced concern about human rights abuses in West Papua. Several reports detail torture and abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua. Border issues include people from West Papua fleeing to Papua New Guinea. O’Neill said he looks forward to discussing these i

By DANIEL DRAGESET Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill will travel to Jakarta this weekend for discussions with the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. O’Neill will discuss trade, the West Papua situation, border issues and an extradition treaty with Yudhoyono, Radio Australia reports. The visit comes just days before the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meets in New Caledonia to decide if the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation will be granted membership. Support The timing of O’Neill’s Indonesia visit has raised questions on Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports. O’Neill has stated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but has voiced concern about human rights abuses in West Papua. Several reports detail torture and abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua. Border issues include people from West Papua fleeing to Papua New Guinea. O’Neill said he looks forward to

By Renata Laveil Papua New Guineans will be the judge in their respective electorates of their own leaders. The hackneyed referral to the Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader, Hon. Belden Namah in the article ‘Political Reality: Of Truisms and Urban Myths’, by notorious free lance writer Susan Merrell is more likely another spur in her boots with attempt at raising a public rally against the Opposition Leader for unknown reasons associated by her personal vendetta with the leader. The public relations machine she refers to in her article exists because it is run by the people for the people. The Opposition, as the alternative government, has the responsibility to take the government to task by demanding transparency and accountability. What then has transpired is that learned Papua New Guineans, whom Susan Merrell describes as ‘young, brash, impulsive and arrogant (and male) are not alone as those who would be his peers’, turning the public treadmill using social media to air out their g

Papua New Guinea’s A$20 billion LNG project is only months away from yielding dividends, but already a new group of global prospectors are lining up to commence a second project of similar nature. French giant Total Oil and Australian Oil Search—both familiar with potential riches in the vast PNG fields—are talking up their chances of a new liquefied natural gas project in the Gulf of Papua even before the flagship LNG project gets off the ground. Partly PNG government-owned, Oil Search has in recent years been engaged in exploration, development and production of oil and gas in PNG. As part of its expansion strategies, lists plans for a petro-chemical plant and compressed natural gas project. On the other hand, Total Oil has spread around the South Pacific in the last decade or so—capturing markets and creating operations in Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and PNG.  Known as one of the world’s six ‘super-major’ oil entities behind such big names as Dutch Shell, Mobil

Papua New Guinea’s A$20 billion LNG project is only months away from yielding dividends, but already a new group of global prospectors are lining up to commence a second project of similar nature. French giant Total Oil and Australian Oil Search—both familiar with potential riches in the vast PNG fields—are talking up their chances of a new liquefied natural gas project in the Gulf of Papua even before the flagship LNG project gets off the ground. Partly PNG government-owned, Oil Search has in recent years been engaged in exploration, development and production of oil and gas in PNG. As part of its expansion strategies, lists plans for a petro-chemical plant and compressed natural gas project. On the other hand, Total Oil has spread around the South Pacific in the last decade or so—capturing markets and creating operations in Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and PNG.  Known as one of the world’s six ‘super-major’ oil entities behind such big names as Dutch Shell,

IN political speak today, the important catch phrase is “impact projects”. Leaders talk about impact projects in their electorates while ministers talk about impact projects affecting their areas of responsibilities. The expression entered common usage during the years when Sir Julius Chan was in Cabinet and he devised 10 impact projects throughout the country – one of which was the Lae Port extension, another  the Poreporena Freeway. Impact projects are just plain wrong. Government and leaders ought to be talking about impact programmes, not impact projects. They ought to be budgeting for programmes under which there are many projects, rather than planning for and allocating money for individual projects. When there is a shortfall in cash flow affecting programmes, the manager can very easily trim peripheral projects and maintain core projects of the programme. In the end, progress is made. When the drive is for projects rather than programmes, the budget for such a project is locked

IN political speak today, the important catch phrase is “impact projects”. Leaders talk about impact projects in their electorates while ministers talk about impact projects affecting their areas of responsibilities. The expression entered common usage during the years when Sir Julius Chan was in Cabinet and he devised 10 impact projects throughout the country – one of which was the Lae Port extension, another  the Poreporena Freeway. Impact projects are just plain wrong. Government and leaders ought to be talking about impact programmes, not impact projects. They ought to be budgeting for programmes under which there are many projects, rather than planning for and allocating money for individual projects. When there is a shortfall in cash flow affecting programmes, the manager can very easily trim peripheral projects and maintain core projects of the programme. In the end, progress is made. When the drive is for projects rather than programmes, the budget for such a project

urban myth? Is it a truism that Namah is 'Mr Fixit' whereas O'Neill is 'Mr I'll look into it'?  No, it's an urban myth -  Writes Susan Merrell An idea has emerged in the PNG social media that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is a man of empty words while the Opposition Leader, Belden Namah, is a man of action.  These perceptions are incorrect, especially as they apply to politics. A public relations machine, paid and unpaid, has been particularly active on behalf of the opposition leader pushing this idea in the social media pages.  When something is repeated often enough the gullible tend to accept the veracity of the claim and thus an urban myth is born.  It's an interesting strategy, however, when using any form of media, the opposition leader needs to consider his image, not only amongst his diehard social media followers, who tend to be young, brash, impulsive and arrogant (and male), but also amongst those who would be his peers.  Namah's late

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s move to snap up more natural gas assets in Papua New Guinea has sparked concern the U.S. oil major is about to leave its Australian partners there behind. But Oil Search Ltd. and Santos Ltd. needn’t be worried, according to Macquarie’s Adrian Wood, who says they will benefit from an expansion of Exxon’s $19 billion PNG LNG gas-export project regardless of whose gas is fed through it. Oil Search and Santos own 29.0% and 13.5% of PNG LNG, respectively, compared to Exxon’s operating interest of 33.2%. The foundation stage of the project is due to start producing liquefied natural gas, or LNG, for shipment to Asian customers next year. Exxon and partners have already found natural gas to support an expansion of the project to three LNG production units, also known as trains, from the two currently under construction. However, Exxon is poised to strengthen its hand. Last month, it announced it’s in exclusive talks with Houston-based InterOil to inve

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s move to snap up more natural gas assets in Papua New Guinea has sparked concern the U.S. oil major is about to leave its Australian partners there behind. But Oil Search Ltd. and Santos Ltd. needn’t be worried, according to Macquarie’s Adrian Wood, who says they will benefit from an expansion of Exxon’s $19 billion PNG LNG gas-export project regardless of whose gas is fed through it. Oil Search and Santos own 29.0% and 13.5% of PNG LNG, respectively, compared to Exxon’s operating interest of 33.2%. The foundation stage of the project is due to start producing liquefied natural gas, or LNG, for shipment to Asian customers next year. Exxon and partners have already found natural gas to support an expansion of the project to three LNG production units, also known as trains, from the two currently under construction. However, Exxon is poised to strengthen its hand. Last month, it announced it’s in exclusive talks with Houston-based InterO

By STEVEN ANDRE I am totally dumbfounded to learn that Paul Paraka Lawyers is having easy access to the print media to assassinate his opponents, or would be opponents, in the corridors of Waigani Government. The latest media front page concerning Namah, Stevens, Pato and Kua are all orchestrated by Paul Paraka and his cohorts secretly. Why he is running these conspiracy theories with the full support and connivance of the Post Courier and the National newspapers? • Paul Paraka knows that his days are numbered and the people who will contribute to reduce those numbers to almost nothingness are the very ones he is shooting. • Davies Stevens was the lawyer engaged by the State to take action against Paraka when his PPL) contract was terminated by Bire Kimisopa in 2006. Stevens knows more about Paraka. • Kerenga Kua is the current Attorney General and he would want to see Paraka hanged for good • Rimbink also thinks adversely of Paraka who makes quick and easy money without sweating like

By STEVEN ANDRE I am totally dumbfounded to learn that Paul Paraka Lawyers is having easy access to the print media to assassinate his opponents, or would be opponents, in the corridors of Waigani Government. The latest media front page concerning Namah, Stevens, Pato and Kua are all orchestrated by Paul Paraka and his cohorts secretly. Why he is running these conspiracy theories with the full support and connivance of the Post Courier and the National newspapers? • Paul Paraka knows that his days are numbered and the people who will contribute to reduce those numbers to almost nothingness are the very ones he is shooting. • Davies Stevens was the lawyer engaged by the State to take action against Paraka when his PPL) contract was terminated by Bire Kimisopa in 2006. Stevens knows more about Paraka. • Kerenga Kua is the current Attorney General and he would want to see Paraka hanged for good • Rimbink also thinks adversely of Paraka who makes quick and easy money without swea

The Opposition Leader, Hon Belden Namah has welcomed investigations into how the K9.9 million of the Log Export Development Levy from the Vanimo Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) Blocks 1-6 Project Area in Bewani has been obtained and spent. Just as the mineral and hydrocarbon development area land owners are entitled to MOA Funds or Development Levy, so are Forest Land owners entitled to Forest Export Levy. The monies in question, accordingly, are designated and allocated for infrastructure development within the Vanimo TRP, Blocks 1-6 Project Area, in Bewani. I must state categorically that the funds were lawfully applied for that purpose. The funds were used to seal the road between Vanimo Secondary School and Krisa Village by a contractor who was lawfully awarded the contract through normal procurement processes. “The screening process in the award of such a contract is as follows; The Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee (JDP&BPC) endorses project to be funded. It

The Opposition Leader, Hon Belden Namah has welcomed investigations into how the K9.9 million of the Log Export Development Levy from the Vanimo Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) Blocks 1-6 Project Area in Bewani has been obtained and spent. Just as the mineral and hydrocarbon development area land owners are entitled to MOA Funds or Development Levy, so are Forest Land owners entitled to Forest Export Levy. The monies in question, accordingly, are designated and allocated for infrastructure development within the Vanimo TRP, Blocks 1-6 Project Area, in Bewani. I must state categorically that the funds were lawfully applied for that purpose. The funds were used to seal the road between Vanimo Secondary School and Krisa Village by a contractor who was lawfully awarded the contract through normal procurement processes. “The screening process in the award of such a contract is as follows; The Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee (JDP&BPC) endorses project to be fund

By LUCAS KIAP The current states of affairs in this country whether good or bad according to your judgment are the reflections of the standard and quality of leadership we have had over the last 38 years of independence.   To understand the standard and quality of leadership in this country, let’s go back to how our leaders are elected to parliament, hence elections. In the Highlands where I come from, leaders are not elected democratically as it suppose to be through the ballot paper but usually elected through force, intimidations, bribery and cheating.   In the following I share my personal experiences of election bribery and cheating starting from the 1997 up until the 2012 general/national elections.   As far as I can recall, I had first witnessed bribery during the 1997 general elections. In that year I was doing Grade 9 at Fr. Peter Secondary (formerly known as Fatima Secondary) in the new Jiwaka Province (before it was part of the W.H.P). All students were asked to go home to v