PNGBLOGS

Anthony Mambu By HILDA WAYNE in Perth, Western Australia Australian union’s fight for ‘Aussie jobs’ and campaign against skilled migration and overseas 457 workers has created what has been termed as xenophobia as it is not the foreign workers but the resources companies who are at the forefront of employing these workers with much needed skills and experience. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard added to the “crackdown” on foreign workers saying that she would “fight to stop foreign workers being put at the front of the queue with Australian workers at the back.” However this view is not shared by many within the resources industry and business leaders in Australia. Former Queensland treasurer and current Nimrod Resources chairman Keith DeLacy said in a recent media report that the protests against foreign workers will do more harm than good to the Australian economy. “There never seems to be any balance. It just seems to come across as an anti-business agenda and no doubt

By BELDEN NAMAH, MP In the light of the Extradition Treaty signed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, there has never been on record any citizen of this country living in Indonesia that would warrant such the action taken by both governments. UNHCR confirms over 9,000 West Papuan Refugees living in Papua New Guinea make up our demography; where a good number of them are wanted by the Indonesian government. It is very clear that the signed Extradition Treaty was initiated by the Indonesian government to extradite those wanted by their own government. We must defend and protect our stock with reference to six (6) Melanesian societies that are part of the global community. They are; PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and West Papua. The signing of the extradition treaty will in no way protect our Melanesian brothers and sisters who deserve nothing less than their own political freedom. The constant torture and killings of West Papuans by Indonesian so

By BELDEN NAMAH, MP In the light of the Extradition Treaty signed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, there has never been on record any citizen of this country living in Indonesia that would warrant such the action taken by both governments. UNHCR confirms over 9,000 West Papuan Refugees living in Papua New Guinea make up our demography; where a good number of them are wanted by the Indonesian government. It is very clear that the signed Extradition Treaty was initiated by the Indonesian government to extradite those wanted by their own government. We must defend and protect our stock with reference to six (6) Melanesian societies that are part of the global community. They are; PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and West Papua. The signing of the extradition treaty will in no way protect our Melanesian brothers and sisters who deserve nothing less than their own political freedom. The constant torture and killings of West Papuans by I

By  HILDA WAYNE PAPUA New Guinea’s best and brightest elites are decamping to Australia and around the world, taking with them ready-made skills and talents and as it seems they have the best prerequisites for success internationally working in the resource industry.   Globalisation it seems has given Papua New Guineans the opportunity to become compatible internationally and they are experiencing better job opportunities they never had before. Australian companies are wasting no time looking for PNG’s home grown talent who are helping to boost its buoyant industry. Based on the June 2011 Australian Census, Associate Professor Colin Filer, from the Australian National University, said it is widely believed that the single biggest group of Papua New Guineans working in Australia consists of those working in the mining industry (which includes the oil and gas industries), with most of these workers arriving since the resource boom began around 2005.  Most of these migrated through the 45

By  HILDA WAYNE PAPUA New Guinea’s best and brightest elites are decamping to Australia and around the world, taking with them ready-made skills and talents and as it seems they have the best prerequisites for success internationally working in the resource industry.   Globalisation it seems has given Papua New Guineans the opportunity to become compatible internationally and they are experiencing better job opportunities they never had before. Australian companies are wasting no time looking for PNG’s home grown talent who are helping to boost its buoyant industry. Based on the June 2011 Australian Census, Associate Professor Colin Filer, from the Australian National University, said it is widely believed that the single biggest group of Papua New Guineans working in Australia consists of those working in the mining industry (which includes the oil and gas industries), with most of these workers arriving since the resource boom began around 2005.  Most of these migrated throug

By OXFORD BUSINESS After several years of rapid growth in Port Moresby’s residential real estate sector, the market is in consolidation mode. In response, investors are eyeing commercial and retail segments for new opportunities. Government data show that the finance, real estate and business services sector grew by 10% in 2012, down from 20% the prior year. In 2013 expansion is projected to fall further to 1.5%, according to the Department of Treasury. Another indicator of a slow-down in the residential market is a decline in the rate of growth for home loans, which fell from 150% for the year ended March 2012 to 41% for the year ended September 2012, according to the World Bank. While this is still fast-paced expansion, caution among lenders is rising. Equity demands for loan approval have reportedly risen from 10% in 2009 to more than 30% in 2013. Fewer projects are being launched, but on-going market deceleration is not all bad news. It has provided the first opportunity since 2009

By OXFORD BUSINESS After several years of rapid growth in Port Moresby’s residential real estate sector, the market is in consolidation mode. In response, investors are eyeing commercial and retail segments for new opportunities. Government data show that the finance, real estate and business services sector grew by 10% in 2012, down from 20% the prior year. In 2013 expansion is projected to fall further to 1.5%, according to the Department of Treasury. Another indicator of a slow-down in the residential market is a decline in the rate of growth for home loans, which fell from 150% for the year ended March 2012 to 41% for the year ended September 2012, according to the World Bank. While this is still fast-paced expansion, caution among lenders is rising. Equity demands for loan approval have reportedly risen from 10% in 2009 to more than 30% in 2013. Fewer projects are being launched, but on-going market deceleration is not all bad news. It has provided the first opportunity since 2009

By LUCAS KIAP May be all of you are aware that when we voted MPs into the parliament they disappear for the five years and only appear when and during the elections. I am not sure how many of you have been asking where the MPs are after voted them into the parliament. I have read a few letters to the editorial section of the local newspapers expressing this concern by some concerned individuals. I too have been wondering why MPs spent so much time in Port Moresby and less time attending to the people back at their electorates. From my own observations and by talking to people who have connections with the MPs or at least go around with, I have discovered a dark side of the lives of the MPs – they live a double life. On many occasions, in poky houses I have seen MPs with their associates fully drunk; sit in front of more than one machine playing high bets. Normally I have seen some of them with their wives with more than one machine in front of them as well. The MP oversees all the bets

By LUCAS KIAP May be all of you are aware that when we voted MPs into the parliament they disappear for the five years and only appear when and during the elections. I am not sure how many of you have been asking where the MPs are after voted them into the parliament. I have read a few letters to the editorial section of the local newspapers expressing this concern by some concerned individuals. I too have been wondering why MPs spent so much time in Port Moresby and less time attending to the people back at their electorates. From my own observations and by talking to people who have connections with the MPs or at least go around with, I have discovered a dark side of the lives of the MPs – they live a double life. On many occasions, in poky houses I have seen MPs with their associates fully drunk; sit in front of more than one machine playing high bets. Normally I have seen some of them with their wives with more than one machine in front of them as well. The MP oversees all th

By BELDEN NAMAH, MP Leader of Opposition Minister for Finance Hon. James Marape stated in a letter to the Opposition Leader regarding the delay in payment of DSIP funds, stating that the delay in the funding was due to cash flow and tight management of the deficit budget, and that, he was acting within the powers conferred to under Section 3 of the Public Finance Management Act. Minister Marape said this in response to a letter by the Opposition Leader wherein the Minister was asked to pay all Opposition Members their Electorates’ DSIP Funds. The Opposition Leader was concerned that Government MPs have all received K3 Million each to date, whereas Opposition MPs have received nothing or less than K3 Million. The Minister claimed that the actions were in no way intended to penalise the Members of the Opposition. He stressed that by the year’s end, all MPs will have received K10 Million each for their respective Electorates. The Opposition Leader in response said that the Minister must b

By BELDEN NAMAH, MP Leader of Opposition Minister for Finance Hon. James Marape stated in a letter to the Opposition Leader regarding the delay in payment of DSIP funds, stating that the delay in the funding was due to cash flow and tight management of the deficit budget, and that, he was acting within the powers conferred to under Section 3 of the Public Finance Management Act. Minister Marape said this in response to a letter by the Opposition Leader wherein the Minister was asked to pay all Opposition Members their Electorates’ DSIP Funds. The Opposition Leader was concerned that Government MPs have all received K3 Million each to date, whereas Opposition MPs have received nothing or less than K3 Million. The Minister claimed that the actions were in no way intended to penalise the Members of the Opposition. He stressed that by the year’s end, all MPs will have received K10 Million each for their respective Electorates. The Opposition Leader in response said that the Minister mu

PAPUA New Guinea's treasury department is considering a recommendation to regulate house prices in the country. Treasurer Don Polye says he has asked his department to examine a recommendation by PNG's Independent Consumer and Competition Commission to regulate the nation's housing market. "I have asked the department to look at it," Mr Polye said in response to a question at a recent press conference. "I believe in competition. The economy must grow on competition. Where it is really necessary, we have to introduce regulation. "I would like to see a market that is less regulated and free, competitive, quality-oriented and more thriving." Mr Polye, who is acting prime minister of the Pacific Island nation while Peter O'Neill is on a state visit to Indonesia, said his focus is to reduce high prices and inflation. PNG's annual rate of inflation slowed to 2.2 per cent in 2012; however, some analysts believe it will pick up to an

PAPUA New Guinea's treasury department is considering a recommendation to regulate house prices in the country. Treasurer Don Polye says he has asked his department to examine a recommendation by PNG's Independent Consumer and Competition Commission to regulate the nation's housing market. "I have asked the department to look at it," Mr Polye said in response to a question at a recent press conference. "I believe in competition. The economy must grow on competition. Where it is really necessary, we have to introduce regulation. "I would like to see a market that is less regulated and free, competitive, quality-oriented and more thriving." Mr Polye, who is acting prime minister of the Pacific Island nation while Peter O'Neill is on a state visit to Indonesia, said his focus is to reduce high prices and inflation. PNG's annual rate of inflation slowed to 2.2 per cent in 2012; however, some analysts believe it will

Millions of dollars allegedly corruptly obtained from the PNG government have been siphoned to Australian banks, confidential banking documents reveal. Fairfax Media has also confirmed that Australian bank NAB recently increased its due diligence on some money transfers from PNG due to corruption concerns. The allegedly dirty money stems from a corruption scandal gripping PNG that has led to the suspension of senior government officials and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill last month asking the Australian Federal Police and Interpol to help investigate. Mr O'Neill also threatened to sack all staff in the country's Finance Department after allegations in Parliament implicating top officials and prominent lawyers. Advertisement Law enforcement sources believe up to $500 million may have been stolen from PNG government legal aid funds over several years. A NAB spokesman said on Tuesday that the bank late last year ''heightened our due diligence relating to some funds from

Millions of dollars allegedly corruptly obtained from the PNG government have been siphoned to Australian banks, confidential banking documents reveal. Fairfax Media has also confirmed that Australian bank NAB recently increased its due diligence on some money transfers from PNG due to corruption concerns. The allegedly dirty money stems from a corruption scandal gripping PNG that has led to the suspension of senior government officials and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill last month asking the Australian Federal Police and Interpol to help investigate. Mr O'Neill also threatened to sack all staff in the country's Finance Department after allegations in Parliament implicating top officials and prominent lawyers. Advertisement Law enforcement sources believe up to $500 million may have been stolen from PNG government legal aid funds over several years. A NAB spokesman said on Tuesday that the bank late last year ''heightened our due diligence relating to some funds fro

By Graham Tenaen Robinson The 105 MPs gave O’Neill the benefit of the doubt in having dominion over the seat of the Prime Minister, however most importantly are the 7.5 million citizens in this country represented by their MPs in re-correcting a political incorrectness since 1975 with regards to the slaughter of West Papuans . Always showing a calm and collective pose our O'Neill portrays maturity and experience, yet the moment of truth depicted an uncharacteristic of our PM just on the eve of the last parliament sitting when information was leaked through to his office about the Paul Paraka payment in which the Opposition Leader was aware of. A dramatic report in the dailies captured the attention of this country through a defamation lawsuit by O’Neill against Namah for character smearing statements made in Morobe Province last month that was unsurprisingly given front-page exclusive on both dailies –The National and Post Courier. Such the intensity in news items added a new vigou

By Graham Tenaen Robinson The 105 MPs gave O’Neill the benefit of the doubt in having dominion over the seat of the Prime Minister, however most importantly are the 7.5 million citizens in this country represented by their MPs in re-correcting a political incorrectness since 1975 with regards to the slaughter of West Papuans . Always showing a calm and collective pose our O'Neill portrays maturity and experience, yet the moment of truth depicted an uncharacteristic of our PM just on the eve of the last parliament sitting when information was leaked through to his office about the Paul Paraka payment in which the Opposition Leader was aware of. A dramatic report in the dailies captured the attention of this country through a defamation lawsuit by O’Neill against Namah for character smearing statements made in Morobe Province last month that was unsurprisingly given front-page exclusive on both dailies –The National and Post Courier. Such the intensity in news items added a new v

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