PNGBLOGS

Australia has withdrawn funding for a $38 million program that supplies medicine to Papua New Guinean health centres, due to concerns about the way PNG has awarded contracts. Previously, Australia's aid agency chose the supplier and distributor for the medicines, but this year that process was handled by PNG. In June, the PNG government removed a crucial quality-control criteria and later awarded the contract to local company linked to a Chinese supplier of sub-quality drugs. Doctors say the distribution of ineffective medicine in a country rife with TB, malaria, pneumonia and gastro will cost lives. Three years ago, a corruption scandal within Papua New Guinea's health system left hospitals running out of drugs and prompted the PNG government to ask for Australia's help in stocking health centres. For two years, the International Dispensary Association supplied medical kits to almost 3,000 health facilities across the country. Dr Glen Mola, treasurer of the Medical Society

Australia has withdrawn funding for a $38 million program that supplies medicine to Papua New Guinean health centres, due to concerns about the way PNG has awarded contracts. Previously, Australia's aid agency chose the supplier and distributor for the medicines, but this year that process was handled by PNG. In June, the PNG government removed a crucial quality-control criteria and later awarded the contract to local company linked to a Chinese supplier of sub-quality drugs. Doctors say the distribution of ineffective medicine in a country rife with TB, malaria, pneumonia and gastro will cost lives. Three years ago, a corruption scandal within Papua New Guinea's health system left hospitals running out of drugs and prompted the PNG government to ask for Australia's help in stocking health centres. For two years, the International Dispensary Association supplied medical kits to almost 3,000 health facilities across the country. Dr Glen Mola, treasurer of the M

By ANDREW PANAUAI Minister David Arore, I am sure many who support our current government were pleased to hear your announcement on Friday agreeing to release the unitech Sevua report. This decision is long overdue and commended. Minister Arore, what would not be appreciated by anyone right now is if you released a version of the report that was changed in any way, including parts being left out, wording changed, or new parts being added onto the original.To avoid suspicion that you made changes to the Sevua report before releasing, it is best to include written certifications by Judge Sevua and each council member confirming that that the released version is an exact copy of what Judge Sevua submitted. Minister Arore, you probably know that our PM is not too happy about the way you handled the unitech issue.Don’t forget the PM showed faith in your abilities by appointing you to the ministry of highest intellect.  You were too good to follow other instructions but your handling of unit

By ANDREW PANAUAI Minister David Arore, I am sure many who support our current government were pleased to hear your announcement on Friday agreeing to release the unitech Sevua report. This decision is long overdue and commended. Minister Arore, what would not be appreciated by anyone right now is if you released a version of the report that was changed in any way, including parts being left out, wording changed, or new parts being added onto the original.To avoid suspicion that you made changes to the Sevua report before releasing, it is best to include written certifications by Judge Sevua and each council member confirming that that the released version is an exact copy of what Judge Sevua submitted. Minister Arore, you probably know that our PM is not too happy about the way you handled the unitech issue.Don’t forget the PM showed faith in your abilities by appointing you to the ministry of highest intellect.  You were too good to follow other instructions but your handling

The declaration of the Madang By_Election has come under a shadow of uncertainty after 10,000 valid ballot-papers were discovered by candidates. The discovery now confirms the candidates suspicious all along that the integrity of the Madang By-Election had been compromised The candidates first raised their concerns when the Returning Officer Adolf Duangha refused to disclose the serial numbers of the ballot-papers both during the polling period and counting process. It is standard procedure and practice in elections that serial numbers of used /unused ballot-papers were provided to scrutineers. This information is vital to ensure proper scrutiny over the process.  Such practices affirm the principles of democratic elections prescribed by Section 126 (Elections) of the Constitution are observed and upheld. Further disclosure of such information is a mandatory right under Section 51 (freedom to information) of the Constitution. This was later confirmed by Mr. Trawen in writing. Further i

The declaration of the Madang By_Election has come under a shadow of uncertainty after 10,000 valid ballot-papers were discovered by candidates. The discovery now confirms the candidates suspicious all along that the integrity of the Madang By-Election had been compromised The candidates first raised their concerns when the Returning Officer Adolf Duangha refused to disclose the serial numbers of the ballot-papers both during the polling period and counting process. It is standard procedure and practice in elections that serial numbers of used /unused ballot-papers were provided to scrutineers. This information is vital to ensure proper scrutiny over the process.  Such practices affirm the principles of democratic elections prescribed by Section 126 (Elections) of the Constitution are observed and upheld. Further disclosure of such information is a mandatory right under Section 51 (freedom to information) of the Constitution. This was later confirmed by Mr. Trawen in writing.

From PNG BLOGs to all our Contributors and Readers, Have a Safe and Happy Holidays,

From PNG BLOGs to all our Contributors and Readers, Have a Safe and Happy Holidays,

By THEDORE ZURENUOC, PNG Parliament Speaker I would like to take this opportunity to inform the people of Papua New Guinea about the Reformation, Restoration and Modernization program that is taking place at the National Parliament, which has been partly reported by some sections of the mainstream media. When Parliament elected me to the Speaker’s chair last year, I inherited a house that had lost its dignity, integrity, respect and reverence. The Parliament had become a house riddled with rotten administrative systems and processes that urgently needed reformation and restoration, and modernization to bring it up to international standards. Since Parliament stands as a symbol of collective wisdom and the pinnacle of political decision-making in which noble dreams of great men and women have been, and will continue to be, translated into reality through legislation that will transcend to the Executive, Judiciary and the rest of society, it needed the reformation, restoration and modern