PNGBLOGS

PNG's newest mobile provider AWAL Telecom, a major world mobile provider as they claim or a Scam? Since my last post on AWAL's Post Courier interview I did some further research and analysis into its so called mobile operations. I researched the industry in Africa and Dubai against the claims reported on their website and media statements. 1) AWAL Telecom claims to be an mobile provider with it's telecom Brand A-Tel, one of the fastest growing mobile operators with a strong footprint in the African Market. Substantial activities in subsidiaries and joint venture operations. One of the top 500 global companies by market share. Funny they failed to mention a single joint venture company, subsidiary or even country they operate in. After researching a number of African countries and their respective communications regulators not one has A-Tel registered as a mobile operator. In fact the only information on A-Tel is a small to medium company called A-Tel Communications that onl

PNG's newest mobile provider AWAL Telecom, a major world mobile provider as they claim or a Scam? Since my last post on AWAL's Post Courier interview I did some further research and analysis into its so called mobile operations. I researched the industry in Africa and Dubai against the claims reported on their website and media statements. 1) AWAL Telecom claims to be an mobile provider with it's telecom Brand A-Tel, one of the fastest growing mobile operators with a strong footprint in the African Market. Substantial activities in subsidiaries and joint venture operations. One of the top 500 global companies by market share. Funny they failed to mention a single joint venture company, subsidiary or even country they operate in. After researching a number of African countries and their respective communications regulators not one has A-Tel registered as a mobile operator. In fact the only information on A-Tel is a small to medium company called A-Tel Communications tha

Mr Riga A. Lua, OBE Chief Ombudsman Ombudsman Commission of PNG Ground Floor, Deloitte Tower P 0 Box 1831 Port Moresby 131, NCD Dear Chief Ombudsman INTEREST PAYMENT OBLIGATION OF STATE- USBS LOAN I refer to your letter of 15 May 2014 in response to my request for your approval to pay the interest of the UBS Loan. which was undertaken to purchase 10.01% of Oil Search Limited (OSH). In such letter you stated that you received my correspondence dated 14 May 2014 and noted the contents, particularly the reference to both the National Court's and the State's interpretation of the current effect of the directives. I note that you stated that you would analyse my request and respond to me in the next couple of days. I am required to inform you that time is of the essence and the State must act and I seek your understanding in this regard. The letter I sent concerned the payment obligations of the State under a current valid loan agreement, specifically to pay interest according to th

Mr Riga A. Lua, OBE Chief Ombudsman Ombudsman Commission of PNG Ground Floor, Deloitte Tower P 0 Box 1831 Port Moresby 131, NCD Dear Chief Ombudsman INTEREST PAYMENT OBLIGATION OF STATE- USBS LOAN I refer to your letter of 15 May 2014 in response to my request for your approval to pay the interest of the UBS Loan. which was undertaken to purchase 10.01% of Oil Search Limited (OSH). In such letter you stated that you received my correspondence dated 14 May 2014 and noted the contents, particularly the reference to both the National Court's and the State's interpretation of the current effect of the directives. I note that you stated that you would analyse my request and respond to me in the next couple of days. I am required to inform you that time is of the essence and the State must act and I seek your understanding in this regard. The letter I sent concerned the payment obligations of the State under a current valid loan agreement, specifically to pay interest

By SAM KOIM * I am thankful for the opportunity to speak at this forum today. This afternoon I do not wish to be dramatic, but would like to gently draw our attention to an issue that I believe really matters our two countries –corruption. Corruption is a global phenomenon and we can take a whole year discussing about corruption, its causes, trends, effects and the strategies to minimise it. The scale of corruption differs from country to country. Sometimes, it’s the way the society tolerates it. For instance:- • In one country, using one’s relatives (in PNG we call wantoks) for favours is illegal and unethical, whilst in another country, they may not have a wantok system owing to the fact that their society may not be communally structured hence they call it “network”.   • In one country, when a simple public official is receiving a bribe to supplement his salary to meet the necessities of living is called “bribery” whilst in other countries, the economic rents their multinational con

By SAM KOIM * I am thankful for the opportunity to speak at this forum today. This afternoon I do not wish to be dramatic, but would like to gently draw our attention to an issue that I believe really matters our two countries –corruption. Corruption is a global phenomenon and we can take a whole year discussing about corruption, its causes, trends, effects and the strategies to minimise it. The scale of corruption differs from country to country. Sometimes, it’s the way the society tolerates it. For instance:- • In one country, using one’s relatives (in PNG we call wantoks) for favours is illegal and unethical, whilst in another country, they may not have a wantok system owing to the fact that their society may not be communally structured hence they call it “network”.   • In one country, when a simple public official is receiving a bribe to supplement his salary to meet the necessities of living is called “bribery” whilst in other countries, the economic rents their multin

PM interferes in Constitutional Office of Ombudsman - what new illegality has PM now ordered? Peter O'Steal's illegal and corrupt USB loan is in crisis. The first repayment was due last week, and guess what? As everyone knew, the Ombudsman Commission's recent directives ordering a halt to all activities on the loan meant that payment could not be made. The Treasury Secretary, Daire Vele, wrote to the Ombudsman Commission saying state will be in default if the payment is not made, and asked if they could go ahead make the payment. The Ombudsman Commission said NO. The next thing Peter O'Steal himself rings the Ombudsman Commission and instructs it - INSTRUCTS THE OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION, A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE! - to allow the State to make the payment. Again, rightly, the Ombudsman Commission said NO. The toktok in Waigani is that Mr O'Steal is now looking for ways and excuses to sack the Ombuds. Of course this all raises some very important questions: Is the State alr