PNGBLOGS

PRESS STATEMENT The chairman of PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd, Sir Mekere Morauta, said today that allegations by the Prime Minister that the company was drawing down on the Long Term Fund were false. “There is today slightly more than $US1.3 billion in the Long Term Fund,” he said. “That amount will be available to future generations of the people of Western Province. “The Long Term Fund, which is invested around the world in low-risk investments, is safe and secure. It was set up so that the people of Western Province would have a source of sustainable development funding for future generations, and that is the way it will stay.” The investments in the Long Term Fund generate returns, which are providing income to PNGSDP to pay for its operational expenses. This is expressly permitted under rule 9.3(a) of the company's Program Rules. “Using the income is different from using the capital of the Long Term Fund,” Sir Mekere said. “PNGSDP has never withdrawn capital

By ESA'ALA ADVOCATE In July of 2012 when Davis Steven was elected as Member for Esa’ala Open, the people were relieved that Hon. Moses Maladina’s reign had come to an end because nothing much was achieved during his 10 year reign as MP. But the feeling of relief and optimism soon disappeared as Davies started stamping his authority as MP. In his first JDP&BPC meeting as Chairman, the MP sent out a message of what is to follow in the next five years by allocating K500, 000.00 from the DSIP funds to a member of his inner circle for the completion of a boat, M.V. Hideaway II. It was a message to the people of Esa’ala by the MP that he will only support those that supported him in the election The MP also appointed “political coordinators” of wards and zones when he clearly campaigned against it during the elections. These so called coordinators have become more powerful than ward councillors who are mandated leaders by the people. All development agendas are channelled thr

By PNGBLOGS CONTRIBUTOR NETWORK Bmobile Limited under the management of Sundar Ramamurthy since mid-last year has had no constructive plans, since he was employed, towards the company and is further accused of continuous threats levelled at national staff. His approach of continuous negative attacks on the staff as “bunch of thieves and liars” has had a huge impact on the moral of the national staff. Latest name calling and branding of the national staff “as the lowest of the lowest” by Sundar Ramamurthy‘s Group Security & Facilities Manager David Pidik has now stirred up the racist and discrimination felt by national staff. How can anyone perform to their best of their ability when constantly reminded they’re “useless bunch of Papua New Guineans” and due to that most experience staff had resigned to find alternative avenues? Bmobile Limited is a small SOE company with the workforce of less than 100 staff in total inclusive of expats/consultants with a Group CEO and two CEO’S

By Anna Gerato Suckling The 3 main shareholders have monopoly over Angola’s natural resources & have effectively sealed Angola’s Presidents dictatorship power. Its old news that Puma Energy International bought out Inter Oil’s Napa Napa refinery for USD526 million in July this year but just who are they and why could the purchase be a strategic move? It is a fact that within 2 years of Puma Energy entering Angola the main partners of this company gained monopoly over all of Angola’s overseas oil sales & local distribution of fuel. Privately held company Puma Energy (Singapore) is owned by the following corporations 1. Trafigura 2.Sonangol Holding LDA & 3.Cochan Holdings. 15% of the Swiss corporation Trafigura is owned by the infamously named “General Dino”. General Dino is one of the three ‘main’ partners that the president of Angola uses as his covers ups for his corrupt business dealings in Angola. Marc Gueniat a senior NGO researcher quotes &quo

By SAM BASIL MP Deputy Opposition Leader and Pangu Pati Leader, Sam Basil said the role of political parties and the Opposition in development of political culture and practice of Westminster principles in PNG, good governance and leadership needs more work and that can be done by Members of Parliament. He said the THE Party and its Members are welcome to join the Opposition and challenged other Members and political parties who do not support the policies and management of PNC led Government to decide which side they are on and what achievements and policies they will sell to the people during the National Elections. The Pangu Pati Leader said the Opposition is a creation of the Constitution and laws like the Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC), Prime Ministers Act, Parliamentary Standing Orders and other laws to ensure the sovereignty of the Independent State of PNG is intact and to make laws and to ensure governance and systems including over

By MARK DAVIS The economic crisis caused by the Prime Minister's mismanagement of the nation's finances may be about to get much worse The Government is facing a payout of up to $US300 million in a legal dispute over the disastrous IPIC bond issue used to finance PNG's participation in the LNG Project. The case, brought by IPIC against the Government represented by the Independent Public Business Corporation, begins tomorrow in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. A decision is likely within a month IPIC is seeking a payment of $US300 million (K700m plus at today’s rates) from PNG as part of the settlement of the IPIC bond issue. IPIC had the right to convert the bond into Oil Search shares, which it did. It also had the right to a cash component under the terms of the bond issue. The Supreme Court case is over the amount that is owed to IPIC, which is claiming $US300 million. It will blow yet another mighty hole in the Bu

SYLVESTER KOMBA EXPOSING CORRUPTION IN MENDI, SHP   By SYLVESTER KOMBA PAPUA NEW GUINE HAS REACHED ANOTHER YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND WILL BE TURNING 39 YEARS ON 16th SEPTEMBER, 2014. Times like this it calls for our people to take stock of how far we have come from Tanget and Malo Age to colonial era, self governing and Independence on 16th September, 1975. Going back to history, during pre-independence and self governing years when most of the bureaucracy was in the hands of the Australian Patrol officers and Kiaps, the focuss was on 'order and stability' for the society, After independence and nationalisation of bureaucracy we have moved away from order and stability and the end of luluai and tultula or anwa police we were focussing into the development of PNG believing that in doing so order and stability in the society will be achieved. I can not be a more worrisome person seen many school dropout, certificate and degree holders without job while provincial, nationa

By SCOTT WAIDE What is the definition of service delivery?   Is it  the secret  and public  cash handouts to key members of a community, LLG presidents  so that political support is maintained?    Is it a road?   The “donation” of vehicles bought using government money?   Or a large investment project owned by a foreign  company where  “dozens of jobs are provided,” many of them smack bang on the minimum wage level? Service delivery, in my view, must empower people to make independent decisions both in their own lives and in political choices  that affect their lives. More importantly, they must be given the ability to make their own money so that they are not prone to  the temptation of political handouts. They must be given the opportunities  for intellectual development  so that opinions are freely expressed without fear or favor. But this is, precisely, what frightens politicians.   An educated, free thinking population, with independent incomes and the ability to choose  the

By DAVID EPHRAIM  Source: POST COURIER Papua New Guineans should not panic but take this time to reflect and come together as a country to address many issues affecting our country at the moment. The report by Post Courier is long over due, however one wonders why it took so long for Australian sources to provide the information to Post Courier to be published. Post Courier will deny my claims outright but if you assess the information provided by Post Courier; it clearly shows that information came from an Australian source who might use another 'cut out' - third party individuals who feed (intel) information to intelligence officers - to provide these information(s) to Post Courier. Whatever the intentions are; firstly let's observe global events/important geopolitical developments within our region. Let's calculate political and security climate within the region. Why now after 10 years? Is it because they could not link up the suspects or i