PNGBLOGS

No-one would argue that frontline health workers and those who manage our health services have an ethical responsibility to save Papua New Guinean lives (You all swore oaths to save lives. Post-Courier editorial Friday, March 20, 2015.).  Nor would anyone argue your point that “politicking and games”should not be conducted at the expense of patient care. However, applauding the Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Michael Malabag on his decision, through the NEC, to suspend the EHPHA Board and CEO is arguable.  Less than two weeks ago the Minster advised the nation that the Committee of Enquiry (appointed by the Minister himself) to look into matters at the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority (EHPHA) had found that the EHPHA Board and Management was properly constituted and has been performing its functions in accordance with its mandate under the Provincial Health Authorities Act 2007 (Committee of Enquiry into Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority. Po

By BUNPAI MULAPI The authorities must act against the despicable behaviour displayed in these photographs, posted by the Member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko. The Member says the five faces shown in the main photo are “the faces behind the graffiti” on the swimming man sculpture at the Murray Barracks Roundabout. That is a finding to be made by a court, not some deeply ignorant member of Parliament. These CHILDREN are entitled to the presumption of innocence, like any other person suspected of a crime. They are entitled to the protection afforded to CHILDREN by Papua New Guinea and International law. CHILDREN like these may not be exploited for dirty, cheapskate political purposes by a dirty, cheapskate politician who not only does not know or respect the law, but who lacks any form of normal morality. The Member in another post on hims disgusting Facebook page sets out his punishment for these CHILDREN. He has no power to do this. Only a court can punish a cri

By BRYAN KRAMER Leadership Tribunal on Friday (20/3/15) handed down its ruling finding Member for Manus Open Ronnie Knight guilty of four out of the five allegations of misconduct in office against him. The first allegation was dropped for being similar as the third allegation that was sustained or upheld. Mr. Knight was referred to the Leadership Tribunal by Public Prosecutor acting on the referral and findings by the Ombudsman Commission (OC). The allegations were in relation to the purchase of a Vessel MV Manus Trader Star at a inflated price of K2.5m. Knight was found guilty of misconduct in office centred around the following issues during January 2013 and August 2013: 1) misappropriating K650,000 belonging to the Manus District Services Improvement (DSIP) Fund to purchase an outdated and unsuitable vessel that was 44 years old which was earlier negotiated by Mr. Knight and priced at K1.85m. Tribunal found that that Mr. Knight withheld vital informati

By CHARLES BENSON The much promoted and idolized CCIC is a complete SHAM in terms of financial sponsorship management. The very publicized 'biggest' off season competition in Papua New Guinea as proclaimed the ambitious CEO, Timothy Lepa is more less a scheme to secure financial sponsorship in the cause of promote rugby league in the rural areas of PNG. Since its inception a lot of raw talents have been identified elevated to the next level of rugby league (inter-city). However, its been evident that most clubs qualifying in the cup challenge face a lot of setbacks including officials facilitating the competition. 1. Clubs who qualifies for the regional legs challenge are promised packages and prize money for winning the grand final are obviously MISLED or is a total LIE. 2. Competition is manipulated to suit a specific club to qualify in the regional and final play off. So cronies can benefit from the winning prize money. 3. Selection is based on nep

AID Watch Australia Australia spends $577 million a year on aid to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Two key focus areas are anti-corruption related – law & justice, and governance. PNG has concurrently undertaken a number of national processes to combat corruption without Australian support. Five years ago today, the Finance Department Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in PNG uncovered widespread fraud involving senior bureaucrats and law firms from the period 2000 – 2006, with 780 million kina of public finances stolen. To this day, no action has been taken to implement the recommendations of this report. Since that time, there has also been a National CoI into Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABL’s), the lease mechanism that provided the pathway for large scale land grabs to occur in PNG. This has resulted in a loss of around 12% of the total land mass. The report found that of the 77 leases investigated, only 3 were found to have been legally obtained. The report also cited Austral

By: Fr. JOHN M. GLYNN OL The subject of this report is a female Elementary School teacher in a remote Central Province Village Ms X teaches at the Elementary School in her village. This is fully registered Catholic Agency school. Total enrolment at the school is about 58 children ranging in age from 6 years to 8, with a few older. Ms X has remained without being paid since 2010. There is an Acting Teacher in Charge (TiC) who receives a salary. The real TiC is now a student at Teachers’ College and is still receiving his salary from the Department. Ms X’s history:- 2010 Ms X was recruited to teach at the village Elementary School. She attended a six week course at Mirigeda near Loloata Island which qualified her to teach the Prep Grade. The cost of the course was K1,110. Ms X found a sponsor who paid this money for her. On completion of the course Ms X was instructed to complete a Resumption of Duty form so that she could be put on the payroll and receive a fo

BY BRYAN KRAMER A post and detailed article have since been published canvassing this issue both were authored by prominent PNG lawyers and well expounded to those who have a legal mind. Due to the fact most don't I thought I'd provide a layperson's interpretation. Background facts Mr. Eremas Wartoto was arrested and charged in 2011 for two counts misappropriation relating to awarding of a contract to his company SWT to carry out repair and maintenance work at the Kerevat National High School in the East New Britain Province. The contract was processed and awarded through the office of the Department of Planning and Monitoring and not through the Central Supply and Tenders Board process under the Public Finance (Management Act) 1995. The State (Prosecution) alleges that SWT had inside knowledge and was able to quote for the lowest of the three quotations in the sum of K7.99m which the Department of Planning and Monitoring accepted. Of the

A SERIAL LIAR BY CHARLIE BROWN MAKKTAYSON Some bloggers have suggested the military to do something about the rampant corruption by the O'Neill government. The simple answer is there will not be a military takeover because he made sure the Military Head is a man from Ialibu, his own electorate. Although this does not detract from the fact that Gilbert Torope earned his position and has the respect of the rank and file, he also will not lift a finger to challenge what is clearly a rotten and corrupt government led by the PM himself.The Military option has been neutralized by O'Neill. This leaves the students and the peoples option open. ONeill has not been just sneaky in gaining the majority of the pokies licenses under Duban in such a short time, he has tried to use the NCD Physical Planning Board to close down the 4 mile Casino because it was owned largely by Belden Namah and because it was going to challenge his own ambition to become PNG's first Bil

By BRYAN KRAMER I have been tracking this issue for sometime since September 2014 when a number of service providers made known their Government Cheques were bouncing. I started to make inquires with my contacts in the Treasury and Finance Departments to confirm whether there was any truth in it. Sadly the feed back was the Government had no funds and the Department officials were given instructions to go out and look for money. While many have been praising our Government for achieving so much people failed to put thought to where all this money was coming from or whether we could afford to be spending it all. In December 2014 the Government failed to pay for the teachers leave pay. Opposition Leader Don Polye published it was because the Government had mismanaged the Country's funds. Polye challenged Prime Minister to admit to the nation that the Government has run out of cash. “There’s no money in the system, the private sector is under stress, there’s l