PNGBLOGS

The financial crisis that has crippled the Greek economy serves as a cautionary tale against irresponsible spending. First, it may be helpful to students to explain that government finances are not much more difficult to calculate than the numbers in one’s personal bank account. A country earns X and spends Y; Y should not exceed X. Just as responsible borrowing and credit are an important part of personal money-management skills, countries should borrow only what they need to get by, under strict rules of payback. Greece not only eschewed the rules of responsible spending, the country also completely ignored the rules of responsible borrowing. The result was catastrophic debt that the country is unable to repay, potentially leading to financial crises in the countries that loaned money to Greece. The Greek financial trouble started decades ago when government after government increased the size of the country’s payroll. A “you scratch my back…” system rewarded suppor

PRESS STATEMENT The Governor of East Sepik and founding Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare called on all members of parliament to represent the interest of their electorates and the true intent of the Constitution to protest against the current and continued manipulation and deterioration of institutions of state. Sir Michael said, “People of Papua New Guinea must not tolerate elected leaders who are condoning the actions of the O’Neill regime by remaining silent. Silence means acceptance of the glaring abuses of processes that are taking place around us. “Before long our institutions will be completely useless becauseelected leaders have neglected their duties to stand up against the current manipulations by leaders holding high offices. “I support whole heartedly the call by another former Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta’s public statement of 17 April 2016, for Mr O’Neill to stop disrespecting the country’s highest office. “Throwing the word ‘integrity’ around to conceal abuses

by RPNGC INSIDER Jacob Ivaroa, appointed by Police Commissioner Gary Baki as the acting deputy director of the National Fraud Squad and Anti-Corruption Directorate, has a long history of corruption and violence. Most of his service in the RPNGC is as a paid rogue cop for Peter O’Neill and Jimmy Maladina. Ivaroa is one of O’Neill’s leading thugs, a standover man not afraid to use guns and fists for Masta Peter and Masta Jimmy. He is best remembered for his body-snatching of former NPF CEO Rod Mitchell, at gunpoint. Mitchell was investigating the corruption at NPF by Jimmy Maladina and Peter O’Neill, who robbed the people’s superannuation fund of millions of kina. O’Neill and maladina called Ivaroa in and ordered him to get Mitchell at any cost and lay charges against him Although Ivaroa succeeded in capturing Mitchell, his fake charges were thrown out off court and Mitchell was set free. Ivaroa and Assistant Commissioner David Manning (corrupt son of late corruption fighter Mike Ma

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW Papua New Guinea is seeking a World Bank loan of hundreds of millions of dollars to tackle a foreign exchange crisis linked to a slump in oil prices, a severe drought and a ballooning budget deficit. The move to borrow $US300 million ($390 million) follows the country's failure to raise $US1 billion on bond markets late last year and a slowdown in the South Pacific nation's economy, which until recently was the best-performing in the region, thanks to the construction and start-up of a $US19 billion gas plant operated by ExxonMobil. Papua New Guinea, one of the world's most culturally diverse but least explored countries, said last week that government revenues in 2015 had come in 21 per cent below expectations, mainly because of lower commodity prices. The country's difficulties mirror those of other petrodollar economies, which have been hit by weak oil prices and widening budget gaps. " The International Finance Corpo

by BRYAN KRAMER On Monday 11th April 2016 Members of the National Fraud and Anti-corruption Directorate charged the Prime Minister's Lawyer Ms Tiffany Twivey for one count of allegedly attempting to pervert justice. It is a criminal offence prescribed or defined under Section 136 of the Criminal Code. The provision or section is expressed in the following terms: 136 ATTEMPTING TO PERVERT JUSTICE. A person who attempts, in any way not specially defined in this Code, to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice is guilty of a misdemeanour. Penalty: Imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. The key elements to establish a person is guilty of attempting to prevent justice (1) they attempted -put a plan in action (2) with criminal intent (3) to obstruct; pervert or defeat (4) the course or administration of justice. Each and every element must be proven to the criminal standard off prove, being beyond reasonable doubt. In other words after considering the evid

by JOHN STEWARD In a remarkable turn of events, and right under the watchful eyes of all thinking Papua New Guineans, the Police Commissioner eliminates almost all potential risks at the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, by suspending the Director Matthew Damaru, his Deputy Timothy Gitua, another senior office Joel Simitab and other officers who may have been seen solidly supporting their bosses to pursue the arrest of Prime Minister O’Neill in relation to Paul Paraka Lawyers fraudulent payments. Commissioner Baki, in a lengthy media statement attempts to justify his “weekend” actions but not many will be convinced in light of the chain of events leading up to Baki’s decisions. I have gone through the various events leading up to the actions of Baki and here is what I have compiled. (All these events are publicly reported in various media forums if you have been following), On the 5th of April 2016, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed James Marape’s appeal to the S

PNGBLOGS Prime Minister and Ano Pala tried to use the Supreme Court Reference to stay other proceedings including the Sakora J orders in Supreme Court. The Supreme Court five men bench literally tore their application in pieces. THE Waigani National Court has refused an application filed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the National Executive Council to adjourn the hearing of two notices of motion relating to the legal representation of the Task Force Sweep Team chairman Sam Koim. Lawyer representing O’Neill and NEC Desmond Kipa, from Twivey Lawyers, told the court that lawyer Tiffany Twivey was in charge of the two motions and she could not be available in court because of what happened to her on Monday. Twivey stated in her affidavit that she was locked up at the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption interview room on Monday for about 14 hours with no electricity and water, which affected her physically and psychologically. Her medical certificate was submitted to the cou