PNGBLOGS

Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today the Police Commissioner, Mr Gary Baki, must resign forthwith or be dismissed by the Prime Minister. It is impossible for a Police Commissioner to remain in office after organizing and conducting an illegal operation involving foreign mercenaries. “His is a Constitutional Office,” Sir Mekere said. “The holder of such offices must be beyond reproach, and Mr Baki does not fit into that category. He must go.” Sir Mekere said the deportation of the illegal foreign mercenaries and the winding up of Mr Baki’s illegal operation meant there is added urgency for an independent inquiry into the scandal. The Ombudsman Commission now has ample public evidence on which to base an inquiry. Such an inquiry should cover all the financial and legal aspects of Mr Baki’s operation. It should also seek to establish who else might have been involved, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari, national security off

by PETER S. KINJAP Papua New Guinea has entered the third week of the eight-week election campaign before polling commences next month. Unlike previous elections, this year’s campaign appears not as noisy as in the past. Social media has played an important role in the campaign so far with political parties buying Facebook pages to launch their awareness messages. Almost all the 15 political parties in PNG contesting the election now have a paid Facebook Page. The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has reportedly disseminated a lot of information about its polices and continues running social media ads. One of the PNC’s major party platforms is the Free Education policy. As the ruling party, it has implemented and PNG has felt its impact since 2012. Like any other government policy, the PNC free education policy has its weaknesses. In order to defend this policy, party leader and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said recently he wanted to make the PNC’s free educat

by BRYAN KRAMER In the last three days I received numerous messages asking if I knew anything about the foreign nationals heavily armed and walking the streets of Port Moresby. My response was no and that I would have to look into it. Yesterday the Commissioner of Police Gary Baki issued a press statement on the same issue triggering me to take some timeout to make my own inquires into the matter. Baki stated that "Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is currently engaged in discussions with an American based security company, Laurence Aviation & Security Group, to train an elite rapid response team for APEC 2018 and for ongoing policing into the future." He explained that the company staffed by former American military and police personnel offers high-end security solutions to its customers globally including the United States Government. “I was approached by the president of the company, Mr Peter Halliman around July last year. He was offering his company’s

by WABAG OBSERVER Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas' defection from his People's Party to join the ruling PNC party in the eleventh -hour has attracted criticisms, wanders and, of course, amazement from the citizens. His move was made during the seven-day nomination period. He made the decision after its party had prepared itself well to contend for the top post this election. It hosted its party convention at his motel Bluff Inn outside Port Moresby. His supporters and fans have flowed with his decision, a something which Ipatas defended as a move to maintain political stability after the election like confirmed by PM O'Neill who said he moved to PNC at his own will. His critics alleged him for being lured with the promise of PSIP and other funds in light of the cashflow crisis. This was not in the best interest of the province where it is known for its integrity and quality leadership in the country. PNG's former Opposition Leader late Sir Tei Abal, late Sir Alb

by MICHAEL PASSINGAN PROPERTY VALUED AT  $1.1 MILLION(AUD) - 10 Cubberla St PROPERTY VALUE AT   $1.7 MILLION(AUD) - 15 Upper Brookfield Rd PROPERTY VALUE AT $555,000(AUD)  66 Gem Road, Kenmore JUSTIN TKATCHENKO Moresby South MP and a senior Minister in Peter O'Neill government has an Australian property portfolio well over K8 Million in value. Previously we have looked at two properties which are on record after submissions were made to the Brisbane City Council for redevelopment to a property in Brookfield area of Brisbane. The Brookfield property is valued at $AUD 1.7MILLION and was bought by CATHERINE JANE TKATCHENKO, Justin's "wife". The property was purchased in NOVEMBER 2015.  The address used to purchase this property is 10 Cubberla Street Fig Tree Pocket QLD 4069. According to Queensland property records, Justin and Catherine purchased two houses on Cubberla Street, number 10 and 12. Information shown here on records made available to us show that

SIR MEKERE MORAUTA Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta expressed his concern today at social media pictures of heavily armed foreign mercenaries patrolling the streets of Port Moresby. He said it was clear that the public was very concerned about these men. “No-one knows who they are and what they are doing here,” he said. “The absence of any explanation from the Government is only serving to heighten concerns about these foreigners and why they are openly carrying high-powered weapons in public. “There are suggestions that these men are US Armed Forces personnel, and that they are here on APEC security business. Sir Mekere said he been advised that these men are not US SEALs – there are two SEALs on official business in Port Moresby, and they are certainly not driving around town in police vehicles. Nor are they taking part in road blocks and questioning people, he said. Nor are they in the country on APEC security business - the head of the APEC Secretariat, Mr Chris Hawkins

PRESS RELEASE Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today he was shocked to hear that more than K1.5 billion was reported as stolen from or by Peter O’Neill’s Government last year. The estimate, by the head of the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru, was a wake-up call for the Prime Minister. “Mr O’Neill has been making a lot of sweet talk about fighting corruption, but corruption has been totally out of control while he has been Prime Minister,” Sir Mekere said. “It appears to have worsened since Mr O’Neill abolished Task Force Sweep after a warrant for his arrest was issued over the Paraka fraud. And his subsequent decision to remove the independence of the Fraud Squad has clearly made matters worse. “If we extrapolate Mr Damaru’s estimate to the entire five years of Mr O’Neill’s Prime Ministership, we are looking at billions of kina that has walked out the door of his government, without leaving any footprints.