PNGBLOGS

by PAUL FLANAGAN PNG’s new government is proposing a 100 day plan. What should this consider? A good plan begins by fully understanding the challenges and opportunities facing its people. This understanding is improved by seeing how one is going relative to neighbours (comparative public policy analysis). The list below from the ADB highlights that PNG still faces massive development challenges. It is saddening to see PNG’s poor rankings. PNG’s politicians have been failing their people. On opportunities, PNG leads the world in key areas such as its cultural richness (1st), the extent of its tropical forests (3rd for the entire island), and its extraordinary biodiversity (PNG is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world). In terms of mineral and petroleum wealth, it actually does fairly poorly – even in LNG its ranks 47 th and petroleum 62 nd (details below). In going forward, PNG needs to change its self-image of “mountains of gold in seas of oil”. This myth (at least i

by SAMSON KOMATI Papua New Guinea's downstream fish processing companies/ canneries are almost wholly owned by foreign investors. Almost all fish factories/ canneries including marine park project development is owned/ operated by foreigners. I strongly think this has to change immediately. All foreign fishing companies operating in Papua New Guinea must under a new set of laws partner with all coastal landowner umbrella companies as well as all concerned provincial governments on either 49/51 or 50/50 percent ownership or partnership business arrangement so that our people and governments (provincial and national) secure maximum returns to grow our local economy for the benefit of all Papua New Guineans. The new Minister for Fisheries must engage a research team into finding out any and all these facts, recommend better policies and new laws (or amend existing laws pertaining) so that our vast fisheries resources and industry is developed to benefit us as well as f

by MELL LAKA I would like to shed some light with you on the proposed Bills that are being pushed by the government to be passed in parliament, namely the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) 2014. First of all it must be understood that any alteration to the Constitution must be passed by an absolute majority vote in parliament as per section 14 of the Constitution which means that the government needs the opposition's number. The introduction of the Bill (ICAC) was introduced 2014 where we saw a number of politicians and high profile individuals being investigated and prosecuted by several bodies that were not subjected to the directions of the NEC or for that matter. The purpose of the bill before parliament is to alter the Constitution by inserting a new Division under Part VIII of the constitution and that is Division 3. The purpose of Division 3 is to give effect or establish a Commission called the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The main fun

  by PAUL FLANAGAN Alotau II (see here ) fails as a vision for PNG’s future. It insults women, the rural poor, and business credibility. It insults the majority of PNG’s population by placing women’s economic empowerment as only the 89th item of its list of 90 priorities – and it does so under the heading of “PNG Immigration and Customs Services”. It makes no mention at all of women’s social empowerment – so taking action to address issues such as domestic violence and killing “witches”.  And there is also no mention of women’s political empowerment. PNG’s 111 member all male parliament will have to do better. It insults the majority of PNG’s population by having no path forward for agriculture, the source of livelihood for over 80 per cent of its population. Mentioning e-agriculture (priority 80), and only talking about reviving plantations (priority 15) is no way to deal with the malnutrition and stunting still facing too many in PNG. Much can be done to improve the produ

by LEKEM LAKI The Deputy Chief Justice his Honour Gibs Salika rightly said in the national paper dated 14th March 2016 titled “Graft a disease” and he referred to the level of corruption rampant in the country cutting across every sector of PNG society. In that he meant to say, corruption isn’t “growing but is overgrown”. The concern raised is alarming in nature but it doesn’t become a cause of concern or raises goose bumps. The corruption is entrenched and deeply embedded in every stratum of government bureaucracy and agencies. The practice is normalised and given the longevity in continued practice, it has become a norm or second nature if you like to people who practice. With the proliferation of corruption, people aren’t remorseful or let alone raise goose bumps. The Department of Justice and Attorney General Secretary Dr. Lawrence Kalinoe refused Damarua’s request to engage private law firm. Damarua and the entire Fraud Squad team aren’t fighting tooth and nail the monster (ov

by  SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP Prime Minister Peter O’Neill should just hand himself in to police instead of abusing the legal system any more, former Prime Minister and Member for Moresby North-West Sir Mekere Morauta said today. “Enough is enough. Judge Collin Makail’s words are crystal clear: the arrest warrant is not reviewable,” Sir Mekere said. “The request to overturn it by the Police Commissioner is ‘an abuse of process’, according to the judge. “It is time to do the right thing and the reponsible thing for the nation and for the Office of the Prime Minister. Go to the police and allow due legal process to take place. Justice will always prevail in the end.” Sir Mekere said Papua New Guineans are sick and tired of Mr O’Neill’s legal trickery and his abuse of public office and the public purse. He said it appeared that taxpayers are footing the Prime Minister’s personal legal bills, at a time when the nation is destitute. “We see from official Treasury documents that Tw

PRESS RELEASE by  Rt. Hon SIR MEKERE MORAUTA MP Former Prime Minister and Member for Moresby North-West Sir Mekere Morauta said today that at last some members of the PNC Government have admitted that the Papua New Guinea economy is in difficulty.  Sir Mekere referred to the media statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Caretaker Treasurer Charles Abel, who said that the focus of the government in its first 100 Days would be on “economic recovery”. Sir Mekere noted that this was an interesting admission and use of words by Mr Abel, because the Prime Minister has consistently refused to recognise that the economy is in recession, and has mismanaged public finances in such a way that has allowed the recession to intensify. “My advice to Mr Abel is that before he launches into any “recovery” measures, he needs to repair the budget and reform his Prime Minister and curb his extravagant and uncontrolled spending and borrowing,” Sir Mekere said. “The non-mining sector, on which the