PNGBLOGS

by TONY SULUPIN A PNC candidate running for Lagaip Porgera open, Nathan Piari must be arrested and criminally charged for discharging firearms at the polling venue. On the 08th of July, the polling was to take place at the Kanak council Ward in the Pilikambi LLG. The four clans of Kaimul tribe unanimously agreed that due to irregularities in the common roll, they wanted to share the ballot papers among  the four clans. After signed papers were distributed by the presiding officer according to their wish, a feud erupted between Mr Piari's supporter and another within the Walyage clan over their share of 561 papers. The suspect who was armed with a pistol fired several shots at the voters injuring one elderly woman on her leg. This angered Ambai and Kulip voters hence retaliated with stones, sticks and other missiles thrown at Piari's supporters A stand-of developed into an horrific situation which saw few houses were burned down by an angry mob together with an old

by BRYAN KRAMER I was informed when the same question was put to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill he responded more than 50. On 21st April 2017 I published part 2 of an article "Will Peter O'Neill return as PM" Where I explained that PNC were likely to return upto 15 to 20 of the 53 sitting Members of Parliament following the elections. "This will be largely due to those members winning on their own popularity and having actually delivered some form of services to their electorates. Add to this the fact they will also be heavily financed by their party (PNC)" "There will also be some PNC members who may retain their seat relying on wide scale bribery and vote rigging." You may click on the link below to read full the article. https://www.facebook.com/kramerreportpng/posts/996808673788772 So far two PNC candidates have been returned are the Members for Moresby South Open Justin Tkatchenko and Tari-Pori Open James Marape. Now I expecte

by PAUL FLANAGAN The resignation of PNG’s Election Advisory Committee is a devastating blow to the credibility of PNG’s 2017 election. The failure to provide this high level constitutional Committee with factual electoral information suggests deliberate acts to hide the truth (the EAC is a constitutional committee with the Chief Ombudsman, representative of Transparency International, and  a law lecturer from the University of PNG). In its resignation letter, the committee indicates it was “prevented from performing its constitutional duties and roles” because it has not been provided with “baseline data and information nor have we been party to regular reporting”. Detailed information is required to unpack possible deliberate ‘cooking the books’ from the general chaos and mismanagement of PNG’s 2017 election. At an aggregate level, initial statistical analysis indicates that no clear pattern of bias can be determined at an electorate by electorate level (see b

by JAMES MAKOP Less than a week ago I posted an article regarding the deterioration of democracy as we know it in our country. Now the results of the elections are slowly but surely bearing testimony to foul play, rigging and indicative of sinister motives at play. Fellow citizens, we cannot ask for more evidence that what we have now. 1. The Rule of Law no longer applies to Peter O'Neill and his cronies. 2. People who are in positions to make a difference for the better have sold their souls for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. That includes the Electoral Commissioner, the Police Commissioner, the election managers and returning officers and people down the rank and file. 3. Isaac Lupari had usurped the functions of the election advisory committee and illegally orchestrated the biggest denial of the right to choose elected representatives by citizens. 4. The economy is dysfunctional. Our foreign missions are being boarded up and shut down due non payment of

by GEORGE KERA SMITH It is no surprise James Marape has retain his seat in the Tari Pori electorate. However, given the circumstance surrounding rumors that the elections in Hela has been rigged, there is now evidence surfacing that speaks volumes. Remember, numbers don't lie. Recent interview by James Marape announced on EMTV tonight, he himself claimed that he was declared on 50% majority, to be exact 30,192, which means that the total eligible voters for Tari Pori in this 2017 election was about 60,000 plus. However, looking back on past elections, it appears the numbers don't add up. In 2007, total eligible voters for Tari Pori was 37,473. He scored 6,147 1st pref votes to win (roughly 12% of the voters). In 2012, total voters were 40,039 of which he scored 13,661 of 1st preference votes (34% of the total votes). He went on to win with 18,258 after completion of elimination. From current results, it appears that the total voter population increased by 20,000

by LUDWIG MASI The resignation of the Elections Advisory Committee now reveals how the PNG National Elections 2017 were adulterated and corrupted. The reasons for the resignation of this committee comprised of eminent persons might be revealed later, but what is of most concern is the timing of their decision. These are learned people with standing in the society and their decision would have been a well-thought one. The decision decimates any doubt that the PNG elections were manipulated to favour the ruling party. The Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea is an independent constitutional body established by the Constitution. The constitutional law defines its operations and functions. An independent body comprised of the Prime Minister (or his nominee), the Opposition Leader, Parliamentary Appointments Committee Chairman and the Public Service Commission Chairman appoints the Electoral Commissioner. It is a constitutional body that receives its funding allocation by Parliam

by PAUL FLANAGAN Using PNG’s updated GDP numbers, there are new insights into PNG’s economic history. In particular, they show how bad the last four years have been: PNG’s budget deficits over the last four years are the worst in PNG’s history. From 2012 to 2016, deficits have totaled an extraordinary 23.8% of GDP This is nearly three times higher than the next worst five-year period for spiraling deficits (8.7% from 1992 to 1996 with five-year periods based on parliamentary terms). These daunting deficit figures are the driver behind the explosion in public debt from 17.3% of GDP in 2011 to 35.5% in 2016. In the 1992 to 1996 period, debt started at much higher levels (28% of GDP) but still didn’t reach 2016 levels (34.4% in 1996 vs the current 35.5% level using 2016 FBO numbers and IMF figures on 2016 GDP). There are two drivers for these historically high budget deficits. First, the massive increase in expenditure in 2012 was the largest in PNG’s history – a

PNG I-CENTRAL Minister for State Enterprises, William Duma, was suspended from government in February this year, after it was alleged he had a beneficial interest in a lucrative land deal made with Kumul Consolidated Holdings. [1] Peter O’Neill ordered an administrative inquiry into the affair, led by John Griffin QC. [2] In a PNGi exclusive, we reveal the testimony of a senior Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC) executive, who claims the suspended Minister will potentially make a significant financial windfall from the proposed K3 billion luxury development at Paga Hill – which is said to include a 6-star hotel and potentially a casino. The high level executive claims a confidential cooperation agreement was entered into with William Duma during June 2015, by PHDC. It will see land acquired by Duma at Paga Hill, form part of this major property development – known as the Paga Hill Estate – slated to host APEC 2018. [3] PNGi will chart how William Duma came to obtain land at Paga