A REPLY TO MINISTER GORE

Boldface comments below are some common sense responses to the OHE press release on Unitech Saga issued by Minister Gore on Thursday, 13 March.
Media Release. Hon. Ms. Delilah Gore, MP, Minister for Higher Education, research Science and Technology
STUDENTS' ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS AT THE PNG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN LAE
The action of the students at the PNG University of Technology (UNITECH) in closing down the administration including the ushering of the Acting Vice Chancellor out from his office is unbecoming of future leaders of this country. Such behaviour is unprecedented in Papua New Guinea and Universities around the world. What the nation saw can be best described as a shameful act, not reflective of the nation's core value and respect for the Rule of Law.
[Reply to Minister Gore:  WRONG.  Aa uni students, former PM Wingti, Don Polye, and many other PNG leaders were student activists and strike promoters.   At universities around the world, student activism is a tradition especially at the finest institutions. Arab spring revolutions were often initiated through campus protests.]
This deplorable action therefore must be condemned by every law abiding citizen, including the parents, guardians and sponsors of these students. Their actions is a direct breach of academic decorum and code of ethics, which are prescribed in the University by Laws and Statues.
[Reply to Minister Gore:   WRONG.  Mandela.  Martin Luther King, Mao Tse Tung, Gandhi, all broke the law in the name of justice just like what students are doing (bringing back a proven effective innocent man, Albert Schram) and to get a decent education. Civil disobedience is amongst the highest forms of law breaking.  Do you find that deplorable?]
Under these Laws and Status, students must conduct themselves appropriately by respecting faculty members and fellow students. Surely the ongoing actions and behaviour of students at UNITECH are disrespectful to their own parents, sponsors, the community and the country as a whole.
[Reply to Minister Gore:    WRONG.   Reports from Unitech staff indicate few problems.  If any staff were not treated with much respect it would likely be Unitech administrators whose own behaviour and actions over the past weeks have been deplorable.  This would include Acting VC John Pumwa].
Since assuming office as the Minister responsible for higher education institutions in the country, I have given this issues the highest priority it deserves. I have engaged in consultation with all stakeholders including the former Council, current Interim Council, management and members of the student body to find an amicable solution to the issue. At this stage, this consultation process is continuing and I will be bringing to Cabinet a Submission with my recommendations to the Government for its consideration.
[Reply to Minister Gore:    WRONG.  In PNG, the last people to be believed are politicians, especially when they make any promises of taking fast action. They never do.  The only thing that talks is action itself.  Unless you release the minutes of your ‘consultations’ we must assume those consultations have little substance.  Consultations should have been done long ago, it’s too late for Unitech but maybe you should start consultations with stakeholders at other public universities because those students are on the path to blowing up]   
Whilst his process is in motion, I have appealed to the students to return to class – and again I wish to encourage students to return to class
[Reply to Minister Gore:    YOU DON’T GET IT.   The main reason why you are in office is because student  activism helped boot out Arore.  The reason why you are making solving the Unitech saga a top priority is only because of student activism pressure.  You should be thanking the students for lighting a fire under your bum and if they go back to class you know that Unitech will drop from your mind].   
Your education must be your number one priority because education is the key to your future. I am sure your parents, who have worked hard and even sacrificed their own welfare for you to have a better future, will not accept such unruly behaviour. You owe it to your parent, guardians, sponsor, and our country to return to class.
[Reply to Minister Gore:  WRONG.  The behaviour is no more unruly than what Martin Luther King did in the name of justice.  Students are making it clear on social media that education is their top priority too.  That’s why they are boycotting.  Minister, please stop asking the students to be self centred and selfish, thinking only about their education and their future jobs.  That’s not very Christian.  PNG’s public universities declined greatly since independence  because too many students focused selfishly on their studies and didn’t look around at what was happening to the institutions themselves.  Thank the good Lord that these students are sacrificing forthe benefit of all public uni students in PNG, now and later. Minister Gore your government needs to stop the talk and start writing a big cheque to Unitech, UPNG, UOG and UNRE to bring them up to the level of Divine Word and higher.  Read your OHE’s own Garnaut-Namaliu report if you don’t believe how bad PNG’s public universities have become ]    
As I stated in my previous media statement, My Ministry is unable to act on the Students' Petition because of two legal challenges institute by the former Council and Albert Schram, which restraint the Government, particularly the Minister responsible for higher education from taking any corrective actions.
[Reply to Minister Gore:   DECEPTION AT WORK?  Your statement is too vague.  In any case, your government has never been restrained too much by laws or legal challenges.  Remember that Peter O’Neill first became Prime Minister by ignoring the Supreme Court ruling that said Sir Michael Somare was the legitimate prime minister.  Our PM taught us to ignore any laws we don’t like.  Since when did your government stop using ‘creative legal solutions’ to quickly solve problems?   All Peter O’Neill has to do is issue a directive for Albert Schram’s work visa to be approved and the problem is solved.  That’s easy for a decisive leader like Peter O’Neill to do].
As soon as these legal proceedings and consultation are concluded, the Ministry will recommend to the Government to take the following measures:
  1. Immediately appoint a Permanent Council as per the University of Technology Act, 1986;
[Reply to Minister Gore:  WRONG.  If you really want to do things legally, first pass amendments to the University of Technology Act 1986 in parliament.  Currently there is no provision for removing a previous council and appointing a new one]
  1. The New council will immediately advertise the position of Vice Chancellor, which will be opened to all interested applicants, including Dr. Albert Schram;
[Reply to Minister Gore:  DECEPTION AT WORK?   The Sevua report says that Schram was hired through a fair process.  Why are you ignoring that?   The government fears Schram because he is honest, straightforward and does not hide secrets as the Stagg/Saulep council were hoping.  Minister we suspect that you secretly want a bureaucrat style VC with no leadership abilities or vision who won’t challenge the reality of PNG’s decrepit universities].
The recruitment and selection will be undertaken by an Independent Human Resource Company, preferably an International HR firm;
[Reply to Minister Gore:  NOT BELIEVABLE.   Unfortunately OHE has a bad record of not being transparent on Unitech Saga.  What exactly is OHE’s problem with Albert Schram,  please tok stret! ]
  1. Issues of Governance, including those arising form the Mediation and the Sevua Investigation Report will be implemented through a specially established task force;
[Reply to Minister Gore:    NOT BELIEVABLE.   Academics, staff and students at Unitech generally seem to feel that HERST has a hidden agenda to allow corrupt Unitech staff to get off without punishment.  Your own government employs the disgraced former VC Misty Baloiloi as a consultant and is seen moving in and out of the Prime Minister’s building.  We also see the disgraced former Unitech professor Narayan Gehlot walking around Waigani office buildings]
  1. The Ministry has already instituted the review of the Higher Education Act of 1984, which will soon be presented to the Government aimed at reduction the size and duration of the terms of office of University Councils, and the appointment of Vice Chancellors;
  2. All state Universities have either completed or are completing external institutional quality audits reference to international standards with recommendations soon to be present to Government; and
[Reply to Minister Gore:   UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION.  Anyone with common sense can see that the students most pressing needs must be addressed now.  All it takes is for the government to write a cheque tomorrow to buy 10,000 new books for the library, 500 new computers for student and staff, refurbished labs in the engineering departments and other locations, a refurbished mess and dormitories to put things back on track.  If that costs K30 million, that’s nothing compared to the kickback style construction contracts that all the con artist MPs and their business sidekicks are rushing to get their hands into right now in PNG.  Obviously VC Schram would ensure that money allocated to Unitech was properly spent and not all wasted in corrupt kickback payments]
  1. The Sevua Report will be tabled in the May Session of Parliament although some of its recommendations are not conclusive especially on Dr. Albert Schram
[Reply to Minister Gore:  WRONG.  If you will read carefully you will note that the Sevua report ends with a list of very clear recommendations.  Not one of those recommendations advises any action with respect to Dr Schram. The body of the report vindicates him from all alleged wrongdoings .  Obviously that means bringing back Dr Schram and letting him serve his term as VC.  Minister, you said the authority of the Unitech Council must be respected.  That council fully endorses Albert Schram coming back and resuming his residency at Unitech. Practice what you preach! ]
With these actions, all concerns raised by students and general public of the management of our Universities including University of Technology will be adequately addressed. I am 100% committed to reform in the higher education sector and you can be guaranteed that with the support of the Prime Minister, the Government will ensure our Universities attain International Status.
[Reply to Minister Gore:     NOT BELIEVABLE.   This is not to put you down, but understand that everyone associated with the HERST ministry has no believability.  Words are cheap]
I am now making my FINAL APPEAL to students to immediately return to class. Failing that, I will be left wit not option but to recommend to the National Executive Council to declare a State of Emergency at the Campus and closure of the 2014 Academic year.
[Reply to Minister Gore:  NOT BELIEVABLE.   Reports from Unitech indicate that staff and students already figured out that it will be a financial and logistical disaster for your government to close down school for 2014.   Even you understand that if you follow through, you will create a mess for yourself of thousands of screaming parents who learn the truth as soon as their children return home.   Unitech staff know that contractually they must be paid whether or not students are present and would love the time off.  Students know of the enrolment mess this will create as a new group of students come on line after Grade 12 graduation. A state of emergency declared against nonviolent protesting students will finally make the Unitech story a world issue and thank God for that]
The press Release is Authorised by:
Hon. Ms. Delilah Gore, MP
Minster for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

Popular posts from this blog

HIGHLANDS FRAUD F*CKS RUNNING GOVERNMENT AGENCY,,,

Image
A Fraudster and unqualified person has been shortlisted for NEC submission for the position of CEPA Managing Director. The candidate in question is Jude Tukulyia. His academic credentials are subject to scrutiny. Further investigation is required to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of his qualifications, particularly the reported diploma in accounting, Bachelor of Laws, MBA from Divine Word and UPNG respectively. It is very suspicious and unprofessional  when the Minister for Environment Conservation and Climate Change, Hon Simo Kilepa, wrote to UPNG Vice Chancellor asking to confirm Jude’s questioned education qualifications. This very due diligence work is the core responsibility of the Public Service Commission and Department of Personnel Management. What authority does the portfolio minister have to write to the Universities? Dumbfounding indeed if one asks. Ulterior motives written all over the letter. This amounts to  Questionable Academic Qualifications of Mr Tukulyia.    
Read more

MARAPE & PAITA ABOUT TO SIGN AWAY PNG GOLD

Image
By: Andrew Arthur Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and his planning minister Reinbo Paita are the parties behind the theft of all Papua New Guinea’s gold for the next 100 years! They have given approval for the STATE of Papua New Guinea to sign away all gold rights to an Australian paper company in Refinery Holdings PTE LTD. First, they have done the deal with a paper company even before there is a LAW that says they have the right to do the deal. We see how the real manipulation works out. Marape and Paita now need to get the law passed by Parliament. The law is before the Parliament to set up Papua New Guinea’s first National Gold Corporation. The National Gold Corporation Bill first surfaced in 2012 but successive Government of Sir Michael Somare and Hon. Peter O’Neill, in their wisdom, had refused to pass this Bill as there have been some sinister motives and constitutional issues associated with the Bill. The new bill will allow Refinery Holdings LTD PTE to own 70% of the National
Read more

AUGUSTINE MANO PNG'S PREMIER CORPORATE CROOK

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN In a significant setback for Mineral Resources Development Corporation (MRDC), the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has dismissed the company's appeal to stop criminal investigations into its dealings with landowner funds held in the Pacific Balance Fund (PBF). The court ruled that MRDC's appeal was an "abuse of process" and ordered the company to pay costs of the proceedings. MRDC, a unit holder in PBF, had taken legal action against the National Court's decision to dismiss its case, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. However, the Supreme Court disagreed and held that MRDC's appeal was nothing more than an attempt to interfere with the police's criminal investigative process. The court found that MRDC had no authority to conducted its own investigation into the activities of the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited (MTSL), the fund manager of PBF, and that its actions were in violation of the Trust Deed
Read more

PNG, VERY RICH YET STILL A VERY VERY POOR COUNTRY

Image
by GARY MONDULAME Papua New Guinea (PNG), a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with economic challenges that belie its potential wealth. The nation's economic narrative is a paradox—rich in resources yet burdened by poverty. The explanation for this paradox lies not only in economic mismanagement but also in deep-seated corruption that has permeated the political landscape since independence in 1975. Following its independence from Australia, PNG was entrusted to leaders who lacked a vision for a holistic national development. This absence of foresight is evident from the lack of long-term development plans that could have distributed the country’s wealth fairly across all regions and communities. Successive governments failed to establish foundational strategies such as building satellite townships or creating robust rural housing schemes. Instead, they resorted to short-term, reactive measures that did not foster sustainable growth. The nascent l
Read more

James Marape's Missteps Openly Exposed at Australian Forum

Image
by  MICHAEL J. PASSINGAN  In a recent event that highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy and governance, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, faced a challenging situation during his appearance at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia. The Lowy Institute, known for its role as an independent think tank focusing on international policy, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, provided a platform for a candid assessment of Marape's governance. Following his formal address, Marape engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Michael Fullilove AM, the Executive Director of the Institute. Dr. Fullilove, a respected figure in public and international policy, scrutinized Marape's past promises and statements, contrasting them with the current state of affairs in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The discussion took a critical turn as Dr. Fullilove revisited Marape's 2019 speech at the same venue, where Marape had outlined his vision for PNG in a speech titled “A New Boo
Read more

A Call for Local Ownership and Fairness

Image
by JUSTIN PARKER In recent discussions surrounding the establishment of a gold refinery in Papua New Guinea (PNG), concerns have been raised regarding various aspects of the proposed project. Spearheaded by foreign investors, the initiative has sparked debates over ownership, exclusivity, tax concessions, underwriting, management rights, control over currency, legal protections, and historical failures. These concerns, if unaddressed, could potentially undermine the interests of PNG and its people, particularly the hardworking alluvial miners who form the backbone of the nation's mining sector. At the heart of the issue lies the question of ownership. The proposed ownership structure, favoring foreign investors with a substantial 70% stake, raises eyebrows, especially considering PNG's past experiences with failed ventures like seabed mining. Instead of ceding majority control to foreign entities, many argue that PNG should assert full ownership over the refinery. With the coun
Read more

BLIND LEADING THE BLIND, WHY THE PNG ECONOMY STILL SUCKS

Image
Elizabeth Genia, Acting Governor Bank of PNG (BPNG) by MICHAEL JOSEPH PASSINGAN The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is at a crucial juncture. Despite some signs of recovery, the country faces several structural challenges that continue to impede its economic progress. The March 2024 Monetary Policy Statement from the Bank of Papua New Guinea sheds light on these issues, providing a comprehensive overview of the economic landscape and the policy responses being implemented to navigate through these turbulent times. In 2023, PNG's economy grew by a modest 1.4%, a significant slowdown from the 5.2% growth witnessed in 2022. This tepid growth is largely attributed to delays in major projects and ongoing economic issues that have not been fully resolved. The anticipated growth for 2024 is around 3.0%, buoyed by the resumption of production at the Porgera gold mine. While this marks an improvement, it remains subdued compared to the potential of this resource-rich nation. One of the mo
Read more