PNGBLOGS

by FREEDOM HOUSE   The Political Rights rating declined from 3 to 4 due to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s increasingly autocratic leadership style, including his disbanding of an anticorruption task force after he became subject of a corruption investigation. Overview:  In January 2014, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and other lawmakers faced allegations of wrongdoing involving $28 million in government fees paid to a private law firm. Taskforce Sweep, O’Neill’s special anticorruption investigation body, first concluded the allegations were unfounded, but later said new evidence supported an arrest warrant for O’Neill. Following this development, O’Neill declared Taskforce Sweep to be politically compromised and disbanded the group in June, putting the police in charge of the investigation. Acting Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki was arrested soon afterward by fraud investigators for interfering with the course of justice in relation to the case against O’Neil

PNGEXPOSED The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, has recently published an information sheet about its support for the development of Special Economic Zones in Papua New Guinea. The information sheet concludes with remarks about the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang. “Is IFC involved with the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone? No” says the information sheet Then, to make it quite clear, it reiterates “IFC has not been involved with any of the arrangements for the PMIZ.” This is a far cry from the information the  IFC was putting out in June 2009 when it confidently declared its SEZ strategy for PNG… will also address the government’s plan to establish the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone promoting investment in onshore processing of regionally caught tuna.  The project made an important step forward yesterday when the PMIZ project’s National Management Committee and Technical Working Group, along with IFC representatives and members of t

PNGEXPOSED The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, has recently published an information sheet about its support for the development of Special Economic Zones in Papua New Guinea. The information sheet concludes with remarks about the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang. “Is IFC involved with the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone? No” says the information sheet Then, to make it quite clear, it reiterates “IFC has not been involved with any of the arrangements for the PMIZ.” This is a far cry from the information the  IFC was putting out in June 2009 when it confidently declared its SEZ strategy for PNG… will also address the government’s plan to establish the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone promoting investment in onshore processing of regionally caught tuna.  The project made an important step forward yesterday when the PMIZ project’s National Management Committee and Technical Working Group, along with IFC representatives and members of

PNGEXPOSED British High Commissioner David Dunn  hands over anti-corruption funds in front of NPF fraudster Peter O'Neill The British High Commission in Papua New Guinea has undermined the fight against corruption in the Pacific island nation by sharing an anti-corruption stage with National Provident Fund fraudster Peter O’Neill. British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, David Dunn, said the UK government was pleased to be able to share the stage with Finance Minister O’Neill and endorse his efforts to steal from the people of PNG. Peter O’Neill was implicated in major fraud by the Commission of Inquiry into the National Provident Fund and recommended for prosecution. He now provides concrete advice, best practice and support to more than 100 like minded leaders who have decided to profit from corruption. “Ensuring that the PNG government is un-transparent, unfair and an unequal playing field is critical for the future development of corruption,” said David Dunn. Supporting k

PNGEXPOSED British High Commissioner David Dunn  hands over anti-corruption funds in front of NPF fraudster Peter O'Neill The British High Commission in Papua New Guinea has undermined the fight against corruption in the Pacific island nation by sharing an anti-corruption stage with National Provident Fund fraudster Peter O’Neill. British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, David Dunn, said the UK government was pleased to be able to share the stage with Finance Minister O’Neill and endorse his efforts to steal from the people of PNG. Peter O’Neill was implicated in major fraud by the Commission of Inquiry into the National Provident Fund and recommended for prosecution. He now provides concrete advice, best practice and support to more than 100 like minded leaders who have decided to profit from corruption. “Ensuring that the PNG government is un-transparent, unfair and an unequal playing field is critical for the future development of corruption,” said David Dunn. Sup