PNGBLOGS

by DAVID KAWAGE So much has been left to be desired for PANGU's hasty election victories in HELA. Tari Pori, Komo Hulia, Magarima and HELA Regional. The highly contested question is; Is the United Resource Party Member elected Hon. William Bando triumph a genuine win for the Party? There are a lot of unanswered questions floating around. Why are 12 boxes disputed not counted? Why is the newly elected Member without even consulting his URP Party Leader William Duma suddenly moved into the PANGU camp? Zooming down and widening the space surrounding these election victories in HELA, it is noticeable that the aim of Prime Minister James Marape is to form an immovable HELA team. Who is William Bando? MP Bando is the maiden Provincial Administrator for Hela and was instrumental in building HELA to where it is today. He is a household name and a big Kwila in Hela, if he loses, he has the potential to divide Hela and cause instability in Hela politics. The win for Koroba Kopiago is undenia

The real reason Marape went to China is to get loan and ask China to back him for the election this year. Yes for China to back Marape not Pangu or his government partners because he does not trust many of the MPs after the blocking of the budget last year when government MPs crossed over to opposition which forced government and opposition into two camps in Vanimo and Loloata Island. Marape misled PNG and international agencies and governments about visiting China and France.  The so called visit to France was to created the impression Marape was on a world trip to visit  global powers on official state visit. France trip was never ever going to happen. Marape is a pathological liar. PNG must never trust this con man. He said on TV before his trip to China saying, " don't worry PNG we are not going to get more loans, I am invited by President of China to witness the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony." We know the Covid case reported in China too was cooked up, it was not

by JACK KEGALP Samson seems to be playing both sides of politics to further his own personal and political ambitions.  On the one hand, he is pushing the Marape/Basil Government to support his "crowdfunding" movement where he has been literally "begging" and even to some extent "forcing" various individuals and businesses houses to make pledges and contribute money upwards of K10,000 each towards this cause. On the other hand, he has been seen dining and getting drunk with former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill at various locations in Port Moresby. The most recent one was over the weekend at O'Neill's Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Port Moresby. Samson himself has his own political ambitions for the Western Highlands Regional Seat which he contested and lost to Paias Wingti in the 2017 elections, and which he is no doubt contesting again in 2022. This then begs the question of whether he is genuinely trying to do something good for Papua New Guine

by JACK TOAPELIS Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has broken his promise to PNG LNG landowners to support their purchase of 4.27% equity in the project. A leaked policy submission by the Prime Minister, Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch and Finance Minister Jame Marape says landowners will have to go it alone and raise their own funds to buy the equity. The Prime Minister had previously agreed to debt financing by NPCP/Kumul Petroleum for the landowners so they could pay for their equity. This promise was effected in NEC decision 208 of 2015 – now the Prime Minister wants to rescind that decision through his new policy submission. Virtually all the recommendations in the Prime Minister’s submission are in breach of the 2009 Kokopo Umbrella Benefit-Sharing Agreement. Indeed the O’Neill Government has always been in breach of the Kokopo UBSA, notably in making agreed payments to the UBSA participants. As Sir Michael Somare said in a statement late last year:  “This g

Breaking News: Supreme Court Discharges Orders Preventing the Arrest of Peter O'Neill and James Marape. In a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court this morning, the Supreme Court dismissed the Appeal by James Marape and further discharged restraining orders preventing the arrest of O'Neill and Marape in relation to payments made to Paraka Lawyers. In this Appeal, James Marape filed taxation proceedings and used it to prevent the arrest of himself and O'Neill. The Supreme Court earlier issued blanket restraining orders against Police from arresting O'Neill, Marape and their lawyers/agents etc. This morning, the Supreme Court unanimously (all three members :- Hartshorne, Makail and Sawong) ruled that the Originating Summons does not raise any allegation that Police and members of Task-Force Sweep had abused the process or compromised their position in effecting the arrest. There is no claim that the Police are seeking to prevent the taxation proceeedings either