PNGBLOGS

by BRYAN KRAMER MP Up to 80% of sitting Members of O'Neill Government are expected to lose their seat following 2022 General Elections. Why? Corruption and mismanagement of the Economy. The last time our economy nose dived was in 1997 and 1998 under Skate PNC Government, a Government Peter O'Neill was a key adviser to. In just two years under a PNC led Government Kina plunged in value from being one and a half times stronger than Australian dollar in 1994 to less than 37 cents by end 1999. Interest rates on Government Treasury bills was as high as 24% which would normally be between 6%-9%. Lack of confidence in Skate Government also saw investors and private sector rush to send funds out of the country, concerned over the Kina fast losing its value. This caused a serious shortage in foreign currency reserves that went from US$500 million in 1996 to as low as $80 million by middle of 1999. In 1996 the debt levels were around 36% in less than one year under Skat

by YAKAN LEPAKAILI ACT NOW AND BE AN AGENT FOR CHANGE AND CHANGE THIS BAD GOVERNMENT FOR BETTER PNG - OR RECOVERY ROAD WILL BE LONG, HARD AND TOUGH. BE RESPONSIBLE LEADERS AND DON’T BE IRRESPONSIBLE.  Isaac Lupari (the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Peter O’Neil), Dairi Vele (Secretary to Treasury Department) and Loi Bakani (Governor of Central Bank of Papua New Guinea), the trio are highly educated and most learned people in this era. They are of venerating career and distinguished people revered for contributing immensely to the country’s developments. Given their expertise in the economy, since the down turn of PNG’s economy and its continued downward slide, people like Paul Flanagan of ANU projects the gloomy outlook of PNG’s economy with comprehensive comparative tables and all these analysis never been challenged. In bewilderment, what’s intriguing is, none of the above trios, in their rebuttals, had the guts to rebut line by line and graph by grap

by BRYAN KRAMER This Part 2 of a two part series providing an insight into the looming vote of no confidence (VNC) against Peter O'Neill planned by the Opposition during the current session of Parliament. Part 1 covered the constitutional and procedural process that must be followed before Parliament may consider a VNC. To recap, the Constitution (section 145) stipulates that a motion of VNC may be proposed by any member of Parliament; however it must name the next Prime Minister, be signed by no less than 12 MPs, and give no less than one week’s notice in accordance with the standing orders of Parliament. Standing Orders stipulate the notice of VNC must be delivered to the Speaker of Parliament and tabled before Private Business Committee on a Wednesday to determine the motion is of national importance. It must then be delivered to Clerk of Parliament to be listed on the Notice Paper on a Thursday sitting (Private Business Day). This article will discuss ho

by NEMO YALO*  The National (19.10.15) in its editorial labelled the Opposition’s move to bring a motion of no confidence against the Government as “premature”. Referring to the speculated motion of no confidence it opened with the line: “Has Papua New Guinea gone to the dogs?” This is a seriously preposterous and bias characterization of a healthy process of democracy. Whether a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister is tabled or not and what the outcome will be if it is voted is a matter for Parliament. What must not go unchallenged is The National’s lopsided and politically biased editorial. The editorial attempted to demonstrate balance by quoting what the Opposition and its members said in a recent press conference and then quoted the Prime Minister’s response to the Supreme Court ruling on 4 September 2015 which nullified the so-called “grace period” Constitutional amendment. The invalidated constitutional amendment granted a government 30 months i

by SAM BASIL MP, Deputy Opposition Leader The Opposition have always been critical of how Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) economy has been financially mismanaged by the O’Neill government and we still believe this, when the 2015 Pacific Games has placed a further financial burden on PNG’s economy. As Deputy Opposition Leader, I do not question that all those associated with the 2015 Pacific Games, held here in PNG, should be acknowledged for a successful event given the short time span to organise; credit must be given to all these professionals, volunteers and sponsors for their commitment and determination. But the reality check needs to occur when the Pacific Games have left PNG’s shores and we are reminded about the recession we are currently in, and the loans that the O’Neill government have exposed PNG to; both issues will be strongly denied by the O’Neill government through their media propaganda announcements. What the O’Neill government won’t tell you, is that most major s

PNG EXPOSED BLOG Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has gone on the record to complain about criticism of him and his family (see the Radio NZ report below) . “People are bitter. PNG has lost its sense of decency and it is a poison that could destroy the country” says Michael Somare. But his attempts to somehow paint himself as the victim of outside forces betray the fact that he, more than anyone else, is responsible for this sorry state of affairs. Michael Somare has been Prime Minister for the last eight years. As well as ignoring the corruption of his fellow Ministers and senior bureaucrats, he has tried to place himself and his family above the law by fighting Leadership referrals through the courts and ignoring inquiry findings. Somare and his family have enriched themsleves at the expense of ordinary Papua New Guineans and show no compassion – his K130 million private PMV is only the most obvious example.  Somare is the one that has treated Parliament with complete cont

PNG EXPOSED BLOG Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has gone on the record to complain about criticism of him and his family (see the Radio NZ report below) . “People are bitter. PNG has lost its sense of decency and it is a poison that could destroy the country” says Michael Somare. But his attempts to somehow paint himself as the victim of outside forces betray the fact that he, more than anyone else, is responsible for this sorry state of affairs. Michael Somare has been Prime Minister for the last eight years. As well as ignoring the corruption of his fellow Ministers and senior bureaucrats, he has tried to place himself and his family above the law by fighting Leadership referrals through the courts and ignoring inquiry findings. Somare and his family have enriched themsleves at the expense of ordinary Papua New Guineans and show no compassion – his K130 million private PMV is only the most obvious example.  Somare is the one that has treated Parliament with complete

OP/ED The allegations are of a plot it is alleged, by Sir Michael for police to arrest Government critic and Opposition MP Belden Namah. Mr Namah is a former minister in Sir Michael’s Cabinet who left the Government because he was part of an Opposition attempt to move a vote of no confidence in the Government. In a statement last night, Mr Namah (Vanimo/Green River MP) said the order for his arrest was over his criticisms of the government’s handling of high-profile controversies involving senior parliamentarians. Mr Namah said he was “informed” at the weekend of the highly confidential directive for his arrest. He then went on to accuse Sir Michael of using State institutions to silence leaders and citizens who dare to openly criticise the Government. Mr Namah’s allegation is very serious indeed. His allegation follows hot on the heels of activist Noel Anjo’s allegations of the Prime Minister ordering his forceful pick up by police and subsequent alleged assault by the Chief and his w

OP/ED The allegations are of a plot it is alleged, by Sir Michael for police to arrest Government critic and Opposition MP Belden Namah. Mr Namah is a former minister in Sir Michael’s Cabinet who left the Government because he was part of an Opposition attempt to move a vote of no confidence in the Government. In a statement last night, Mr Namah (Vanimo/Green River MP) said the order for his arrest was over his criticisms of the government’s handling of high-profile controversies involving senior parliamentarians. Mr Namah said he was “informed” at the weekend of the highly confidential directive for his arrest. He then went on to accuse Sir Michael of using State institutions to silence leaders and citizens who dare to openly criticise the Government. Mr Namah’s allegation is very serious indeed. His allegation follows hot on the heels of activist Noel Anjo’s allegations of the Prime Minister ordering his forceful pick up by police and subsequent alleged assault by the Chief and h