PNGBLOGS

by PAUL AMATIO To Secure Convictions, Satisfy Public Indignation or Just Going Through The Motions? The recent Waigani Committal Court decision by Magistrate Ernest Wilmot must now be seen as a matter of national interest because it involved the alleged abuse of K80 millions of public funds – money that this country can ill afford to squander, impinged on the reputations of those charged and implicated and also on those who investigated the allegations and made the arrests. The costs of the investigation itself would come close to several million as well, I suspect. The learned magistrate cited “abuse of process” as the reason for dismissing the entire 22 charges. So this means that in not a single of these 22 charges did the investigators fail to abuse the process. It would have been enlightening indeed if His Worship had made mention of exactly what process was abused or how the abuse of process occurred. I suppose we will have to find out if and when this matter is appealed. We are

by GOVERNMENT INSIDER Isaac Lupari has recently become the Chairman of Public Debt Committee,(PDC), their core function is to manage the cashflow of the country. PDC is made up of Treasury Management(Chairman), Finance Management and Bank of PNG. PM's Dept is not suppose to interfere with the operation of Treasury management. The responsibilities to raise revenue and expenditure lies with the treasury IRC, Customs and Finance according to the constitutional functions of these institutions. Never in the history of this country a Chief Secretary becomes the Chairman and manipulate the cash flow management of the country, that means, Isaac Lupari is a superfluous who is hell bent on destroying  the core functions of these constitutional institutions and politically compromise the prudential fiscal management and governance of established government institutions. Does this show that the Governor of the Central Bank, Secretaries for Treasury and Finance and their Management t

NO MORE EXCUSES FOR THE PRIME MINISTER On Tuesday April 5, 2016, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said: “We all know who are the real financial beneficiaries of the Paraka transactions. “I look forward to the facts seeing the light of day on this issue.” He now has a duty to go to the police and submit to an interview on Parakagate to provide them with these facts. His failure to do opens the way for him to be charged with further very serious criminal offences (see below). It insults the Office of the Prime Minister and the people of Papua New Guinea. NO MORE LIES. NO MORE DELAYS. Opposition Leader Don Polye voluntarily went to the police to tell them what he knows about Parakagate. He has done his duty as a law-abiding citizen. Every other law-abiding citizen in the country would do the same. So should the Prime Minister. WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE PRIME MINISTER? There is nothing special about the Prime Minister. He has no more rights than any other citizen. He should behave like any

by JAMES MARAPE MP Good evening all who are friends with me on FB. My last FB post was in my disgust in the manner in which Paul Paraka Lawyers (PP lawyers) without conscience to the harm they do to name and reputation of others continue to bring in questionable claims for settlement by State. Today ( 1st of March 2016) PP lawyers asks me to apologize and withdraw the statement I wrote on the basis that they had secretly without many of us knowing, had a Supreme Court order of 11 July 2014, in the decision of their 2006/2007 matter against state ( SCR 15 of 2006 and SCR 3 of 2007). His letter reminded me and I quote him " Order # 3 all persons or parties connected directly or indirect in respect of all matters emanating or arising from the investigation and disputes over the PP legal bills, including those involved in the relevant court proceedings, police investigations and members of the public at large are restrained and prohibited from making or publishing any m

by BRYAN KRAMER Both the Post Courier and National newspapers published prominent articles last week (22/1/16) that the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, had been bestowed with the "prestigious" fellow membership award of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) of Australia. The Post Courier ran the headline "O’Neill bestowed with prestigious award" while the National published "O'Neill awarded for economic input". The story originated from a press statement released by the Prime Minister's office announcing ICMA to be a well-recognised institute which is associated with the Jubilee University of Papua New Guinea. O'Neill was presented the award after being nominated by former Finance Secretary Thaddeus Kambanei the now head of Jubilee University. Mr Kambanei nominated Mr. O'Neill in recognition of "…the valuable work he has done furthering the economy of PNG and for his support to the accounting profession through

by CHARLES K MARKOP Politics is an art and if you master it well, you can maximise your gains. The front page coverage by Post Courier, released after 3 weeks of the actual event, tells many stories. Here, former Prime Minister and currently governor of Wester Highlands Province Hon Paias Wingti (PW) is openly commending that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill (PO) is doing well and he (PW) is optimistic about PNGs future under O’Neill’s leadership.  The unholy alliance between PW and PO has a rich history. PO, apart from being a Bill Skate and PNC man, was one of those persons including the Maladinas who lived off Wingti. In 2002, PW orchestrated PO’s first election victory when he (PW) mobilised his men to destroy Roy Yaki’s (MP for Ialibu Pangia at that time) ballot boxes in Nebilyer towards Southern Highlands border.  In the 2012 elections, it is open secret that Ben Micah, through his relative Ken Kaiya (Government Printer), organised extra ballot papers for PW, PO and Mic

Supreme Court today dismissed the appeal by Minister of Finance James Marape challenging an earlier decision allowing Director of National Fraud & Anti-Corruption join the Supreme Court proceedings that issued a interim injunction against Marape and Prime Minister's arrest. Marape's appeal to remove Damaru and Gitua was supported by the Prime Minister, Commissioner of Police and Attorney General and Paraka Lawyers. Damaru and Gitua were granted leave (permission) in March 2015 by Supreme Court Judge Terrence Higgins. Supreme Court proceedings were initiated by Marape challenging an earlier decision by the National Court in July 2014 refusing Prime Minister and Marape's application seeking an interim stay order from the Court preventing Police from arresting them in relation to fraudulent payments to Paraka Lawyers. After filing the SC proceedings Marape and Prime Minister then moved a further application asking SC to stay their arrest until the SC determines their app