PNGBLOGS

by: Political Insider An annulment of an insolvency adjudication means just that - the insolvency order should never have been made in the first place. Why has there been an annulment in Bari Palma’s case? Bari Palme was ordered to pay the taxed court case costs after he lost an election petition. The costs went to taxation (like a checking of costs) before the registrar. The winner had claimed approximately k600,000.00 in legal costs. The deputy registrar checked it and reduced the amount to about K271,000. Then Bari Palma applied to the National court for a review of the taxation - which is his right under law. Therefore, whilst this national court review was on foot and whilst the actual amount owed hasn’t been finally determined - the winner started insolvency proceedings against Bari Palma. Now insolvency proceedings should only be commenced when the amount owed uncertain and fixed - that is called a “liquidated” amount in legal speak. However, the winner went ahead - and Bari

In October 2020, a very important event took place. David Towe became the new Chief Commissioner for PNG Customs. There were 3 candidates shortlisted for this position. Two of the other candidates were long time customs PNG staffs with decades of experience. And David Towe? He's a manager with British American Tobacco (BAT). According to treasurer Ling Stuckey, David Towe is the most qualified and appointed based on MERIT ( https://www.thenational.com.pg/cabinet-appoints-customs.../ ) This is the most blatant conflict of interest I have ever seen. You take the senior manager of one of the largest taxpaying company in PNG. And make him the head of customs, who is in charge of collecting taxes. That's like saying- Borneo Pacific CEO is the best person to lead the Health Department. RH is most qualified to be in charge of Forestry. RD Tuna's owner should be the managing director of Fisheries. MCC is most qualified to run the Mining Department In fact, why not let Joe Chan (In

The Director of National Fraud & Anti-Corruption was arrested this morning in regard to the Controversial Manumanu Land Deal which was closed by the former Police Commissioner, Mr Gari Baki based on Mathew Damaru’s advise that there was no Criminality in the payment of K46.6 million to a paper company, namely Kurkuramb Estate Ltd in 2016. Mr Damaru and his team of investigators did not do a thorough investigation so the case was re-opened again by the current Police Commissioner in 2019. Another group of investigators from the CID Boroko re-investigated the case and found very incriminating documental evidence and so arrested the Assistant Valuer-General (AVG) of Lands. The original value of Portion 406 was valued at K25 million but the AVG inflated the value up to K46.6 million due to political pressure from the Defence Minister then. The Prime Minister, William  Duma and Bryan Kramer today pressured the Police Commissioner to stop the arrest of Mr Mathew Damaru because it will le

by PAUL AMATIO To Our Parliamentarians in the Both Camp My Honorable Leaders: You all know that one night at Loloata or Crowne Plaza costs in excess of K700 per night. Neither the food nor drinks are cheap also. If this camping exercise is coming from your pockets, then that’s fine. But if it is at the expense of the national coffers, you have some explaining to do. I mean, 50 x 700= K35, 000 per night (excluding the baggage and meals) and for 30 days, that is way over K1 million already that you are costing this nation. Is that prudent and responsible management of this nation’s finances? This is still a blatant abuse of scarce resources. The Courts have deliberated and handed their ruling. Whether we agree with it or not is for the lawyers and advisors and others to take up. The important thing from this Court case is that a date was set for parliament to resume and carry on with the business of running this country. This means getting on with passing the budget and managing the nati

By Political Insider What can a Government do in this time left before the General Elections? In fact, a lot can be done. In 1999 Sir Mekere Morauta took over from an erratic Sir Willam Skate and set about reforms that set the country up for a decade of political stability and economic growth. This is what is needed right now in the time left before the 2022 General Elections. We need a government that will steady the ship and establish sound economic policies that will ensure security and prosperity for our people. The Marape Government has made some breakthrough decisions and also passed good laws in the resources sector. However, the Opposition highlighted its concern of some of its more erratic decisions and its inability to negotiate and make sound decisions, when considering the effects of a global pandemic. The Opposition is right to question the Government. That is its duty, decreed by the Constitution and the adopted Westminster System of Government of Papua New Guinea. The po

By David Lepi  Those who could still remember the Sandline Crises, an event that shook Papua New Guinea in 1997, may also remember the heroes who stood up to the call.  They say history remembers kings and not soldiers but among those brave men one soldier, arguably an unsung hero, worth mentioning is Captain Belden Namah of the Papua New Defense Force.  A student studying at the University of Papua New Guinea at that time recalls in a published article supported by Phil Fitzpatrick Writing Fellowship, "..there were five defence force officers heading the protest: Major Walter Enuma; Captain Bola Renagi; Captain Belden Namah; Lieutenant Michael David; and Second Lieutenant Linus Osaba." "These soldiers played a crucial role in stopping the mercenaries from going to Bougainville to kill and murder the BRA high command." "Every time Namah took the podium in his full military regalia to deliver a speech he looked like the Napoleon Bonaparte that we had read about

by HONK KIAP The current political crises bring out the best of Papua New Guineans. Leaders of different arenas, experts of industries, masters of law and time tested skilled and experienced businessmen including policy drivers in Government bureaucracy. When all seem well and nothing eventful happens we continue our lives as if nothing is wrong even when we see it happening right under our nose. We ignore it to avoid compromising our affiliation, relationships and allegiance. The last three weeks had brought out the best in our country with some of the best suggestions, advice and propositions to doing the right things to Take Back PNG.  Fair enough but from whom are we going to Take Back PNG. ??? Are we serious enough   ??? Where do we start and when do we start  ??? With whom do we start   ??? How emotional do we get when it comes to us talking about being a Papua New Guinean. How often you cry when the PNG flag is raised or the National Anthem is sung.??? Put yourself in a crowd of

by A Concerned Western Highlander The Western Highlands Development Corporation is the business arm of the Western Highlands Provincial Government and is owned by the Western Highlands Provincial Government (WHPG) and a company called, Western Highlands Schools Foundation Limited (WHSFL). The WHPG which represents the 500,000 plus inhabitants of the Western Highlands Province owns 91202 shares in the company while WHSFL owns 136803 shares in the WHDC. WHSFL owns 60 % of WHDC while WHPG owns 40 %.  WHSFL has one director and shareholder by the name of  David Sove who lives in Malolo Estate in Port Moresby North-East Electorate, 8 Mile, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. The business arm of Western Highlands Provincial Government is owned by the people of Western Highlands Province ( 40 %) and this individual, David Sove, who owns 60 % of the company. Apparently, the Kapal Haus rentals are paid to WHDC along with all other rentals and proceeds from assets and various business d

by HONK KIAP The current Parliamentary Crises has put our country in dire straits of economic turmoil. It is a situation that has not begun overnight but a culmination of events in the 45 years of independence of our young nation.  Political indifferences among our leaders have existed even before Independence and to Independence up until now. I  guess that is the essence of a Democracy to have differing views in our effort to balancing the political management of our young diverse nation.  What intrigues me most is the fact that we're one of the world's most diverse nation on earth with well over eight hundred different languages, two thousand plus different dialects and hundreds of different ethnic groupings and cultures but we are uniquely united as one people and one country. This unity must be protected at all cost by our leaders both in Government and the Opposition. Look around the world, no black country has ever exceeded 30 years of Independence and we've gone past