Papua New Guinea is an Island Country of the Melanesian Spear Head Group of countries. It's government is Democracy and the language is Tok Pisin/Pidgin spoken all across the country. However, there are almost about 800 different tribal languages or dialects. Tok Pisin/Pidgin is the main medium of communication, however, English has become the main communication link in professional sectors of the working communities.
The country's head of state is the Prime Minister and followed by his cabinet ministers with mandated portfolio and then the Opposition cabinet in the Parliament. The Queen of England is the head of the Commonwealth, which Papua New Guinea is a part of it. Therefore, a Governor General represents the Queen in the country. The Judiciary and Justice of the country is headed by the Chief Judge.
There are 109 elected members of the parliament that represents their individual electorates and or province. The country is made up of 21 provinces therefore out of the 109 elected members of the parliament are 21 governors. And 88 are elected members of different electorates. The Government is formed by coalition partners of parties automatically the leader of the leading party becomes the head of state, called Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then uses his discretion to appoint his deputy and distribute the portfolios to other cabinet members. The losing parties are definitely the Oppositions, which the leader of Opposition is the head of the party with the highest candidates.
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Sir Michael back as prime minister
Source:
The National- Tuesday, January 18, 2011
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare, who voluntarily stepped aside following his referral and pending appointment of a leadership tribunal, resumed duties at 1.30pm yesterday.
The National had been told that a number of high-level meetings were conducted last weekend amid pressure from the ruling party executives.
With the prime minister back in his office, it was presumed safe for the government to go to the polls next year after getting National Alliance party matters resolved and knowing that they were intact.
Prime Minister’s chief of staff Paul Bengo said in a short statement yesterday that Sir Michael officially resumed at 1.30pm after almost five weeks holidaying since Dec 10 last year.
He stated that after almost 40 years in Parliament, Sir Michael had outstanding incurred leave which he had decided to take late last year and for a duration of five weeks; and he had decided to resume duties yesterday.
Bengo said Sir Michael’s first duty after resuming office included calling on the new governor-general, Michael Ogio, a briefing by acting Prime Minister Sam Abal and he later chaired a special national executive council meeting yesterday afternoon.
He said the prime minister would also officiate at the opening of the new Wewak town market and jetty projects jointly funded by the PNG and Japanese governments later this week.
A new police post would also be opened.
However, Bengo did not go into any of the power play meetings held last weekend or the high-profiled ministerial meetings understood to have taken place.
The media was advised of a conference yesterday but that was later cancelled with no reasons given.
Bengo, when asked of a possible cabinet reshuffle, responded that there was no need for any major reshuffle with just one vacancy in existence, which is the ministry of higher education, science and technology.
The ministry was vacated by Ogio after he was elected as the ninth governor-general of Papua New Guinea by parliament last Friday.
However, with the parliament adjourned to May, it was likely that the new governor-general would have to wait until then to be sworn in and depart for London to meet the queen.
According to legal sources, Speaker Jeffrey Nape would be acting governor-general while Francis Marus would remain as acting speaker until the swearing-in of Ogio.
The Justice of the country is probably lacking disciplined and honest leadership as well when the powers of the nation has been abused there has never been a prompt response to tackle the corrupt practices. Now the people of PNG are watching upon the Chief Judge to appoint the Leadership Tribunal to hear the case against Somare's breaches in office. It is a issues now with the other four major cases still pending or never been made review over them. The judges of the National and Supreme Court Judges themselves aren't sure of these unheard cases.
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By JEFFREY ELAPA
NIPA district in the Southern Highlands is experiencing major development as locals engage in business and sporting activities.
One of the biggest development is the investment of K1.3 million Wemso Lodge and Tours, a subsidiary of Haren travel services, a company based in Port Moresby, with branches in Mt Hagen, Goroka, Mendi and Lae.
Managing director Kol Toki said that the district is now peaceful as people venture into business activities while the youths are actively engaged in sports.
He said with peace established, he had built a lodge for visitors to come and experience village life while providing employment for the locals who can then improve their lifestyle.
He said he aims to further strengthen and establish peace in the community as people would take ownership as in community development.
He said such development lacking in the community forced people to engage in illegal activities and it was time locals came back home and developed their communities.
Kol said Nipa has changed tremendously over the last four years with many guest houses, lodges and other business activities sprouting; that was not the case in past years.
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01/25/11
Don Polye and James Marabe trying to solve LNG Issue with landowners
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Nipa safe and busy
Source:
The National- Friday, January 21, 2011
NIPA district in the Southern Highlands is experiencing major development as locals engage in business and sporting activities.
One of the biggest development is the investment of K1.3 million Wemso Lodge and Tours, a subsidiary of Haren travel services, a company based in Port Moresby, with branches in Mt Hagen, Goroka, Mendi and Lae.
Managing director Kol Toki said that the district is now peaceful as people venture into business activities while the youths are actively engaged in sports.
He said with peace established, he had built a lodge for visitors to come and experience village life while providing employment for the locals who can then improve their lifestyle.
He said he aims to further strengthen and establish peace in the community as people would take ownership as in community development.
He said such development lacking in the community forced people to engage in illegal activities and it was time locals came back home and developed their communities.
Kol said Nipa has changed tremendously over the last four years with many guest houses, lodges and other business activities sprouting; that was not the case in past years.
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01/25/11
Don Polye and James Marabe trying to solve LNG Issue with landowners
Govt given seven days
By MOHAMMAD BASHIR in Hides
The Government has seven days to send a team of key ministers involved in the PNG LNG project to go to Hides (PDL1&7) to settle demands by disgruntled landowners who have forced early works on the Hides Gas conditioning plant.
While work at Hides 4 only remain stopped, landowners turned up in numbers to air their grievances to Foreign Affairs minister Don Pomb Polye and Education Minister James Marape yesterday. The presence of the two Hela-Opena men ensured other early works at Juni Technical College and Kobalu forward base remain opened despite threats by locals.
“When you cut branches of a tree, you can’t cut all the branches, you have to leave one or two for you to sit on and make your way down,” Mr Polye recited an old Hela saying which touched the hearts of the crowd and there were silence in the two areas where hundreds turned up. That adage gave the people hope and something to think about and went away satisfied that their demands and issues will be addressed by the government.
The people were however upset that key players in the LNG project like Arthur Somare, William Duma, Peter O’Neill, Francis Potape, Anderson Agiru and John Kekeno were not present. Led by chairman of Hides Gas Development Corporation Libe Parindali, Hela Special Purpose Authority Chairman Lemson Mapira, PDL7 Association chairman Chris Payabe and Philip Undialu ‘among others’ want the key ministers to come to the project site with the seed capital and meet them. Stop work instigators led by Chris Yalu and Endose Ajakali gave a petition to Mr Polye which include demands for BDGs and ministerial commitments for the government to pay while they want the developer to address environmental concerns, spin off businesses and resettlement payments to be addressed.
It was learnt at the forums that an agreement was reached between the landowners and ExxonMobil where a 11-day ultimatum was given which was also extended to the government.
With seven days remaining, the government has that many days to meet the demand or face closure of all other early works.
Mr Polye however assured that he was there with his ears and he would bring all grievances up to the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to address.
Successive speakers at the two forums including women expressed disgust that many commitments made during the various benefit sharing agreements as well as grants and project commitments by different ministers and politicians were not honoured.
“We are carrying the title ‘LNG Landowners’ but there is nothing we are benefiting here,” a female teacher by the name Mary said.
“Mi kisim sem long ol kolim mi LNG LO (I am ashamed to be called LNG landowner,” said Ernest Malingi, the local deputy council president.
To Mr Polye and Mr Marape’s surprise, the situation was not as bad as initially thought with no destruction to property or workmen.
Mr Polye expressed gratitude at the manner the locals were looking after foreigners and workers from other provinces and urged them to continue while calling on developers and contractors to bring their workers back.
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By JAMES APA GUMUNO
TEACHERS in Southern Highlands have told the provincial government to pay them their mining allowances “or there will be no classes this year”.
There are 4,000 teachers in the province.
More than 100 of them gathered at the provincial headquarters building, Agiru Centre, yesterday in Mendi and demanded that they be paid these long overdue stipends.
The allowance was set at K400 a fortnight.
Their demands were contained in a petition, which came at a time when the provincial executive council was also discussing the provincial budget. Governor Anderson Agiru chaired the meeting.
The teachers also threatened that they would not return to their schools until they were paid their mining allowances.
Their demands for mining allowances had started when the first oil flowed out of Kutubu about 18 years ago. However, their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
Spokesmen Bogom Inua and John Mono said this time they would not listen to the Teaching Service Commission, acting education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio or the provincial government.
Inua, who holds a diploma in education and had been teaching in Southern Highlands for 40 years, said a teacher’s base salary of K400 was not enough to cater for a family’s needs in these times of sky-rocketing prices.
He said an expected salary increase, based on a memorandum of agreement signed last year, was not effected yesterday.
Mono expressed similar sentiments.
He warned that schools in the province would not resume classes until their demands were met.
Attempts to get comments from the provincial education adviser were unsuccessful.
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By ELIAS LARI
FIVE people are dead, a man is under medical treatment and properties worth thousands of kina were destroyed in a fierce gun battle between two tribes in the Nipa-Kutubu electorate in Southern Highlands.
The fight, between the Hulsoan and Tegipo 1 and 2 tribes, started over a prolonged delay in compensation payment over the death of businessman Hulson Song from the Tegipo tribes believed to have been killed by someone from the Hulson tribe through sorcery in 2009.
However, in the delay, the Hulson tribe shot dead two other young men from the Tegipo tribes during New Year’s eve last year.
The Tegipo tribes then retaliated and shot dead two Hulson men and wounded another young man who is nursing pellet wounds on his legs.
Tegipo councillor Jack Elal said this was one of the most fearsome fights they had been involved in.
He said the fight had destroyed the lives of many people and properties worth thousands of kina.
Elal said a bishop’s house and a primary school at Injua were also burnt down and the fight was getting out of control.
He said his tribe was willing to make peace because they did not want the fight to continue.
Elal said if leaders like local MP Philemon Embel and administrator William Powi who is from the same area, together with the police and peace mediators went to the scene and initiate peace talks then people would surrender.
He said Embel had not made any effort to intervene in the situation.
Elal said Embel was focusing on sports and forgot to help his people.
He said the situation could turn worse because high-powered weapons were being used.
Elal added that people wanted the tribal fights to end and urged Embel and Powi to intervene to restore peace between the two tribes.
The National called SHP police commander Teddy Tei yesterday but he said he was in a meeting and could not comment.
Also attempts to contact the Mendi General Hospital were not successful.
Note: The reluctance of the leaders to intervene into situations like this has had demonstrated lack of quality leadership. If prompt response was made to this problem by leaders there would have been a resolution attempted prior to these number of deaths. Such reluctance is a result of failed leadership. Therefore, it costs the leaders to lose their mandate as people's confidence and trust on leaders is fading away. However, the question is; why be a leader and letting your own people down the ditch?
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by DULCIE OREKE
ACTING secretary for Education Dr Joseph Pagelio has called on all provincial education advisers, boards of management, governing councils, parents, education planners and district education managers to focus this year on the implementation of universal basic education (UBE) 2010-19.
He said this year was the year of implementation and urged everyone to focus on the implementation of the UBE plan which complements the national education plan 2005-14.
Pagelio said UBE was education from elementary to Grade 8 with the bases on the vision of providing all school-aged children equal access to quality basic education which provides them with life-long skills in order to contribute to the development of the country.
“The plan also draws attention to accommodate the significant number of school-aged children that are still out of school,” he said.
Pagelio said UBE priorities captured the main purpose and objectives of education in PNG.
The three components to UBE in PNG context includes:
. All children completing the elementary and primary cycles of education that constitutes a basic education;
. All children entering school at specified age (age six in prep); and
.All children reaching a required standard of literacy and numeracy at the end of these years of education.
He said the implementation of UBE began last year with free education for students in elementary prep to Grade 2.
He said this would continue to other grades over the coming years as it becomes feasible and urged all stakeholders to strategise their planning and budgeting to implement priority projects in order to achieve the targets and goals for this year.
FINANCE and Treasury Minister Peter O’Neill has brushed aside claims by National Planning secretary Joseph Lelang that a total of K112 million was paid out to shore up government support in the face of a vote of no-confidence against the Somare government.
He described the comments as “misleading and irresponsible”.
Lelang, in an alleged letter to Minister Paul Tiensten last Dec 6, stated that political directives were issued to the department to honour certain government commitments in 2010.
He claimed the department was advised to find money and make necessary payments irrespective of its source.
Lelang stated that on Aug 12 last year, the department was directed by O’Neill, who was Public Service Minister and acting Treasurer, at Havana Club in the presence of Tiensten and Patrick Pruaitch, to release K51 million from the development budget to shore up coalition numbers in view of an impending vote of no-confidence expected last November.
He claimed another K33 million was raised, upon direction by Tiensten and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, for presentation at the inauguration of the proposed Hela province in Southern Highlands.
Lelang said in the letter that from political direction, a total of K28 million was paid to 14 provincial governors when, in fact, the governors were entitled to only K1 million under the provincial service improvement programme; which meant each governor was paid an extra K1 million or an extra K14 million collectively.
He also claimed that a total of K98 million was dished out on unbudgeted projects following directions from the minister for finance and treasury and the prime minister’s office.
Funds were allegedly drawn from the district service improvement programme (DSIP), business development grants (BDG) and infrastructure development grants (IDG).
O’Neill, however, said he was disappointed that a person holding a senior position in the public service would make media statements that were not based on facts, were outrageous and damaging to the government.
He said the government had done its best to fund all projects submitted by MPs, depending on the availability of funds and irrespective of which side on the floor of parliament they sit.
“The projects listed in the news story are some of the projects identified under Resi (rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure), district and provincial roads, health programmes and growth centre projects which are appropriated in the 2010 budget.
“The government did not push these projects to MPs to buy their support. That is not true.
“Many of these projects came direct from the districts and were submitted to Lelang and the Department of National Planning. But, they were sitting there because of Lelang’s long absence from office, and his inability to deal with them in a timely manner.
“It became very frustrating, and that is why he was given directions to deal with the projects.
“At no time was he told or directed to breach the Public Finance Management Act. If he did, he chose to do so on his own accord and he should be dealt with.”
O’Neill said for the projects identified, cheques were written to the appropriate district treasury accounts with instructions that normal procurement processes and public accounting requirements be followed.
He said no cheques were written to any member of parliament.
“As secretary of national planning, it is Lelang’s responsibility to identify and fund projects, monitor and ensure they are implemented.
“He has failed in his duty and is attempting to pass the buck.”
O’Neill said Lelang was stepping away from his responsibilities and making political statements, breaching his employment conditions, and using false and misleading information to attack the government.
He said an independent audit would be done on the implementation of the 2010 development budget.
Comment: Corruption in the current led government is a wide spread crime. Millions of kina have been spent out lavishly without consent of its appropriate use to develop the nation and deliver services to the people in the remote areas. Political bureaucrats have misappropriate millions of kina from the government for self gain and not the legitimate beneficiary of the land. Trusted and transparent leaders have come out publicly to the people through the media after such corrupt practices were found in the government. God has been convincing certain leaders to disclose the privacy of corruption in the bureaucrats. Leaders have withdrawn from the government, like Dr. Allan Marat and Sir Puka Temu who have been the icons of the current led NA government. Now the Head of a department has come out to the public. The politicians denied the corruptions and millions of money they are using inappropriately. The Judiciary has also been hijacked so no good judgment can be brought forth on scene for these corruption issues in the country.
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By DAVID TERRY of police media
A YOUNG policeman was murdered and his body thrown into the fast-flowing Kagul River in Kaupena along the border of Western Highlands and Southern Highlands at about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.
Police confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old probationary constable Isaac Mambi, from Katiloma village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was attacked by more than 50 knife-wielding tribesmen who mutilated his body and threw it into the river.
Another policeman, identified as James Wali from Kopiago, also in Southern Highlands, escaped with axe wounds. A police high-powered A2 rifle was stolen.
LNG operations officer Snr Insp Michael Tilae said four policemen and five security guards, manning the checkpoint at the Paunda power plant, were alerted by informants of bootleggers trying to smuggle liquor into Southern Highlands by crossing the river on foot. The policemen and security guards went to investigate by trekking downstream.
When they confronted the suspects, villagers numbering more than 50 gathered around them and one threw a snake at Mambi, which startled him.
Police witnesses at the site said when he tried to brush away the snake, he was attacked and his weapon retrieved.
His colleagues fired warning shots but the assailants continued to attack Mambi with knives, before throwing his corpse into the river.
Police reinforcements went to Kaupena yesterday morning and arrested four people including the driver and crew of a vehicle suspected of smuggling the liquor.
Police investigations are continuing.
While work at Hides 4 only remain stopped, landowners turned up in numbers to air their grievances to Foreign Affairs minister Don Pomb Polye and Education Minister James Marape yesterday. The presence of the two Hela-Opena men ensured other early works at Juni Technical College and Kobalu forward base remain opened despite threats by locals.
“When you cut branches of a tree, you can’t cut all the branches, you have to leave one or two for you to sit on and make your way down,” Mr Polye recited an old Hela saying which touched the hearts of the crowd and there were silence in the two areas where hundreds turned up. That adage gave the people hope and something to think about and went away satisfied that their demands and issues will be addressed by the government.
The people were however upset that key players in the LNG project like Arthur Somare, William Duma, Peter O’Neill, Francis Potape, Anderson Agiru and John Kekeno were not present. Led by chairman of Hides Gas Development Corporation Libe Parindali, Hela Special Purpose Authority Chairman Lemson Mapira, PDL7 Association chairman Chris Payabe and Philip Undialu ‘among others’ want the key ministers to come to the project site with the seed capital and meet them. Stop work instigators led by Chris Yalu and Endose Ajakali gave a petition to Mr Polye which include demands for BDGs and ministerial commitments for the government to pay while they want the developer to address environmental concerns, spin off businesses and resettlement payments to be addressed.
It was learnt at the forums that an agreement was reached between the landowners and ExxonMobil where a 11-day ultimatum was given which was also extended to the government.
With seven days remaining, the government has that many days to meet the demand or face closure of all other early works.
Mr Polye however assured that he was there with his ears and he would bring all grievances up to the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to address.
Successive speakers at the two forums including women expressed disgust that many commitments made during the various benefit sharing agreements as well as grants and project commitments by different ministers and politicians were not honoured.
“We are carrying the title ‘LNG Landowners’ but there is nothing we are benefiting here,” a female teacher by the name Mary said.
“Mi kisim sem long ol kolim mi LNG LO (I am ashamed to be called LNG landowner,” said Ernest Malingi, the local deputy council president.
To Mr Polye and Mr Marape’s surprise, the situation was not as bad as initially thought with no destruction to property or workmen.
Mr Polye expressed gratitude at the manner the locals were looking after foreigners and workers from other provinces and urged them to continue while calling on developers and contractors to bring their workers back.
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Classes threatened over mining allowance
Source:
The National- Friday, January 28, 2011
TEACHERS in Southern Highlands have told the provincial government to pay them their mining allowances “or there will be no classes this year”.
There are 4,000 teachers in the province.
More than 100 of them gathered at the provincial headquarters building, Agiru Centre, yesterday in Mendi and demanded that they be paid these long overdue stipends.
The allowance was set at K400 a fortnight.
Their demands were contained in a petition, which came at a time when the provincial executive council was also discussing the provincial budget. Governor Anderson Agiru chaired the meeting.
The teachers also threatened that they would not return to their schools until they were paid their mining allowances.
Their demands for mining allowances had started when the first oil flowed out of Kutubu about 18 years ago. However, their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
Spokesmen Bogom Inua and John Mono said this time they would not listen to the Teaching Service Commission, acting education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio or the provincial government.
Inua, who holds a diploma in education and had been teaching in Southern Highlands for 40 years, said a teacher’s base salary of K400 was not enough to cater for a family’s needs in these times of sky-rocketing prices.
He said an expected salary increase, based on a memorandum of agreement signed last year, was not effected yesterday.
Mono expressed similar sentiments.
He warned that schools in the province would not resume classes until their demands were met.
Attempts to get comments from the provincial education adviser were unsuccessful.
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Policeman dead, three injured
By DAVID MURI
Monday 31 January, 2011
ONE policeman is dead and three others were critically injured in a nasty road accident at Nipa in Southern Highlands Province last Friday evening.
The wounded were admitted at Mendi General Hospital and are battling for their lives. Tension was high at Nipa over the weekend.
The incident occurred at Semin village involving a utility Landcruiser belonging to the Kagua Erave district treasury. Sources reported that the driver of the vehicle was a teenage son of provincial treasurer Lawrence Olkoben. The driver is believed to be unlicensed and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
The death has triggered provincial leaders to call for total liquor ban in the province. They also propose for trading outlets to be held responsible if such accidents occur resulting in deaths.
Provincial law and order chairman Andrew Kit said there was a province-wide liquor ban currently in place and he did not believe that people were still dying in liquor-related accidents.
Mr Kit said liquor was the main source of killings in the resource-rich province, adding that it should be completely banned to save lives in future.
The deceased policeman was identified by Nipa police station commander Pes Mondo as Dominic Ol of Kware village, Nipa. Chief Sergeant Mondo said his men were returning from Mendi on a private trip when the incident occurred.
He did not want to comment further as only the PPC was authorised to release media statements. PPC Teddy Tei said a unit was deployed to Nipa to investigate the accident on Saturday.
The outcome of their trip and if the driver was formally arrested and charged is not known at this stage.
Nipa district administrator Robin Pip said his administration was trying to minimise serious law and order issues in the district with minimum resources and manpower.
He said Mr Ol’s death will certainly leave a huge vacuum to be filled.
Meanwhile, provincial treasurer Lawrence Olkoben has admitted that the driver of the vehicle was his son and that he is wholly responsible for the lost life. However, he said he did not authorise his son to drive the car or transport passengers.
“Yes, he’s my son. As a father and customarily, I’m responsible for the accident,” Mr Olkoben said.
When asked if his son’s accident might cost him his job because he took the car illegally and caused a serious accident which caused injuries and death, Mr Olkoben said: “In my job I...I did not authorise him or give him the keys.”
He said the car was under his custody because Kagua Erave district was yet to appoint a new district treasurer.
Monday 31 January, 2011
ONE policeman is dead and three others were critically injured in a nasty road accident at Nipa in Southern Highlands Province last Friday evening.
The wounded were admitted at Mendi General Hospital and are battling for their lives. Tension was high at Nipa over the weekend.
The incident occurred at Semin village involving a utility Landcruiser belonging to the Kagua Erave district treasury. Sources reported that the driver of the vehicle was a teenage son of provincial treasurer Lawrence Olkoben. The driver is believed to be unlicensed and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
The death has triggered provincial leaders to call for total liquor ban in the province. They also propose for trading outlets to be held responsible if such accidents occur resulting in deaths.
Provincial law and order chairman Andrew Kit said there was a province-wide liquor ban currently in place and he did not believe that people were still dying in liquor-related accidents.
Mr Kit said liquor was the main source of killings in the resource-rich province, adding that it should be completely banned to save lives in future.
The deceased policeman was identified by Nipa police station commander Pes Mondo as Dominic Ol of Kware village, Nipa. Chief Sergeant Mondo said his men were returning from Mendi on a private trip when the incident occurred.
He did not want to comment further as only the PPC was authorised to release media statements. PPC Teddy Tei said a unit was deployed to Nipa to investigate the accident on Saturday.
The outcome of their trip and if the driver was formally arrested and charged is not known at this stage.
Nipa district administrator Robin Pip said his administration was trying to minimise serious law and order issues in the district with minimum resources and manpower.
He said Mr Ol’s death will certainly leave a huge vacuum to be filled.
Meanwhile, provincial treasurer Lawrence Olkoben has admitted that the driver of the vehicle was his son and that he is wholly responsible for the lost life. However, he said he did not authorise his son to drive the car or transport passengers.
“Yes, he’s my son. As a father and customarily, I’m responsible for the accident,” Mr Olkoben said.
When asked if his son’s accident might cost him his job because he took the car illegally and caused a serious accident which caused injuries and death, Mr Olkoben said: “In my job I...I did not authorise him or give him the keys.”
He said the car was under his custody because Kagua Erave district was yet to appoint a new district treasurer.
Comment: Olkoben certainly has no legitimate right to have the state property abused. The Kagua - Erave Treasury has not been yet officiated does not mean that Olkoben can spy in for special gains of such unoccupied positions and assets. H e can't deny releasing the keys to his son- that's a false pretense. How and where did his son get the keys to the vehicle? Olkoben absolutely has his job on the line, if this is not deal accordingly that is what we mean by corruption.
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By STAFF REPORTERS
TEACHERS in the Southern Highlands yesterday reportedly stormed the education office located inside Agiru centre in Mendi and closed it.
A teacher at the scene told The National that teachers contributed money to buy a new padlock and chain and locked the office and chained it around 11am.
The teachers, who are supposed to return to their respective schools next week to prepare for classes, were angry at failure by provincial and national education authorities to respond to their demands for hardship allowances, a general pay increase and housing allowance.
The teachers gave a 14-day notice to provincial government, Education Department and national government to respond or they would walk off their jobs.
Southern Highlands adviser Joel Raitano, who was in Lae yesterday to assess teacher incentives, refuted earlier report that about 4,000 teachers had threatened to resign en masse over poor working conditions.
He said an inquiry team was investigating teacher incentives and the cause for education standards and systems.
A large number of teachers, however, decided yesterday that they would not fill their resumption of duty forms as directed by acting education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio until their demands were met.
John Kuimp, one of the teachers on the working committee assisting the PNG Teacher’s Association (PNGTA) branch in the province, told The National from Mendi that the teachers had decided not to take up their posting until all their demands were meet by the provincial and national governments.
Kuimb said the teachers decided to stay out of class until their demands were met, adding that all schools in the province would remain close for indefinite period.
PNGTA national president Tommy Hecko has thrown his support behind the teachers and called on Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru to listen to the teachers’ pleas.
Hecko yesterday said teachers were feeling the effects of the LNG development in the province and that the K300-K400 base salary for teachers there was insufficient to sustain their daily needs.
“I appeal to Agiru to sit down and negotiate with the teachers. Do not ignore their calls, at least hear them out,” he said.
Kuimb said the teachers wanted an additional K400 in mining allowances to be paid by the provincial government on top of their normal salaries.
They have been demanding a mining allowance since Kutubu oil was first exported some 17 years ago. Successive provincial governments promised to pay them but that has never materialised.
He said with the big multi-billion kina gas project coming on stream, the teachers wanted their long overdue allowances to be paid, adding that their K6 housing allowances was “a joke” and should be increased to K100.
Hecko said primary and elementary schools would be hit the hardest with less than a week of school
holidays remaining.
In Lae, Raitano said no specific teacher incentives for the liquefied natural gas project impacted areas were set in place.
The idea of incentives for impacted areas was discussed but is yet to be determined between all the levels of government (council, district, provincial and national government) and teachers.
Raitano did say however, that the incentives would begin this year and that teachers in most disadvantaged schools would benefit.
What these benefits are and when they might be implemented, he would not reveal.
Comments: The resource rich province of PNG's education is on the irk of annoyance as the teachers are setting this peaceful protest for a pay hike. There should definitely be a consensus set by the provincial government regarding this incentives because the poor teachers neglect their privileges and sacrifice their life in this lowly rated career. Teaching is a highly paid job in some other countries but not in PNG. What's the government's priority and obligation if such legitimate issue will be ignored and all the time wash it down the drain with their empty promises.
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SHP teachers make their stand
Source:
The National - Tuesday, February 1, 2011
TEACHERS in the Southern Highlands yesterday reportedly stormed the education office located inside Agiru centre in Mendi and closed it.
A teacher at the scene told The National that teachers contributed money to buy a new padlock and chain and locked the office and chained it around 11am.
The teachers, who are supposed to return to their respective schools next week to prepare for classes, were angry at failure by provincial and national education authorities to respond to their demands for hardship allowances, a general pay increase and housing allowance.
The teachers gave a 14-day notice to provincial government, Education Department and national government to respond or they would walk off their jobs.
Southern Highlands adviser Joel Raitano, who was in Lae yesterday to assess teacher incentives, refuted earlier report that about 4,000 teachers had threatened to resign en masse over poor working conditions.
He said an inquiry team was investigating teacher incentives and the cause for education standards and systems.
A large number of teachers, however, decided yesterday that they would not fill their resumption of duty forms as directed by acting education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio until their demands were met.
John Kuimp, one of the teachers on the working committee assisting the PNG Teacher’s Association (PNGTA) branch in the province, told The National from Mendi that the teachers had decided not to take up their posting until all their demands were meet by the provincial and national governments.
Kuimb said the teachers decided to stay out of class until their demands were met, adding that all schools in the province would remain close for indefinite period.
PNGTA national president Tommy Hecko has thrown his support behind the teachers and called on Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru to listen to the teachers’ pleas.
Hecko yesterday said teachers were feeling the effects of the LNG development in the province and that the K300-K400 base salary for teachers there was insufficient to sustain their daily needs.
“I appeal to Agiru to sit down and negotiate with the teachers. Do not ignore their calls, at least hear them out,” he said.
Kuimb said the teachers wanted an additional K400 in mining allowances to be paid by the provincial government on top of their normal salaries.
They have been demanding a mining allowance since Kutubu oil was first exported some 17 years ago. Successive provincial governments promised to pay them but that has never materialised.
He said with the big multi-billion kina gas project coming on stream, the teachers wanted their long overdue allowances to be paid, adding that their K6 housing allowances was “a joke” and should be increased to K100.
Hecko said primary and elementary schools would be hit the hardest with less than a week of school
holidays remaining.
In Lae, Raitano said no specific teacher incentives for the liquefied natural gas project impacted areas were set in place.
The idea of incentives for impacted areas was discussed but is yet to be determined between all the levels of government (council, district, provincial and national government) and teachers.
Raitano did say however, that the incentives would begin this year and that teachers in most disadvantaged schools would benefit.
What these benefits are and when they might be implemented, he would not reveal.
Comments: The resource rich province of PNG's education is on the irk of annoyance as the teachers are setting this peaceful protest for a pay hike. There should definitely be a consensus set by the provincial government regarding this incentives because the poor teachers neglect their privileges and sacrifice their life in this lowly rated career. Teaching is a highly paid job in some other countries but not in PNG. What's the government's priority and obligation if such legitimate issue will be ignored and all the time wash it down the drain with their empty promises.
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Five die in SHP gunfight
Source:
The National- Thursday, February 3, 2011
FIVE people are dead, a man is under medical treatment and properties worth thousands of kina were destroyed in a fierce gun battle between two tribes in the Nipa-Kutubu electorate in Southern Highlands.
The fight, between the Hulsoan and Tegipo 1 and 2 tribes, started over a prolonged delay in compensation payment over the death of businessman Hulson Song from the Tegipo tribes believed to have been killed by someone from the Hulson tribe through sorcery in 2009.
However, in the delay, the Hulson tribe shot dead two other young men from the Tegipo tribes during New Year’s eve last year.
The Tegipo tribes then retaliated and shot dead two Hulson men and wounded another young man who is nursing pellet wounds on his legs.
Tegipo councillor Jack Elal said this was one of the most fearsome fights they had been involved in.
He said the fight had destroyed the lives of many people and properties worth thousands of kina.
Elal said a bishop’s house and a primary school at Injua were also burnt down and the fight was getting out of control.
He said his tribe was willing to make peace because they did not want the fight to continue.
Elal said if leaders like local MP Philemon Embel and administrator William Powi who is from the same area, together with the police and peace mediators went to the scene and initiate peace talks then people would surrender.
He said Embel had not made any effort to intervene in the situation.
Elal said Embel was focusing on sports and forgot to help his people.
He said the situation could turn worse because high-powered weapons were being used.
Elal added that people wanted the tribal fights to end and urged Embel and Powi to intervene to restore peace between the two tribes.
The National called SHP police commander Teddy Tei yesterday but he said he was in a meeting and could not comment.
Also attempts to contact the Mendi General Hospital were not successful.
Note: The reluctance of the leaders to intervene into situations like this has had demonstrated lack of quality leadership. If prompt response was made to this problem by leaders there would have been a resolution attempted prior to these number of deaths. Such reluctance is a result of failed leadership. Therefore, it costs the leaders to lose their mandate as people's confidence and trust on leaders is fading away. However, the question is; why be a leader and letting your own people down the ditch?
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Pagelio wants more focus on UBE
Source:
The National- Monday, February 7, 2011
ACTING secretary for Education Dr Joseph Pagelio has called on all provincial education advisers, boards of management, governing councils, parents, education planners and district education managers to focus this year on the implementation of universal basic education (UBE) 2010-19.
He said this year was the year of implementation and urged everyone to focus on the implementation of the UBE plan which complements the national education plan 2005-14.
Pagelio said UBE was education from elementary to Grade 8 with the bases on the vision of providing all school-aged children equal access to quality basic education which provides them with life-long skills in order to contribute to the development of the country.
“The plan also draws attention to accommodate the significant number of school-aged children that are still out of school,” he said.
Pagelio said UBE priorities captured the main purpose and objectives of education in PNG.
The three components to UBE in PNG context includes:
. All children completing the elementary and primary cycles of education that constitutes a basic education;
. All children entering school at specified age (age six in prep); and
.All children reaching a required standard of literacy and numeracy at the end of these years of education.
He said the implementation of UBE began last year with free education for students in elementary prep to Grade 2.
He said this would continue to other grades over the coming years as it becomes feasible and urged all stakeholders to strategise their planning and budgeting to implement priority projects in order to achieve the targets and goals for this year.
Treasurer hits back at K112mil claim
Source:
The National - Tuesday, February 8, 2011
He described the comments as “misleading and irresponsible”.
Lelang, in an alleged letter to Minister Paul Tiensten last Dec 6, stated that political directives were issued to the department to honour certain government commitments in 2010.
He claimed the department was advised to find money and make necessary payments irrespective of its source.
Lelang stated that on Aug 12 last year, the department was directed by O’Neill, who was Public Service Minister and acting Treasurer, at Havana Club in the presence of Tiensten and Patrick Pruaitch, to release K51 million from the development budget to shore up coalition numbers in view of an impending vote of no-confidence expected last November.
He claimed another K33 million was raised, upon direction by Tiensten and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, for presentation at the inauguration of the proposed Hela province in Southern Highlands.
Lelang said in the letter that from political direction, a total of K28 million was paid to 14 provincial governors when, in fact, the governors were entitled to only K1 million under the provincial service improvement programme; which meant each governor was paid an extra K1 million or an extra K14 million collectively.
He also claimed that a total of K98 million was dished out on unbudgeted projects following directions from the minister for finance and treasury and the prime minister’s office.
Funds were allegedly drawn from the district service improvement programme (DSIP), business development grants (BDG) and infrastructure development grants (IDG).
O’Neill, however, said he was disappointed that a person holding a senior position in the public service would make media statements that were not based on facts, were outrageous and damaging to the government.
He said the government had done its best to fund all projects submitted by MPs, depending on the availability of funds and irrespective of which side on the floor of parliament they sit.
“The projects listed in the news story are some of the projects identified under Resi (rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure), district and provincial roads, health programmes and growth centre projects which are appropriated in the 2010 budget.
“The government did not push these projects to MPs to buy their support. That is not true.
“Many of these projects came direct from the districts and were submitted to Lelang and the Department of National Planning. But, they were sitting there because of Lelang’s long absence from office, and his inability to deal with them in a timely manner.
“It became very frustrating, and that is why he was given directions to deal with the projects.
“At no time was he told or directed to breach the Public Finance Management Act. If he did, he chose to do so on his own accord and he should be dealt with.”
O’Neill said for the projects identified, cheques were written to the appropriate district treasury accounts with instructions that normal procurement processes and public accounting requirements be followed.
He said no cheques were written to any member of parliament.
“As secretary of national planning, it is Lelang’s responsibility to identify and fund projects, monitor and ensure they are implemented.
“He has failed in his duty and is attempting to pass the buck.”
O’Neill said Lelang was stepping away from his responsibilities and making political statements, breaching his employment conditions, and using false and misleading information to attack the government.
He said an independent audit would be done on the implementation of the 2010 development budget.
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SHP villagers murder cop
Source:
The National - Friday, February 11, 2011
A YOUNG policeman was murdered and his body thrown into the fast-flowing Kagul River in Kaupena along the border of Western Highlands and Southern Highlands at about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.
Police confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old probationary constable Isaac Mambi, from Katiloma village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was attacked by more than 50 knife-wielding tribesmen who mutilated his body and threw it into the river.
Another policeman, identified as James Wali from Kopiago, also in Southern Highlands, escaped with axe wounds. A police high-powered A2 rifle was stolen.
LNG operations officer Snr Insp Michael Tilae said four policemen and five security guards, manning the checkpoint at the Paunda power plant, were alerted by informants of bootleggers trying to smuggle liquor into Southern Highlands by crossing the river on foot. The policemen and security guards went to investigate by trekking downstream.
When they confronted the suspects, villagers numbering more than 50 gathered around them and one threw a snake at Mambi, which startled him.
Police witnesses at the site said when he tried to brush away the snake, he was attacked and his weapon retrieved.
His colleagues fired warning shots but the assailants continued to attack Mambi with knives, before throwing his corpse into the river.
Police reinforcements went to Kaupena yesterday morning and arrested four people including the driver and crew of a vehicle suspected of smuggling the liquor.
Police investigations are continuing.
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By JACOB POK
Police personnel, deployed to provide securities in various LNG site operations in Southern Highlands and Central have claimed that they were not paid their allowances for two months.
According to a policeman, who wished to remain in anonymity, claimed that most of the police officers engaged in police special division (SSD) which included mobile squad and body guards had not been paid their allowances.
The officer also claimed that the allowance rates of SSD officers was not fair as those SSD officers in Papa and Lealea LNG sites in central were paid K45 per day while those in Southern Highlands were paid K100.
He said it was unfair as all SSD officers carry out the same task to provide security to the project sites.
The officer blamed the police department for delaying the payment and also called on the acting police commissioner Tony Wagambie to increase the allowances of SSD officers in central to K100.
However, Wagambie clarified yesterday that all issues relating to SSD operations should be referred to the office of the SSD director, David Manning who would be in a better position to attend to the quires.
He said the SSD officers must not blamed the police department as the allowances were not paid by the police department but by ExxonMobil.
“The simple and proper procedure is for the officers to submit their list of names to the SSD director, who will then recommend the list to ExxonMobil to make the payments of the allowances,” Wagambie said.
He said SSD officers querying over allowances should know that the police department was a big department and various administrative tasks were delegated to senior officers to manage, adding that the SSD director was the person to attend to the case.
He said SSD officers should follow the correct channel by identifying their directors and get the issues solved rather than blaming the department.
He said there were two sets of outstanding allowances claims by SSD officers in Southern Highlands and the request for increase in allowances by those in Central were to be addressed by the mandated office of the SSD director.
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Police officers at LNG sites complain about allowance
Source:
The National - Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Police personnel, deployed to provide securities in various LNG site operations in Southern Highlands and Central have claimed that they were not paid their allowances for two months.
According to a policeman, who wished to remain in anonymity, claimed that most of the police officers engaged in police special division (SSD) which included mobile squad and body guards had not been paid their allowances.
The officer also claimed that the allowance rates of SSD officers was not fair as those SSD officers in Papa and Lealea LNG sites in central were paid K45 per day while those in Southern Highlands were paid K100.
He said it was unfair as all SSD officers carry out the same task to provide security to the project sites.
The officer blamed the police department for delaying the payment and also called on the acting police commissioner Tony Wagambie to increase the allowances of SSD officers in central to K100.
However, Wagambie clarified yesterday that all issues relating to SSD operations should be referred to the office of the SSD director, David Manning who would be in a better position to attend to the quires.
He said the SSD officers must not blamed the police department as the allowances were not paid by the police department but by ExxonMobil.
“The simple and proper procedure is for the officers to submit their list of names to the SSD director, who will then recommend the list to ExxonMobil to make the payments of the allowances,” Wagambie said.
He said SSD officers querying over allowances should know that the police department was a big department and various administrative tasks were delegated to senior officers to manage, adding that the SSD director was the person to attend to the case.
He said SSD officers should follow the correct channel by identifying their directors and get the issues solved rather than blaming the department.
He said there were two sets of outstanding allowances claims by SSD officers in Southern Highlands and the request for increase in allowances by those in Central were to be addressed by the mandated office of the SSD director.
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Prosecutor sacked
By TODAGIA KELOLA
and SIMON ERORO
Jim Wala Tamate, the man who requested the Chief Justice to appoint a Leadership Tribunal to probe into misconduct charges against the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has been sacked.
Mr Tamate, who was Acting Public Prosecutor was stripped of his acting appointment by the appointing authority, the Judicial Legal Services Commission last week.
Chairman of the JLSC and the Attorney-General and Justice Minister Sir Arnold Amet told a media conference last Friday that the performance of Mr Tamate in terms of leadership and management was not satisfactory which led to his acting appointment being revoked.
And in his place, a senior State Prosecutor Camillus Sambua has been appointed to act on the post for a year. Post-Courier understands that Mr Sambua is from the East Sepik Province.
Mr Tamate, as Acting Public Prosecutor, had exercised his powers last year to request the Chief Justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to hear allegations of misconduct in office by the Prime Minister after he was referred by the Ombudsman Commission in 2008.
Chairman of the JLSC and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet dismissed questions that Mr Tamate’s sacking was politically motivated to punish him for exercising his Constitutional role in referring the Prime Minister.
Sir Arnold said: “In principal the Public Prosecutor is independent in his responsibilities, it is a position that whoever the incumbent, shall exercise his powers independently without fear or favor it could have been anytime that the JLSC comprising myself, the Chief Justice, his deputy, the Chief Ombudsman and a member of Parliament would have made. “Principally in the assessment of the JLSC, it is the matter of performance and leadership of the acting Public Prosecutor…. JLSC was not satisfied on his performance and he could not be substantially appointed,” said Sir Arnold.
Mr Camillus Sambua’s appointment as acting Public Prosecutor brings the number of persons acting in that post to three for the last five years. Since the departure of Chronox Manek as the Public Prosecutor, Jack Pambel acted for two years and Mr Tamate for two years until recently.
The suspension has not gone down well with the Oppositon. Former Deputy Prime Minister Member for Abau Sir Puka Temu said the decision by JLSC was highly political and does not look good for the government.
“Why the revocation of Mr Tamate’s acting appointment at this time when he has referred the Prime Minister- this office will be responsible in prosecuting the Prime Minister if a Tribunal is constituted by the Chief Justice. With the new appointment from East Sepik everything might be compromised,” Sir Puka asked.
Sir Puka said the explanation by Minister for Justice and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet that Mr Tamate’s removal was based on poor performance, was not good enough.
“If this is so than, did that mean Mr Tamati’s decision to refer Sir Michael to the Chief Justice to set up a leadership tribunal was a non-performance?”
Sir Puka called on Sir Michael, Minister Amet, the Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek and other members of the JLSC to apologise to the nation.
He called on JLSC to immediately reinstate Mr Tamate as the Acting Public Prosecutor until a permanent appointment is made.
Outspoken Member for Bulolo Sam Basil described the revocation of Tamati’s appointment yesterday as a sad day for Papua New Guineans.
Mr Basil said the former Chief Justice and Minister for Justice and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet’s reasons for the suspension of Mr Tamate is more a defense for the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare over the Leadership Tribunal.
“Mr Tamate was removed for non-performance but failed to outline what constituted his lack of performance. Did he mismanage the office? If so, what are the examples? Did he not do his constitutional duty? What are some examples?” he asked.
Mr Basil questioned whether he was cited for contempt for not allocating lawyers to attend to criminal cases or call-over’s like his predecessors, so what were the reasons at this very crucial moment when the whole nation was looking forward to see justice prevail.
He urged the former Chief Justice as a learned person to justify his actions because the people of PNG could no longer afford to keep guessing.
Mr Basil labeled Sir Arnold as just another puppet, executing the PM and his family’s will and the decision was made in relation to the Sir Michael’s case.
He said Mr Tamate had restored the public confidence in the Office of the Public Prosecutor and Office of the Public Prosecutor is independent.
By TODAGIA KELOLA
and SIMON ERORO
Jim Wala Tamate, the man who requested the Chief Justice to appoint a Leadership Tribunal to probe into misconduct charges against the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has been sacked.
Mr Tamate, who was Acting Public Prosecutor was stripped of his acting appointment by the appointing authority, the Judicial Legal Services Commission last week.
Chairman of the JLSC and the Attorney-General and Justice Minister Sir Arnold Amet told a media conference last Friday that the performance of Mr Tamate in terms of leadership and management was not satisfactory which led to his acting appointment being revoked.
And in his place, a senior State Prosecutor Camillus Sambua has been appointed to act on the post for a year. Post-Courier understands that Mr Sambua is from the East Sepik Province.
Mr Tamate, as Acting Public Prosecutor, had exercised his powers last year to request the Chief Justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to hear allegations of misconduct in office by the Prime Minister after he was referred by the Ombudsman Commission in 2008.
Chairman of the JLSC and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet dismissed questions that Mr Tamate’s sacking was politically motivated to punish him for exercising his Constitutional role in referring the Prime Minister.
Sir Arnold said: “In principal the Public Prosecutor is independent in his responsibilities, it is a position that whoever the incumbent, shall exercise his powers independently without fear or favor it could have been anytime that the JLSC comprising myself, the Chief Justice, his deputy, the Chief Ombudsman and a member of Parliament would have made. “Principally in the assessment of the JLSC, it is the matter of performance and leadership of the acting Public Prosecutor…. JLSC was not satisfied on his performance and he could not be substantially appointed,” said Sir Arnold.
Mr Camillus Sambua’s appointment as acting Public Prosecutor brings the number of persons acting in that post to three for the last five years. Since the departure of Chronox Manek as the Public Prosecutor, Jack Pambel acted for two years and Mr Tamate for two years until recently.
The suspension has not gone down well with the Oppositon. Former Deputy Prime Minister Member for Abau Sir Puka Temu said the decision by JLSC was highly political and does not look good for the government.
“Why the revocation of Mr Tamate’s acting appointment at this time when he has referred the Prime Minister- this office will be responsible in prosecuting the Prime Minister if a Tribunal is constituted by the Chief Justice. With the new appointment from East Sepik everything might be compromised,” Sir Puka asked.
Sir Puka said the explanation by Minister for Justice and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet that Mr Tamate’s removal was based on poor performance, was not good enough.
“If this is so than, did that mean Mr Tamati’s decision to refer Sir Michael to the Chief Justice to set up a leadership tribunal was a non-performance?”
Sir Puka called on Sir Michael, Minister Amet, the Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek and other members of the JLSC to apologise to the nation.
He called on JLSC to immediately reinstate Mr Tamate as the Acting Public Prosecutor until a permanent appointment is made.
Outspoken Member for Bulolo Sam Basil described the revocation of Tamati’s appointment yesterday as a sad day for Papua New Guineans.
Mr Basil said the former Chief Justice and Minister for Justice and Attorney General Sir Arnold Amet’s reasons for the suspension of Mr Tamate is more a defense for the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare over the Leadership Tribunal.
“Mr Tamate was removed for non-performance but failed to outline what constituted his lack of performance. Did he mismanage the office? If so, what are the examples? Did he not do his constitutional duty? What are some examples?” he asked.
Mr Basil questioned whether he was cited for contempt for not allocating lawyers to attend to criminal cases or call-over’s like his predecessors, so what were the reasons at this very crucial moment when the whole nation was looking forward to see justice prevail.
He urged the former Chief Justice as a learned person to justify his actions because the people of PNG could no longer afford to keep guessing.
Mr Basil labeled Sir Arnold as just another puppet, executing the PM and his family’s will and the decision was made in relation to the Sir Michael’s case.
He said Mr Tamate had restored the public confidence in the Office of the Public Prosecutor and Office of the Public Prosecutor is independent.
NB: This may be an abuse of the constitutional laws of the country. Such educated elites are foolish themselves if they can't think high for the country and uphold the law. The people are being led astray with such greedy decisions not knowing how the country is affected as a result of the current led regime. Every leader is obliged to bear the law and otherwise the consequences if it is breached. Every thing decided by the current NA led regime is for self. Please, we need chance!!
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APPLICATIONS are now open for Papua New Guinea’s high achievers wanting to study in Australia or New Zealand under a 2012 scholarship.
The Australian Development Scholarships, Australian Leadership Awards and New Zealand Pacific Scholarships provide an opportunity for those wishing to undertake specialist study that will contribute to PNG’s development.
“This really is an opportunity for the best and brightest individuals who are able to work with their governments and communities to meet the needs of families and individuals across PNG,” head of AusAID in PNG, Stephanie Copus-Campbell said.
Approved areas of study include health, education, agriculture, governance and public sector management, oil and gas, mining, law and justice, information technology and transport.
“Study should also be consistent with the priorities of the PNG government.
“Scholarships help develop leaders who are capable of meeting current and emerging challenges such as poverty reduction, infectious disease, maternal and child health, gender equality and good governance,” Copus-Campbell said.
“Through our Pacific scholarships scheme, New Zealand is supporting Papua New Guinea in achieving its goals for sustainable economic development,” development counsellor with the New Zealand Aid Programme, Dimitri Geidelberg, said.
“These scholarships will help build the knowledge and skills of young Papua New Guineans to better realise the enormous growth potential in the country as well as enabling them to contribute to improving the quality of life for all citizens.”
Selection is highly competitive and awardees are required to return to PNG for at least two years after completing their studies.
Women, people living with a disability and regional applicants are especially encouraged to apply.
Closing date for applications is March 31.
For more information contact the scholarships coordinator at the Scholarships PNG office on 321 1766 or email scholarships@scholarships.org.pg
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Applications for Aust, NZ scholarships open
Source:
The National - Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Australian Development Scholarships, Australian Leadership Awards and New Zealand Pacific Scholarships provide an opportunity for those wishing to undertake specialist study that will contribute to PNG’s development.
“This really is an opportunity for the best and brightest individuals who are able to work with their governments and communities to meet the needs of families and individuals across PNG,” head of AusAID in PNG, Stephanie Copus-Campbell said.
Approved areas of study include health, education, agriculture, governance and public sector management, oil and gas, mining, law and justice, information technology and transport.
“Study should also be consistent with the priorities of the PNG government.
“Scholarships help develop leaders who are capable of meeting current and emerging challenges such as poverty reduction, infectious disease, maternal and child health, gender equality and good governance,” Copus-Campbell said.
“Through our Pacific scholarships scheme, New Zealand is supporting Papua New Guinea in achieving its goals for sustainable economic development,” development counsellor with the New Zealand Aid Programme, Dimitri Geidelberg, said.
“These scholarships will help build the knowledge and skills of young Papua New Guineans to better realise the enormous growth potential in the country as well as enabling them to contribute to improving the quality of life for all citizens.”
Selection is highly competitive and awardees are required to return to PNG for at least two years after completing their studies.
Women, people living with a disability and regional applicants are especially encouraged to apply.
Closing date for applications is March 31.
For more information contact the scholarships coordinator at the Scholarships PNG office on 321 1766 or email scholarships@scholarships.org.pg
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NB: Such Aids from Australia and New Zealand has a paramount contribution to the Government and people of PNG. Many people had taken this opportunity to further their education in these two countries and still there is continuity in providing this awesome program. The integral human development of PNG has been perpetually a priority of Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, PNG should learn from such experiences and think broader for developing our attitudes through education, and perhaps with the fear of God. As Papua New Guineans we supposed to thank God for bestowing these two great nations through a continual bilateral integration. Obviously, God gets glory for all that!!
A NATIONAL Gazette G57 of March 3 has named Aitape-Lumi MP and suspended state minister Patrick Pruaitch as the Minister for State Assisting the Prime Minister.
Pruaitch was automatically suspended from office following his Supreme Court appearance in a matter of leadership brought on by the Ombudsman Commission, which is still pending.
According to a copy of the 18-page March 3 National Gazette, made available to The National, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had, on March 2, revoked the determination of titles and responsibilities of ministers made on Sept 13, 2007 (and gazetted G145 of Sept 13, 2007) and effected the new appointments, maintaining his entire cabinet with the inclusion of Pruaitch.
In his new portfolio, Pruaitch would assist the prime minister in:
*Matters relating to anything as delegated by the prime minister from time to time; and
*Any legislations relating to anything that the prime minister would delegate from time to time.
Having learnt of these new developments yesterday, the opposition was quick to react, claiming that the prime minister had breached the orders of the court when he sanctioned the appointment of Pruaitch and caused the publication of ministers constituting the NEC and their responsibilities in the March 3 National Gazette.
The gazettal listed 32 state ministers and their portfolios and functions, starting from the prime minister to the minister of lands.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil said: “This is in direct contempt of the orders of the Supreme Court in the case of Pruaitch vs Manek (2010) PGSC 7; SC1052 (May 31, 2010) where the Supreme Court declared that the leader was automatically suspended when the charges were served.
“The highest court of the land constituting justices Nicholas Kirriwom, Gavara-Nanu and Catherine Davani had declared that the leader was suspended forthwith.
“How could the prime minister then appoint him to be a minister of his cabinet?” Basil posed the question in an email to The National yesterday evening.
He said Pruaitch was yet to be heard in a court of law and that there was no court order setting aside the Supreme Court orders.
“Until a tribunal determines the allegations and, unless a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court overturns the decision to suspend the leader, the orders are still effective,” Basil said.
He claimed any action in derogation of that decision was clearly contempt.
“The appointment and publication in the National Gazette was a clear case of contempt of a high court decision.
“This is clear disrespect of the court orders and, so, I urge the registrar of the National and Supreme Court or the chief justice to cite the prime minister for contempt.”
He also pointed out an incident in 1979 when the then minister for justice, Nahau Rooney, was imprisoned for interfering with the judiciary and cited for contempt.
Sir Michael, as the prime minister then, had allegedly released Rooney on licence after she had served a day of her sentence.
Basil claimed that this act of disrespect for the judiciary prompted the mass resignation of five judges including the chief justice. It was PNG’s first constitutional crisis four years after independence.
“I do not know whether the same can be done.
“If the judiciary is adamant to protect its independence and, most importantly, its orders, I suggest the judges should resign,” Basil said.
“If the prime minister cannot obey the orders, what good is there for the judiciary to hold on to?”
By JULIA DAIA BORE and JACOB POK
STATE prosecutors yesterday asked the leadership tribunal to dismiss Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare from office.
The tribunal yesterday heard arguments on penalty for the prime minister after he was found guilty on Monday of 13 counts of official misconduct. Sir Michael had failed to properly lodge his financial returns between 1994 and 1997.
However, the prime minister’s legal team argued that the charges against Sir Michael did not warrant the penalty of being dismissed from office. They, instead, asked that monetary fines be imposed on the prime minister, indicating K500 for each of the 13 offences.
The prosecuting team senior lawyer Pondros Kaluwin submitted to the tribunal: “Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is the chief executive of the land.
“The greater the power, the greater the obligations of the person holding that powerful position and the powers he holds is not meant for his own honour and fame; much less is it for his aggrandisement (enhancement).” Kaluwin said the powers entrusted in the prime minister were for the betterment of all PNG citizens.
Sir Michael’s overseas counsel Ian Molloy argued: “The misconduct itself, and the reasons for the misconduct, did not support a finding of serious culpability (intentions/responsibility or guilt in committing such an offence).
“On the contrary, they support a finding that there was no serious culpability.
“Having regard to the nature of the proven misconduct, the reasons for its occurrence (in parti-cular, the absence of dishonest motive), the PM’s long and outstanding public record, his cooperation with the tribunal and his subsequent and on-going compliance with his relevant obligations, the leadership tribunal should be satisfied there is no serious culpability on his part,” Molloy said, and referred to earlier tribunals involving other PNG leaders who had received lesser penalties for more serious offences of not filing their statements at all.
He claimed that in each of these cases involving leaders, they were fined between K500 and K1,000 for each charge.
In the event of a dismissal and recall of parliament, including a by-election, Molloy argued that the whole exercise would be costly.
“The public will not be served by recalling parliament and electing a new PM.
“A by-election, in itself, will leave East Sepik without a representative for about two months when there is a general election to be held in about 12 months,” the counsel submitted.
“The fact that the matter has come to this is punishment in itself.
“The PM has been publicly found guilty of misconduct in office. That is a blemish on an otherwise unblemished record. It will remain with him always.”
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse for the first time since the leadership tribunal started, the court premise was yesterday heavily guarded by police.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop said the tight security measure was taken in light of the tribunal’s guilty verdict against the prime minister on Monday.
He confirmed dispatching about 40 police personnel and two mobile squad units to the court premises yesterday.
“We were making sure no opportunists or criminal elements take advantage of the situation,” Tondop told The National by phone late yesterday.
The tribunal over the PM Somare's leadership case had come up with a final sympathetic decision, as a 14 day suspension penalty for the misconduct in office. MP Sam Basil had this on his facebook wall " PM tribunal penalty..14 days suspended only". There were a bunch of responses to this on MP Basil's wall releasing their frustrations over the verdict on Somare's leadership tribunal. Just read this today, March 24, 2011. God..we pray that something good must happend in PNG before any chaotic crisis erupt in PNG like those in the Mid-east nations.
THERE will be progressive annual pay increases for public servants averaging 7.5% each year for the next three years.
Minister for Public Service Moses Maladina said in a statement that “the government is aware of the plight of the lowest paid staff and the need to award greater percentage/higher cash increases in lower pay grades” but keeping within the overall budgetary constraint.
The minister also announced that, in a separate cabinet decision, fringe benefits for senior officers on senior management contracts in the public service had been significantly increased.
He said the increases were to reduce the pay differences between senior officers and their departmental heads and to attract and retain experienced and competent senior officers in the public service.
One of the most highly-sought and bitterly-fought issues, housing, had been refused by government.
Housing, it would seem, was not a condition of employment in the public service.
Maladina offered, instead, to increase and enhance opportunities to enter into public service home ownership allowances. Maladina said: “The government will not accept responsibility for the payment of across-the-board housing allowances, as housing is not a condition of employment in the public service.
“Furthermore, not all public servants pay rent or provide accommodation for their families.
“The government is prepared to enhance the payment of public service home ownership allowances for those staff at all levels who are eligible to enter government-sponsored home ownership schemes.”
Maladina’s statement followed acting Prime Minister Sam Abal’s announcement last Thursday that the public service pay bill would get a huge pay increase across the board of an additional K100 million.
The government approved pay awards covering all public servants including teachers and uniformed disciplined services.
There would be flow-on increases awarded to other state services and government agencies so that the whole public sector could be catered for in this year’s personnel emoluments budget.
Maladina said the government’s move was aimed at enhancing productivity, performance and pay in government-funded organisations.
The overarching strategy would:
*Achieve a more rigourous system for management of performance and discipline utilising performance-based contracts for agency heads and their senior staff, with accountability from the top down;
*Ensure there was careful prioritised management of organisational establishments, manpower and personnel emoluments against budget ceilings to stabilise/reduce unit costs and report non-conforming agencies to NEC;
*Upgrade staff competencies and management abilities through locally-based staff development programmes and graduate development programmes promoting public sector workforce development programes through the PNG Institute of Public Administration and other accredited training institutions; and
*Award fair, equitable and affordable pay increases related to staff expectations, based on job size and work performance, to meet rising living costs against a backdrop of rising levels of economic growth and budgetary affordability.
With regard to income tax, he said he would respond to the demands of public sector unions and agencies by making representation to the minister for finance and treasury to bring to his attention the plight of the lowest paid and the need for the government to review the level of income tax threshold, noting that such a move would benefit all taxpayers proportionately.
According to the statement, Maladina said the Department of Personnel Management had advanced its review of the Public Services (Management) Act, general orders and the code of conduct to enhance performance and productivity, improve and instill discipline and strengthen ethical conduct in the public service.
He said the significant pay rise over the next three years must be returned to the public in greater productivity and efficiency.
Maladina also announced that revised senior management contracts would be executed between the personnel management secretary, other departmental heads and senior officers employed in government departments and agencies.
THE suspension on Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch has been lifted, allowing the leader to return to performing his political and national duties as a member of parliament.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench yesterday lifted the suspension on Pruaitch until such time a leadership tribunal was appointed to investigate the leader.
The bench, comprising justices Bernard Sakora, Salatiel Lenalia and George Manuhu, also ruled that neither a Supreme nor a National Court had the power to dismiss a leader from holding office when referred to a leadership tribunal.
Pruaitch had appealed a decision by the lower court dismissing his applications to be heard following his referral by the Ombudsman Commission over 11 allegations of official misconduct.
Quoting sections 27 and 28 of the Organic Law, the Waigani court ruled that “the question of suspension falls exclusively with the leadership tribunal and comes into effect upon presentation of charges and statement of reasons (by the public prosecutor)”.
A leader cannot be suspended elsewhere, the judges said.
Sakora, who read out the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, said it would be unfair for Pruaitch to be denied his constitutional right to seek redress in a court of law on the basis that his ex parte application for leave for judicial review was refused.
Sakora said the motions judge hearing that matter had “erred in finding that the subsequent proceeding amounted to duplicity of proceeding and was an abuse of process”.
The three-judge bench then ruled to allow the appeal to be heard in due course by reinstating proceeding OS No.34 of 2010 – Pruaitch vs Chronox Manek & Ors – saying that it shall be heard by the National Court presided over by another judge.
The Ombudsman Commission, public prosecutor and the state were also ordered to meet all of Pruaitch’s costs in the appeal, including costs of overseas counsel.
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This tragic story is of my uncle's house on flame that has caused a life also is so saddening. A man of no formal education that has somehow managed to improve his lifestyle within the city. Very sorry to hear that he has lost the house. Sympathy to the family that lost the child in the flames.
PNG flag carrier Air Niugini added another Boeing 767 aircraft to its fleet yesterday.
The B767 with the registration P2-PXW was flown by Air Niugini pilots from Guangzhou, China, to Port Moresby.
It has been leased from Icelandair with scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and lease return conditions similar to that for other wide-bodied aircraft the national carrier operates.
Airline chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said the B767 was flown into the country by Air Niugini pilots from Hong Kong yesterday after continuing from Guangzhou to a Boeing certified facility to carry out a landing gear change.
The aircraft landed at the Port Moresby’s Jackson International Airport at 4.50pm.
He said Air Niugini planned to retire the B757 aircraft which had helped the airline build capacity since late 2008.
He said the aircraft could seat 32 business and 187 economy class seats in greater comfort.
He said the wide-bodied aircraft would allow Air Niugini to swap equipment without compromising passenger comfort and to develop the air freight business.
Kumarasri said with three 767 aircraft and increased frequencies to countries in the region the management requested companies and individuals to export and import using their carrier.
He said Air Niugini now had 21 aircraft serving the routes in PNG and abroad.
Kumarasiri also thanked all the firms, organisations and agencies that helped bring the plane to PNG.
By JEFFREY ELAPAA FOUR-year-old child from Mendi, Southern Highlands, died in a house razed by fire at the Nipa block, at 8-Mile settlement in Port Moresby, on Tuesday.
The owner of the two-storey house Alfred Omel named the child as Shima Wasma.
He said the child had been left asleep in a bedroom by her baby sitter while her mother was at work at the NCDC.
He said the cause of the fire is unknown but eyewitnesses claimed the fire started on the top floor of the two-storey building around 10am.
Omel said he had gone to drop his child at school at the time.
He said the top floor of the house was rented by the child’s family while he and his family used the ground floor.
Omel said the baby sitter went to the store, leaving the child asleep in the room, and on returning saw smoke billowing out.
The baby sitter tried to rescue the sleeping child but the fire was too fast.
He estimated the cost of damage at K300,000.
He said several thousand kina he kept at home to pay his children’s school fees had gone up in the fire.
He said nothing could be saved.
“Although I do not have formal employment, I have struggled over the years to build a high covenant house.
“I used to be proud of the house because that had changed my lifestyle.
“But all that is gone. It will be very difficult to rebuild for a person like me.
It is also unfortunate that a life has been lost in the fire,” Omel said.
The Omel and the Wasma families are now sleeping in a tent erected near the razed building.
People wanting to help the families can contact 72840320 or 71276205.
ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal yesterday confirmed the sacking of two senior cabinet ministers.
Gone are Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Don Polye and Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma.
“I have exercised my full powers as acting prime minister to remove the portfolio responsibilities from Polye and Duma,” Abal said.
“However, they still remain members of their parties in government.”
Polye and Duma, in a joint press conference, expressed disbelief and said they had not been informed of their removal as ministers (see page 2 report).
“I signed instruments of revocation of these portfolios last week,” Abal said.
“I am considering filling in the vacancies that have been created.”
Abal said stability of government was paramount.
“Discipline and control are needed to maintain assertive leadership.
“Over the few months that I have been tasked by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to lead government, discipline has been lacking in cabinet.
“There must be cohesion, consolidation and solidarity in government.
“We are a coalition government and we must have the zeal to work together for the good of our people.
“I have observed ministers causing insubordination to the extent that they are not cooperating in the job of governing this country for the common good of our people.
“They are not putting national interest before their own.
“It is my duty to ensure discipline in cabinet is maintained without allowing personal leadership interests to stand in the way, and for cooperative leadership from all coalition partners, for the common good of all Papua New Guineans.
“I am forced to demonstrate leadership authority to make decisions that satisfies more people than just a few.
“I must demonstrate control of government as well as for the sake of the country,” Abal said.
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ONE of the founding fathers of the nation and Governor of New Ireland, Sir Julius Chan, paid his tribute to his long-time colleague, Sir Michael Somare.
“I wish to pay tribute to a political colleague, friend, founding father of PNG and a true statesman, Sir Michael Somare. I join with all members of parliament and citizens of PNG to extend regret, sympathy and prayers for Sir Michael and his family on the announcement of his retirement as prime minister and member for East Sepik,” Sir Julius said.
He said Sir Michael and he shared a long and deep relationship in the building of the nation since 1968 when they were first elected into the House of Assembly.
“Today, I speak as one of the few Papua New Guineans elected with Sir Michael in 1968 to the then House of Assembly.
“It was there that we, just the few of us, beganothe transformation of that highest body in our land from a colonial to a national structure.
“There, seated among the otherwise mostly White Australian parliamentarians, Sir Michael and I share a brotherhood.
I will never forget as we took the first steps on that long road to Independence together.
“Over the years we have had, as two strong men will always have, our agreements and our disagreements.
“But at all times we have remained good personal friendship, enjoying the light pleasantries as well as the challenging experiences of politics, beginning in those early days of transition from colonial rule to self-government and finally Independence in 1975, and into the present,” Sir Julius said.
He said with differences in their professions before entering politics, he felt they had complemented each other.
He said Sir Michael, with his ability to spread the message of Independence, and he, with his ability to do the nuts and bolts work of establishing the framework of the nation they both worked so hard to create.
He said they shared a vision of what Papua New Guinea could become, “and that vision was never compromised by trivialities”.
Sir Julius said for nearly 50 years they had worked towards a common goal and for 50 years they had worked together as founding fathers of self-government in 1973.
He said the People’s Progressive Party helped to define the instruments for self-government and they were jolly good partners right up to Independence.
Sir Julius said their early political relations, compounded by the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, drew them closer together.
He said they put politics aside to engineer a strong and prosperous future in which they worked side by side to lay a strong foundation for the country’s financial institutions.
“As his longest-serving colleague, as a good friend and friendly adversary, as a comrade in arms in all struggles we faced and overcame, I want to say today that he served our country well and he will be remembered in the historical volumes, which will grow older with our Independence anniversaries. May he retire in peace with prayers of a grateful nation,” Sir Julius said.
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By ISAAC NICHOLAS
IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill is the new prime minister, winning by an overwhelming 70-24 votes in a surprise election orchestrated by the opposition in parliament yesterday.
Disgruntled MPs of the National Alliance-led coalition government crossed the floor with O’Neill in what was a major political coup to dismantle the nine-year coalition of ailing Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who had, in April, handed over the rein to Wabag MP Sam Abal.
The election yesterday saw a major split in the coalition with NA’s southern, islands and highlands blocs and partners United Resources, Pangu and People’s Action parties.
The only party that moved together across the floor was O’Neill’s People’s National Congress which was rewarded with the prime minister’s post. Up until yesterday, he was works minister.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ano Pala, Internal Security Minister Mark Maipakai, Tourism Minister Guma Wau, Lands Minister Lucas Dekena, Provincial Affairs Minister Job Pomat and Environment Minister Benny Allan broke ranks to side with the opposition and vote in the new prime minister.
While congratulatory messages poured in, the ousted Abal maintained that there was no vacancy in the post of prime minister, adding that he would challenge the election in court (see separate story).
Legal opinion from leading lawyers also agreed there was no vacancy but said the law was silent on whether or not parliament could declare a vacancy in circumstances such as what persists, where the incumbent prime minister has been absent from duty for three months.
When parliament started at 2pm, Speaker Jeffery Nape, who had been in camp with the opposition the previous night, invited Opposition leader Belden Namah who then suspended Standing Orders.
Namah, who mustered the numbers despite interjections from the government benches, declared the office of the prime minister vacant according to the Constitution.
He then moved for parliament to proceed to elect a new prime minister.
In what was apparently an orchestrated move, Nape then called for nominations for a new prime minister.
Namah then nominated O’Neill and was seconded by Hagen MP and URP leader William Duma.
Outspoken Bulolo MP Sam Basil moved to close nomination.
O’Neill accepted the nomination and Nape called for a vote.
He scored 70-24 votes to secure PNG’s top post.
Parliament was suspended after the election and O’Neill, accompanied by Kandep MP Don Polye, Duma, Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir Julius Chan and other MPs, left for Government House to be sworn in.
Although there was a slight delay due to lateness of the instruments, O’Neill was eventually sworn into office by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
The new government then returned to parliament where the new prime minister made his statement, thanking those who elected him to the top post.
O’Neill thanked Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his leadership over the years and stated that “circumstances beyond our control led to this situation”. He also thanked Nape for the smooth proceedings of parliament.
He said that the government had enough experience in former prime ministers in Sir Julius and Sir Mekere, former deputy prime ministers Dr Allan Marat, Polye, Moses Maladina and Sir Puka combining with young leaders for a trustworthy government.
“We are a government that will be fair and accountable to the people. A government that is responsive to their needs,” O’Neill said.
“It will be a government for the majority and not a few as in the past.”
O’Neill said a caretaker team would be announced today and a full cabinet announced by the weekend before parliament resumes next Tuesday.
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SPEAKER Jeffrey Nape yesterday declared a vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat, removing Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare from the parliamentary seat he has never been voted out of since 1968.
In a move sure to shock PNG, Nape declared at about 4 pm that there was a vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat. Parliament then voted on voices to dismiss Sir Michael.
Sir Michael, who had earlier been wheeled into the chamber in a wheelchair, and the opposition MPs were absent when the announcement was made.
The opposition and the National Alliance executive later expressed shock and said it was the work of power-hungry politicians.
Reading from an extensive legal brief he obtained from Twivey Lawyers, Nape told parliament that the power to declare a vacancy in both the office of the prime minister or the office of a member of parliament was vested in the speaker.
Nape further declared that his actions and the procedures of parliament, including the election of the prime minister, were non-justiceable, that is, they could not be challenged in a court of law.
Using parliamentary privilege, Nape discussed at great length the powers, functions and procedures of parliament in the event of a vacancy in the office of the prime minister, the subject of the reference now before the Supreme Court. Nape is named as the second intervenor in the reference.
The move now automatically creates a vacancy in the office Sir Michael had held as prime minister prior to his hospitalisation and this may have a bearing on the Supreme Court reference challenging the validity of the new government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Sir Michael, who made the trip home from Singapore on Sunday to be present at yesterday’s sitting in order to avoid being automatically disqualified, was told he was disqualified anyway.
In a letter to Sir Michael’s lawyers, Nape claimed that parliament’s grant of leave for Sir Michael from the May sitting of parliament was defective and that he had already absented himself from three consecutive parliament sittings by the Aug 2 sitting.
The speaker said Sir Michael had been away for too long “without excuse”, stating that no official statement for the long absence had been received from himself or the acting prime minister at the time.
Nape said: “There is nothing specifically provided in the Constitution, or the Prime Minister and NEC Act 2002 or the PNG Parliamentary Standing Orders for the procedure to be followed where a prime minister is absent without excuse for a prolonged period.
“Where there is a gap in procedure, there is, however, provision in the standing orders for a remedy, which is that pursuant to the functions and duties of his office under Order 284(1) in any matter that is not provided for in the standing orders, the speaker shall decide.
“It is then the speaker’s role to determine what procedure should take place when a prime minister is absent from duties for an extended period without proper excuse.
“Further, the general provisions of the Constitution and the standing orders that govern the role, functions and the powers of the speaker clearly are wide enough to allow the speaker to determine the appropriate authority to declare a vacancy in the office of the prime minister and that appropriate authority to declare the vacancy is the speaker.”
Copyright © 2009 The National. All Rights Reserved.
NB: Such Aids from Australia and New Zealand has a paramount contribution to the Government and people of PNG. Many people had taken this opportunity to further their education in these two countries and still there is continuity in providing this awesome program. The integral human development of PNG has been perpetually a priority of Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, PNG should learn from such experiences and think broader for developing our attitudes through education, and perhaps with the fear of God. As Papua New Guineans we supposed to thank God for bestowing these two great nations through a continual bilateral integration. Obviously, God gets glory for all that!!
Opps questions job for Pruaitch in NEC
Source:
The National - Monday, March 21, 2011
Picture:
Pruaitch was automatically suspended from office following his Supreme Court appearance in a matter of leadership brought on by the Ombudsman Commission, which is still pending.
According to a copy of the 18-page March 3 National Gazette, made available to The National, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had, on March 2, revoked the determination of titles and responsibilities of ministers made on Sept 13, 2007 (and gazetted G145 of Sept 13, 2007) and effected the new appointments, maintaining his entire cabinet with the inclusion of Pruaitch.
In his new portfolio, Pruaitch would assist the prime minister in:
*Matters relating to anything as delegated by the prime minister from time to time; and
*Any legislations relating to anything that the prime minister would delegate from time to time.
Having learnt of these new developments yesterday, the opposition was quick to react, claiming that the prime minister had breached the orders of the court when he sanctioned the appointment of Pruaitch and caused the publication of ministers constituting the NEC and their responsibilities in the March 3 National Gazette.
The gazettal listed 32 state ministers and their portfolios and functions, starting from the prime minister to the minister of lands.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil said: “This is in direct contempt of the orders of the Supreme Court in the case of Pruaitch vs Manek (2010) PGSC 7; SC1052 (May 31, 2010) where the Supreme Court declared that the leader was automatically suspended when the charges were served.
“The highest court of the land constituting justices Nicholas Kirriwom, Gavara-Nanu and Catherine Davani had declared that the leader was suspended forthwith.
“How could the prime minister then appoint him to be a minister of his cabinet?” Basil posed the question in an email to The National yesterday evening.
He said Pruaitch was yet to be heard in a court of law and that there was no court order setting aside the Supreme Court orders.
“Until a tribunal determines the allegations and, unless a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court overturns the decision to suspend the leader, the orders are still effective,” Basil said.
He claimed any action in derogation of that decision was clearly contempt.
“The appointment and publication in the National Gazette was a clear case of contempt of a high court decision.
“This is clear disrespect of the court orders and, so, I urge the registrar of the National and Supreme Court or the chief justice to cite the prime minister for contempt.”
He also pointed out an incident in 1979 when the then minister for justice, Nahau Rooney, was imprisoned for interfering with the judiciary and cited for contempt.
Sir Michael, as the prime minister then, had allegedly released Rooney on licence after she had served a day of her sentence.
Basil claimed that this act of disrespect for the judiciary prompted the mass resignation of five judges including the chief justice. It was PNG’s first constitutional crisis four years after independence.
“I do not know whether the same can be done.
“If the judiciary is adamant to protect its independence and, most importantly, its orders, I suggest the judges should resign,” Basil said.
“If the prime minister cannot obey the orders, what good is there for the judiciary to hold on to?”
State lawyers want PM out
Source:
The National - Wednesday, March 23, 2011
STATE prosecutors yesterday asked the leadership tribunal to dismiss Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare from office.
The tribunal yesterday heard arguments on penalty for the prime minister after he was found guilty on Monday of 13 counts of official misconduct. Sir Michael had failed to properly lodge his financial returns between 1994 and 1997.
However, the prime minister’s legal team argued that the charges against Sir Michael did not warrant the penalty of being dismissed from office. They, instead, asked that monetary fines be imposed on the prime minister, indicating K500 for each of the 13 offences.
The prosecuting team senior lawyer Pondros Kaluwin submitted to the tribunal: “Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is the chief executive of the land.
“The greater the power, the greater the obligations of the person holding that powerful position and the powers he holds is not meant for his own honour and fame; much less is it for his aggrandisement (enhancement).” Kaluwin said the powers entrusted in the prime minister were for the betterment of all PNG citizens.
Sir Michael’s overseas counsel Ian Molloy argued: “The misconduct itself, and the reasons for the misconduct, did not support a finding of serious culpability (intentions/responsibility or guilt in committing such an offence).
“On the contrary, they support a finding that there was no serious culpability.
“Having regard to the nature of the proven misconduct, the reasons for its occurrence (in parti-cular, the absence of dishonest motive), the PM’s long and outstanding public record, his cooperation with the tribunal and his subsequent and on-going compliance with his relevant obligations, the leadership tribunal should be satisfied there is no serious culpability on his part,” Molloy said, and referred to earlier tribunals involving other PNG leaders who had received lesser penalties for more serious offences of not filing their statements at all.
He claimed that in each of these cases involving leaders, they were fined between K500 and K1,000 for each charge.
In the event of a dismissal and recall of parliament, including a by-election, Molloy argued that the whole exercise would be costly.
“The public will not be served by recalling parliament and electing a new PM.
“A by-election, in itself, will leave East Sepik without a representative for about two months when there is a general election to be held in about 12 months,” the counsel submitted.
“The fact that the matter has come to this is punishment in itself.
“The PM has been publicly found guilty of misconduct in office. That is a blemish on an otherwise unblemished record. It will remain with him always.”
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse for the first time since the leadership tribunal started, the court premise was yesterday heavily guarded by police.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop said the tight security measure was taken in light of the tribunal’s guilty verdict against the prime minister on Monday.
He confirmed dispatching about 40 police personnel and two mobile squad units to the court premises yesterday.
“We were making sure no opportunists or criminal elements take advantage of the situation,” Tondop told The National by phone late yesterday.
The tribunal over the PM Somare's leadership case had come up with a final sympathetic decision, as a 14 day suspension penalty for the misconduct in office. MP Sam Basil had this on his facebook wall " PM tribunal penalty..14 days suspended only". There were a bunch of responses to this on MP Basil's wall releasing their frustrations over the verdict on Somare's leadership tribunal. Just read this today, March 24, 2011. God..we pray that something good must happend in PNG before any chaotic crisis erupt in PNG like those in the Mid-east nations.
7.5% pay rise
Source:
The National - Monday, April 4, 2011
Minister for Public Service Moses Maladina said in a statement that “the government is aware of the plight of the lowest paid staff and the need to award greater percentage/higher cash increases in lower pay grades” but keeping within the overall budgetary constraint.
The minister also announced that, in a separate cabinet decision, fringe benefits for senior officers on senior management contracts in the public service had been significantly increased.
He said the increases were to reduce the pay differences between senior officers and their departmental heads and to attract and retain experienced and competent senior officers in the public service.
One of the most highly-sought and bitterly-fought issues, housing, had been refused by government.
Housing, it would seem, was not a condition of employment in the public service.
Maladina offered, instead, to increase and enhance opportunities to enter into public service home ownership allowances. Maladina said: “The government will not accept responsibility for the payment of across-the-board housing allowances, as housing is not a condition of employment in the public service.
“Furthermore, not all public servants pay rent or provide accommodation for their families.
“The government is prepared to enhance the payment of public service home ownership allowances for those staff at all levels who are eligible to enter government-sponsored home ownership schemes.”
Maladina’s statement followed acting Prime Minister Sam Abal’s announcement last Thursday that the public service pay bill would get a huge pay increase across the board of an additional K100 million.
The government approved pay awards covering all public servants including teachers and uniformed disciplined services.
There would be flow-on increases awarded to other state services and government agencies so that the whole public sector could be catered for in this year’s personnel emoluments budget.
Maladina said the government’s move was aimed at enhancing productivity, performance and pay in government-funded organisations.
The overarching strategy would:
*Achieve a more rigourous system for management of performance and discipline utilising performance-based contracts for agency heads and their senior staff, with accountability from the top down;
*Ensure there was careful prioritised management of organisational establishments, manpower and personnel emoluments against budget ceilings to stabilise/reduce unit costs and report non-conforming agencies to NEC;
*Upgrade staff competencies and management abilities through locally-based staff development programmes and graduate development programmes promoting public sector workforce development programes through the PNG Institute of Public Administration and other accredited training institutions; and
*Award fair, equitable and affordable pay increases related to staff expectations, based on job size and work performance, to meet rising living costs against a backdrop of rising levels of economic growth and budgetary affordability.
With regard to income tax, he said he would respond to the demands of public sector unions and agencies by making representation to the minister for finance and treasury to bring to his attention the plight of the lowest paid and the need for the government to review the level of income tax threshold, noting that such a move would benefit all taxpayers proportionately.
According to the statement, Maladina said the Department of Personnel Management had advanced its review of the Public Services (Management) Act, general orders and the code of conduct to enhance performance and productivity, improve and instill discipline and strengthen ethical conduct in the public service.
He said the significant pay rise over the next three years must be returned to the public in greater productivity and efficiency.
Maladina also announced that revised senior management contracts would be executed between the personnel management secretary, other departmental heads and senior officers employed in government departments and agencies.
Suspension on member for Aitape-Lumi lifted
Source:
The National - Friday, April 1, 2011
A three-judge Supreme Court bench yesterday lifted the suspension on Pruaitch until such time a leadership tribunal was appointed to investigate the leader.
The bench, comprising justices Bernard Sakora, Salatiel Lenalia and George Manuhu, also ruled that neither a Supreme nor a National Court had the power to dismiss a leader from holding office when referred to a leadership tribunal.
Pruaitch had appealed a decision by the lower court dismissing his applications to be heard following his referral by the Ombudsman Commission over 11 allegations of official misconduct.
Quoting sections 27 and 28 of the Organic Law, the Waigani court ruled that “the question of suspension falls exclusively with the leadership tribunal and comes into effect upon presentation of charges and statement of reasons (by the public prosecutor)”.
A leader cannot be suspended elsewhere, the judges said.
Sakora, who read out the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, said it would be unfair for Pruaitch to be denied his constitutional right to seek redress in a court of law on the basis that his ex parte application for leave for judicial review was refused.
Sakora said the motions judge hearing that matter had “erred in finding that the subsequent proceeding amounted to duplicity of proceeding and was an abuse of process”.
The three-judge bench then ruled to allow the appeal to be heard in due course by reinstating proceeding OS No.34 of 2010 – Pruaitch vs Chronox Manek & Ors – saying that it shall be heard by the National Court presided over by another judge.
The Ombudsman Commission, public prosecutor and the state were also ordered to meet all of Pruaitch’s costs in the appeal, including costs of overseas counsel.
_________________________________________________________________________________
This tragic story is of my uncle's house on flame that has caused a life also is so saddening. A man of no formal education that has somehow managed to improve his lifestyle within the city. Very sorry to hear that he has lost the house. Sympathy to the family that lost the child in the flames.
Air Niugini adds another Boeing 767 to its fleet
Source:
The National, Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Picture:
The B767 with the registration P2-PXW was flown by Air Niugini pilots from Guangzhou, China, to Port Moresby.
It has been leased from Icelandair with scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and lease return conditions similar to that for other wide-bodied aircraft the national carrier operates.
Airline chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said the B767 was flown into the country by Air Niugini pilots from Hong Kong yesterday after continuing from Guangzhou to a Boeing certified facility to carry out a landing gear change.
The aircraft landed at the Port Moresby’s Jackson International Airport at 4.50pm.
He said Air Niugini planned to retire the B757 aircraft which had helped the airline build capacity since late 2008.
He said the aircraft could seat 32 business and 187 economy class seats in greater comfort.
He said the wide-bodied aircraft would allow Air Niugini to swap equipment without compromising passenger comfort and to develop the air freight business.
Kumarasri said with three 767 aircraft and increased frequencies to countries in the region the management requested companies and individuals to export and import using their carrier.
He said Air Niugini now had 21 aircraft serving the routes in PNG and abroad.
Kumarasiri also thanked all the firms, organisations and agencies that helped bring the plane to PNG.
Child, 4, dies as fire razed house
Source:
The National, Thursday, April 21, 2011
The owner of the two-storey house Alfred Omel named the child as Shima Wasma.
He said the child had been left asleep in a bedroom by her baby sitter while her mother was at work at the NCDC.
He said the cause of the fire is unknown but eyewitnesses claimed the fire started on the top floor of the two-storey building around 10am.
Omel said he had gone to drop his child at school at the time.
He said the top floor of the house was rented by the child’s family while he and his family used the ground floor.
Omel said the baby sitter went to the store, leaving the child asleep in the room, and on returning saw smoke billowing out.
The baby sitter tried to rescue the sleeping child but the fire was too fast.
He estimated the cost of damage at K300,000.
He said several thousand kina he kept at home to pay his children’s school fees had gone up in the fire.
He said nothing could be saved.
“Although I do not have formal employment, I have struggled over the years to build a high covenant house.
“I used to be proud of the house because that had changed my lifestyle.
“But all that is gone. It will be very difficult to rebuild for a person like me.
It is also unfortunate that a life has been lost in the fire,” Omel said.
The Omel and the Wasma families are now sleeping in a tent erected near the razed building.
People wanting to help the families can contact 72840320 or 71276205.
Abal: Sacking is now official
Source:
The National, Tuesday, June 7th 2011
Gone are Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Don Polye and Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma.
“I have exercised my full powers as acting prime minister to remove the portfolio responsibilities from Polye and Duma,” Abal said.
“However, they still remain members of their parties in government.”
Polye and Duma, in a joint press conference, expressed disbelief and said they had not been informed of their removal as ministers (see page 2 report).
“I signed instruments of revocation of these portfolios last week,” Abal said.
“I am considering filling in the vacancies that have been created.”
Abal said stability of government was paramount.
“Discipline and control are needed to maintain assertive leadership.
“Over the few months that I have been tasked by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to lead government, discipline has been lacking in cabinet.
“There must be cohesion, consolidation and solidarity in government.
“We are a coalition government and we must have the zeal to work together for the good of our people.
“I have observed ministers causing insubordination to the extent that they are not cooperating in the job of governing this country for the common good of our people.
“They are not putting national interest before their own.
“It is my duty to ensure discipline in cabinet is maintained without allowing personal leadership interests to stand in the way, and for cooperative leadership from all coalition partners, for the common good of all Papua New Guineans.
“I am forced to demonstrate leadership authority to make decisions that satisfies more people than just a few.
“I must demonstrate control of government as well as for the sake of the country,” Abal said.
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Sir Julius pays tribute to long-time colleague
Source:
The National – Thursday, June 30, 2011
“I wish to pay tribute to a political colleague, friend, founding father of PNG and a true statesman, Sir Michael Somare. I join with all members of parliament and citizens of PNG to extend regret, sympathy and prayers for Sir Michael and his family on the announcement of his retirement as prime minister and member for East Sepik,” Sir Julius said.
He said Sir Michael and he shared a long and deep relationship in the building of the nation since 1968 when they were first elected into the House of Assembly.
“Today, I speak as one of the few Papua New Guineans elected with Sir Michael in 1968 to the then House of Assembly.
“It was there that we, just the few of us, beganothe transformation of that highest body in our land from a colonial to a national structure.
“There, seated among the otherwise mostly White Australian parliamentarians, Sir Michael and I share a brotherhood.
I will never forget as we took the first steps on that long road to Independence together.
“Over the years we have had, as two strong men will always have, our agreements and our disagreements.
“But at all times we have remained good personal friendship, enjoying the light pleasantries as well as the challenging experiences of politics, beginning in those early days of transition from colonial rule to self-government and finally Independence in 1975, and into the present,” Sir Julius said.
He said with differences in their professions before entering politics, he felt they had complemented each other.
He said Sir Michael, with his ability to spread the message of Independence, and he, with his ability to do the nuts and bolts work of establishing the framework of the nation they both worked so hard to create.
He said they shared a vision of what Papua New Guinea could become, “and that vision was never compromised by trivialities”.
Sir Julius said for nearly 50 years they had worked towards a common goal and for 50 years they had worked together as founding fathers of self-government in 1973.
He said the People’s Progressive Party helped to define the instruments for self-government and they were jolly good partners right up to Independence.
Sir Julius said their early political relations, compounded by the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, drew them closer together.
He said they put politics aside to engineer a strong and prosperous future in which they worked side by side to lay a strong foundation for the country’s financial institutions.
“As his longest-serving colleague, as a good friend and friendly adversary, as a comrade in arms in all struggles we faced and overcame, I want to say today that he served our country well and he will be remembered in the historical volumes, which will grow older with our Independence anniversaries. May he retire in peace with prayers of a grateful nation,” Sir Julius said.
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O’Neill is PM
Source:
The National - Wednesday, August 3rd 2011
IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill is the new prime minister, winning by an overwhelming 70-24 votes in a surprise election orchestrated by the opposition in parliament yesterday.
Disgruntled MPs of the National Alliance-led coalition government crossed the floor with O’Neill in what was a major political coup to dismantle the nine-year coalition of ailing Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who had, in April, handed over the rein to Wabag MP Sam Abal.
The election yesterday saw a major split in the coalition with NA’s southern, islands and highlands blocs and partners United Resources, Pangu and People’s Action parties.
The only party that moved together across the floor was O’Neill’s People’s National Congress which was rewarded with the prime minister’s post. Up until yesterday, he was works minister.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ano Pala, Internal Security Minister Mark Maipakai, Tourism Minister Guma Wau, Lands Minister Lucas Dekena, Provincial Affairs Minister Job Pomat and Environment Minister Benny Allan broke ranks to side with the opposition and vote in the new prime minister.
While congratulatory messages poured in, the ousted Abal maintained that there was no vacancy in the post of prime minister, adding that he would challenge the election in court (see separate story).
Legal opinion from leading lawyers also agreed there was no vacancy but said the law was silent on whether or not parliament could declare a vacancy in circumstances such as what persists, where the incumbent prime minister has been absent from duty for three months.
When parliament started at 2pm, Speaker Jeffery Nape, who had been in camp with the opposition the previous night, invited Opposition leader Belden Namah who then suspended Standing Orders.
Namah, who mustered the numbers despite interjections from the government benches, declared the office of the prime minister vacant according to the Constitution.
He then moved for parliament to proceed to elect a new prime minister.
In what was apparently an orchestrated move, Nape then called for nominations for a new prime minister.
Namah then nominated O’Neill and was seconded by Hagen MP and URP leader William Duma.
Outspoken Bulolo MP Sam Basil moved to close nomination.
O’Neill accepted the nomination and Nape called for a vote.
He scored 70-24 votes to secure PNG’s top post.
Parliament was suspended after the election and O’Neill, accompanied by Kandep MP Don Polye, Duma, Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir Julius Chan and other MPs, left for Government House to be sworn in.
Although there was a slight delay due to lateness of the instruments, O’Neill was eventually sworn into office by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
The new government then returned to parliament where the new prime minister made his statement, thanking those who elected him to the top post.
O’Neill thanked Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his leadership over the years and stated that “circumstances beyond our control led to this situation”. He also thanked Nape for the smooth proceedings of parliament.
He said that the government had enough experience in former prime ministers in Sir Julius and Sir Mekere, former deputy prime ministers Dr Allan Marat, Polye, Moses Maladina and Sir Puka combining with young leaders for a trustworthy government.
“We are a government that will be fair and accountable to the people. A government that is responsive to their needs,” O’Neill said.
“It will be a government for the majority and not a few as in the past.”
O’Neill said a caretaker team would be announced today and a full cabinet announced by the weekend before parliament resumes next Tuesday.
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Grand Chief sacked
Source:
The National - Wednesday, September 7th 2011
In a move sure to shock PNG, Nape declared at about 4 pm that there was a vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat. Parliament then voted on voices to dismiss Sir Michael.
Sir Michael, who had earlier been wheeled into the chamber in a wheelchair, and the opposition MPs were absent when the announcement was made.
The opposition and the National Alliance executive later expressed shock and said it was the work of power-hungry politicians.
Reading from an extensive legal brief he obtained from Twivey Lawyers, Nape told parliament that the power to declare a vacancy in both the office of the prime minister or the office of a member of parliament was vested in the speaker.
Nape further declared that his actions and the procedures of parliament, including the election of the prime minister, were non-justiceable, that is, they could not be challenged in a court of law.
Using parliamentary privilege, Nape discussed at great length the powers, functions and procedures of parliament in the event of a vacancy in the office of the prime minister, the subject of the reference now before the Supreme Court. Nape is named as the second intervenor in the reference.
The move now automatically creates a vacancy in the office Sir Michael had held as prime minister prior to his hospitalisation and this may have a bearing on the Supreme Court reference challenging the validity of the new government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Sir Michael, who made the trip home from Singapore on Sunday to be present at yesterday’s sitting in order to avoid being automatically disqualified, was told he was disqualified anyway.
In a letter to Sir Michael’s lawyers, Nape claimed that parliament’s grant of leave for Sir Michael from the May sitting of parliament was defective and that he had already absented himself from three consecutive parliament sittings by the Aug 2 sitting.
The speaker said Sir Michael had been away for too long “without excuse”, stating that no official statement for the long absence had been received from himself or the acting prime minister at the time.
Nape said: “There is nothing specifically provided in the Constitution, or the Prime Minister and NEC Act 2002 or the PNG Parliamentary Standing Orders for the procedure to be followed where a prime minister is absent without excuse for a prolonged period.
“Where there is a gap in procedure, there is, however, provision in the standing orders for a remedy, which is that pursuant to the functions and duties of his office under Order 284(1) in any matter that is not provided for in the standing orders, the speaker shall decide.
“It is then the speaker’s role to determine what procedure should take place when a prime minister is absent from duties for an extended period without proper excuse.
“Further, the general provisions of the Constitution and the standing orders that govern the role, functions and the powers of the speaker clearly are wide enough to allow the speaker to determine the appropriate authority to declare a vacancy in the office of the prime minister and that appropriate authority to declare the vacancy is the speaker.”
