OPPOSITION SAYS BIG DON IS STILL TOP DOG NUMBER TWO...

BUT WE SAY...

Source: Post Courier 
MEMBER for Kandep Don Polye could still be the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
This brings to question whether former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration and Member for Wabag Sam Abal’s swearing in as DPM by the Acting Governor General Paul Tiensten after his appointment by the National Executive Council was in order.
The Opposition at a press conference yesterday said the Cabinet continue to manipulate parliamentary process breaching the Constitution along the way erroneously to satisfy their interest.
It was revealed the House Speaker Jeffery Nape was in the country and not away in Cairns as claimed by the government finding that as an excuse to appoint their own man to officiate at the swearing-in ceremony.
The Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta, his deputy Bart Philemon and MP for Abau Sir Puka Temu said the flaunting of parliamentary traditions expressed through the Standing Orders as well as the underlying Constitution of PNG was very clear.

THE COURT GIVES SOMARE TIME TO THINK THINGS THROUGH

PNG's SOMARE STEPS DOWN

Papua New Guinea's long-standing prime minister, Michael Somare, has temporarily stood down from his job to fight misconduct charges after a week of political turmoil in the resource-rich Pacific nation.Somare issued a brief statement today, saying he had voluntarily stepped aside so a tribunal could hear misconduct charges alleging he had failed to lodge annual financial statements during the 1990s.The move follows a cabinet reshuffle a week ago, and a court ruling that parliament must sit by late January to properly re-appoint the country's governor-general, Paulius Matane.

The political uncertainty is not expected to affect mining or exploration activities, and comes less than a fortnight after Somare led a mining seminar in Australia to promote foreign investment in his country's resources sector. Somare last week dumped his deputy prime minister, Don Poyle, in favour of close ally and foreign minister Sam Abal, who will now fill in as prime minister and hand the job back to Somare if he is cleared of the charges.

When parliament reconvenes, Somare could face a possible no-confidence motion mounted by opposition lawmakers.Papua New Guinea is a mineral rich Pacific Islands nation of around 6.3 million people, with reserves of gold, copper, oil and gas. But it has struggled to exploit its resources due to corruption, land ownership issues and poor infrastructure. Somare, 74, has been prime minister for eight years.

THE OLD GUARD HAVE LOST IT!

Somare's lawyers to challenge report

Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

December 13, 2010 - 1:09PM

AAP

The political future of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare is hanging in the balance, with his lawyers heading to court on Monday in an attempt to head off a leadership tribunal which would force him to step down while it investigates misconduct allegations.

There is also speculation a disaffected Don Polye, who was dumped as deputy prime minister in a sudden cabinet reshuffle last week, may take his Highlands faction to the opposition's ranks in an attempt to topple the government via a vote of no-confidence.

Mr Polye's position is unclear but Sir Michael, who has survived numerous close shaves in his 40 years of politics, is facing possible suspension from office if a leadership tribunal goes ahead.

The prime minister's lawyers are expected in court on Monday afternoon to push for an injunction against the public prosecutor who last week announced Sir Michael must face a tribunal for alleged misconduct in office.

The legal team will argue the Ombudsman Commission failed to follow several procedures, effectively invalidating the commission's report into alleged improprieties regarding Sir Michael's listing of financial statements.

On Sunday night, Sir Michael made a televised address to the nation to clarify the allegations against him regarding failing to provide financial statements from as far back as 1993.

While Sir Michael did not deny the allegations he stressed they were administrative not criminal matters.

In what was a big week in PNG's unpredictable politics, the turmoil intensified on Friday afternoon when the Supreme Court ruled the June re-appointment of Sir Paulias Matane as governor-general was invalid.

The ruling declared PNG's parliament now must reconvene before January 20 to replace the governor-general.

The opposition is hoping this resitting of parliament will give it an opportunity for another vote of no confidence.However, two previous attempts this year have already be thwarted.

Friday's Supreme Court ruling also criticised Speaker Jeffery Nape, who has been key to the government's survival by allowing lengthy adjournments to stave off previous no-confidence votes.

Sir Paulias and Mr Nape, both on holidays, have been silent on the developments while PNG government officials have not indicated when parliament will reconvene.

© 2010 AAP

RESHUFFLE IN PNG CABINET. DON POLYE REMOVED & HITLER REACTS

Deputy PM victim of PNG cabinet reshuffle

Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

December 8, 2010

           

AAP

The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare is to face a leadership tribunal for alleged misconduct in office that forces him to stand down as the country's leader.

But Sir Michael, 74, who has survived 40 years in politics, is a wily operator who has navigated out of numerous close shaves and many pundits predict this will not to be his final curtain.

PNG's Public Prosecutor Jim Wala Tamati issued a press release on Wednesday afternoon stating his intention in three days' time to launch a tribunal.

"I inform the PM that I intend to make a request to the Chief Justice to appoint an appropriate Leadership Tribunal into allegations of his misconduct in office," he writes.

The tribunal relates to an Ombudsman Commission inquiry into alleged improprieties regarding his listing of financial statements. Some of the allegations date back 20 years.

Sir Michael has been fighting the allegations in court since 2008, allegations that include he failed to lodge information about his assets, income and business connections, and that he filed late or incompletely.

Sir Michael must step down once referred to a leadership tribunal, which would mean the new deputy PM would become acting prime minister.

But in an unusual twist that sits comfortably within PNG's political landscape, it is unclear exactly who is PNG's deputy PM.

On Wednesday morning PNG media was ablaze with reports of a sudden cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday including the deputy PM position.

But by Wednesday afternoon there were unconfirmed reports indicating the PM's reshuffle had been rescinded and all those in new positions had been reshuffled back to their original portfolios.

Government official Tipo Vuatha told the Post Courier newspaper deputy prime minister Don Polye had been stripped of his title, replaced by former foreign affairs minister Sam Abal.

But Polye told ABC radio on Wednesday he was still the deputy PM.

The Post Courier ran a photograph of Sir Arnold Ahmet being sworn in as the new attorney general by the Governor General Sir Paulias Matane, who was recalled from holidays to officiate.

PNG's PM media spokeswoman Betha Somare, the PM's daughter, has been unable to comment and did not return AAP's numerous calls regarding who was the country's deputy PM.

© 2010 AAP

SANTA CLAUS ROBS HAGEN OFFICE - Who's the REAL Santa?

It was more jungle bells than jingle bells when a Santa Claus with gifts pulled out a gun and robbed an unsuspecting office in Papua New Guinea.Two men are now wanted for the Santa-themed robbery in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province on Monday. Police in Mt Hagen confirmed to AAP a robbery had taken place but would not elaborate on the yuletide method used.The men, one in a Santa suit and the other carrying a box supposedly full of presents from a local coffee and tea producer, robbed Wamp NGA Holdings of around 50,000 kina (A$20,000).

A Wamp NGA staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, told AAP the men infiltrated the company's tight security by duping guards into thinking they were there to give staff Christmas presents."I was quite scared," the staffer said."We could not see one of their faces because he had a Santa hat and beard on but the other guy was just dressed normally."We all were really shocked by this."The Christmas duo told staff presents would be given to them in the company boardroom, then the two pulled out hand held guns and locked everybody in the room.Money was taken from the company's accounts department and the two walked out of the building.

- ninemsn 

MP loses K1 million in taxi

By ALISON ANIS
MEMBER for Telefomin Peter Iwei has appealed for the return of a misplaced K1 million cheque for his electorate in West Sepik.
Iwei told The National yesterday that the cheque, handed to him on Monday for his electorate under the district services improvement programme (DSIP), was misplaced on his way home and he suspected a cab driver for holding onto it.

Iwei said the cheque was written to the Telefomin district treasury operating trust account and was intended for the joint district planning and budget priorities committee to determine the projects to be funded. But, he carelessly left it behind in a taxi, and now wanted it returned.
He explained that on Monday afternoon, between 4pm and 6pm, he got into a white taxi that was parked at a driveway in front of parliament and asked the driver to take him to his house.
“The cheque was in a white envelope that I, accidentally, placed on the dashboard in front of me. I forgot to pick it up when I got out of the taxi,” Iwei said.
He said he knew the identity of the cab driver but did not know where he resided and was appealing to him, or anyone who picked it up, to return it to him.
 “This K1 million DSIP cheque belongs to the people of Telefomin.
“I want it returned to my office immediately so I am appealing to the driver, or whoever took it, to return it to me.”

Iwei said he had written to the Department of the Finance and Treasury to put a stop on the cheque.
“Treasury has received my letter and will advise the bank on this, so they can also stop any transaction from taking place,” he said.
Iwei was one of a number of MPs who were met at one of parliament’s conference rooms by Finance Department officials who had gone there to pay them the K1 million in DSIP funds.
It was unclear why Finance Department officials had decided to bring the cheques physically to parliament to pay the MPs when they could have easily transferred the funds electronically to the district accounts and simply advise the MPs that the funds were safely in the bank.
 

RESERVED SEATS FOR WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT LESS LIKELY (RADIO NEW ZEALAND)

Suggested headline for the Post Courier. 

A Papua New Guinea academic says it will be a challenge now to get reserved seats for women in time for the next election.

A bill to create 22 reserved seats for women has gone back to cabinet for reworking.Academic Dr Orovu Sepoe, who worked on the bill, says MPs refused to support the bill over a provision, added at the last minute, tying the reserved seats to provincial governorships.

“Women have been saying that ’what’s the big difference here’. The principle is still the same. It’s just that the governors in parliament at the moment are uncomfortable with tying womens’ seats to their seats. They would like to make it separate. The women are not very happy, because it is a commitment that has been made by the Government.”

Dr Orovu Sepoe says the change was made so the bill could be passed by a simple majority.

PNG PM denies kidnapping allegations

Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

November 25, 2010Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has denied claims he ordered a kidnap and attacked a non-government organisation activist.

Earlier this month Noel Anjo, an outspoken critic of the government, claimed he was bashed at the prime minister's home in 2009.

A front page newspaper story, supported by PNG's opposition, reported Mr Anjo's allegations that plain clothed police took him to Sir Michael's official residence, where the prime minister and his wife Lady Veronica Somare repeatedly punched him.

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In parliament on Wednesday, Sir Michael rejected Mr Anjo's claims.

"I can assure this parliament that Veronica and I never laid a finger on Noel Anjo let alone order any kidnapping," Sir Michael said.

"These claims remain allegations until they are proven.

"I want to let this house know that to date no charges have been laid against me.

"Only if the matter is taken up in court will I be obligated to answer to these politically-motivated claims.

"Nobody should put up with the kind of venom that my entire family has been subjected to over the recent number of years that I have been in office," he said.

The opposition's campaign against the government has repeatedly focused on numerous scandals that have plagued the two-term Somare government.

Thwarted attempts to topple the government this year with a vote of no confidence saw a mass defection to the opposition, including the former deputy prime minister Puka Tumu.

But despite the occasional wobble, the Somare government remains in tact and presides over strong economic growth.

However, opposition deputy leader Bart Philemon on Tuesday said the Somare government had not translated that economic growth into other areas.

"Despite eight years of political stability and unprecedented levels of revenue, the Somare government has failed to address strategic areas such as good governance and rising corruption, the public service has become bloated, ineffective and highly unproductive," he said.

PAPUA New Guinea's MPs have voted themselves a 52 per cent pay rise, immediately before adjourning parliament for six months.

They will earn $32,000 a year, compared with the average income per head of $1400. Prime Minister Michael Somare will earn $105,000 a year after Thursday's vote.

Opposition MPs walked out when the new Public Services Minister Moses Maladina proposed the pay hike, as urged by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

The commission comprises the Prime Minister, parliamentary Speaker, Opposition Leader, Chief Justice, and heads of the departments of personnel management and of labour and employment.

The pay hike, based on a review by US-based consultancy the Hay Group, will cost an initial $13 million, including backpay for last year. The MPs' pay rise came after a report was published by Care Australia this week saying PNG was suffering a "chronic humanitarian emergency".

Julia Newton-Howes, the chief executive of Care Australia, said a survey in PNG's eastern highlands showed that about 191 babies die in every 1000 live births - compared with fewer than five in Australia.

In the Yelia region those surveyed earn on average under $40 a year.

People in more than half the 260 households surveyed had eaten only one staple food - sweet potato - in the previous day.

Ms Newton-Howes said: "What little government-funded services they have access to, seem to make very little difference to their lives."

Australia will this year give PNG $457m in aid.

Prime minister of Papua New Guinea threatens to kill rival politician (A bit of history)

Sir Michael Somare, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, has threatened to kill an opposition MP in a day of high drama in the country's parliament.

Proceedings descended into chaos after the opposition tried to move a vote of no confidence in Sir Michael.

Despite the opposition having an obvious majority, the speaker ignored their calls for a formal vote, and announced he was adjourning parliament until November.

The decision prompted an outcry from the opposition benches, who accused Sir Michael, 74, of being "a dictator".

Clearly enraged, Sir Michael crossed the chamber, pointed his finger at the opposition MP, Sam Basil, and shouted in pidgin: "I am going to kill you outside."

The Prime Minister had to be calmed down by his son Arthur Somare.

Later a spokesman for the Prime Minister denied that he threatened to kill anyone, saying that his exact words were "you're dead meat".

Sir Michael, who has been prime minister for 16 of Papua New Guinea's 35 years of independence, is facing a direct challenge for the country's leadership from his former deputy Puka Temu and has recently seen his support fall to about 60 of the 86 MPs who elected him three years ago.

His National Alliance party is falling apart and it seems unlikely that he will survive as leader for much longer.

The veteran politician, who was knighted by the Queen in 1990, has courted controversy in recent years, earning Australia's wrath in 2006 when he ignored an extradition request for then-Solomon Islands Attorney General Julian Moti to face child sex charges.

In May, Sir Michael apologised after branding anti-corruption activists "mentally retarded", and in June, Papua New Guinea banned reporting and discussion of environmental law changes that could allow a Chinese miner to pump waste out to sea.

PNGDF can't handle an internal security threat!

Maj. Gen. Jerry Singirok in 1997

Two years ago,  the former commander of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force,  retired Major General Jerry Singirok, raised concerns about the state of the  PNGDF.  He said in very plain terms that the "army" was in no position to  protect the country from an internal security threat  similar to that on Bougainville. 
               Singirok  rose through the ranks  as a veteran of the Bougainville war   then became known as the commander who called on Prime Minister Julius Chan to resign when the government chose to hire Tim Spicer's Sandline mercenaries to end the Bougainville crisis.   Singirok believes  the country is nearing a tipping point in terms of its internal security. As a member of the Guns Committee  he has,  on many occasions, said  that the police are outgunned, the Defense force limited and inadequate with a little over 2000 men and women while  landowners and criminal gangs stockpile weapons for various reasons.  
               That  internal security threat has become more complicated with the buyout of local security firm G4S  by  a London based company owned by none other than  Tim Spicer himself.  
               The government itself can't deal with the situation even if it wanted to.   Spicer has too much money to play around with. Retired Colonel Reginald Renagi  says the Sandline Crisis had a tremendous psychological impact on political  minds. Many within political circles  are of the opinion that increasing the PNGDF's capacity to counter such an internal threat is a double edged sword and  that  a dissatisfied commander could create a situation similar to or worse than  the Sandline crisis in 1997.   
             But  then again, maybe we do need a situation like that again. Sandline caused political leaders to open their eyes and ears to the ordinary people.  The Chan government  needed some form of shock treatment which was delivered by Singirok and the military.  Singirok could have seized power if he  wanted. But he didn't.  

Jeffery Nape's innocent question

Papua New Guinea's Speaker of Parliament,  Jeffery Nape appears to have hit the spotlight again this time over the payment  K30 million alleged to have been paid to him to thwart a vote of no confidence motion this month.  
         Of course,  good ol' Jeffery responded with a statement parts of were printed in the  Rimbunan Hijau owned National Newspaper. 
“The office of the speaker categorically denies this rumour and wishes to inform members of parliament and the people of PNG that the rumour is false and malicious in nature, he said. 
“This rumour is being perpetrated by some people to discredit the good speaker of parliament for reasons only known to them,” the statement said.
          There's nothing wrong with issuing a public statement to clear your name. Problem is, How many Papua New Guineans are going to believe that?  It makes you wonder why the last attempt at a vote of no confidence didn't work out for Mekere and the opposition lot.  Did the other fence sitter politicians get paid off? 
While the statement may have been well intentioned, the speaker has several unresolved issues. His conduct during the governor general's vote  in September remains in question not to mention the numerous times  debates generated by the opposition has been stifled.