"I have a dream - I don't want my dream to just die with me, it burns inside my heart," says young Papua New Guinean

by LUCAS KIAP

I KNOW we have a choice in 2017 to make PNG better and that choice is our power to make it really happen.

Some people may think that I have an intention to contest the elections because of my everyday devotion on the issues and challenges facing our beloved country.

Let me remind you that I have been writing about the issues affecting the country for the last 20 years since my young days at the University of Technology in 2001.

I know politics in PNG is all about the 'big boys’ money game – killing pigs, buying airfares for voters, giving cash at funerals, buying coffins, giving cash handouts, dancing and singing till day break, mounting speakers on Toyota Landcruiser, screaming through loudhailers, bribing voters with cash and lamp flaps, cheating and bribing election officials and police, etc.

The fact is I am not a millionaire. I don’t have my own car. I don’t even own a home. I am just a simple government worker earning a K7 fortnightly housing allowance and pay more than a quarter of my salary as income tax and on top of that I pay 10% GST.

But there is one thing I care about and willing to lay down my life for it. Even if it means to stand alone, I will. That is, I don’t want the future of our children remains in the hands of those who have denied ours, the future we deserve in our natural resources rich country.

I know our country is rich in natural resources and any dream can be possible. We can be better off like developed countries with similar living standards. Yet we are poor and beggars in our own rich country accepting poverty as our way for life.

If I am going to contest one of seats in PNG in this coming 2017 General elections, then I have only one reason and that is to make corruption become part of the history and not part of the future. This is the reason why I have been advocating my life for the silent majority for the last two decades.

My fellow brothers and sisters, I have been talking about change for the last 20 years of my life since my high school days during the 1990s. I have a passion that really burns in my heart. I am convinced that our people deserve better. And I don’t want to die without trying to show the people what we deserve in this country. I don’t want my dream of changing this country just die with me.

That’s why I have been educating our people about what we really deserve from our leaders and how countries are run to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the people.

I know there are guys with money, cars and wealth going to contest the elections. That’s what they have been doing for the last 40 years; throwing our future out of their toilet window, treating our votes merely as a commodity that can be traded with cash and kind. Yet here we are after 40 years, still worse with no hope for a better life. We look upon those who rob our future and worship them like gods in a country; otherwise we all should enjoy similar living standards and quality of life like Hon. MPs and rich people.

I have no interests in politics or elections. That’s what people have been doing for the last 40 years. The same old stories. The same old lies. The same old faces.
But if I am going to contest the elections then I have only one reason and that is to live my dream of changing PNG like the way I see it.

My brother and sisters, I am really serious about changing the face of PNG if I have your power. I know people also want change and have been praying for change for the last 40 years. I don’t want them to die without seeing the answers to their prayers of what change looks like.

I don’t want our children to live in the same substandard lifestyle like us in a rich country, where we all deserve better. I don’t want our children to born into a hopeless country with fewer opportunities. I don’t want the opportunities of our children to be given away to foreigners.

My brothers and sisters, my dream is to change PNG one day like the way I talk about it every day of my life. I want to see our people and their well-being transformed from a poor third world country into modern country with higher living standards and quality of life like people in developed countries. I want to see our people are at the centre of all development efforts by the government to improve their living standards and quality of life. If I don’t achieve it, at least I want to try and lay the foundation to show the way forward for our sons and daughters to achieve my dream.

If I have to start somewhere, then I am going to start in Western Highlands because that’s where I come from.
My brothers and sisters, I am not asking you all to support nor believe me. But if there is something we all want it, something we all can stand together for, something worth fighting together for; then I can assure you all that it is safe to bet your hope in me for a better future because that’s what I have been dedicating my life for the last two decades.

Yes our future is what worth fighting for together. Let’s forget about our differences but let’s disagree to agree because at the end of the day, our future is what worth standing together for.Yes we can change PNG. That’s what we are going to do in the 2017 elections – we are going to change PNG.

Thank you all for your support, dedication and commitment to believe in change and willing to make change happen.

The O'Neill-Dion Government delivered major infrastructural services, notably building Mt. Hagen as the business center for the highlands region

by MICHEAL IPA 

THE Somare government was running or surplus budget for 10 years with a K10 billion each year. That is a total of K100 billion. Don Polye was the deputy prime minister at the time. What happened to all those money? Where did they spend it.

In 2013, the O'Neill government passed a record budget of K15 billion for the year 2014 because of the need for the Pacific Games infrastructure. The decision to bring the Pacific Games here in PNG was the decision of the then Somare government. They didn't do anything about it. The O'Neill government was forced to carry on that responsibility.

Some of you might be disagreeing with the sporting infrastructures but there is a thing called "Sports Tourism". I have seen more international events played in PNG compared to previous years and this is a testament of the improvement in our sporting facilities. I believe that we will see many future internal events like the Rugby league world cup in 2017 where PNG Kumuls will be playing all his games in Pool C at home soil against Europe and USA. It will generate revenue for the government and the people of PNG.

A lot of people have been complaining about development only happening in Port Moresby, I think you certainly failed to realize the bigger picture. It is necessary and priority. You will understand what I am talking about if you understand the bigger picture.

I will give you examples of development happening in Mt. Hagen.
1. Kapal House
2. Mt. Hagen International Airport
3. Togoba Junction to Kagul Road Sealing
4. The recently approved 4 lane highway from Togoba to Kagamuga Airport.

We must also understand that the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government sets out the financial and functional powers of each level of government. Get yourself educated and read on the responsibility of each of the government levels. For example, It's not the responsibility of the National Government to build feeder roads into your little village or provide water supply for you. Read and find out whose responsibility is that.

In addition to that, in Western Highlands Province alone, each district is being directly getting K10,000.00 every year for the last 15 years since the time of Somare government, if you haven't seen change, ask your Local MP. The Provincial Government has been receiving PSIP, K5 million per district, meaning if WHP has 4 districts, that's K20 million of development grant per year. Ask your Provincial MPs where they're putting them.

Let's not blame everything on PM O'Neill. He is by far, the best working PM this country has ever seen since independence.

He got the loans to build these infrastructures because these are the necessary infrastructures to support the economy of this country. Yes, I can also admit that some of the cost of the infrastructures have unbelievable costs and that's something that the government must engage 3rd party consultants to vet and quantity those costing.

But nevertheless, if you want change, you have got to do something that you have never done before. Even if it means it will hurt.

We will only complain if the Government has raised the GST. To date, they haven't, which means you have been paying for the same tax you have been paying for the last 20 years so stop hallucinating that all over sudden you will be under some sort of stress. NO! You will be fine. You will still get the same pay you worked for, you will still pay the same 10% GST you have been paying for.

When we recover from this recession because of the drop in mineral and petroleum prices, when people like Peter O'Neill as PM, we will see unprecedented changes. Ask Don Polye, name one bridge he built when he was Works Minister and Deputy PM?

None of the other PMs have done it. Peter O'Neill has been the "Infrastructural PM".

Great job, well done. Social media maybe against your decisions, they will never hold this country to ransom. The 85 MPs who have been voted in by their people have confidence in you, the people of PNG are seeing changes, and they are happy for you.

Let history be the judge. Keep your heads down an plow away. Only when we look back, we will judge from then. For now, rest assured, we trust you. Same speed, same speed.

Two senior UPNG academics and researchers to analyse 2017 voter preferences using SMS technology - to see if post-nomination period is accurate for winning elections

THE 2017 General Election has provided a unique opportunity for two PNG researchers to analyse voter preferences over the next 12 months.

University of PNG academics, Dr. Lawrence Sause and Dr. Leo Marai, have decided to address scarce and outdated knowledge on voter behaviour and preferences by conducting a nation-wide opinion poll survey using SMS technology.

“Our study is being done to contribute to the wider body of knowledge on electoral politics in PNG and in particular, on the utility of the survey opinion poll as a tool for predicting election outcomes,” said Dr. Sause.

“We’re using the 2017 General Election as a test case by examining whether voter preferences in the pre-nomination period and actual candidates in the post-nomination/campaign period is an accurate predictor for winning the election.”

Dr. Marai added that the survey has two primary objectives; to determine the extent that popular preferences translate into winning results, and the key issues influencing voter choice.

“We decided to use SMS as the primary vehicle for our survey because mobile phone penetration in PNG is extremely high, and the technology allows us to interact with our respondents in all 111 electorates across PNG.

“As a means to allow us to establish who the preferred candidates in each electorate are, SMS is the most efficient, timely and cost-effective way to reach out to our people.

To establish a control database, the survey will be done in two periods; the pre-nomination and post-nomination windows so that we can tap into what people are thinking in the lead up to the election. Once the results come out, we can then look back at our data and draw appropriate conclusions.”

Following a public awareness period, opinion poll survey SMS messages will be sent out to key population areas in each electorate across PNG, asking respondents to nominate four preferred candidates for each seat.

“When we get valid responses, the answers will be vetted to ensure they’re credible – if they are, the first 100 validated replies from each electorate will receive K5 credits on the Digicel network. We are working with the Trend Media Group to roll out this research on the Digicel network because they have the largest mobile phone customer base in PNG,” said Dr. Sause.

The research will have long-term implications on understanding and strengthening elections in PNG. “There are a number of interesting elements to what we’re doing in this exercise; obviously, there’s clearly a political dimension; finding out who the likely candidates in each seat will be,” added Dr. Marai.

“There’s an opportunity to demonstrate the utility and usefulness of survey opinion polls; then there’s the element of predicting the outcome of the voting process and finally there’s the use of mobile phone technology for nationwide surveys, to get an accurate read of what people are thinking right across PNG.

“I think this is a really exciting project and I’m really interested to see what the early results will provide us,” he said.

The survey will run from Wednesday, September 7.

Source: Press Release

New research found PNG women are significantly under-represented in the top public servant jobs, with only 7% compared to rest of Pacific

NEW research has found scholarships and persistence are paying off in efforts to get more women in the Pacific into senior government jobs.

The public sector is the largest single employer of women across the Pacific but the research presented to a Commonwealth gathering in Apia on Wednesday shows they are significantly under-represented in the top jobs.

Papua New Guinea reported only 7 percent of its senior government roles were held by women but Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were performing well with up to 50 percent, according to Nicole Haley of the Australian National University.

"One of the really positive things that we uncovered was that in the case of Tonga the gender profile has changed markedly in the past decade."

"One of the things that had contributed to that was the Public Service Commission actively awarding a disproportionate number of scholarships to women," Nicole Haley said.

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Chief Ombudsman Illa Geno team up with PANGU party as a strategic advisor

FORMER Chief of Police and Ombudsman Illa Geno has formally joined Pangu Party as a strategic adviser on Internal Security.

Geno began his career as a police officer in 1968 as a detective under Australian administration. He served 25 years in the force, bestowed the top position of Chief of Police in 1992. After serving out his two year contract as Commissioner of Police he was later appointment Chairman of Public Service Commission in 1993. In 1999 Geno joined the Ombudsman Commission, two years later he was elevated to the top position of Chief Ombudsman.

During his term as head of Ombudsman Commission Geno holds the highest record of referrals of Members of Parliament t face the Leadership Tribunal. He was later forced to retire after meeting the mandatory age of 60.

Geno joins Pangu with the highest credentials in law enforcement as well as leadership and governance.

Pangu Party Leader Sam Basil welcomed Geno to Pangu's impressive team of strategic political advisers. Geno now joins retired Chief of Defence Force Brigadier Major Jerry Singarock - (National Security) Bryan Kramer (Chief Political Strategist) Dulciana Somare Brash (International Relations & Policy).

Illa Gena seated second from left with the PANGU team

Source: Bryan Kramer (Facebook)

Papua New Guinea is slowly facing a drug shortage in public hospitals, reveals opposition

SHORTAGE of drugs and medical kits in public hospitals and clinics is life threatening, says Opposition Leader Don Polye.

And Mr Polye has called on the fellow citizens to take extra care of themselves.

“Prevention is better than cure. Medical fees at private hospitals are very costly.

“Our common people cannot afford them,” said a concerned Polye.

He said his officers had conducted a research into most of the public hospitals and clinics around the country.

Polye added they learnt that most public hospitals and clinics faced shortage of blood bags, test kits and other medical kits.

 “Shortage of medicines in the public health facilities has never been experienced before.

“This is happening because of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government’s lack of fiscal discipline and economic mismanagement,” he said.

He said the free-health care policy was a populist and false promise to make O’Neill looks good, describing it as failed and not genuine.

“When we are in government, we will build four regional referral hospitals in each of the regions.

“We will encourage training of more specialized community health workers and doctors with improved working conditions to improve the healthworker-to-patient ratio in the country,” a determined Polye said.  

The Opposition Leader has called on the Prime Minister to admit the problem and mobilize resources to address it.

He said the PM should stop globe-trotting and take time out to see it for himself.

“Cut down on unnecessary expenditures and prioritize those services like health and education which matter most to our people,” he said. 

Port Moresby General Hospital

Angau Memorial Hospital

Papua New Guinea must fight the "real war" - not over domestic petty issues.

by GARY GUFFA

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) loves fighting for shit that it has zero benefit from. Corned beef for instance, State of Origin and in Bougainville we even took up arms and killed our brothers and sisters for a mine that made profits for others, yet we do not rise up to fight for what should truly concern us.

For instance the health situation where we sat silently while a ridiculous scam of an inflated contract that endangers our lives is allowed to be granted to a foreign owned company that imports its medicine from a company cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) for distribution of counterfeit products.

We say nothing about the granting of citizenship illegally to a criminal fugitive wanted in another nation for banking fraud and we are clearly not worried that they are now granted a monopoly over rice commercialization in PNG. Nor do we care when the same criminal is granted a contract to rebuild a Government building at exceptionally high cost and staff it with foreigners.

Where are our priorities? Papua New Guinea!

We say nothing about the plunder of our forests and marine resources by criminal entities that avoid taxes in elaborate transfer pricing scams while our Government forces Papua New Guinea companies to pay taxes with heavy penalties...

Nor do we even blink an eye when our jobs and opportunities are gifted away as 80,000 school leavers spill into our economy fighting with expats for 10,000 jobs...

Where indeed are our priorities are, people of Papua New Guinea?

Why is it that we are willing to kill each other over a rugby match played in another country and for greasy canned meat made of meat imported from offshore but so apathetic about the state of our health, education, law and order, rights to opportunities and jobs and our resources?

Gary Guffa

Gary Guffa with kids and a man from his village.

VIDEO: The former head of customs and Oro Governor, Gary Juffa, has issued a strong message to Australia saying the Australian government should not subcontract asylum processing to Papua New Guinea.

A challenging but rewarding journey at Investigation Task-Force Sweep (ITFS) - today marks 5 years anniversary

by SAM KOIM

AT end of this month (August) marks 5 years of Investigation Task-Force Sweep (ITFS) – 2 ½ years funded and 2 ½ years defunded. It is also 5 years for me with ITFS as the Chairman –3 years with salary and 2 years without salary.

The last two years had been very challenging. We have tried our best to survive the onslaught of oppression and suppression. We are still legally operational but starved of funds. Imagine paying for office stationary, electricity, internet etc… out of your own pockets to maintain a government office functional as if there is no money in the public coffers. We have personally borrowed to survive but then they accuse us of how we have been surviving instead of at least appreciating that we managed to come thus far. It’s like the accusers threw us out of the ship in the middle of the deep ocean and expected us to drown and die, but when we made it to the shore alive, they then turned around and accused us saying “why are you still surviving?”

I’ve always held this believe that working for fulfilment is a better motivation than working for salary. You need salary because you have bills to pay. Once you minus bills from salary, money ceases to be the focus. Consider all extras as luxury. However, salary can be a demotivating factor and can affect performance if the remuneration is inadequate to take care of the bills. In tough times like what I’ve been through, it is principles like this that will keep you motivated to perform.
For two years, we have held on this fight in servitude to a cause far greater than our own. Reality of survival has however tested my resolute of heart to carry on and just like every other human, I cannot escape reality. I am in the valley of making a decision and if I do, the reasons are too obvious to need elaboration. Until that time comes, we got cases still progressing in court so work is as usual.
There were temptations and opportunities for an easy way out but then, on a second thought, how can one have a testimony if he does not pass the test. We have kept the fight this long despite the challenges.
I thank God for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. I thank the O’Neill Government for giving me the opportunity to serve.
It has been a rewarding journey for me and I have learnt a lot. I hope many can be inspired as well.

Sam Koim

VIDEO: Task Force Sweep Chairman Sam Koim says he will not conduct a media trial, but will protect the evidence he has and allow a competent court of jurisdiction to test the material. National EMTV News.

How to choose a leader whom can take back Papua New Guinea

by GARRY GUFFA

HOW TO IDENTIFY A POLITICAL PARTY THAT DOES NOT CARE FOR YOU OR PNG!

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you voting in 2017?
2. Which candidate for?
3. What Party is he/she in and is it part of the Government?
4. Has that Party stood for your LAND?
5. Has that Party stood for OWNERSHIP OF YOUR ECONOMY?
6. Has that Party fought for OWNERSHIP OF YOUR RIGHT TO DEVELOP YOUR RESOURCES?
7. Has that Party fought for OWNERSHIP OF YOUR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES?
8. Has that Party stood up for OWNERSHIP OF YOUR FUTURE and DESTINY?
9. Has that Party heard your cries to put a stop to scams and schemes that are against your interests?
10. Has that party protected your interests in its decision making?

NOTE THAT YOUR CANDIDATES PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATION MEAN NOTHING IN REGARDS TO HOW HE PERFORMS IN PARLIAMENT...ITS THE PARTY THAT DECIDES..

Get some A4 Paper.

Make a list of the parties currently registered.

Write the 10 Questions down on a sheet with the Party's name.

Write down the 10 questions. Next to each Question write "Y" and "N".

The answers to these 10 questions should tell you which Party to reject at the next elections.

The list is not exhaustive. You can add to it those concerns you have that are peculiar to you, your electorate or province.

Its time to take back your country.

Spread the word and educate your friends and family.

Children are the future of Papua New Guinea.

Garry Guffa with his friend at home.

Source: Garry Guffa / Facebook post

An amazing journey as Garry Guffa recalls his childhood days that shaped him to be a strong fighter

by GARRY GUFFA

I never realized the importance of having clothes before coming home to Kokoda to attend school there in 1982. I always had clothes it seemed before then.

Funnily enough when I recollect now, I didn’t have that many but I had enough and this seemed just fine then. I was so busy playing and we had a house girl and she always kept clothes clean for me so I guess I was spoilt somewhat and had no idea about the importance of not having clothes.

That was until I was sent home from Lae to live with my widowed Grandmother in Block 168 Kokoda and do my 4th Grade.

I was sent on a Talair plane by myself (this was also not new, I travelled alone frequently) and met at the Popondetta Airstrip by some cousin or uncle and taken to Kokoda in a PMV with a bag of clothes and instructions to go to school and do exactly what my Grandmother told me. This was no problem because I loved her and respected her and was best friends with her.

The problem was some of the kids in school who didn’t seem to care for the fact that I was mix raced. I realize now it was not their fault. But it was not mine either. Despite this, a few kids made friends with me and I have remained theirs till now.

The teachers were great though.

How I came to understand the reality of clothing shortage was from my cousin. This cousin who lived with us was in the same grade as I was in Kokoda. He attended the same grade but was in the other classroom. Each grade had two classes in the Dame Mary Kekedo Community Primary School, Kokoda, Northern Province. He had only two pair of shorts. He wore one when to school and the other was hanging to dry. He would come home and after his chores immediately wash the pair he wore and hang them up and wear the next pair. They were tan shorts and he was very careful of them. He also had only two very faded shirts.

I asked him once about his clothes and told me. I felt terrible that I had more clothes then he did and promptly handed him two of my shirts. One was a blue t shirt that said “Morobe Agricultural Show” and the other was a green tshirt with “North Sydney Bears” and a picture of a bear. Now we had equal shirts. He cherished his clothes and always took care of them. My mother always admonished me for giving away my clothes but my Grandfather who had since passed on but was always in my heart and mind had taught me always to share equally and that lesson was firmly engrained in my character.

IN Kokoda I realized that store bought food and clothing and money were things that not everyone had in abundance including me, “Gary Juffa, little bastard child of Felicity Juffa whose father was God knows who”.

I soon found out that most people could not afford meat and rice. When we ate a can of meat it was either 777 tinned fish or Says or Sita Corned Meat.

As for my status as a little bastard many would say so at the market place forgetting that I spoke and understood the languages of Hunjara and Kokoda very well and knew exactly what gossip they spoke thinking I heard nothing. I said nothing and just waited for my Grandmother to sell her things at the market and walk home or just busied myself somehow with books that I had borrowed from the library. The library was my escape. It had many books, old books, but still intact and great to read and dream. I had many dreams and when they started on the subject of my father and what and who I was, I escaped into that world. It was a make believe world but it was much better then listening to the opinions of people who thought I could not understand their painful cutting words.

As you grow older you realize differences in what you have and what you do not have. For instance I never really thought of what I didn’t have prior to coming home because I lived with my mother and she provided the security of shelter, food and clothing. She worked wherever we were and was always confident and dressed well and spoke with much confidence and pride and so it never occurred to me that I needed anything.

I was always busy playing and keeping occupied with a creative mind. And so I never realized that these things were unusual - walking to school and back and staying alone in a house watching at the window as the night approached and it grew dark and finally she would finish late and come home to cook the evening meals.

We had been doing it for so long – living alone - it that it seemed normal to me.
I remember thinking a passing thought once as I trudged home on one of many rainy days why all the kids seemed to have people come and pick them up but I walked home alone. Some kids even had parents pick them up in cars and they would wave as they drove by and I would wave back enthusiastically – drenched to the bone and struggling to keep my soggy socks up my skinny legs as I marched home. It never occurred to me that this was unusual. I went to so many different schools, that I never quite figured out what a normal experience for kids in school was in the 1980s.

Every year it seemed I was in a new school. Sometimes it was a Community School and sometimes it was an International School. I later found out it had to do with whether my Mother worked for the Government or Private: Government – Community School if Private – International. The differences were interesting. In a Community School I was told I was a bastard and targeted by many of the kids at sports and in fights. I went home with bruises and cuts and just told my mum I fell while playing sports because I was ashamed to tell her the kids called me a bastard and her a whore. I could never figure out why that was my fault and they had to steal my lunch or push me or beat me up. I was always the smallest and skinniest kid in class. Some of the kids looked like adults and boy when they played soccer and belted my skinny legs it felt like it too!

In International Schools the expatriate teachers would be particularly harsh and often rebuked me for not having my parents turn up at parent teacher meetings and not having clean clothes. I never had parents come to such meetings because for a start I didn’t have parents, I had A parent and she was always working two jobs to send me to this expensive school! And sometimes because her job required her to, go these field trips, I was left alone for a day or two and so staying alone and being a kid I sometimes forgot to shower and sometimes wore the same clothes as the previous day.

White kids would often be reporting me to the Principal for winning their marbles or fighting or swearing at them. I was usually fighting because they made fun of my cheap shoes and said I smelt. I spoke pidgin often and was accused of swearing if I said something to them in pidgin like “yu pekpek het”. I didn’t even think that was swearing. I could swear. Remember I lived most of my free time in a settlement.

It wasn’t all bad and I made some great friends and there was some good teachers too but it seemed I was never in their classes.

I remember once when I was sent to the Principals Office at Bulae International yet again, Mr. Hooper, for some indiscretion and he quietly closed the door and handed me a cup of Milo and let me read the magazines while he worked. He never punished me. He seemed to be sympathetic always. “Where is your Mother?” He asked. “She works on field trips” and I explained as best as I could. She was a family planning coordinator and often went to remote villages and stations to do awareness and would come home late. I knew that so I told him so. He nodded and said “You know you are in trouble for taking all of John’s marbles?” John was an Australian kid whose parents always bought him these fancy marbles from overseas and every time he brought them to school he would challenge the kids to a game of marbles. PNG kids are the best marble players. We learn on the street. I played in settlements were my best mates lived and the competition there was cutthroat.

So I most often beat John and won his marbles. He would go crying to the most racist obnoxious expatriate teacher of all school in PNG who would instantly reprimand me and force me to hand over all the marbles I had won fair and square back to John.

Then she would send me to either the Principal because I would protest at the injustice and unfairness or send me to the corner of the class. I would mutter all the swear words in pidgin I knew with angry tears coming streaming down my cheeks. To add insult to injury, since it rained almost every second day in Lae, on such days John would pass me by and would grin and make funny faces at me as he was driven by in his fancy car while I marched home drenched carting my bag in a plastic bag so my books would not get wet collecting empty bottles on my way home.

I would just glare at him and wished I could break his pink nose and force him to swallow all his fancy marbles one by one.

In Kokoda, the marbles we bought at the Chinese shop were very ordinary and only singular colored but I didn’t mind. If I won them no one forced me to hand them back, especially racist expatriate teachers who thought my pidgin was swearing warranting the Headmasters attention.

Garry as a child

Gary as a Member of Parliament and Oro Provincial Governor

Source: Garry Guffa / Facebook post

"I found courage and learned to accept the fact that my father passed away so early but he left a legacy to build my own life on," tells Kiap.

by LUCAS KIAP

IF there is anyone in my life who has shaped my life for the better, this person is my father, late Kiap Palg. He has been my role model.

He was a Chief leader of the Nenga tribe in the Western Highlands Province. He was a warrior and a peace maker. The best father and husband. He was the jack of all trades. 

Despite the lack of education, Kiap Palg was one of those few leaders during the colonial times and after independence who took over the leadership from the Australian colonial government. Several times he was the Council President of the Mul LLG in WHP. Several times he contested and came second in the Western Highlands Provincial government elections. 

It just happened too quick that he left suddenly to be with the Lord. He passed away after a long illness in 1998. But I don't regret his absence in my life as everything happens for a reason. I found courage and learned to accept the fact that I don't have a father but a legacy to build my own life on. 

I am so thankful of the fact that his sudden disappearance from my life has played a very significant part in shaping my life to be a leader at the early ages. I may not be the perfect son in every way he would have wanted but I have tried my best to fill his big shoes and I won't give up trying. 

Lucas Kiap 

"Black and white image of my late father Kiap Palg contesting in the 1984 Provincial Government elections in the Minjgina Constitutensi in the Western Highlands Province,". 

The breeding ground for corruption is within the family circles, street preacher told listeners

by AMOS TARA PORA

YESTERDAY evening after work I saw a multitude of people at Kamkumung market listening to a Canadian white man preaching to the people. He was talking about corruption in Papua New Guinea. I joined and listen closely to what he was saying and the points I noted are;

1. The Breeding Grounds of Corruption
2. Who is responsible for Corruption
3. Evidence of Corruption
4. Solution to Corruption

In PNG we say the breeding ground of corruption is at the Highest Institution. Is it the Parliament? National Universities? Police Force? Defence Force? Or the Top Government Offices?

The answer may be 'yes' for some but it is the tip of the Iceberg. But in fact none of these is the Highest Institution.

He then said the Highest Institution is instead the family and the fathers in every family is responsible for most corrupt activities we see today. Which means the breeding ground for corruption is in the family.

How does it evolve? Since the father is the head of the family, he is responsible for everything. He must treat his child well. Must not abuse the child and the mother. Provide food for the house, discipline the children without abusing them and show them to live a good life.

Children learn from their fathers. If you beat your wife, swear, steal, drink beer without providing enough for family and other corrupt activities in front of the children, they will learn from it.

That's why our country is in chaos. Children of corrupt fathers will always lead in a corrupt way. Be a real man so that your child will be a real man/ woman tomorrow.

"Let us be real, here. It is hard to be a real man. It is hard to be a man of courage when everyone around you has no courage to do what is right. Actually it is impossible. Just as it is possible to be a real man and look at pornography on your phone when you purchase a data bundle. Why? Because you are not acting like a man but a pervert.

Just as it is impossible to be a man if you lie and cheat your boss. Why? Because you are not acting like a real man but a "giaman" man (lair).

Just as it is impossible to be a man if you act corruptly and accept bribes or give bribes to get ahead. Why? Because you are not a real man but a "con-man" (cunning man).

Just as it is impossible to be a man if you beat your wife and cheat on her. You are not a real man but a beast and an adulterer!

Just as it is impossible to be a man if you use your fortnight to buy beer and hang with you friends while your family suffers. You are not a real man but a selfish drunkard!

Yes it is impossible to be a real man, a man of wisdom and courage and honesty and humility if you are not connected by faith to the Man who saved you. Read John 15:5".

PNG, what's happened has happened. What's happening right now is the fruit of the seed that has been planted in our sons some years ago. Now is the time for us to change. Be a real man, weed out corruption, plant the right seed in your son's and daughter's heart. Among us are very few real man. Choose them in 2017.

Change yourself first and later ask others to change. May God Bless PNG

Sourced from the Voice of PNG / Facebook / 2016.

The Canadian white-man preaching in Lae, Morobe Province about corruption in Papua New Guinea.

PNG MPs: "Are they law makers or project managers?" asks Kama. DSIP/PSIP has forced MPs to look like they are service providers

by BAL KAMA

AN important statement by Honorable Dr. Allan Marat – "more time needed to research bills" it addresses a fundamental issue. PNG adopts the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy where the primary duty of a politician (MP) is to legislate (make) laws. MPs are not meant to be service providers or project managers. That is for the public servants to do so. MPs are meant to present people’s issues to the parliament and in response, draft policies and laws to address those issues. They are to hold the public servants (executive) accountable on behalf of the people if the public servants fail to deliver to the people.

The introduction of the DSIP/PIP funds has fundamentally changed the priorities of the MPs – now they are the service providers and “project managers.” Spending time to analyse a Bill (proposed law) and assess its implication is no longer their priority. It seems to be a waste of time. What does that mean?

It means any law that suits a certain minority or influential people/party in Parliament can easily get passed. Law making is not their (MPs) prime responsibility so why should they spend time to analyze and critic or properly debate the Bill. This has been happening in this country for a long time and more so quite recently.

The PNG Supreme Court judges have noted this phenomenon in their recent judgments, evening referring to the PNG Parliament as being “hijacked.”

It is about time you as a citizen demand a better treatment from your MP. 

2017 Elections are not far. Ask yourself – what kind of a FUTURE do you want for your children or grandchildren??.... The future will look brighter if the people make the effort. But living in ignorance and complacency will only destroy the country and its founding institutions.

The writer Bal Kama - PhD Law student at ANU 

District Development Authority not functioning well, says MP

THE newly created District Development Authority act which was passed by Parliament is not functioning well at the district.

The DDA act which was a brain child of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and executed by the former Chief Secretary to the Government Manasupe Zureounoc to supersede Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee (JDP & BPC).

While presenting the acquittal reports to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development of the Obura Wanenara district for 2015 fiscal year, local MP Mehrra Kipefa expressed that the DDA act is not functioning well at the district level because there is no funding appropriated by the government to fully functional DDA.

“If there is funding being allocated to the DDA so as an authority that would see self-sustaining income revenue being generated into DDA account, then we say DDA is working.

“Otherwise it’s just the name amended to the existing JDP & BPC, as well as the district administrator’s title has been altered to Chief Executive Officer, which people thinks that DDA act is fully functional,” the first time MP stressed this while asked to comment his views on DDA act.

Mereha said that there is no budget allocated to successfully implement the DDA act.

He said there is no clarity on who the key players to ensure roles and responsibilities that leaders, public officials and non -state actors need to perform, specified in program policy guidelines, in planning and implementing projects under the SIP and Constitutional Grants.

Most of the MPs interviewed have expressed similar sentiments saying DDA has got no structure in place, no recurrent budget to cater for its operations.

Right now DSIP or development grants has been misapplied. DDA is an entity and should have its own re-current budget.

The Chief Executive Officers or the district administrators are caught in between whom to report whether to Provincial Administrator or the Chairman of the DDA board.

It has lot of political, legal and administration implication which the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs need to address.

 Obura Wanenara MP Mehrra Kipefa 

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Source: PNG Facts / Port Moresby / 18/8/2016

Leaders continued to mislead money as a catalyst to address issues, Parliament told.

Parliament was told that leaders continued to mislead themselves with a perception that money was a catalyst for addressing issues the resource owners had been advocating for.

Opposition Leader Don Polye today in Parliament debated it otherwise when arguing on a paper presented by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on increasing equity share for resource owners, especially in the Bougainville Copper Mine Limited.

Mr Polye has called on the Prime Minister and his government to learn about the real issues the resource owners have been fighting for.

“They never ask for money. They were talking about their environment and livelihood. Let us learn from the history and guide the future.

“Because President John Momis has come out against the equity share so are we quickly coming up with equity thing here to make him and his people happy? This is not the issue. They are talking about their economy, integral human development and livelihood,” he said.

Even if their resource ownership equity share is increased, he said, integral human development issues will still be outstanding.

“Have we delivered the MOU funds of K100 million annually to the people of Autonomous Region of Bougainville? Let the ABG run and manage its own affairs. Don’t use them like robots from Waigani. Let us talk about their MOU grands which have not been committed to them before talking about equity.

“Let us not do it for them. Let them do it themselves. I don’t see a unity among the ABG MPs in PNG Parliament and the ABG government as the Prime Minister has only resourced the MPs the latter at the expense of the ABG,” said Polye.

Meanwhile, Mr Polye said the resource owners in Hela and Western provinces have not also advocated for the release of their royalties or their equity share.

“No, they haven’t. Money is always there. It is not an issue. They have been fighting about their environment destruction. There is more to it than meets the eyes.

“If we continue to mislead ourselves with money being the solution to all the issues, later we will find out that the problems which we thought we have solved already, are still there,” he said.

He said the future leaders would learn that their leaders today had not solved the real issues but they had only created additional ones for them.

“When we strive for empowerment of our people through resource ownership, we must also address their issues customarily, environmentally and economically. This is the way forward,” he said.

Opposition Leader Don Polye.

Source: Media Release / PNG Opposition Team / 2016

PNG Immigration Office in Port Moresby facing closer due to low operational funds

PAPUA New Guinea's Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority in Port Moresby is facing closer due to a constant low operational funds to keep its office running.  

Sources within the department informed online media that PNG Power has cut off the energy supply into the department for almost a month now. It has been noted that important roles of the department such as printing and issuing of PNG Citizen passport documentation have been delayed, causing travelers to queue up at its Waigani's office to avail.   

Attempts to get the CEO's comments failed and staff on duty confirmed there was power cut-off for more than a month due to none-payment of bills to PNG Power.

Photos: PNG Passports/ Supplied.

Angore LNG landowners form Leadership Committee to address issues

PAPUA New Guinea's Hides LNG landowner's still firm on their petition to the Government with Agnore PDL 8 landowners forming a leadership committee to address their issues with the State for development.

The launching took place over the weekend in Port Moresby to establish the Angore Well Head Leadership Committee (AWLC), comprising of four (4) landowner members of the well heads in Angore in Hela province. 

According to Legend FM News, Chairman Hari John Agipe said the reason for the formation of the group is to fulfill a leadership vacuum in the area, to pursue issues by rules and regulations.

“After signing the agreements five (5) back and after more than 220 shipment of LNG cargo, Angore sees small changes starting to take shape,” he said.
He thanked the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process for being conducted for the Angore well heads area making it possible for the identification and appointment of the four Chairmen.

The Chairmen are, Mr Agipe himself as Chairman for Halapura Clan, Mr. Hari Elizah Timba as Chairman for Imika Clan, Mr. Tambiawi Tangilape as Chairman for Hiripali Clan and Mr. Tamule Kulu as Chairman for Pereke Clan.

The purpose of AWLC is to provide leadership for the Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement (UBSA) and Licence Base Benefit Sharing Agreement (LBBSA) and to inform the government, the developer, Hela provincial government and stakeholders to respect and acknowledge AWLC and its leadership and to dialogue in the way forward for addressing benefits and issues concerning Angore PDL 8.

 The appointed four (4) Chairmen in front row along with their executives in the background row. Image: Legend FM

PNG's forgotten backwater of Daru Hospital to receive a face-lift

THE forgotten backwater of Papua New Guinea's Daru will now receive counter funding from Australian Aid to its Daru Hospital. NAU FM reports Daru hospital has only three wards in one unit. According to Hospital CEO Sister Orpah Tugo, the Pediatrics ward, the Surgery ward and the Medical ward are all stationed in one unit with 10 beds allocated for each ward.

 Furthermore, the Gynecology ward, the Labour Ward and the Obstetrics ward share one unit again with 10 beds allocated for each ward. With the risks posed by contagious diseases and health standards to maintain, the hospital with the counter fund of Australian Aid is looking at building new wings to isolate each ward. CEO Tugo said that the hospital is in desperate need of uplift and they will also look at expanding the Operating Theatre.

Meanwhile staff housing is also being look at with plans to demolish old houses and hospital is in talks with the National Planning Office for the project.

Old referee corner in Daru town. Image: David Williams.

People living in the boat in Daru. Image: David Williams. 

Daru Hospital that will now go under renovation. Image: David Williams

Story source: NAU FM News

Photographs by David Williams on Malum Nalu's blog.

DSIP / PSIP, District and Provincial slash funds are discretionary or Government policy oriented?

THE O'Neill-Dion Government, like any other government in the past, has been challenged and brought to the test of fullness in confidence of the stewardship of the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in recent weeks. More than 80 MPs, almost 3/4 of the national leaders in Parliament rally behind Peter O'Neill although he has outstanding police fraud investigations to answer, to retain him as the Prime Minister during the Vote of No-Confidence. 

The 80 plus MPs were claimed being toyed with the DSIP/PSIP funds. What many Papua New Guineans know is that DSIP/PSIP funds were discretionary. But in recent days, Finance Minister James Marabe said these funds are Government policy oriented and should not be used at the discretionary of the leaders. Now if any MPs is seen to be using the funds outside of Government policy, would that be corruption?

Dishing out monies by MPs to the churches, women groups, youths groups and NGOs: are those speculated under the Government policy?  Government policies in principle are to serve the interest of the people, are MPs really serving the interest of the people?            

Photo gallery below is Government MPs teaming up to rally behind O'Neill-Dion Government for political stability. 

 Photographs: NAU FM news / Facebook/ 2016.