Extorting money from Government by shutting down public services over delay payment is illegal

K4.2m PAYMENT TO KOIARI LO's ILLEGAL

By Bryan Kramer

The recent payment of K4.2m to Sirinumu Development Company for the purported benefit of Koiari Landowners is unlawful and now subject of Police investigations.

Last Friday night at around 12 am a group of people from the upper Koiari area where the PNG Power Rauna Station is located forcefully took over the Station shutting it down and taking possession of the keys.

Power and water supply to the Nations Capital was disrupted holding ransom 1 million residents who live in the city.

They demanded they be paid K4.2m which they claimed was owed to them.

In April 2019, the Treasury & Finance Department paid K5 million to the landowners based on an purported agreement the funds would be used by them to carryout clan vetting exercise to establish their ILGs with the aim to sign an MOA with the State for service delivery.

In return the landowners agreed there will be no disruptions to the facilities.

The signatories drew down on K800,000 however soon after the balance of K4.2 million was recalled back to Finance at the direction of Chief Secretary Issac Lupari.

In August 2019 the same landowners occupied the Station grounds to carryout a protest over K4.2m being withdrawn.

I met with them and agreed to look into their concerns on the condition they provide an acquittal of how they spent the K800,000.

After making my own inquiries, meeting with both State Solicitor and Solicitor General I was advised the claim and payment was illegal.

Further still the acquittal report they provided suggested the funds were not being used for its intended purpose.

State Solicitor explained the station is on state land and there was no basis for claims against the State. It is also highly improper for the State to be paying K5m to landowners and ask them to carryout their own clan vetting.

The group of landowners are claiming compensation for water usage, however no one can claim water that falls from the sky and travels along a river.

More importantly any payments to landowners must be approved by the State Solicitor, endorsed by NEC and lastly lawfully appropriated for in the Budget. It appears none of these mandatory lawful processes were complied with, rending the payment illegal. The more serious issue being the criminal actions to shut down the station to force the State to pay them.

Police have now set up a team to investigate the matter and have all those involved charged as well as recover all funds paid.

Mobile Squad has been deployed to secure the Rouna Station while a separate team will deal with those responsible for shutting it down.

I ask the community leaders and those responsible to cooperate with Police by making themselves available for questioning.

Under the Marape Steven Government the days of extorting millions in tax payers money out of Waigani are over, this includes holding the Government ransom and getting away with it.

The sleeping giant called our Police Force who is tasked to enforce the law is slowly waking up from its slumber.

Picture taken in August 2019 at Rauna Station during my first meeting with the group of landowners who occupied the station.

Who is Right?? KANTHA, TAISON, KENNEDY & LOMBRUM SECURITY CONTRACT.

By Justin Ondopa

INTERESTING POINTS.
1. Tasion Group hold a controversial contract, for which Kantha seemed to cover.
2. Kennedy was to investigate Kantha for corruption and eventually expose Tasion Group deals.
3.Tasion Group lays complain for 'official corruption' (unspecified) against Kennedy.
4. It is an allegation. Not specifically backed with evidence which courts require.
5. Tasion Group claim Kennedy asked for K5,000 bribe. Again alleged to have asked?!
6. Tasion claims, Kennedy asked for K5,000 inorder to procure funds for payments for services to Immigration.

The media is clearly NOT investigating to inform the people. The controversial Tasion contracts at Lombrum would be terminated, should investigations continue. While Kennedy was about to start investigations on criminal conducts by Kantha and Tasion Group, Tasion quickly whisks heavy Fraud Police to nab Kennedy, within no minute, and have him locked up. Locked up for an allegation and denied bail.

 Those who know Kantha and Kennedy, would have your own judgement, but the rapid mobilisation of police and actions of Tasion Group, hold lot more suspicious factors that need to be uncovered.

Government is frying both Kantha and Kennedy, two professionals. Tasion Group like laughing all the way to the banks without any form of roadblocks, and sees Kennedy as an obstruction, a tornado about to rip open its milking niches. It's dangerous, so the clear elements deployed is that, Kennedy as an obstacle must be disgraced and removed. That is the nature of devised corruption in our systems!

So Media need to do your part, be impartial in getting stories from both parties and publish. You continue to be rubbish bins with your reports so you must INVESTIGATE and report!

FROM PICKING RUBBISH ON THE STREETS IN MADANG TO PICKING FRUITS IN AUSTRALIA.

By Bryan Kramer - Madang MP, Minister for Police  

Today in the midst of a busy schedule, I took time out to drive to Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport to see off 5 youths, who flew in from my electorate on their way to Brisbane, Australia, to pick vegetables on a farm for 12 months.

Their names are:

1) Samuel K. SAMUEL
2) Itam B. JULIUS
3) Zebedee LUWI
4) Sylvester LEPI
5) Noel U. NINIBIL

Some 6 months ago they were unemployed and members of the Madang Town Patrol Program, a youth law and order program I set up to address the escalating petty crimes and pick pocketing around Madang Town.

The program involved 30 youth who were tasked to provide security around bus stops as well as pick up rubbish around town.

Fast forward 6 months and they are now on their first international flight to Australia to pick fruits and vegetables in Australia.

Under the town patrol program they were paid just K100-K150 as a fortnight allowance while in Australia they can expect be paid K2,500.00 a fortnight before deductions for their airfares, boarding and meals.

All 5 are travelling to Australia under the Seasonal Workers Program, a program established by the Australian Government to assist Australian employers in the agriculture sector fill employment gaps unable to be met by the Australian workforce and to counter illegal workers.

Seasonal workers from the pacific benefit from the opportunity to earn Australian wages and gain valuable on-the-job learning opportunities. Many seasonal workers use the money earned in Australia to pay for their kids’ education, start a small business or build a house. For the workers and their families, this is a life changing opportunity.

Around 11,600 workers from around the Pacific travel to Australia every year to participate in the program. As of June 2019, PNG only made up 107 of these workers.

Why? This is due to bad experiences in the past, PNG workers are considered highly problematic by Australian employers. When we first joined the program there were numerous incidences of PNG workers fighting, drinking and demonstrating poor work ethics.

When word got out, most Australian employers avoided recruiting from PNG, even though we represent 80% of the population in the Pacific.

In 2018, the Australian Government changed the program in PNG with the focus on recruiting through District Development Authorities and Provincial Governments. Four pilot districts and one Province were identified and included:

1) Obura Woneara Electorate
2) Goilala Electorate
3) Madang Electorate
4) Kavieng Electorate
5) Enga Province.

In Madang we took this program seriously and built a robust structure and systems for selecting our workers which included the clan vetting in rural areas and role model youth in urban communities.

As the Member for Madang, I see massive potential benefits to empowering our youth with employment opportunities and having a positive influence among their peers and impact on their community.

This is why we have set up a special team to manage the program. The plan is to secure a placement for 1,000 young men and women in the next two years. It is estimated the average seasonal worker - working 6 months can earn upto K22,000. Now x 1,000 and it equates to K22m.

K22m that is not spent on a highway, airport or major infrastructure by circulating in the pockets of mums and dads, paid for their childrens tertiary fees, building a home or starting a small business.

5 youths who left today represent the second batch to depart for Brisbane in last the 14 days bringing the total to 10. Another 50 are expected to leave in January 2020.

Another twist in PNG corruption in public officers

Robert Kennedy, the newly appointed acting Chief Migration Officer was arrested by the Police Fraud Squad for a complaint on extortion by Tasion Group.
.
Tasion Group, it is reported were given the contract to replace Paladin in relation to and over the Manus Asylum Centre. It is alleged that one of the reasons for Kantha's removal was because he gave the contract to Tasion Group when the government's instructions were to give the contract to the real landowners of the area where the asylum centre is on. The assumption therefore is that Kantha had a hand in the awarding of the contract to a company that is owned by a person who is not an immediate and material land owner.
.
Robert Kennedy has been in the chair for only one week, after Cabinet removed the then incumbent Kantha and appointed him on an acting capacity pending the appointment of a Chief Migration Officer by Cabinet.
.
No details of the extortion were revealed by Police, but it is believed that the accused is alleged to have tried to extort money from Tasion Group even before the seat he moved into is warm.
.
This arrest raises a lot of suspicions and questions on the part played by Police and Tasion Group.
.
Firstly, this will be the fastest action by the fraud squad to date in getting a complaint and acting on it immediately by effecting arrest even before the ink is dry on the complaint sheet. That is a police record, when it comes to high profile arrests. The Fraud Squad needs to be commended or should it? Maybe there were no other complaints and this was the only one. Questions and more questions.
.
Secondly, Tasion Group's complaint and move, if not backed by concrete evidence, will be seen as taking up Kantha's fight and an attempt to protect their contract, given the fact that they got the contract under Kantha. Robert Kennedy then reserves the right sue this company for damages.
.
Thirdly, if Kantha is involved in soliciting support from Tasion Group, then he has revealed the fact that he has solid contacts with Tasion Group and the issuing of the contract to that group is questionable. Cabinet can then use that to revoke that contract and give it to the real landowners.
.
Finally, Robert Kennedy, it is reported has an impeccable record and strong character background as a strong christian. Such a person would not be stupid to extort money from a company that has a relationship with Kantha...and we all know that Kantha is disgruntled and has threatened legal action against the Minister Westly Nukundi Nukundj and the government for his removal.
.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer, must now look into the actions of the Fraud Squad members who executed the arrest extraordinarily speedily. While Kramer is doing the best he can as Minister to improve policing in the country, rogue elements still persist within the people's police force.
.
Kramer's involvement in this matter is warranted as it is a Cabinet that h is a part of that appointed the acting Chief Migration Officer and that decision must be protected in order not to bring Cabinet's judgement and ability to make decisions in the best interest of the country into disrepute.
.
If Kantha himself is behind this plot to damage the name and reputation of a fellow Papua New Guinean, he has blown his own chances of making a come back since Cabinet is yet to appoint a permanent Chief Migration Officer. With this twist now, Kantha has effectively removed his name from that list of potential candidates.
.
We are all left to wonder what the next twist in this case will be.

Papua New Guinea sex worker’s tale of love

By REBECCA KUKU

I was walking into a shop to buy my son’s school stationeries when I bumped into a woman I had met a couple of years back when I was writing about prostitution in the city for the local newspaper I was working for.

We greeted each other and she said that she was trying to get stationeries for her siblings too.
We met again as we both were leaving the shop and I couldn’t help but notice how people were whispering and laughing as she walked past, some snickering while others made nasty comments.
She was a prostitute, everyone in her community knew, but despite the rude remarks and the whispers she walked with her head held high. Her little brother flanked her, ready to do battle, but she said let it go, they’ll never understand why I do what I do.

Upon hearing that I was curious. I know curiosity killed the cat but I asked her anyway why she chose prostitution as a career. The worse that could have happened was she’d tell me to mind my own business or scream at me to bugger off but she smiled and commented on how reporters were so full of curiosity.
She invited me to have lunch with her so she could tell me why she became a prostitute. I knew it was sort of a challenge, to see if I would take the offer or drop it out of shame to be seen with her.
But I did take up the offer, and I cried through the whole lunch date I had with her.

This is her story, the prostitute’s story but we’ll change her name as she does not want to hurt her siblings. Will call her Elaina.

She was young, beautiful, had manners and was kind and generous. In fact if you met her for the first time you wouldn’t even know she sold her body for money.
She was only 15 when her parents were in a car accident. Her father died and her mother survived but both her legs were paralysed, her younger brother is studying law at university and her little sister is doing Grade 11 at a secondary school in Port Moresby.

“When my father died I was doing Grade 8. I was accepted into a secondary school but we couldn’t afford the K600 project fee that was charged, so I stayed home and helped Mama sell food on the road sides so that we could provide for my younger siblings,” Eleaina said.

“My little brother was doing Grade 7 then and my little sister was doing Grade 4, the primary school didn’t charge any project fees for my sister but my brother was charged K150.

“My mother would cook food and I would sell the food on the roadsides and together we raised money and paid my little brother’s project fee, bought their uniforms and other things they needed,” she said.
“Things were going very well for us, however, towards the end of 2013 mother started feeling sick. We were living with my father’s sister at that time, though they never gave us food or anything. We slept under their roof.

“My aunt started fearing that my mother’s sickness could be contagious and told us to leave her house.
“We had nowhere to go; my mother’s siblings were long dead and the only brother she had was lost in Lae, Morobe. We had no way of contacting him.

“So we built a shelter made up of cardboards and a canvas bag in my aunt’s back yard. I continued cooking and selling food on the side of the road, to make ends meet.

“My little brother was the dux of the Grade 7 classes that year and my little sister came second in her class. My mother insisted that she wanted to see her kids get their prizes, so we went to their school to witness them getting awarded.

“Walking back home that afternoon after the speech day, mama just passed out, there is a pastor living in our neighborhood, who was kind to us.”
So we ran to him and he helped us take mum to the Port Moresby General Hospital emergency department.

“Luckily the holidays had begun, so I took care of mum at the hospital while my younger siblings took over selling food on the road sides.

“It was after two months, in February, when they finally discharged us from the hospital.
“We continued cooking and selling food as my younger siblings returned to school.
That year, her little brother received the Grade 8 dux award but by then their mother’s health was rapidly deteriorating. Things started going from bad to worse.

The aunt told them to leave her yard because their makeshift home was becoming an eyesore to her neighbours.
“We had nowhere to go, mum was really sick, but she (aunt) brought in the police and we had no choice but to leave.
“My little brother and I took turns to carry our mother on our backs as we just walked from one place to another not knowing where we were going. We finally ended up at a settlement and asked for a place to rent, the only one that was affordable was a tiny room that cost K50 per fortnight.
“The room was so tiny, you couldn’t stand up in it, but it was okay as long as our mother could sleep in it, we would make do with it.

“The four of us could not fit into the room, so my little brother and I slept outside.
“I started cooking and my little brother and sister would go out and sell the food on the roadsides.
“School holidays soon ended and my brother was accepted to do Grade nine, however, the project fee was K800.

“He said he would leave school but I couldn’t let him, he was so bright. I sent my sister back to school with her old uniforms and spoke with my brother’s school principal to give us a little time to look for the money.

“He allowed my little brother to register and attend classes and I started working hard to get the K800 that my brother needed to continue his education.
“I cooked food in the morning and sold them all afternoon, I cooked food in the evening and sold them all night, I took in laundry from other people and washed clothes in the late nights for a fee of K20.
“And every time I made profit, I would buy our food and give the rest to my little brother to hide away for his project fees.

“By then my mother was so sick but she begged us, and argued with us and told us not to take her to the hospital because we needed the money to pay for the project fees. So we kept her at home.
“After about two months, we finally reached the K800, but that night mum’s condition was worse. We knew we had to take her to the hospital or she would die in that small box we had made home.
“So we took her to the hospital. She was admitted, she had maggots in both her legs and needed to be in a clean place.

“That night, I broke down and cried. The next morning, I told my little sister to not go to school but stay with mum at home.
“I went looking for a job, a job that could pay enough money I needed to keep my mother alive.
“I went to Chinese shops, Indian shops, service station and cafes but the salary I knew would not be enough.”
“My mother would need someone to care for her constantly, to have her beddings changed hourly, and to live in a clean house or the maggots would devour her.”
That Friday night, we all went to the hospital and mum said it was okay, we must let her die, we must accept it because we didn’t have the money to help her get better.
“But how do you let someone you love just die like that? How do you just let the maggots infest her whole body? She was in pain, that night while she slept I walked out of the hospital and sold my virginity on the street to the highest bidder.

“The next morning, we moved into a two bedroom self-contained house in the suburbs.
“It was 2014, I was only 17 years old. I needed the money to keep my only parent alive, I needed the money to keep my siblings in school, to provide a roof for my family and put food on the table.
“I had no family, no clansman, no tribesman to get help from. No, I am not ashamed of what I do, because to me, it is just a job, something I do to ensure that my family is well.
“My clients are all expatriates, I get STD tests done every two months. It is one of the requirements of providing service for these expatriates but the money is good.
“My little brother knows, he just pretends to act like he doesn’t know, but my little sister thinks I’m an executive at a company or something,” she laughs.

“And my mum, she blames herself. But love is a complicated thing, people do all sorts of crazy things for love. I just sold myself to keep the love of my life, the woman who gave life to me alive.
“And that same love for my siblings gives me the strength to carry on.”

ACP HR KALAUT PURSUES ARREST OF MINISTER FOR POLICE

By BRYAN KRAMER - MP/Police Minister

Yesterday, Assistant Commissioner for Police responsible for Human Resource at Police Head Quarters, Sylvester Kalaut made an application to the Waigani District Court for a search warrant in a case pursing criminal charges against me.

The search warrant (a court order) was granted by the Waigani District Court directing the CEO of Digicel PNG to retrieve or confirm that on 27th June 2019 I posted on Facebook an article titled "So National Reporter Threatens so Sue Me???

The information sought is to determine if I am the administrator of numerous Facebook pages and did post the article and to also retrieve comments made by Facebook users in response to the article.

It appears Mr. Kalaut is pursing criminal charges against me on the grounds that the comments and remarks made by third parties were defamatory, derogatory and libelous and actually destroyed the character, integrity and reputation causing emotional distress to the complainant (Ms Dorothy Mark National Reporter).

My Response:

Well Mr. Kalaut clearly didn't think this through.

Firstly, because the last time I checked Assistant Commissioners of Police in charge of Human Resource matters don't normally take it upon themselves to take the lead in investigations making applications for search warrants against Ministers of State.

Especially Assistant Commissioners who may feel aggrieved after being overlooked for recent Acting Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner appointments.

Secondly the article was published a year ago, so I'm interested to establish where and when the complaint was filed and how it ended up on the ACP HR's desk in Police Headquarters and only acted on now.

Thirdly, you can't charge someone for a defamatory publication for comments and remarks made by third parties. The last person who tried to have me prosecuted on the same misconceived grounds was the former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his infamous lawyer Ms Tiffany Twivey. Unfortunately for Ms Twivey and her client the matter never went anywhere.

Fourthly, the warrant directs the Digicel PNG CEO to confirm or retrieve whether I was the author of the post and details of the comments by Facebook users.

Digicel is a mobile and ICT service provider, therefore only information they can provide is sim registration, voice mail, and SMS text messages, internet IP addresses and web sites visited and not publications in them. If the good officer is after information concerning Facebook then he needs to serve search warrant on Facebook CEO to obtain the information from their servers. Unfortunately they operate outside PNG jurisdiction.

I believe Digicel will only be able to confirm yes the Minister for Police visits Facebook website. A more efficient and common sense approach would have been to just ask me.

What happens now?

Well on account the warrant is clearly defective, abuse of process and malicious prosecution I've instructed my lawyer to file for a stay. Mr Kalaut can now find himself in court answering questions about why in his capacity as Assistant Commissioner for HR is pursuing this case and what interest he has in it.

Given the circumstances of this case I will file a complaint against Mr. Kalaut's conduct requesting Police carryout investigation to establish which individuals, if any, are behind it and in communication with him. It is a criminal offence to bring false caccusations or charges against anyone, penalty a term of upto 7 years (Section 127 of Criminal Code)

I can only assume that some people are pursuing my arrest in an effort to have me dislodged from my Ministry. While I can't blame them for trying perhaps I can blame them for stupid way in going about it.

Sadly for Mr. Kalaut he has just become famous for all the wrong reasons, an act that not only reflects on him personally, his career, but his family, his colleagues and the entire Police Force.

Food for thought - while there are some people you may mess with and get away with it, there are some you really need to think things through..

"I followed my wantok but there is no regrets" Sir Gibbs Salika

"I registered to take up law course at UPNG in 1975 after completing my matriculation at the Sogeri High School. Initially, I had no idea what to study after completing my form 6 (grade 12). Then I met Mathew Tamutai who is also my wantok. 

I asked him, bro, have you registered? He said, yes I have registered. What did you register for I asked him. He said I registered to study law. Then I thought to myself, I should register to take up the law course too. So just like that, I went and registered myself to take up the law course just because my wantok was going to study law so I also decided to study law together with him. So thats how it happened. It was an accident. But there are no regrets".

Sir Gibbs Salika

PNG Chief Justice & Longest Serving Judge of National and Supreme Court

DWU students embrace cultural values and traditions amid study commitments

By PETER KINJAP | THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER 

THE Divine Word University (DWU) community in Madang is always pleased to host the DWU Cultural Festival every year in the third week of August.

It is a lively event with traditional songs and dances as students take the centre stage with those from neighbouring Solomon Islands also showcasing their culture. A musical group from Fiji performing at the last festival made it a somewhat Melanesian event.

  The students from all 22 provinces in the country usually participate. The public in Madang and visiting tourists and the growing expatriate community of Chinese, Filipinos and Europeans usually take the chance to see a sampling of the diverse cultures and traditions of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.

Many students have their parents, guardians and extended relatives on campus to assist them with the preparations and performances as well.

The inclusion of mostly highlands parents is a testament to the level of pride and support they have for their sons, daughters, nephews and cousins.

The highlands students usually appear more spectacular when their elders put the finishing touches on the face painting and traditional attire.

The annual festival is set by the university administration for the students to acknowledge their indigenous roots in traditional song, dance, costumes and folklore.

Former president of the Divine Word University and now Higher Education Secretary Fr Jan Czuba said the cultural day was not a “show” but a day the students must be given a chance to reflect on the importance and values of the indigenous cultures of Papua New Guinea amidst the influences of modern ways.

Living up to the university’s slogan “Valuing our culture and heritage through collaboration”, students from various provinces in PNG put on a lively display of their cultural heritage through their bilas (traditional regalia), dancing and singing at the Madang campus.

During preparations on the day, if you go around the university, you would see parents and relatives crouched over seated students to get the arrays of beautiful feathers aligned.
It’s a proud moment for parents and relatives to see their young ones take to the arena to promote their culture.

The event has now no doubt become part of the Madang calendar and is one of the national cultural festivals with recognition from the Government through PNG Tourism Promotion Authority.

DWU, a keen promoter of Melanesian culture, encourages students to value their traditions and cultural heritage. In 1996, it was declared a university by the Government thought then Prime minister Sir Julius Chan, from Divine Word Institute.

The annual cultural event provides the avenue to get together to share heritage through songs, dancing and enactments of ceremonies.

You would be captivated by the colours of the costumes, the differences in their attire and also some of the dances you have never seen before.

There is a wider range of singsings than other cultural events in the country.
You can take as many photos as you could and there is no restriction – you might run out of space in your memory card. Note to take extra batteries and cards for your cameras if you are photographing.

DWU as a tertiary institution is a special place for students from different backgrounds to come together and study and engage in peace and harmony with each other as Jesus Christ the “Divine Word” has taught us.

DWU has remained a beautiful campus, carefully tended and well-known as a safe, peaceful and pleasant environment in which to pursue one’s higher education.
The university also has a heart, a soul, a spirit, a social, spiritual and cultural environment in which academics can easily transmit knowledge and students can grow in wisdom and grace.

Many times the international news is not good – wars, suicide bombings, terrorist attack, killing in a school or community, violence in the streets or on a university campus. The list is long. There is too much violence.
The local news is also bad, of tribal fights, murders, rapes, corruption, domestic violence and child abuse. There is too much violence.

What can any of us do about these things, this violence? Perhaps, we think, not much – except for each of us to build a habit of nonviolence in our own hearts, in our own personal behaviour.
And, we can influence others close to us to do the same. Every Papua New Guinean should be proud of your ethnic heritage and traditions.

In the country’s political events, let us passionately discuss and debate the issues that face our nation but not allow political rivalries to destroy friendship and the unity of our nation.
Leave anti-social behaviour, such as drunkenness, drug abuse, bullying, manipulation and every kind of violence out.

How wonderful it is, how pleasant it is, for God’s people to live together in harmony.
Against the background of his alluring calls comes a cacophony of traditional songs, kundus, the rhythmic beat of the brass band, bag pipers, intermingled with the happy claps and delightful shouts of children and adults.

Culture is a rich tourism commodity. We have our carvings, traditional dances, arts and crafts, contemporary theatre groups and so forth.

Culture has a lot to offer to the development of the tourism industry in Papua New Guinea.
While institutions like DWU are trying to promote the cultures, all Papua New Guineans should also ensure that those cultures are protected from exploitation because they are their pride and give them their identity.

It is thus important that cultures are maintained and passed on from one generation to the next.

Students from throughout the country including those from Solomon Islands and Fiji, and our Melanesian friends from West Papua attending DWU also display their unique cultures during their cultural festival.

In 2016, Ramu NiCo in Madang also took the opportunity to display its project by way of awareness and reaching out to the public at the DWU cultural festival.

Ramu NiCo’s participation has been ongoing since its inception in Madang and such involvement is due to the strong relationship between DWU and Ramu NiCo to date.
President of Ramu NiCo, Wang Jicheng with other senior staff also visited the cultural day to experience firsthand unique cultures of the country while also supporting the promotional activities by Ramu NiCo staff during the day.

“I am very excited to come here and see the different cultures of PNG as shown by the dances and the beautiful body decorations,” Wang said.

Academics John Imbal and Nathaline Murki from the DWU’s tourism and hospitality department also did a paper on the cultural festival.
Their study reports on an assessment of the 2010 Cultural Day event and implications for management of cultural events.

It investigated the opinions and reactions of a sample of visitors to the cultural day celebrations and provides information on aspects of the promotion and programme for the event, the economic impact of the event and visitor demographics.

The assessment is intended to provide useful information as a guide for improvement of this event through promotion strategies; planning the programme, services and facilities; income generation; and economic impact.

The study should be of interest to stakeholders and the organisers for ongoing development and improvement of cultural event management.
The university student representative council (SRC) cultural committee facilitates and organises the event.

SRC secretary Lavina Lore, a third year Tourism and Hospitality student says the festival is scheduled for August 17 this year.
For more information about the festival and the tour packages, contact via email: pngattractions@gmail.com

A brief of Hon. James Marape - Newly elected Prime Minister

James Marape, born 24 April 1971 has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open.

On 30 May 2019, he was nominated and elected as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea by the National Parliament.

Marape attended Minj Primary School and Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1993, and a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000. 

He was Acting Assistant Secretary of Policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2006.

Marape first contested the Tari-Pori seat at the 2002 election for the People's Progress Party, when voting in the Southern Highlands Province was cancelled due to widespread violence.
He contested the supplementary election in 2003, but lost to incumbent MP Tom Tomiape in a contest marred by the bashing of a polling official by his supporters.

 He challenged the result in the Court of Disputed Returns, but both his initial petition and a subsequent appeal were rejected.

He contested the seat for a second time at the 2007 election as a National Alliance candidate and defeated Tomiape. He was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation by Prime Minister Michael Somare. 

He was also given additional responsibilities as Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-Government Relations. 

He was Minister for Education from 16 December 2008 to 2 August 2011. In February 2012, he left the National Alliance Party and joined People's National Congress.

He was re-elected at the 2012 election in the Tari-Pori District. He was then appointed as Finance Minister under the O’Neill Government.

He was re-elected at the 2017 election, representing People's National Congress.

On 11 April 2019, he resigned as Minister for Finance, but remained a member of People's National Congress and the Government.

However, he resigned from the party on 29 April 2019. Sam Basil was appointed as Minister for Finance on 18 April 2019..

In May 2019 he was named as a potential candidate for replacing Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister.

Alternative Government reaches 65 Members

There is an increase in the number of Members of Parliament in the Opposition camp as O’Neill announced his stepping aside as Prime Minister.

The increase in numbers comes after Hon. William Duma and his URP Party moved on Friday afternoon. This has caused a swing infavour of the Alternative Government which includes John Pundari, and the revolving of Douglas Tomuriesa and Francis Maneke.

The numbers in Alternative Government has now increased to 65 this afternoon as they closed the gates in Laguna to protect their numbers.

Meanwhile current Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in a Media Conference says he will write to Governor General advising of his stepping down as Prime Minister.

Once Governor General receives the letter from Peter O’Neill, he will write to the Speaker of Parliament advising of a vacancy of the Office of Prime Minister and asking the Parliament to nominate a candidate immediately.

Speaker then will advise the Parliament of the vacancy and will call for nominations. Once nominations are received, 24 hours must lapse before a vote must be taken to elect a new Prime Minister.

However, it all depends on when the Governor General receives the letter from O’Neill until then, there is NO Vacancy in the Office of Prime Minister.

CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT MUST NOT BE FOR MERE CHANGE.

Commentary by Mickey Sio - Facebook

Members of Papua New Guineas 10th National Parliament are under immense pressure and scrutiny from the over eight million citizens for a change for the better in the looming vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Peter ONeill.
The cries, calls, demands and pleas have received favourable hearing, at least from some concerned Members of Parliament (MP) who have acted responsibly.

The Opposition led by Patrick Pruaitch and its allied party leaders, Kerenga Kua, Belden Namah, Dr Allan Marat, Joseph Lelang, Garry Juffa and Bryan Kramer must be commended for their solid and steadfast stance to remain together.

The mass exodus of MPs from the current Government started after the November 2018 APEC Leaders Summit by Kerema MP Richard Mendani over extravagant spending at the expense of suffering citizens.

This was followed by Governor Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu over non-release and/or misuse of much-needed grants for coffee and other impact agriculture projects for his province.

In more recent weeks, the Governments chief finance and legal advisors, Finance Minister James Marape and Attorney General Steven Davis left to join the Alternate Government side over reasons including lack of consultation and breach of laws.

Days later, three pillars of the Government, Governor Sir Peter Ipatas (Enga), William Powi (Southern Highland) and Philip Undialu (Hela) withdrew their support in the Government.
The Alternate Government group led by James Marape camped at Laguna Hotel, the original Opposition moved into the Sanctuary Hotel.

The Government based its members at Crowne Plaza Hotel while, People Progress Party and its allied MPs moved into Ela Beach Hotel.
On the afternoon of May 7 2019, the Alternate Government gave Parliament Speaker Job Pomat the notice for a Motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Peter ONeill.

James Marape was named as the alternate PM, but the notice of motion was withdrawn.
Marapes has stated publicly that he withdrew because his names was mentioned in the report by the Ombudsman Commission on the Union Swiss Bank (UBS) $US1.2 billion for 10 percent stake in the ASX-listed Oil Search.

The loan did not have PNG Parliament approval leaving PNG with huge loses and UBS earning at least $US120 million in fees and interests.
On Friday (May 24 2019), United Resources Party, a coalition in current Government moved into the Laguna camp boosting the numbers to 63 in the Alternate Government.

For a Government change, 56 is he required number in the current Parliament.
The Alternate Government will soon name the leader who will lead PNG to next general election.

To all concerned MPs who have demonstrated conviction to put their people and PNG ahead of their personal, parochial and political interests, congratulations and commendation.
PNG is experiencing some of the most difficult times in all fronts.

Well done for MPs who decided to be part of that team that will save the country from financial bankruptcy and total economic collapse.

Apart from being political genius, politicians are reminded that to truly serve they must possess high and appropriate moral values to participate meaningfully and honestly in the too important decisions that are vital for the good of PNG and wellbeing of its citizens.

The Alternate Government camp is comprised of well educated, intelligent, experienced professionals as well as successful individuals in their own fields before entering politics.
From the group, guided by wisdom and good sense a candidate will be chosen through consensus in the true Melanesian spirit.

Taking into consideration the serious mess PNG is in today, the change in the nations top political post must not be for mere change.
The change must be for the betterment and wellbeing of this and future generations of PNG.

The most fundamental reason for change must be to clean the current mess and put the country back on the path of growth and recovery.

It must be made very clear that there is no new money or tool to carry out this mammoth clean-up exercise, but to use the same money and tools in a different way to do what must be done.

In short, this means the incoming Government will have to use the same money and tools PNG has now, but spend/use differently to fix the problems.

The incoming Government should consider among other recovery measures to:
Immediately enforce strict rule of law and compliance by adequately funding all State law enforcing agencies;

Establish a high-level probe, preferably a Royal Commission of Inquiry headed by non-PNG person with wide-ranging powers to fully investigate all the well-known controversies and scandals;

Review all existing project agreements between State and private companies;
Enforce the Proceeds of Crime Act to repossess all monies properties and investments in PNG and abroad that were acquired using public taxpayer funds;
Engage specialist tax auditors to investigate and recoup billions outstanding in corporate tax by defaulters; and
Institute reforms to make all State agencies and statutory authorities to perform better.
Above are few suggestions the new incoming Government to consider to help PNG address the current socio-economic problems and challenges.

The problems PNG is experiencing today far are more serious than those of the late 1990s under the Peoples National Congress (PNC) Government of the later Sir William Skate (1997-1999).

In the two years after the 1997 general election, inflation rose from 4 to 22%; interest on Treasury bills shot from 9 to 28%; foreign exchange reserves fell from US$535 million to US$89 million; and the US$ exchange rate for 1 Kina plummeted from 71 to 28 cents.

In July 1999, when the Government of Sir Mekere Morauta took office, this is what it inherited from Skates PNC Government.
The statistics were grim, but they also tell an important lesson, which is how fragile the economy can be, and how quickly and easily it can be wrecked.

As the results of the massive reconstruction effort in the two and a half years of the Morauta Government, inflation had fallen from 22 to 9% and Treasury bill rates from 28 to 9%; foreign reserves had increased almost 5-fold to US$413 million; the exchange rate had stabilised and appreciated to 31 cents.

This improvement in the macroeconomic indicators was achieved without the benefit of the very high commodity prices.

During Sir Mekeres time, the price of oil ranged between US$13 and $20 a barrel - not the $67 to $69 in the last few years. Gold in 2000 was US$240 an ounce it is now over $1,200. Copper was 70 cents a pound. The PNC Government has been swimming in money.
The magnitude of problems today under another PNC regime are far worse than the late 1990s.

The current socio-economic problems and issues are well known and we need no reminder.

But, what the MPs must be reminded of is that hundreds of thousands of PNG citizens have and will continue to will miss out only because of the greed of few individuals and stupidity of others who have succumbed to political bullies.

While political bullying is perceived to be the order of the day, the nation cannot be expected to be proud of some major decisions.
As long as political bullying continued there will be no consensus and no democracy at National Executive Council (NEC) and Government level.

True political democracy should mean elected leaders, in this case NEC Members and all MPs to do their best they could to protect public discourse.

Many MPs seem to have forgotten the Fourth Point in the National Goals and Directive Principles - To decide and protect the resources for the wellbeing of this and future generations?

If few individuals in NEC and Government have hijacked any process or provisions of any law, in deciding on any project or important decisions involving peoples money/wealth, they should be held responsible and made to account their actions/inactions.

Leaders have been vested with insurmountable powers to protect and promote the wishes and aspirations of the majority their represent and not their own greed and selfishness.

They are duty bound and more importantly have morally obligation to listen to the cries of their electors - ordinary grassroots majority citizens who call PNG home.

The over eight million citizens of Papua New Guinea await to witness how their MPs will respond to their prayers in the next few days ahead.

All road leads to the Prime Minister - Big money and massive kickbacks undermine good governance

By EDDIE MOSES

A leader must not ‘place himself in a position in which he has or could have a conflict of interests’ and ‘shall not use his office for personal gain’ or ‘enter into any transaction or engage in any enterprise or activity that might give rise to doubt in the public mind’, Section 27 of The Constitution of The Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Leaders in democracies around the world resign when their conduct gives rise to doubt in the public mind. In PNG such leaders are always innocent and are instead subjected to ‘administrative inquiries’ and consequently cleared by heavily compromised and weakened oversight and regulatory institutions of state. Very few have been convicted by the courts. A good many cases are pending further futile deliberations. 

Investigations begun four weeks ago into the sale of the iconic Crowne Plaza Hotel (The Sunday Bulletin; 04/11/18) revealed that many situations of conflicts of interests exist and are tolerated within the executive arm of government. Insiders alleged an entrenched culture of massive kickbacks for favourable considerations in resource exploitation; including government supply and infrastructure contracts; are open secrets. 

“Publicly available records clearly show the relationships between a few ministers and wealthy businessmen. The Prime Minister is right up there as well. Abuse of office is so obvious, it is sickening,” an evidently angry insider spit out in disgust.

Vanimo-Green River MP, Belden Namah’s call for leaders and public office holders to rescue the country from massive corruption (The Sunday Bulletin; 11/11/18) was in reference to this existing situation. 

Our findings reveal that companies mentioned in The Guardian-PNGi story (12th Nov, 2018), which incidentally, was termed as ‘fake news’ by the PM’s office, have links to the Prime Minister. 

Ethical considerations such as whether it is proper for senior political figures to retain large business interests and/or whether a Prime Minister; even after declaration of his assets to the Ombudsman Commission, and even after he absents himself from the decision making process of the NEC; is it proper if he benefits directly or indirectly from decisions made by his government? These and other issues are being heatedly debated on social media and in the corridors of power.

The Guardian-PNGi story relates that Wild Cat, the company linked to the PM, in a Joint Venture partnership with Golding PNG Ltd, was awarded a $32.86m (K111m) Asian Development Bank contract to build 12 bridges in West New Britain province in 2014. A year after awarding of contract, ADB inspectors found that work had begun on only three of the 12 bridges despite 60 percent of money paid. 

ADB then asked Department of Works to monitor progress of project and temporarily suspended further payments for lack of progress. Shortly thereafter the PM is said to have sold his shares in Wild Cat and the company changed its name to Construction and Procurement Services Ltd in October 2016. In August of 2017 an ADB report into the procurement for the project outlined a series of issues with the awarding of contracts, including deficiencies in financial management and potential integrity violations. For completion of the project ADB awarded a further contract worth $14.328m (K48m) in June this year to Chinese state owned company China Jiangsu International ETCG Ltd.

Our findings; with invaluable input from PNGi, show that firstly Construction and Procurement Services Ltd is on public records as a company owned by Theophilus George Constantinou. Sir Theo as he is known these days also owns 

The Airways franchise and The Alotau International Hotel, scene of the much vaunted Alotau accords. He is on record as being a director of Construction and Procurement Services Ltd since 15/09/2016. Sir Theo is also the owner of Hebou Constructions and the Monier Group of Companies amongst others.

The Managing Director of China Jiangsu, a Mr. Hao Zhong (Meck) Luo, is a known business associate of the Prime Minister. His company is alleged to be the contractor currently building the new Headquarters for Remington, the Prime Minister’s company (for an undisclosed amount), along the Poreporena Freeway next to CSTB building. 

A signed letter, dated 29Th June 2016, to Mr. Isaac Lupari, Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Department, suggests a long and fruitful business relationship between Mr. Meck Luo and the Prime Minister. Contents of the letter state China Jiangsu International (PNG) had quite a large investment in PNG; had done a lot of projects in the remote areas for AUSAID, ADB, EU and World Bank in the 19 years it had been in PNG. 

“The Honorable Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea will have his state visit to China on the 5th of July 2016, we much appreciate if you can put our chairman Mr. Xiang Feng Peng and our country Manager Hao Zhong (Meck) Luo in the delegation team in the business parties for this state visit trip.” Meck Luo signed the letter.

These two wealthy businessmen are tied to Paradise Breweries, an IPA registered company incorporated on 15th April, 2015. Paradise Brewery, formerly known as Tannaset Ltd. Registered office at Ground Floor Investwell Building, Sect 38, Allotment 30, Cameron Road, Gordons, NCD. One Peter O’Neill is listed as sole shareholder with 101 shares. He was appointed Director on the 19th of January 2018 but resigned six months later on July 6th still retaining sole ownership of the company.

Listed Directors include; Ian Jepson(PNG),MD of Global Construction and Air Niugini Board Member, appointed 6th July 2018;Hao Zhong Luo aka Meck Luo (China), Country Manager, China Jiangsu, appointed 6th July 2018; Tiong Sii Huang aka Dato (Malaysia), timber tycoon and new owner of Crowne Plaza Hotel, appointed 10th August 2018; Jin So Poh aka Jimmy Poh aka Medicine Man (Malaysia), MD of the controversial Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals; Darren James Young (New Zealand), Former Executive Director of Hebou Group and current MD of Kumul Consolidated Holdings, amongst others.

“Being business associates does not necessarily give rise to a situation of conflict of interests. However, if the sole owner of Paradise Breweries sits in the highest office in the land as Prime Minister, and with the inherent powers associated with that office, super massive doubts on conflict of interests is raised in the minds of the public,” a very senior insider stated.
The number and value of recent infrastructure contracts awarded to companies these respective directors’ are associated with will inevitably point to that reaction in the public mind. 

Take back Papua New Guinea from being sold to others

by Garry Juffa - Oro Governor  

Dear Prime Minister,

You sold all our today's and were about to sell our children's tomorrows too...you were in the most enviable and powerful position to do what is right and just by the people of Papua New Guinea..my people..but instead you and a few chosen vultures and pirates and similar characters who you call "friends" chose to exploit our people and destroy our people's future..all for profit and all for greed..you and these despicable and greedy selfish raiders and plunderers will not package pieces of our homeland and sell it to at benefit to yourselves only.

Every Papua New Guinean is a shareholder of Papua New Guinea. They all have a say. And they won't stand for it. They are rising up to fight. That's what we do when our homes and children are threatened by war. Your war. A war to take all that is ours and sell it to your friends and cronies.

Now I asked myself often why? Why would a Papua New Guinean destroy his own people? It is as if you don't care about this country and are not from it. I believe the answer to that is emerging soon enough. This fundamental root question and all the sub questions arising from this need answers still. We will find those answers and must learn from them.

Now for your information, we are not going to let you destroy PNG. We are not going to let you and these vultures and pirates and minions of yours package and sell our children's birthrights without a fight. Land is our life. It will not be sold.

Ever.

We are taking back what is ours..and our childrens, our beloved PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Piece by piece.

You made a mistake. You arrogantly thought that the leaders supporting you would remain silent and continue to do so.

But you forgot one fundamental fact.

These leaders are Papua New Guineans. Not all would be blinded by your greed and agree to all your madness. That's not why they were elected. They were not given their peoples mandate to follow and obey you in carrying out the abhorrent destruction of this great nation at your will and whim for the benefit of your evil plundering and marauding pirate friends!

These leaders are not all blind and deaf and ignorant as you have so arrogantly assumed! Many were disturbed and unable to sleep at night. The cries of our mothers and sisters in our remote rural hamlets could be heard! The bitter protests of our landowners who trusted you and lost all their hopes was far too loud to ignore! The crumbling stations and districts and aid posts bereft of medicine and services could not be un-seen! The roads and buildings you built at exorbitant inflated prices with your friends could not be swallowed! Meanwhile our children sat packed in hot dusty prisons to learn from unpaid teachers, our Police had no vehicles and fuel to protect people and property and maintain a just law abiding society. The list of all you could have rectified but ignored to do so is grim and dark and stretches like a disgusting tapeworm from the time you unlawfully crawled your way into parliament in 2011 where you proclaimed yourself a LEADER.

But you were instead the master conductor of an evil symphony, with one wave of your hand you diverted our proceeds of resources offshore so you could get more loans that our we and our children and their children would pay off at huge cost for years to come, with another you allowed a foreign owned company to sell us medecines from a source cited by the World Health Organization for selling counterfeit drugs, with a deft flick of your wrist you invested in the plundering of our sea bed, and with the other hand you stifled action on addressing the plunder of our forests..and on and on it went, a horrible tune of misery and despair.

Your arrogance and ignorance led to this terrible miscalculation that will bring you down..you thought that the elected Papua New Guinean leaders would keep supporting you as you destroyed our country and our people and their children's future.

But as Papua New Guineans, many of these elected leaders would not stand for it. That is why they have stopped supporting you and started to listen to their peoples cries and are now with their people and not with you.

Everyone has had enough. People can only take so much. You freed yourself but imprisoned us all. Eventually all could see the shackles that imprisoned them and worked with vigor and great anxiety to free themselves.

Signed on behalf of,

PEOPLE of PAPUA NEW GUINEA

O'NEILL: FROM MY GOVT IS INTACT TO I PROMISE TO RESIGN.

by Bryan Kramer - Madang, MP

In last 24 hours Prime Minister Peter O'Neill so desperate to hold onto power and avoid criminal prosecution met with Members of the Opposition begging them to join his remaining 44 Members in Government by offering to resign and giving the Prime Minister position to National Alliance.

At the same time desperate to avoid the remaining 44 Members in his camp from leaving him promised to resign and appointment Chan Acting Prime Minister.

Chan has called a press conference at 2pm today for O'Neill to announce his resignation.

I guess some people have a short memory, it was this time 3 weeks ago O'Neill pulled the same stunt with his Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel. Concerned about Abel resigning told him he would resign and appoint him acting Prime Minister. Abel stupid enough to believe him called Opposition Members begging them not join the Laguna camp, all while calling the Laguna camp begged them to come back to PNC claiming O'Neill was resigning.

Abel forced the media to wait from 10am to 9pm (11 hours) only to look the fool and forced to announce he was committed to PNC and O'Neill Government.

Funny enough Chan started calling Members of Laguna last night with the same news, that O'Neil will resign at 2pm tomorrow (Sunday) and he will be appointed Acting Prime Minister.

I mean seriously what part of stupid don't some people understand.

Chan's problem other than being dumb enough to believe O'Neill is that O'Neill has no intention to resign, even if he was forced to announce it, given his reputation of being a pathological liar he would just deny it or at the eleventh hour say he changed his mind.

Why say he will resign?

O'Neill knows it's the last carrot he has to keep the donkey's from abandoning him.

Meanwhile O'Neill's foreign business associates who thanks to O'Neill became filthy rich over night aren't taking the risk and have reportedly already fled the country.

It's all become rather comical the man who claims to be master tactician has run out of tactics including keeping his own Government,well whats left of it, intact.

While some members in O'Neill Government believe no matter what they will be afforded the opportunity to join the new Government, sorry but that is no entirely correct, there will be a "pasim gate" moment after which those still stupid enough to be loyal to Peter O'Neill can expect to end up in the Opposition with me and become the subject of my investigations and articles for their remaining term in Parliament.

For the record I don't expect O'Neill to hang around after he is voted out, I suspect he will flee the country like his foreign cronies. If he does flee we can deal with him in due course the immediate concern will be those left behind.

This week I will be filing a number of complaints against O'Neill with National Fraud Squad, seeking his immediate arrest. I don't expect the good Commissioner of Police to be silly enough to interfere with his officers constitutional powers of arrest and risk ending up on the wrong side of the law.