Wednesday, April 19, 2023

CENTRAL BANK AMMENDMENTS WILL BE A COUNTRY KILLER


By JASON MONDUL

The recent concerns about the independence of the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea have sparked a debate on the importance of safeguarding the financial sector from political interference. The Marape Rosso government's recent actions, under the leadership of Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey, have raised fears of a loss of independence for the Central Bank. Post shared from here: https://www.pngblogs.com/2023/04/central-bank-ammendments-will-be.html

Isaac Lupari, the former Government Chief Secretary, has expressed his concerns about the amendments to the Central Bank Act. He warns that the proposed changes could politicize and destabilize the bank, leading to a loss of independence and jeopardizing the country's financial future and international reputation. 

Monday, February 20, 2023

IRC COMMENCES COMPREHENSIVE AUDITS OF TWO MINING COMPANIES

The Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) announced the commencement of a comprehensive tax audit into two major mining companies operating in Papua New Guinea.
Commissioner General Sam Koim made the announcement on 22nd of December 2023.
Mr Koim said, “We have been profiling these two companies (names withheld for confidentiality reasons) for over a year. The letters formally notifying them of the audit were signed and served today.

We understand that mining is a capital-intensive operation and requires significant investment. Be that as it may, our mineral resources are finite and non-renewable, and we will run out one day. The Government needs to extract a substantial proportion of the value of the resources extracted for the benefit of its citizens, present and the future.”

This involves the design and implementation of an appropriate contractual and fiscal system. The one we have is a concessionary fiscal regime where, amongst

Thursday, January 26, 2023

POGERA MINE TO REOPEN BY JUNE BUT PRESSING OUTSTANDING ISSUES YET TO RESOLVED SAYS ENGA GOVERNOR

By Mortimer Yangharry, in Wabag, Enga Province

Veteran Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas told the Enga Provincial Assembly on

Monday afternoon that the delay in the reopening of the Pogera mine is not necessarily caused by the national government nor the provincial government but by pressing issues at hand.
Sir Peter informed the Provincial Assembly that the delay in reopening of the Pogera mine was due to the pressing shareholding issues and complicated necessary taxation processes which the national government had no control over.
He admitted that for the last three years, the internal revenue of the province was badly affected due to the premature closure of the mine.
"Impact projects funded by the tax credit schemes and other royalties from the mine did not happen since May 2019 when the Pogera gold mine shut down its operations," Sir Peter said.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Employment with Brunel International and Santos Ltd in Lae

Life at Lae Morobe Province. Brunel International South East Asia PNG Limited and Santos Ltd provided the opportunity to be with the PNG Biomass and its an pleasure to be with leading international companies. Resigned on the 09.12.2022 to join public service. That was also a moment to remember, shifting away from Private sector to private sector after 10 years. Below are few photo collections while at a rented residence at East Taraka, Lae Morobe Province in 2022.

Monday, January 23, 2023

A CONCEPT PLAN IS REQUIRED FOR WAPENAMANDA TOWN RE-DEVELOPMENT & EXPANSION

By Stan Tondop

The recent visit by the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape upon the invitation of Wapenamanda MP and Vice Minister for Works and Highways Hon. Micky Kaeok has compelled me to put this up. Wapenamanda District doesn't need a flyover at this very point in time. Rather, Wapenamanda needs a "Concept Plan for Town Re-development & Extension".
Wapenamanda District is the main access point both through air and road into Enga Province. It is widely known as the gateway to other parts of the Province. The only airport in Enga is located in the heart of Wapenamanda Town apart from the Kairik Airstrip in Porgera commonly used by employees of Porgera Gold Mine who flies in and out on a chartered basis. Road network from Mt. Hagen to Enga’s Capital Wabag through Wapenamanda is sealed throughout and just perfect compared to others within the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea.
Wapenamanda District has some of the pioneer government institutions such as the Pausa St. Pauls Secondary School, Mambisanda Lutheran Hospital, and the Wapenamanda Airport (recently rehabilitated). These are all situated within the

HON.MIKI KAEOK'S POPULAR NAME TAG " ATM & KANAKAE" IS NO MORE

By Lungipin Remcy

Hon. Miki Kaeok's popular name tag "ATM" largely defined by his passion for sharing is a symbol of care and love he has for his people.
However, many critics say that such is an attitude of a "kanakae" to lure votes and maintain social relations in the society.
Despite this, Hon. Miki Kaeok, MP and Vice Minister for Works & Highways in his first public address to his people of Wapenamanda, Enga and PNG said that his name tag "ATM" is best replaced with "Kalai-akali or Wokman" and "Kanakae" with "Saveman". He came with a Hope unite all educated elites to help redevelop policy frameworks and rehabilitate and rebuild Wapenamanda from it's slumber and ruins.

Photo Collections 2019-2022

Few photo collections for 2019-2022. These photos will surely bring back the old memories in many years. Photos from Mt Hagen central and Lumusa LLG of Western Highlands Province.

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Little McRyan's visit to UoT 2022 (Oct)

Little McRyan visited the PNG University of Technology on the 16/11/20122 before his 2nd Birthday. His Birthday was celebrated at a rented residential home at East Taraka, Lae Morobe Province in a property owned by a family from Tambul district of Western Highlands Province. McRyans dad was working with Santos project, PNG Biomass, through Brunel International South East Asia PNG Ltd. Below photos were captured in a afternoon walk to the university.  

Sunday, January 15, 2023

05th January 2023


By Charlie Clye Tikaro

What a turn of events between a landowner group vs ExxonMobil & State. It was all in favour of the landowners until it reaches Supreme Court. And sadly, the landowners will now meet the entire legal costs for the State and ExxonMobil.
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Lawsuits by landowners relating to the 2009 Kokopo Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement (UBSA) and License-Based Benefit Sharing Agreement (LBBSA) derived from the PNG LNG project were now statutorily time barred.
This means any cases filed against the State where the cause of action is based on the UBSA and LBBSA would not be entertained by the courts since the issue was now statutorily time barred

MARAPE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO RESERVE THE DECISION TO ALLOW CHINA BANK IN PNG!

By Richard Marainump

There is too many risks in this decision of allowing China to operate bank in PNG.

1》In the long run the Chinese bank will try all possible means to buy off local banks after it has rooted itself and try to finance and facilitate all Chinese businesses in PNG to be competitive with local businesses of which some are already in existence or doing and this will only add fuel to the fire.
2》There is possibility of China bank taking over PNG banking industry because the government has already created unfavorable environment for the operating local banks and if the China bank gives a good competition, there is possibility of these banks dying out like Wespac and ANZ in PNG. And where do we go if that happens?