Money laundering and official corruption in Papua New Guinea has resulted in millions of kina loss

For many years millions of Papua New Guinea's monies have been lost through investment overseas. And they have been left unattended.

As revealed by Task Force Sweep according to an article by Kela Kapkora on PNG Attitude some K200 million of Papua New Guinea’s money has been invested in Australia by fat cats through corruption and money laundering.
It further stated that 67 people have been arrested so far by Sam Koim (inserted) and Task Force Sweep (TFS) and K170 million has been recovered in PNG and up north.

Now some people (especially their 'wantoks') are crying out loud through some media that TFS is putting every Papua New Guineans investing in Australia into same bucket when they are not supposed to be victimized. They use internet access to defend their friends on different websites and PNG's local newspapers.

Since investigations into those investments started, many of these investors are named and the cases are before the court. The investigations are aided by the Australian Federal Police into assets and bank accounts in Australia. Thanks to federal police and the government of Australia.

Those Papua New Guineans should simply leave this country for Aussie or elsewhere. They can't even appreciate the role of TFS like millions of Papua New Guineans and the neighbouring countries do.

Papua New Guinea went down to France (9-8) in World Cup Rugby League opening matach in England

ABC Sports

France will now be confident of reaching the quarter-finals, with three teams progressing from a group that also contains holders New Zealand and Samoa.

RLWC match at Craven Park, Hull

The French squad, ranked fourth in the world, is predominantly made up of Catalan Dragons players, with of 11 of the starting 13 coming from the Super League side, and it was Bosc who squirmed his way over the line from Eloi Pelissier's pass for the opening try, and the scorer added the conversion.

PNG rugby league team for WC 2013

Papua New Guinea, the only country in the world that has rugby league as its national sport, were playing some expansive rugby in blustery conditions and grabbed their first try through McDonald after consultation with the video referee.

Salford's Theo Fages had a try ruled out for France because of double movement, as his side went in at the interval with a narrow 6-4 lead.

The Kumuls, ranked sixth in the world, went ahead immediately after half-time, forcing a French error before Abavu scored in the corner following a well-constructed move.
Managed by former Wigan half-back Adrian Lam, Papua New Guinea were on top in the second period but were unable to convert their pressure into points.

A penalty from Bosc allowed France to draw level with 20 minutes to go, and Barthau's one-pointer on 65 minutes edged Richard Agar's side ahead. The Pacific nation could have won it with three minutes to go but Mead - who failed with all three kicks at goal - missed a penalty attempt from 25 metres out.

Principal of a Papua New Guinea's biggest law firm, Paul Paraka, was arrested

Post-Courier, 24th October 2013

Prominent lawyer Paul Paraka has been arrested and charged by police and the Task Force Sweep yesterday over fraud allegations involving senor ministers of the O'Neil Government.

Paul Paraka with his legal team

The principal of one of the country’s most prominent law firms, Paul Paraka Lawyers, which consists of 22 established branches around the country, was charged for multiple counts of fraud following months of investigations by Task Force Sweep.

The investigations were conducted into the law firm upon directions by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on May 13 this year.
Mr Paraka was interviewed and charged with a total of 18 counts relating to an amount of K71.8 million.
He was charged with five counts of conspiracy to defraud under section 407(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Act, nine courts of stealing by false pretence under section 404(1)(a), two counts of money laundering under section 34(2)(a) and two counts of misappropriation under section 383(1)(a) of the Criminal Code Act.

Police said Mr Paraka was arrested in a dawn raid at Gavuone village, Kupiano, Central Province (about two and half hours drive from Port Moresby.)..

Enga transfers hospital to Sopas and replaces with new Highlands referal hospital

Governor Peter Ipatas

The Enga provincial government has announced the transfer of the Wabag Provincial Hospital to the former Seventh-Day Adventist Church-run health facility at Sopas.

Enga Governor Peter Ipatas told hospital staff and villagers after meeting with the provincial management teamand provincial executive council members last Friday that his government had made the decision to make way for the new hospital to be built at Aipus, near Wabag.

He said Sopas, where the Enga Nursing School would have its first intake of 40 students starting next year, would remain a district hospital for Wabag.
The new 150-bed hospital construction will start next year and cost more than K320 million to be delivered for opening in 2015, Ipatas said.

He said an American hospital designing and building consultant company would present the final touches on the plan to stakeholders next month.
He said according to plan, the new hospital would become a regional referral medical facility for the Highlands, including the gas-rich provinces of Hela and Southern Highlands.

Ipatas said the provincial hospital site would be turned into a commercial area, with the building of two warehouses and a number of supermarkets. Ipatas thanked the O’Neill Government for approving funding for the new hospital, particularly when health services in the country needed critical attention.

It is understood Ipatas and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will travel to China to secure a loan for the hospital project next month.

Source: The National, Monday October 7th, 2013

Remarkable story: The nationalization of Ok Tedi Mining by the Papua New Guinea government

Professor Stephen Howes
Director of the Development Policy Centre

I WAS IN PORT MORESBY LAST WEEK for our third budget forum with PNG’s National Research Institute. The week was dominated by the PNG’s Government’s takeover of Ok Tedi and the Sustainable Development Program, which was front-page news for several days.

Stephen Howes

It is a critical but complex issue which I wrote about earlier this year (here and here). Though the subtleties and implications are manifold, a simple summary of what happened last week is that in a single day, Wednesday, legislation was introduced into and unanimously passed by the PNG parliament to give the PNG Government ownership of the country’s largest company, Ok Tedi Mining Limited, and control over the country’s second largest development organisation, the PNG Sustainable Development Program.

The short version of my argument is that, while the Government has achieved a stunning victory, it is quite possibly a temporary one, and it is an outcome which represents poor public policy and a setback to development in PNG. The long version follows below, starting at the beginning.

Background
The PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) was set up after BHP’s exit from the Ok Tedi mine in PNG’s Western Province just over a decade ago. Essentially, BHP wanted to shut down the mine, which had caused great environmental damage and become a reputational risk to the company. The PNG Government, however, wanted the mine to continue because it needed the tax revenue.

All about 38th Independence Anniversary Celebrations 2013-Proud Papua New Guineans!

United we stand divided we fall..Happy 38th Birthday PNG...!!

Bobby with the girls! 

Gratitude to veteran politicians and Happy 38th Indepedence to Papua New Guinea

By Joe WASIA

I salute the founders of this great nation for their role in nursing and bringing up this nation to where it is today at its 38th Birth Day. We sometimes pose negative comments on them saying it was too early for Papua New Guinea to be granted independence but it was not that easy as many of us think.

Even after they are gone their names shall be remembered as they shift the nation from a colonialism to what we called 'Independence State' today. One of those great leaders and founders is non other than Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare who was instrumental in taking this nation out of foreign hands without bloodshed. Besides him were a few other key figures who shaped the future of Papua New Guinea, politically, constitutionally, socially and economically.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Prime ministers

We thank the first Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea in the Westminster system and the Governor for East Sepik, Sir Michael Somare (Pangu Party) and first Opposition leader and the MP for Wabag, late Sir Tei Abal (United Party). With their first political parties, they made great impact in the bringing up of independence in 1975.

Other great architects are Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir Julius Chan, John Momis, Sir John Kaputin, Anton Parao and Paul Torato. Others who have left us were Sir Iambakey Okuk, Sir John Guise, Sir Ignatus Kilange, Sir Albert Kipalan, Sir Buri Kidu, John Watts and Sir Sinake Giregire and several others. We thank Sir Michael and those who are still living to this date and those who have left us for their collaborative efforts to get Papua New Guinea out of foreign hands. They deserve gratitude.

You cannot teach an “old dog a new trick”. With the evidence of globalisation, economics and trade, we now need young and innovative leaders in the likes of Peter O'Neil, Don Polye, Gary Jufa, Sam Basil, Charles Abel, Richard Maru, Belden Nemah and others who are who are more focused on those issues and take the country from here to the next era.

Hon Richard maru, MP
Commerce & Industry

Hon Don Polye, MP
Minister for Treasury

Hon Sam Abel, MP
National Planning & Monitering

Hon Sam Basil, MP
Deputy Opposition Leader

                                                                                                                                                           

Hon Belden Namah, MP
Opposition Leader

Hon Gary Juffa, MP
Governor for Northern Province

                                         


           

With due respect , I must say that any of these veterans (former PMs) who have returned in this term of parliament or who may return in the future elections must assist the young leaders to form a vibrant government for a better Papua New Guinea. I believe this country has a potential to fly higher above other developing countries of the world if we are honest in affairs of the nation. We have some of the biggest mining, oil and gas projects in the world. We have giant Porgera gold mining, OK Ted copper and gold, Lihir gold, Bougainville copper, Freda gold, Ramu nickel and cobalt, Wau-Bulolo gold, PNG LNG project,  and to name a few.

We also have potential in agriculture and livestock. Papua New Guinea has more than 75% of its land covered in bus which we can use for agriculture and livestock activities. Currently we have Ramu Sugar in Sepik and Makaham valley, oil palm projects in West New Britain and Ramu Valley, Popodetta and coffee projects in the highlands, Morobe and other parts of the coastal provinces and cocoa and copra projects in the coast. We also have piggery and cattle farming in Markham Valley, along Sogeri Roads in Central Province, and other parts of the country. We have everything a country could need.

Now, when PNG turns 38 (2013), everyone, including government and the people of Papua New Guinea have high expectations and hopes for better future as country's the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to be doubled in the next few months as PNG LNG project goes into on stream. Yes, for sure country's revenue will be doubled as never before.

However, the problem of mismanagement and corruption by the elected leaders and their cronies or bureaucrats holding top positions in the country down to the project management on the ground is remained unresolved. We cannot expect miracles from heavens if we are not accountable in handling the billions of kina from the existing projects and other revenues sources in the country.

It’s about time we manage these massive funds with transparency, integrity and with good governance. If we continue fail in this area even after 38 years of Independence, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Happy 38th PNG's Birth Day to all..! God bless Papua New Guinea!

Papua New Guinea Treasurer Polye to chair International Monetary Fund, World Bank board

Papua New Guinea Treasurer Don Polye will be the next chairman of the board of governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Hon Don Polye, MP

Polye was selected to be the chairman in 2014 by fellow governors, who are finance ministers of member countries.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill commended Polye, saying his elevation to chair of the important financial institutions was a vote of confidence in PNG and would raise its profile on the global scene.
In a letter to Polye, the prime minister said his selection was in recognition not only of Polye’s leadership and talent by his peers, but also of PNG’s increasing role as a major player in the region.

“I have no doubt that PNG and the region would benefit greatly from your tenure as Chair of the Fund and Bank,” O’Neill said. The treasurer said the chairmanship was a prestigious position and he was honoured to take it up.
“This will certainly complement well our government’s drive towards making PNG the leader and big brother amongst Pacific Island nations, and an emerging economy in the Asia-Pacific region,” Polye said.

Papua New Guinea decentralises control of development spending

OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP

In the line with an electoral platform that pledged to deliver more local level services and control over spending, the national government of Papua New Guinea has introduced a budget for 2013 that transfers nearly K1.5bn to provincial, district and local authorities.

Each province is expected to receive K5m per district, while districts will be directly allocated K10m and local governments K500,000.

The government has set up guidelines for spending, with 30% of funding committed to infrastructure, 20% each to education and health care, and 10% each to law and order, support for economic activities, and administrative issues such as tendering.
In total, the amount of funds transferred represents an 87% year-on-year increase in support for sub-national programs.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told Oxford Business Group, “Local communities will now have more control over decision making and the implementation of development projects. These efforts combined will help to ensure the country’s continued economic and social health.”

The central government will retain final approval for larger projects, but funding will now be in the hands of sub-national authorities. This has raised some concerns, as Treasury Minister Don Polye conceded in a speech in late 2012, but he noted that the government had carefully considered the risks, as well as strengthened accountability and auditing systems.

Papua New Guinea's Opposition leader Belden Namah’s ‘15-days secret mission’

Opposition Leader ready to take on Government as House resumes

Post Courier (Tuesday, 10th September 2013)

Opposition Leader Belden Namah who has been on a “secret” 15-week mission overseas is ready to take on the government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. Mr Namah did not give details of his 15-weeks absence, just saying it was a “fact finding mission” and a secret at this stage.

It is understood that he may be out there plotting to topple the prime minister who he helped to install just over two years ago.

After arriving in the country over the weekend, he held a media conference with his small group of Opposition MP’s including Bulolo MP Sam Basil, Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang and Huon MP Ross Seymour and appealed to MPs not to support the proposed constitutional amendments to the no- confidence motion.

“I have been out on a fact finding mission and I have looked in from the outside to see a lot of things that are not right under the current government.”
“My dream for Papua New Guinea is that we need to have a radical change, to see that our citizens benefit from the vast natural resources that are being taken out from their land.” Mr Namah said,” From my 15-