by GABRIEL RAMOI

Twelve months ago who among us would have predicted  the rise of a much under rated James Marape as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea putting an end to eight years of tumultuous rule by Peter O’Neill and his PNC Party.  In this article we profile the achievement of James Marape over the last 12 months and lay out the challenges both for Marape as Prime Minister and for the country he now leads and contrast that with the Style and achievements of Peter O’Neill, the man he replaced as Prime Minister.

James Marape continues to intrigue and surprise us with the array of tools he is deploying from a Pandora box of politics. Intrigue because from a base without money or support of big businesses or a regional based political party he was able to effect a regime change in PNG, a feat that will be hard to repeat for a long while. Surprised because the man he replaced is no political midget and to successful pull the rug from under   O’Neill’s   feet is a master stroke worthy of study by both Practitioners and students of PNG Politics.

Did he do it through smoke and mirrors? Or did he indeed  find the Achilles heels in O’Neil’s  amour and used it to destroy Peter O’Neill and what was that weak spot?  The answer lies perhaps in the attitude bordering on contempt that O’Neill has for all those who owe their appointment to high office through him. Having come to power by force in defying the highest Power on the land exercised through the Supreme court which ruled his election as Prime Minister illegal Peter O’Neill would go on in his 8 years rule to ridicule the institutions of State bordering on contempt. O’Neill’s years of power is characterized by his contempt of the institution of States and society in general having traverse a path of hardship growing up in his formative years as an illegitimate son of a white father.   Having defied the Supreme Court, Peter O’Neill would go on in his term of office to appoint and dismiss at will Constitutional Office Holders and making sure all Departmental heads know very fast where their bread and butter came from.

When Police commissioner Kulunga requested for O’Neill to come to Police H/Q for questioning over his role in the Parakagate Scandal it did not take long for Commissioner Kulunga to find himself on the street and without a job. Oneill would also go on to subdue and side line important state actors and institutions that tried to challenge his rule. The Offices of the Public Prosecutor, the Ombudsman Commission and   Task Force swift found their offices  starved of resources rendering them impotent with the incumbent heads receiving   vile threats of not being re appointed.

Ombudsman Rigo Lua and Sangatai found that out when they began to question the US$1.2 Billion UBS Loan and the message was not lost on others.  All his departmental heads report directly to him and not their Ministers or lose his support when their ministers want them replaced.  He never forgot those that crossed his path. Many including the former Chief Justice would attest to his leadership style when he found himself replaced as Chief Justice although he had an age eligibility of another 10 years to serve as Chief Justice of PNG. He was quickly replaced by Justice Salika who was the leader in the minority decision that recognizing the election of Peter O’Neill in the 2011 impasse and who would subsequently replace Chief Justice Injia for his part.

By the middle of 2016 his major Coalition partner have had enough of his style of leadership. In a investment exposition in Paris in March or 2016 where he  had  directed  all the leaders of his Coalition to attend  as a bonding exercise  ahead of a much anticipated  VoNF directed by the Supreme Court on a petition by Don Polye ,  he abandon Pruaitch, Ben Micah and William Duma during the entire  time in Paris where no  State Businesses were even discussed. O’Neill was instead lured   away by the opportunity to tie personal business deals and spent most of his time drinking and dinning with his Irish clansman Dennis O’Brian  the owner of Digicel to tie deals for his Remington group. He also spent considerable time without his ministers wooing Total the France Multi National to enter the PNG Hydro Carbon Market.

What was negotiated to entice Total to enter the Hydro Carbon Market in PNG can only be left to our imagination but would directly result in the decision taken by the little unknown James Marape to walk out of the O’Neill Cabinet 2 years later when the Cabinet was asked to endorse the Papua LNG project headed by Total. Peter O’Neill we are told personally sat down the night before NEC with the CEO of Total and initial all the 300 pages of the Development Contract with the State after he had fired the state negotiating team. Peter O’Neill’s  Business deals rode on the back on Crony Capitalism of which he was the master where the line between State and personal interest was often blurred with inflated State contracts going to mates and friends in the true  crony capitalism style.

Major decisions during this period of his rule included the Purchase of the Curtain Brothers Port Facility at Motukea for over 1 Billion Kina, The use of tax Credit Schemes to refurbish the Pineapple Building given to his mate L& A Brick Layers, the Purchase and transfer of Prime Ela Beach Hotel Land from the Indian Sangramaniam to MRDC, Contract for the Building of Sports Stadiums using Tax Credits that ended up poorly constructed and unfinished and are still being Fixed today. We also remember the excesses of funds committed to the 7.5 Mega Earthquake that rocked Southern Highlands and remain unaudited to this day.

We also recall the blunder by the ADB to award tens of Millions of infrastructure development funds paid to Wild Cat Ltd a company associated with O’Neill to buy influence away from the Chinese which resulted in a large number of incomplete and abandon bridges in West New Britain Province. We also remember over US$6 Billion of Chinese Soft Loans negotiated at the time and having a transforming effect on the land scape of Port Moresby and lae. What is however not reported are the whispers in the corridors of Power where it is reportedly commissions amounting to tens of million in payment received by an infamous Chinese madam who had in turn purchased a number of luxury homes in Australia and handed over these property to our leading Politicians on the back on contracts award to friends and mates.  The crowing litany of all the  excesses of the O’Neill era are  vestiges left over of  2018 APEC that included Conference halls unsuitable for use and expensive Maserati’s unsuitable for use on our roads.

Instead of APEC 2018  being seen as the crowning moment  and a celebration  of Peter O’Neil Prime ministership where we played host to world leaders and show case PNG to the world , the rampages and sacking of Parliament by an unruly APEC Security team for none payment of allowances and the broken Glass windows  of Parliament house will remain etched in our memories for ever marking the failure of APEC 2108 and the house of cards built by O’Neil over the 8 years of his rule. The usurpation of Power by O’Neill and the 8 years of living dangerously under O’Neill was not lost on James Marape and the team of young Turks that supported him 12 months ago in pulling one of the biggest political coup in the region. Below we review the performance and achievement of James Marape over his 12 months of Office and contrast that with the leadership style of Pater O’Neill

Marape the 8th Prime Minister.
The contrast in leadership style between Marape and Oneill cannot be more pronounced, while O’Neill fought for his survival growing up as a child abandon by his biological father at an early age, Marape grew up with love and comfort of loving and caring parents where his Pastor Father would no doubt have instilled into the young Marape  the fundamental Christian values  of sharing and serving with love and humility in the formative years of his life. These values were strong enough to force him walk away from the perks of Cabinet and Privilege when he realized that there is a fundamental flaw in O’Neill’s leadership centered on Crony Capitalism which informs on most Government decisions. Marape did not have the sense of insecurity and depravity growing up to hoard resources to create a safety net for himself as a person and a leader something which is sadly missing among our mixed race Members of Parliament.

 We see this in the way he invited the best people in Parliament to join his Cabinet after he was elected Prime Minister and the good word he had for the man and the Party he replaced. He also invited ministers who had served under O’Neill to remain in his Cabinet and extended the same to top civil servants including the notorious Chief Secretary to Government Isac Lupari and Secretary of Treasury Diari Vele and Secretary Finance, Secretary Planning and Secretary Works together with the head of MRDC and Kumul Petroleum  to share in his good fortune and to share the dream he had for PNG. His acceptance speech to Parliament of Taking Back PNG and making it the Greatest Black Christian Nation on Planet Earth in a parliament of equals sounded hallow and rhetorical when first announced reminding us of speeches made by leaders of military coups in far away Banana Republics in Africa. However over the last 12 months we have witnessed the depth of his vision culminating firstly in him taking over the Pangu Pati and absorbing the values shared by this iconic Political Party , values as expressed through the 8 point improvement plan and the National Goals and Directive Principles of our Constitution.

 Many observes gave Marape the benefit of the Learning Curve and considered him naive when he failed to take action against his political opponents and were waiting to see him slip in the first 12 months of Power, the pressure on him to find the money to support his first budget and to boost up our foreign exchange reserves was his first major test as Prime Minister. While Peter Oneill went to the international Bond Market to raise PNGs first successful Sovereign Bond of US$500m with the help of Credit Suisse to ease pressures on our Foreign Reserves Marape would use his Christian heritage to  spend one week going to Foot Ball games in Austraila with his counterpart  Prime Minister Scott Morison  to secure the Aus$300m that help saw us through in fiscal 2019/2020.  He also followed this up with rebooting links with the ADB , the World Bank and the IFC by  re engaging the  United State and Australia on naval Based support   to counter the heavy dependence on China Soft Loans in financing our infrastructure development that Oneill was perusing . This power play by Marape saw the ADB  recommit to funding  the  rehabilitation of the Highlands highway and from the World Bank and IFC  a commitment to support  Agriculture in PNG.

 The inflow of funds from these important bilateral partners means that our Foreign reserves will stay healthy and see Marape ride smoothly into 2021 and 20122 fiscal year. The down side of this policy shift short of an IMF inspired Structural Adjust Program was the abandoning of the Popular Free Education and free Health Policy of his predecessor which remains  popular among the Rural masses and of which the recent win by the PNC Candidate in  Menyamya has confirmed. On the health front, With the arrival of COVID 19, the maturity in the approach taken by Marape to impose a SoE to deal with the Pandemic on hindsight was stern particularly in the banning of all domestic and international Flights with the cost to the economy yet to be measured however we can be proud of the fact that the stern approach taken by Marape  resulted  in  zero Death in our Country from COVID 19 under his leadership. As we end the end of the first 12 months of Marape.s reign, his earth shattering announcement not to renew Barricks lease on Porgera is currently being played out and evaluated in board rooms all over the world where a number of mega projects financed through Foreign Direct Investment  are  being considered for development. These projects included the US$13 Billion Papua LNG Projct, together with the Pnyang Project, The Pasca Project valued at between US$300 - 500 million , the New Crest Wafi Golpu project estimated at US$ 5Billion and the Pan Aust Frieda Project also estimated at US$5Billion.

Below we look at the challenges facing Marape and PNG as we move into the Post Covid 19 World against the backdrop of the recent decision for the state to take over the Porgera mine amidst the rise of Resource Nationalism in PNG.

The Challenge
 The ANZ Bank In a briefing to its corporate clients on PNGs prospect in the immediate term projected revenue in the PNGs resource sector in the next decade to reach  US$23 Billion per annum from 2030 and that PNG  will have to  attract US$112 Billion of  foreign direct  investment over the next decade to achieve that. Current mega hydro Carbon and Mining Projects in the pipe line is only a third of what is required. PNG will require additional  Mega Projects to be developed possibly outside the current  Foreign Direct Investment model to  reach the ANZ projected outcome. One of the leading black Female Economist of our generation Dambiso Moya has outline a road map that black developing nations like our can follow to lift its people out of Poverty and it does not necessarily have to depend entirely on  Foreign Direct Investment but a combination that includes the mobilization of domestic savings and Capital  and the use of Export Credit Financing to develop Mega infrastructure and agriculture Projects that can transform a nation.

In the PNG context it would mean taking the offer made by the United States and Australia to meet 70 % of all the Electricity needs of PNG by developing the Purari Hydro Power project that has been on the GoPNG books since 1973 to generate the entire current and future Power needs of the Country and to sell excess electricity and Water from the Purari Hydro Scheme to Australia where they critically need it. The Purari Hydro Scheme is an important national transformational infrastructure Project and meets all the criteria for funding under Export Credit Financing using Australian, American, Japanese and Chinese Government Support together with domestic capital from sources such as Sir Mekeres long term Singapore Ok Tedi Fund to develop this project. In fact PNGSDP and Sir Makere have been involved with this project for some time and he should be given carriage of this project.

The Development and launch of the PNG Kumul Communications Satellite System to improve and transform our communications infrastructure is also very important for our country and the recent NEC decision to put our Satellite into Orbit before 2022 is welcomed. The Kumul Satellite will be developed using financing from German and EEC Led Export Credit Agencies. The next important infrastructure Development is the development of our agriculture and road/rail infrastructure and this can be achieved through current export Credit Financing using the China Belt and Road initiative by extending the road infrastructure project to link all Momase Towns with Jayapura and excessing cheaper connectivity with the World via Indonesia and Asia for our Agriculture and Tourism Products. In this context the mobilization of current saving through our super funds for Large Scale Commercialization of Rice and other cereal crops must be seriously considered.

Finally like China we must aim to use the windfall from the export of our resources to improve and modernize our 10,000 villages to make it more comfortable so all of us can find it enjoyable to go back and live in a villages with modern amenities including improved health and educational felicities.

The recent announcement by the PM to mobilize our youths under the leadership of the army for nation building is welcome. We also welcome the announcement to repatriate the unemployed back to their villages from our towns and cities. The country is waiting for the details of this two important initiative.
Conclusion.
 While Marape ticks all the Boxes of a nationalist leader in the making, the jury is still out as to whether PMJM can deliver on his promise to give Economic Independence to PNG and importantly on how he will proceed to deliver on that promise. Will he take us on the revolutionary path of Gadhafi and Saddam in his handling of our resources? or will he follow Suharto and Lee Kuan Yew? Will he emulate Paul Kagame of Rwanda or Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso and avoid the pitfalls of Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe? Important for all of us as stack holders in the future of PNG are the need to see the details in Marapes plan.

So far his handling of Politics is neither that of Sun Tzu and his Art of War or Machiavelli’s The Prince. Neither is it Kautilya,s  Arthashastra . It would seem Marapes Modus Operandi follows the dictate of the God he believes in and his Book the Holy Bible. He is stern but also compassionate just like the Prophet of old. When he said he was going to help Australia in the recent bush fire many of us where left wondering how a third world country like ours would assist. His solution to send a well discipline team of our PNGDF to perform that role is a credit to him the PNGDF and the people they assisted in the small towns in rural Australia.  This small act of compassion and Christian kindness in the use of our limited State resources to assist those in need sets him apart and allows us as a nation to believe in Marape and in his humility and humanity and that we know he passionately cares for the collective wellbeing of his nation when he says NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

Gabriel Ramoi
Wewak May 15th May  2022
Post Script as this article goes to Print ,the Courts in PNG are yet to determine the validity of  the election of James Marape as Prime Minister and on the Porgera take over by the State, the courts are yet to endorse the rights of the State to take over the Porgera Mine following the expiration of the lease. 

by JAMIE MAIGAU
In every comments or statement a supporter or admirer of PM Hon. James Marape when he/ she argue in defence of PMJM he/ she would say PMJM is cleaning the mess created by Hon. Peter O'Neil.

I find it hard to comprehend and always beg question 'is the person commenting knows what he/she is saying?' 

Peter O'Neil employed the same people that are now being employed by PMJM. They all created the mess together and now PMJM tries to clean it. While in the process of cleaning it PMJM is careful not to hurt his own foot. That something we all citizens should know and understand.
For us to praise PMJM and denounce PO is not a right thing to do.

To avoid shooting his own foot PMJM would change and shift his strategies to deviate our attention from the real corruption issues that he vowed to fight when he took over from PMPO.

Fighting of Coronavirus, approval of Superannuation funds, Sapotim Wantok Foundation and his other actions and deeds are mechanism employed to give us false hope so that we would praise his government thus forgetting the real issues of corruption.

When will PMJM table the UBS Loan report, APEC Report, Audit of South Pacific Games expenditure and others? When will PMJM deal with politicians, beaurecrats and departmental heads with questionable characters?

Those are some of the questions we must ask to understand is PMJM real in fighting corruption.
We must not blindly support and blame each one of them. They both have been together and they did it together until PMJM divorced PO.

So the only thing we as citizens have to do is to pressure them to clean their own mess by doing what is right without fear or favour. If we citizens divide ourselves to support each of the corrupt politicians, we won't help them clean their mess.

The mess would be passed onto next generation of leaders. If truly we want the mess to be cleaned, we people have to take a #United_Stand.

Don't support a politician because he is your tribesman. Support him because of his leadership and what he is doing is right.

by KEVIN MENDAKA
The shocking arrest of former Prime Minister and Member for Ialibu Pangia Hon Peter O’Neill, CMG  came about when the SOE Order for 14 days quarantine law was violated by the Special Investigation Team operating at the Police Headquarters.

The Special Investigation Team was using a warrant issued by the Waigani Committal Court from a Magistrate whose jurisdictions is in question on whether or not the Magistrate has powers under the Arrest Act or Search Warrant Act to issue warrants.

It appears the Magistrate that issued the Warrant was a level 4 Magistrate thus contrary to law as the powers to issue warrants only authorized and sanctioned by law to be signed of by the Chief Magistrate, Deputy Chief Magistrate and Senior Provincial Magistrate (All Level 5).
Interestingly this Magistrate is from East Sepik Province and the policemen involve from East Sepik Province.

The blame game will now continue, in amidst of confusing there are fake social media news circulated lately blaming Hon Philip Undiali Governor for Hela Province and Hon William Powi Sothern Highlands Governor for instigated the move to the arrest of former PMPO and intended to do so on PMJM. The both Governors are from the Highlands regions and such move will not be allowed by both men.

Hon James Marape PM was also shock to learn from the shocking arrest of PMPO and he was not either involve to interfere with Police to cause the arrest on former PMPO.

On a recent trip to Central Sepik early this year the Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Hon John Simon MP was in his electorate in accompany of Telefomin MP and Forest Minister announce to the People of Central Sepik that they are the ones that placed Hon James Marape in the Prime Minister sit and not long the post will be given back to them the Central Sepik. This was the statement made by Hon John Simon in his electorate in earlier this year after his tribunal victory.

Hon John Simon was with the NA party when elected as MP for Maprik and he is now under Pangu Party. Interestingly one would note that who is the Minister in the current Government that uses Police a lot and that is non other then Hon John Simon Minister for Agriculture & Livestock
Hon John Simon Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Office at the CGO Level 3B is becoming an extra office for the Special Investigation Team Policemen that frequently visits his office on requested basis.

Hon John Simon Minister for Agriculture & Livestock used those policemen that now arrested PMPO and same Magistrate to tarnish and arrest the Secretary for DAL Daniel Kombuk in early January 2020 but the Secretary for DAL took the matter to court for the warrant being defective as the Magistrate lack jurisdictions and the Court ruled later that the actions of police is illegal and the warrant was defective.

The same Minister for Agriculture & Livestock  Hon John Simon then uses the same police after failing to arrest Secretary DAL to interfere with the OPIC Board of Directors powers and functions by illegal appointing a Acting Chairman from his electorate. He was using Commodity Boards funds to pay those policemen mainly from NAQIA funds and OPIC Board funds last year whilst under suspension.

Interestingly Hon John Simon Minister for Agriculture & Livestock is now intending to diver the Agriculture Funds to support his NA party members in the likes of former Member for Ambunti Drekkier Tony Aimo company namely Aimandu Agriculture Commodities Ltd and directed the CEO for Spice Board to enter into an agreement with his company to transfer financial grant to him for personal or political  use for 2022 Elections. This a paper company or paper famers.

This is the rise of Sepik Mafia to spoil this current Government to topple the Hon James Marape PM. The same network might also arrest the current PMJM by the look of it in the looming court decision on 29th May 2020.

The Hon Prime Minister James Marape must now decommission the Sepik Maifa surrounding his cabinet and decommission the Hon John Simon Minister for Agriculture & Livestock for the better of his Government as this particular Minister will spoil and break his Government.

MISAPPROPRIATION OF K59.396MILLION AND ABUSE OF OFFICE AND CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE STATE BY SPEAKER JOB POMAT, FORMER CLERK VELA KONIVARO, PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL RICHARD WHITCHURCH AND OTHERS”

By: Parliament Staff

The Speaker of National Parliament and Member for Manus Open Mr. Job Pomat and his syndicate must be arrested following the arrest of their political master Peter O’Neil yesterday. Misappropriation of K59.396 million belonging to the National Parliament was detailed by a brave and courageous former staff of the Parliamentary Services. The report was comprehensive one with all evidences attached including expenditure vote summary, copies of contracts, copies of invoices, copies of cheques and other related materials substantiating all allegations made in that complaint.

It was a Formal Complaint laid against the Speaker of National Parliament and his crime syndicate for Conspiracy, Abuse of Office and Misappropriation of Parliament Funds. The Crime Syndicate consist of the following:

1. Mr. Job Pomat (Current Speaker of Parliament)
2. Mr. Vela Konivaro (former Clerk of Parliament),
3. Mr. Richard Whitchurch (Acting Parliamentary Legal Counsel),
4. Mr. Kala Aufa (Acting Clerk of Parliament),
5. Mr. Basil Kambuleagin (Acting Deputy Clerk of Parliament),
6. Mr. Hillary Malai (First Secretary to Speaker – now Director, Finance and Admins),
7. Mr. Robert Kimai (Acting Secretary, Parliamentary Tenders Board),
8. Mr. Johnson Douglas (Chief Finucane Office),
9. Ms. Sheila Malai (daughter of Mr. Hillary Malai, Machinist, Cheque print room),

Mr. Job Pomat took Office as Speaker of Parliament in August 2017. Shortly after, in April 2018, Mr. Vela Konivaro was reinstated by the National Court as Clerk of Parliament. From there on, the duo Constitutional Office Holders have colluded with very weak and corrupt Parliamentary Legal Counsel, and systemically defrauded the Parliament with Millions of Kina and Parliament assets. Both leaders, in collaboration, aided by their Lawyer (Legal Counsel), have grossly abused their powers resulting in squandering of large amounts of Parliament funds for political, family and personal use, including receipt of kickbacks from awarding of contracts to wantoks including corrupt deals with motor vehicle dealers.

Nepotism (Conspiracy)

Five (5) experienced, senior substantive position holders were removed from their positions within the Parliamentary Service’s Corporate Wing (Finance and Administration), namely;

(1) Mr. Danny Puli, Deputy Clerk, Corporate Services (Finance and Administration)
(2) Mr. Maurice Kwadogi, Secretary Parliamentary Tenders Board,
(3) Mrs. Madi Rei Kariko, Chief Finance Officer (died immediately after replacement),
(4) Mrs. Shirley Wowok, Senior Accountant/Machinist and,
(5) Mr. Marawa Goroba, Manager, Human Resources

The above officers have all been respectively replaced with his relatives and political staff namely;

(1) First Secretary Mr. Hillary Malai (Director Corporate Services),
(2) Second Secretary Mr. Robert Kimai (Secretary, Tenders Board),
(3) Research Officer Mr. Douglas Johnson (Chief Finance Officer),
(4) First Secretary’s biological Daughter Ms. Sheila Malai (Senior Accountant) and,
(5) Manager Human Resources. Mr. Tim Bonou (Clerk Konivaro’s close associate)

The first four (4) on the above list are Speaker Pomat’s relatives/political staff from Manus Province, who have no administrative experiences, very poorly educated and possess nil institutional knowledge. Mr. Bonou is a crony of the former Clerk, Mr. Konivaro. Such an unprecedented level of “nepotism” consequently has created a very weak administrative environment for accelerated proliferation of high-level corruption, never known in 40 years.

Misappropriation

The employment of wantoks in key finance and administrative positions, are directly linked to an unrestraint indulgence in squandering of Parliament funds. All experienced administrative system and process managers have been effectively removed, thereby creating a tightly control and, very weak and sick administrative system managed by Speaker’s cronies. Consequently, the Speaker has siphoned, both directly and indirectly, large large amounts of Parliament funds to his electorate in Manus including purchase of vehicles and awarding of contracts to wantoks with inevitable kick-back benefits. Subsequently, the Parliament Administration has fallen prey to a well-connected syndicate of predators, ripping the Parliament apart. The summary of available data supporting the allegations (facts) are listed hereunder. Please note that:

1. Lead information and evidences presented in this complaint are for the period between April 2018 to May 2019. (Detailed audit needs to be conducted for this period to validate the allegations presented hereunder).

2. Information and evidences not included in this complaint are for the period of August 2017 to March 2018; and May 2019 to current. (New and additional revelations of misappropriation are expected to to be uncovered by an audit).

The complaint is set out in Two Parts. Introduction and the background are presented in Part 1 and Part 2 lays out the actual allegations and further provides lead information with available evidences.
_____________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

In November 2019 a brave and courageous senior Parliamentary Services staff laid complaints against the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Job Pomat, MP and a group of very senior management including the Clerk of Parliament and the parliamentary Counsel. He formally laid complaints against;

(a) the Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Job Pomat and;
(b) his (Speaker’s) administrative executive management and political (wantok) staff (hereafter shall be referred to as his ‘Crime Syndicate’), namely;

1. Mr. Vela Konivaro (former Clerk of Parliament),
2. Mr. Richard Whitchurch (Acting Parliamentary Legal Counsel),
3. Mr. Kala Aufa (Acting Clerk of Parliament),
4. Mr. Basil Kambuleagin (Acting Deputy Clerk of Parliament),
5. Mr. Hillary Malai (First Secretary to Speaker – now Director, Finance and Admins),
6. Mr. Robert Kimai (Acting Secretary, Parliamentary Tenders Board),
7. Mr. Johnson Douglas (Chief Finucane Office),
8. Ms. Sheila Malai (daughter of Mr. Hillary Malai, Machinist, Cheque print room),

The complainant did so in his capacity as a former senior executive staff of the National Parliamentary Services. He was the Acting Deputy Clerk, Corporate Services (designated Secretary, Parliamentary Services) until he was maliciously and without cause, removed by the out-going Clerk, Mr. Vela Konivaro in June 2018 for his rigid stand against corruption. He served the Parliament for nearly 7 years, commencing on the 3rd of August 2012 until his removal in 16 June 2018) and replaced by Speaker’s relative. Therefore, he laid the complaint as a directly affected staff and a citizen of Papua New Guinea.

He also represents the directly affected Senior Staff who have been replaced by Speaker’s Political cronies and Clerk’s wantoks. Furthermore, he represents over 300 employees of the National Parliament (who’s in fear of losing their jobs and cannot not be able to speak out) and more importantly the 110 Members of Parliament, who are directly affected as a result of diversion of funds for purposes other than the core functions of the National Parliamentary Services. Therefore, the authority of this complaint is firmly established.
_____________________________________________

ALLEGATIONS (FACTS)

Two (2) distinct categories of allegations of corruption, perpetrated by the Speaker and his syndicate, are presented in this part. These include Nepotism and Fraud which amount to Abuse of Office, Misappropriation and Conspiracy.

1. NEPOTISM AT UNPRECEDENTED SCALE

The Speaker Job Pomat has forced, coerced or allowed an overly corrupt Clerk (Vela Konivaro, who was charged by a Tribunal on 4 grounds of gross misappropriation and abuse of office) and an ill-educated and unqualified Acting Clerk (Kala Aufa) who has nil administrative experiences, to appoint his (Speaker’s) relatives/political staff to senior Parliamentary Service positions, replacing experienced senior service staff. These positions are key administrative positions, which directly control Parliament funds and projects.

The Parliamentary Legal Counsel (PLC) Mr. Richard Whitchurch, who was promised the Clerk’s position by the Speaker, in return, has provided twisted and tainted legal advice, tailored to help the Speaker achieve his intended outcome. The PLC has effectively misled the Speaker to approve illegal practices of not only nepotism, but also caused a poorly educated Speaker to commit fraud (stealing of funds) at an unprecedented scale.

The collaborative acts of the “Speaker’s Syndicate” to appoint his political/electoral staff and relatives to key finance positions, is observed to be a highly calculated and conspirational move to take full control of the Parliament Finance, which he is effectively executing.

It is now up to the Police and Ombudsman Commission to test the strength of this allegation (nepotism) against the details presented below and serve justice on the perpetrators.

1. Executive Director, Corporate Services

The Speaker's First Secretary, Mr. Hillary Malai, has taken up duties of the Executive Director - Corporate and Support Services which was held by Mr. Repe Rambe. Mr. Malai is now, actively performing the task as the final authority to approve all payments. This makes it very easy for Speaker and his syndicate to access Parliament funds without restraint.

2. Secretary, Parliamentary Supply & Tenders Board

The Speaker's Second Secretary, Mr. Robert Kimae, also from Manus (relative) has been appointed to Secretary - Parliament Supply and Tenders Board, heavily compromising the tender awarding processes. He is facilitating and awarding Contracts without proper Board’s approval, most of which are awarded to wantoks.

3. Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

The Speaker's Research Officer, Mr. Douglas Johnson, also from Manus (relative) has been appointed Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the Parliamentary Services, leveraging Pomat's direct access to Parliament Funds. He is taking regular trips to Manus every fortnight carrying speaker’s cheques to Manus.

4. Senior Accountant (Deputy CFO)

The Speaker's First Secretary (currently Executive Director, Finance & Admin) Mr. Malai’s biological daughter Ms. Sheila Malai has been appointed Senior Accountant (Deputy CFO) in the Accounts Division, headed by Mr. Douglas Johnson. She is the Cheque counter-signing Officer under direct oversight of her father, Mr. Malai as Head of Finance and Admin and Mr. Douglas Johnson (CFO).

5. Human Resource Manager

Mr. Vela Konivaro’s relative and associate was appointed Human Resource Manger, replacing experienced HR Manager Mr. Marawa, who is facilitating appointment of Speaker’s relatives.
______________________________________________

2. GROSS MISAPPROPRIATION = K59,539,300.86 (Between 4/18 & 5/19)

After appointing relatives/cronies to key finance and administrative positions, the Speaker is hastily squandering Parliament funds without administrative restraint, aided by top executives Vela Konivaro, Aufa, Whitchurch and Kambuleagin. These top executives including the Speaker’s political cronies/relatives who now hold key finance and administrative positions constitute, what is clearly a ‘crime syndicate’!

Revelations of high-level corruption, especially gross misappropriation of funds belonging to Parliamentary Services for political, personal and family use as well as for the benefit of the members of a crime syndicate, is staggering. The key point to note in this section is the visible link between “Conspiracy and Misappropriation” of funds, few of which are tabulated below whilst more can be obtained and substantiated through a formally sectioned investigation.

The allegations that directly involve the Speaker are set out in Section 2.1 to 2.4. Section 2.5 sets out allegations involving directly involving the Executive Managers under leadership of Clerks Vela Konivaro and and Kala Aufa (Refer to supporting evidences, annexed to each of the allegations).

PART A

Allegations Involving Speaker Directly

1. Misapplication of Funds for Electoral Purposes

Speaker IS NOT ENTITLED to divert Parliament Funds for his Electoral programs. He has DSIP funds for electoral purposes. In this case, Mr. Pomat has “misapplied” K2, 335,300.86 Parliament Funds for his electorate. Available records indicating misappropriation of these amounts are summarized below.

1.1 Since January 2018 to December 2018, K958,000.00 and since January 2019 to May 2019, K829,850.00 to SDA schools and churches in Manus. The total amount misapplied from January 2018 to May 2019 stands at K1,787, 850.00. (Appendix A)

1.2 Speaker misapplied K36,842.00 (payment date; 05/02/19) and K62,608.86 (7/02/19) for school fee assistances for Manus Students studying in colleges outside of Manus in different Institutions. Total Amount misappropriated in the month of February: K99,450.86 (Appendix A)

1.3 Speaker Pomat misapplied K100,000.00 for a Church building in Manus dated 23 January 2019 (Sanapim Church Building). (Appendix A)

1.4 Speaker Pomat misapplied K60,000.00 between February 2019 and July 2019 for purchase of fuel in Manus from Mastrados and M&G Sapau Enterprises – political cronies. (Appendix C). Any payments to Mastrados and M&G Sapau Enterprises must be investigated)

1.5 Double Dipping: Speaker Pomat rents an Airways Hotel Apartment which is paid for by the Parliament for K24,000 a month (K288,000/year) whilst also receiving his fortnightly accommodation allowances. This is double-dipping. (SRC determination of the Speaker and current pay-slip need to be checked to confirm this).

Note: This amount stated was expanded between 2018 and May 2019. More evidences can be uncovered through an audit investigation and the amount misappropriated is expected to increased. Legal Counsel, Richard Whitchurch is responsible for all illegal movement of funds.

2. Funds expanded on Unofficial Trips to Speaker’s Electorate

Speaker Pomat, after taking control of the Parliament Finance and Accounts, through appointing his own relatives, has been making frequent electoral trip by him and his officers. Such trips are unofficial personal trips; hence, Parliament is not responsible for the costs. However, Speaker Pomat has used Parliament Funds for his personal electoral trips (Evidences can be obtained form accounts cashbooks and payments vouchers for tickets and allowances).

3. Questionable purchase and use of Vehicles by Speaker and his Officers K2, 108,000.00

3.1 In 2018, Parliament bought a Toyota Prado VX and a 5 door Toyota Land cruiser. In 2019, Parliament bought a 4 door Toyota Land cruiser 10 Seater. These Parliament vehicles are in Manus except for the Prado which was sent back to Port Moresby and was given to Vela Konivaro (Nature of transaction needs to be confirmed with Speaker and Konivaro). Each valued at approx K600,000 & K200,000 x2 totaaling K1.2million. (Appendix D)

3.2 The Parliament Tenders Board Secretary Mr. Kimai's 5door Toyota Land cruiser, bought by Parliaments, has been on hire by the Parliament CFO since June 2018. This vehicle is on hire for K34,000 per month or K408,000 a year and is still on hire by Parliament to date. Mr. Kimai and Mr. Douglas are both Speaker’s relatives mentioned in Section 1 who replaced Substantive Senior Officers (Appendix D).

3.3 Speaker's First Secretary, now Executive Director Parliamentary Services, Hillary, bought himself a latest White 4WD Double Cab Toyota 6th Element and a Blue Toyota Land cruiser 10 Seater in July 2019. He keeps both vehicles in his house and not at Parliament. Both vehicles were bought with Parliament funds and both vehicles are not Z Plated and still have private plates and are used as his private vehicles (Appendix D).

3.4 Speaker’s relative now CFO, Johnson Douglas, bought himself a latest white Toyota Hilux 8th Element with Parliament funds in July 2019 and uses this vehicle as his private vehicle, whilst at the same time hires Mr. Kimai’s vehicle. This vehicle has not been Z plated and still has private plate numbers and is kept and used as private vehicle (Appendix D).

4. Speaker’s & Relatives Medical Bills K1.5Million

Last year (2018), Parliament paid huge medical bills for Speaker’s medical treatment in Philippines. Parliament paid medical bills for Speaker's wife who underwent treatment for cancer in Philippines. Parliament paid for overseas medical treatment for people from his (Speaker’s) Electorate.

Note: Payments inclusive of all associated costs – example, travel allowances, airfares, accommodation etc. All MPs and Parliamentary Service Staff have no Insurance Policy. Parliament has been reimbursing huge medical bills incurred by MPs. Neglecting his duty to fix this issue, the Speaker capitalizes on this weakness for his own gain.

Evidences: The Parliament Clinic Nurse (Male) Mr. Seta and CFO Mr. for details.

PART B

Allegations Involving Speaker, Clerk & Executive Management

Abuse of Office by former Clerk (Konivaro), Acting Clerk (Aufa), Acting Deputy Clerk (Kambuleagin), and Legal Counsel (Whitchurch).

In excess of K24 Million is observed to have been fraudulently applied through illegal and questionable contracts, fees and personal payments perpetrated by the Top Management Executives, approved by Speaker in collaboration with “corrupt” purported “Service Providers” and political cronies of the Speaker.

1. Parliament Lift Services K1.5million

Port Moresby Lift Services did not bid for the Parliament Lift Tender but just a monthly bill approval by Acting Clerk, Kala Aufa, since 2016. A monthly bill of K125,000 per month or annual bill of K1.5 million is currently still being paid as approved by Speaker and Acting Clerk for nil services. When you find out who owns POM LIFT SERVICES, you will realize why Speaker and his Crime Partners are paying this free money.

Speaker and Clerk have conveniently allocated a free office space within the National Parliament House to Port Moresby Lift Services to operate in. This company operates its business from the Parliament House office.

2. Water Coolers & Finger Print Access System K2million

Sungwoo International (SWI) provided Water Coolers and Finger Print Access System worth K2 million. No tenders were advertised. Only approval by Acting Clerk Kala Aufa with Legal Counsel Richard Whitchurch.

3. Water Coolers

Aufa engaged Neira Contractors to install the Water Coolers at a whooping fee of K800,000. They were to fix 8 non existing water coolers. They have been paid K0.8million already however they still claim to be owed K200,000 more. No tender was advertised for this project

4. Purchase of Used Vehicles for Speaker K1million

Two official vehicles (a Range Rover and a Toyota V8) were bought by the Parliament for the Speaker during the 2017 General Elections. One of these vehicles was bought from a car dealer, Freeway Motors, in the city while the other was bought from a private individual. It is believed that the car dealer paid cash to Basil Kambuleagin and Kala Aufa. Speaker Pomat refused to drive these 2 vehicles so a third brand new Toyota V8 was bought from Ela Motors. Both vehicles were valued over K500,000.00 each.

Note: Sam Taison, the owner of Freeway Motors, in a court decision handed down by Justice Ambeng Kandakasi on 28 October 2019, has been declared a “corrupt fraudster who has ripped off the public through illegal dealings”. Mr. Robert Kimai, Speaker’s relative who currently is the Secretary for Parliamentary Tenders Board, was a salesman at Freeway at the time Mr. Aufa and Mr. Kambuleagin are believed to have conspired with Mr. Taison and Mr. Kimai to defraud the Parliament. Investigate into kickbacks benefited by Mr. Aufa, Mr. Kambuleagin, Mr. Whitchurch, and Mr. Kimai, and further locate the two vehicles.

5. Opening of the 10th Parliament K6million

K6 million for the Opening of the 10th Parliament in July/August 2017 disappeared between Acting Clerk Kala Aufa, Acting Deputy Clerk Basil Kambuleagin and Legal Counsel Richard Whitchurch. No acquittals have ever been submitted. No audit has ever been conducted into how this K6 million was used. The three (3) senior Executive Officers have to acquit where they spent this amount.

6. Medical Evacuation K80,000.00

Vela Konivaro, was paid K80,000.00 on 22nd March 2019 cheque #67922 for a purported medical evacuation. Evidences: Check with Parliament Nurse and CFO).

7. Questionable Salary Payout (Undisclosed Amount)

Vela Konivaro paid himself substantial amount of monies from Parliament funds for his “purported service to the Government of PNG. (Check his final pay out from Emolument Section of Parliamentary Services) Mr. Richard Whitchurch Parliamentary Counsel deliberately cleared this illegal payout.

8. Parliament Fountain K7million

Parliament Fountain (Lake rehabilitation) was valued at K7 million. No tenders for this project were advertised. Project was just given to Project Consultant Anthony Poliap from 2degrees North. Poliap was contracted by Speaker and his cohorts (Vela Konivaro, Richard Whitchurch and Kala Aufa) Poliap is from Manus. The project was not tendered and Mr. Poliap did not complete the Project (Check Parliament Projects Account).

9. Parliament Boulevard Lighting and Unity Pillar Project

Parliament Boulevard Lighting and Unity Pillar Project. Speaker’s Consultant James Ninau of NDranu Consultants from Manus, was awarded an illegal Contract valued at K4.4 Million. Draw down of this amount was as follows:

o First payment – 5% of the total contact was K220,000.00 dated 12/0/2/19 chq #264376
o Second payment K299,995.00
o Third payment K299,999.70

Note: Clerk’s approval limit is K300,000.00. K299,999 figures for same project looks highly suspicious hence needs investigation. Approved by Speaker. (Refer Appendix B1)

10. Double Dipping by James Ninau K4.4million

In addition, Mr. James Ninau is still on consultancy services contract valued at K18,000.00 per month (K216,000.00). This contract expires in June 2019. While still on this contract K4.4 Million contract was awarded to him in February 2019. (Refer Appendix B2)

11. Catering Services K1.2million

National Parliament Catering Services (Parliament Mess). Funds for operation of the Parliament Mess are being paid into the personal Account of the Catering Manager.

12. IRC Tax Evasion K28million

Salary: IRC Tax Evasion and using these monies to fund extravagant life-style.

The total misappropriated by the Speaker, Clerk and the Executive Management Team is K59,539.300.86. This is after appointing relatives/cronies to key finance and administrative positions, the Speaker is hastily squandering Parliament funds without administrative restraint, aided by top executives Vela Konivaro, Aufa, Whitchurch and Kambuleagin. These top executives including the Speaker’s political cronies/relatives who now hold key finance and administrative positions constitute, what is clearly a ‘crime syndicate’!
_____________________________________________

CONCLUSION

1. Nepotism

There is sufficient evidence to support the allegation on the subject of nepotism. The claim that the for (4) relatives of the Speaker have replaced the experienced substantive position holders of the Parliamentary Services, can be readily substantiated by:

· the unattached senior officers who are substantive holders of those positions.
· interrogating those Officers who now occupy those positions; and
· accessing records from HR and Parliament Payroll.

Speaker Mr. Job Pomat can be questioned to confirm whether or not those officers who replaced the substantive position holders, came with him in August 2017 and are his political staff and relatives.

2. Misappropriation

Available records show that Speaker has siphoned large amounts of Parliament funds for electoral programs. Witnesses also have reported on the kick-back arrangements with service providers. It was further reported that Speaker and his Officers required part of the monies donated to schools and churched to be paid back to the Speaker or the Officers. This allegation in particular is criminal in nature.

It is strongly recommended that recipient agencies, individuals, organizations and businesses in Manus and their bank accounts be investigated. With respect to awarding of Contracts illegally to wantoks of both the Speaker and the Clerk needs to be investigated.

Concerning the questionable deals with Car dealers and illegal possession of Parliament vehicles, 3 important tasks need to be executed: (a) take stock of all Parliament owned or bought vehicles, and recall all vehicles to Parliament. (a) Charge the officers in possession of the vehicles. (c) Investigate the nature of transactions and deals with car dealers and Clerk.

3. Conspiracy

There are overwhelming and damning evidences that, the Executive Managers Mr. Vela Konivaro, (former Clerk) Mr. Kala Aufa (Acting Clerk), Mr. Richard Whitchurch (Legal Counsel), and Mr. Basil Kambuleagin (Acting Deputy Clerk) conspired amongst themselves and with the Speaker Job Pomat to defraud the State. The Speaker has (and is) grossly abusing the high office and administration for his own gain by conspiring with the executive management and has taken full control of the Parliament Finance and Accounts.

4. Incompetent Parliamentary Counsel

Good governance and management practices are enabled by sound advice from technical experts. In the case of the National Parliament it is the Parliamentary Counsel who ensures that the Speaker and Clerk are privy to good advice. However, Parliament continues to be a hive for corruption due to the failure by the Acting Parliamentary Counsel Mr. RICHARD WHITCHURCH.

Mr. Whitchurch (Parliamentary Counsel) is a very lousy and incompetent lawyer. He has no understanding of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Services Act 1997:

4.1 K2.95million Consultancy Contract that got former Clerk Vela Konivaro suspended.

The Parliamentary Services Act 1997 provides K300,000 as the limit for the Clerks expenditure approval. Public Finance (Management) Act 1995 sets the internal commitment threshold at K500,000. Contrary to both laws, Mr. Whitchurch cleared former Clerk (Vela Konivaro) to sign a K2.95 Million consultancy contract for one Joe Steven Kudada without Parliament Tender Board approval which eventually got Mr. Konivaro suspended by the National Executive Counsel (NEC) and faced the Leadership Tribunal. Mr. Whitchurch also signed on that contract together with Mr. Konivaro and Mr. Kudada.

There is a separate Fraud Complaint on this matter that is afoot but it is believed that the Police Investigators were compromised not to pursue this investigation. The complaint was lodged by the former Speaker, Hon. Theodore Zurenuoc, MP. The former Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia in making a ruling on Konivaro Judicial Review case recommended Mr. Konivaro and the team to be criminally prosecuted for fraud and related charges. Attached is copy of Complaint letter to the Fraud Squad.

4.2 Double Deeping (Whitchurch)

Mr. Whitchurch conspired with Speaker Pomat and got the Speaker to sign a lucrative Consultancy Contract for himself to the SRC Secretariat whilst still on payroll of the National Parliament as a Public Servant (Acting Parliamentary Counsel). This is a typical case of “double-dipping” and conspiracy to defraud the State. This issue was brought to the attention of the Parliament by the Member for Rabaul Hon. Allan Marat, MP on the floor of Parliament through a Question Without Notice directly to the Speaker.

4.3 Official Corruption- Parliamentary Counsel

Mr. Whitchurch lives in a house belonging to Peter Kuman, the Principal of Kuman Lawyers, drives Mr. Kumans Ford Ranger Double Cab (Light Green) utility and in return gives out legal cases to Kuman Lawyers. Millions of kina or rather bulk of the yearly appropriations for the National Parliament is expended on legal bills alone. These intellectually challenged human beings (Pomat, Konivaro, Whitchurch, Aufa and Kambuliagen) each have a law firm aligned to each of them to milk Parliament funds; all thanks to an incapable Parliamentary Counsel Mr. Whitchurch who happily facilitates to cover up his own incompetency.

Everything form drafting of simple letters to Court duties are assigned to external lawyers. Also, note how Mr. Whitchurch features prominently in all of the allegations made in this report. He is the main culprit that is facilitating the abuse and misapplication of Parliaments funds.

The Police Fraud Squad complain was already acknowledged by Director Fraud Mr. Mathew Damaru through a letter dated 29th January 2020 that:

“Your complaint has been assessed by the Initial Action Team of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) and has established that there is a merit to persue criminal investigations into the matter.”

The file was given FCR Number: 273/2019 and now a full blown Fraud Investigation. For the sake of our beloved Nation, the Police and Ombudsman Commission must diligently execute their duly mandated duties to expose the rot and deeply rooted corruption at Parliament and bring the perpetrator (Speaker) and his crime partners to justice.

End the corruption in Parliament NOW!

by DON POMB POLYE

I do realise in the mind of the young a DESIRE FOR MORALLY  UPRIGHT ways of life for PNG. An UPRIGHT life for THEMSELVES, do they crave for!!!. The inference I have deduced expressed in social media and talking to many of them is that,  the  poor leadership  that some leaders have provided  has hampered their progress and success. The conduct of some leaderships have set very bad precedence that has misled many of them. The young have been confused as to which is the right example to follow or who would be the  correct lifestyle role model to emulate in National leadership, public service,  private sector,  in  or in other fields. The success stories are very rare in this country while  corruption and failure  is very  frequent and prevalent in their daily lives.The confidence of many of our  young has dwindled. This is very serious matter!!!

 Business, politics, religion, family, traditions, cultures, public service, private sector, professionalism, employment , development and progress, science and technology...etc,  NEEDS to be founded on the character of love for one another,  and belief for HARD and SMART WORK to earn a JUSTIFIED LIVING, and for nation building! The belief and livelihood founded on these values regulated by a strong enforcement for the rule of law  must be the culture we must endeavor to create for ourselves. NOT ON IMPULSE for materialistic life not earned! BUT ON HONEST HARD WORK!!! The young of PNG desire to see values developed in them! They NEED values and principles  to survive the competitive global  environment. BUT WE LEADERS; MANY OF US HAVE  HAVE FAILED THEM. We must correct it.

The challenges are many! It will take many Governments, inclusive participation  and shared belief and wealth to come out of the doldrums some leaders have created for this nation.

So many are the issues where I believe we in leadership have UNFORTUNATELY  misled or failed the nation by,  but I want to raise ONE fundamental error or flaw I have  witnessed  in the  Parliamentary leadership culture . In  this  Parliamentary behavior, many MPs conducts  undermine the  strength of national leadership and devalues the purpose of parliament .  IT IS THE CULTURE OF JUMPING FROM ONE  POLITICAL PARTY TO ANOTHER FOR THE  LUST OF PERSONAL BENEFITS USING THE NAME OF THE ELECTORS AS CONVENIENT DISGUISE!.   The behavior is very childish,  foolish, unintelligent and unproductive which must be STOPPED  IMMEDIATELY!

It has become so common for elected MPs , leaders of Political Parties and Ministers, backbenches and  Governors switching political party affiliations so abruptly in pursuit of the greener pasture. I have seen MPs offer themselves for money to join another Party or those in Government. In the same token, leaders of political Parties offer and  buy  MPs with cash to lure them  to join their political parties. I have witnessed so much money involved. I have also witnessed that so many deceitful  lies were  told. I have experienced so many deceptions taking place. So many unnecessary  shrewdness and political  brutality occuring on the floor of Parliament. These behavior or culture  illustrates the following in my opinion:

1. Lack of true leadership qualities if one sells oneself and if one buys the one selling. MONEY superimposes leadership  and plays the fake leadership role for those who were never leaders but somehow were  occupying leadership positions.

2. Such behaviour leads to corruption and breeds more corruption. The politician endeavors to serve the donors ahead of the electors, leading to the break of constitution and other  laws, embezzlement of public resources, devising and conniving for corrupt business practices that compromises national and electors interests.

3. The state institutions and good governance stands less chance of survival as the politican is forced to..or decides to become everything!  Good governance, transparency and accountability erode into oblivion.The politican in order to serve political interests and power & authority greed becomes  the public servant, law, businessman, department, board chairman, judge, policeman, soldier, clerk, cheque printer, finance controller,  requisition officer, Department  secretary,  SOE CEO, tea boy, provincial administrator , district manager etc etc etc. The politican when awakens to the reality that the public service is not delivering , he criticises it and creates parallel systems escalating costs of operations.

4. The politican connives and corroborates with weak , crawling, succumbing , like minded politicians, public servants and businesses to organise  exorbitant contracts to serve their interests where so much public money is abused and wasted. Junior officers in the echelons of the systems of governance help themselves too lest they miss out on the robbery taking place upstairs.

5. Others join in to participate unknowingly...in the corruption. Some of our  Churches and judges   join in...in  the squandering , misappropriation and ongoing scams in amassing public wealth as if their own. The sickness  spreads far and wide in society becoming entrenched systematically and systemically.

6. The situation described in (1) to (5)  above leads to the election of MPs  during elections where the corrupt systemic and systematic cohorts  already placed as managers  control the election process to ensure more crooks and criminals are elected or re-elected. Some good leaders make it through very difficult circumstances to win some seats on the floor of Parliament. Such good a leader's life is an uphill battle against the abomination that is already strongly cultured in Parliament.

7. The cycle repeats and perpetuates to reflect the folly and poverty that PNGeans have seen only exacerbate and worsen over the years without any remedy.

This unproductive  Parliamentary behavior must end immediately!!!  The Nation demands and expects the  MARAPE - STEVEN GOVERNMENT to CREATE a NEW TREND  now before the 2022 elections is up. Prime Minister James Marape and Deputy Prime Minister  Davis Steven do have this opportunity in  their hands to create positive change. They have no excuse. They have every valid  reason to take action. PNG demands it! It is a needful change. The change must be done because it is a NEED. The young; our future politicans , prime ministers, ministers,  political party leaders, MPs etc are watching the present Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister to change the poor precedence set in the past. The MARAPE - STEVEN GOVERNMENT must be the EXAMPLE for the young to emulate as their role model. The following must be delivered:

1. Enact laws to segregate MPs in the Opposition and Government by policy and principle. For instance, those who fall under the general SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT of PNG as the driving pillar policy or their Priority Policy should be by law placed under one grand coalition of political parties. But those who believe in CAPITALISM  or PRIVATE BUSINESS  INVESTMENT as the driving policy perspective should be by law confined to a grand coalition of political parties who embrace this policy.

There maybe many parties formed and available like  we do now but these two main beliefs in political and government system should separate the two sides, the government and opposition. ( The Registrar of political Parties will perform the duty of segregating political parties to their grouping by their policies).

1.1 The REMOVAL OF PNC TO THE OPPOSITION YESTERDAY BY PMJM to the Opposition is THE CORRECT DECISION to reflect the point raised here. The former PRIME MINISTER HON PETER ONEILL  was more towards CAPITALISM by the conduct of his Government  in the 7 years that  PNG experienced. He focussed on private sector promotion and capital investment. He promoted businesses, built infrastructure to support private business investments more than development for the mass people. As a result one or two business centers grew  more rapidly than others during his reign. The current Prime Minister James Marape is more a SOCIALIST, a leader who believes in the people, individuals, mothers, children, families, Christianity, indigenous people, and spiritual development in the minds of PNGeans . PMJM is PROVEN to be a leader who is CAPABLE of GIVING MORE WEALTH  BACK to THE PEOPLE MORE than owned  by few PRIVATE  hands. PMJM portrays leadership such to  make individual PNGeans more prosperous and more wealthier from ownership of wealth by all citizens  over PETER O'NEILL'S inclination towards making  individual businesses richer and wealthier. No wonder these two men broke up!

Now, I am not saying one is right and the other  is wrong.  I am describing what we the majority are reading before us. Therefore PMJM had to REMOVE PNC PARTY AND PETER O'NEILL  TO THE OPPOSITION.!!! Keeping PNC and its leader  in the Government ranks is too perilous.and so risky.

 NEVERTHELESS, FORMER PMPO DID NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR THE CURRENT PMJM TO SACK HIM AND HIS PARTY FROM THE GOVERNMENT..!!!.THE FORMER PM ONLY NEEDED TO TAKE UP THE OPPOSITION BENCHES ON PRINCIPLE  voluntarily.

So the PANGU PARTY vs PNC PARTY leadership is what the nation would like to see lead PNG from either side of the house! The nation wants to see PNC PROVIDE STRONG LEADERSHIP in the OPPOSITION. The RULING PANGU PARTY must LEAD CONFIDENTLY AND STRONGLY THE NATION. PNG must be led by the strength of balanced parliamentary democracy and leadership! The country depends on PMJM to show overall Quality leadership as the  Executive arm of Government. The nation believes that PMJM will deliver his convictions !

2. The nation is very much expecting Prime Minister James Marape and his Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven  to illustrate how they are cleansing the country of corruption. For instance, the ICAC  law, the WHISTLE BLOWERS law, and REFORM laws must be enacted before the 2022 elections. Electoral law and election  processes  must be strengthened to have genuine leaders elected in 2022 .The nation expects to see wrongs done to the people  corrected by way of arresting corrupt decisions and  practices. THOROUGH and SWIFT INVESTIGATIONS or STUDIES  MUST be conducted on the following:

i). Porgera gold mine  impacts on social lives of the people of the SML area and Porgera Lagaip district over the 30 years.

ii). Incomplete 2015 south Pacific games infrastructures like the grandstand in Sir John Guise stadium, Sir Hubert Murray stadium  and other stadiums in the city,

iii). The purchase of Motukea wharf facilities,  the construction of the soccer stadium. The present status of old Ports PNG wharf at the waterfront.

iv). Controversial  infrastructure , roads and bridges  construction in the country.

v). The Delivery of drugs, pharmaceuticals and essential medicines to the rural  aid posts and rural health centers in PNG.

vi) Speeding up of the UBS loans ENQUIRY.

vii) Other investigations done in the past recalled and  need to have their recommendations implemented.

Enough is enough, seems to be the anger arising within the innermost  mind of the people. The whole nation,  especially the young people are getting frustrated. They are tired of seeing corruption and lack of the correct action by governments and leaders an ongoing phenomenon. Nonetheless, today could be the people's day of at least kindling some spark of hope in their hearts whereby a government actually showed some  care for them by combating corruption in the approach suggested here.

 The Prime Minister,  James Marape and the Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven can not afford to, not address these glarring issues; unless they are no different to the maddening crowd of false leaders we have seen time  and time again interested only to enjoying their own  pleasure and comfort  at the suffering of their people.

By SAMSON KOMATI

PNG Think Tank Group professionals to provide technical advice and recommendations on Government policies, bills or laws, and decisions under a new engagement with Government of PNG via Office of Prime Minister.

In July 29, 2017, at the First Forum/ Seminar hosted by PNG TTG Inc at International Convention Center in Waigani, Prime Minister Hon James Marape MP, then Guest Speaker was presented a proposal (request) for K2 million by PNG TTG as one of seed grant to establish its organizational operations.

Just last week, after following up on this submission with Prime Minister, I wish to break the news to our 3,000 plus esteemed members on all WhatsApp forums of PNG TTG that a positive respond has been delivered to us.

Prime Minister has asked PNG TTG to select professionals from its membership to provide technical advice key government policies and laws and directions under an MOA to be signed for commence this work. The K2 million will be paid by the Marape-Steven Government to PNG TTG for professional policy and legislative advisory services.

PNG TTG Executive Board will meet tomorrow to draft the MOA terms and conditions and then meet with Office of Prime Minister and NEC staff/ management to review and confirm the details before being signed between PNG TTG and Prime Minister to effect the formal engagement.

This is a vote of confidence by Prime Minister to PNG TTG and we will make sure we don’t let the Marape-Steven Government down in our formal work engagement.

The Government will pay PNG TTG directly. PNG TTG then pays individual consultants or entities to provide specific advisory services to Government.

Once the Executive Board of PNG TTG had confirmed the MOA and signed with Government, the details will be shared here for your knowledge and information and participation.

Rome wasn’t built in one year. It took a while to actually and eventually build Rome. We can build PNG into a powerful economy gradually through strategic thinking, careful planning, and effective execution of innovative ideas.

It wasn't a surprise to read about the acquittal of the controversial private lawyer - who before his brush with the law had operated the largest legal outfit troughout the nation on engagement by the state to provide pro bono or free legal services to state remandees trough out the nation.

Prior to his arrest he was the envy of the prestigious legal profession for having had the determination and foresight to provide a necessary service the state government was unable to provide for its citizens as it just didn't have the capacity to provide the services through its department of justice.

For a while it was serving the needs of the people and the government was quite happy with the legal firm was doing until greed came along to use the legal services to draw out extra money.

Police obtained a letter which was purported to be signed by the former prime minister authorising the outstanding legal bills of more than K80 million .

Police acted on the complainant to arrest the principal of the law firm and charge him for conspiracy to defraud the state.

Furthermore they had obtained an arrest warrant for the former prime minister for having authorised an illegal payment based on the information that there was no proper engagement of the legal firm and that the claims for payment were mostly false.

The former prime minister had spent almost K100 million of public funds to stay the arrest warrant using foreign lawyers to keep him out of facing the court.

The former police commissioner had done the illegal and unthinkable in locking down the Fraud and Anti Corruption Directorate in Konedobu and attempted to arrest the Director - Detective Inspector Matthew Damaru.

Police were divided on the issue and rogue officers had threatened members of the special units assigned to investigate the prime minister and officials in relation to the alleged illegal payments.

After seven years and hundreds of millions spent in relation to the case one single magistrate ends the matter with the single stroke of the hammer citing - abuse of process .

That was the most expensive decision made by a single magistrate after the state had spent more than K100 million on the case and if it is not overturned by the office of the public prosecutor the state might compensate the law firm for damages which may amount to hundreds of millions.

The decision to throw out the case by the committal court magistrate may not be acceptable by the concerned public at large and will pressure the appropriate authorities to review this matter but it demonstrates glaringly that the cabal set up by the O'Neill regime is fighting back to regain political power.

Prime Minister James Marape has done the right thing so far in setting up the commission of inquiry against the former prime minister in the UBS - OIL SEARCH saga , and has introduced the whistle blower act and the ICAC bill and finally booting O'Neill and his party members out of the government benches into the opposition but he will need to chop the cabal or he will be out sooner than he thinks.

The decision by committal court magistrate Ernest Wilmot is nothing short of sabotage with intention to pervert the course of justice and should be investigated and charged accordingly.

by LIVINGSTON FONTENU

Eastern Highlands Provincial government has made headlines again this weekend with an announcement of US $13 billion (K45 billion) investment from a Korean company. People have taken it online with so much skepticism and concern on the origin, nature, and intention of this investment.

Therefore, I decided to do a preliminary digging into this MOA and bring to light some issues to enlighten your mind so discussions on this investment must be taken objectively and with a clear mind.

As impressive as this announcement may appear to an illiterate mind, there are too many unknowns, too many compliance issues, and too many variables that do not add up. Though the coveted MOA may be in its infancy stage, it has already attracted too many praises from the illiterate people of EHP, who are known to be easily lured and fooled by sweet music.

Signing MOA of projects with such proportions and often with insignificant public awareness isn’t new to PNG. PNG politicians have previously fallen for Asian scams. In 2014, the then Communication and Information Minister Jimmy Miringtoro has been scammed by Awal Telecommunication, a mobile phone company reported to become PNGs forth mobile phone provider. In that same year, former Lae MP Loujaya Kouza made a grand announcement to have Israeli Financiers bringing US$300 billion into Lae. And just recently, we heard of the US$100 billion scams on Morobe governor Ginson Soanu by a shelf company.

What intrigues me most is that the Soanu story is similar to what is happening in EHP right now. The company that scammed Soanu has a Philippines origin with an office in the USA and has registered a PNG branch with the IPA 6months before the signing of their MOA. The company that is now involved with EHP government has a Korean origin, with an office in the USA, and has registered its PNG branch with IPA 5 months ago before signing their MOA with Peter Numu.

Mckinley Asia-PNG Limited has 2 directors of Korean origin and a company secretary of Australian origin. However, according to IPA records, Director 1 Minho HWANG, Director 2 Jaekyeum YU, and Secretary Sooil PARK all reside at Section 146, Allotment 1-2, Parani Cres, Tokarara, NCD. Coincidence or by design? But wait, it gets really interesting here. This address is the same as the company’s address! For a company trying to invest US$13 billion in Goroka, it’s quite unusual to operate out of a residence! Only start-up companies operate out of residential areas.

If this investment is even real, then the people need to be educated well on the nature of Built, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreements. Boot investments always work in the favor of the investors. You end up leasing your prime land to the investor, who decided how long they want to operate in the land, make returns and profits on investment, and leave you with a demeaned environment, worn our machinery and a project almost non-operational.

Most of the boot investments, like the previously anticipated Agricultural industrial park at Korefeigu operates on 99-year land lease terms. This effectively gives the investor full right of ownership, management, and decision making on the project. This gives them the right to also control the profits and other economic and social benefits. And since our government is incapable of counter-funding and developing the projects, we effectively have a minimum right to complain and argue for local participation. It will be up to the mercy of the firm today to use local labor, procure raw materials locally, and allow for local participation.

The MOA is very secretive and does not demonstrate compliance with legal, accounting, and standards requirements. This MOA has no binding agreement to the investor, thus giving them unlimited power to exploit our resources. Currently, there’s no transparency in the accounting records, as the provincial government has secretly and hastily signed the MOA. This is common arround the world when the investors dont have the actual capital and are trying to scam poor countries. They fool you into believing their scam, ask you to quickly sign MOAs that transfers the land use-rights and privileges to them, as well as asking you to provide your counter funding and guarantees. They take your money, sell the MOA to a third party who in this case is a genuine investor with money. They will then create a conglomerate to hold and manage investments so accounting frauds can be concealed.

For investment this size, we have never seen its sovereign risk proposals, security/bond agreements, concept/engineering designs been made public in the last couple of weeks. This is a very disproportionate amount of money compared with the country’s annual national budget and should raise eyebrows from all government departments. However, all of a sudden, we have an MOA and who knows what is captured in it. The Treasury and Bank of PNG are required by the Public Finance Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act to vet such investment. The state solicitor too will have a way in to provide legal interpretations to ensure the investment is in compliance with legal policies. Apparently, there is no official gazette from them. So, I wonder which department will regulate and hold the money unless it’s a scam and didn’t go to their attention.

We know agriculture is a struggling industry and it is hardly profitable. Investments of this magnitude are justifiable in mining or oil and gas sectors, but for agriculture, the investor will need more than just land-use rights for over 100 years to justify. What else is Peter Numu and his government selling to this investor? The revenue of the province for the next 100years? The provincial government needs to come clear on this.

The Eastern Highlands provincial government must ask the investors what they are really after before signing such dubious agreements just because they are playing a piece of sweet music to your ears. This is insanity and has an unmistakable flavor of cult mentality.

The people of EHP must not jump on the bandwagon on this MOA. It is merely and MOA, not a contract! It's an MOA just like 2018 US$100 billion of Morobe and US$300 billion of Lae open that only attracted the media attention and tricked people into praising the government but nothing has eventuated to this day. Like any other EHP citizen, I now wait to see this dream take shape and reserve my further comments for later.

by PAUL HARRICKNEN
We make this Statement as protest. Firstly for the manner the Public Health Emergency Bill 2020 was rushed into Parliament by the Government and passed on Friday 12 June 2020. There was no prior wider consultation, openness, and debate in Parliament. The law was rushed in total secrecy without justification. Secondly, the law has serious constitutional issues, lacking transparency and accountability for political expediency, which required greater consultation with all stakeholders prior to presentation in Parliament.

We are told that the Bill that was introduced in Parliament was different to the initial draft that was circulated to Members of Parliament prior to the Parliament sitting on Friday 12 June 2020. The following are our fundamental concerns.

First and fundamentally, the Bill takes away the powers and functions of the Legislative Arm to the Executive Arm. In doing so it not only compromises the supervisory and oversight powers of Parliament on the Executive, but it surrenders or delegates its powers without reservation. A State of Emergency under Part X of the Constitution is a power vested on the Parliament during an emergency. This is so especially when the rights and freedoms of people under the Constitution are to be suspended and subjected to severe restrictions and deprivations. Only Parliament through the elected

Representatives of the people can, when the occasion necessitates, make those decisions. By the Bill the Parliament’s supervisory and control powers under S. 239 appears to be abrogated and divested in the Executive Arm of the Government. The Parliamentary Emergency Committee provided for under Sections 240-242 are also been abrogated and divested of its functions to the Executive Arm.

Second, the Bill creates and confers more powers to the Controller seemingly without much oversight from the Executive (NEC) or the Minister responsible. While the appointment of a Controller is with the NEC there is no set criteria and qualification for the position of the Controller, except that he or she should be a public office holder (s. 7). It does not even provide from which public office the Controller will be selected from - the police, defence, CS, Health or such other public office. It is left to the prerogative of the NEC. The functions and powers of the Controller are quite unlimited during the period of the emergency (ss. 8, 9). This is dangerous given the experiences the common people experience with the law enforcement authorities in normal times. More so, when the Emergency Act already abrogates and restricts the Constitutional rights to privacy, movement, personal liberty, free speech, etc., of the people. It imposes a double jeopardy for the people.

Third, “emergency” is not adequately defined under the Bill. Any definition must be consistent with the meaning set out under Sections 226-243 of the Constitution. The definition under the Bill does not reference the relevant Constitutional provisions. This is dangerous especially when powers are left to the Executive Government of the day.

Fourth, financial accountability of public funds is seemingly without transparency and accountability. The normal safeguards to accountability under the Public Finances (Management) Act 1995, and the National Procurement Act 2018 are also suspended. It leaves room for misuse of public funds for the emergency without scrutiny and accountability.

The Act effectively removes the oversight powers of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament to the Controller.

While it is understood that the suspension of the PFMA Act and the National Procurement Act is intended to avoid the cumbersome procurement procedures in emergency situation, the oversight functions and powers of the Auditor General (SS. 213-214, Constitution) and the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (SS. 215-216, Constitution) cannot be removed.

The Act abrogates their powers and functions and vests on the Controller, who is not duly qualified, and who only reports to the Minister responsible and to the NEC. Emergency if at all is a good reason for use of Certificate of Inexpediency as opposed to the public tender process under the FFMA. However, a Bill that extricates itself of the whole PFMA is a sign of bad motive.

The law does not even allow for the application of the Audit Act and the powers of the Auditor General to audit the books of the Controller after the emergency period. When audit is brought under the Audit Act it will subject the Controller to the oversight function of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. Parliament under the Bill will be totally divested of its powers to the Executive Government, which raises serious constitutional questions.

Fifth, the following constitutional rights and freedom of the people will be suspended and deprived – liberty of the person (S. 42), freedom from arbitrary search and entry (S. 44), freedom of expression (S. 46), freedom from assembly and association (S. 47), right to privacy (S. 49), right to freedom of information (S. 51), right to freedom of movement (S. 52), and protection from unjust deprivation of property (S. 53) for the cause of public interest in public safety, public order, and public affair. This is a major fear. The Constitutional implications in the deprivation of these civil rights of the people under Section 233 of the Constitution will need the interpretation of the Supreme Court.

Sixth, the Bill does not include provisions for "Extra-Territorial Application" of the Emergency
law to PNG Citizens and subjects including PNG Flagged Vessels overseas; nor does it include its application to Foreign Flagged Vessels in PNG territory. The Bill does not include under the definition of "Vessel" reference to the Merchant Shipping Act and or the National Maritime Authority Act to allow the emergency law to apply to all vessels including PNG Flagged Vessels overseas and Foreign Flagged vessels in PNG territory. The role of the NMSA in this situation is not specified.

Seventh, the penalty provisions are too onerous considering the freedoms and rights being deprived on the one hand and the K50, 000.00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years (individual) and K500, 000.00 (corporate) fines for breaches of the emergency law on the other under S. 44. While the penalties are designed to deter and enforce the emergency laws and directions it is too onerous and untenable.

Eighth, the transitional and savings provisions under sections 53 and 54 of the Bill has retrospective effect to all past actions, decisions, procurements, monies received and used under the past emergency laws and regulations. Any transparency and accountability of the funds, assets, contracts and works etc., under the repealed Emergency (General Provisions) (COVID 19) Act 2020 will be at the discretion of the Controller, Minister responsible and the NEC. There is no further oversight from the Auditor General or the National Parliament under the Bill.

The Bill has the appearance of creating Marshall law and Police State. It is a dragonian law to democratic rights and freedoms of people. This type of law cannot be allowed in a Constitutional democracy where the freedom and rights of the people are given special protection under the Constitution. It is a law that takes away the oversight powers of the Auditor General and the Parliament through its Public Accounts Committee. It will serve a bad precedent for future Governments.

The Bill extricates itself from the application of the Constitutional law, which is tantamount to altering the Constitution. This is a serious Constitutional point. To alter Constitution it requires wider consultation and over a number of sittings of Parliament over time intervals. It was not the case with this Bill.

In light of the above concerns, we had recommended for the presentation of the Bill to Parliament be delayed and allow for wider consultation with Constitutional offices, relevant State departments, think-tank groups and organisations, churches, and the civil society. We also thought it was necessary to seek a Supreme Court advisory opinion on the Constitutional implications of the Bill.

There is no real or perceived threat or danger to public good and welfare to rush and push this Bill into law, especially when we do not have local data, evidence, or deaths in PNG yet for such urgency. Reliance on outside advice and situations alone is no justification for the urgency.

We are a faith-based professional organisation and we are also concerned with the extreme restrictions under emergency laws affecting our churches and religious faith and worship activities. Whatever we do God must not be left out of the planning and measures taken in any emergencies. Our churches and people have been praying and will continue to pray for the protection and end to this Covis-19 Pandemic.

FINALLY, GIVEN THE PASSING OF THE BILL WE CALL ON THE OMBUSDMAN COMMISSION TO INITIATE A CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENCE IN THE SUPREME COURT TO DETERMINE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THIS EMERGENCY LAW.

by JOHN ENDEMONGO KUA

After 45 years of self-rule with political independence, a constitution, a flag, a legislature, an anthem with a political territory inhabited by a thousand tribes of indigenous people who settled here more than 6000 years and had engaged in agriculture even before the birth of agriculture in the Nile delta, none of the prime ministers from the first prime minister - Sir Michael Thomas Somare, who served for almost 20 years of the 44 years of political independence, with Peter O'Neill serving 7 straight years and the rest serving under 4 years each had intentionally given a blind eye and played deaf and dumb to the significant factors to economic empowerment and independence to the citizens of this nation out of sheer greed to benefit themselves ahead of the people.

All of them were kept in the loop by foreign business interests not to revise the land and resource governance laws that were written by our colonial masters to suit their own interests ahead of indigenous people.

After 45 years of self-rule with political independence, a constitution, a flag , a legislature , an anthem with a political territory inhabited by a thousand tribes of indigenous people who settled here more than 6000 years and had engaged in agriculture even before the birth of agriculture in the Nile delta , none of the prime minister's from the the first prime minister - Sir Michael Thomas Somare , who served for almost 20 years of the 44 years of political independence , with Peter O'Neill serving 7 straight years and the rest serving under 4 years each had intentionally given a blind eye and played deaf and dumb to the significant factors to economic empowerment and independence to the citizens of this nation out of sheer greed to benefit themselves ahead of the people.

Under 50 years of political independence and the business is 99 % controlled by the 1 percent of foreigners who make up the insignificant minority.

These men have left behind no legacy worth appreciating for us and our posterity.

They have destroyed our identity as a dignified people and transformed us into workers and slaves of a foreign capitalist state where they benefit as the political power brokers continuing as an indigenous cartel feeding on our ignorance and naivety pushing the masses into the doldrums of abject poverty.

James Marape ascended to power by the sheer grace of God and has turned the tables.

by JOHN IGIRI

It is eight months since James Marape was given the position of Prime Minister by his Parliamentary colleagues following a tumultuous few months of politics.

Now only 250 days later we are in a position whereby there is outward revolt in the Cabinet, NEC meetings are being cancelled because there is no quorum, Ministers are refusing to be seen at public events with the Prime Minister and members of the public can see the general malaise of a Government in crisis.

𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
His situation has come about due to a lack of capability as a Leader, having never had any executive management experience. This is made worse by more than 20 billion dollars in foreign investment having been lost as the Marape Government has been unable to reach agreement with investors.

𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦
The most recent failure being the P’Nyang project that after years of negotiations has now been cancelled. This has happened soon after the Papua LNG project debacle when Marape said he would negotiate new terms to the O’Neill Government agreement, only for Marape to agree to the original terms after a six-month delay. Now the major project partner, Total from France, has placed the project on indefinite hold. He claimed to have been wanting to get a better deal for landowners, but the real sticking point in these project failures are known to be attempts by certain characters to subvert sub-contracts.

The end of these projects means that jobs are disappearing in Papua New Guinea as the trickle-down effect of major projects to SMEs and other businesses fails to eventuate.

This increases law and order problems as some people become desperate to feed their families and crime becomes a disturbing last resort.

𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘
We have seen the economy lose momentum and reach crisis point. This is after the government had been managing through the global economic downturn and low commodity prices. Economic growth had not been high, but it had been positive. Then in the months after the change of government, economic growth fell as confidence from investors and the business community dropped.

The IMF is now projecting economic growth of 2.6 per cent this year, but only if resources projects get back on track, and it is now apparent that growth will not be achieved.

This will be made even worse as the global economy suffers from the economic impact brought about by the Coronavirus.

𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗧 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗢𝗨𝗧
Debt has now ballooned out of control increasing by 10 billion Kina in one year, the highest ever. This was after the Prime Minister tried to get China to loan 27 billion Kina to refinance existing loans, and was turned down. Scott Morrison personally agreed to a 1 billion Kina one year loan that was used to pay for DSIPs and PSIPs for Members who support the government to pork-barrel in their electorates.

𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗦𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗦
We have seen the ego of the Prime Minister go out of control with things like his so-called Manifesto “Inside the mind of the Prime Minister.” This was absolute nonsense and was just a collection of random thoughts that had no serious plans for action. We have seen slogan after slogan such as becoming the richest black Christian nation. This overt racism offended a lot of people in our country and around the world.

We keep hearing about Take back PNG, but in his rambling and repetitive speeches, he never articulated what this was supposed to mean. Take back what? In the period of this Government we have not seen a single piece of new legislation passed by the Parliament, just a continuation of most of the policies of the past government.

So the question is why did we change government?

𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
His only major policy decision has been to end free education and kick out up to one million children from school. How on earth are rural families, subsistence farmers or newly unemployed parents supposed to find the money for school fees?

𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗦
In the last eight months we have seen the return of electricity failures that had been a thing of the past. At the same time the massive electrification deal that had been agreed during APEC with Australia, Japan, New Zealand that had been on track to deliver power to 70% of our people is now in a mess. Our partner countries are just undertaking their own activities to deliver on their promises, but there is no co-ordination with the government.

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡
The public service has disintegrated and now our people face massive delays and wait in lines of over one hundred people when they visit many government offices. He has a Chief Secretary in Isaac Lupari, who had been Somare and O’Neill’s Chief Secretary, who has no control over the public service machinery. It is well known that he has the leverage over Marape that will keep him in the job for another year in an acting capacity.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦
Something else that is very troubling is that never before in the history of our Nation have we had a Prime Minister who has misused and exploited the devotion of our people to Christianity for politics as we have seen with this man. This Prime Minister constantly uses the name of our Lord to justify his positions and is expecting our people to blindly follow him. He uses his position in the Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, a very good and wholesome Church with a proud history in our Nation and around the world, to claim he has some kind of divine calling. But what the people do not know is that he has been sanctioned by the SDA Church in the past because of his personal conduct, and now with his new indiscretion he is at risk of excommunication.

We are all Christians, we observe our faith and respect our Lord, but we as Leaders should never use the name of our Lord or our Christian faith for political gain.

𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗
Looking back not so far, Members were realising their mistakes in their earlier support for him. He did not have the number in the Laguna Camp to win the Prime Ministership, he had double-crossed Belden Namah, Patrick Pruiatch and William Duma and walked away from the agreed deals that he had signed, often after praying over these deals with the Leaders he double-crossed. He lied to each one of the Laguna Camp Leaders and they worked him out to be a liar and a fake man, so he left in the middle of the night. He went to Peter O’Neill on his hands and knees and begged for O’Neill’s support to have the number to form Government. Then when he had the number it was only a week before he double-crossed O’Neill.

𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
As more and more Members of our Parliament wake up to the inability of this Prime Minister to lead, and the all talk and no action nature of his office, I implore them to make a decision and move to the Opposition or at least to the middle benches.

Don’t think of your DSIP or PSIP that Marape will probably hold back as a penalty, because Australia is not likely to pay this for a second time in any case.

Think of your country, think of your districts and provinces, and put our people’s interests first.

Enough of Marape’s slogans of taking back, right now our country needs our Leaders to do what they were elected to do, and that is to take PNG forward.