O’Neill: Papua New Guinea Government failed
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
O’Neill: Papua New
Guinea Government failed
PORT MORESBY: People’s National Congress (PNC) party
leader Peter O’Neill says the leaders he handed over the nation’s leadership to
in 2019 had failed badly.
“In the last three
years, there has not been a single businessman or country in the world that
claimed they have faith in our country and would like to invest in it,” he
added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few Papua New Guinea General Election 2022 news updates as reported by The National:
O’Neill: Leaders
failed
June 15, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
“In the last three years, there has not been a single businessman or country in
the world that claimed they have faith in our country and would like to invest
in it,” he said.
O’Neill told people at a rally in Kundiawa recently that when he resigned in
2019 to allow for a change of government, he thought that the younger leaders
replacing him would know how to run the country.
“But they have only made it worse,” he said.
“The economy is bad, the value of our Kina has depreciated, there is high
inflation because the young ones do not know how to manage the country.”
O’Neil labelled those spreading lies about him and those who changed the
Government in 2019 as power-hungry.
O’Neil has confidence in the seven party candidates contesting seats in Chimbu,
saying they are “experienced and qualified public servants and businessmen,
known for delivering services to the community”.
He told the people at Kundiawa not to take their vote lightly as they had the
power to elect the next government.
“The country has a number of challenges. By 2025, we will be 50 years old. So I
appeal to you all that by then, we will not pass on the same struggles to our
children,” he said.
“There will be no stability, cabinet reshuffles or party hopping. That’s the
kind of leadership we know and have seen but why do we continue to repeat the
same mistakes, sending in different men to parliament to only serve their own
interests.”
PNC candidate: Do not be influenced by money
and materials when voting
HIRI-KOIARI’S People’s
National Congress candidate Jack Totona says Papua New Guineans must not be
influenced by money and materials when they cast their ballots for General
Election 2022.
“They must choose and elect leaders who can perform and bring positive change
to communities and the country,” he added.
Totona, from Hiri West’s Lealea, said political leadership was key to change
for the future of all and the country.
“We are in a new electorate and a new competent leadership is required,” he
said, adding that people will perish without vision.
He said people must be liberated from victimisation due to legislative blunders
in project agreements, and ignorance or negligence from budget appropriations.
Totona holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Papua New
Guinea and is currently studying for a masters in Human Resource Management in
the same university.
His mother is a retired nurse from Northern and his father is from Lealea
village and a lecturer and Head of Health Faculty in Divine Word University.
Gulf needs domestic growth policies, says
Kerema candidate
By JAMIE HARO
KEREMA Independent
candidate Hekaroa Pala says the Gulf people need to shift their focus on
supplying commodities to Port Moresby to expanding the local economy.
“Why not expand and let them (in Port Moresby) come to us?” he said.
Pala said the growth of the province’s economy by building proper market places
to conduct businesses, fund large and small scale agriculture projects and
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must be prioritised for Gulf’s
socio-economic growth.
“Over past years, I have seen no change in Kerema town, while the people are
still struggling daily to put food on the table for their families,” he said.
“We need economic expanding policies to help the people and the province.”
Pala, an electrical engineer and a business supply consultant, had his fair
share of conducting business by providing fuel and other electrical supplies to
business houses, including the PNG Power Ltd station in Kerema.
In addition, he said as a first-timer contesting, the political pathway was an
ambition his younger brother had but he passed away.
Ruling on Hela RO
reserved
June 15, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
A COURT has reserved
ruling on a challenge of the appointment of Hela’s provincial returning officer
(RO) by former governor Francis Potape.
Potape filed an originating summons on June 8 to seek leave of the court to
review Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai’s decision on May 6, appointing John
Tipa as RO.
Potape, through his lawyer Paul Harry, told Judge Joseph Yagi in the National
Court at Waigani yesterday that the appointment of Tipa was not in the interest
of the public, compromised the integrity of General Election 2022 (GE22) and
that there would be no free, fair and just general election.
Harry said this was because there were serious allegations against Tipa, which
among others, included that he was in possession of firearms.
The State through Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa said the court should not
allow Potape to challenge Tipa’s appointment as RO because he was not part of
the decision making process and thus, did not have standing.
Tanuvasa added that Sinai had sole powers to appoint ROs.
The State also raised issues that there was an error in one of the documents
and stressed that care needed to be taken when preparing court documents.
Tanuvasa said a notice of motion which Potape had filed prior to leave being
granted was incompetent.
“Leave is not yet granted so the notice of motion should not be filed at all.
It is incompetent.”
Tanuvasa further argued that Potape’s grounds for arguments only pointed to a
letter of complaint dated Jan 11, 2022, and had not referred to section 18 and
section 19 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government. He
added that leave should not be granted because Potape had not showed that there
was an arguable case.
Judge Yagi reserved his ruling to June 24.
People can judge what I delivered: Agarobe
CENTRAL Governor
Robert Agarobe says he has not been campaigning for General Election 2022
(GE22) because he is the incumbent.
“The way politics has been running and the system of campaigning in the country
is a total waste”
“As a businessman, money should not be wasted unnecessarily. I have served a
term after being elected in GE17.
“Voters can judge what I have done or delivered. When I exit from office, the
people of Central should know what they own,” he said.
Agarobe said the audit process showed that the province’s achievements and what
needed to be worked on was the 10 per cent cut of the National Capital District
Goods and Services tax revenue.
Roads key to realising Kairuku’s potential,
says candidate
By AILEEN KWARAGU
CONNECTING roads from
the remote areas of Kairuku to the main Hiritano Highway in Central will create
opportunities for economic development in the district, a candidate for Kairuku
Open seat says.
Java Aiva Beraro, who is an accountant by profession, said his plan to fix
roads would open the district’s fertile land to agricultural development.
“The roads would encourage farmers and investors in the area, especially when
we introduce rice and cocoa,” he said.
He said with his experience in agriculture in Momase and New Guinea Islands
regions he was confident Kairuku could be a cocoa producing area in the Southern
region.
“Research conducted on farming cash crops comes in two ways, through small
holder farmers or by identifying pieces of land and promoting that fertile land
to big investors to do plantations on rice and cocoa,” he said.
“The idea is to empower the rural communities of the district and create
avenues like job opportunities when investors come in.”
Beraro, who is running under a Pangu Pati ticket, said his plans for the
district were in line with the party’s policies and he planned to deliver if he
won the election for the open seat.
“Helping the people was always a passion of mine and from the five policies my
team and I have been rolling out during the campaign are plans and not
promises,” he said.
Beraro’s policies are on good governance, social development, infrastructure
development, and economic development and land rights.
Kutubu welcome … A
traditional dance group from Kutubu local level government at Parita junction
in Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands, during a rally for independent candidate
Charles Andayo on Thursday. Andayo, who is contesting the Nipa-Kutubu Open
seat, said supporting the work of churches would be one of his priorities if he
was elected. – Nationalpic by PETER WARI
Judge on service
record: Paita
June 15, 2022The NationalMain Stories
FINSCHHAFEN MP Rainbo
Paita says Papua New Guineans should judge General Election 2022 candidates
based on their service record and not on (empty) promises.
“In my first five-year term, I was in the Opposition for two years. So what I
have delivered was done only under three years when Pangu took over the
Government.
“My people should by now know my style of leadership and the work I have done,”
he said at his election campaign rally in Dubi village in Burum on June 7.
Paita, who is National Planning and Monitoring Minister, is being challenged by
25 candidates for the Finschhafen seat in GE22.
“This campaign is not about the seat. We are talking about forming the next Government
and retaining our National Planning and Monitoring agenda,” he added.
Paita contested in GE17 and became the youngest winner in PNG’s electoral
history. He graduated from UPNG in 2011.
Nupiri promises to review Iagifu Gas deal
INDEPENDENT candidate
for the Southern Highlands regional Peter Nupiri says he will review the Iagifu
Gas Agreement if he is elected governor.
“We want the Government and the developers to release oil reserves and other
businesses relating to oil back to the people of Southern Highlands.
“In July next year, the loan that the Government obtained to buy the PNGLNG
Project will be completed and the revenue will be increased by 60 per cent.
“This means the money coming into the province will also be increased by 60 per
cent,” he added.
He said currently the province was getting K250 million each year as royalty
payments and development levies.
“In the last 10 years, the province received a total of K2.5 billion and that
money should have been used to improve deteriorating infrastructure in the
province.
“Former Southern Highlands regional MP Francis Pusal when he was the Minerals
and Energy Minister signed the Iagifu Gas Agreement.
“Though we are resource owners, landowners from Kutubu and Bosave are living in
the poor with deteriorating roads and no road network in the project areas.
“What Pusal started must be reviewed before the oil runs dry,” he added.
Nupiri said for the PNGLNG project, Exxon made some investments and for oil,
developers such as Chevron Niugini, Oil Search Limited and now Santos have
taken over but have done nothing.
“The agreement must be reviewed for the release of oil reserves and oil-related
businesses to the people of Southern Highlands.
“This is my promise to you when I become the governor. The Government and
developers got everything but there is no tangible development seen in the
project area,”he added.
Candidate promises security and safety of Hela
Veteran move … With 22
years’ political experience, independent candidate Rodney Kamus is one of those
challenging incumbent MP Kevin Isifu for the Wewak Open seat in the General
Election 2022. He has been a loyal staff to late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
up until his passing last year. Kamus (pictured) on Kairiru Island cooling off
after a long day on the campaign trail.
By REBECCA KUKU
FORMER Hela
administrator William Bando is hoping to get a blanket search warrant to search
all homes and confiscate all illegal firearms in Hela’s Koroba-Lake Kopiago
district if he is given the mandate in the 2022 General Election (GE22).
Bando said his main policy would be security and safety of Koroba-Lake Kopiago
and Hela as a province.
“I do not want to negotiate, I do not want to condemn, and I want to take
action, no more mediation or surrender programmes,” he said.
“We need to address law and order in Koroba-Lake Kopiago, in Hela, before we
can start talking about education and health or start building infrastructures.
“Because without law and order, how will our children go to school, how will
our people access health services and how will people use the infrastructures
that we build?”
Bando said if given the mandate, the first thing he would do is apply for the
blanket search warrant and search homes, and confiscate all illegal firearms.
“We shouldn’t be negotiating with them, it’s time to take action and make
Koroba-Lake Kopiago and Hela as a province a safe place.”
June 15, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
SHOW the people what
you can do for them and let them decide on who to represent them in parliament,
former politician Dame Josephine Abaijah says.
As an advice to women candidates contesting the General Election 2022 (GE2022),
Dame Josephine, a two-term former politician, said: “It was not about money or
power but you go out there and live with the people, see their needs and show
them what to do.”
Dame Josephine, the first woman to be elected into the House of Assembly in
1972, was pleased to see that many women candidates were contesting this
election.
“I had no one by my side to turn to, I got men and also women challenging me
but I stood because people wanted me to,” she said.
Dame Josephine said today many women were contesting and every woman showed
support by working collaboratively with them.
“Comments like ‘what are they trying to prove’ are not good, you have to give
them the opportunity and support them,” she said.
She said the candidates would face challenges but the good thing was that there
were many of them and they supported each other.
“Most important are the people and what they need,” she said.
“Avoid bribery and be honest, God will help you and nothing will stop you from
doing what you want to do,” she said.
Dame Josephine Milne Bay, served as a politician, from 1977 to 1982 and from
1997 to 2000.
Opa imagines changes for Kerema under Pangu
Miaru villagers from
Gulf dressed in traditional attire which included the symbol of a shark. They
led Pangu Pati leader and Prime Minister James Marape and Pangu’s Kerema open
candidate Thomas Opa to the stage for a rally in Iokea village on Sunday –
Picture supplied
By REBECCA KUKU
It’s time for change,
says Pangu’s Kerema Open candidate Thomas Opa.
Opa, who held a campaign rally over the weekend in Gulf’s Iokea village, told
the people that it was time for change and the Pangu Pati was ready to bring
that change.
“Pangu save long rot, sapos rot bagarap, bai mipela wokim nupela rot na
go yet. Em taim bilong senis! (Pangu knows the way, if the road is
spoilt then we will build new roads to lead the way, it is now time for
change).”
Opa, who was a second time contestant for the seat, said that he wanted to
bring change to Kerema, which was only six hours away from the National Capital
District but still lacked major services.
“I want to build Kerema, build roads and link villages to the main highway, and
bring in education and health services,” he said.
“I want to build infrastructure and also help give economic independence back
to my people, through SME and agriculture programmes.”
Prime Minister James Marape and his wife Racheal and the Minister for Public
Service and Nuku MP Joe Sungi also travelled by road to Iokea to support Opa
during his campaign rally.
Opa told the people that the Prime Minister James Marape had come by road so
that he could see for himself the plight of the people of Kerema.
“The Government and the ruling party is already here, they have come to Kerema,
it is now time for change, the choice is in your hands,” he said.
Marape told the people to consolidate Opa and send him into Parliament because
he believed Opa belonged to the army of young leaders who wanted to help in
taking back what was rightfully ours, so that no-one was left behind.
“You are so close to Hiritano Highway, and yet so far away, which does not
reflect well on the past governments,” he said.
“He tells me he’s 43-years-old.
“Next year, we will celebrate his 44th birthday with a new road that comes from
the turnoff, down to his village here.”
Marape said that he would be back in Gulf to celebrate the declaration of his
Pangu party candidate, Opa as the Kerema MP in a few weeks’ time.
Party inspired by founders
PRIME Minister James Marape has acknowledged
the founding fathers of Pangu Pati as the party celebrated its 55th anniversary
on Monday.
He said the memory of those political pioneers of Papua New Guinea would spur
the Pangu on to greater heights.
“We had founding PNG leaders like Sir Paul Lapun, Sir Michael Somare, Sir Pita
Lus, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Barry Holloway, Sir Lucas Waka, Sir Kingsford
Dibela, Sir John Guise, Sir Cecil Abel, Oala-Oala Rarua, Sir Ronald Tovue, Sir
Paliau Maloat, Tony Voutas, Sir Kobale Kale, Sir Ebia Olewale, and many more
who founded Pangu Pati,” he said.
“At a time when our nation was still under the shackles of colonial rule, they
decided that enough was enough, and it was time to break free.
“Hence, the founding fathers of Pangu were also the founders of our country, as
they laid the foundations for self-government in 1973 and independence in 1975.
“Their zeal and patriotism formed Papua and New Guinea United (Pangu) Pati.”
Marape said the feats of these founding fathers would inspire Pangu today.
“We recommit ourselves to stand by the virtues of these great men.”
‘It’s not about money
or power’
June 15, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
SHOW the people what
you can do for them and let them decide on who to represent them in parliament,
former politician Dame Josephine Abaijah says.
As an advice to women candidates contesting the General Election 2022 (GE2022),
Dame Josephine, a two-term former politician, said: “It was not about money or
power but you go out there and live with the people, see their needs and show
them what to do.”
Dame Josephine, the first woman to be elected into the House of Assembly in
1972, was pleased to see that many women candidates were contesting this
election.
“I had no one by my side to turn to, I got men and also women challenging me
but I stood because people wanted me to,” she said.
Dame Josephine said today many women were contesting and every woman showed
support by working collaboratively with them.
“Comments like ‘what are they trying to prove’ are not good, you have to give
them the opportunity and support them,” she said.
She said the candidates would face challenges but the good thing was that there
were many of them and they supported each other.
“Most important are the people and what they need,” she said.
“Avoid bribery and be honest, God will help you and nothing will stop you from
doing what you want to do,” she said.
Dame Josephine Milne Bay, served as a politician, from 1977 to 1982 and from
1997 to 2000.
Opa imagines changes for Kerema under Pangu
By REBECCA KUKU
It’s time for change,
says Pangu’s Kerema Open candidate Thomas Opa.
Opa, who held a campaign rally over the weekend in Gulf’s Iokea village, told
the people that it was time for change and the Pangu Pati was ready to bring
that change.
“Pangu save long rot, sapos rot bagarap, bai mipela wokim nupela rot na
go yet. Em taim bilong senis! (Pangu knows the way, if the road is
spoilt then we will build new roads to lead the way, it is now time for
change).”
Opa, who was a second time contestant for the seat, said that he wanted to
bring change to Kerema, which was only six hours away from the National Capital
District but still lacked major services.
“I want to build Kerema, build roads and link villages to the main highway, and
bring in education and health services,” he said.
“I want to build infrastructure and also help give economic independence back
to my people, through SME and agriculture programmes.”
Prime Minister James Marape and his wife Racheal and the Minister for Public
Service and Nuku MP Joe Sungi also travelled by road to Iokea to support Opa
during his campaign rally.
Opa told the people that the Prime Minister James Marape had come by road so
that he could see for himself the plight of the people of Kerema.
“The Government and the ruling party is already here, they have come to Kerema,
it is now time for change, the choice is in your hands,” he said.
Marape told the people to consolidate Opa and send him into Parliament because
he believed Opa belonged to the army of young leaders who wanted to help in
taking back what was rightfully ours, so that no-one was left behind.
“You are so close to Hiritano Highway, and yet so far away, which does not
reflect well on the past governments,” he said.
“He tells me he’s 43-years-old.
“Next year, we will celebrate his 44th birthday with a new road that comes from
the turnoff, down to his village here.”
Marape said that he would be back in Gulf to celebrate the declaration of his
Pangu party candidate, Opa as the Kerema MP in a few weeks’ time.
Party inspired by founders
PRIME Minister James Marape has acknowledged
the founding fathers of Pangu Pati as the party celebrated its 55th anniversary
on Monday.
He said the memory of those political pioneers of Papua New Guinea would spur
the Pangu on to greater heights.
“We had founding PNG leaders like Sir Paul Lapun, Sir Michael Somare, Sir Pita
Lus, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Barry Holloway, Sir Lucas Waka, Sir Kingsford
Dibela, Sir John Guise, Sir Cecil Abel, Oala-Oala Rarua, Sir Ronald Tovue, Sir
Paliau Maloat, Tony Voutas, Sir Kobale Kale, Sir Ebia Olewale, and many more
who founded Pangu Pati,” he said.
“At a time when our nation was still under the shackles of colonial rule, they
decided that enough was enough, and it was time to break free.
“Hence, the founding fathers of Pangu were also the founders of our country, as
they laid the foundations for self-government in 1973 and independence in 1975.
“Their zeal and patriotism formed Papua and New Guinea United (Pangu) Pati.”
Marape said the feats of these founding fathers would inspire Pangu today.
“We recommit ourselves to stand by the virtues of these great men.”
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