O’Neill: PM Marape messed up PNG’s economy with ‘mad Porgera closure’
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill (left) at Lake Murray in Western yesterday.
O’Neill: PM Marape
messed up PNG’s economy with ‘mad Porgera closure’
PORT MORESBY: Former prime minister Peter O’Neill says
his successor James Marape messed up Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s economy by
closing down the Porgera gold mine when gold prices were high.
“That was pure madness.
The shutdown was part of Marape’s ‘Take
Back PNG’ campaign, but so far there are no winners in this shamble of a
negotiation for a better deal,” he added.
O’Neill said Marape was
now blaming landowners for the mess he created.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few General Election 2022 news updates as published by The National:
PM made a mess:
O’Neill
June 21, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
“The shutdown was part of James Marape’s ‘Take Back PNG’ campaign, but so far
there are no winners in this shamble of a negotiation for a better deal,”
O’Neill said.
“Marape has now placed the blame on landowners for the mess he created.”
He said running a Government was not easy “as tough decisions had to be made
every day”.
“But to shut down one of our largest earners and employers at a time when gold
prices were at their highest, and Government spending on Covid-19 was out of
control – well it was pure madness,” he said.
“Now instead of owning up to his decision that has cost PNG over K10 billion,
he blames it on landowners.”
O’Neill said Marape in April 2020 shocked the nation when he denied the mine
operator Barrick Niugini Ltd (BNL) the extension of the Special Mining Lease,
and shut down the operations of the Porgera gold mine in Enga.
Marape told The National that the delay in reopening the multi-billion-kina
mine was because landowners and the Enga government were yet to agree on the
split in benefits.
BNL president and chief executive officer Mark Bristow last June said the cost
of restarting the mine was around US$300 million (about K1.038 billion).
O’Neill said during the past two years, the country had lost:
- MORE than K10 billion in
economic returns;
- ABOUT 2,500 direct jobs;
- HUNDREDS of SMEs; and
- THE Enga government unable to
fund the province’s budget.
“Marape and his Pangu
Pati have the audacity this week to blame the landowners who he says are
holding out for a better deal,” he said.
“It is bad enough that he made the decision to close the mine.
“But how shameful (to) blame the lack of action by the landowners, the very
people he claimed to be helping.
“(Marape) should retract his blame on Porgera landowners and focus on what he
can do to get the mine back up and running.
“We have lost over two years and time is ticking.”
Group sets up political forum
By GLORIA BAUAI
A SOCIAL networking
group in Lae is organising a public political forum to raise awareness on
polling for voters and candidates before it starts on July 4.
Committee executive Maisen Hungito said it was an initiative of elites in Lae
who wanted to ensure that the city residents were “informed” before going to
the polls.
“The forum is a platform where candidates contesting the Lae Open seat, apart
from highlighting their policies, will listen to the people talk about their
most pressing issues,” he said.
“Participating candidates will be allowed to briefly highlight their political
agendas and goals but focus on the people’s issues and tell them their plans on
how to address them.
“The forum will identify a legislator who can represent us in parliament and
fight for our basic human rights.”
Hungito said the committee had been given police clearance to hold the event at
the Eriku Oval on July 2.
The independent group which was recently formed is in the process of being
registered with the Investment Promotion Authority and the Internal Revenue
Commission.
He said the group would continue to give a voice to the people of Lae,
highlighting issues plaguing the city and its residents such as the National
Housing Commission evictions, deteriorating police barracks, and increasing
unemployment.
Increase in funding helped districts, MP says
FORMER Prime Minister
Peter O’Neill says he increased the district services improvement programme
(DSIP) funds to K10 million in 2012 because the K250,000 was inadequate.
O’Neill, the People’s National Congress Party leader, said the K250,000
received by MPs was insufficient to properly provide services to the people.
He was in Daru and Balimo yesterday to support party candidates contesting
seats in the General Election 2022.
“How can K250,000 pay for school fees, look after medicines and build roads? Impossible,”
he said.
“That’s why when I got into Government in 2012, I put it (DSIP) up to K10
million.”
He said at a recent party convention that they would travel the length and
breadth of the country, to big crowds and small communities, to let the people
know of the party policies.
“Today (yesterday) in Balimo, we arrived to a heartfelt welcome, people
listening to our policies,” he said.
“It’s theirs and your respect, theirs and your support that the PNC seeks.”
The party candidates include Conrad Haoda for South Fly Open, Jay Jossiah Echol
for Middle Fly Open and Kawe Sika Biyama for Delta Fly Open.
Juffa vows to continue corruption fight if
re-elected
By HELEN TARAWA
NORTHERN Governor Gary
Juffa says he will continue to fight corruption in the province and the country
if he retains his seat.
Juffa, the leader of the People’s Movement for Change Party, is contesting the
regional seat for the third time.
He was elected governor in 2012 and 2017. He told the people at Beama village
in the Oro Bay local level government on Friday that he had fought hard for
them in the past 26 years – 16 in the public service and 10 in Parliament.
“I’m not going to beg for your votes.
“It’s your democratic right to decide if I remain and continue the fight,” he
said.
Juffa said Northern now had the conservation areas in Kokoda and Afore and
thanked the people for their support.
The 152 clans in Managalas had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for
the conservation project.
“The people had put aside their differences and signed the MOU which will pave
the way for greater development in the province,” he said.
Juffa said he had often been criticised for his leadership at the national
level in the fight against corruption.
“We have been fighting corruption and we have saved our land from
exploitation,” he said.
“Great things are about to happen now as we are sitting on the government side.
I did my part.
“I have fought hard and long for you. If you want someone else, that’s your
democratic right.”
Juffa said there were plans to transform the districts of Afore and Kokoda into
sustainable land management hubs.
“They will grow their coffee and vegetables and transport them to Oro Bay for
direct export,” he said.
Liquor ban set for POM
June 21, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Sir Luciano in a statement yesterday said the liquor ban was imposed for two
weeks before polling and three days after polling for General Election 2022
(GE22).
He said the ban would apply to storekeepers, bottle shops, taverns, public bars
in limited hotels and publicans and cabaret permit venues.
Categories of licensed premises that are exempted are restaurants, clubs and
limited hotels and pubs.
Central police commander Supt John Midi said last week that police would beef
up security to monitor the alcohol ban in the province.
He said Highway Patrol Units had been imposing the ban since the province
announced it.
Central administrator and chief liquor commissioner Francis Koaba said liquor
ban in the province started on May 12 and would end on July 31.
He said the purpose of the ban was to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free GE22
in each village.
“Provincial liquor officials have been advised to closely monitor and ensure
people comply.”
District lacks good governance and leadership:
Candidate
FORMER banker Jeffery
Suau Singer, who is contesting the Wewak open seat in East Sepik as an
independent, says there is a need for good governance and quality leadership.
He said this was among numerous key matters that motivated him to contest
General Election 2022 (GE22).
The other two he highlighted were the economic potential of Wewak district to
be harnessed into financially empower the people and need for good governance
and effective service delivery.
Singer from Muschu Island and Dagua in the west coast of Wewak, possesses 20
years of banking, management and leadership experience.
He was the head of the small-medium enterprises (SME) at the BSP Financial
Group Limited before he left to contest GE22.
He told The National: “If given the opportunity (to represent
people in Wewak open) I have three strategic pillars to build an ark that will
carry the dreams and aspirations of our people of Wewak sistrict and ESP.
“Firstly, integral human development – focus on people empowerment and equal
participation. Prioritising the needs of our people.
“Secondly, economic empowerment – financial empowerment of our people through
supporting and growing MSMEs and resource owners, creating employment
opportunities through developing our key industries such as agriculture,
fisheries, tourism, transport and human resources, downstream processing of
resources.
“Thirdly, community development – focus on development at community level
customised to meeting the needs of the people, he said.
“Focus on specific needs of our urban and rural populace.
“Land management and disaster policy framework and a green economy policy on
off-grid energy and food security.”
Defence forward operating base in Tari not
necessary: Potape
THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)
forward operating base in Tari, Hela is not necessary when it has the
provincial police station established there and should have been at the
Margarima Station, a regional candidate says.
Former acting Hela governor and Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape said Margarima
was a strategic location and PNGDF would be providing security to people living
between the borders of Southern Highlands and Hela, and Kandep in Enga.
He said the province has a provincial police station headquarters in Tari-Pori
district and now the PNGDF base was set up in the same district.
“I will make sure the PNGDF FOB is relocated to Margarima once I become the
governor of Hela,” he said.
“We cannot let the country’s two important security forces operate at the same
area, we should look at setting another at a strategic location, Margarima is
suitable,” he said.
Potape said Hela was known for law and order issues, and nothing had been done
to improve the Tari police station and now the PNGDF FOB has been established.
He said warlords that have involved in killing of innocent woman and children
for many years continue to terrorise people and roam around freely and they are
yet to be convicted.
“I have hosted several rallies to outline my policies and the reasons why I am
contesting.
Violence not planned:
Candidate
June 21, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Carter Pau, who is running under the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) party,
said an unfortunate incident last month involving the burning of vehicles
belonging to incumbent MP Saki Soloma had adversely affected the campaign
schedules of all candidates.
Pau’s nomination rally was held on May 26 and he was at the scene when the
incident happened and was the first to condemn the action and appealed for
peace.
“For the record, the general public deserves to know that what happened at
Okapa station was neither caused by a candidate, group of candidates nor a
certain tribe or tribes in Okapa,” he said.
“It is also important that Papua New Guinea must know that this action has
absolutely had nothing to do with Pangu or People’s National Congress parties
or any other political parties.
“This was not a result of party politics.
“To be succinct, what happened was caused by a few drunkards in the crowds at
Okapa’s Friday market and a few drunkards on the convoy of the MP,” Pau said.
He said it started with a person throwing of betel nut husk into the last
vehicle of the convoy that led to an argument that escalated to a full scale
confrontation and chaos.
“My vehicle’s windscreen was also smashed,” he said.
“I am sorry we were victims of this public mayhem.”
“I call upon all candidates to please speak to the people and educate them on
elections.”
He thanked other candidates affected by the violence for their understanding.
“Properties were damaged, injuries sustained but lives were not lost, let’s
stop at that,” Pau said.
Rural Menyamya people thank Govt for
connect-PNG policy
RURAL communities in
Menyamya, Morobe are thanking the Marape Government for its connect-PNG policy,
which has seen improvements to main roads and opening of feeder roads.
Aseki community leader Obert Kitumbing Geob, on behalf of Hamtai-speaking
people, said: “We are relieved now that roads are maintained. We are happy to
use new roads, and bad roads are now things of the past.”
He took a coaster bus on a trial on the maintained road from Lae to Aseki and
Menyamya Stations, yesterday, and said: “Businesses and small-to-medium
enterprises (SME) are starting to pick up.
“Coffee buyers were now relaxed and happy for doing their business using new
feeder roads. Areas that were once disconnected are now connected by road.”
“We will support the connect-PNG programme and ensure the road reaches Kerema
in Gulf by passing through our land,” said Geob.
Philip said it was a very important development for the area, which had been
neglected for many years.
Kuman’s party goes to Nawaeb, Morobe
WHILE established
political parties host rallies in towns and major centres to promote their
policies and campaign for their candidates, the Advance PNG Party (APP) is
making roads into rural areas where the majority of the people live.
The party led by leader Nick Kuman, a three-term MP for Gumine, and his
delegation advanced into rural Morobe to rally support for APP candidate Wally
Simang Using for the Nawaeb Open seat.
Kuman and his delegation were in the mountains of Boana in the Erap-Wain local
level government (LLG) for the launch of Using’s campaign at Ward 12, Wana
village, Nawaeb LLG.
Kuman was welcomed by local children singing the national anthem and dancers
with an enthusiastic crowd of around 2,000 people in attendance.
Kuman acknowledged Morobe and particularly the Lutheran Church for its
contribution to the development of the Highlands region through its early
Lutheran missionaries.
He iterated the party’s policies of the inclusive and sustainable broad-based
economy, good governance and accountability, a country connected through
integrated infrastructure platform, universal health and education services for
its citizens, a robust law and order regime to address growing lawlessness, a
growth engagement strategy to empower rural Papua New Guineans and an immediate
economic recovery programme to mitigate the depressed local economy.
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