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

FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has criticised how his successor James Marape decided to close down the Porgera gold mine when gold prices were high, calling it “pure madness”.
“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 (left) at Lake Murray in Western yesterday.

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

A LIQUOR ban for Port Moresby started yesterday and will end on July 8, according to National Capital District Licensing Committee chairman Sir Luciano Cragnolini.
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

Jeffery Suau Singer at a market in Turubu, east coast area of Wewak district in East Sepik recently.

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

A CANDIDATE for the Okapa open seat wants other candidates to make stronger efforts to control their supporters and ensure they respect other candidates and their supporters during the campaign period.
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

Catch of the day … Kevin Mokorom preparing fish to be weighed and sold in Wewak for K8 a kg. The fish was caught by a trap net project piloted by the National Fisheries Authority, a Japanese Foundation and Wom and Meni villages in Wewak district. – Nationalpic by GYNNIE KERO

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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