O’Neill: PNC Govt started infrastructure development for Papua New Guinea

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O’Neill: PNC Govt started infrastructure development for Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill says the previous Government led by his People’s National Congress (PNC) party is responsible for bringing infrastructure development to Port Moresby and the country.

O’Neill, a former prime minister and PNC party leader, made this known to thousands at an election rally for PNC candidate Carl Okuk at the Unagi Oval in Port Moresby on Sunday (June 12, 2022).

Okuk is contesting the Moresby North-East seat.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few General Election 2022 news updates as published by The National:

O’Neill touches on development

June 14, 2022The NationalMain Stories

IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill says the previous government led by his People’s National Congress (PNC) party is responsible for bringing infrastructure development to Port Moresby and the country.
O’Neill, a former prime minister and the PNC party leader, made this known to thousands at a rally for PNC candidate Carl Okuk at the Unagi Oval in Port Moresby on Sunday.
Okuk is contesting the Moresby North-East seat.
“We (PNC) gave service to the people,” O’Neill said as the people cheered.
“A lot of things we built in the city (Port Moresby) is serving the people today.”
“When I got loans to build these things a lot of people were angry at me but you forgot about the potholed city that we used to have in Port Moresby.
“You forgot about various infrastructure such as the airport, hospitals, and four-lane roads, which were done because of the strength of the PNC-led government at that time.”
O’Neill said he resigned as prime minister after young MPs wanted to run the country.
“I thought they would do a good job but they had no idea on how to run the country,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill said the current Government had obtained more loans but questioned how these loans had benefited the country.
O’Neill reminded the crowd that Okuk was a man who always spent his time with the people.
“Do not forget (to vote for) him so he can win the seat for Moresby North-East so we (PNC) can continue our work,” he said.
“I am also happy to affirm my support for Thaddeus Kambanei contesting for the Moresby North-West seat and Charles Kassman who is contesting for Moresby South.”


TIPNG: Stamp out electoral violence

TRANSPARENCY International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) says there must be concerted efforts by the police, PNG Defence Force and Correctional Services to stamp out electoral violence in the country.
“The Finance Department, Provincial and Local Government Affairs Department and others must also work with the PNG Electoral Commission (EC) to deliver a safe and fair election,” TIPNG chairman Peter Aitsi said.
He said it was the duty of the respective agencies and the civil services to operate independently of politics at this time and to ensure they uphold their integrity in the General Election 2022 (GE22).
Aitsi said the EC needed to ensure it was communicating regularly with the public, providing consistent and accurate information so that citizens were reassured that the elections were being effectively managed and properly conducted.
He said TIPNG identified the issues of electoral management in its 2021 National Integrity System Assessment programme, funded by the European Union (EU).
In the assessment, TIPNG drew attention to the worsening state of electoral processes, raising questions on democracy and rights.


New government urged to strengthen public service

By KELVIN JOE
THE next Parliament after the General Election 2022 (GE22) needs to strengthen the role of the three arms of Government and promote autonomy and decentralisation to improve the public service.
National Research Institute (NRI) professional research fellow and Bougainville research in governance programme project manager Dr Thomas Webster said the effective delivery of basic goods and services like health and education along with infrastructure developments were centered on accountable and strong legislative Government arm to keep executive performance checked.
“We need to separate and strengthen the roles of legislative, judiciary and executive, which are the traditional arms of the Government,” he said.
Webster said this during a talk-back show on FM 100 on Thursday while commenting on the primary roles and responsibility of the Members of Parliament following the GE22.
He said the country needed a strong and independent legislative arm because some public servants were not providing independent and effective advice to Government Ministers.
“Since independence up to the 1990s, we used to have departmental heads advising the ministers to make decisions in line with rules and guidelines of the laws,” he said.
“Now ministers are directing public servants to do this and that.
“So, we really need to review the Government system and promote the autonomy and decentralisation of the Government.”
Webster said the country needed to create a national level government with a legislator and executive Government that would be responsible for the national and international policies.
He said pacts such as trade and international climate change agreements needed to be renegotiated to create opportunity for economic pathways and growth.
“When a national government has a primary focus on national policies, we then create a middle level government (provincial level government) with adequate and autonomous powers on law making – a legislative elected by the Government,” he said.
“We have provincial government system currently exist but they are all nominated.
“We need a separate legislative assembly in order to make it more accountable.
“They can push provincial level government accountable and to do more in terms of basic goods and service delivery.”
Meanwhile, Webster said during the provincial government period since 1975, the work of the premiers, local level governmental presidents and ward councilors were effective.
He said that there were improved road networks, better education and health service delivery systems among others in the rural areas before it was dissolved in 1990 due to its popularity and it being a threat to the national government.

Police explain post-mortem delay

June 14, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By JIMMY KALEBE
THE delay of the post-mortem of two men shot dead in an election-related violence at Munum outside Lae on May 26 is because of non-availability of a doctor, an official says.
Morobe police commander Supt Jacob Singura said arrest of the suspects would be done later, however, he said the post-mortem maybe done today.
According to Singura, police had completed the investigation into the shooting and had compiled a full report into the shooting.
“There is two investigation into the incident,” he said.
“One for the shooting of the two men and the other is for the injuries sustained during the confrontation as well as the burning of the vehicle and houses.”
Singura said investigations into the burning of the vehicle, houses and the injuries caused to five people during that violence were still to be compiled by the police, but confirmed that police were on the case and would soon have it ready.
“While this is going on, I am appealing to people in Morobe to avoid getting involved in election-related violence,” he said.
“This will come once and will go tomorrow, we have to respect ourselves and work together for the common good of all.”
Singura said generally this was one major election related incident experienced in the province and must not be repeated for the remaining weeks of the election, urging all Morobeans to act responsibly at this time.
Meanwhile, there are no other serious election-related issues reported in other district lately and Singura is appealing to all to keep it at that until the end of the election.
Singura said that people have to work with police and other authorities to ensure the election was safe, free and fair for all.


Ling-Stuckey lashes out at official: Do not interfere

KAVIENG MP and Kavieng development Authority (KDDA) chairman Ian Ling-Stuckey says the district education chief executive officer’s (CEO) advice on the use of school trucks funded by the district is unlawful and inappropriate.
“All assets issued by the KDDA since General Election 2017, including vehicles and boats to communities, schools and individuals, remain the legal property of and under the jurisdiction of the recipients in Kavieng.
“I caution the relevant officer(s) not to interfere with KDDA-funded assets where he/she and for that matter, any other State agency, have no jurisdiction.
“The KDDA board decision No.236/2022, effectively resolved that all assets issued by it remained the ownership of the recipients.
In the case of school trucks, these are also owned by the board and parents and friends, whilst the head teacher and board manage school trucks on behalf of its shareholders.
“These terms and conditions are conveyed publicly at all presentation of schools trucks but given that certain public servants seem to want to politicise these assets and now at the last minute, take unlawful control, it would be wise for the KDDA to ensure a formal agreement is now executed with all schools, to prevent their further politicisation.”


Kapavore highlights positiveoutcomes of DDA Act

THERE are some positive outcomes of the District Development Authority Act 2014, Pomio MP Elias Kapavore said this during candidates-voters educational awareness forum for the nine male candidates contesting the Pomio Open seat.
The Ombudsman Commission has challenged the DDA Act of 2014 in court.
Kapavore explained that because of the Act, Pomio had been able to make headway with development such as purchasing its own vessel, building a good district headquarters office complex and erecting numerous bridges and roads to enhance accessibility for its public.
He said the Act was an amendment of section 33 (a) of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government, formerly known as the Joint District Budget Planning Priority Committee.
Kapavore said that following the amendment, MPs became the chairmen of the DDA boards with LLG presidents as members apart from appointed members representing the interest of women, churches and youths.
He said that the district administrator sat with the DDA board to advise on projects and their implementation status per the district’s five-year development plan.
Politicians do not award projects, as there is district procurement committee that sits on project proposals and submits reports of projects to the DDA board.

Elias meets O’Neill … ELIZAH Elias (inset) walked from Mt Wilhelm Secondary School in Chimbu to meet former prime minister Peter O’Neill. Elias, who is an orphan, had no chance of an education but, through People’s National Congress (PNC) party’s free education policy, he managed to complete his primary education and is now in grade 12. Elias thanked O’Neill and his party for giving him a chance to come this far in school. He aspired to be an accountant. O’Neill, the PNC leader, was in Chimbu on Friday to show support for PNC candidates contesting the six open seats including the regional seat.

Eastern end command changes

June 14, 2022The NationalMain Stories

HIGHLANDS eastern end police command have witnessed changes in each of the respective commands for election purposes and general operations, a senior officer says.
Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP), eastern end, commander Rigga Neggi announced the changes on Friday in Mt Hagen.
He said Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop was called in again by Commissioner David Manning to be the Deputy ACP, Highlands eastern end, after he was not attached.
Neggi said police legal officer Superintendent John Sagom was appointed as the provincial police commander (PPC) Western Highlands, replacing Joe Puri who was called to assist him (Neggi) to execute the plans and operations of the command.
Chief Inspector Fred Kaiwe was appointed PPC Jiwaka to run GE22.
Neggi said those changes were made for the purpose of overseeing the election operations in the eastern end command.
He said with the changes he believed that security operations for the GE22 in the eastern end will progress well.
Neggi urged policemen and women to respect the command and perform their duties as a member of the disciplinary force.
“These changes will create a teamwork so we can uphold the values within the force.
“We will work along with the changes to ensure that they (changes) are for the good of the election operations,” he said.
He said taking part in such election operations was a very stressful task and members needed to look after themselves well and follow orders.
Neggi urged officers to follow the code of ethics and know that they have a task ahead to complete.
“What you do know will be for the benefit of the future generation so work along with the command with a teamwork and respect.
“We must look at delivering a fair and peaceful election to the people,” he said.
Neggi said that the code of ethics for police including discipline must be maintained at all times.
“You need to serve the constabulary with your heart and know your duty very well.
“If you do not change then do not expect others to change because you are not leading by example.”
“With these changes I want to see police man and women working hard in order gain the public trust and confidence,” Neggi said.
He welcomed the officers to take on their new roles and to do their best to uphold the constitution.
Neggi believed that these changes would also help promote quality and order within the force.


Security personnel arrive in Highlands

SECURITY personnel comprising police, Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers and Correctional Service (CIS) will arrive in the Highlands for General Election 2022 (GE22) this week.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), highlands eastern, end commander Rigga Neggi confirmed this on Friday during the ACP parade in Mt Hagen.
He said security personnel from the Quick Response Force (QRF) would be in the highlands provinces to ensure a peaceful election is taking place.
He also said the launching of the election operation will take place this weekend so they can go into a full operation and prepare for the polling.
Neggi said election was progressing well but security presence arrived a bit late because funding and logistics were slow to arrive.
He said now that they had the funding and resources in place, they will try to speed up things so that troops can carry out operations.
Neggi said police in the eastern end command had received six new vehicles (two each for Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Chimbu) together with new sets of uniforms to boost their operations.


CS members deployed for election duties

Correctional Service (CS) officers demonstrating how to counter vehicle ambush at the CS Bomana training college in Port Moresby on Friday. CS Commissioner Stephen Pokanis says that CS personnel will be sent to the highlands today to provide security during General Election 2022 (GE22). – Picture By KENNEDY BANI

MEMBERS of the Correctional Services (CS) will be sent to the highlands today to provide security during GE22, CS Commissioner Stephen Pokanis says.
He said the instruction came from Police Commissioner David Manning to start deploying all the disciplined forces to the region this week.
“The first part of about 116 officers from the Quick Response team will be deployed to highlands tomorrow (today) along with their colleagues from Royal PNG Constabulary and PNG Defence Force,” Pokanis said.
During a dedication service to release officers for GE22 deployment in Port Moresby yesterday, Pokanis said the team was part of 500 members from the disciplined forces that would be working with the join security forces to maintain security and ensure people could exercise their democratic rights to elect their leaders and Government.
He said more than 500 officers would be deployed outside the institution while an additional 300 would indirectly involve in the GE22 to ensure safe election in terms of campaign and vote for prisoners, officers and their family members in the institutions.
Meanwhile, Pokanis urged his officers to maintain discipline and professionalism.

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