Marape, 31 MPs break away from Laguna camp

Posted on The National

TARI-Pori MP James Marape and 31 MPs yesterday left the Opposition camp and held talks with the Government MPs on a candidate to succeed Peter O’Neill as prime minister.
The election of a new MP is the first order of business when Parliament sits today.
The Government MPs are camping at the Crowne Plaza. Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch’s group remains at the Laguna Hotel.
Marape’s group booked into the Grand Papua next to the Crown Plaza.
After Peter O’Neill announced in Parliament his resignation as prime minister, Abau MP Sir Puka Temu walked back to the Government side saying it was something he had promised if O’Neill resigned. He was followed by Ijivitari MP Richard Masare.
After Parliament was adjourned, Marape, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Pangu Party leader Ginson Saonu, Sir Peter Ipatas and 28 MPs jump on a bus and went to the Grand Papua.
O’Neill and his group also left through the same door for their Crown Plaza camp.
Later, Marape, Powi, Sir Peter and Renbo Paita left for the Crown Plaza and were met by Works Minister Michael Nali.
There was a big cheer when they walked into the Government camp. O’Neill and his team hugged them.
After about 45 minutes, Marape and his group left for their hotel.
About an hour later, O’Neill, Sam Basil and Sir Julius Chan left the Crowne Plaza to meet Marape and his group at the Grand Papua.
At 3.15pm, everyone returned to the Crown Plaza – a total of 76 MPs together.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-31-mps-break-away-from-laguna-camp/

Marape’s wife vows to support husband

By HELEN TARAWA - The National 

RACHAEL Marape, the wife of Prime Minister James Marape, says she will continue to support her husband in his new role.
The mother of six, originally from East Sepik, told The National that she had always been behind the scene to support him.
“I have a responsibility as a mother and a wife which will not change. I am a simple woman and I do things for myself, even driving around.
“But that may change now. I am a simple and supportive wife. I will ways be there doing whatever I have to do for my husband.”
She was at the Laguna camp with her husband’s group of 28, then moved with them on Wednesday to the Grand Papua.
“After the hard work put in by all the MPs which I witnessed, I was moved in parliament when they were expressing themselves,” she said.
“This is politics – horse trading as they call it – and I was just watching. When I saw them in tears, I also felt for them.
“I know it’s a challenge.
“I’m always in the background just supporting my husband. So this is exactly what I will be doing.
“The Marapes have five sons and a daughter, including a set of twins.
“I informed my children three weeks ago that this was expected to happen and the older ones accepted.
“But the younger children said they did not like the idea because that would mean not having to spend time with their father.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marapes-wife-vows-to-support-husband/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

New PNG leader 'taking back' economy, puts resources firms on notice

By Tom Westbrook, Jonathan Barrett, Sonali Paul - Reuters

SYDNEY/BRISBANE (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea’s new prime minister pledged on Thursday to “tweak and turn” laws governing how natural resources are extracted to help lift the vast South Pacific archipelago out of poverty.

James Marape, a former finance minister who became leader after winning a vote in parliament, put some of the world’s biggest resources companies on notice over a perceived lack of wealth flowing from their projects back to communities.

Marape, who hails from PNG’s poor but gas-rich highlands, had even quit the government in April after questioning a deal with France’s Total, which allows it, Oil Search Ltd and ExxonMobil Corp to begin work on a $13 billion plan to double gas exports.

He rode a wave of discontent over how taxes and royalties from a $19 billion Exxon-led LNG project were delayed and distributed, among other projects, into the top office.

“At the moment our resource laws are outdated ... we will look into maximizing gain from what God has given this country from our natural resources,” he said in his first address to parliament as prime minister.

“I have every right to tweak and turn resource laws for my country, then it will empower my citizens as well,” he told the chamber to cheers and applause.

“I truly want this country to be the richest black Christian nation on the planet,” he added.

Exxon said it looked forward to working with the new leadership. Oil Search said it did not comment on politics.

Total’s Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne told journalists on the sidelines of the company’s shareholders meeting in Paris on Wednesday evening that he would not comment on the political situation in Papua New Guinea.

“Our accord has been negotiated... the (former) prime minister very well defended the interest of his country during the discussions. It is a major project that would need some more work before it is launched,” Pouyanne said.

PNG also hosts significant gold mines operated by Newcrest Mining and, separately, Barrick Gold and Zijin Mining Group.

Newcrest, which runs the Lihir operation and is also developing one of the world’s largest untapped gold reserves in a joint venture with South Africa’s Harmony Gold, said it looked forward to working with Marape’s government.

POLITICAL DRAMA

Marape became prime minister after receiving 101 votes to eight in parliament, a day after Peter O’Neill resigned having lost the support of the house after almost eight years in power.

Political instability is not unusual in PNG, but Marape’s resignation from cabinet in April tapped into growing concern over governance and resource benefits not reaching the poor.

After losing the support of several high-profile colleagues, O’Neill quit last weekend but later said it was not a formal resignation as he waited for a court challenge designed to thwart a looming no-confidence vote he seemed sure to lose.

After losing control of parliament O’Neill formally resigned on Wednesday, but the political fight was not over.

Thursday’s parliamentary proceedings started late as last minute deals were brokered. O’Neill was unexpectedly re-nominated as a leadership candidate, only to withdraw again after a few minutes to throw his support behind Marape.

RESOURCE RICHES

After he was sworn in, Marape told a news conference he would focus on “taking back our economy” and proposed an overhaul of mining, forestry and fishing laws.

He said any changes to laws would not be retrospective.

“We are not here to break legally binding project agreements,” he told reporters when asked if he would consider reviewing the Exxon LNG deal.

But he added: “If we find any project agreement ... that has not fully complied with proscribed provisions of law, then we are open to reviewing and scrutinizing them.”

Santos Ltd, an Australian gas producer, said it did not expect project delays due to the leadership change in PNG.

“I don’t hear anybody talking about stopping or slowing down new developments,” said Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher, referring to the P’nyang gas agreement, a farm-in deal being negotiated to expand the Exxon-led project.

“It’s about getting the terms right. I think that’s fair enough. We just have to work through that process,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

PNG business leaders gave cautious support to Marape.

“I believe he is rational and seems to lean towards respecting and grandfathering current agreements,” said Isikeli Taureka, chairman of Kinabank and a former oil and gas executive at Chevron and InterOil, said in a text message.

The political uncertainty has knocked almost 6% from shares in Oil Search, an Australian partner in large LNG projects in PNG, since the challenge to O’Neill gained traction last week.

Oil Search shares climbed in early trade, but turned negative after Marape’s election to close down 0.3 percent in a broader market that also closed lower.

Many PNG residents listened and watched the political drama unfold on television, according to media reports, but were more sanguine about the outcome than politicians in the capital.

“I don’t know at the moment,” said Julie Sakol, a nurse at Mendi hospital in the highlands who watched Marape’s speech.

“They were a few good words, but after that, how he will actually proceed, we will wait and see,” she said.

Reporting by Tom Westbrook and Jonathan Barrett in SYDNEY and Sonali Paul in BRISBANE; Additional reporting by Melanie Burton and Bate Felix in PARIS; Writing by Jonathan Barrett.; Editing by Paul Tait, Darren Schuettler and Toby Chopra

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Go to this link for more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-papua-politics-parliament-idUSKCN1SZ30B

Who is James Marape, 8th PM of PNG?

BY STEFAN ARMBRUSTER - SBS NEWS

Papua New Guinea's parliament has elected former finance minister James Marape as the country's new prime minister. Here's a look at the new leader.

James Marape was elected yesterday as the eight prime minister of Papua New Guinea, but he was already a leader.

Mr Marape is a leader of the Huli people - one of the largest tribes in the country - and he defines his life by their ancient customary code.

Trust and loyalty are central to Huli culture in the turbulent PNG highlands and it was those factors he cited when resigning as finance minister from his predecessor Peter O’Neill’s government in April.

After serving Mr O’Neill loyally for seven years, he felt his policy advice was being ignored and he no longer had the faith or trust of his leader. So he quit.

The 49-year-old graduated from the University of PNG in 1993 with a Bachelor in Arts and honours in environmental science.

First entering parliament in 2007 as a National Alliance Party candidate, he was appointed a minister for education in then prime minister Sir Michael Somare’s government.

When Mr O’Neill deposed Sir Michael in 2011, Mr Marape joined the new prime minister's People’s National Congress (PNC) party and after the 2012 election was made finance minister.

During the tumultuous O’Neill government, he loyally served and was the confidante of his leader.

Together they faced down arrest warrants issued by the anti-corruption body Taskforce Sweep that the O’Neill government established and then abolished.

James Marape (fourth from left) and Huli wigmen.

Supplied

His election in 2012 was in the seat of Tari-Pori in a newly created province called Hela.

Carved out from the Southern Highlands Province, the home of the world-famous Huli wigmen, it inherited little infrastructure, poor roads, little electricity, and a broken health and education system.

Mr Marape promised to fix this for his Huli people using the expected millions in royalties from PNG’s first LNG project. But progress was much slower than expected.

A combination of the battered global economy and over-optimistic forecasts wiped out revenues and the windfall from LNG never eventuated.

Along with Mr O’Neill, as finance minister he was heavily criticised by the Ombudsman’s Commission over a $1.23billion loan scandal with Swiss bank USB with which PNG bought a stake in ASX-listed Oil Search and enabled the LNG project.

He was re-elected in 2017 in controversial circumstances.

Voting was beset by violence and election observers questioned the excess ballots to the number on the electoral roll in the seat.

He was reappointed finance minister in the O’Neill government.

When Mr Marape resigned in April this year, he blamed being excluded from negotiations by Mr O’Neill on an even bigger $16billion LNG project with resource companies Total, ExxonMobil and Oil Search.

His move came as the 18-month, post-election lock-out period for a parliamentary “vote of no confidence” (VONC) in the government was nearing.

It led to the defection of dozens of government MPs and Mr Marape quit the PNC and joined the Pangu Party.

Mr O’Neill’s leadership was never put to the test in parliament. He resigned as prime minister which then saw Mr Marape elected with the support of 101 of the 111 MPs.

In his maiden speech as prime minister, Mr Marape promised to review “outdated” resource and mining legislation, not to be pushed around by foreign corporations and ensure services were provided for his people with a fair share of revenues.

He concluded by stating his vision was for PNG to become “the richest, black, Christian nation on planet earth”.

Go to this link for more: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/who-is-james-marape-8th-pm-of-png

A CALL TO DRAIN THE WAIGANI SWAMP AND SWAMP-DWELLERS

By Sam Koim-Posted on Facebook Page

I join the rest of the country to CONGRATULATE YOU on your election as the 8th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

I’ll skip most of the pleasantries as I believe you have a bucket full of it by now. Please allow me to get straight to my message to you.

Prime Minister, you are taking the baton of leadership at a difficult time when our country is in a critical condition. The economic turmoil with fall in income and huge public debt, increasing law and order problems, and lack of basic services, are amongst the many development challenges we are facing. I believe you already know and have better plans to address them hence I do not wish to labour your time on it.

Prime Minister, your message to “Take Back PNG” and transform it to be the “Richest Black Christian Nation on Earth” brings so much hope and a sense of direction for the Country. I am one of those hopefuls, who, in the following passages, would like to put up some sign posts on the side so that you can achieve that goalpost for us all.

Like you, many before you had jubilantly entered this most coveted office with so much passion, vision and energy, but regrettably left without achieving much. They meant well and started well, but lost their path and got stuck in what I call “Waigani Swamp”.

May I take this opportunity to draw your fresh attention to the Waigani Swamp and swamp-dwellers that continue to undermine service delivery, sap energy, steal dreams, manufacture inertia and stifle development. That swamp is the “weak bureaucracy” which comprises of (a) Institutions (swamp) and (b) Public Servants (swamp-dwellers).

The bureaucracy is the fulcrum of the Government, for without it, nothing gets done. It is the lynchpin for the change that you envisage. It is the main driver of your new Government’s policies. It can propel you forward toward successes or bog you down in failure.

Unfortunately for you, Mr. Prime Minister, the bureaucracy that you are inheriting is sick hence weak and dysfunctional. The theme “Take Back PNG” is the clarion call we all share as it truly reflects the sick state of our bureaucracy and the need to restore it. It needs immediate treatment but not without proper diagnosis first. As medical practitioners would attest, it is a cardinal sin to offer treatment without first diagnosing the disease itself.

Curing the democratic deficits, augmenting regulatory fragilities, cutting-out red-tapes to restore institutional efficiency and agility, realigning policy and institutional coherence, and reinvigorating public servants’ sense of duty and improving their performance, are among the mammoth tasks ahead. It will require a pruning exercise. Pruning is always painful, but is always purposeful, for the health of our young democracy depends on it.

I am a strong advocate for institutional governance, for it is the institutions that run a country. Transient occupants of the office like yourself, those before and after you, are only drivers of this machinery of government. The driver’s role is to ensure that this machinery is well lubricated and in good running condition without tempering with the mechanical composition of it. Unfortunately, this machinery you’re inheriting is dysfunctional, inefficient and too weak to take you to the peak (“make PNG the richest black Christian nation on earth”) due to tempering and neglect by previous drivers since independence.

PNG needs powerful institutions; Not powerful individuals. We are a Country that must be ruled by law, not men. The ideal democracy should be one that is ruled by law, run by institutions and led by leaders. That is the robust democracy we should aspire to become.

Another major impediment to our development is of course, Corruption. There is growing public demand for establishing an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as a central anti-corruption agency. All eyes are on you whether you will complete the establishment of the ICAC from where it was left off by the previous government.

Whilst this may be an immediate action by popular demand, I have reservations for a quick fix to an endemic and rooted problem. In my experience and research of international literature, many ICAC (or ICAC like) institutions have failed whilst only a few have succeeded. Those experiences show that ICAC works well in a governance environment that is sound. In a weak governance environment such as ours where most of the existing integrity institutions are either weak or have collapsed, ICAC will become an added problem than a solution. Improve the existing institutions as I have proposed here to featherbed the creation of ICAC. Whilst more work is done on improving existing institutions and the establishment of ICAC, existing institutions can be enabled and coordinated to curtail the spread of corruption.

In the next few days, you will be deciding on who will run with you –your dream partners. Whilst you owe it to those who made you PM, my meaning of “dream partners” has more to do with competence than convenience. A coach who aims to win a game knows the ability of his players and positions them accordingly. I believe I am representing the silent majority to urge you to choose carefully. The pruning process can start with the selection of your dream partners.

The law guarantees you an uninterrupted balance of this term of Parliament to make decisive decisions and turn this country around. As you have experienced, our rather complex dynamics of convergence and divergence of governmental power gravitates around the seat you now occupy. I know there will be competing interests and unending temptations that comes with the territory that you have to constantly make judgement calls to balance with what is best for the country. The resolve is yours.

The task of draining the swamp (or curing it) may seem daunting and onerous for your short term, but it can also set the platform for another term if you perform well. Even if you do not return as Prime Minister after the next election, history will remember you for draining the swamp and rebuilding institutional governance. Remember, Goliath was too big to die, but he was also too big to miss a stone.

Our people have been promised before and are forever married to that hope, yet divorced from reality. Time and again, our people have been fed with political rhetoric but live in squalid conditions. They have been waiting and praying for service delivery, not knowing that the service delivery machinery was sick and in sick bed.

I believe that Corruption and bureaucracy are the two main development challenges that I would like to draw to your attention. Address these two issues and it will help you to effectively address other challenges. It is my hope that you will not join the former club of promisers, but stand out to trailblaze the delivery this Country has been earnestly seeking.

I believe you have acquired the experience to manage the politics, the knowledge for institutional governance and the heart to lead this Great Rich Black Christian Nation. May God grant you the Prime Ministerial wisdom.

Congratulations Again, Hon James Marape!

May God Bless PNG!

Sam Koim

Lady Marabe Steps into Focus

By Miriam Zarriga - Post Courier

She quietly sat in the public gallery and watched the events of May 30 unfold.

She did not know what was going to happen nor had she sat down her six children and spoken to them about what was about to happen.

Rachael Marape, the wife of Tari-Pori MP James Marape, at 11.16pm became the wife of the eighth prime minister of Papua New Guinea.

While the eyes of the country and the world watched, she quietly walked behind her husband, who was on his way to the Governor-General’s office to be sworn-in, and the country and the world had its first glance at the woman whose husband had been elected PM.

Mrs Marape comes from a parentage of East Sepik and Hela.

When asked on how she felt during the election and the subsequent swearing-in at the Governor-General’s office, she paused, gathered herself before saying that it was an emotional day and challenging to watch — especially everything that has happened till the election.

“I was just watching, getting emotional; I also felt for them (MPs), it is a challenge,” Mrs Marape said.

“I have always been in the background, supporting my husband, this is what I will still do — supporting him.

“What I have to do I will do, firstly I have a responsibility as a mother and a wife — that will not change.”

She said she is simpler and prefers to do things her way, not wanting anyone to do things for her.
“I don’t prefer anyone driving me around.

“Maybe I have to change. I’m not too sure, I’m not going to change most of my habits, but I will live a simple life and be a supportive wife.

“I will always be there doing whatever I can do for him.”

When asked on whether their six children had been told of what would happen and the changes that would come with it, Mrs Marape said the events of today (yesterday) were not explained to their children, especially the two younger children.

“No it just happened; I informed them three weeks ago when it didn’t happen. We didn’t inform them but the little ones have not agreed to the changes that may be faced while the bigger ones have accepted the changes,” Mrs Marape said.

“Especially the two little ones, they wanted more time with their daddy and I have told them that their daddy may not have more time with us.”

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/first-lady-rachael-steps-focus/?fbclid=IwAR1qUqwDTcesHPgzXcw0zLZVfnufRkBGV-cNDM5F3zyF_V6SWMO6tbw4y_g

A letter addressing to Prime Minister from National Doctors Association

By Dr. Sam Yockopua - Secretary, National Doctors Association

My dear Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape.

On behalf of the National Doctors Association of PNG (NDA), I congratulate you for being elected the 8th Prime Minister of PNG. Personally as your brother and Hela man, I pay respect to you wholeheartedly.

As you stated it loud and clear, we can easily transform PNG into a richest Christian black nation if you start by putting the right people into the various positions.

Only 3 messages:

1. Get the best MPs, mixture of young & energetic, old & wise to be your Ministers. Get people who know the ins and outs of the organization they would serve; for example, Sir Puka Temu or Dr Lino Tom for Ministry for Health. There are some colorful men out there in the Opposition camp, and there are others in the Government and backbenchers. You have that wisdom in you, and this is the right time to showcase it.

2. Reboot the Departments, Government Agencies and the Heads. Get people who know their jobs, those with ideas and energy. Those who will be able to produce results at a moment's notice. Get people who know the subject, trained, experienced and the passion. Highly specialized Departments like Health, Education, Agriculture, Fisheries, Foresty, etc NEED appropriately trained people. For example, Health Department NEEDS a medical or health background for the Health Secretary post. Similarly, an agriculture background for NARI, and so forth. Avoid nepotism and wantokism!

3. Promote the use of "third eye"; the whistleblowers, Facebook, Unions, hotline numbers, CCTV, and media freedom. Crucial information can be achieved from the "third eye", especially the hidden truths or deliberate lies, because you have been ready armed. In fear of being watched, caught or reported; productivity and honesty will prevail at work place at every level.

You need to create a functional system that you only need to supervise, which you rightly stated in your maiden speech as the musical orchestra. Just like an assembly line, that every system knows its functions, time, and the product. Once these are functional, the rest will ensue. Friends and wantok are ok, but as we know we cannot mix business with pleasure.

Best wishes sir.

Dr. Sam Yockopua, MB.BS, DA, MMed(EM)
Secretary, National Doctors Association
31st May 2019

My message to Prime Minister, James Marape

By Scott Waide - My Land, My Country

As the new Prime Minister, you  have your  work cut out for you. You have to try to get a lot of it done within two years before the 2022 elections.

That’s a big job.

Do what is right by the people.  Listen to their voices through social media. Not all of it is fake news.  Take counsel from those who disagree with you, publicly and privately, in the interest of your 10 million people.  Be brave enough to listen to the criticisms and find the threads of truth in them.

Be truthful about the state of Papua New Guinea’s health system.  The people of Papua New Guinea deserve a Government that tells the truth. There is a severe shortage of medicine.  Puka Temu did a bad job and  he did not admit to it as Health Minister.  Many of our aid posts are closed and our hospitals don’t have medicine.  Yet the media is accused of ‘being political’ when we highlight  these ‘open secrets.’

Be truthful about the Tuition Fee Free Education (TFF).  It’s not working for us. Our schools don’t get the money on time.  If we have to pay for school fees, tell that to the people straight as it is.  Papua New Guineans are resilient and hard working.  They do not deserve to be lied to.

Please appoint an education minister who will find out why teachers continue to have their pays cut when they do not have outstanding loans.

Remove the companies that are benefiting from the cumbersome procurement processed in the health and education at the expense of our people.  Investigate and prosecute the kaikaiman and kaikaimeri who suck the systems dry.  Send them to jail.

Provide housing for our people.

Fix the National Housing Corporation. It is a hub of corruption that has existed for decades.  Papua New Guineans deserve affordable housing not unaffordable rentals meant  for fly-in-fly-out company executives.  They deserve a government that has the guts to dump  the garbage and restore integrity.

Lower the taxes. Our people are suffering. Tax the companies that enjoy tax holidays.

Reduce internet costs. If we are going to empower our millennials, make it easy for them to be independent of their parents. Make it possible for them to own their own homes by providing the means for them to make money from tools they grew up with.

They deserve a government that is  able to stand up for them  and not kowtow to foreign interests.

We have agreed, as a government, add to the miseries of other human beings by keeping them in a prison camp on Manus in exchange for aid.  We cannot continue with that shameful legacy.

Don’t persecute the media. Don’t threaten journalists.  It doesn’t do much for your credibility.

There’s a lot to be said and not enough time and space.

One final thing:  For goodness sake, sell the Maseratis. Get back our money.  It was of no benefit to us in the first place. You were part of a government  that bought them during APEC. Please do the right thing by the people and get rid of them.

Go to this link for more: https://mylandmycountry.wordpress.com/2019/05/31/my-message-to-prime-minister-james-marape/?fbclid=IwAR18qvocrQSlY8f5-CgLNvPrVNr7JY1S_o28h_7FQ8C_Z2P1ZziSPIDQO