Achieved: The significant objective of removing O’Neill

By FRANCIS NII - PNG Attitude 

KUNDIAWA - The political tussle in Papua New Guinea has at last reached its climax with the son of Tari Pori James Mara prevailing as the country’s new prime minister.

From yesterday, the new prime minister has been busy deciding his new ministry and his action priorities for getting government business going.

Although the game has been long and tough, and full of many twists and turns with some tactics deemed unethical, the ultimate goal has been achieved - the removal of prime minister Peter O’Neill.

The 24 members of the opposition team under the leadership of Patrick Pruaitch had embarked on a mission to fight the corruption eating into the fabric of the society.

They wanted a new prime minister but had no idea how that might happen and who it would be.

It was a wild chase but they never wavered in their determination to remove O’Neill. They stayed focussed and got there.

In their campaign, they called upon members of the People’s National Congress – the main coalition partner in the O’Neill government - to pull out, join the opposition and form a new government with a new prime minister.

They campaigned aggressively with repeated calls but it took a long time for a prominent person within government ranks to have the foresight and courage to break ranks.

Finally James Marape took the gamble and defected to the opposition taking with him 11 members of the government.

Marape, was no ordinary member of parliament but a senior minister and one of the corner posts of the O’Neill hausman.

It was not long after he defected that the government crumbled and eventually collapsed – with O’Neill resigning and Marape easily winning the top job.

It is fitting that Marape got the post and he deserves it. Without his decisive defection, the ambition of the opposition would not have come to fruition. He made the right decision and so did those members who accompanied him.

Commendation should also be accorded to Patrick Pruaitch, Bryan Kramer, Gary Juffa, Allan Bird, Kerenga Kua, Ian Ling Stuckey and others. They should be proud of themselves and hold their heads high for bringing O’Neill down.

The end result may have not turned out exactly as many expected but at least O’Neill has been removed from the post of prime minister and this was also a people’s revolution due to the massive campaign to remove O’Neill by Facebook users.

This change shows just how social media has assumed a position where it can change the political landscape of PNG.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/06/achieved-the-significant-objective-of-removing-oneill.html

Marape win a ‘political tsunami’

By JEFFREY ELAPA - The National

TARI Pori Member of Parliament (MP) James Marape’s election in the 111-member Parliament as Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s 8th prime minister on Thursday was nothing short of a “political tsunami” of sorts.
Excluding the Speaker Job Pomat, only eight MPs voted against Marape with one abstaining. Marape received the support of 101 MPs.
The seven MPs who voted for former premier and Moresby North West MP Sir Mekere Morauta were James Donald (North Fly), Gary Juffa (Northern Provincial), Kerenga Kua (Sinasina-Yongomugl), Dr Allan Marat (Rabaul), Belden Namah (Vanimo Green Open), Peter Numu (Eastern Highlands Provincial) and Ian Ling-Stuckey (Kavieng).
Madang MP Bryan Kramer abstained from voting.
After Pomat adjourned Parliament session to June 5, Marape took a well-deserved breather in the afternoon teeing at the greens.
After all, Marape and all MPs had been locked in five weeks of political horse trading, holed up in two camps – the Opposition MPs in Laguna Hotel and the Government in Crown Hotel.
Papua New Guineans were kept at the edge and in suspense in the run-up to the election of the prime minister, with MPs switching from one camp to the other and back again.
In the election on Thursday, when Pomat called for the MPs to nominate candidates for the premiership, the Government camp nominated Marape.
The Opposition responded with an unprecedented move by nominating Peter O’Neill (Ialibu-Pangia), who resigned as premier on Wednesday.
The shocking nomination was made by Opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch and seconded by Namah. O’Neill accepted the nomination.
But Marat threw the spanner in the works of the Opposition by nominating Morauta.
O’Neill then responded by informing the House and Pomat: “… I thought the Opposition did not have a candidate … I will withdraw my nomination.”
That paved the way for a straight fight for the Chief Executive of PNG with Marape’s 101 to eight-vote mauling of Morauta.
No one doubts Marape will have his hands full in trying to steer PNG into a peaceful and prosperous developed nation for Papua New Guineans.
And, time is not in his side as PNG would be in general election mode from mid-2021 to 2022.
That means Marape will have only about two years to make his government programmes and policies positively impact the people.
He is expected to unleash a reformist economic agenda to transform PNG into a fast growing economy, focusing on implementing fiscal measures and policies to spur the agriculture and mineral resources sectors to benefit some 8.4 million people – some 85 per cent of them who are still dependent on agriculture.
Marape was not only a strong critic of the K43 billion Papua LNG project, he resigned as Finance Minister to protest the deal inked by the O’Neil Government.
He had in April questioned an agreement with French oil company Total that allows Total, Oil Search Ltd and ExxonMobil Corp to begin work on Papua LNG.
In his maiden premier address in Parliament, Marape said he would focus on “taking back our economy” and proposed an overhaul of mining, forestry and fishing laws.
“We will look into maximising gain from what God has given this country from our natural resources. I have every right to tweak and turn resource laws for my country, then it will empower my citizens as well,” he said in his speech amid cheers and applause from MPs.
Marape told reporters in a press conference: “We are not here to break legally binding project agreements. If we find any project agreement … that has not fully complied with prescribed provisions of law, then we are open to reviewing and scrutinising them.
“We are not about breaking laws. We are about honouring existing laws.”
Reuters had quoted Isikeli Taureka, chairman of Kina Bank and a former oil and gas executive at Chevron and InterOil, in a text statement: “He (Marape) was finance minister so (he) understands need for clarity and stability in policies.
“I believe he is rational and seems to lean towards respecting and grandfathering current agreements.”
On agriculture, Marape said that engaging in downstream food processing and manufacturing activities were the way forward to benefit farmers.
In an exclusive interview with The National in mid-May, Marape said he supported the US$600 million (K2.03 billion) PNG-China Integrated Agriculture Park Project if it followed “proper economic rationale” and there is “a return on our investments”.
The parks, to be located at Korofeigu in Eastern Highlands and Highlands’ Agriculture Training Institute (HATI) in Western Highlands, will be funded under China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI).
“I (only) have issues when there are no direct returns on investments to our country,” he added.
With the global economy getting ever sluggish by the day, fuelled by the seemingly unabated US-China trade war, it is indeed going to be a tall, challenging and daunting task for Marape to transform PNG into a vibrant economy for Papua New Guineans.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-win-a-political-tsunami/

The Bad Gas Deal That Brought Down A Prime Minister

By Tim Daiss - Oilprize.com

Embattled Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O’Neil resigned on Wednesday, putting the country’s LNG development and a preliminary deal with French oil and gas major Total in doubt. O'Neill drew criticism for his deal worth $13 billion with Total and U.S. oil major ExxonMobil to extract, pipe and ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) overseas from the South Pacific country.  After the signing of the deal, O'Neill's government narrowly avoided a no-confidence vote by adjourning parliament for nearly a month. However, on Sunday he announced that he would resign after the PNG Supreme Court refused to hear the case immediately.

The preliminary deal would allow initial work to start on the project that would double the country’s LNG export capacity. Total’s partner Oil Search said the deal would allow the partners to start engineering and design work for a project to be called Papua LNG.

Total and its partners are set to make a final investment decision (FID) in 2020, targeting first production in 2024, according to an Oil Search release. The preliminary deal came as PNG pushes to not fall behind other major LNG producers that continue to ramp up production, including Australia which recently overtook Qatar, with a liquefaction capacity of 80 mtpa, to become the top global LNG leader. Papua New Guinea has to compete with important players such as the U.S., Canada, Mozambique and Qatar - which has a liquefaction capacity of 77 mtpa, and aims to increase that capacity to a whopping 110 mtpa by developing more gas resources at its prolific north field as well a building more LNG production infrastructure.

According to Total, the Papua LNG project would have a name plate liquefaction capacity of 5.4 mtpa and consist of two LNG trains of 2.7 each. It would unlock more than 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of natural gas resources. Exxon Mobil, furthering its new commitment to go long on LNG development, also planned to add a third train at PNG LNG, to be fed with gas from its existing fields and a new field later.

New beginnings

After the deal was reached in April, PNG Finance minister James Marape was the first PNG senior cabinet official to resign in protest, claiming the money would not go to ordinary Papua New Guineans, local firms or the regions. A similar deal in the last decade has failed to bring wealth to the impoverished South Pacific country where around 70 percent of people do not have access to reliable electricity. In the past, however, amid protests over gas deals, it appears that both Total and ExxonMobil should have learned to exercise more due diligence to ensure not only a fair deal but to also implement a public relations strategy to get the Papuans behind the project.

On Thursday, the PNG parliament appointed former Finance Minister James Marape as its new prime minister. In his speech after his election on Thursday, Marape said he would make fixing the economy, which he described as “bleeding and struggling”, his priority and issued a warning to foreign companies working in PNG. “We will look to maximizing gain from what God has given this country from our natural resources. This government is all about putting our country in the right place and taking back our economy … We don’t need foreigners to come in to take advantage of our forestry,” he said. Experts claim O'Neill's resignation and the political turbulence in PNG could delay or even put an end to resource projects that many claim have benefited only Port Moresby and the country's connected elite.

Go to this link for more: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-Bad-Gas-Deal-That-Brought-Down-A-Prime-Minister.html

Council wants separate department for religion

Posted on The National

THE Council of Churches has urged Prime Minister James Marape to consider having a separate department for religion.
General secretary Rev Roger Joseph in a statement said having religion as a standalone entity would justify the preamble of the constitution which declared PNG as a Christian country.
Joseph said Marape’s strong Christian background gave the churches the confidence to trust his leadership.
“We also trust that his fear and reverence for God will help maintain justice for all, respect for the rights of all, and ensure integrity for our environment which is a very source of our survival and livelihood,” Rogers said.
“We want to assure the Marape Government of the same continued and ongoing prayer and moral obligation to ensure God’s divine leadership, wisdom, and intelligence is sought to enable his leadership.”
Rogers also thanked former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for his leadership over the past eight years.
“We pay tribute to the Alotau Accord during which the decision for religion to come under the Department of Community Development was made,” Rogers said.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops of PNG is urging the new government to work collectively in making good laws and delivering basic services that will benefit the people.
The Bishops mentioned several issues that needed the attention of the government to help develop the country.
One of them is to improve basic service delivery in rural and urban areas in improving public service, education for children and medicine in health centres, roads and agriculture.
Improving jobs opportunities, entertainment and sports facilities will also help to reduce negative behaviour among youths and reduce social issues in communities, the organisation said in a statement.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/council-wants-separate-department-for-religion/

Marape to appoint full Cabinet this week

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape is expected to appoint a full Cabinet this week consisting of MPs who “can share the vision with me, those who believe we can do it”.
“I have a band of like-minded leaders sitting on both sides of Parliament and we are driving an agenda to grow the economy in a safe, secured, and educated country where all citizens are making a honest productive living and all have equal opportunities as our constitution in 1975 envisage,” he said.
He appointed a caretaker cabinet on Friday to run the show until he announces a full Cabinet.
They are:

• Tari-Pori MP James Marape (Pangu) – Public Service, Public Enterprises and State Investments;
• Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim (Pangu) – Foreign Affairs, Defence, Commerce and Industry, Civil Aviation, Fisheries and Forest;
• Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru (PNC) – Finance, Petroleum and Energy, Inter-Government Relations and Community Development;
• Bulolo MP Sam Basil (MAP) – National Planning, Health, Housing, Communication and Information Technology and Higher Education;
• Kainantu MP Johnson Tuke (PPP) – Mining, Transport, Culture and Tourism, Correctional Services and Environment, Conservation and Climate Change;
• Esa’ala MP Davis Steven (PP) – Justice and Attorney-General, Labour and Industrial Relations, Agriculture and Livestock, Lands and Physical Planning;
• Mendi MP Michael Nali (PNC) – Works, Bougainville Affairs, Immigration and Border Security; and,
• Alotau MP Charles Abel (ODP) – Treasury, Education and Police.

They were sworn in by the Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae at Government House.
“I will fill in ministers (full cabinet) I assess can work in key sectors for productivity and not just for political convenience,” he said.
“There will be a healthy mix in my cabinet for good performance based on talents and experiences.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-to-appoint-full-cabinet-this-week/

Department head urges officers to implement plans

Posted on The National

FOREIGN Affairs secretary Barbara Age urged officers from her department to implement the plans and programmes in the corporate plan 2018-2023.
Speaking on behalf of former minister Rimbink Pato at the launching of the plan on Friday, Age said it was an important task.
“I consider this as a very important outcome product and I thank the minister and all those involved in putting together the documents in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including key government agencies and the private sector.
“Our next task is to implement the plans and programmes for action from today until the end of 2023 and ask ourselves what positive difference we can make in promoting our foreign policy.”
Age said the launching of the corporate plan 2018-23 at this time of the year marked yet another excellent outcome by the department in implementing a decision by the government on the foreign policy review report 2017.
She said guided by the experiences from the first corporate plan, and supported by the required level of financial resources provided by the national government through the annual budgetary processes, she was convinced that with the monetary resources support the department would give priority to effectively manage the institutions and human resources both at headquarters and abroad.
“In doing so, we will be able to realise the outcomes on the plans and programmes as well advance PNG’s interest abroad. More so we must commence and where progress, work on some of these important policies and institutional development-related programmes for action under the corporate plan.”
Age said the theme of the corporate plan and programmes for action PNG connecting for peace and prosperity in a changing world was very strategic.
“It clearly signals the internal commitment by our government to advance cooperation arrangements we have with all our global partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
“I am convinced and expect the department to give priority to action many of these plans and programmes in the strategic objective relating to institutional strengthening, modernisation and operational process is imperative.
“I encourage the department to actively pursue arrangements to improve the welfare of the Foreign Service officers and their families on housing needs.”
The event was attended by heads of departments and government agencies including, Agriculture and Livestock, Labour and Industrial Relations, Provincial Affairs, Health, Education, Science, research and technology, Defence, Department of Personnel Management and Religion, Youth and Community Development

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/department-head-urges-officers-to-implement-plans/

Namah Responds To Kramer On His Misleading Statement

By Belden Namah Vanimo-Green MP

  Kramer's report is inaccurate, misleading and baseless. I say this for the following reasons;

1) I have never heard or seen Bryan lobbying for Marape.

2) his numbers don’t add up. The reason being; not all 67 MPs in Laguna voted when the secret ballot was conducted on Tuesday morning. Both Puraitch and Marape were excused from the room and both never took part in voting. Only 65 of us voted minus Puraitch and Marape. The results as we all know was: Puraitch 37 and Marape 28 and not as recorded by Bryan, Puraitch 39 and Marape 28.

3) Bryan never knew anything about Marape’s next moves after the results of the secret ballot on Tuesday morning.

4) he had no idea whatsoever about ‘The Angoram Manoeuvre’ as we call it now, defused a major political move and saved the day for Marape to be elected PM.

5) imagine the final outcome of the election of PM if PO was still in contention and if he didn’t withdraw his acceptance of the nomination.

Bryan never read Marape’s next plan of moves after the parliament adjourned on Tuesday and Marape’s subsequent meeting with PO at 4am on Wednesday morning.

Even on Wednesday’s parliament session, Bryan was all confident that our Laguna 67 was still intact. He had no idea whatsoever about what was actually happening when Marape changed his sitting on the floor of parliament that morning. He never knew that numbers had already shifted. Bryan is and was politically too dumb to read the serious political manoeuvring and undercurrents that was taking place.

That’s why you could hear him screaming on Wednesday’s parliament session, ‘yupela traim kolim disen na bai yumi testim namba.’ He had no idea whatsoever that numbers had already shifted.

He was actually dumb founded when Marape and his team crossed the floor and left with Crown Team after the adjournment of parliament on Wednesday.

His assertion that we were trying to block Marape from being elected as PM is totally untrue and misleading.

We actually exposed what was happening within their 76 Crown Team who made Marape believed that he had secured the support of 76 MPs when in fact he didn’t. The acceptance of PO’s nomination by Opposition Leader and Seconded by myself is the testimony and record prove.

In actual fact ‘The Angoram Manoeuvre’ defused a major political move and saved the day for Marape to be elected PM.

Bryan only bolted to Grand Papua and later to Crown following Marape and his team just to make up this inaccurate, misleading and baseless story and also for his own political survival.

Bryan in my view is very dangerous to our nation’s sovereignty.

PM: Play by the rules

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape has warned there will be no room for shady deals in the awarding of state contracts, telling bidders and public servants to “play by the rules”.
He said in a statement those who wanted to offer inducement to him, his cabinet ministers and public servants through offers in favour of government contracts, should forget it.
He expects “nothing in return for awarding state contracts”.
“All we expect is (for companies to) do your fair bidding with (the) right price. And get your job done,” Marape said
“I will instruct the new justice minister to bring (to Parliament for approval the) Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC Bill), in the first instance. So let us all play by the rules going forward.”
He advised contractors to “earn your money to limit as per the work scope”, and public servants and politicians to “earn your salary and don’t ask for special favors”.
“It must start now if it hasn’t started yet,” he said in a statement.
“I will ask the National Procurement Commission to polish the contract ceilings where contracts under K10million are strictly for citizens and local companies. Contracts above that threshold to have local partnership involvement also.”
In a message to companies in the country’s resource sector, he said “I am not here to chase you away but to work with you so that we can add value to the benefits that emanates from the harvest of our natural endowment”.
Marape plans to meet officials from key resources sector who he wants to advise him on how to develop the economy.
“I look forward to your interventions and I have a fresh team of PNG advisers looking into all our resource laws,” he said.
He is also putting everyone “on notice” that laws would be tailored for implementation in 2025 “when the country moves past 50 years of independence”.
“Presently all projects agreements that are in compliance and congruent to all our laws will be honored,” he said.
“We are here to protect our genuine foreign investors who can respect our laws.”
He plans to look into the civil service “to ensure those leading them or working in the rank and file have a belief that they will meaningfully contribute to making Papua New Guinea a truly wealthy country as it supposed to be, where quality health, quality education and quality infrastructure and effective law and order system secure our country”.
Marape said the caretaker cabinet he had come up with was to “appreciate the political structure the government has”.
“But this week I will fill in ministers I assessed that can work in key sectors for productivity and not just for politics convenience,” Marape said.
He urged all citizens including those in his Hela province to stop tribal fights, killings, corruption at all levels and “honor time by being punctual, do little things like stop littering and spitting the red stain of betel nuts”.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-play-by-the-rules/

Prime Minister Marape to address the Nation this week

Posted on PNG Today

Prime Minister James Marape is adamant of transforming Papua New Guinea into a what he has termed as, "richest black Christian nation"within the next decade.

Marape acknowledge in a facebook post that he has made a huge commitment and he intends to make this a reality.

The Prime Minister is anticipated to spell out clearly as to how his government intends to do this when he delivers an expected state of nation address to the country which will be broadcast on radio and television mid this week.

Amongst many issues, Mr Marape is banking on PNG's natural resources to drive this initiative.

The Prime Minister has also made it clear that National Procurement Commission will be polished up to ensure that contracts under ten million kina are strictly for citizen and local companies and contracts above that threshold to have local partnership involvement also.

Mr Marape said for the local Small to Medium Enterprises and contractors, there will be a special incentive plan, given that they tidy their company books, pay honest tax and if they want to go the next phase of their business, the Government will inject very soft term loans possibly 5% repayment rate over a 40 year period.

Date and timing of the Nation Wide Address event is yet to be confirm from the Prime Minister's Office.

Go to this link for more: https://news.pngfacts.com/2019/06/prime-minister-marape-to-address-nation.html?fbclid=IwAR2_LS3621qImGniE8H-5ODBV0OJeJ4o6ra5W-ldtr-lgFUmQNk6yhmwFtw

Promoting women in ICT in PNG

Posted on The National

Kina Bank discusses with Lena Korugl and Zeenith Nonggorr, two senior project managers at the bank who have the skills to combine banking and finance with ICT, how they have managed to come this far.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is male-dominated.
One of the reasons this day is celebrated is to promote and encourage more women to consider studying Maths, Engineering, Computing and Science.
These are the skills in demand for digital transformation, and there is a growing gap between the digital skills needed by employers. To celebrate Girls ICT Day, Kina Bank discusses with Lena Korugl and Zeenith Nonggorr, two senior bank employees, how they have managed to come this far.
At Kina Bank, Korugl and Nonggorr are a reflection of this talent base. Korugl was the first female Computer Science graduate in Papua New Guinea.
Nonggorr received the University of PNG Vice-Chancellor Academic Excellence Award in 2004.
Both are senior project managers at the bank having skills to combine banking and finance with ICT.

Kina: Did you receive the Vice-Chancellor Academic Excellence Award while studying Computer Science at UPNG?
Nonggorr: Yes. I chose Computer Science because I was interested in working with computers but I didn’t know exactly what area in information and communication technology.
By the second year, I was more interested in IT, working with people and how ICT can add value to the way they work.
An example of how ICT can add value to the way people work is in process improvement. The payment of the EsiLoan loan process was too lengthy to meet our 24-hour processing time value proposition.
I worked with the team to understand the way the process currently worked and the preferred future state.
I then took the requirements to ICT team and had changes made to accommodate the future state.
Today, the EsiLoan team is able to payout approved EsiLoan loan’s processes within a 24-hour timeframe.

What was it like knowing you were the first female to graduate from the PNG University of Technology?
Korugl: When I graduated, it did not cross my mind at all that I was the first female.
I was just glad to get a degree in a new field that would give me an edge in finding employment.
Now, when I look back, I am pleased with the decision I made in taking Computer Science as it has opened doors of opportunities for me throughout my professional career.

Tell us about accomplishments and professional background.
Nonggorr: In November, it will be my ninth year with Kina Bank. I’ve grown with the bank and seen changes.
I initially started within the IT department as a business analyst and worked on different IT projects including implementing the finance and human resource systems, and an integrated workflow and document management system.
The IT team back then was small, less than 10 people.
This empowered the team to be multi-skilled and develop a strong foundation on our ICT management capabilities.
The biggest accomplishment for me was being the project manager of the IT fit-out of Kina Bank’s Vision City branch.
As this was Kina Bank’s first official branch and it meant a lot to everyone involved, as it solidified the change from Kina Securities to Kina Bank. It was a privilege to be part of Kina Bank’s history which makes it very memorable – something I will always have with me.

Korugl: It has been 22 years since I graduated.
I have been working in the Information and Communication Technology field for over 21 years.
The journey has not been easy, especially as a female contesting with male counterparts in roles usually only taken up by men.
I started from fixing computers as a graduate to managing an IT department in a large organisation.
I have worked in various industries, in different roles that have been very challenging.
This has helped build my professional career as a technical expert with sound knowledge around businesses and corporations.
This was a stepping stone for me as I pursued and acquired an MBA.

How does your background in IT give you an advantage when working on transformation projects within Kina Bank?
Korugl: It is a great opportunity to use my expertise here at Kina Bank.
We are going through a major transformation at the moment after we announced the acquisition of ANZ’s retail, SME and commercial businesses in June last year.
Automation is key in achieving efficiency and at Kina Bank we have the opportunity to automate processes and deliver digital products and services to our customers that can set us apart from other banks.
This can be achieved by harnessing and leveraging the technology infrastructure and systems that we have at Kina Bank or by using any emerging technology solutions.
These will give Kina Bank an advantage in delivering secure digital services and products to customers, locally and internationally, with confidence.
I find this is an opportune time for me to lead the technological transformations and change happening here at Kina Bank and be a part of a larger team to ensure a smooth transition for ANZ customers and staff.
Nonggorr: There are two key aspects that provide the advantage. ICT in general is a driver for change, and I recognise that ICT skilled employees are well placed in roles to contribute – despite gender.
Having analytical skills, it’s a continuous search to look for better efficiencies and better ways to manage risk for the bank.
I’ve had the amazing opportunity to grow with different stages of the business, being part of knowledge transfer, interactions with different people, experts and coaches.
This comes with my roles as a business analyst and now as a senior project manager.
From experience, my business analyst skills gave me the end-to-end view of different Integration projects which is the key advantage.
Being part of the journey for nine years, Kina Bank has given me endless opportunities to develop and grow.
I understand the history and culture of the organisation.
This provides me with a sense of pride and loyalty, a sense of ownership.
I have a personal ambition in seeing transformation within the bank – this I believe is my advantage.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/promoting-women-in-ict/

PNG Interim Cabinet Ministers announced

By PNG Today

Prime Minister elect, James Marape has announced his 7  member interim cabinet.

1. Charles Abel  - Treasure, Police and Education
2. Michael Nali - Works , Bougainville Affairs and Immigration and Border Security
3. Steven Davis -  Justice, Labour and Industrial Relations, Agriculture  and Livestock,  Lands and Physical Planning
4. Johnson Tuke -  Mining, Transport, Toursim Arts and Culture, Correctional Services, Environment Conservation and Climate Change
5. Sam Basil - National Planning, Health, Housing, Communication and IT, Higher Education
6. Richard Maru - Finance, Petroleum and Energy, Inter-Government Relations and Community Devleopment

7. Solan Mirisim - Foreign Affaris, Defence, Commerce and Industry, Civil Aviation, Fisheris and Forestry,

Prime Minister James Marape  heads Public Service, Public Enterprise and State Investments.

The  care taker ministers were sworn in after 3pm today.

Meanwhile, Alotau MP, Charles Abel  has resigned from People's National Congress Party and joined Sir Puka Temu’s Our Development Party.

Go to this link for more: https://news.pngfacts.com/2019/05/png-interim-cabinet-ministers-announced.html?fbclid=IwAR2c535w7EICsBedOD04ew4HAuVOi3qMdSHhREEWQ7cvVY5812sAjCJUn5s

UPNG Hela Students Congratulating Prime Minister James Marabe

By Hangupe Jack Yulupa - Student Repreentive

On behalf of the 200 plus Hela Students in Premier University of Papua New Guinea, we would like to congratulate you on your appointment as 8th Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

You as the Hela Son being elected as Prime Minister of this Beautiful Nation is our pride, our honour and great achievement of our newly granted Hela Province. You and your team have fought the best fight for Our Land, Our Resources, Our Population and Our Country – purposely to change Papua New Guinea into “Richest Black Christian Nation”.

Our moral supports and prayers are with you as you work harder to achieve your aims and objectives for this nation. We will always available to step in as a student to contribute towards your intention. Hand in hand, we will work together for the betterment of our communities, province and country as a whole.

We wish you the best wishes as you execute the leadership role of Prime Minister to change the status que of this nation and eventually to bring on the good image of this nation that you want it to be.

May the Good LORD above will continue to bless your family, your leadership and inspire you with powerful wisdoms to make the accurate decisions for the best interest of the people of this nation.

Thank you
Regards – UPNG Hela Students

Hela Students Studying in China Congratulate James Marabe

By Yupi Henry - Student Representive

On behalf of the Hela students studying in China and around the world, wishes to congratulate you, Rt. Hon. James Marape, CMG. MP., the 8th Prime Minster of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
We are proud to see that you have gone to the top of Papua New Guinea’s top political structure, where on seven people have reached. We are pleased to say that you have created history for our new province. In doing so, you have changed the negative image about Hela. You have proved negative thinkers wrong when you have rose to the top. We are grateful to say that you have given us, Hela, hope that we can achieve that which seem is impossible. 

Your achievement has not only made us proud but also challenged us as young people to aim high and work together toward achieving it. We embrace your saying, “let no older man tell you, you can’t do anything or fight for your rights’’. You have proved it and we are encouraged and empowered by your words, Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape. 

We know that our educated elites across the country will pay an important role to support you in this leadership. We also pledge to support you in whatever ways we can in different fields of study to bring our country forward.

We pray that the good Lord in heaven will continue to guide and lead you as he always does and did over the years, so that you can achieve the slogan “To take PNG back and make it the rich black Christian nation in the world”.

Again congratulation Prime Minister!

Newly elected Prime Minister addressing his people

By Hon. James Marabe Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Good morning all friends out there, a new week has started and I am set for the bigger and greater challenges that lays ahead in terms of changing the course our country must travel on for better development for our people.

But firstly let me thank a host of many friends, families, and citizens of this country who supported one way or another, especially the many Christian prayer warriors, there were many ugly political currents at play even down to the very last minute but God of the Universe , God Yahweh made it possible and for that let me say thank you to many Christians of all denominations who not necessarily prayed for me but the need for safe country, God’s will to prevail and for our country to grow greater.

Former PM’s resignation, my election and all associated events took place under God’s watch hence I am greatly burdened to ensure the right thing is done for all of PNG’s citizens.

I have made huge commitments to our nation and none can be greater then to say that in ten years time this country must be the Richest Black Christian Nation. And that is because we have all the natural endowments; gold, copper, iron, coal, gas, oil, nickle, timber, tuna and fish, agriculture, tourism and culture, biomedicine and research, water, fresh unpolluted air and more in a nation of under 8 million people in a big land mass.

I have a band of like minded leaders sitting on both sides of the National Parliament and we are driving an agenda to grow the economy in a safe, secured, and educated country where all citizens are making honest productive living and all have equal opportunities as our constitution in 1975 envisage.

I will be tapping into these talents soon to get a line up of full cabinet with ministers who can share the vision with me, those who believe we can do it. I did a caretaker arrangement to appreciate the political structure we had as we took vote but this week I will fill in Ministers I assessed that can work in key sectors for productivity and not just for politics convenience. There will be a healthy mix in my cabinet for good performance based on talents and experiences and our development intend.

I will also be checking out our public service to ensure those leading them or working in the rank and file have a believe that they will meaningfully contribute to making our home, Papua New Guinea, a truly wealthy country as it supposed to be, where quality health, quality education and quality infrastructure and effective law and order system secured our country.

To our contractors of State, you have now, a Prime Minister, who expects nothing in return for giving state contracts. All we expect is do your fair bidding with right price and get your job done. Don’t offer inducement to me or any ministers or public servants from procurement offers and every other officers in the chain of procurement and contract management. I will instruct the new justice minister to bring Independent Commission Against Corruption ( ICAC), in the first instance so let us all play by the rules now going forward.

Contractors earn your money to limit as per work scope. Public servants and politicians earn your salary and don’t ask for special favors. It must start now if it hasn’t started yet! I will ask National Procurement Commission (NPC) to polish the contract ceilings where contracts under K10million are strictly for citizen and local companies and contracts above that threshold to have local partnership involvement also.

To local SME and contractors, we have a special incentive plan for you in this mid level, tidy your company books, pay your honest tax and if you want to go the next phase of your business, we will inject very soft term loans ( possibly 5% repayment rate over 40 year period). Tidy your books, including your taxes, prepare to be part of our program to resuscitate our businessmen and women.

To multi national companies who operate in our resources sectors, I am not here to chase you away but to work with you so that we can add value to the benefits that emanates from the harvest of our natural endowment. I will be meeting with key resources sector and I request you all to assist me as to how we must grow my Papua New Guinea economy.

I look forward to your interventions and I have a fresh team of PNG advisors looking into all our resource laws and I am putting you all on notice that laws will be tailored for implementation when our country moves past 50 years of independence in 2025. Presently all projects agreements that are in compliance and congruent to all our laws will be honored.

We are here to protect our genuine foreign investors who can respect our laws as it is now and our intend of policy and legal regime shift into the future.

To all young educated PNG citizens, I will be asking few of our leaders including myself on your views about Taking Back PNG (with GJ approval) to interface and pick your thoughts. Keep a look out on this space on forums we will organize for your voices to be heard. I don’t buy into outside advisors, we have in the intelligent and experience pool in country, let us mobilize into cohesive units.

To all our citizens, we are prepared to work, can I ask of one thing? Give me a good law and order environment, stop crime, stop tribal fights (my Hela please), stop torture of mothers and daughters, stop corruption at all levels, honor time by being punctual, do little things like stop littering and spitting the red stain of betel nuts,.

Let’s us all contribute, I am willing to make few hard calls going forward as the chief servant of my country, Papua New Guinea, please join me all citizens including businesses.

Keep a look out in this space as from time to time I will communicate with the nation using this medium. Please forgive me if I don’t reply as you all will outnumber me but at least you read my thoughts.

This Wednesday I will have a State of Nation Address on Radio and TV on some of these points plus others but for now you can see where my mind is and those of you who want to work with me please align here or offer me better solution to make PNG the Richest Black Christian Nation on earth, where no child in all part of our country is left behind.

God Bless Papua New Guinea!

Honourable James Marape, MP, Hulukumaiya
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

WHY I WAS ABSENT FROM PARLIAMENT - Part 1 of 2

By Bryan Kramer MP - Posted on Facebook

Following the election of James Marape as the 8th Prime Minister, there has been numerous articles posted on social media asking the question why I was absent and abstained from voting.

Last Wednesday, the former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced his resignation. Soon after resigning Members of Parliament walked over to acknowledge him.

What was unknown to 27 Members of Opposition or William Duma's URP, was that 4am that morning James Marape had struck a deal with Peter O'Neill to resign, which would trigger a vacancy after which Marape would lead 34 Members from the Laguna Camp across to join Crown and be their nominee for the PM position.

Why and how did it all happen?

On Tuesday, the Members of Laguna Camp conducted a secret ballot to determine who will be named as the alternative Prime Minister. There were three main contenders for the position, James Marape, Patrick Pruaitch and William Duma.

The numbers were stacked as follows:

Marape 27 Members
Pruaitch 27 Members
Duma 13 Members

Marape's 27 Members included:
Pangu - Ginsou/Marape (21)
People's Party - Ipatas/Davis/Tongamp (3)
Our Development Party - Puka Temu (1)
THE Party - Jeffrey Kama (1)

Pruaitch 27 Members included:
Original Opposition 24
Wera Mori (1) - Ex PNC / joined NA
Tony Wouowu (1) Ex PNC / joined NA
Social Development Party - John Kaupa (1)

Duma's URP Members included:
Original URP 9 of 11 that crossed to Laguna camp
Two absent Members, Fabian Pok & Wesley Ramani who decided to remain with Crown camp.
Pila Ninigi (defected from PNC joined URP)
Richard Masere (defected from PNC joined Pangu then URP)
John Pundari (defected from PNC joined URP)
Douglas Tomurisea (defected from PNC joined Pangu then URP).

Before Duma agreed to join, Laguna camp had 49 Members, short of 7 MPs to meet the required majority of 56 Members.

Duma insisted that he would only join camp provided Marape and Pruaitch sign an MOU stating that he would become the alternative Prime Minister. This agreement was signed at 4am in the morning without the knowledge of the rest of Members in the Laguna Camp.

Duma having this agreement in his pocket (literally) convinced four PNC Members (Ninigi, Masere, Pundari and Tomurisea) to join URP with the promise of a Ministry appointment.

However, what Duma and the PNC Members were not aware of was that while Pruaitch and Marape may have agreed to nominate Duma, it didn't mean the remaining Members of the Laguna camp would.

This issue was raised on Monday morning at the Laguna camp where it was proposed that a secret ballot would determine the nominee. After some debate it was agreed the three nominees needed to discuss between themselves as to who will be the nominee and if they couldn't decide then a secret ballot would proceed.

Earlier on the same day, the Opposition caucus meeting was held to debrief on the latest issues concerning the nomination. Pruaitch explained that he was in discussion with Peter O'Neill about the option of joining Crown camp, where O'Neill would resign and nominate Pruaitch as the next Prime Minister.

We were each asked for our views, on account this was not the first time the issue of joining O'Neill came up, I stood up and announced to our team that I've had enough of this crap and could no longer be part of a team who were considering joining O'Neill or even in discussion with him. I explained to Pruaitch that while in camp I was told that Pruaitch was in talks with O’Neill which I vehemently denied stating that he would never go back to O'Neill. I left the Opposition team since I refused to be party to any plans of joining O’Neill and I offered to help Marape’s team.

On Monday evening, the night before the secret ballot, I started lobbying with Members of Marape’s team and National Alliance Members (Allan Bird) together with URP Team (Jelta Wong) that we should just nominate James Marape to be the alternative. I was concerned that if we went to a secret ballot there would be issues.

At 7am Tuesday morning, Duma held a caucus meeting with 13 of his Members at pool side. I checked back with Bird and Wong what their party position was, their response being they would not support Marape.

After breakfast all 67 members of Laguna camp met to discuss who will be the nominee. There was heated debate, Wong insisting the terms of MOU that Duma should be honoured while others said that agreement is not binding because the Members were not party to it.

Marape, Duma, and Pruaitch left the room, in their discussion Duma argued it was only fair they should honour the MOU, however Pruaitch objected making the point Duma put his hand on the Bible week’s earlier saying he would join the Laguna camp on 7th May 2019 but instead stayed with O’Neill.

Duma realising that if it went to secret ballot he would certainly lose with only 13 MPs, he instead pulled out of the race and said whichever candidate wins he would be the Deputy Prime Minister. Unknown to Marape, Duma had already struck a deal to support Pruaitch.

While they were in a meeting I took out my laptop and ran then numbers, anticipating Duma would back Pruaitch and having pulled out of Opposition I would cast my vote for Marape.

Marape’s 27 MPs plus my vote would mean he would poll 28, Duma 13 backing Pruaitch 26 (less me) would poll 39.

Marape, Duma and Pruaitch returned and they announced it was agreed Duma had pulled out and there would be secret ballot between Marape and Pruaitch. Even though I knew without a doubt Marape would lose I still voted for him, reasons for which I will provide in a later article.

Following the secret ballot the results were as predicted; Pruaitch 39, Marape 28. Soon after the ballot a press conference was staged to announce that Pruaitch would be nominee for alternative Prime Minister.

It was evident that many of Marape’s 27 MPs who voted for him were deeply disappointed. That evening we all met in Marape’s room. I witnessed Marape explain to his team he had accepted the results.

I explained to them it was not over yet, as I expected Peter O’Neill to resign on the 11th hour to dislodge the Opposition’s notice of motion of no confidence. It would mean a vacancy in the Office of Prime Minister and parties would go back into camp to elect a new Prime Minister.

4am that morning, the Southern Highlands Members of Crown Camp contacted James Marape to join their camp after he had lost the nomination. Marape explained the only way to return would be if O’Neill resigned. Members of the Crown camp in fear of ending up in the opposition following a vote of no confidence and National Alliance Party return to power put massive pressure on O’Neill to agree to resign.

The fact Opposition side had taken over the Parliament Committee there was no question of doubt O’Neill would be voted out of office.

The next morning the Laguna Camp met to sign the notice of motion to lodge it with Speaker and the committee to agree to have it listed on the notice paper.

However, when Parliament reconvened that morning O’Neill announced his resignation, Marape took his cue to acknowledge him for it. When Parliament adjourned Marape crossed the floor and exited through the Government Members back entrance. A 25 seater bus was waiting for him with his 27 Members and on his tail was William Duma and Jelta Wong. When Duma tried to enter the bus Marape stopped him and said sorry this bus is only for 28 Members who voted for me. Of course 28th Member was me, who had no idea what had transpired. Straight after Parliament adjourned I had no intention of shaking O’Neill’s hands and left through the Opposition lounge.

In part 2 I will explain what transpired in the 24 hours that lead to Marape’s election, why I was absent and the Oppositions scheme to block Marape from being elected by nominating O’Neill and Mekere, and how it miraculously back fired and how they unashamedly tried to cover it all up.