MARAPE REWARDS & EMBRACES CORRUPTION IF HE DOES NOT SACK DUMA

By Isabella Tauri - PNG Blog

Marape has again rewarded Mr Corruption and one of PNG people's greatest thief William DUMA through a Government Decision NOT to investigate further, effect arrest nor sack William DUMA as a State Minister!

Never forget this is the same William Corruption Duma who stole millions from the Manumanu Land Deal, together with Fabian Pok.  The people of PNG protested on Facebook for their removal but Peter O'Neill kept them until the Government changed in May 2019.
The people's expectations were on Marape to live by his words - to be the people's PM!  But Marape's true hidden colors are now showing.

First, he rewarded DUMA with a State Minister portfolio end of last year.  All for political survival!
Now that both local and international media has exposed DUMA's corruption in abusing public office as a State Minister for personal gain, Marape has made another decision to NOT DO ANYTHING about DUMA's corruption.

Instead, he is taking K28 Million of public funds to fund further investigation on the UBS Loan saga, which he himself as Finance Minister was 100% responsible for. 
We the people of PNG already got robbed of K3 Billion by Marape and his cohorts in the former O'Neill regime.  Why is he so defiant to ROB us AGAIN to pay hell knows who and what for money that we shall never recover?

The litmus test in now on Marape:   WILL HE BE A TRUE LEADER TO SACK DUMA AND INVESTIGATE HIM TOO?

If nothing is done then it may mean Marape himself may have personally benefited from these deals.  He will protect Duma at all costs!
The Fact that Marape embraces and rewards CORRUPTION means he is indeed an accessory to all these corruption and is corrupt as well.  He does not care about the welfare of Papua New Guineans as he plays lip service in his preachings.
So Papua New Guineans, stop your little Christian preachings, understand the magnitude of this corruption and decisions.
TIME TO START A NEW REVOLUTION AND REMOVE CORRUPT LEADERS!


Go to this link for more: http://www.pngblogs.com/2020/02/marape-rewards-embraces-corruption-if.html

The Enigma of James Marape

By PHIL FITZPATRICK - PNG Attitude

TUMBY BAY - I’ve got an elderly aunt in Indiana, USA, who thinks Donald Trump is wonderful. She was a volunteer in his 2016 election campaign and is thinking about doing it again this year.

My aunt thinks Barack Obama was the worst president that America ever had and that the Democrats are socialists who will destroy America. She is one of millions of Americans who don’t realise what the rest of the world thinks about their buffoon president.

Sometimes you have to stand back to see a situation clearly. That’s why a view from a distance often imparts a clarity not available to those up close and involved. I think a lot of people outside Papua New Guinea are still making up their minds about prime minister James Marape. There is a lot to ponder.

On the face of it he seems to be a genuine reformer. How much of this is spin and how much is real is hard to tell. He was, after all, a senior minister in the disastrous O’Neill government. That association raises quite a few questions. If he knew what O’Neill was doing why didn’t he speak up?

He now says he disagreed with O’Neill on several matters. Then why didn’t he resign from the People’s National Congress government and join the Opposition? If he had the same personal convictions he espouses now, why didn’t he act on them when it truly mattered? Why did he let O’Neill get away with what he did?

People inside Papua New Guinean say their politics are complex. From the outside they don’t seem complex at all. With their emphasis on alliances, numbers and personal gain they simply appear chaotic, illogical and, most of all, terribly corrupt.

In that sort of environment maybe Marape, in government under a strong ruthless leader, realised he could do very little. Maybe he decided to wait until he was in a position of greater power.

Or maybe he was enjoying the spoils and only decided to act when he decided O’Neill had burnt up his political capital and was doomed.

Despite what my American aunt thinks, Barack Obama was a good president. Or at least he tried to be a good president. It was a sad reality that just about every good thing he tried to do was nobbled by the Republicans and vested interests.

Is the slow progress that has started to dog James Marape similar to what happened to Barack Obama? Are the vested interests within parliament and in the corporate world outside conspiring to limit his effectiveness?

It’s hard to know but there are a few tell-tale signs worth noting.

One example is of interest to PNG Attitude readers. That is Marape’s apparent indifference to the plight of writers in Papua New Guinea. Does he simply not care? Is it just because he is too busy with what he sees as more important matters? Is it because he is acting on poor advice from his advisors and spin doctors? Fixing the dreadful mess left by Peter O’Neill is a monumental job after all.

But then again, Marape has been seen supporting apparently frivolous things like fashion parades. How can he justify supporting fashion designers but not writers? PNG watchers will remember the enthusiasm that greeted Peter O’Neill when he ousted Michael Somare.

There was a strong hope that O’Neill was going to end the years of corruption under Somare and make Papua New Guinea great. Are all the positive noises that James Marape made when he ousted O’Neill just more of the same empty rhetoric?

Marape booted out many of O’Neill’s most corrupt ministers but he also retained quite a few of them. And corrupt public servants as well. What sort of power have they got over him?

Along with the usual gaggle of rats abandoning the sinking O’Neill ship, Marape has also managed to pull in members of the Opposition to work for him, including quite a few who are very capable and have demonstrated high political ideals.

Do they actually believe in him or are they hoping to change things for the better from inside rather than outside? Or has he offered them something they can’t refuse? I don’t know whether my poor deluded aunt in Indiana would like James Marape or not. Then again, I’m not sure I want to ask her.

Go to this link for more: https://www.pngattitude.com/2020/01/the-enigma-of-james-marape.html

Under Marape, rights getting worse - report

NEWS DESK
| Radio New Zealand

AUCKLAND - A human rights organisation has released a damning report into the state of Papua New Guinea, where a change of prime minister has done little to tackle rampant violence and corruption.

Human Rights Watch's annual report reveals rates of violence, domestic abuse, corruption and foreign debt haven't improved over the past year, where weak enforcement and a lack of accountability fostered a culture of impunity and lawlessness.

Its deputy director for Asia, Phil Robertson, said despite a change in prime minister, progress was still slow and the key findings were dire.

"We are talking about a very desperately poor country. One where there is a lot of violence that's committed with impunity ... where women are particularly affected, as well as children.

"Forty percent of the population still lives in poverty, and this is a very resource-rich country. Twenty five percent of the children are not in school, and our estimate is that one in 13 have died of preventable disease."

The report found more than two-thirds of women and girls were subjected to domestic violence, while 75 percent of children surveyed across 30 communities experienced violence at home.

"PNG has an underfunded health system and children are particularly vulnerable to disease. An estimated one in thirteen children die each year from preventable diseases, and large numbers of children experienced malnutrition resulting in stunted growth," it said.

There was little chance of redressing it with the culture of corruption and impunity that had been fostered, the report said, with corruption convictions rare and prosecutions for brutality at the hands of the state and military few and far between.

To date, no police officers had been prosecuted for killing 17 prison escapees in 2017 and four prison escapees from Buimo prison in Lae in 2018, the report noted. Police officers who killed eight student protesters in Port Moresby in 2016 had also not been held accountable.

A new prime minister, James Marape, had done little so far to rein in corruption, it said, and the unequal distribution of the revenue from the country's natural resources was creating friction and eroding land rights in rural areas. In multiple cases, landowners had been mistreated by foreign mining companies, it said.

Robertson said PNG had not really worked to dig itself out the hole it was in, and it was only getting worse.

Go to this link for more: https://www.pngattitude.com/2020/01/under-marape-rights-getting-worse-report.html

Marape disscuss on Business Policy

By James Marape - Prime Minister of PNG

I write in this instance to clarify on our government’s one of three signature policies and encourage all of you educated PNGeans to do your bit by disseminating information to your family , your tribes, your associates for clarity and participation.

We have higher education loan program ( HELP) that should embrace all citizens and residents who leave school at year 8, year 10 and year 12; we also have the CONNECT PNG program that should link all our districts , provinces and country with enabling infrastructures like roads, power and communications; and we have our business incubation policy.

This write up will discuss on the business policy and our government’s desire to get more of our people , educated and non educated, rural and urbanite , female and male, nambis na hilans, Papuan, New Guinean and Bougainvillian, all able PNGeans to go into business in the next 10 years and beyond.

In our 2020 budget, we put K200million following on from the K100 miliion we set aside in 2019 supplementary budget for Micro, Small and Medium Businesses in our country.

As I promised in my first dialogue with TTPNG at ICC and others since that our focus is empowering PNGeans to get into businesses, this funding will hopefully assist both new startups and existing businesses.

I have requested our local banks including NDB to participate in this where we looking at very soft credit facility ( as low as 4% ) and easier terms including longer repayment period ( over 20 years ).

During Pangu Party dinner on the 21st of December more details of this initiative will be announced. But one thing is certain, this will not be distributed by DDAs or PGs or National government but through a Bank that meets our criteria to assist PNGean businesses.

We will have a nationwide cover on this program including 10% of this allocation be made available for Bouganvile businesses. So I encourage you all, instead of waiting for job, create job yourself as your participation in these many forums of debates shows that many of you have brilliant ideas.

The other day , a lady guest of our country in her effort to downplay our government, labeled our people as poor and can not afford school fees. Friends I don’t buy that.

Yes most of our people might not have liquid cash but they aren’t poor. They have land and they have brain full of ideas and talents. It’s all about linking resources available to our people with market, incentives and enabling environment to generate cash.

I want to encourage those of you here, educated you are, find a space in your life for business. As an example, I look at my cousin Johny Philip and few other non LNG based Huli business men/women including the non formally educated owners of property in our cities and towns; they built business not through political help or magic but starting small and working hard over many years.

If they have done it, rest of you can do it, you not in competition but complementary business because businesses build businesses. My government will promote business growth in agriculture, in tourism, in fisheries, in manufacturing, in technology, in industries , in transportation, etc etc.

Sisters and brothers, translate your brilliant ideas into simple business concepts and step out from insecurities to secure your life and your country’s going forward by going into business ventures.

I look at other business women and men from all parts of our country who started off well but are now struggling. I look at youths who come out of universities and colleges finding no formal jobs. I think of massive grade 8s, and 10s and 12 leavers with no opportunity for continual education. We want to assist you through this program. Think business, start business, this is part of taking back PNG.

A large part of ‘taking back PNG’ from the hands of greedy few is to ensure more of PNGEANS go into business instead of us being bystanders. If in the next 10 years we build up over 100,000 MSMEs, imagine how many jobs we would create and additional tax into our economy.

My dream for PNG to be the “richest black Christian nation” is not like John F Kennedy’s dream in 1961 to put few American to moon in 10 years, mine is the easier one if all of us dig in and do our part for our country.

President JFK did not live to see his dream fulfilled under 10 years when President Nixon saw N Armstrong walk on moon 20 July 1969. God willing I want to live in a country 10 years from now where landowners , forest owners and sea owners of PNG are in businesses.

Those of you who own timber resources, mobilise and do sustainable timber harvest with downstream focus. Those in calmer coastal provinces, go into fisheries, agriculture and tourism.

Highlanders let’s go back to coffee, tea, and other agriculture plus other businesses in transport , real estate , stores etc like what some of our seniors did, enough of talking and doing nothing.

Government is now incentivising business incubation in this program plus better simplified tax regimes we introducing for MSMEs.

Our partner banks will be told that with minimum of 200m per year allocation , that is an envelope of over K2billion from 2020 to 2030 just on MSME security and loan assistance that we will inject into the partner bank or banks to issue loans to interested and willing PNGeans.

Enough of talking and seeking job, join me in creating job on the business sector. Go back rally your tribe , your family , your network or yourself into business.

Sorry I write myself and in haste sometimes I do typo errors but I hope I brought few clarities.

I will despatch next write up on education policy where parents and local MPs plus governors will assist with 50% of cost at elementary to grade 12 and national government picks up the balance plus assisting school leavers through HELP for universities, colleges and technical vocational courses.

Prime Minister
James Marape

Namah tells PM to ‘take back Tari first

By Isaac Nicholas - Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape must “Take back Tari first before you take back PNG”, opposition leader Belden Namah told Parliament yesterday. The alternate Prime Minister, Mr Namah asked the Prime Minister to tell Parliament what had happened to investigations into the massacre of 24 men, women and children in his electorate this year. Mr Namah said an entire community including two pregnant mothers and children were reported killed in Munima, Peta and Karida villages in Tagali LLG between South Koroba and Tari on July 7. High powered guns were reportedly used in the fighting. “The shocking scene was brutal and ghastly, even by the standards of tribal warfare which happens often in many parts of our country,” Mr Namah told Parliament. He said the Prime Minister said at the time: “I am coming for you.” Mr Namah said a few weeks back, Hela Governor Philip Undialu and the Commander of the Defence Force celebrated a guns handover ceremony with locals in Komo, Hela. Mr Namah’s questions included: (.)Can the Prime Minister tell us whether or not any of the Tari killers been caught? And can he update Parliament. (.) Can the Prime Minister tell Parliament why we seem to be celebrating arms handovers in the province when we should be arresting every person with a gun? (.) What is the bigger message our Prime Minister is giving to PNG and the world by allowing a guns handover ceremony? You can kill and mutilate people and then we will ask you to hand over guns in a ceremony?” (.)Can the Prime Minister inform Parliament of law and order policies and of how he intends to take our cities and towns back from hoodlums, criminals and trigger-happy policemen? (.) And finally, can the Prime Minister tell us why he asks each of us to take back Papua New Guinea if he cannot take back Tari Pori? Mr Marape in response said what happen in Tari is a result of many years of neglect and problems faced as population grows but the economy has not corresponded with it. “The lack of police action in Tari is an indication to us, that the statistics we are faced with is nationwide. The Opposition leader’s view is that we step up and contain the law and order situation. Tari and Hela is home to 400,000 people with only 60 policemen. Statistics show one policemen to 7000 people. What has emerged is a symptom of a society that has absolutely little presence of law enforcement or the total government law and justice sector working. “Areas that anchor our current economy at present has minimal presence in the law and justice sector. “These projects continue to survive by the goodwill of the people, without leadership on the ground. “This is a sad point in time for 22, 24 or even one life is important and should not be lost at the hand of a mercenary. “One cosmetic approach will not be a permanent solution to the endemic problem. “Our nation is faced with the threat of insecurity from within our domestic ends, the prevalence of guns amongst us not only for the Hela province, but guns as a migratory species that moves from province to province, district to district hands to hands, and the mercenaries make good money out of this. “This parliament has it in our disposal to discuss, debate in total clarity to find a solution to this issue. “If it’s not a threat today, it will be a threat for us tomorrow.”


Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/namah-tells-pm-to-take-back-tari-first/

PM salutes young man who lost entire family in Tari massacre

By Isaac Nicholas - Post Courier

Prime Minister James Marape has saluted a young ward member who lost his whole family during the massacre in Tari by not taking the law into his own hands. Mr Marape said the young ward member, Oli Ripu, has all the tribal arsenal he can use to retaliate for the killing of his entire family but did not. “He is a small businessman who can buy guns and retaliate but he literally cried in front of the policemen after he spoke to me on the phone,” he said. “He is the ward member of the village, and I said if you go and fight again, what will happen? “In the midst of negativities, good stories do emerge in places like Tari. “The young man said Member I will not go and retaliate, I leave it in your hands, hands of law and justice sector. He had every tribal arsenal to retaliate but he never retaliated and I take my hats of to this young ward member.” “As prime minister, because it is happening in my own electorate, I cannot be too greedy in mobilsing resources to attend to one matter because law and justice sector issues are prevalent right across our country. “One cosmetic approach will not be a permanent solution to the endemic problem our nation is face with, the threat of insecurity from within our domestic ends. “The prevalence of guns among us, not only Hela province, but guns is a migratory species. They move from province to province, district to district, hand to hand. The mercenaries they make money out of this one. “This parliament has it in our disposal to discuss, debate in total clarity and find a solution to this issue. If its not a threat today, it will be a threat for us tomorrow.” Mr Marape was responding to questions from Opposition Leader Belden Namah in Parliament yesterday.


Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/pm-salutes-young-man-who-lost-entire-family-in-tari-massacre/

Cabinet change on card

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

NATIONAL Alliance Party leader Patrick Pruaitch is expected to be given a ministerial portfolio soon as Prime Minister James Marape works on consolidating the coalition he leads, a Government source says.
No comment could be obtained from Marape last night. But the source well-versed with developments in the coalition confirmed that the announcement could be made as early as this week.
Aitape-Lumi MP Pruaitch, who was the Opposition Leader until last month when he crossed the floor with his party MPs, had served as treasurer in the previous government led by Peter O’Neill.
According to the Registrar of Political Parties, the National Alliance party has 12 MPs which is the third largest group in the coalition.
Pangu Pati of which Marape is a member has 23 and O’Neill’s People’s National Congress Party has 22. Some MPs recently changed parties without formally informing the registrar.
Pruaitch and his team were seated in the Government benches of Parliament during yesterday’s sitting.
The fourth biggest party in the government coalition is the United Resources Party led by Mt Hagen MP William Duma who is likely to be given a Cabinet position too.
In another development yesterday, two political parties signed an agreement to continue their support for the Marape-led Government right through to the 2022 general election.
Our Development Party leader Charles Abel and Social Democratic Party leader Powes Parkop signed the deal in Port Moresby yesterday.
Present was PNG Country Party leader and Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta.
Abel said the signing was a commitment to provide stability to Marape, support constructive policy development and prepare for the next general election.
“The leaders in this alliance, together with the PNGCP, represent three former deputy prime ministers, three governors and MPs of large rural and urban electorates.
“We collectively are about action-oriented (and) accountable leadership.” He said Parkop has transformed the social and infrastructure landscape of Port Moresby.
Parkop pledged his commitment to work together in support of the current government.
“Thinking in terms of the interest of the country and our people and the government, we have decided that it’s good for us to work with similar parties and leadership with similar ideas. We are pleased to sign this agreement so we all work together,” he said.
Parkop said discussions on amalgamating the three parties would continue.
Haiveta said the team consisted like-minded individuals with little parties that had a history of achievements.
“Together with our parties and aspirations and across our alliance before the elections will make one or two policies as we go forward.”
Abau MP Sir Puka Temu said the alliance was a good move.
“Our country needs good policies but more importantly drivers and implementers. We believe that this is a formidable team that will support our prime minster and look forward to massive numbers in 2022.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/cabinet-change-on-card/

PM cancels costly trip

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, has cancelled his trip to United Nations General Assembly in New York because it will cost the government K1.2 million to send 55 officials to accompany him.
Marape told a press conference yesterday that he directed the travel for the majority of the delegation to be cancelled.
“That is not acceptable and I have personally directed that travel for the majority of the delegation be cancelled,” he said.
“Just five or six essential staff members will travel with Foreign Minister Soroi Eoe, who I have every confidence in, with the assistance of our highly capable team at Kundu New York, will represent our interests when the General Assembly meets.
“I want to place, on record, my belief in the importance of the General Assembly meeting and the role of the United Nations.
“This is particularly the case in relation to climate change, which remains a very real and urgent issue for PNG and the islands of the Pacific.”
Marape said he had Bougainville, along with several internal issues, to attend to and nominated Eoe and Environment Conservation and Climate Change Minister Geoffery Kama to attend in his place.
“The United Nations General Assembly session is going on and I decided not to attend due to pressing matters at home,” he said.
“As you all know, I am to address the United Nations this week (Sept 27).
“It is also a very important date for us, especially for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
“The writs will be issued for the referendum on Sept 27 and I thought it was more important for me to stay at home.
“The security, the success of our nation and matters that are of more importance for us to address.
“I conveyed our apologies to the United Nations general-secretary as an organisation that I will not be attending.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-cancels-costly-trip/

Message from the Prime Minister James Marape on the 44th Independence of Papua New Guinea

By Hon. James Marape - Prime Minister of PNG

Today , 16th of September 2019 marks 44 years since our Sovereign Flag was hoisted for the first time in 1975, and since then, 7 Prime Ministers stood before me, all of them and leaders who served with them that I remember and pay my respects today.

I now stand here before you all people and friends of Papua New Guinea as your chief servant to rally the country under the rise of our unifying flag once again.

One hundred and ten days ago my group of leaders were conferred high privilege to serve in government for our people.

We assumed office on the back of our people’s desire that Government is for all people, for all parts of our country and not for a selected few.

For we are a nation of over a thousand tribes, who speak over over 830 different languages, from highlands to lowlands, from mountains to seas, from island to mainland, the entire 462,840 square kilometers of land blends unity in diversity, we are the most diverse nation on the face of earth.

Despite being so diverse yet, we continue to survive the test of time as a nation thus far.

Yes I am the first to admit that we still have our short comings as a young nation and to name a few;

uneven distribution of resources, lack of quality development, under performance of resource harvest, squandering of resources through corruption and complacency, non functional systems of government, etc etc but I am not here to dwell on the past but to learn from past mistakes and improve for a better future.

Hindsight sets the foresight as they say and my Government’s foresight is set and fixed.

In my mind,the first and foremost is to ensure that we not only celebrate political independence during September 16s but full economic independence as well.

Our nation is endowed with all forms of tropical fisheries and marine resources, all forms of tropical forest resources, all types of tropical agricultural resources, abundance sunshine and water, mineral and petroleum resources.

We also have talented Human Resources.

We are closer to the Asia Pacific market then most and with our membership to APEC, our association with ASEAN,

our healthy bilateral relationship with nations like Australia, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, India , Great Britain, USA and EU nations,

All of the above gives us good opportunities to do well.

Proper harvest of our natural resources and equitable sharing with our investors plus better redistribution to our land owners and provincial governments will ensure we move towards economic independence.

Economic independence is my government’s first and foremost priority born of Pangu Party’s dogma of complimenting the political independence Pangu Party led PNG into in 1975.

By 2025, when our nation celebrates 50 years of independence, I want to look back to today in 2019 as the year in which my generation of reformist leaders changed legislative gears for truly better harvest of our God given natural resources.

In this, I envisage economic independence to liberate our citizens off poor health services, low quality education, poverty lifestyle, dilapidated infrastructures, and unsafe lawless society to one of;

top quality education and health services accessible to all citizens and residents, peace and harmonious society, connectivity of all hamlets, villages, towns, cities and provinces through roads, bridges, ports, airports, electricity and digital communications.

In a nutshell, our people must benefit from resources in their own land, ocean and airspace.

Working to give full economic independence is the reason why I am sure within 10 years, this country of a thousand tribes can become the richest black Christian nation where no child is left behind.

To make this happen we must all pledge in unison that where ever we are placed in PNG, we will rise and shine to do our outmost best for our country.

Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, USA and all nations that have progressed were not built by machines and robots but by human beings like us.

Today on the anniversary of 44 years of independence, I as your eight Prime Minister pledge to you my firm commitment that I will not be bought or sold to corporate and individual greed but stand resolved for the greater good of my PNG.

I ask you all, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, every public servants and all citizens of this country, no magic or dreams with no efforts will get us out of present poverty into rich and fullness of life.

It starts with each and every citizens living as Christians must live; in harmony with one another, ‘doing unto others what you want others to do to you’ and working productively with your brains and hands.

First thing first, my government will amend laws to give back to you resource owners and provinces including our Bougainville regional government your fair share of resources revenue but I call on you all to give back to PNG a good law and order environment.

Let us work together to secure our country’s future by joining hands irrespective of our colors of our provincial flags but under our national flag, let us blend our diversified tribal songs into a united nation anthem,

for our strength and security is in a united future where we not only politically independent but truly independent economically.

In next year budget and onwards we will have some innovative avenues to help tertiary students and PNG business women and men so keep your heads high and assist your nation by being law a biding.

Together we can, divide we fall, united we stand, as a united tribes of PNG.

As John F Kennedy asked of America to not ask what the country can do for them but them doing for their United States of America, JF Kennedy also uttered an impossible dream in 1961 he said in 10 years USA will put men on moon and they did it in 8 years;

We can do it to, whilst we may not put men to moon in 10 years , we can make png better in 10 years of we all start now.

May God of our Ancestors, the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Isreal bless you all citizens and friends of PNG now and forever.

Happy 44 years my Papua New Guinea, looking forward for the next 44 years in which you will truly be the richest black Christian nation in earth.

Let us start this by taking back PNG in our mind and actions.

God bless PNG. Happy independence. Love you all!

JMPM speech: 16/09/2019

Unemployed told to return home

By Rebecca Kuku - The National

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, is urging unemployed people living in Port Moresby to return to their provinces and earn a living from the land.
Marape said the land was waiting for them to grow copra, coffee and cocoa. He promised that
the Government would help unemployed people return to their villages to join others there
start commercial agricultural ventures.
“The small agriculture businesses will be broken down into three categories:

• Women and girls;
• Men and youths; and,
• the Autonomous Region of Bougainville,” he said.

“Every day, one billion cups of coffee is drunk worldwide.
“We have already met with the president of China (who) is willing to purchase coffee, copra and cocoa grown in the country.”
Marape added that Papua New Guinea would become “Asia’s food
basket”.
“So if you are not doing anything here in Port Moresby, you must return to the village,” he said.
He said the Government would do its part in distributing money fairly in the country.
“We will also make amendments to some of our laws like the Oil and Gas Act and the Forestry Act to bring in more income for the country,” he said.
“Work with district and provincial governments and become businessmen and women.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/unemployed-told-to-return-home/

Tkatchenko pledges to support Marape, govt

Posted on The National

MORESBY South MP Justin Tkatchenko, a member of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Party, says he will support Prime Minister James Marape and his coalition government.
“I (had) made a solid commitment from day one to support Hon James Marape as prime minister, and that has not changed at all,” he said.
Marape recently made it clear that the PNC was no longer part of his coalition government but party members already holding Cabinet portfolio could remain if they wished to.
Tkatchenko, appointed by Marape as the Housing and Urban Development Minister, is one of the seven PNC party members holding Cabinet positions. The others are Works and Implementation Minister Michael Nali, Health Minister Elias Kapavore, Public Service Minister Westly Nukundj, Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Alfred Manase, Border and Immigration Minister Petrus Thomas and Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Nick Kuman.
Tkatchenko said he had made his position clear at the outset when he moved to support Marape that he would support him.
Nali when contacted said he was yet to make up his mind and would make his decision known after consulting his supporters. The others declined to comment.
PNC parliamentary party leader Peter O’Neill declined to comment when asked about his position and of his party.
He said he would either move to the Opposition or remain in the middle benches.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/tkatchenko-pledges-to-support-marape-govt/

PNG govt hands over cheques to Bougainville

Posted on Radio New Zealand

Papua New Guinea has paid a total of $US6.5 million to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville for referendum-related activities and other projects.

Bougainville is to hold an independence referendum in late November.

The payment came in the form of cheques from three PNG government ministers.

Works Minister Michael Nali presented a cheque for $US2.7million to the Autonomous Bougainville government to complete two road projects.

Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Lino Tom paid another $US1.5 million to assist Bougainville's marine sector.

Minister for Bougainville Affairs Sir Puka Temu presented cheques worth $US2.3 million.

The rump of this goes towards the Bougainville Referendum Commission for referendum awareness and security related work, while over half a million dollars is directed to the Arawa School of Nursing.

The cheques follow recent comments by Bougainville's president John Momis about PNG's failure to pay hundreds of millions of dollars it owes his region.

Mr Momis recently hosted PNG prime Minister James Marape and his cabinet who made an historic visit to Bougainville last week.

During the visit, the two governments were briefed on preparation for the vote by the Bougainville Referendum Commission.

Go to this link for more: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/398924/png-govt-hands-over-cheques-to-bougainville

PM vows to help women

Posted by The National

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, says his Government will work towards ensuring women’s rights are recognised and women are given equal opportunities in business.
“As the current prime minister, I look forward to ensuring women’s rights are given total protection and women are given every opportunity in life and protected as far as contested resources are concerned, resources of school, resources of healthcare, resources of work place and more importantly, resources of private business opportunity,” he said.
Marape made the comments at the Professional Business Women’s (PBW) Club’s inaugural CEOs Independence Ball which he and wife Rachael attended at the International Convention Centre on Saturday night.
PBW, a non-governmental organisation, founded by Dame Carol Kidu and established in 1982, comprises of a group of volunteers who dedicate their time to raise funds to assist less fortunate women to complete their education through a school fee support programme.
Some of the recipients of the school fees assistant scheme were present at the ball and shared stories of their struggles in life and the impact that PBW had on them and their lives.
Marape said he was inspired by the story of one of the recipients, Zelda John, who recently completed her secondary education at Marianville Secondary School.
John, a young woman from East Sepik, was the sixth child in a family of nine siblings abandoned by their mother and left with their father to fend for them, shared her experience of the hardship faced by her family, especially her father who looked after them and the struggles they went through.
John spoke of how she had taken on the responsibility of looking after her education as well as those of her siblings.
John said through the support of PBW, she was able to complete her secondary education and looked forward to become a teacher to assist her family.
Marape commended PBW for supporting and empowering women through education and said he was grateful to be in the company of women with such initiative.
“When I talk about this country being fair, it refers to all having equal opportunities,” Marape said.
“This country must be a country of equal opportunities and it is important for every one of us who are successful to share the blessing with others and I am happy to be in the company of a group of women who are able to share blessings with others.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-vows-to-help-women/

PM hails Wigmen, Lae Tigers

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape congratulated grand finalists Hela Wigmen and Lae Tigers for putting on an exciting display of rugby league at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday.
Sports Minister Marape said the Tigers were the benchmark rugby league team in the country and they deserved to be crowned champions. The Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored outfit also won the minor premiership.
Marape also praised the Wigmen for a brave effort this season.
“Tigers, you are the benchmark team in the last three years,” he said.
“If there is any team who deserve to win today (Sunday) it is certainly the Tigers and they proved that.
“Congratulations to the Tigers.
“To the Wigmen, great men come out gracious in defeat.
“You were gracious in defeat and you are equally my champions.
“Congratulations to you, your families and sponsors, and also all the teams who had taken part in the Digicel Cup this year.”
He said the good thing about sports was that there was always the next season to look forward to for teams to work on their weaknesses and improve on their strengths.
Marape said he was looking forward to a bigger and better season next year.
He also thanked Digicel for supporting rugby league in the country over the last nine years.
Marape said he was looking forward to their continued support in the years to come.


Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-hails-wigmen-lae-tigers/

Can PNG become the 'richest black Christian nation on earth'?

By ANDREW KORYBKO | Eurasia Future

MOSCOW - The new prime minister of Papua New Guinea only entered office a few months ago after a long-running political scandal led to the resignation of his predecessor, Peter O'Neill.

But he’s already making waves with his ambitious vision of turning this resource-rich but poverty-stricken island country into “the richest black Christian nation on earth”.

James Marape made his Trump-like nationalist proclamation in late July during his visit to Australia, which was his first foreign trip since assuming his position.

Here he also spoke about his plan of one day “participating with Australia looking after smaller island nations”.

He aims to achieve this through a combination of fairer resource deals with transnational corporations and a renewed focus on the agricultural sector, but the success of his vision will largely rest on his ability to “balance” between the West and China, as well as making unprecedented progress on the socio-economic development of the mostly tribal hinterland.

Marape’s predecessor, Peter O’Neill, was regarded as extremely close to China, though he was also at the same time responsible for laying the basis of his successor’s “balancing” act by agreeing to allow the US and Australia to jointly operate a naval base in the northern island of Manus.

PNG’s new leader emphasised his more visibly neutral position by recently stating that his country is “friends to all, enemies to none” and that “every businessman and woman is welcome in our country, and the Chinese investors will not receive any special treatment and preference, just like Australian investors will not receive any special favour or treatment.”

That’s a very pragmatic approach and one that’s much-needed if he hopes to make good on his bold promise because he can’t do it without cooperating equally with both “sides” of the New Cold War.

Australia is a long-standing strategic partner while China is a much more recent one, but investment from both is crucial to Marape’s plans.

PNG’s resource riches have been more of a curse than a blessing over the years after corrupt governments proved themselves incapable of fairly distributing the billions of dollars of wealth that have poured into this comparatively small country of roughly eight million people.

But Marape wants to change all of that by using some of that revenue to fund an agricultural revolution that would turn his nation into “the food basket of Asia”.

To do that, however, he must first make serious strides in improving the socio-economic situation of the millions of people who still live in tribal societies there where “most fights are still about women and pigs“.

Tribal warfare recently intensified after an horrific massacre of women and children in July that observers worry might plunge the mountainous heartland into a renewed round of tribal warfare that could hold the country back from the advances that it so desperately needs to make.

If the security situation stabilises and the writ of the state finally extends into the interior in a noticeable way unlike the present (where it’s only relevant as far as selling land to transnational corporations and electing figurehead representatives to parliament), then one of the first tasks will be to promote an inclusive national narrative that binds together the country’s disparate tribes, hence Marape’s embrace of race and religion as the foundation for this.

Concurrent with that, PNG will need to seamlessly transition the locals from their tribal societies into the global market economy, which explains his emphasis on their traditional industry of agriculture instead of anything much more culturally disruptive like their large-scale employment in urban factories for example.

Still, what Marape envisions for his people is a profound paradigmatic shift that will be difficult to pull off without the right resources, prior planning, and political will.

It’s here where the West (mostly Australia in this case) and China can help. PNG is being reconceptualised by American strategists as a pivotal geopolitical battleground in the New Cold War, which is why the US will be jointly operating a naval base with Australia there in the coming future, but it’s also partnered with the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) being spearheaded by the People’s Republic.

If Marape successfully “balances” between the West’s “Indo-Pacific” strategy and China’s BRI, then PNP could conceivably reap the benefits of improved market access for his country’s forthcoming agricultural exports from both, as well as more infrastructural investment to help with the tribal interior’s socio-economic development.

Should he can manage to do that, then he stands the best chances yet of turning this terribly impoverished country into “the richest black Christian nation on earth”, though it’ll still take a lot of time for Marape to pull off this miracle.

Go to this link for more: https://www.pngattitude.com/2019/09/can-marape-make-png-the-richest-black-christian-nation-on-earth.html

In Papua New Guinea, reality will dim any nationalist dreams

ASSESSMENTS WRITER | Stratfor Worldview | Edited

AUSTIN, USA - Papua New Guinea's new prime minister, James Marape, is touting a more nationalist push on resources for his energy- and mineral-rich country and hinting at a rebalance in great power relations, vexing both foreign companies and regional heavyweight Australia.

Since taking office in late May, Marape has launched a formal review into a multibillion dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, threatened to seek Chinese help in refinancing the country's K27 billion debt and mulled an overhaul of the country's natural resource laws to increase PNG’s share of revenue.

But despite his ambitious intentions, the eager new leader will find it difficult to take any of these efforts too far, because there's only so much the small resource- and aid-dependent Pacific country can push the envelope without jeopardizing its political stability and primary income streams.

Just a month after taking office in May, Marape began a full review of Total's Papua LNG deal, with an eye on improving the terms. (The review also put on hold an as-yet incomplete agreement for Exxon's PNG LNG expansion project, which is connected to Total's Papua LNG deal.)

But shortly after, he was quick to reassure that his administration was still pro-investment and that adjustments need not be drastic.

And on 2 September, the government announced it would move forward with the Total deal after the company agreed to make the pipeline accessible to third parties and to open up the possibility of a government stake in the future, and after it granted state-owned Kumul Petroleum Holdings the option to take on ownership of some LNG tankers. 

For foreign companies already locked into investments in PNG’s substantial oil, natural gas, gold, copper and nickel reserves, Marape's new nationalist push risks troubling their long-term plans.

The way Total was able to save its project by agreeing to some concessions could temporarily alleviate some of these concerns. But perhaps most importantly, the settling of the deal after such extreme political rhetoric serves as a testament to the limitations Marape's government will surely face when it comes to implementing its wider "Papua New Guinea-first" platform. 

Marape's ambitious vision for the country includes reducing its reliance on primary resource extraction by building onshore processing and increasing agricultural exports to nearby Asian markets.

He's also stated that he wants to overhaul the country's resource-related legislation by 2025 to ensure that it earns at least half of the foreign revenues on all resource projects via taxes and royalties. But in doing so, he faces a steep uphill climb, because energy and resource exports made up over 77% of exports in 2017 (Agriculture, by contrast, accounted for only 15%).

When it comes to oil and gas in particular, LNG accounted for 34% of exports in 2018, making it a critical revenue stream for his government to sustain and thus protect. Accounting for just 3% of global LNG exports, PNG is also dwarfed by much larger exporters in the region (namely, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia), as well as a growing field of other potential nearby exporters such as East Timor.

This means that despite his attempts to pressure foreign majors, Marape will have to tread lightly — knowing that foreign energy firms can take their lucrative projects elsewhere, should his government's meddling become too burdensome to their bottom lines.

Marape's other big priority will be managing the country's debt burden, which now amounts to nearly one-third of its gross domestic product (GDP). The massive debt was largely racked up under Marape's predecessor in recent years. 

The 2015 drop in oil prices hit the country hard, worsened by an ill-fated K2.8 billion loan used to buy a stake in the Australian oil and gas company Oil Search. And as a result, the 2018 government budget was in a K1.6 billion deficit.  

To help dig the country out of its debt, Marape has sought additional help from its two vying suitors, China and Australia. On 7 August, Marape's government announced it had approached China in the hopes of having Beijing fully refinance Papua New Guinea's debt burden.

This raised a furore from neighbouring Australia, who fears such a move could lead to a loan default and the Chinese repossession of a major New Guinean port, mine or infrastructure project.

Several weeks later, Marape's government called for greater financial assistance from Australia. Specifically, he said he wanted 25-50% of total Australian aid to the country in the form of direct budget support.

After Canberra declined the request, PNG tacitly threatened to seek help from China instead. And, just as intended, this prompted Australia to mobilise a high-level delegation to the country to reportedly discuss terms for a significant loan. 

But while such efforts to play China and Australia off each other might help shake a more money loose from Canberra, there's probably only so much more cash the regional giant can funnel to PNG.

In addition to a recent partnership to develop a joint naval base on Manus Island, Australia is already the country's largest trade and investment partner, with K23 billion in bilateral trade and $58 billion in investment in 2018. Between 2019 and 2020, Australia provided about K1.4 billion in aid. 

Australia's assistance, however, is often slotted for programs specifically focused on making PNG more financially independent and politically stable. China's assistance, by contrast, often comes in the form of loans with far fewer strings attached. Beijing's state-owned China Development Bank, for example, is slated to deliver a K1 billion loan to help with PNG's budget deficit at the end of the year. 

That said, China has so far accounted for only about 17% of PNG’s total foreign aid in 2019, paling in comparison to Australia's 40%. But PNG is also a keystone of Australian efforts to secure its periphery from China's growing presence, especially as Beijing's rivalry with one of its strongest allies, the United States, heats up.

And for this reason, Canberra will want to keep Beijing from growing its financial influence further. 

But at the same time, Australia is also facing mounting political pressure at home to curb government spending and wean the country's Pacific neighbours off aid. Thus, it won't be able to completely counter Chinese largesse.

Instead, it will move to prevent China from making major inroads — dangling the sweetener of its non-loan aid and ability to help PNG complete the restructuring needed to continue receiving International Monetary Fund assistance.

Meanwhile, back at home, PNG’s innately fragile and fragmented political context will make rebalancing the country's resource-dependent economy a particularly challenging feat for Marape's government.

The country is deeply fractured, geographically and ethnically. Disruptive pushes from fragmented regional power bases have led to a dispersed, decentralized government that grants a strong hand to provinces.

The successful pushes of the resource-rich states of Enga, New Ireland and New Britain for a road map to greater autonomy could prompt other regions to follow suit. Meanwhile, the region of Bougainville is planning a nonbinding independence referendum in November, which risks whipping up secessionist fervour elsewhere in the country. 

PNG’s new prime minister can only go so far without jeopardising the country's fragile political stability and vital foreign revenue streams. 

However, greater revenue-sharing on LNG projects across the country might help quiet some of these calls for regional autonomy. But if Marape is unable to deliver on his political promises and placate key stakeholders, there's a chance his term — scheduled to end in 2022 — could very well be cut short.

Since gaining its independence in 1975, the country has seen a slew of feeble governments defined not by party or ideology, but by personal politicking and lawmakers defecting to other parties for their own self-interests.

As a result, only a handful of these administrations have completed a full term. And indeed, Marape's rise to power embodies this trend as well. When an 18-month constitutional grace period expires, he'll be vulnerable to a vote of no-confidence beginning in October 2020 — the very same tool used to force O'Neill's resignation in May. 

To ensure he doesn't suffer the same fate as his predecessor, Marape he will need to deliver a high-profile victory on resource deals that both saves face for the government and doesn't jeopardize vital projects.

Meanwhile, on debt and aid, he will need to extract at least some concessions from Australia to illustrate his ability to diplomatically secure the country's interests.

But in doing so, foreign players will be aware that he can only push so far due to his cash-strapped country's reliance on the revenue flows from both foreign LNG firms and Canberra.

As such, while both Australia and foreign major oil companies will respond to Papua New Guinea's calls for adjustments, they will not make the kind of sweeping overhauls to their relationship with the government that Marape has called for.

Go to this link for more: https://www.pngattitude.com/2019/09/in-papua-new-guinea-reality-will-dim-any-nationalist-dreams.html

Case on Marape to go ahead

By GIDEON KINDIWA - The Natiobnal

THE Supreme Court has allowed Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch to proceed with a court reference questioning the election of James Marape as prime minister.
A three-man bench consisting of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Justice Ellenas Batari and Justice Oagile Bethuel Dingake granted an application filed by Pruaitch’s lawyers Greg Sheppard and Philip Tabuchi of Young and Williams Lawyers regarding his standing.
The judges ruled that Pruaitch as the opposition leader had standing and sufficient interest in pursuing the issue in court to determine whether Marape’s election in Parliament on May 30 was legal.
Sheppard submitted that Pruaitch had standing because it was a legitimate role of the opposition leader to hold government accountable.
“By virtue of the office he holds and the functions of that office, he is entitled to raise significant Constitutional issues,” Sheppard said.
He said Pruaitch had satisfied every prerequisite to file the reference under Section 18(1) of the Constitution as he was the Opposition Leader and a citizen with a genuine concern on the issue.
He argued that Pruaitch was not a busy body meddling around with other people’s business but had sought to raise important constitutional issues.
He was responding to Nemo Yalo, representing Justice Minister and Attorney-General Davis Steven, who told the court that Pruaitch did not have any standing because he had nominated former prime minister Peter O’Neill to hold the position again.
And when O’Neill did not accept the nomination, Yalo said Pruaitch joined others in electing Marape “which is not genuine”.
Yalo submitted that Pruaitch was a “busy body” and his application was not about keeping the executive arm of the government accountable, nor to correct Speaker Job Pomat.
Meanwhile, the same court granted an application by Speaker Pomat to become an intervener in the proceedings.
It however dismissed a similar application by Parliament acting clerk Kala Aufa.
The judges ruled that the role of the clerk was to advise the Speaker and it was unnecessary for the clerk to become a party of its own in the proceedings. The substantive matter will be heard on Sept 20.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/case-on-marape-to-go-ahead/

First 100 days for PM James Marape

Posted by Niugini Times

The best achievement of PMJM’s Government within 100 days is putting PO, Namah and Patrick Pruitch together in Opposition. Others include; 
1. Splitting PNC and NA; two very powerful Parties; to take back PNG. 
2. Tabling UBS Saga and the subsequent COI
3. Renegotiating Papua LNG 
4. Undertaking to pass the Whistle Blower and ICAC Bills 
5. Being honest about PNGs economy and getting the right people in place to make the necessary but painful changes. 
6. Visiting most departments and institutions that support the government and putting all public servants on notice to perform and earn honestly.
7. Undertaking to refinance the K27 billion Loan recklessly piled up by subsequent government.
8. Giving the K320 million EU grant to the Sepik people and putting emphasis on Agriculture
9. Review of Papua LNG Agreement with some key conditions: 
9.1. DMO price from US$4.5/JCC to be reduced so we buy cheap gas for gas power generation, petrochemical, etc. 
9.2. Increace Reserve gas volume for DMO from 5% to 8%
9.3. Gas Pipeline to be nationally owned.
9.4. Shipping Business to be owned natinally
9.5. Well defined Local Content Policy to promote local business.
9.6. Central Bank to scrutinise flow of cash to manaze Forex and Inflation
10. Bring in 4 Opposition MPs to his cabinet: K.Kua, Dr. Lino, B.K, and number of Governors and MPs
11. Commitment to change our resource laws.
12. Upcoming Sackings of departmental heads who do not share the vision of taking back PNG.

Go to this link for more: https://timesniugini.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/first-100-days-for-pm-james-marape/