Wigmen innocent: Hondina

Cup organisers say Hela side will not be penalised over alleged incident

By JACK AMI - The National

DIGICEL Cup organisers say grand finalists Hela Wigmen will not be penalised over an alleged sexual-assault incident that took place in Port Moresby on Sunday.
It was alleged that Wigmen supporters had chanced upon a female Tigers supporter after she had made her way out of the Oil Search National Football Stadium following the Lae side’s 15-4 victory.
However, Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) manager Stanley Hondina said yesterday that the franchise would not be penalised as it was the work of opportunists.
“We have guidelines to safeguard the competition and its franchises, and Wigmen are not part of this unfortunate incident,” he said.
NFS general manager Lee Pokarop said yesterday’s front-page article in the other daily had tarnished the work done to develop the sport.
“We don’t know which source the reporter had got his or her story from as all the sports reporters were still at OSNFS after the grand final. We should get our facts right before publishing such reports,” Pokarop said.
“This is like attacking rugby league and undoing a peaceful grand final. Prime Minister James Marape and Sports Vice-Minister Wesley Raminai hailed it a great success. Security is our number-one priority at the stadium.
“It is unfortunate and the blame should not be shouldered by both organisations (NFS and PNGNRLC) as it did not take place in the venue.
“For events like the Rugby League World and any other international events, security is extended outside the stadium.
“We’d like to assure our people and supporters that the venue has a highly-professional approach in dealing with such behaviour and does not entertain violence.”
PNGNRLC chairman Adrian Chow said it was an isolated incident.
“This is an unfortunate incident and the Wigmen should not be blamed as it was work of opportunists claiming to be supporters, allegedly attacking a woman and smashing vehicle windows at the back of Boroko Post Office,” he said.
“This is a police matter now so they will have to investigate and arrest the suspects involved in the incident.
“We have a zero tolerance on violence. It’s unfortunate that this has happened.”

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O’Neill: Funding cut will hurt districts, provinces

By GYNNIE KERO The National 

FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, pictured, has condemned the planned slashing of service improvement programme funds for provinces and districts saying it will hurt the people, especially those in rural areas.
O’Neill was responding to a statement by his successor James Marape warning that cuts should be expected in the funding of certain programmes when the Supplementary Budget is tabled in Parliament next month.
Marape mentioned the district service improvement programme (DSIP) and provincial service improvement programme (PSIP).
O’Neill said the DSIP and PSIP were established and maintained by the Government when Marape was finance minister “so that government services could be planned and delivered at the local level, and not simply imposed by Waigani”.
“This is the only funding that goes directly to our districts and provinces,” he said.
“For many years now, through these programmes, the districts and provinces have been able to work with communities to deliver services and projects needed by the people.
“Slashing of these funds will mean services in healthcare, education, community development and security will go into decline.
“Every district and province in our country has planned for the delivery of these promised funds for the remainder of 2019 for the betterment of their people.”
O’Neill said MPs and governors would have to explain to their people why the services had to be slashed by the Government in 2019.
“In over seven years in government, we ensured that DSIPs and PSIPs were paid despite the trying economic times,” he said.
“The Government already has within its means the savings that are required to fund the budget, such as the reforms in government salaries.
“These public service reforms that we initiated in previous years are now coming to fruition and should be fully implemented without fail.”
O’Neill said the Government should manage the budget “without taking drastic measures
that are not properly thought through which could only hurt our people”.


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No change to deputy PM

By REBECCA KUKU The National 

PRIME Minister James Marape has denied talks and rumours that he is appointing a new deputy prime minister to replace Davis Steven.
In a WhatsApp response to The National yesterday evening, Marape said: “False.
Marape was asked: “There are talks that there is a new DPM. That a member of the NA (National Alliance Party) is now the new DPM and has replaced Davies Steven?”
The talks and rumours follow a viral posting being circulated in social media Facebook (PNG Current News) that read: “Patrick Pruaitch Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven OUT!”
The National also learnt that Marape had a meeting with key political leaders in his office on Friday following news reports that the Supreme Court had allowed Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch to proceed with a court reference questioning the election of Marape as PM in Parliament on May 31.
The NA had also called for a press conference in the PM’s office in Parliament to announce its move to the Government but cancelled it after three hours.
Meanwhile, Steven, who is also Justice Minister and Attorney-General, failed to turn up for two official functions on Friday and yesterday.
The functions are related to the ongoing 2019 Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) Conference in Port Moresby.
Pruaitch is the party leader for the National Alliance.


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Parkop condemns violence

By Rebecca Kuku and Majorie Finkeo The National

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has condemned the violence that broke out after the Lae Tigers beat Hela Wigmen 15-4 in the Digicel Cup rugby league final at the National Football Stadium on Sunday.
Parkop said that he was “totally disgusted, ashamed” by what had transpired.
According to police reports, four females were stripped and sexually abused by a group of Hela Wigmen supporters at Boroko.
Dog Unit director Leith Nidung told The National that the four young women wearing Lae Tigers T-shirts were pulled off near the big drain at the back of Stop & Shop next to Salvation Army, where their clothes were torn off.
Nidung said they were harassed and sexually assaulted when police arrived at the scene.
“They were completely naked and the group of Hela Wigmen supporters were trying to gang-rape them when police arrived and rescued them,” he said.
“The public assisted the four women with clothes to cover their bodies.
“Luckily, the incident happened close to the police station, there was a lot of people watching but no one wanted to help till police arrived at the scene.
“What has happened to our society for such an animalistic act to have taken place?”
Nidung said Hela Wigmen supporters also threw stones at their vehicles and police were outnumbered but they did their very best to contain the incident.
“Vehicle windscreens were stoned, lap tops, mobile phones stolen, bag-snatching, pick-pockets and many innocent Lae Snax Tigers supporters were attacked.
“It was difficult to arrest the suspects because of the crowd and we could not identify them.”
Hela Governor Philip Undialu also condemned the attacks and mayhem caused by Hela supporters after they lost.
Undialu told The National that “while he was not taking responsibility for the incidents” he condemned the actions of the person or persons using the Hela Wigmen name to incite violence.
Meanwhile, the Hela Wigmen Rugby League Club released a statement yesterday saying that it was an isolated incident by opportunists.
The statement said that an isolated incident could not be used to discredit what was an outstanding 2019 Digicel Cup competition, an entertaining finals series topping off with a spectacular grand final on Sunday.
“The Kroton Hela Wigmen were gracious in defeat.
“No punches were thrown by the players or the officials for the entire 80 minutes. Rugby League won at the end of the day,” the statement said.
“What happened between spectators within National Football Stadium are within the jurisdiction of the venue management to take note off and appropriate fines and actions to be imposed on the people concerned.
“What happens outside the National Football Stadium are in the hands of the police and appropriate charges must be laid on the people concerned by laying formal complaints. It is a police matter.”


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Reckless borrowing, spending forced funding cut: Undialu

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

RECKLESS borrowing and spending on inflated contracts by the previous government has forced the Government to slash funding for important programmes, says Hela Governor Philip Undialu.
He said the planned funding cuts to the provincial service improvement programme (PSIP) and district service improvement programme (DSIP) as announced by Prime Minister James Marape to fund the supplementary budget were inevitable.
Undialu said the previous government, led by Peter O’Neill, had doctored facts about the economy, debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio and the economy.
“Under former prime minister Peter O’Neill’s leadership, the country incurred a total debt of up to K27 billion and an additional K6 billion for the SOEs (State-owned entities),” he said.
“Our debt to GDP ratio is over 37 per cent now.
“That’s why this government has to do some cuts.
“That’s being responsible.”
Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp said the country was in a serious financial situation and he was willing to accept a 20 per cent cut to his PSIP funds.
He said cuts should also be made in all public sectors.
Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta said he welcomed a 20 per cent cut to his PSIP and would make adjustments to the province’s budget.
Dei MP Westley Nukunj said DSIP funds were policy development funds and not constitutional funds. “If the Government wanted to cut it to fund a supplementary budget, then let it do so.”
Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko said DSIP funds went a long way in transforming his electorate and without it his people would suffer.
“However, we all have to make the sacrifice and work together to assist the country’s financial struggles and issues.”


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PNG must judge us based on our content of character and individual actions, not stereotype in general

By Bobby Yupi

In Sympathizing with what was circulated in social media for the last 24 hours after the nerve wrecking exchange of rugby league footy skills during the Grand Final Day between the Snax Tigers and the Kroton Hela Wigman, some things need to be put in their contexts!

1. One cannot be emotionally charged to stereotype a group based on the actions of a select few, because what one may say under the cloud of one's emotions minus one's sense of reasoning and logic.

2. What happened within the confines of NFS by Spectators falls under the care of the Management of the NFS. The Kroton Hela Wigman Rugby League Club is not a party in this melee! The Wigman team has risen from the ashes and they have displayed true sportsmanship and discipline and accepted defeat with Humility!

3. What happens on the Field between the Players, Referees, linesmen or the club officials are matters for the PNGRFL to deal with! There you saw the full 80 minutes entertainment on show! Every team member went a winner through display of entertaining football despite the scoreline! PNGRFL gets the credit for taking the game forward.

4. What happens outside, of the confines of the above, and the unfortunate incidents outside as being the subject of social media onslaught on the Hela community with much fanfare and emotional boil over are matters within the confines of law and police and No Hela Individual leader or law abiding citizen has control over! We live in a society where risks are inevitable and those who met their fate with properties rampaged and lives traumatized are an unfortunate incident in otherwise, would have been a successful year of following rugby league within and abroad!

5. I am a Hela by Birth but I will still bleed a Papua New Guinean through and through! I have seen and read and digested within the last 24 hours emotional sentiments over a single incident or 2 which the general Law abiding Hela citizens, including myself have No control over!

To give you the challenge that what you emotionally expressed is not what all Hela is comprised of, I will allow you to watch Hela's personal and professional progress and find out for oneself what Hela has contributed to the National Labour, National Identity, National Economy and the National Politics of our great nation! We (Hela) stand to be judged Not on the actions of an individual few or renegade opportunists! Besides, I do Not Condone the actions of those Opportunists who preyed on the vulnerable members.

Expect cuts in funding, says PM

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

PRIME Minister James Marape has called for “sacrifice” as Government plans to cut funding to major programmes so it can fund its Supplementary Budget to be tabled in Parliament next month.
He told The National that budgetary allocations to major public-funded programmes such as the Provincial Service Improvement Programme (PSIP) and District Service Improvement Programme (DSIP) would bear the brunt of the cost cut.
“PSIP and DSIP funding will be slashed. All (MPs should be) willing to make that sacrifice to fund the supplementary budget,” he said.
He explained that the Government is in a situation where government revenue has shrunk while expenditure has increased so the Government will be making adjustments to fund a supplementary budget.
“Treasury will be making a review and for the first time the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will be part of that review to establish what our revenue is and what our expenditure is as we want to be transparent with our numbers,” Marape said.
“But in any situation where the revenue is smaller than the expenditure, there will be cuts made. So after the review is made, any wastage in public service will be cut.”
The supplementary budget is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 8.
Marape reminded everyone that “we must help ourselves” by tightening up on expenditure.
“No one (else) would help us,” he said.
“We’re giving our new Treasurer (Ian Ling-Stuckey) one more month to look through the numbers and reconcile. So it’s about taking control of our revenue, correcting and tidying the balance for this year.”
The supplementary budget is to readjust the Government’s financial plan as outlined in the 2019 national budget approved by Parliament last November.
Marape had said earlier that the current economic situation warranted a readjustment to the financial roadmap for the year before the 2020 national budget is tabled in November.
Former prime minister and finance minister Sir Mekere Morauta recently joined Marape’s team from the Opposition to assist in addressing the dire economic situation.

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