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/

Manus receives K7mil for road construction

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape gave K7 million to the Manus government during his visit to the province on Sunday for road construction.
The road will run from Lorengau to the west coast.
Marape said building the road would be costly and work would be done “one kilometre at a time.”
“Development has been focused on Port Moresby when other provinces needed it. Unlike Manus, my own electorate still does not have sealed roads despite being the host of oil and gas projects,” he said.
“This country has all the resources in the world yet poverty, lack of education, lack of employment and lack of meaningful engagement are rife.
“Our fish is stolen through illegal fishing, our logs harvested but we are still receiving a small percentage of the proceeds from the sale of round logs. And we are not making as much revenue as we would expect from selling oil, gas, gold and copper.”
Marape will be meeting stakeholders in the logging industry this week to discuss processing timber in the country.
“I understand that this may upset owners of logging businesses but it is time to start downstream processing,” he said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/manus-receives-k7mil-for-road-construction/

Funds issue delays project

By BARBARA DERUAGE - The National

THE new K469 million court house in Waigani, Port Moresby, is facing delays because of lack of funding, an official says.
The message was relayed to Prime Minister James Marape by infrastructure adviser Jason Stewart when he toured the site last Friday.
The project began in 2016.
Stewart said K340 million was needed to complete the project to house 15 court rooms including one to be used for ceremonial sittings, 13 judges chamber, offices for the National and Supreme Court Registrars and office space for corporate services.
He told Marape the court complex should be expected by the end of next year depending on the availability of funding.
“We have received funding over the last years but we still need more funding to complete the building,” he said.
We are hoping to complete the building by the end of next year should we receive funding in this budget and the budget next year.”
Marape, who was accompanied by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika and court officials, said it would be an “iconic” structure when completed.
“This building will be a testament that we have a vibrant judiciary,” he said.
“When this is complete, this will be a monumental iconic structure that will signal to the world out there that our judiciary is strong and robust.
“We (will) ensure that this project is delivered on time and our judiciary can take residence here to dispense justice as accurately as possible.”
Sir Salika submitted a report on the project on Sept 26 in anticipation of the tabling of 2020 Budget next month.
Marape said he could not preempt the outcome of the budget process “but I will give you respect as the third arm of the government and hopefully we can complete the building at the earliest”.
Marape commended former Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia for his vision, foresight and leadership.
He also commended Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika who was then Sir Salamo’s deputy and members of the judiciary for the initiative.
The contractor is the China Railway Construction Engineering Corporation.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/funds-issue-delays-project/

Marape leads in Sino-PNG friendship

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape seized the opportunity to forge and strengthen Papua New Guinea (PNG)-China relations and friendship at a cultural show hosted by China’s Embassy in PNG at the International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sept 26.
Marape stayed on throughout the night of the reception, taking group photographs with the Fujian Acrobatic Troupe members and guests comprising local leaders and communities from both countries.
He only left the 500-people dinner-cultural show reception at about 11pm after a 15-minute colourful fireworks display that lit the sky above the ICC.
The reception, featuring an hour-long exclusive and spectacular performances by acrobats, dancers and a singer, was staged to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of The People’s Republic of China.
Marape said in his dinner address: “We have much to learn from China’s rise from poverty into the world’s second largest economy in just over 40 decades. It managed to lift some 700 million people out of poverty.
“Some 95 per cent of Papua New Guineans are still living in poverty. We look forward to greater mutual trade and growth between PNG and China because we want to break free from grant dependency.
“We recognised the One China Policy since establishing bilateral relations on Oct 12, 1976. China has never started any war … it only promoted world trade.
“We appreciate President Xi Jinping’s visit to PNG for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (last November) and China’s continuous socio-economic contributions to PNG.”
China’s ambassador to PNG Xue Bing said: “PNG, after 43 years of bilateral relations, is today the second largest Pacific trading partner (the largest being Solomon Islands) and the balance of payments is in PNG’s favour.
“To date, Chinese investments have created 6,000 jobs for Papua New Guineans. China’s technology-driven economy is today contributing to 30 per cent of global economic growth.
“China’s global economic development and activities will always remain as an opportunity for the rest of the world to benefit mutually.”


Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-leads-in-sino-png-friendship/

Undialu hopes to end fighting

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

Hela Province is host to a number of many natural resources projects that benefit Papua New Guinea.
The current biggest project, includes the PNG LNG Project source area of Hides, Angore, Kutubu, Moro, Moran and Mananda oil fields.
But despite its beauty and its resources tribal warfare continues to ravage their land as families are left homeless, children fatherless and women widowed at an early age as law and order issues continue to rise.
Cassie Kamuni is a 19-year-old widow with two young children aged three and one. Not only was her husband killed in a tribal fight but her father and two brothers as well.
“When I was 15 years old, they came in the night and killed my father and two brothers, my mother took us and we ran away back to her village.
“Without a father and brothers to stand up for us we were left defenseless, so my mum gave my hand in marriage to an old warrior who already had three wives, I was to become the fourth.
“But that is our way of life, one of his daughters is the same age as me, and we became friends.He was kind to me.”
“Though there were times when his other wives, older than I would attack me and beat me, we later became good friends and they loved my children and treated them as they were their own.
“But soon the tribal warfare began again, my husband left with his men after two weeks word reached us that he had died in battle.”
Cassie has gone back to her mother’s village but now with young ones to care for.
“All my husband’s worldly things were shared amongst the older sons; my children and I were given nothing.”
“We are now left at the mercy of my mother and her people to care for us,” she says.
Cassie says tribal fighting robbed her ofa normal childhood.
“If my father was not killed, I would be in high school now, but now I am a mother and again tribal fighting has robbed my children of a father.
“Such is the way of life for us, but it is how it has always been,” she says.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu says that Cassie’s story is just one of the many untold stories of his people.
“I can honestly say that tribal fighting has caused many damages, destructionand claimed many lives in Hela.
“Tribal fighting unlike the earthquake which just happened and is over, continues on a daily basis. Every day homes are burnt, people killed and it is an obstacle that we face every day.
“There areno actual figures, but I can say that there has been too many lives lost in tribal fights,” he said.
Undialu said that they have started holding peace mediation talks and called for the surrender of firearms but it would take a while.
“Though Hela is a resource-rich province in terms of oil and gas deposits, not everyone is benefiting from the extraction of these resources.
“That’s why, our focus is on building the welfare of individuals and that we can achieve through driving the agriculture sector and agribusinesses.”
Undialu said that the provincial government has started creating more job opportunities for their people in the hopes that warriors would lay down their arms.
“The provincial government in partnership with the LR Group from Israel established the Piwa Agro project at Tari producing around 8,000 chickens per month and Koroba Agro in the Koroba-Lake Kopiago electorate producing around 11,000 eggs per month.
“When you look at the benefits of these agribusinesses, they are generating a fair bit of income into the community.
“For instance, we have more than 30 local workers for Koroba Agro and if they are paid K350 per fortnight, you are looking at around K10,500 plus injected to the village every two weeks.
“In a month, it’s more than K20,000 put directly into people’s pockets.”
Undialu said the same was done for Piwa Agro and the price of eggs which used to be K1.50 each is now 70 toea.
“Our focus is to improve the welfare of our people and we hope to achieve that by investing more in the agriculture sector.”
He said the total investment made to establish the chicken farm was around K20million and the provincial government owns 80 per cent whilst the LR Group owns 20 per cent.
“Our next target is Wigman coffee and that will be the biggest agribusiness we will drive in the province with the aim to train around 5,000 farmers and plant around 15million coffee trees.”
Undialu hopes that with all these job opportunities people will start laying down their arms.
He said they were working on helping their people to become independent and also provide some stability in their lives so that people would have something to protect and will lay down their arms.
“We will also be providing materials for building homes for those who willingly surrender their firearms.
“If these people have permanent homes and jobs they will lay down arms because they would not want a tribal fight that would probably end with their homes being burnt.
“At the moment the homes are made of bush materials so they have no care; they can easily rebuild them again, but if we give them a stable home, they will want to protect them knowing it would not be easy to rebuild again if they get burnt down in a tribal fight,” he said.
Undialu said they were doing their best to address the issue within the province through their society context but also needed support from the National Government, non-governmental organisations, churches and other partners to address the ongoing tribal fights.


Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/undialu-hopes-to-end-fighting/