Miss Samoa crowned Pacific queen

By BOURA GORU-KILA - The National

MISS Samoa Fonoifafo Nancy McFarland Seumanu was crowned Miss Pacific Islands on Saturday, succeeding Miss PNG Leoshina Kariha who was crowned last year at Nukualofa in Tonga.
The one-week annual pageant featuring 12 beauty queens from Pacific islands ended with the crowning at the Stanley Hotel & Suites in Port Moresby.
Seumanu, 24, who won US$3,000 (K10,200) with the crown was earlier judged the queen with the best traditional wear and best interview. She will represent the Pacific region at various regional and international events.
Seumanu is a public health nurse by profession and is a dance and music enthusiast.
“I am happy to connect with my sister contestants and, in the Pacific spirit, use our roles to make a difference, however small, to the lives of Pacific youth,” she said.
“Our every action, opinion or statement matters and can leave a lasting impression on our Pacific people.”
Miss Solomon Islands Gladys Habu, 24, was first runner-up and won US$2,000 (K6,800). Miss Papua New Guinea Lucy Maino, 24, was second runner-up and won US$1,500 (K5,100).
Miss Tahiti Herevai Hoata, 22, was third runner-up. She won US$1,000 (K3,400).
The fourth runner-up was Miss Tonga Yehenara Soukop, 20 with US$700 (K2,380) prize money.
MPIP chairperson Molly O’Rourke said the pageant recognised Pacific island women, their contributions to regional affairs and ability to advance in diverse fields with the common goal to empower each other.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/miss-samoa-crowned-pacific-queen/

3 dead, 20 houses razed in POM

By MALINDA KALE - The National

A POTENT mix of alcohol and ethnicity has left three people dead and more than 20 houses razed in the National Capital District’s 8-Mile settlement over the weekend.
Ethnic fighting started on Friday night after David Dew Kendiyo, who graduated from the University of PNG (UPNG) recently, was slashed to death in a drunken brawl.
The fighting and burning of houses continued until the next morning between Hela and Southern Highlands groups until police stepped in to quell the violence.
Kendiyo, from Southern Highlands’ Nipa, died at the Port Moresby General Hospital at midnight.
Police commander for the National Capital District and Central Acting Asst Comm Anthony Wagambie Jnr said police reinforcements under the command of Chief Insp Tapp Opai and Gordon police station commander Insp Mark Mosinakave were deployed to quell the violence.
He said several people were also injured and more than 20 houses were set ablaze in the early morning riot.
“Many innocent residents have been jolted by the violence”, he said.
“Police units from the Gordon police station, the Forensic Unit, CID and Mobile Squad personnel from McGregor Barracks were at the scene to control the violence and to conduct investigations.”
Wagambie appealed to the warring groups to abstain from further violence and allow police to investigate the deaths, injuries and destruction.
He also appealed to community leaders at the settlement to support police by identifying the perpetrators
“We will maintain a high police presence in the area.
“All must cease fighting,” he said.
Wagambi said such violence resulting in the loss of lives and properties could be easily avoided if everyone resorted to peaceful means to resolve differences.
Police have ordered bottle shops in the area to be closed indefinitely.
“We are also appealing to ethnic groups in other parts of the city not to take part in this feud,” he said.
“Just leave it to us to handle it.”

 Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/3-dead-20-houses-razed-in-pom

PM describes budget as ‘hard’

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape has described the 2020 Budget as “hard”, in view of the current economic climate.
Marape said the K4.6 billion deficit, projected to be the largest ever, “is not something we should be fearful about”.
“This is so long that, as custodians of the budget, what we plan to implement is geared towards resuscitating the economy,” he said.
“What we borrow must come in to resuscitate the economy.”
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey tabled the 2020 money plan in Parliament last Thursday, forecasting a total expenditure of around K18.7 billion against a revenue of K14.1 billion.
“It’s a hard budget in view of the fact that our revenue environment was not certain,” Marape said.
“Some of our big-ticket projects like Wafi-Golpu mine, Porgera mine, P’nyang and Papua LNG projects are still in discussion stage.
“Revenue is not certain. But I am comforted that Treasury was able to model next year’s budget, and for the next three to four years, out of our own sweat component – sweat meaning what we invest in.
“We are using this budget as a tool to restimulate and diversify our economy.”
Marape said the US$330 million (K1billion) loan from Australia was incorporated in the plan.
“The Treasury will look at better financing options in the market to ensure that our deficit is totally financed,” he said.
“We tried our best to be balanced and as fair as possible, right across the country.
“So, overall, the budget is not bad but it’s going to be a hard year. We have to stick to the core fundamentals, be conservative.
“This is all to ensure that we get back on the right track by 2025, by which time, we should be cascading back to a lower deficit. We should have a lower debt-to-GDP ratio by the mid-2020s.”
Marape said the K14 billion revenue would be the “highest ever” for the country.
“That’s a strong indication of our own commitment to work hard next year at all levels.
“That’s why we’re sharing the burden right across all parts of our country.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-describes-budget-as-hard/

UAE to sponsor PNG

Posted on The National

THE Government has thanked the United Arab Emirates government for sponsoring PNG’s participation in the Dubai Expo 2020 starting October next year.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Patrick Pruaitch met UAE Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan Al Shamsi last Saturday at the Expo 2020 international participants’ meeting in Dubai.
Pruaitch said the UAE government would fund the construction and fitting out of the PNG pavilion.
It will also provide two apartments free of charge for PNG delegates during the six months of the expo.
It will also pay for cleaning and maintenance costs.
The expo takes place in Dubai from Oct 20 to April 10, 2021. It will be attended by millions of people, most of whom are building their own multi-million-dollar pavilions. Seventy countries have completed ground-breaking ceremonies.
Pruaitch advised the UAE government that PNG would soon appoint a commissioner-general for Expo2020, a task currently carried out in an acting capacity by Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Joshua Kalinoe.
Pruaitch told the UAE Vice-Minster he had a good exchange on bilateral issues with the UAE ambassador to PNG, Dr Mohamed Omar A Balfaqeeh, during a stopover in Singapore.
Al Shamsi said the UAE government would assist PNG to profile its development potential and to connect PNG to the rest of the world through Expo2020.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/uae-to-sponsor-png/

PNG Focus into Future

By DAVID DOM KUA - PNG Blogs

I qoute from Late Bill william Skate

"Autonomy is negotiable but Independence for Bougainville is over my dead body"

He is dead and gone but his wisdom is for the unification of PNG stands tall.

Papua New Guinea can move on to become federal states as a unified country as we move into the future. Such option is available and are far from over.

Independence will only create disunity and segregation in a multination state such as our country that's what is meant for us to uphold national unity at all times.

"One people, One Kantri and One nation."
Is the preamble of our constitution!

Let me recap the memories of PANGU PATI. It emerged in the bully beef club from like-minded leaders like Somare, Late John Guise, late Sir Albert KiKi, Sir Julius Chan, Fr John Momis and Late Bernard Narakobi and others who saw the common dream for PNG self Independence 45 years ago and consequently gave birth to our nations based on the fundamental principles of National Unity.

Sir Palus Matane described our nation as a Parliament of 10,000 tribes meaning our country is unique and is United in Diversity.

The abbreviation of the name PANGU initially means "Papua New Guinea United Pati."

So make no mistake from the wisdom of the living legends! Dead and living Instead we should progress our nation to a higher level of unification of politics for our common good thus greater autonomy for our provinces.

Go to this link for more: http://www.pngblogs.com/2019/11/png-focus-into-future.html

Oil Search's LNG expansion uncertain as Exxon rejects PNG's terms

By Angela Macdonald-Smith - Financial Review

Oil Search's year-end target for reaching a deal with the Papua New Guinea government – so that work can proceed on a planned $US14 billion ($20 billion) expansion of liquefied natural gas – is uncertain after the parties failed to agree on terms or even the state of the negotiations.

PNG petroleum minister Kerenga Kua released a statement on Friday expressing "disappointment" with the progress of talks after ExxonMobil, the lead partner in the LNG venture, "refused to consider the state's proposed terms".

Mr Kua said the proposed terms, which were not disclosed, are "based on international best practice". They are understood to involve a higher tax rate and a more onerous domestic gas requirement than under a similar earlier deal for the separate but related Papua LNG project.

But ExxonMobil said the discussions with the PNG government to complete were continuing. "An agreement is needed before decisions can be made regarding front-end engineering and design for the three-train development at the PNG LNG plant site," an ExxonMobil spokesperson said.

Exxon, French major Total and Oil Search need to reach an agreement on the fiscal and other terms related to the development of the P'nyang gas field to proceed with the LNG expansion. The earlier deal for Papua LNG was struck under the former government of Peter O'Neill, while the new government, led by James Marape, has taken a much tougher line on resource development, demanding that more benefits flow to the PNG economy and local communities.

The partners need the second deal to be tied up before they can proceed with engineering work on the three-train expansion, which involves both Papua LNG and the expansion of the existing PNG LNG project, fed by the P'nyang field.

Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic told clients the statement supported his view that the PNG government was seeking "much tougher" terms on P'nyang than for Papua LNG.

That risks prolonging negotiations, delaying engineering work and potentially putting the final investment decision at risk for the whole project, which he calculates is worth $2.40 a share for Oil Search.

Shares in Oil Search dipped when the statement was released, but still closed up 1.1 per cent at $7.24 on Friday. Neither Exxon nor Oil Search would immediately comment.

Revenues 'critical'
Mr Kua described the P'nyang field as the last significant LNG opportunity in PNG, and said the revenues from development were, hence, critical for the nation.

He said the team negotiating the deal on behalf of PNG had carried out "extensive" preparatory work to draft terms in line with international standards to ensure a good deal for the PNG people. The revenues would be used for infrastructure, health and education.

"It is disappointing Exxon has refused to even consider these terms and we urge them to reconsider their position," Mr Kua said. According to a source familiar with the situation on the PNG side, Exxon has sought to table its own proposed agreement as the starting point for discussions.

Mr Kua said that while the negotiating team was committed to working with international oil companies to develop PNG's natural resources as quickly as possible to support the development of PNG, "our resources cannot become money‐making machines for oil companies at the expense of the nation".

Oil Search's outgoing managing director Peter Botten has previously underscored the importance of a timely agreement on the gas development so that the LNG expansion doesn't miss a market "window" for new demand expected to emerge mid next decade.

The timing of the expansion has already been delayed by many months owing to the difficulty of the negotiations, particularly after the change of government.

Mr Kua said the terms PNG proposed were comparative to those for oil and gas projects in Indonesia and Malaysia.

“We have asked Exxon to be transparent about their costs and intentions with P’nyang, so we can move forward with negotiations and secure a deal that is beneficial for PNG and project partners,” the minister said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/oil-search-lng-expansion-in-peril-as-exxon-rejects-png-s-terms-20191122-p53d5w

Somare calls for wise, calm decision

Posted on The National

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare has urged Bougainvileans to vote wisely from tomorrow in the referendum which will decide their future.
“For many Papua New Guineans, (in) Bougainville and elsewhere in our beautiful country, the act of the referendum represents a sad event in our history following the gaining of full independence for the nation in 1975,” he said in a statement.

Maggie Tsidaori from Lower Siangnari Ward, South Nasioi, Central Bougainville, finishing house to house polling and scrutiny awareness as part of the Bougainville Referendum Commission voter information programme. – Picture courtesy of BRC

The two-week polling begins tomorrow (Nov 23) and ends on Dec 7. The return of writs is scheduled for Dec 20.
The voters will pick one of two options: Greater Autonomy or Independence.
“As the founding prime minister of this nation, I call on the people of Bougainville to be guided by their inner wisdom in the vote for independence or full autonomy for Bougainville,” he said.
“This is the outcome of the peace agreement that was signed to formally end the Bougainville conflict, to restore peace to the nation and to forge new pathways for improved prosperity and living conditions for our people.
“The Bougainville conflict was the price we paid for issues that were never satisfactorily addressed in relation to the Bougainville copper mine.
“The mine was a key source of revenue for the government and people of this country for many years.
“Unfortunately, there was much concern, particularly in Bougainville, that the benefits of mining were not being shared in an equitable way.”
He said the problem “continues to confront leaders of this nation to this day, as can be seen with unresolved issues (at the) Porgera gold mine and the PNG LNG Project”.
“As the founding father who has visited some of the remotest parts of our country in every province, I am keenly aware of the disparities that exist and continue to be inadequately addressed by national, provincial and local level governments,” he said.
“As Bougainvilleans make their voices heard in the referendum, it is my hope that PNG remains united and free in the aftermath of this historic poll.”
He said the country had remained united for more than 40 years which was an achievement in itself.
“So it with heavy hearts that the rest of our country awaits the decision that the people of Bougainville will be taking in the next couple of days.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/somare-calls-for-wise-calm-decision/