By Paul Amatio
Opinion on this is divided. I was once naive enough to think that Australia was the one and true friend that we have who can be counted on to provide good guidance, helpful advice and strong admonition if we strayed off the path they had set for us. As a good friend, they would have respected our right to explore other options and ways to ensure that we all advanced in the same direction even if we shoes differing paths to the same outcome. But then, in those days, I did not understand the differing views as to the national interests and long term outcomes and aspirations of different countries, especially an Anglophile society like Australia that has historically viewed blacks as second or third class people.Lets Connect
The Story of how 25% of Porgera was Merged with a Unknown Company
WE HAD 25% OF PORGERA IN THE 90s. WE MERGED IT WITH A K2 COMPANY WHICH CREATED PNG FOCUSED AUSTRALIAN OIL AND GAS COMPANY, OIL SEARCH LTD– AND NOW WE WANT PORGERA BACK AT COST – A TALE SHROUDED IN HIGH LEVEL CORRUPTION AND CONTROVERSY MASTERMINDED BY GREEDY POLITICIANS AND THEIR COHORTS.
Sam Jay Kaupa
Admin – PNG Mining & Development Forum
20th June 2021
When our forefathers gained independence in 1975 they established the Mineral Resources Development Company Limited (MRDC) which was 100% owned by the Government of Papua New Guinea.
MRDC was incorporated on 27th May 1975 under the Companies Ordinance 1966. It was not until 1981 that it became fully functional as a company entrusted with the duty to manage mining and petroleum resource equity interests on behalf of the State and Landowners.
It was the ultimate State Nominee to acquire the State and Landowner equity interests in mining and petroleum projects and to manage the equity funds for landowner companies from the major resource development areas of PNG.
In 1996 during Sir Julius Chan’s term as PM, MRDC was subjected to a partial privatization of its major interests resulting in the creation of Orogen Minerals Limited (OML), of which MRDC held 51 percent controlling shares while other major corporate bodies and individuals collectively held the remaining 49 per cent in OML.
OML at the time was a holding company which controlled stakes in Papua New Guinea resource companies. The Company had a portfolio of high valued assets developed by subsidiaries of major international resources companies. OML had interests in oil development, producing oilfields, gold mines and gold deposits including Kutubu, Gobe, Porgera, Lihir and Moran.
𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗲: 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
𝘉𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯
Michael Somare, bearded, eager, proud and secure within his own remarkable culture, became the face of Papua New Guinea to the world from the time the first daring troublemakers there began to dream of independence in the 1960s. Even more extraordinarily, he remained to his own people the face that mirrored their national aspirations over almost 50 years.
Other prime ministers came and went — Julius Chan and Paias Wingti, twice each — but when Somare returned to the top job in 2002 after a 17-year gap, he began his longest term in power.
He was knighted, and was awarded the top honour, a member of the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu, after PNG also introduced its own honours system under his prime ministership in 2005. But he was ubiquitously known as “The Chief”.
His political longevity was principally owed to three chiefly skills: as a public speaker, both in the national language, Tok Pisin, and in English; as a chairman of the board, maintaining his fissiparous ministers in some kind of order; and as a parliamentary coalition builder and political numbers man, keeping track of the countless trade-offs required to maintain a majority in the PNG political bearpit.
Celebrating 40 years as an MP, Somare said: “I know what PNG politics tastes like.” And to ordinary Papua New Guineans, he remained the embodiment of their bright hopes, which he articulated at independence.
GO - Last Man Standing
BY PATRICK LEVO
OLD George leaned against the tree, resting his troublesome knees. They creaked in places when he trotted, the price one pays from years of playing rugby in his youth.
The sun was hot last Friday in
Port Moresby. George forgot to bring a bottle of cold water, but never mind,
all around him, Papua New Guineans from all walks of life were gathered, each
in his and her own state of grief, water or no water. The grand hall of the
Reverend Sione Kami Memorial Church at 5 Mile was packed with mourners and
VIPs. There was no seat for George. The crook of the neem tree was better than
nothing.
George looked ash in his whites, his maroon PX tie looked great. His smile even greater, but it masked the agony of the moment, of the heartache, of having come here to say goodbye to a close friend and rugby mate.
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE UPON (Daru Fisheries Industrial Park)
By Western
Province - Governor Taboi Awi Yoto
20th December 2020
20th December 2020
There are has been concerns raised recently regarding the Building of Fisheries Industrial Park on Daru Island by a Chinese Fishing Giant.
Firstly let me start off by saying, why why do we keep voting in leaders and demand us for development. Do you expect us to develop the Province with the little we get from DSIP, PSIP, and resource benefits from whatever we get from the few resource extraction from the Province like Ok Tedi alone. If every one of you were in my shoe, you would understand the amount of financial resources I have at my disposal and the wish list of expectations you demand my government to deliver to you, the roads, the classrooms, the hospitals, etc etc. Yes we are not so poor, we have some money stored away, like in PNGSDP but that’s not at my disposal and they don't even listen to us. To me, it’s a grand scam of the century in the name of WP established by BHP and their friends for themselves and not for WP.
Many of us have continued to ask, why do we call ourselves a resource-rich Province yet we are so poor.? Yes we are a resource-rich Province but we need to convert those resources into monetary terms and use those funds to build better hospitals, schools, roads, create employment opportunities, improve the HDI, improve GDP improve our living standards etc. Thus, we as your leaders are challenged to think outside of the box. We just concluded a vote of no confidence, basically those of us who stood with Hon. James Marape, MP, PM, wanted to see an increase in benefits from our resource by tweaking, turning, and amending laws. That's thinking out of the current colonial introduce norm. But if we want to remain the same then let's forget everything, let's stop talking about change, let’s stop talking about electing good leaders who can bring development, let’s stop demanding leaders to think outside of the box to bring about developments etc etc. But if we want change, we must also prepare for the challenges that the change we aspire will bring.
Why I walked out of Parliament on Friday - East Sepik Governor Allan Bird
By East Sepik - Governor Allan Bird
Tuesday 17th November 2020
Whenever something I consider wrong is happening on the floor of the Parliament, I will walk out in protest.
The Parliament is designed based on a sacred Abelam construct. I am an Abelam elder and I will not stand by when members deliberately abuse their privileges on the floor disrespecting my culture.
I have walked out of Parliament 3 times in protest so far. The first time was when Hon Kramer was referred to the Privileges Committee. I felt that was wrong. The second time was when Hon Yama was arguing on his personal interest against Hon Kramer. I asked the Speaker to send him out. When he did not, I walked out.
Friday last week I walked out for the 3rd time. As soon as I realized after Hon Paita raised a point of order that the Deputy Speaker was in collusion and the Law was about to be broken, I walked out in protest.
In 2011, when the Constitution was abused by MPs, I spoke up for the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
To me the Constitution is a sacred place, not to be trifled with or treated with contempt and disdain. I am not perfect but I will maintain my respect for our sacred places. It is something central to Abelam culture.
In my hausman we are told "Ples tambu, em ples tambu, yu nonap katim diwai, kisim saksak or Kanda long em. Yu nonap lo painim abus tu long hap. Tambu tru"
It is not ours to question why the laws are there it is only ours to obey. So any time anyone breaks the rules to pursue an interest I will not be party to it. You have lost me the minute you do that.
To my mind, anyone who is willing to break the law at one point will continue to break the law if it suits him. It's a principle, once you break into a sacred place, you never stop.
A pig who learns to break a fence and raid the garden will never stop doing it.
The Porgera Gold Story - Enga's heartbeat
16th July 2020
Stars align in a thousand years. Lightning does not strike the same place twice. And miracles do happen. You will drive through the red light 9 out of 10 times, but that 10th time, you will get it, you will regret why you took risks all the time when others waited for their turns to go.
Just like how criminals & terrorists forcefully blindfold, disable, torture and ridicule their victims in their own safe premises, Porgerans have become the living testament to the loot of their blessed land for 30 years. You don't need to go further than a few meters walk out of the gold mine gate to Yokolama, Kulapi, Pandadaka, Anawe, Yarik, or Apalaka and you for yourself how these SML landowners have lived and continue to squatter in slums and ghettos.
LATE MALIPU BALAKAU'S VISION ON THE PORGERA GOLD MINE DEVELOPMENT / SCANDALOUS MINING CONTRACT FIASCO
The Porgera Mining Contract of ‘89’ was significantly altered, devoid of the aspirations of then Enga Regional MP, late Hon. Malipu Balakau. The final paper excluded clauses that had been vigorously pushed for by Hon. M Balakau during the forums with the State and Joint Venture Partners months earlier. Had this visionary leader’s radical and nationalistic agenda been captured in the final draft, the course of history, including the socio-economic landscapes, of both Enga Province and PNG, been without doubt positively different.
After his election victory in ‘87’ late Hon. M Balakau set out to do exactly what he had promised his voters during his campaign. He was determined to underpin his dream for Enga’s radical advancement at the back of EPG’s greater participation in developing the gold discovered at Porgera, and therefrom, launch his pitch to be the first PM from Enga Province.
His famed speech ‘to reverse the wind that is blowing’ fanned the hopes of a predominately illiterate but prideful and headstrong people. Though new comers to the outside world the Engan men’s ideals and beliefs of greatness were deeply entrenched in the dynamic and complex cultural setting that had been passed on untainted from a far but traceable past.
AN IPILI STORY
I
am one of 24 brothers and sisters. We own a large piece of land, which has an
abundant natural occurrence of a mineral. One day someone came and told us that
the minerals under our land are valuable and that we can be rich beyond our
wildest dreams. His name was Mr Developer. He sold us tales and promises of
wonder, we could not resist.
He came with a familiar looking neighbor who knew my
language, and another bloke who told me that he was Mr. Government and that we
had a duty to listen to him because despite us owning our own land; anything
below six feet belonged to him. This was all very confusing to my family and I,
but they looked much wiser and smarter than us, so we listened.
They introduced us to Mr Lawyer, who wrote up a
paper called a Special Mining Lease. Mr Lawyer said that this paper was the
agreement between ourselves, Mr Developer, and Mr Government. We asked him what
the details of the agreement were.
The Longest 5 Seconds in PNG
A feel good story was retold by my small Dad John Mawe (JM) yesterday and I wanted to share. It was the longest 5 seconds of Papua New Guinea!
Flashback 1983 and the PNG Kumuls were up against the French Roosters in an historic International Test Match at Port Moresby Lloyd Robson Oval (PRL) following the 1979 first successful Kumul Europe Tour.
JM was a young student at AdCol and mind you, gate fee was a problem for the sumatins at that time so any available high elevation where you could struggle (of course at your own risks) to catch a glimpse of the rugby league action was worth it all. (You will be fighting against nature and the police! 😂). A light pole was his front row seat & his muscles & body could curse him later for the torture but his big brother, David Tinemau was the captain leading the Kumul assault against the might of the French Rooster.
PRL was packed to the brim and Sir Iambakey Okuk smashed any willing stomach with their favorite San Miguel or SP inside PRL Clubhouse. The scene was settling for a great showdown.
Old Tinemau (Papa Wagi) had flown in from Kundiawa to watch his fav. son play. So you'd know who the biggest volume was in the crowded stands when his son got hit in a tackle or made a tackle (it was something like, Easy ya ba yu indai ya! ...or...killim em! but all in his native Tabare-Sine dialect. 😂). From his strategic location, JM spotted the old man out of the crowd with his trademark cowboy hat.
The Kumuls gave as they got and the game went down to the wire. Bodies were sent out on stretchers; bloodied and bruised warriors traded tit-for-tat and the last men standing held the hopes of a recently independent Third World Nation of 800 languages against a European Superpower as the game closed to the dying stages. 10 seconds before full-time and a penalty was awarded the Kumuls right on halfway; scores were 13-11 in favor of the Frenchmen. The two choice kickers for Kumuls were Paulus Akis, Dad's trusted ace winger from Enga and club playmate from Hagen Brothers or Paul Kombinari, the stellar warrior from Bundi who grew up with Dad playing rugby from primary school to the Kumuls jumper in Goroka. During the anticipation on who should kick was being discussed, the full-time hooter sounded in the background, silence gripped PRL as if nature had pressed a mute button on PRL. JM recalled for the first time hearing the sound of his own sweat dropping. Dad overlooked his clubmate & gave his brother from Bundi the ball. He only said, "Bro, you're kicking for the PNG flag!" and turned his back.
Those 5 Seconds were the longest 5 seconds in PNG! Conversion kickers those days were not fancy sideways hookers or put much antics for a show kind of types, they simply lined up the ball, reversed back, then booted the ball with all their might! Paul Kombinari was old school. The crowd and a nation held their breath when Paul charged towards the ball to let loose the weight pressed on him by the entire nation. The ball twirled up like a torpedo and sailed, and sailed; sailed in slow motion across the 40m, 20m, 10m...hit the right side of the post, sailed back down, landed on the crossbar and went over to give the first international draw with French Roosters in a 13-13 all scores locked!
JM recalled: who said there was a fence in front; people ran through and over it like it was plastic. Sir Okuk shut PRL down and the nation went ballistic! A pretty young Tolai lass singled out Papa Wagi & escorted him to his son with JM, when at last, JM had his proud moment to toast a beer with his big brother in the Kumuls hotel camp.
These stories are not in mainstream media or Google; they only live in people's hearts and minds. From JM's own mouth, it brought tears to my eyes but smiles on my face. The longest 5 seconds in PNG!
Flashback 1983 and the PNG Kumuls were up against the French Roosters in an historic International Test Match at Port Moresby Lloyd Robson Oval (PRL) following the 1979 first successful Kumul Europe Tour.
JM was a young student at AdCol and mind you, gate fee was a problem for the sumatins at that time so any available high elevation where you could struggle (of course at your own risks) to catch a glimpse of the rugby league action was worth it all. (You will be fighting against nature and the police! 😂). A light pole was his front row seat & his muscles & body could curse him later for the torture but his big brother, David Tinemau was the captain leading the Kumul assault against the might of the French Rooster.
PRL was packed to the brim and Sir Iambakey Okuk smashed any willing stomach with their favorite San Miguel or SP inside PRL Clubhouse. The scene was settling for a great showdown.
Old Tinemau (Papa Wagi) had flown in from Kundiawa to watch his fav. son play. So you'd know who the biggest volume was in the crowded stands when his son got hit in a tackle or made a tackle (it was something like, Easy ya ba yu indai ya! ...or...killim em! but all in his native Tabare-Sine dialect. 😂). From his strategic location, JM spotted the old man out of the crowd with his trademark cowboy hat.
The Kumuls gave as they got and the game went down to the wire. Bodies were sent out on stretchers; bloodied and bruised warriors traded tit-for-tat and the last men standing held the hopes of a recently independent Third World Nation of 800 languages against a European Superpower as the game closed to the dying stages. 10 seconds before full-time and a penalty was awarded the Kumuls right on halfway; scores were 13-11 in favor of the Frenchmen. The two choice kickers for Kumuls were Paulus Akis, Dad's trusted ace winger from Enga and club playmate from Hagen Brothers or Paul Kombinari, the stellar warrior from Bundi who grew up with Dad playing rugby from primary school to the Kumuls jumper in Goroka. During the anticipation on who should kick was being discussed, the full-time hooter sounded in the background, silence gripped PRL as if nature had pressed a mute button on PRL. JM recalled for the first time hearing the sound of his own sweat dropping. Dad overlooked his clubmate & gave his brother from Bundi the ball. He only said, "Bro, you're kicking for the PNG flag!" and turned his back.
Those 5 Seconds were the longest 5 seconds in PNG! Conversion kickers those days were not fancy sideways hookers or put much antics for a show kind of types, they simply lined up the ball, reversed back, then booted the ball with all their might! Paul Kombinari was old school. The crowd and a nation held their breath when Paul charged towards the ball to let loose the weight pressed on him by the entire nation. The ball twirled up like a torpedo and sailed, and sailed; sailed in slow motion across the 40m, 20m, 10m...hit the right side of the post, sailed back down, landed on the crossbar and went over to give the first international draw with French Roosters in a 13-13 all scores locked!
JM recalled: who said there was a fence in front; people ran through and over it like it was plastic. Sir Okuk shut PRL down and the nation went ballistic! A pretty young Tolai lass singled out Papa Wagi & escorted him to his son with JM, when at last, JM had his proud moment to toast a beer with his big brother in the Kumuls hotel camp.
These stories are not in mainstream media or Google; they only live in people's hearts and minds. From JM's own mouth, it brought tears to my eyes but smiles on my face. The longest 5 seconds in PNG!
Masked Discriminatory Prejudices In Rugby League
Gary Juffa
November 10 at 7:53 AM ·
My Rugby rant for today!
I am not surprised at the results of the Fiji PNG rugby match. During my brief term as a Chairman for PNGRFL I witnessed first hand such manipulation by faceless men who for some reason do not want PNG to be a part of the game at the highest level.
Diplomacy using sports is a very clever method of political influence. It’s very much at play here in PNG. Even our favourite sport is manipulated by foreign interests and we don’t even see it.
It is subtle but very much there. PNG will be suppressed in anyway shape or form. It has to remain dependent on guess who. Call it a conspiracy theory but the facts are there if you care to look. Review all the events and you will see that there is a clever and sinister method behind the effort to prevent PNG from ever becoming a force of any sort..even in sports especially in rugby league.
November 10 at 7:53 AM ·
My Rugby rant for today!
I am not surprised at the results of the Fiji PNG rugby match. During my brief term as a Chairman for PNGRFL I witnessed first hand such manipulation by faceless men who for some reason do not want PNG to be a part of the game at the highest level.
Diplomacy using sports is a very clever method of political influence. It’s very much at play here in PNG. Even our favourite sport is manipulated by foreign interests and we don’t even see it.
It is subtle but very much there. PNG will be suppressed in anyway shape or form. It has to remain dependent on guess who. Call it a conspiracy theory but the facts are there if you care to look. Review all the events and you will see that there is a clever and sinister method behind the effort to prevent PNG from ever becoming a force of any sort..even in sports especially in rugby league.
Prime Minister Marape urges Oil Search to Pay Tax
Monday, 15 July 2019
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP has urged Oil Search to pay
its fair share of tax due to the Government and people of Papua New Guinea.
Mr Marape was speaking at the occasion to mark the 90th
anniversary of Oil Search operations in the country last week.
He said Oil Search and PNG Government have been sharing this
journey for a long time since PNG gained independence in 1975.
“I like to believe that PNG governments in the past and present
have had quite a significant input into what Oil Search is today and without
that support, Oil Search shares will still be pegging along the same track as
Santos and many of the companies operating in the country.
“I want to pay my respects to the landowners of the entire areas
in which Oil Search has operated since 1929, some of them here tonight, me
included.
Prime Minister Marape Demonstrates True Leadership In Opting To Resign
Prime Minister Marape
demonstrates true leadership in opting to resign It is rare for a Prime
Minister, Premier or President of any given nation to opt to resign from office
instantly if found guilty of having committed a crime over controversial State
deals.
July 4, 2019
It is rare for a Prime Minister,
Premier or President of any given nation to opt to resign from office instantly
if found guilty of having committed a crime over controversial State deals.
In this case it is PNG’s newly
elected Prime Minister James Marape who genuinely told Parliament yesterday he
would not have any qualms at all about resigning from office if he is found
guilty of having breached any law relating to the scandalous K4 billion UBS
loan.
It only takes leaders of
integrity, standing and uprightness to openly declare their commitment to the
high office they hold to make such a bold and daring statement.
Too often leaders do not readily
want to declare themselves subject to the laws of the land but try their utmost
best to circumvent and prolong the legal process to ensure they are not
subjected to close and detailed scrutiny over scandalous deals involving public
money and resources.
The nation is actually watching
the new leadership right now in light of the revelations of the Ombudsman
Commission report into the UBS loan which highlight the path played by this
country’s top leaders and bureaucrats when the money was obtained for the
purposes of buying into Oil Search. The deal is so complex that the ordinary
person will not have any idea of how these sort of complicated arrangements are
made. Why it is complicated is because it involves mega dollars and
international financial advisers, financial institutions, banks, legal
companies and a host of specialist consultants.
Being the leader of a nation is a
special calling, a personal ambition, commitment and sometimes can be by
default depending on whatever the political circumstances that prevail at any
given time. Other reasons are intentional when there is a need to change the leadership
of a country where circumstances are no longer conducive for a functioning
democracy or where there is rampant corruption. Other reasons include financial
and economic crisis where the leadership of a nation blindly leads its populace
into believing well orchestrated announcements of resilient progress to the
contrary. Prime Minister Marape exited from the O’Neill government in protest
over certain decisions made by the executive government together with his now Deputy
Prime Minister Davis Steven.
They both protested actions which
seemingly were not in the national interest and perhaps did not adhere to the
legal requirements of the laws governing the country. They are both commended
for their brave stands despite their having had to forego their ministerial
privileges when they did so.
For Prime Minister Marape, he has
taken that conscious decision to step down from the land’s highest office if
found guilty of any wrongdoing over the UBS scandal. There has to be a bench
mark set for leadership requirements of this country where they have to resign
instantly from office when confronted with such controversial questions over
their ability to hold such high office.
From shocking tribal violence to strawberries for Singapore
By DANIEL KUMBON
How Grand Chief, Sir Peter Ipatas
rebuilt the old PHQ Office complex
Yesterday Chinese businessman Joe’s
three-story building was burned down at Keas.
Today this story has appeared in
PNG ATTITUDE which is published out of Australia. It highlights how the old PHQ
office complex which burned down in March 1993 could not be saved because there
was no fire service.
The story also highlights how Grand
Chief Sir Peter Ipatas replaced that gutted PHQ with a modern one.
And how Governor Sir Ipatas has
built other million kina projects in fighting zones, maintain stability and to
export strawberries over 26 years later.
Please read on….
Nobody believed the people of Enga Province would one day export premium
strawberries. To outsiders, it seemed their main achievement was to involve
themselves in tribal warfare.
That perception will hopefully be erased now that a market has been
established in Singapore for Enga strawberries and possibly other agricultural
products.
This is the result of hard work put in by Governor Sir Peter Ipatas who
encouraged Israeli company Innovative Agro Industries to partner with the Enga
Provincial Government to establish a K23 million vegetable project at Taluma in
the Sirunki area of Laiagam.
It shows a peculiar aspect of 21st-century America: victimhood chic.
What the Jussie Smollett Story Reveals
It shows a peculiar aspect of 21st-century America: victimhood chic.
FEB 20, 2019
I was one of many people who found Jussie Smollett’s story a little off from the beginning. Two white men in ski masks are out in 10-degree weather in the middle of the night, equipped with a bottle of bleach or something like it and a rope that they fashioned into a mock noose. These thugs, who shouted Trump slogans as well as racist and homophobic slurs, seemed to know who Smollett was on sight, meaning they were aficionados of the splashy black soap opera Empire, on which Smollett is a main character. Somehow they were aware that Smollett, prominent but hardly on the A-list as celebrities go, was gay.
Yes, my skepticism made me feel a little guilty. We are justly sensitized to violence against people for being black and for being gay in the wake of incidents I need not name. We are also just past watching legions of people who should have known better refuse to credit Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Maybe fear and trauma distorted Smollett’s memory somewhat? Maybe the media were getting some of the details wrong? Wait and see, I and others thought.
PNG DIPLOMAT EXPLAINS CHINESE LOANS TO PNG
Commentary by Phil Senginawa
PNG
Facebook population is inundated with semi-literate commentators. People need
to understand the difference between Aid/Grants and Soft/Concessional Loans.
We can complain and complain till the pigs fly regardless
of whatever government is in charge. PNG currently owes China US$634 million
(PGK2.12 billion) in soft loan and its insignificant, can be repayable after a
brief period whereas Sri Lanka owes China US$64 billion in Loans which is
nearly 90% of their GDP.
Countries
and Multi-National Corporations rely on loans to pursue their development
Agenda. Unless if you have huge financial reserves or substantial sovereign
wealth fund to finance your infrastructure developments.
With
a narrow economic base like PNG, financing for development is not an easy task.
It needs economic diversification and monetary policy realignment.
If
advanced economies are not getting loans from international and regional
financial institutions, they're issuing treasury bonds domestically and that is
a form of domestic loan. Almost all countries are indebted domestically or
internationally and they have fiscal deficits anyhow.
If
western powers are influencing developing countries not to acquire loans from
China then where should they get loans to fund their infrastructure
developments, should they stick to IMF and World Bank where they pay annual
membership fees to be eligible to get loans that comes with strict conditions
and high interest repayments?
China's
loans are flexible, however all PNG needs is to strengthen its governance
structure against the possible corrupt dealings that comes with the loans. Also
be firm on the Terms of Reference and ensure 50/50 benefits to PNG private sector.
Used with permission from https://www.facebook.com/pg/pngbreakingnews
ROBBERY OF THE 21ST CENTURY
By: Hon. Philip Undialu, MP
Governor for Hela Province
Some commentators think that this problem can be solved by me moving to the opposition. But my problem is, opposition is made up of people who signed this particular deal in 2008 & 2009.
Through this government, am pushing hard to secure the 4.27% free carry. It was initially agreed for a price of K3b. No responsible government will ever charge landowners K3b for the very resources they owned.
Kokopo UBSA and respective LBBSAs were signed without complying to Section 47 of OGAS or the requirement of full scale social mapping and landowner identification studies. This blunder has prevented us from releasing the royalty and equity funds. So far, Clan Vetting process completed from Portion 152/Plant Site, Pipeline, Angore to be completed this month, Juha in progress, and this year they'll complete Hides PDL1 & PDL7. Meanwhile, more than K600m in royalty and equity funds held on trust by MRDC & BPNG. I'm also pushing for the missing K1.2b with the project operator.
Certain provisions to the Oil and Gas Act need to be amended as proposed at Governor's Conference in Madang. Government support is needed for this exercise.
There are more reasons why I need support from both opposition and government so in the future, we avoid giving away too . Experience of PNGLNG project has to be shared with fellow leaders so future deals can be done for the best interest of the nation.
All in the name of fair return to landowners, affected provincial government and the country as a whole. Our laws were not too bad. What has gone wrong is, our then government and bureaucrats seen fit to give away what we already had. Following are some examples;
So my proposal during the Governor's Conference was to inform the leaders that we made fundamental error on the first LNG Project. We need to take stock of what we lost and sign a better deal for at future projects. I am also taking the matter to court for this unfair deal.
I call this "Robbery of the 21st Century"
Governor for Hela Province
Some commentators think that this problem can be solved by me moving to the opposition. But my problem is, opposition is made up of people who signed this particular deal in 2008 & 2009.
Through this government, am pushing hard to secure the 4.27% free carry. It was initially agreed for a price of K3b. No responsible government will ever charge landowners K3b for the very resources they owned.
Kokopo UBSA and respective LBBSAs were signed without complying to Section 47 of OGAS or the requirement of full scale social mapping and landowner identification studies. This blunder has prevented us from releasing the royalty and equity funds. So far, Clan Vetting process completed from Portion 152/Plant Site, Pipeline, Angore to be completed this month, Juha in progress, and this year they'll complete Hides PDL1 & PDL7. Meanwhile, more than K600m in royalty and equity funds held on trust by MRDC & BPNG. I'm also pushing for the missing K1.2b with the project operator.
Certain provisions to the Oil and Gas Act need to be amended as proposed at Governor's Conference in Madang. Government support is needed for this exercise.
There are more reasons why I need support from both opposition and government so in the future, we avoid giving away too . Experience of PNGLNG project has to be shared with fellow leaders so future deals can be done for the best interest of the nation.
All in the name of fair return to landowners, affected provincial government and the country as a whole. Our laws were not too bad. What has gone wrong is, our then government and bureaucrats seen fit to give away what we already had. Following are some examples;
- Oil and Gas Act provides for State Participation of 22.5% Equity. We decided to reduce to 19.4%. Image how much we stand to loose from 3.1% we lost?
- Under the Kutubu and Moran oil project, State enjoyed 50% Tax regime. Came PNGLNG Project, we reduced to 30%. Monthly revenue ranges between K3b to K4b for Oil only. Again, 20% loose to the National.
- We made amendment to the Oil and Gas Act to transfer liability of 2% Royalty Well Head Value to State. In practice, 2% Royalty is treated as Tax Credit. Industry is not paying royalty. It's the Government paying it. What a crazy concept we agreed to?
- During the construction stage, project was exempted from duties. That exemption even extended to subcontractors which is not permissible in law but we did. We lost nearly K5b.
- Oil and Gas was amended to allow cost deduction for 2% Royalty and 2 Development Levies. They are now deducting OPEX, CAPEX, Amortization and even charging Premium on CAPEX. Effectively, 1.6% dedicated and paying only 0.4%. Total lost for four years stands at K1.2b. A Notice was served to address this. Failing that, I will institute legal action.
- During design and construction stages, we were told that they're building pipelines to carry 6.9 Million Tone annually (MTA) but only to discover 9MTA transported. A 25% increase. Exxon was not honest enough.
- There's no Review Clause for 20 years.
- Initial costs agreed was $15b but later increased to $19m. Exxon is yet to justify this increase.
So my proposal during the Governor's Conference was to inform the leaders that we made fundamental error on the first LNG Project. We need to take stock of what we lost and sign a better deal for at future projects. I am also taking the matter to court for this unfair deal.
I call this "Robbery of the 21st Century"
A typical scene on a night out in Pom
by Elwyn Pupang Pilyo
https://www.facebook.com/elwynpupang.pilyo.1
"Bong andaki!" bellowed the drunkard. "Do i look like you?" He persisted. "Upla Don na Ipatas baim bia na mi drink?" My drunk friend argued.
I'd just arrived at Morata joining an already pissed group of men. I was right on scene to witness...politics, politics and politics... Enga style.
I wanted to get the heck outta there and at it, very fast. I've had enough of this dick measuring. Here or back home, I'd had enough of this nonsense. I knew for certain some egos were gonna be hurt and I definitely didn't wannabe there when shit hit the fan.
Sure enough one of the biggie in the drunkard group, smashed a full stubbie at the first drunkard.
'Kaikai k na u usait' the biggie borrored down on my fallen and drunkard friend. 'U bai kisim ples blo Ipatas ah?" He again smashed his boot into his face.
As I stood frozen, I realised hell was about to break loose in front of me. Of where there was no group I saw two groups suddenly materialise at opposing ends. One of Ipatas and the other of Don.
It was no holds barns. Do or die...
Grabbing my fallen friend I raced for the nearest cab. Pushing him in I jump in after.
"Go, go, go" I ordered the Kange driver to take off. As we drove off I hear the unfolding lawlessness engulf the peaceful suburb behind us.
Before I could tell the panicky cabbie where to take us, he turns and asks "Em ol Souths na Kange pait eh?"
Goodness gracious I didnt expect the cabbie to also take on after such foolishness. Is this city also going crazy???.
(A typical scene on a night out in Pom)
Disclaimer:
This article and more articles/short stories from Elwyn Pupang Pilyo will be published on this blog after I got his verbal consent to publish same. You can also read from his facebook page Elwyn Pupang Pilyo
https://www.facebook.com/elwynpupang.pilyo.1
"Bong andaki!" bellowed the drunkard. "Do i look like you?" He persisted. "Upla Don na Ipatas baim bia na mi drink?" My drunk friend argued.
I'd just arrived at Morata joining an already pissed group of men. I was right on scene to witness...politics, politics and politics... Enga style.
I wanted to get the heck outta there and at it, very fast. I've had enough of this dick measuring. Here or back home, I'd had enough of this nonsense. I knew for certain some egos were gonna be hurt and I definitely didn't wannabe there when shit hit the fan.
Sure enough one of the biggie in the drunkard group, smashed a full stubbie at the first drunkard.
'Kaikai k na u usait' the biggie borrored down on my fallen and drunkard friend. 'U bai kisim ples blo Ipatas ah?" He again smashed his boot into his face.
As I stood frozen, I realised hell was about to break loose in front of me. Of where there was no group I saw two groups suddenly materialise at opposing ends. One of Ipatas and the other of Don.
It was no holds barns. Do or die...
Grabbing my fallen friend I raced for the nearest cab. Pushing him in I jump in after.
"Go, go, go" I ordered the Kange driver to take off. As we drove off I hear the unfolding lawlessness engulf the peaceful suburb behind us.
Before I could tell the panicky cabbie where to take us, he turns and asks "Em ol Souths na Kange pait eh?"
Goodness gracious I didnt expect the cabbie to also take on after such foolishness. Is this city also going crazy???.
(A typical scene on a night out in Pom)
Disclaimer:
This article and more articles/short stories from Elwyn Pupang Pilyo will be published on this blog after I got his verbal consent to publish same. You can also read from his facebook page Elwyn Pupang Pilyo
China is an innovation superpower. This is why
China is investing
more money into research and development, helping it become a superpower in
innovation. Image: REUTERS/Kim
Kyung-Hoon
07 Feb 2018
Formative Content
Last
year President Xi Jinping outlined his vision to make China the global
leader in political, economic, military and environmental issues over the next
three decades.
Now,
comprehensive data from the National Science Foundation reveals
that China is already well on its way to becoming a superpower in the key areas
of science and innovation.
China
is the second-largest spender on research and development (R&D) after the
US, accounting for 21% of the world’s total of nearly $2 trillion in 2015.
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