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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Economist says no LNG earnings until 2023
Source:
The National, Wednesday 14th March 2012
By MALUM NALU
EARNINGS from the LNG project are not expected to be significant until after 2023, according to Asian Development Bank’s Papua New Guinea country economist, Aaron Batten.
He told The National yesterday, after the release of the latest edition of ADB’s Pacific Economic Monitor, that this had to do with financing agreements of the project.
“For the first five to 10 years of LNG production, revenues will be quite small,” Batten said.
“This has to do with financing agreements of the project,” he said.
Batten said: “This is accelerated depreciation (to do with tax benefits to the project).
“LNG revenues for the first five to 10 years of the project will only replace the decline in other mineral revenues government receives.
“In the long term, things will get better, but over the medium term, government will face a growing fiscal challenge.”
Batten said government must ensure that enough funding was allocated to key service delivery priorities such as health, education and infrastructure.
“At one level, this will require an increasing prioritisation of these areas (health, education and infrastructure) within the budget,” he said.
“It will also require them to manage public expectations for improved service delivery as a result of LNG revenues, which are not expected to be large until after 2023.”
Batten said the major challenge facing the government right now was the declining revenue over the next two to three years, mainly because of the winding down of LNG construction, declining output from mines and oil fields, and agriculture exporters to face loss of competitiveness as a result of the high kina exchange rate.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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Grand Chief urges PM and Polye to tell truth
Source:
The National, Tuesday 13th March 2012
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare has called on Peter O’Neill and his team not to shoot themselves in the foot by accusing past governments of doing nothing.
“If the suggestion wasn’t so ridiculous it would be laughable,” he said.
Sir Michael said O’Neill and others held senior positions in his government and were trying to fool Papua New Guineans that they had done this country a turnaround in the last couple of months.
“For the records let me state that from 2002 until 2007, my government tightened its fiscal management and introduced its four policy pillars: improved governance, export-driven growth strategy; improved service delivery and poverty alleviation,” Sir Michael said.
“The public may recall that in 2002, morale in PNG was at an all-time low.
“We did not even have money to pay our public servants. I had inherited a government whose coffers were depleted from the kind of election spending that the O’Neill regime has been doing today.
“We were so desperate that the World Bank even tried to lend money to us with strict conditions.
“We refused but with the help of AusAID and the Asian Development Bank we started the Highlands Highway rehabilitation programme (between 2003 and 2004) from K50 million found internally.
“We had to be creative as we had very few resources. We also relied on tax credit schemes where companies like Chevron (now Oil Search) were able to carry out initial works on the highway. As more money came in, more work was contracted out on other sections of the Highlands Highway.
“With tight fiscal management and our export-driven strategy, we were able to offer private sector incentives that boosted the economy and effectively got this country back on her feet.
“Our spending was conservative yet we increased our international debt repayments from 70% in 2002 to less than 30% today (public debt to GDP ratio).”
He said many of the ministers who should be credited were still there today with O’Neill.
“The emerging trend of members of parliament telling lies to the public should stop. We are leaders and our utterances should be responsible.
“I call on members of parliament to be responsible and not speak rubbish during an election year.”
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Mother and son get 47-year jail
Source:
The National, Tuesday 21st Febuary 2012
By JAYNE SAFIHAO
WELL-known woman leader Catherine Mal was yesterday jailed for 17 years over a killing four years ago.
The National Court in Madang jailed her, her son and two nephews for a total of 87 years for the 2008 killing – described as a “vicious and savage murder”.
Mal, businesswoman and a former candidate for the Madang open seat, collapsed outside the Madang courthouse after the sentencing by Justice David Cannings.
The frail-looking mother, whose medical condition had delayed sentencing since December, spent a few teary moments with her lawyer inside the court room before then.
The jailing of the four marked the end of the Mal family murder case which caused the death of Daga Nanas on April 13, 2008, at Talim village on the outskirts of Madang.
Mal was jailed for 17 years while her son Emmanuel Ong was jailed for 30 years. Her nephews Moses and Lotivi Mal each received 20 years.
Mal’s jail term was for her part in aiding the murder by egging her relatives on saying “kill them, kill them”
Cannings said because each of the accused had varying degrees of involvement, each needed to be sentenced separately.
He said the two Mal brothers were given the same 20-year sentences because their personal circumstances were similar.
He said Ong was directly responsible of Nanas’ death, by striking him on the head with an iron rod and smashing his jaw.
“I have carefully considered the many fine things said about him in character references,” Cannings said.
“He is an educated and intelligent man, spoke passionately and eloquently in his allocutus.
“However, the overriding consideration is that he has been convicted as the principal offender in a vicious and savage murder and he must be subject to a sentence that fits the severity of that crime.”
In sentencing the pale-looking Catherine Mal, who tried in a last-minute attempt to tender a doctor’s report before the verdict was read, Cannings said her contribution to the death was significant as she shouted encouraging words to her three relatives to kill Nanas.
He said considering her glowing report of community service and her poor health, he had reduced her term to 17 years from the 20-year term he had intended to impose.
Since being found guilty last year, Mal had been hospitalised for a number of medical problems, including diabetes.
Cannings found that reports the Mal family wanted to seek peace through compensation had not yet occurred.
However, he suggested that they could consider that when they
became eligible for parole.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
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Friday, January 6, 2012
Sepik community greets Sir Michael in Madang
Source:
The National, Friday 06th January 2012
By JAYNE SAFIHAO
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare yesterday arrived in Madang to a rousing welcome by the Sepik community.
As early as 5.30am, people were lining the roads to welcome him with flowers, placards and banners.
Sir Michael had wanted to quietly slip into the province as part of his New Year holiday break.
Also present at the Madang Resort Hotel was Sir Arnold Amet and former People’s Action Party man Ben Semri, who had joined the National Alliance party, according to National Alliance regional coordinator for Momase Atis Deme.
Madang had so far produced five MPs for the party, the highest so far. The province is seen as the party’s base for talks and other matters.
Sir Arnold, in a recent meeting with locals, called on the Peter O’Neill government to respect the Constitution of the country as the pillar of democracy.
He said the real reason behind O’Neill’s shameless fight to hold onto power was to control the treasury leading into the general election.
While trying to explain the current political and constitutional dilemma to the people at Dylup, Sir Arnold said: “The governor-general has no power to dissolve parliament. Only parliament, through a motion, can.
“But O’Neill, (Speaker Jeffery) Nape and (Belden) Namah have not done that using section 145 (motion of no-confidence).
“Do you have courage? I dare you. If you have got courage of your conviction, you move the motion. If not, then, you are illegitimate.”
Sir Arnold pointed out that the only legitimate move after the Supreme Court decision would be for the O’Neill faction to let Sir Michael be reinstated and see whether there was a numerical strength to hold onto power.
He said a lot of changes were done such as in the Prime Minister and NEC Act and the age limit of prime ministers.
Sir Arnold said if the O’Neill faction had moved that motion, it would in turn automatically see Sir Michael and his group as the caretaker government.
But that did not eventuate as he insisted that they were trying to “manipulate the Department of Finance and Treasury for their own gain”.
A relaxed Sir Michael had breakfast with his supporters and continued with other functions set out for the day by the party executives.
The National, Friday 06th January 2012
By JAYNE SAFIHAO
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare yesterday arrived in Madang to a rousing welcome by the Sepik community.
As early as 5.30am, people were lining the roads to welcome him with flowers, placards and banners.
Sir Michael had wanted to quietly slip into the province as part of his New Year holiday break.
Also present at the Madang Resort Hotel was Sir Arnold Amet and former People’s Action Party man Ben Semri, who had joined the National Alliance party, according to National Alliance regional coordinator for Momase Atis Deme.
Madang had so far produced five MPs for the party, the highest so far. The province is seen as the party’s base for talks and other matters.
Sir Arnold, in a recent meeting with locals, called on the Peter O’Neill government to respect the Constitution of the country as the pillar of democracy.
He said the real reason behind O’Neill’s shameless fight to hold onto power was to control the treasury leading into the general election.
While trying to explain the current political and constitutional dilemma to the people at Dylup, Sir Arnold said: “The governor-general has no power to dissolve parliament. Only parliament, through a motion, can.
“But O’Neill, (Speaker Jeffery) Nape and (Belden) Namah have not done that using section 145 (motion of no-confidence).
“Do you have courage? I dare you. If you have got courage of your conviction, you move the motion. If not, then, you are illegitimate.”
Sir Arnold pointed out that the only legitimate move after the Supreme Court decision would be for the O’Neill faction to let Sir Michael be reinstated and see whether there was a numerical strength to hold onto power.
He said a lot of changes were done such as in the Prime Minister and NEC Act and the age limit of prime ministers.
Sir Arnold said if the O’Neill faction had moved that motion, it would in turn automatically see Sir Michael and his group as the caretaker government.
But that did not eventuate as he insisted that they were trying to “manipulate the Department of Finance and Treasury for their own gain”.
A relaxed Sir Michael had breakfast with his supporters and continued with other functions set out for the day by the party executives.
Mother arrested in attempt to send drugs
Source:
The National, Friday 06th January 2012
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
A MOTHER of five has been has been charged with possession of a dangerous drug after she was caught at Mt Hagen’s Kagamuga airport trying to send four kilograms of dried marijuana worth K20,000 by air.
The woman claimed she had no idea of the contents of a box that a clansman of her husband had asked her to send to the mining township of Kiunga.
The packet of marijuana was in plastic bag and tightly taped to conceal the smell.
The packet was hidden at the bottom of a box filled with onions and other vegetables, police said.
Airlines PNG staff became suspicious when the woman tried to send a box weighing about 7kg.
They opened the box and found the packet of marijuana at the bottom. They called airport police who arrested the woman.
A policeman said the woman had tried to give the arresting officer K100 on the way to the Mt Hagen police station where she was charged.
The woman said she had been given the box by a clansman of her husband who asked her to send it to a Kiunga address in Western.
The man, who was waiting outside the airport, fled when police arrived, she said.
Provincial police commander Kaiglo Ambane said many women had been arrested at the airport for smuggling illegal goods such as ammunition into the province.
They also try transporting marijuana out of the province.
Ambane said husbands used their wives or sisters to send drugs on flights to contacts in other provinces.
The woman is due to appear in Mt Hagen district court today.
The National, Friday 06th January 2012
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
A MOTHER of five has been has been charged with possession of a dangerous drug after she was caught at Mt Hagen’s Kagamuga airport trying to send four kilograms of dried marijuana worth K20,000 by air.
The woman claimed she had no idea of the contents of a box that a clansman of her husband had asked her to send to the mining township of Kiunga.
The packet of marijuana was in plastic bag and tightly taped to conceal the smell.
The packet was hidden at the bottom of a box filled with onions and other vegetables, police said.
Airlines PNG staff became suspicious when the woman tried to send a box weighing about 7kg.
They opened the box and found the packet of marijuana at the bottom. They called airport police who arrested the woman.
A policeman said the woman had tried to give the arresting officer K100 on the way to the Mt Hagen police station where she was charged.
The woman said she had been given the box by a clansman of her husband who asked her to send it to a Kiunga address in Western.
The man, who was waiting outside the airport, fled when police arrived, she said.
Provincial police commander Kaiglo Ambane said many women had been arrested at the airport for smuggling illegal goods such as ammunition into the province.
They also try transporting marijuana out of the province.
Ambane said husbands used their wives or sisters to send drugs on flights to contacts in other provinces.
The woman is due to appear in Mt Hagen district court today.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
Xmas gift for all
Source:
The National, Friday 23rd December 2011
It comes from the K350 million allocated in the 2011 supplementary budget for the government’s free and subsidised education policy.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last night the release of the money began this week and would continue for the next two weeks. It would ensure a smooth start to the 2012 school year.
Officers from the departments of Finance and Treasury and Education are involved in the exercise.
O’Neill said 6,000 school accounts throughout PNG had been identified and the money would be paid into them, covering all school levels from elementary to Grade 12.
The government will meet the fees for elementary to Grade 10 levels, while Grades 11 and 12 fees will be subsidised.
“I call on those schools who have not yet submitted their bank accounts to do so immediately. This will ensure the funds are deposited into your accounts so that the school year can begin smoothly,” O’Neill said.
He believes the fee-free policy would ensure each and every citizen receives a decent education.
“I am a firm believer in education for all and I am backing that by providing a strong budgetary support for the education sector,” O’Neill said.
Meanwhile, in his Christmas message, O’Neill touched on the recent political impasse which had gripped the nation since Dec 12.
“Put simply, the five days between Dec 12 and Dec 16 brought home to all the reality that we are a nation that can boast about our vibrant parliamentary democracy,” he said.
O’Neill assured the nation that it was not heading for “a bloodbath and ethnic cleansing” as many commentators were being led to believe.
“Our government is determined to put our nation on the road to developing a nation of reasonably happy, healthy and wealthy people who can afford to live productive lives,” he said.
He remains focused on the free and subsidised education policy, infrastructure maintenance and development programmes, better health services delivery and a revamp and overhaul of the law and order enforcement system to make it efficient and effective.
Reflecting again on the recent political events, O’Neill said the former government had been exposed, opposed and deposed.
“Their ways were no good for the people of this nation,’’ he said.
“Recent events have drawn a great deal of deliberate misinformation to the public.
“The true state of affairs, the issues before our nation are not about personalities. They are about maintaining our democracy.
“The national parliament is where all eight governments preceding the O’Neill-Namah government were elected and defeated.
“Governments are not appointed by the courts, formed in hotel rooms or created through the barrel of the gun.
“Our government was formed to stop the rot, restore confidence in government, stop the rampant corruption and theft of public monies and
reversed appointments based on wantokism rather than merit,” the prime minister said.
He blamed the former Somare-Abal government for failing to address a number of corruption issues by:
q Ignoring the Finance Inquiry Report;
q Ignoring and failing to investigate the infamous Taiwan scandal;
q Failing to investigate the suspicious circumstances in which millions of kina had surfaced in a Singapore bank account;
q Failing to investigate the actions of the East Sepik provincial government and other parties over the management of the Sepik Highway Trust Account, Wewak Storm Water Drainage Project and the Wewak Stadium;
q Failing to investigate the use of funds allocated for the community college concept and implementation; and
q Failing to investigate the contract with the apparently non-existent Revans university to provide tertiary courses for PNG public servants.
O’Neill said the highlights of his four-month-old government, apart from free education, was the establishment of Task Force Sweep, providing K120 million to improve government infrastructure and church-run health facilities in the supplementary budget and raising the tax-free threshold from K7,000 to K10,000.
While acknowledging the police force for finally exercising control in its command, he paid tribute to the PNG Defence Force for exercising restraint and remaining neutral throughout the recent political crisis.
“Against this background, the O’Neill-Namah government stands firm and dedicated to good governance, sound economic management and a bright future for all Papua New Guineans,” O’Neill said.
The National, Friday 23rd December 2011
It comes from the K350 million allocated in the 2011 supplementary budget for the government’s free and subsidised education policy.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said last night the release of the money began this week and would continue for the next two weeks. It would ensure a smooth start to the 2012 school year.
Officers from the departments of Finance and Treasury and Education are involved in the exercise.
O’Neill said 6,000 school accounts throughout PNG had been identified and the money would be paid into them, covering all school levels from elementary to Grade 12.
The government will meet the fees for elementary to Grade 10 levels, while Grades 11 and 12 fees will be subsidised.
“I call on those schools who have not yet submitted their bank accounts to do so immediately. This will ensure the funds are deposited into your accounts so that the school year can begin smoothly,” O’Neill said.
He believes the fee-free policy would ensure each and every citizen receives a decent education.
“I am a firm believer in education for all and I am backing that by providing a strong budgetary support for the education sector,” O’Neill said.
Meanwhile, in his Christmas message, O’Neill touched on the recent political impasse which had gripped the nation since Dec 12.
“Put simply, the five days between Dec 12 and Dec 16 brought home to all the reality that we are a nation that can boast about our vibrant parliamentary democracy,” he said.
O’Neill assured the nation that it was not heading for “a bloodbath and ethnic cleansing” as many commentators were being led to believe.
“Our government is determined to put our nation on the road to developing a nation of reasonably happy, healthy and wealthy people who can afford to live productive lives,” he said.
He remains focused on the free and subsidised education policy, infrastructure maintenance and development programmes, better health services delivery and a revamp and overhaul of the law and order enforcement system to make it efficient and effective.
Reflecting again on the recent political events, O’Neill said the former government had been exposed, opposed and deposed.
“Their ways were no good for the people of this nation,’’ he said.
“Recent events have drawn a great deal of deliberate misinformation to the public.
“The true state of affairs, the issues before our nation are not about personalities. They are about maintaining our democracy.
“The national parliament is where all eight governments preceding the O’Neill-Namah government were elected and defeated.
“Governments are not appointed by the courts, formed in hotel rooms or created through the barrel of the gun.
“Our government was formed to stop the rot, restore confidence in government, stop the rampant corruption and theft of public monies and
reversed appointments based on wantokism rather than merit,” the prime minister said.
He blamed the former Somare-Abal government for failing to address a number of corruption issues by:
q Ignoring the Finance Inquiry Report;
q Ignoring and failing to investigate the infamous Taiwan scandal;
q Failing to investigate the suspicious circumstances in which millions of kina had surfaced in a Singapore bank account;
q Failing to investigate the actions of the East Sepik provincial government and other parties over the management of the Sepik Highway Trust Account, Wewak Storm Water Drainage Project and the Wewak Stadium;
q Failing to investigate the use of funds allocated for the community college concept and implementation; and
q Failing to investigate the contract with the apparently non-existent Revans university to provide tertiary courses for PNG public servants.
O’Neill said the highlights of his four-month-old government, apart from free education, was the establishment of Task Force Sweep, providing K120 million to improve government infrastructure and church-run health facilities in the supplementary budget and raising the tax-free threshold from K7,000 to K10,000.
While acknowledging the police force for finally exercising control in its command, he paid tribute to the PNG Defence Force for exercising restraint and remaining neutral throughout the recent political crisis.
“Against this background, the O’Neill-Namah government stands firm and dedicated to good governance, sound economic management and a bright future for all Papua New Guineans,” O’Neill said.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The World
Sir Michael Somare has been reinstated as Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister today but he is not guaranteed to lead the country as his rival, Peter O'Neill, still maintains he is prime minister.
PNG Governor-General Michael Ogio reinstated Sir Michael in a ceremony at Government House about 11am.
Somare sworn in as PM as rivals demand governor-general fronts parliament
SIR Michael Somare and his cabinet have been sworn in by Papua New Guinea's governor-general, but the political impasse continues with parliament voting to demand the governor-general swear in his rival Peter O'Neill.
In an emailed statement, Sir Michael said his 19-member cabinet had been sworn in by the governor-general on Wednesday morning.
''My coalition members have today been sworn in by the Governor-General, Sir Michael Ogio,'' Sir Michael said in the statement.
However, the Somare camp maintains the 76-year-old political veteran does not need to be sworn in because the Supreme Court reinstated him as prime minister on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, MPs loyal to Mr O'Neill passed a motion in parliament demanding the governor-general come to parliament to swear in Peter O'Neill as prime minister.
Mr O'Neill's leader of government business, Moses Maladina, also introduced a bill requiring police commissioner Tom Kulunga to ''assist'' the governor-general in getting to parliament.
The MPs also passed a motion to ban Sir Michael Somare and his cabinet from declaring themselves as the nation's government.
The MPs later passed a resolution requiring the governor-general to attend parliament at 2pm (1500 AEDT) to swear in Mr O'Neill.
''The governor general is required to be in attendance at 2pm,'' Mr Maladina said.
There were about 50 MPs supporting Mr O'Neill in parliament on Wednesday, including speaker Jeffery Nape.
Sir Michael's supporters had returned to Port Moresby's Ela beach hotel, where they have held cabinet meetings since Monday.
A heavily-armed contingent of guards were blocking the street leading up to Government House on Wednesday morning.
The governor-general's declaration was due to break a three-day political impasse sparked by a Supreme Court ruling that Mr O'Neill's August election was unconstitutional and Sir Michael Somare should be reinstated as prime minister.
Mr O'Neill has refused to recognise the court's decision, while Sir Michael has been attending cabinet meetings with members of his government held at Port Moresby's Ela Beach hotel.
Meanwhile, the nation's defence force has dismissed rumours of a military coup resulting from the political impasse.
"The defence force neither seeks, nor would accept, any part to play in the politics of this country," defence force chief Brigadier General Francis Agwi told the Post-Courier newspaper.
"The PNGDF has no political position and takes no political sides."
Mr O'Neill was elected prime minister after he and 73 other MPs voted to dump Sir Michael's government in August, but the Supreme Court declared the move unconstitutional this week and ordered Sir Michael returned to office.
Mr O'Neill, who has refused to recognise the court's decision, met with governor-general, Sir Michael Ogio, on Tuesday, after he and about 60 MPs loyal to him stormed past a police barricade to the gates of Government House.
After the short meeting, Mr O'Neill told reporters the governor-general said he would meet with Sir Michael on Wednesday before deciding who is prime minister.
Sir Michael has been attending cabinet meetings with members of his government held at Port Moresby's Ela Beach hotel.
Sir Michael Ogio - appointed Governor-General this year when Sir Michael was unquestionably the prime minister - swore in Mr O'Neill at the August 2 parliamentary sitting that elected him after Speaker Jeffery Nape ruled that the top office was vacant.
At that stage, Sir Michael - who has run the country for almost half of its 36 years of independence - had been away in Singapore for four months undergoing medical treatment.
The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Salamo Injia ruled by 3-2 on Monday that the prime ministership was not vacant, since Sir Michael had neither resigned nor been ruled medically unfit to govern.
Sir Michael, 75, yesterday denied his health would prevent him from returning to office. "My doctor in Singapore believes that my health is as good as any. I'm well enough to be a 40 year old again," he told the ABC.
Sir Michael's claim to the prime ministership rests with the 3-2 ruling. Mr O'Neill's claim rests with his re-election yesterday by parliament, 69-0, following the judgment.
PNG Governor-General Michael Ogio reinstated Sir Michael in a ceremony at Government House about 11am.
Somare sworn in as PM as rivals demand governor-general fronts parliament
SIR Michael Somare and his cabinet have been sworn in by Papua New Guinea's governor-general, but the political impasse continues with parliament voting to demand the governor-general swear in his rival Peter O'Neill.
In an emailed statement, Sir Michael said his 19-member cabinet had been sworn in by the governor-general on Wednesday morning.
''My coalition members have today been sworn in by the Governor-General, Sir Michael Ogio,'' Sir Michael said in the statement.
However, the Somare camp maintains the 76-year-old political veteran does not need to be sworn in because the Supreme Court reinstated him as prime minister on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, MPs loyal to Mr O'Neill passed a motion in parliament demanding the governor-general come to parliament to swear in Peter O'Neill as prime minister.
Mr O'Neill's leader of government business, Moses Maladina, also introduced a bill requiring police commissioner Tom Kulunga to ''assist'' the governor-general in getting to parliament.
The MPs also passed a motion to ban Sir Michael Somare and his cabinet from declaring themselves as the nation's government.
The MPs later passed a resolution requiring the governor-general to attend parliament at 2pm (1500 AEDT) to swear in Mr O'Neill.
''The governor general is required to be in attendance at 2pm,'' Mr Maladina said.
There were about 50 MPs supporting Mr O'Neill in parliament on Wednesday, including speaker Jeffery Nape.
Sir Michael's supporters had returned to Port Moresby's Ela beach hotel, where they have held cabinet meetings since Monday.
A heavily-armed contingent of guards were blocking the street leading up to Government House on Wednesday morning.
The governor-general's declaration was due to break a three-day political impasse sparked by a Supreme Court ruling that Mr O'Neill's August election was unconstitutional and Sir Michael Somare should be reinstated as prime minister.
Mr O'Neill has refused to recognise the court's decision, while Sir Michael has been attending cabinet meetings with members of his government held at Port Moresby's Ela Beach hotel.
Meanwhile, the nation's defence force has dismissed rumours of a military coup resulting from the political impasse.
"The defence force neither seeks, nor would accept, any part to play in the politics of this country," defence force chief Brigadier General Francis Agwi told the Post-Courier newspaper.
"The PNGDF has no political position and takes no political sides."
Mr O'Neill was elected prime minister after he and 73 other MPs voted to dump Sir Michael's government in August, but the Supreme Court declared the move unconstitutional this week and ordered Sir Michael returned to office.
Mr O'Neill, who has refused to recognise the court's decision, met with governor-general, Sir Michael Ogio, on Tuesday, after he and about 60 MPs loyal to him stormed past a police barricade to the gates of Government House.
After the short meeting, Mr O'Neill told reporters the governor-general said he would meet with Sir Michael on Wednesday before deciding who is prime minister.
Sir Michael has been attending cabinet meetings with members of his government held at Port Moresby's Ela Beach hotel.
Sir Michael Ogio - appointed Governor-General this year when Sir Michael was unquestionably the prime minister - swore in Mr O'Neill at the August 2 parliamentary sitting that elected him after Speaker Jeffery Nape ruled that the top office was vacant.
At that stage, Sir Michael - who has run the country for almost half of its 36 years of independence - had been away in Singapore for four months undergoing medical treatment.
The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Salamo Injia ruled by 3-2 on Monday that the prime ministership was not vacant, since Sir Michael had neither resigned nor been ruled medically unfit to govern.
Sir Michael, 75, yesterday denied his health would prevent him from returning to office. "My doctor in Singapore believes that my health is as good as any. I'm well enough to be a 40 year old again," he told the ABC.
Sir Michael's claim to the prime ministership rests with the 3-2 ruling. Mr O'Neill's claim rests with his re-election yesterday by parliament, 69-0, following the judgment.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Port Moresby Children's Ward recieved Medical Equipment
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. ~B.K.S. Iyengar and also somebody once said, “Greatest wealth is health”.
With that in mind RH Foundation Inc, sees that the health of our young children in Port Moresby General Hospital is of enormous significance to the community and Papua New Guinea generally. In one way or other this kind gesture from RH Foundation will in future have a rippling effect to these unfortunate kids who are sick today.
In addition to what it has contributed since its inception over the years, this donation today is in addition to the beds and cabinets it contributes in March of this year. As we all know Christmas is a time giving to your loved ones and friends, we at RH Foundation also take this opportunity to make this as our special gift to all the sick children and the staff of the Port Moresby General Hospital.
This donation is worth K 51,308.92 and so far for the Children’s wards alone, it has donated in 2011 only a total of K81, 336.48 for the children’s ward. RH Foundation wishes the sick children and the staff of the Port Moresby Children’s ward a Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year 2012.
Monday, December 5, 2011
FUEL TREATMENT
$450.00 US
New Apple iphone 4s 16 32 64gb Samsung Galaxy s2
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