PNG NEWS BLOG

Honorable Governor Allan Bird: A Visionary Leader Transforming Eastern Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea By Vincent Moses | Paitim Garamut Brief on Honorable Governor  Allan Bird by Mr Gibson Gallah Prior to politics, he was a businessman, a strategist, and an economist.  He knows agriculture economics very well. He is known as the father of Sepik vanilla. He is admired for rural development - the approaches it takes empower simple and struggling people in the villages.  One can confirm that Bird knows macroeconomic and microeconomics very well.  He was one of the architects of PNG's Vision 2050, which talks about wealth creation, empowerment of people etc. When Allan Bird was first voted in as Governor ESP, he started with PGK 20,000 in the ESPG account.  With PGK20,000, he focused on his tasks and delivered impact projects in his first term of parliament. Some of the notable changes and reforms under his leadership are as follows: • Restructured the ESP Provincial Administration

Tragedy Strikes Wapenamanda: Call for Urgent Action as Tribal Violence Claims Lives and Destroys Property by  Nanai Aurum On the 18th of February 2024, the Wapenamanda electorate in Papua New Guinea faced a harrowing episode of violence that will be etched in the nation's memory. Over fifty lives were tragically lost, and properties worth hundreds of millions of kinas were laid to waste as a result of relentless tribal conflict. This devastating event has not only caused irreparable damage to the community but has also raised urgent questions about the underlying causes and the necessary measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The ongoing tribal fights in Wapenamanda have escalated beyond traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, indicating a deep-rooted issue that requires immediate and comprehensive intervention. The loss of life is unacceptable, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods has left a scar on the community that will take years to heal. Wapenamanda M

Hon. Richard Maru, MP PRESS STATEMENT PNG-China Joint Feasibility Study for a Possible Free Trade Agreement Commences Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon Richard Maru officially announced the commencement of the joint feasibility study for a possible Free Trade Agreement between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  Minister Maru made the announcement today on the eve of Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape’s official state visit to China next week for the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing where one of the key agenda for discussion will be the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. “This joint feasibility study was agreed to at a meeting between our Prime Minister and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping during Prime Minister Marape’s state visit in 2021. This joint feasibility study will commence next week after the contract is being executed between the state through the National Trade Office and the consultants this Friday,” said Ministe

DPM JOHN ROSSO: PNG GOVERNMENT IS IN NO WAY WILL SELL THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE COUNTRY  DPM John Rosso addressing PNG Unitech students last night regarding DCA signing.  Whilst commending students for exercising their democratic rights peacefully, he also urged them to collect enough facts to back their views as intellectuals.  DPM Rosso says government doesn’t sign any documents brought to their table without proper vetting by mandatory bodies.  These mandatory bodies make sure all documents are in compliance with our Constitution. There are due processes involved.  Doesn’t take a day or week. He further says Government is in no way will sell the sovereignty of this country. Video and post by: Charlie Clyde Tikaro

K300 Million Allocated For The 2022 National General Election (NGE) Allegely Diverted to Government Minister Without Control BY JEFFREY ELAPA,  Post Courier, 02 June 2023. About K300 million allocated for the 2022 National General Election (NGE) has been allegedly diverted to fund government ministers without control. However, yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister James Marape responded that he was not privy to the report. The K300 million is from a total of K650 million allocated through for the 2022 National General election allocated through the 2022 National Budget. The 11 page Prime Minister’s special brief from the PNG National Intelligent Organization (PNGNIO) dated Monday 28 November, 2022 indicated a total of K650 million was allocated through the Budgetary allocation in the 2022 National Budget but only K350 million of the funding was released to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) while unconfirmed reports received by the NIO alleged that the reminder of K300 million was b

PNG-AUSSIE VISA ISSUE A BREAKTHROUGH NBC News 17 February 2023. There's been a breakthrough in discussions between Papua New Guinea and Australia in relation to ease of travel down south. A new Australian Visa Processing Facility will be set up in Port Moresby immediately, which will process visas within a 14-day period. That's captured in the 29th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum Joint Communique, released after the forum in Canberra today- Friday 17th February 2023. Ministers agreed to establish a joint ministerial working group to oversee this work. The working group will include Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, as well as PNG's Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso and Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko. Photo: Supplied

PM MARAPE ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MONITORING AUTHORITY Den Norman  - TAKE BACK PNG PMJM APPROVED FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 1, 2022 Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has announced to the people of Papua New Guinea that a National Monitoring Authority (NMA) will be set up next year to ensure that the National Budget is implemented and that the Government’s visions and aspirations are realised. He said today (December 1, 2022), fresh from delivery of the 2023 Budget on Tuesday (November 29, 2022), that the NMA would be comprised of bodies like National Research Institute, National Economic and Fiscal Commission, Transparency International, National Council of Churches and others. “We will also have representation of the Provincial Governors, Inter-Government Relations Department, and Central Agencies,” PM Marape said. “We will check and ensure that all intentions of the Budget are delivered to expectations. “We have just delivered the biggest-ever K24.5 billion Budget and we want

 US. INDO-PACIFIC COMANDER VISITS PNG     NBC News PNG Monday, 30 January 2023. The Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C. Aquilino, arrived in Papua New Guinea over the weekend. The two days visit from the 29th -30th of January 2023 underscores the United States of America's commitment to advance shared interests toward building a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.   This trip marked Aquilino’s first visit to Papua New Guinea as Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and underscores the importance of the U.S.-Papua New Guinea relationship. Aquilino is joined by Joe Zadrozny, Chargé d’Affaires to Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu He met with Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso, Defence Secretary, Hari John Akipe and Chief of PNG Defence Force, Major General, Mark Goina including other leaders. NBC News Photos: US Embassy POM

I regret that we couldn't muster the numbers to elevate an exceptional and competent woman citizen but unfortunately, this is our level in a male dominated society. - BIRD. Allan Bird 20 January 2023. I congratulate Sir Bob Dadae on his re- election. I am also deeply grateful to Her Excellency Winnie Kiap for affording Parliament a very rare opportunity to rise above ourselves. Even though we didnt take the opportunity, I felt deeply grateful that in our society where women and girls are continuously marginalized, you have stood tall and exemplified what PNG women can do. You gave 33 MPs the opportunity to speak for our women. I thank you for this rare honour. To our womenfolk, let me assure you that you have voices in Parliament as you saw today. I regret that we couldn't muster the numbers to elevate an exceptional and competent woman citizen but unfortunately, this is our level in a male dominated society. There is a growing recognition in the abilities our women can bring t

Reckless PNG Government Sank K40 Million Of Tax Payers Money On Some Useless Assets Becoming Pieces of Metal Junks in the Country. SO WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE MASERATIS? Post Courier  - January 25, 2023 It looks like nobody wants these very expensive cars and very soon, they will become valueless – not worth a single toea anymore. Today the cars are sitting idle at a warehouse at the old Port Moresby Port, exposed to the sea breeze, salt, water and air and we don’t know if anyone is taking care of them to ensure they remain in the condition they arrived at our shores four years ago. The expensive cars were bought to serve visiting heads of government to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Port Moresby. Each car was purchased at a cost of a whopping K1 million each and a total of 40 pieces were purchased. The cars were to impress the international visitors but not many of them have tested the Post Moresby roads since they arrived and they may remain in that wareho