Viewers decry MPs lack of respect

PEOPLE watching the live broadcast of the parliamentary sitting on Kundu 2 Television yesterday described the parliament as a "kindergarten", The National reports.
Two viewers said the leaders had shown no respect for parliament and turned it into a playground for a kindergarten.
Herman Paul, who watched the live broadcast yesterday afternoon at his house at Tarangau, in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, said he could not understand why parliamentarians, especially those on the opposition, kept interrupting Speaker Jeffery Nape.
He said parliament "belongs to the six million people of this nation, the MPs are only their representatives and they must show their respect for the people of this nation".
Paul said the leaders must show respect for the house and follow standing orders.
Another viewer, Joejoe Miugle appealed to leaders to use their common sense and show respect for parliament.

Groups arrive early to see parliament sit

By JULIA DAIA BORE

THE corner of Goodwit Road and John Guise Drive, in Waigani, converging onto the turn off into the National Parliament house was yesterday packed with people and traffic from about noon to 2pm, The National reports.
Police controlled traffic and people started moving around outside the National Library and National Archives buildings from 8am, although parliament was scheduled to begin at 2pm to discuss among other things a proposed law on women's reserved seats.
Women in PNG coloured outfits — meri blouses and T-shirts — were seated or standing in groups and their leaders advising them that only their spokeswomen would go for the sitting.
Closer to the roundabout, an even bigger crowd, including children, were assembled with their leaders briefing them on loudspeakers about the issues to be dealt with in parliament.
The traffic between 1pm and 2pm was heavy along roads into the National Parliament house.
Meanwhile, the bill to reserve the 22 parliamentary seats went through a second reading yesterday in parliament.

Provincial seats returned

By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE parliament has voted to return the provincial electoral seats during the 2012 general election with the blessing of 73 MPs yesterday, The National reports.
Parliament had decided a few years ago that all provincial seats were to be abolished by 2012 and to increase the open seats to 120 from 89 but parliament yesterday unanimously voted to keep all provincial seats when the bill went through the second reading. 
The final reading is expected after two months and this might bring more debates in parliament.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said it was an important bill as the constitutional amendment would ensure that provincial electorates were permanently re-instated.
He said by committing the bill and holding two separate votes, parliament changed the commencement date of the constitutional amendment.
He said instead of provincial electorates been removed at the 2007 election, they would be removed when advised by the prime minister and by recommitting the law, a constitutional crisis was avoided.
However, he said the job of returning provincial electorates was not yet complete and in order to finish the job, parliament needed to pass the amendment. Only after the passage of the law, will the law be returned to its original format and provincial electorates will be permanently reinstated.
He said provincial government served an important function in the decentralised system and that the provincial government system allowed rural people to become involved in decision-making.
O'Neill said the effect of the amendment was to reinstate all references to provincial electorates back into the constitution and ensure the constitution was the same way our founding fathers had intended.
The parliament also passed the 2015 South Pacific games Bill which will establish the 2015 Pacific Games authority to oversee and prepare for the games. The games is expected to cost around K300 million.

National Alliance in crisis

THE National Alliance executive was in a crisis conference last night as its former leader was dismissed from parliament by the speaker who is a member of the party, The National reports.
The ouster of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as prime minister was supported by new NA leader Don Polye, and the declaration of a vacancy was by Speaker Jeffery Nape.
The party is expected to make a major announcement today on the proceedings of the one-day parliament sitting yesterday.
The party executives were last night seeking legal opinion on whether what transpired was right by law and complied with the standing orders of parliament.
NA president Simon Kaiwi said last night: "The decision that the speaker has taken is a big constitutional issue and an issue with standing orders of parliament.
"I do not think it is correct but we are seeking legal opinion before we tell the people of PNG.
"He (Sir Michael) has met the legal requirement. He presented himself to parliament yesterday. Then, he is dismissed.
"It is a big shock to us.
"They are treating him like somebody who just came in yesterday."
Kaiwi's dilemma had worsened since half of his NA members are with the government that ousted Sir Michael as prime minister and MP.

Speaker’s decision shocks opposition

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

FORMER government frontbenchers expressed shock over the decision to remove the nation's "founding father" by Parliament Speaker Jeffrey Nape yesterday, The National reports.
The group was in the middle of a joint media conference when a tearful Dame Carol Kidu arrived to announce that Sir Michael had been removed.
Madang MP Sir Arnold Amet, East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu, Angoram MP Arthur Somare, Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch, Kompiam-Ambum MP John Pundari and Nipa-Kutubu MP Philemon Embel expressed shock and anger.
Sir Arnold indicated that he would institute a contempt of court action against Nape, claiming that the speaker was trying to legitimise the illegal takeover of a legitimate government on Aug 2.
Nape's announcement yesterday was contrary to the advice given by  the clerk to parliament, Don Pandan, who yesterday advised lawyers for Sir Michael, Posman Kua Aisi Lawyers, that Sir Michael would avoid being absent from three consecutive meetings of parliament if he attended yesterday's session.
Pandan, in a letter dated Sept 6, 2011, stated; "I confirm that my records constituting the minutes of proceedings of the parliament, as required by Standing Orders 30 for 2011, show that Sir Michael has been absent for only the June and August 2011 meetings of parliament. He was granted leave by parliament for the May 2011 meeting.
"I confirm that when Sir Michael attends today's (yesterday) meeting of parliament, he will avoid being absent for three consecutive meetings of parliament, thus, being disqualified as the member of parliament for the East Sepik regional seat, pursuant to the requirements of section 104(2) d) of the Constitution."
Angoram MP Arthur Somare promised to bring his father to parliament during the Sept 20 sitting and challenged government leaders to try to stop him.
He said the significant issue was that they wanted the Grand Chief to come and present himself in parliament to preserve the East Sepik regional seat.
He said the people of East Sepik had given Sir Michael their mandate for 45 years and he had an unbroken record of holding the parliamentary seat for an extended period of time.
He said to witness his arrival in parliament yesterday was heartening.
"If he has missed three consecutive meetings, he will be disqualified and leave the seat vacant," Somare said.
He said the speaker had recognised and welcomed back the Grand Chief to parliament.
"We feel confident that there is no vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat because the custodian of records is the clerk of parliament."
Wabag MP Sam Abal said the actions of the speaker showed that power-hungry leaders were trying to destroy a man who had served the country for 45 years.
East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu said it was a sad day for the people of East Sepik that the founding father of the nation had been treated in such a way.
"Today, they had confirmed that their real motive is to remove the Grand Chief as East Sepik regional MP during this urgent recall of parliament.
"Addressing outstanding issues was just a cover-up," Wararu said.

Grand Chief sacked

SPEAKER Jeffrey Nape yesterday declared a vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat, removing Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare from the parliamentary seat he has never been voted out of since 1968, The National reports.
In a move sure to shock PNG, Nape declared at about 4 pm that there was a vacancy in the East Sepik provincial seat. Parliament then voted on voices to dismiss Sir Michael.
Sir Michael, who had earlier been wheeled into the chamber in a wheelchair, and the opposition MPs were absent when the announcement was made.
The opposition and the National Alliance executive later expressed shock and said it was the work of power-hungry politicians.
Reading from an extensive legal brief he obtained from Twivey Lawyers, Nape told parliament that the power to declare a vacancy in both the office of the prime minister or the office of a member of parliament was vested in the speaker.
Nape further declared that his actions and the procedures of parliament, including the election of the prime minister, were non-justiceable, that is, they could not be challenged in a court of law.
Using parliamentary privilege, Nape discussed at great length the powers, functions and procedures of parliament in the event of a vacancy in the office of the prime minister, the subject of the reference now before the Supreme Court. Nape is named as the second intervenor in the reference.
The move now automatically creates a vacancy in the office Sir Michael had held as prime minister prior to his hospitalisation and this may have a bearing on the Supreme Court reference challenging the validity of the new government of Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
Sir Michael, who made the trip home from Singapore on Sunday to be present at yesterday's sitting in order to avoid being automatically disqualified, was told he was disqualified anyway.
In a letter to Sir Michael's lawyers, Nape claimed that parliament's grant of leave for Sir Michael from the May sitting of parliament was defective and that he had already absented himself from three consecutive parliament sittings by the Aug 2 sitting.
The speaker said Sir Michael had been away for too long "without excuse", stating that no official statement for the long absence had been received from himself or the acting prime minister at the time.
Nape said: "There is nothing specifically provided in the Constitution, or the Prime Minister and NEC Act 2002 or the PNG Parliamentary Standing Orders for the procedure to be followed where a prime minister is absent without excuse for a prolonged period.
"Where there is a gap in procedure, there is, however, provision in the standing orders for a remedy, which is that pursuant to the functions and duties of his office under Order 284(1) in any matter that is not provided for in the standing orders, the speaker shall decide.
"It is then the speaker's role to determine what procedure should take place when a prime minister is absent from duties for an extended period without proper excuse.
"Further, the general provisions of the Constitution and the standing orders that govern the role, functions and the powers of the speaker clearly are wide enough to allow the speaker to determine the appropriate authority to declare a vacancy in the office of the prime minister and that appropriate authority to declare the vacancy is the speaker."

SP Brewery opens new warehouse

  SP Brewery chairman Joe Tauvasa (right) and general manager Stan Joyce unveil the plaque for the K8.6m warehouse in Gordon tonightnight.-Nationalpic by AURI EVA

While all attention was focused on Parliament, SP Brewery tonight night opened its K8.6 million warehouse at Gordon in a quite ceremony.

Chairman Joe Tauvasa said SP had embarked on an investment of K91m for both the Lae and Gordon breweries.

"The company's three-year investment plan has resulted in the latest technology to be installed in both breweries," he said.

"The upgrade of the current operations and ex pansion of the brewery capabilities is world-class and will provide us the extra capability to meet market demand and growth.

"This structure is part of that investment."

Sir Michael Somare should pay his own medical bills: Sir Mekere

 Moresby North-West MP and Minister for Public Enterprises Sir Mekere Morauta said today that he was personally shocked to learn that the Government had been paying Sir Michael Somare's medical expenses and the cost of keeping his entourage in Singapore.

Sir Mekere said that the report in The National on September 5 that the State had paid more than K3.7 million, K2.7 million of which was for "minders and visitors", is simply outrageous.

"I am not being mean or discourteous," he said.

"I wish The Chief a speedy recovery. 

"I am delighted that he appears to be well enough to have come home.

"But private medical expenses are private medical expenses. 

"All Members of Parliament have access to medical insurance, and none of us should expect the State to pay our private bills."

Sir Mekere said that this was a typical example of the way the Somare family had abused public money. 

"They seem to have no sense of the differentiation between public and private," he said.

"When Bart Philemon and I were in the Opposition, we frequently pointed this out, criticising the aerial PMV Falcon jet, for example, and the manner in which the Somare family abused the privileges of Mirigini House and the office of the Prime Minister.

"In a statement to the Parliament on May 8, 2010, I challenged then Prime Minister Somare 'to appoint an independent auditor to compute what I cost the nation as PM and what he has cost the nation.

"But I can make a pretty good guess:  what the nation spent on my behalf in three years would be less than three months expenditure on the current PM'.

"I made that statement without realising the full extent of the abuse of public resources by the Somare family. 

"When I became the Minister for Public Enterprises, I discovered that the Somare Government owed Air Niugini K30 million for the operation of the aerial PMV.

"The Falcon had clearly been going up and down to Singapore, to Fiji for golf, to Wewak for parties, wherever the family wanted it to go – but they never paid the bill.  "So when Air Niugini agreed to buy the Falcon from the Government, this unpaid bill of K30 million had to be deducted from the purchase price."

Sir Mekere said that the fact was many months ago Sir Michael took leave, appointed an acting Prime Minister, and went to Singapore for medical treatment. 

"He did not fall sick whilst on duty travel," he said.

"He gave up the position of Prime Minister but still took a whole entourage with him – family members, protocol officers, and police officers – for him to lie in a hospital bed.  "And it was presumed the people of Papua New Guinea would foot the bill.  "Meantime his chosen appointee Hon Sam Abal ran up a bill of hundreds of thousands of kina staying in a Port Moresby hotel instead of his own home. 

"Who paid for this, I wonder?"

Sir Mekere said that when he was the Prime Minister, he regularly went to Brisbane for medical check-ups. 

"Not once did the State pay for my ticket, for my wife's ticket, for my medical bills, nor for my accommodation," he said.

"They were private visits for personal reasons. 

"It is common sense that a Prime Minister should expect to pay for such trips and for his own medical treatment himself."

Sir Mekere said that the report in The National noted that the Prime Minister's Department did 'not have any allowances within its budget for the medical expenses of the Prime Minister'.

 "So who approved this expenditure?" Sir Mekere asked. 

"That is a breach of the Financial Management Act and whoever approved the expenditure should be held accountable."

Sir Mekere said that the Somare family should re-pay the State all the medical expenses and costs associated with their recent stay in Singapore. 

"It is an insult to Papua New Guineans that government money has been used to pay these costs," he said.

"Our own health services are so run down; they are not staffed properly; people are dying daily for want of drugs, of equipment that works, and of accurate diagnosis.  "Every day we hear of a Papua New Guinean family fund-raising to send a family member overseas for medical treatment that is not available here. 

"These people don't have a government department that forks out millions for them.

"Please Sir Michael, have some decency and assure the nation that you will pay for your own medical expenses.

"Having a clear conscience in this regard will give you peace of mind and help your recovery."

Basil hits back at Abal

NATIONAL Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil has described as irresponsible and unbecoming comments by parliamentarians determined to usurp power by using Sir Michael Somare, The National reports.

"I can't believe former acting prime minister and Member for Wabag Sam Abal would sink so low as to verbally place the Grand Chief on a collision course on the floor of parliament by suggesting that Sir Michael would take the Prime Minister's seat in parliament," he said.
"Firstly, there is only one head of the legislature, which is the Speaker of the National Parliament, Jeffery Nape.
"Sam Abal was there when the new Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was elected in parliament. The instruments of appointment were signed by the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
"Why has Abal, knowing all this, attempted to direct Sir Michael to a chair already occupied by O'Neill?
"That is pre-emptor of the Supreme Court case and should amount to contempt both of
the court and of the national parliament," Basil said.
"What I fail to understand is just what sort of family, friends and associates would drag a weak, struggling, old man who many respect as the founding father of the nation in their political power games.
"Why can't they all appreciate that whatever the Supreme Court ruling is, the bottom line is that 70 MPs against 24 voted in O'Neill as the new prime minister on Aug 2 in parliament and will do so again if required."
Basil intends to refer Abal to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for his comments on the chair to be occupied by Sir Michael.
He said the comments threatened the decorum and dignity of parliament.

Locals attack MP and escort

DEFENCE Minister Guma Wau was reportedly attacked by a group of disgruntled people of his Dagle tribe, in Ke­rowagi district, Chimbu, last week, The National reports.
Several government vehicles, including police land cruisers, were smashed while escorting Gau.
He was allegedly distributing funds to people in the upper Dagle area a week ago.
Reports from Wau's tribe said his own people at Moroma village complained that he had overlooked them and was distributing cash to others.
Angry villagers attacked Wau and people he was travelling with, resulting in several vehicles having their windscreens smashed.
The Kerowagi MP was not hurt but remained tight-lipped over the incident.
Chimbu provincial police commander John Kale confirmed the incident but did not give any details.

Basil hits back at Abal

NATIONAL Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil has described as irresponsible and unbecoming comments by parliamentarians determined to usurp power by using Sir Michael Somare, The National reports.
"I can't believe former acting prime minister and Member for Wabag Sam Abal would sink so low as to verbally place the Grand Chief on a collision course on the floor of parliament by suggesting that Sir Michael would take the Prime Minister's seat in parliament," he said.
"Firstly, there is only one head of the legislature, which is the Speaker of the National Parliament, Jeffery Nape.
"Sam Abal was there when the new Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was elected in parliament. The instruments of appointment were signed by the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
"Why has Abal, knowing all this, attempted to direct Sir Michael to a chair already occupied by O'Neill?
"That is pre-emptor of the Supreme Court case and should amount to contempt both of
the court and of the national parliament," Basil said.
"What I fail to understand is just what sort of family, friends and associates would drag a weak, struggling, old man who many respect as the founding father of the nation in their political power games.
"Why can't they all appreciate that whatever the Supreme Court ruling is, the bottom line is that 70 MPs against 24 voted in O'Neill as the new prime minister on Aug 2 in parliament and will do so again if required."
Basil intends to refer Abal to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for his comments on the chair to be occupied by Sir Michael.
He said the comments threatened the decorum and dignity of parliament.

Protesters told to stay away

POLICE will be out in full force today to ensure the parliament session is free from trouble, The National reports.
NCD-Central commander Fred Sheekiot yesterday said police had received information there were "certain groups of people who want to disrupt parliament sitting today".
He said the government must carry on its business in parliament as usual.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop said no member of the public, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) "are permitted in the vicinity of parliament without good reason".
"We will not tolerate any NGO groups who hold rallies in the vicinity of parliament," Tondop said.

Government to push women’s bill

By SHIRLYN BELDEN

THE Equality and Participation Bill will be tabled in parliament today, The National reports.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday said the reserved seats bill was a priority agenda item of government.
He told a National Council of Women gathering at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby that it was imperative the reserved seats bill was presented in parliament for debate and voted on as soon as possible.
O'Neill said the participation of women in parliament was an important issue that had remained outstanding.
"Since coming into office, our go­vernment has seen this as an important outstanding issue,'' he said.
"That is why we are recalling parliament to seriously commence the process of legislating to include women as equal partners in the highest decision-making arena."
Women had been pressing the go­vernment to reserve 25 seats for women in the Papua New Guinea parliament.
Acknowledging the previous go­vernment for accepting the bill, he said there was no clear reason why the item had not been debated as yet.
O'Neill said his government was prepared to make women's representation in parliament a reality.
He said participation of women in the PNG parliament was low compared to other nations in the Pacific.
"There is only one woman MP, which means that our statistics of female participation is 0.9%, a shocking indicator, clearly contradicting our Constitution and the various government development goals," he said.
 "PNG is one of the only 12 countries to have 0.9 to zero per cent of women representation in parliament,"he said.
"We are rated as 136 out of 144 countries for having less than 1% of women in parliament.
"This is a shocking indication of our lack of real action to the commitments we have stated to our people in the Constitution and various development goals."
National Women Council president Scholla Kakas said women must have reserved seats in parliament.
 "It is high time for women to have a place in parliament," she said.
"Recognise us as human beings and give us the political recognition, equality and justice for the benefit of all Papua New Guineans."
Representatives from women groups and councils in Papua, Momase, highlands and the New Guinea Islands regions gathered to lobby for the bill.
Parliament has been recalled today to debate several bills including the Equality and Participation Bill.

Somare’s bill put at K3.7 million

FIVE-year-old Iluh Kara, dressed in her mother's Manus traditional bilas, was at the Jackson
International Airport yesterday morning to welcome home her bubu and East Sepik regional MP Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. Iluh presented Sir Michael with a basket. Iluh's dad is the son of Sir Michael's only sister, Rosa.  – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

THE state has paid K3.7 million to keep Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in Singapore's Raffles Hospital and for related costs, The National reports.
The actual hospital bill is less than K1 million but travel and accommodation expenses and sustenance allowances for his family, minders and visitors blew up the amount to K3,718,981.82.
An amount of K67,703.52 was still outstanding as of Aug 29.
All the expenses was borne by the Prime Minister's Department, which does not have any allowances within its budget for the medical expenses of the prime minister, deputy prime minister and other ministers of government, department sources said.
Sources also said Prime Minister Peter O'Neill had directed his department to transfer all future expenses to parliament and to have parliament reimburse the department's expenses so far.
At any time, there had always been three security officers and a protocol officer in attendance at the hospital as well as Lady Veronica, press secretary and daughter Betha Somare and personal assistant Seki Karingal. All their expenses were met by the department.
This came to light as the Grand Chief jetted in on an Air Niugini commercial flight from Singapore yesterday morning to an emotional welcome at the Jackson International Airport.
It was important that Sir Michael was in the country to attend tomorrow's sitting of parliament. To miss it would mean his third consecutive absence, rendering Sir Michael an automatic disqualification as the regional parliamentary representative of East Sepik.
The Grand Chief spoke briefly upon his arrival yesterday, looking frail but walking without assistance.
Scores of people, including Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who broke with protocol to be pre­sent personally to meet Sir Michael, wept openly when they saw the former prime minister who had been in a Singapore hospital for the past four months.
Sir Michael greeted the airport crowd and spoke briefly on health care, clearly avoiding the events of Aug 2 and the election of O'Neill as prime minister.
"The days ahead of us are tough but I am one of those who have proven to be a fighter and to make things work," Sir Michael said.
A strategy meeting is expected to be held by the Somare camp today for tomorrow's parliament meeting.
The topic of where Sir Michael would sit would feature prominently with expectations that he would attempt to occupy the prime minister's chair.

PNG exposed as 'dysfunctional blob'

By PHILIP DORLING

PAPUA NEW GUINEA is trapped in ''Ponzi politics'' being practised by deeply corrupt politicians who have enriched themselves on resource revenue and Australian aid , according to US diplomatic reports.

Australian government officials are reported as saying generational change in PNG politics following the departure of founding father and former prime minister Sir Michael Somare was a ''false hope'', and the PNG government was a ''totally dysfunctional blob''.

The damning assessments of political and economic life in Australia's nearest neighbour are contained in confidential US embassy cables leaked to WikiLeaks.

In a November 2008 briefing, the US embassy in Port Moresby noted that resource revenues and Australian aid have served ''more to enrich the political elite than to provide social services or infrastructure. There are no large-scale local businessmen, but numerous politicians are relatively well off.''

PNG is Australia's largest recipient of foreign aid and in 2011-12 will receive more than $480 million from the country.

Anxious to avoid diplomatic offence, Australian government ministers and officials rarely talk openly about corruption and maladministration in PNG, preferring to speak of ''strengthening governance'' and helping ''institution building''.

However, the leaked cables from the US embassy in Port Moresby provide grim assessments of PNG's chaotic political system and failing public administration. In May 2007, in a cable titled ''Ponzi politics'', the US embassy presented a damning pen picture of PNG politics.

''Steeped in traditional magic and innocent of modern economies, PNG's citizens prove easy marks for Ponzi schemes which proliferate throughout the country,'' the embassy said. ''Now it's election time … and the politicians are dusting off their bottles of snake oil. Viewed from afar, or from a national perspective, it's an appalling spectacle of disregard for governance.''

It went on: ''If all politics is local, politics in PNG - with 830 languages, myriad cultures and thousands of clans - is Tip O'Neil (sic) on steroids … Though this government, and the current crop of leaders on the national scene, have presided over a steady, nationwide deterioration of services - closure of health centres and schools, collapse of effective policing and a steady rise in violent crime - little mention of this can be expected during the campaign to come.''

In the run up to the 2007 election, the US embassy reported that ''the pork has hit the fan'' as Sir Michael reallocated ministerial portfolios. One promoted minister was described as ''the government's chief bagman for the corrupt forestry industry''. A former health minister was ''mostly remembered for his insistence that he was just a politician and therefore could not be held responsible for the fact that the country's hospitals had run out of medicines while his ministry was still flush with cash''.

The report gave a damning judgment on the Somare administration's commitment to law and order: ''The single most pressing problem facing PNG is the almost total collapse of the police force. So it is doubly disappointing that the effective [Police Minister Bire] Kimisopa was pushed aside. The portfolio has little control over expenditure. But his focus likely discomforted Somare and his cronies for the same reasons they worked to scuttle a large-scale Australian package which threatened to dramatically improve police performance.''

The leaked US cables are ambiguous about Sir Michael's financial interests and their effect on political decisions and public policy. However, they noted a ''strange'' shift in PNG government policy that potentially increased its financial exposure in legal action being taken by Bougainville residents against company Bougainville Copper. ''Given the way things are done here, the general suspicion is that PM Somare has been given a financial incentive to reverse the previous government's position on the case. Certainly, it would be very typical of Melanesia if what the government saw as in its nation's interest also redounded to the individual benefit of its leadership. It is worthy of note that Paul Nero (sic, Nerau), a plaintiff and the current PNG [consul-general] in Brisbane, is very much a Somare man.''

The US cables confirm that, privately, Australian officials have no illusions about the state of the PNG government. After a mid-2007 discussion on political and economic developments with Australian high commission staff in Port Moresby, the US embassy reported: ''One Australian analyst described generational change as a 'false hope', while other Australian officers described the PNG public service as a 'totally dysfunctional blob' that is great at planning but appalling at implementation.''

Speaking to the US embassy in September 2009, the then opposition leader and former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta lamented the collapse of effective government decision-making.

''AusAID is out of control,'' he said. ''I don't mean that Australia is being naughty. What I mean is that, out of desperation over lack of government direction, they are funding projects of their own choosing. The government cannot truly be said to be in charge of how and where foreign assistance is spent.''

However, as an example of poorly planned Australian assistance, Sir Mekere cited money spent on infrastructure projects such as road-building, new schools and hospitals.

''Our problem is not a need for new infrastructure. At this point, we cannot even maintain the infrastructure we have.''

Following a long illness Sir Michael was removed from office, though he is still protesting that his ousting has been illegal. Peter O'Neill, who had served as treasurer in the Somare government, was elected Prime Minister by a parliamentary vote on August 2. He has declared his desire to ''restore open, honest governance''.

Somare arrives back in Port Moresby

Caption: Sir Michael waves to the crowd before boarding his car. He is flanked by Valentine Kambori (left), Tony Aimo (behind him) and Sam Abal.-Picture by EKAR KEAPU

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare arrived at Jackson Airport in Port Moresby today from Singapore after being hospitalised there for more than four months.

Among those at the airport to meet Sir Michael were the vice regal Sir Michael Ogio, MPs Sam Abal, Sir Arnold Amet, Patrick Pruaitch, Gabriel Kapris, Dame Carol Kidu, Tony Aimo, James Marape, John Pudari, Peter Wararu, Paru Aihi, Andrew Kumbakor, Timothy Bonga plus former departmental heads Margaret Elias and Vincent Kambori.

Also present were the Sepik council of chiefs led by their president Eric Wangehau.

Medical society disassociates itself from Mola report

By MALUM NALU

The PNG Medical Society has disassociated itself from "unprofessional actions" of its treasurer Prof Glen Mola in making allegations against former society president Dr Mathias Sapuri.

This follows the publication of a leaked report in The National last Friday in which Mola claimed that Sapuri had misused almost K1 million during his tenure as president.

Mola, however, said at the weekend that he did not know how The National obtained an advance copy of his treasurer's report.

"I wish to make it clear that I did not send a copy of my treasurer's report to The National," he said.

"I do not know where The National got a copy of the report. 

"My report should have been treated as confidential by members of the Medical Society until it is presented to the annual general meeting of the society on Sept 7 in Kimbe. 

"At the AGM, members will have an opportunity to consider the report and vote on either accepting or rejecting it, and also make any recommendations as to what action – if any - to take as a result of it.

"I note also that Dr Sapuri is reported as stating that 'legal action would be sought against Mola if the allegations were found to be false'. 

"In fact no 'allegations' are made in my report; my report only contains statements of fact."

Society president Prof Nakapi Tefuarani said today that neither he nor his executive sanctioned and approved Mola's report.

"In fact," he said, "the official decision and plan reached during the executive meeting was for Dr Mola to present his 2010-2011 financial report at the annual general meeting in Kimbe this year.

"He was warned not to publicise the allegations he had conjured against Dr Sapuri.

"The past president, Dr Mathias Sapuri, was asked and will present his exit report at the society's AGM in Kimbe in 2011 and treasurer Prof Glen Mola is expected to present the financial report covering Sept 2010 to Sept 2011.

"However, despite being told by the current president and his executive to be more professional towards the former president, Prof Glen Mola has unilaterally opted to pursue this in a manner that of a personal vendetta."

Tefurani said his executive would raise Mola's actions at this week's Medical Symposium in Kimbe for appropriate decision and action.

He assured all members, supporters and donors that his executive would continue to manage administer the affairs of the society with "due diligence".

Leave East Sepik provincial government matter to the court, says Chief Justice

By JULIA DAIA BORE

THE Supreme Court at Waigani has called on people not to interfere with the proceedings of the East Sepik provincial government executive council's reference, The National reports.
"We express our concerns in the strongest terms possible," Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia said yesterday before ending the second day of the reference hearing at Waigani.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the five-judge Supreme Court panel hearing the matter.
The panel consists of Sir Salamo, Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, senior judges Bernard Sakora, Nicholas Kirriwom and Les Gavara-Nanu.
Sir Salamo said: "We ask the media, the interested public and all interested parties to leave the courts to deal with this matter."
He said the panel agreed to express their concerns about public interest and events as they were unfolding outside the courthouse and as reported by the media.
"There should not be any form of interference from anybody on the matters before this court."
He called on the media to report about the public involvement of the reference court matter "with care, responsibility and fairness".
He said the media's reporting of the public involvement of matters before the court could amount to interfering with the proceedings.
"Nothing should be repeated from the public and any interested parties by the media ... that amounts to interference with issues being dealt with by the courts," he cautioned.
Sir Salamo said this did not mean the court was interferring with the freedom of the press.
"The media is free to report on issues, but there are limitations to do so," he said in reference to on-going events outside the Waigani Court main gates.

Tkatchenko denies receiving funds from NCDC

PNG Gardener Justin Tkatchenko has denied allegations that he has received millions of kina from the National Capital District Commission through his association with NCD Governor Powes Parkop, The National reports.
The alleged financial benefits were contained in a purported internal audit report circulated on the internet via the pngexposed.com blog.
Tkatchenko told a day-long media conference, organised by NCDC at the Bluff Inn Hotel outside Port Moresby on Wednesday, that the K3 million he was paid last year were "for projects that were carried out through cooperation between the public and private sectors".
"The projects were not to create revenue but a service to the people," Tkatchenko said in the presence of Parkop and other senior City Hall officials.
He also gave a power-point presentation on the NCDC mini parks and courts, water fountain, water slide and zoo and animal farm projects that the internet report had cited in its alleged audit report.
According to the internet audit report, no quotation was provided for any of the projects and there was no tender advertised or accepted.
It claimed all the payments were made out to Kitoro No.33 Ltd and PNG Gardener.
A company search listed the directors of Kitoro No.33 as Justin Wayne Tkatchenko and Catherine Jane Tkatchenko.
Its sole shareholder was Catherine Jane Tkatchenko, who was also listed as the secretary.
Both companies share the same office space on the fifth floor of Defens Haus in downtown Port Moresby.
However, Tkatchenko denied receiving the K3 million as claimed.
Parkop, on the other hand, said he had no common interest with Tkatchenko and his companies.
He said he only knew the PNG Gardener when Tkatchenko won the parks and garden outsourcing contract.
"Neither of my immediate family is interested in Tkatchenko's family and his businesses."

Doctor charged with stealing

By JUNIOR UKAHA

A SENIOR doctor in charge of the Department of Health was arrested and charged by police yesterday with misappropriation, The National reports.
Dr Esorom Daoni, 43, from Babagi village, Gazelle, East New Britain, was arrested and charged by members of the fraud squad with one count of misappropriation.
Director of fraud squad Chief Insp Timothy Gitua said, between last December and January, Daoni "on numerous occasions during his leave went to the Queen Emma Lodge in Kokopo and withdrew money totalling K12,892 belonging to the department held in the company's account".
He said the money was excess payment that was left after a conference was held last year by doctors at the lodge.
Gitua said Daoni somehow managed to convince the management at the lodge and withdrew the funds.
He said police started their investigation in April after former health secretary Dr Clement Malau laid a complaint with the office of the fraud squad alleging that the accused had withdrawn the funds from the company's account without the approval of the department.
Gitua said his men picked up the accused on Wednesday night in his home and questioned him the next day, resulting in his arrest.
Gitua said Daoni was out on K1,000 bail sanctioned by the office of the metropolitan superintendent yesterday afternoon.
He said the accused would appear at the Waigani Committal Court today for his first mention.