What will it take, Papua New Guinea, to open the can of worms?

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

A popular Papua New Guinea blogger recently raised some pertinent questions: what will it take, what is the PNG Ombudsman Commission doing about this; and whether a written deal exists between the government and this public watch dog not to go after certain MPs referred to it for investigation? 

It embarrasses many Papua New Guineans to explain to anyone why the average politician in his/her country seems undeterred by public opinions of any kind.  Unlike some democracies, where politicians caught in misconduct cases will either resign, or step down to be investigated, but not so in PNG.  

In such cases to date, an implicated MP usually denies publicly any adverse reports about his alleged actions.  The errant politician will accuse the media of being misrepresented, misquoted by inexperienced journalists; and that local papers are spreading false stories to discredit his reputation. 

The MPs involved do not even feel disgraced at all, or feel compelled to temporarily step down from office to await  investigations (if any).  Despite public outrage, politicians unashamedly hold on to their jobs with the prime minister failing to take tough action to ensure parliamentarians (mostly in government) do the ‘right thing’ under the circumstances.   Over the years, successive prime ministers have all failed in this regard.

The citizenry today do not even bother about writing another useless letter of complaint to their local MP.  It is a complete waste of time.  Except for a handful, most ‘pollies’ are just big disappointments to their electorates.  The so-called ‘big men’ are either too busy doing something unrelated to their constituent’s interests, or simply ignores the complainant as a mere trouble-maker.

As for the PNG Ombudsman Commission (OC), it may soon be made powerless if the government has its way.  The OC started off well with a new Chief Ombudsman's (CO) appointment with ’gusto’. The new incumbent discontinued master’s studies in Australia to take up his political appointment under a newly elected government after the 2007 elections. From the outset, the CO publicly reminded the 'pollies' and senior beauracrats; the commission will do its job without fear or favour and keep public office holders on their toes.  This message was fully embraced by the public. But in recent times, this earlier passion may have somewhat waned.  This must not be so.

The familiar trend under all former COs repeats itself as political inertia takes over.  This sound familiar and the government know this.  It is a real pity it won’t fix the problem as the whole thing works in its favour.  As with most state institutions, the commission has limited resources with so much to do to clear a huge backlog of outstanding cases.  With little capacity and money, the OC has become like other state agencies waiting to be given adequate resources to do its job well.

Is there any secret written deal between the government and OC?  I do not believe there is, even if that is a perception now. The CO has found out what all his predecessors were frustrated about.  He is doing his best but is being swamped by the magnitude of the job.  

On the whole, the OC has to date done a sterling job, but it must do more than what it is doing now, or not doing; to put away some bad politicians behind bars.  It will need the help of the Attorney General’s office and all law enforcement agencies working as one team.

However, if that is not bad enough, the government now plans to pass a bill to further regulate the watch-dog.  It shows the government has something to fear to curb the powers of the commission. If this regulation bill is ever passed in parliament then PNG will experience more gross political abuses of power.  The end state will be the PNG Ombudsman Commission becoming a mere ‘paper tiger’ with no powers to stop ‘crooks’ occupying public offices in future.

In addition, PNG needs a chain reaction to be started by committed Department secretaries, government board chairmen, public and private sector, civil society and the general public to point-blankly tell their MPs just …’where to stick it’.  This may be just what it will take to stop them.  

Pictures of Port Moresby's new fountain

I celebrated New Year's Day with my three children (Moasing, Gedi and Keaith) in the recreational park at Gerehu Stage Two in Port Moresby, including the new foundation - opened on Christmas Day by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop - which is a crowd puller every day and night, when it looks spectacular with an explosion of coloured lights.

This is the second fountain in Port Moresby, the first being at Five-Mile.

Port Moresby has certainly come a long way in 2009, and in 2010, promises to be an even better and beautiful city, especially with the massive LNG project coming on stream.

Pilot is part of the great Leahy dynasty

From JOHN FOWKE

 

Richard Leahy (pictured) is one of the sons of the late Mick Leahy and Mick's widow, Mrs Jeanette Leahy, who has only recently retired to Sydney from PNG despite being in her late eighties.

They built up the Zenag Farm business which is a major chicken and beef supplier in PNG situated at Mumeng, halfway along the road between Bulolo and Lae. This is run by Mick's son Philip who, with Richard, has remained in PNG.

Richard has for many years operated an air charter service out of Lae (Nadzab) and is one of the most experienced pilots operating in PNG.

His plane developed engine trouble on a trip to a remote airstrip in Morobe Province. Richard issued a mayday call and stated that he was going to put the plane down as best he could.

The plane was extensively damaged and caught fire immediately it hit the ground. The six passengers, all from villages in the area he was heading to, died.

Richard managed to drag himself out and get away from the flames but suffered a broken spine and major burns to his legs and the lower part of the body.

He is in Royal Brisbane Hospital, where he was operated on yesterday.

His son Nick - from Richard's first marriage - is looking after things in Lae and minding his small half-sister, as her mother has gone to Brisbane to be with Richard.

Richard has been flying small planes in PNG for the past 40 years. Luckily there was a helicopter in the air nearby at the time of the crash and it was able to land near the crash site and uplift Richard to Lae.

New Year's Day in Port Moresby

Contrary to what people have been saying, there was no trouble in Port Moresby last night, with people celebrating peacefully all over the city.

This morning, I took my kids to the park at Gerehu Stage Two and here are some pictures.

Happy New Year 2010

A Happy New Year 2010 to readers and followers of this blog from all over the world from me and my four young children Malum Jr (9), Gedi (7), Moasing (5) and Keith (2).
Thank you for your support in the past and I look forward to even more support from you this year as I strive to bring you the best (and the worst) from Papua New Guinea.
God Bless You All in your various endeavours this year.
You can email me at malumnalu@gmail.com with your thouughts and comments, otherwise, just make a comment at the bottom of this posting.

Malum

'Captain Cautious' fights for life after PNG crash

Pilot Richard Leahy was transferred to Royal Brisbane Hospital with serious burns. (http://www.pacificwrecks.org: Justin Taylan)

ABC

An investigation is underway into a plane crash in Papua New Guinea that has killed six people and left their Australian pilot in a serious condition in a Brisbane hospital.
Four adults and two children died when the Cessna 185 came down while heading to a remote airstrip in the Sarawaget mountain ranges of the Morobe province yesterday.
Sydney-born Richard Leahy, 68, who owns Kiunga Aviation, was the sole survivor.
His son Nicholas Leahy says his father was airlifted to Brisbane for treatment.
"He's in a serious condition. He's in the Royal Brisbane Hospital in the trauma unit," he said.
"He's got burns to 46 per cent of his body, he's also got a fracture in his spine. Most of the burns to his body are third-degree burns and he's being operated on as we speak."
It is believed the plane may have had engine trouble.
Nicholas Leahy says his father is an experienced and well-respected pilot.
"Dad's been flying up here for 40 plus years," he said.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find another bush pilot in New Guinea that's got more experience than him, especially in the mountain range which is his local area. His nick-name is Captain Cautious."
Morobe provincial police commander Peter Guinness, police and medical officers were flown to the accident site on Wednesday to retrieve the remains and wreckage, The National newspaper reported.
"The plane was completely shattered and we could not do much," he said.
No immediate cause for the crash has been offered because conditions in the area were considered fine.
"We will wait for the Civil Aviation Authority to do their investigation," he said.
Over the past few decades Mr Leahy, who lives at Lae, has been involved in the discovery of dozens of WWII wreck sites in PNG.
He has worked closely with the US Army CILHI, recovering the remains of troops missing in action and returning them to the United States.
It is the second plane crash in PNG this year after a plane came down in the Kokoda area in August, killing 13 people including nine Australians.

Aussie pilot Richard Leahy critical after PNG plane crash

By Ilya Gridneff and Peter Veness of AAP in Port Moresby

- Aussie pilot badly burnt in PNG crash
- Passengers were all PNG citizens
- Cause of plane crash not yet known

SIX people are dead and their Australian pilot is fighting for his life in hospital after their light plane crashed in Papua New Guinea.
Australian pilot Richard Leahy, who runs Kiunga Aviation, was flying the plane yesterday when the engine caught fire above the mountainous terrain of Morobe Province, on PNG's northwest coast.
Leahy, 68, survived the crash but is fighting for his life in a Brisbane hospital.
The plane had departed from Nadzab and was flying to the Baindoang airstrip when it crashed.
Nicholas Leahy, Richard's son, told AAP his father had reported "a loss of all pressure and total engine failure".
Richard Leahy is being treated for severe burns.
"He's in the trauma ward of the Royal Brisbane Hospital," Nicholas said.
"He's got third degree burns to 47 per cent of his body and he's got a fracture in his spine."
The passengers were all PNG citizens. There were four adults and two children.
The deadly crash comes five months after the Airline PNG Twin Otter tragedy in the Kokoda on August 11 that claimed 13 lives, including nine Australians on their way to trek the Kokoda Track.
Morobe provincial police commander Peter Guinness, police and medical officers were flown to the accident site yesterday to retrieve the remains and wreckage, The National newspaper reported.
"The plane was completely shattered and we could not do much."
No immediate cause for the crash has been offered because conditions in the area were considered fine.
"We will wait for the Civil Aviation Authority to do their investigation," he said.