From PAUL OATES
Has anyone actually thought about recruiting and employing qualified Papua New Guineans for the work on offer?
e.g. Target the aid programmes to the local talent available.
Why isn't there an 'independent' recruitment programme set up under the AusAID umbrella to ensure that 'qualified' PNG people are available for each position before it is offered to a high priced overseas consultancy firm who then employs overseas staff who have very high 'on costs'?
If there are no qualified PNG available, train them up ASAP under a contract that has a set sunset clause in it and won't be fully paid for unless the prior benchmarks for achievement are met.
The whole AusAID programme has so far seemed to be run on a scatter gun approach.
Why not provide a supplement to all PNG public servants who are prepared to sign a binding agreement not to be involved in any corrupt practice and to report those they find breaking the law?
If the PNG public service were to be paid a reasonable wage they would not have to rely on corruption to feed and look after their family.
Why not concentrate on health or education and ensure these principle areas are working across the nation?
Talkfest's are expensive 'no brainers'!
The PNG government is going to increase the number of ministries (and therefore public servants), instead of making sure those they already employ are actually able to do what they are paid to do.
Clearly the AusAID funding needs to be targeted at national achievement and not local appeasement.
A monster has been created that no one as yet seems willing or able to control.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
United Nations report accuses Papua New Guinea police of beating prisoner
From: AFP
May 25, 2010 7:21PM
PAPUA New Guinea police systematically beat detainees, cripple those suspected of serious crimes and sexually assault female prisoners, a United Nations report said.
After spending almost two weeks touring the impoverished Pacific island country, the UN's special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak said police often brutally beat detainees with car fan belts, gun butts, iron rods and stones.
"I found systematic beatings of detainees upon arrest or within the first hours of detention, including during interrogation," Mr Nowak said in a statement on his preliminary findings issued in Port Moresby.
"Very often beatings are inflicted by the police as a form of punishment of suspects, reflecting complete disrespect for the presumption of innocence and the dignity of persons suspected of crimes."
Mr Nowak, who carried out unannounced visits to police lock-ups and jails and conducted confidential interviews with detainees, said he was disturbed by some of what he heard.
"I am very concerned about the practice of the police to deliberately disable persons suspected of serious crimes and those who escape from detention," he said.
In jails, those who tried to escape were tortured upon recapture as a standard practice, he said.
This included brutal beatings with machetes or rifle butts, shooting the legs and feet of detainees at close range and cutting their tendons with knives and axes to cripple them.
Women were particularly vulnerable while in police custody, with many allegations of sexual abuse, Nowak said.
"Some officers also appear to frequently arrest women for minor offences with the intention of sexually abusing them," Mr Nowak said.
"As a punishment, some women were also threatened or were placed in cells with male detainees for a night, where they were subjected to collective rape by the other detainees."
He described as appalling the conditions for detainees left for extended periods in some police cells, saying in several stations he visited officers did not have access to the keys to open the cells.
"During the visits, I witnessed that detainees were locked up in overcrowded, filthy cells, without proper ventilation, natural light or access to food and water for washing, drinking and for using the toilets," he said.
Medical care for inmates was lacking and led to avoidable amputations and the spread of disease among detainees.
Mr Nowak said officers with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary were often unable to enforce the law due to insufficient human and financial resources, high levels of corruption and a lack of political will.
Speaking to AFP from Port Moresby, Mr Nowak said he had met with high-ranking Papua New Guinea government officials on Tuesday and had been assured they took the issue seriously.
"They haven't denied what I said," he said.
But he said the country suffered a high level of violence in general and this led to police using heavy methods, saying officers felt: "We have to beat them up in order to show who's the boss, in order to intimidate."
Mr Nowak, whose team was physically threatened by an intelligence officer in a remote area, said he would strongly urge the government to implement major structural reforms of its police and corrective services in his final report.
May 25, 2010 7:21PM
PAPUA New Guinea police systematically beat detainees, cripple those suspected of serious crimes and sexually assault female prisoners, a United Nations report said.
After spending almost two weeks touring the impoverished Pacific island country, the UN's special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak said police often brutally beat detainees with car fan belts, gun butts, iron rods and stones.
"I found systematic beatings of detainees upon arrest or within the first hours of detention, including during interrogation," Mr Nowak said in a statement on his preliminary findings issued in Port Moresby.
"Very often beatings are inflicted by the police as a form of punishment of suspects, reflecting complete disrespect for the presumption of innocence and the dignity of persons suspected of crimes."
Mr Nowak, who carried out unannounced visits to police lock-ups and jails and conducted confidential interviews with detainees, said he was disturbed by some of what he heard.
"I am very concerned about the practice of the police to deliberately disable persons suspected of serious crimes and those who escape from detention," he said.
In jails, those who tried to escape were tortured upon recapture as a standard practice, he said.
This included brutal beatings with machetes or rifle butts, shooting the legs and feet of detainees at close range and cutting their tendons with knives and axes to cripple them.
Women were particularly vulnerable while in police custody, with many allegations of sexual abuse, Nowak said.
"Some officers also appear to frequently arrest women for minor offences with the intention of sexually abusing them," Mr Nowak said.
"As a punishment, some women were also threatened or were placed in cells with male detainees for a night, where they were subjected to collective rape by the other detainees."
He described as appalling the conditions for detainees left for extended periods in some police cells, saying in several stations he visited officers did not have access to the keys to open the cells.
"During the visits, I witnessed that detainees were locked up in overcrowded, filthy cells, without proper ventilation, natural light or access to food and water for washing, drinking and for using the toilets," he said.
Medical care for inmates was lacking and led to avoidable amputations and the spread of disease among detainees.
Mr Nowak said officers with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary were often unable to enforce the law due to insufficient human and financial resources, high levels of corruption and a lack of political will.
Speaking to AFP from Port Moresby, Mr Nowak said he had met with high-ranking Papua New Guinea government officials on Tuesday and had been assured they took the issue seriously.
"They haven't denied what I said," he said.
But he said the country suffered a high level of violence in general and this led to police using heavy methods, saying officers felt: "We have to beat them up in order to show who's the boss, in order to intimidate."
Mr Nowak, whose team was physically threatened by an intelligence officer in a remote area, said he would strongly urge the government to implement major structural reforms of its police and corrective services in his final report.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
AusAID fat-cats
Millions wasted on ‘briefcase’ advisers
An extensive investigation by the newspapers had uncovered what they termed “a lucrative foreign aid industry” and raising questions about the Australian government’s decision to double funding to more than A$8 billion (K18.69 billion) a year.
The damning publications come on a day when the high-level review of the Australia-PNG Development Cooperation Treaty was publicly released in Canberra, slamming the A$414 million (K967.5 million) programme, claiming that A$100 million (K233.6 million) was being paid to a handful of firms – but delivering little.
The latest developments confirms Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal’s worst fears expressed early this year when he called for an overhaul of the annual aid to PNG, saying he believed too much money was wasted on costly consultants.
Yesterday, the newspapers – The Courier-Mail, Daily Telegraph, The Adelaide Advertiser and The Herald Sun – reported that aid experts were questioning the size of contracts paid to “briefcase” advisers who fly into poor countries, including PNG,
The newspapers’ investigation reveal:
- Just five firms – led by Coffey, GRM and Cardno ACIL – secured A$1 billion (K2.46 billion) in AusAID contracts;
- More than a dozen aid consultants earn more than prime minister Kevin Rudd and fly around the Pacific advising on everything from “gender integration” to sport, transport, energy and justice;
- Millions of dollars are being diverted to questionable aid programmes, including A$12 million (K30.38 million) to research the giant panda in China and A$13 million to redevelop a single school in Nauru;
- nAusAID, the agency in charge of foreign aid, is investigating a small number of cases of fraud and is about to undergo significant restructuring; and
- Millions are being spent by the AFL, girl guides, ACTU and other community groups on “selling” a pro-aid message to the public.
The newspapers named one highly-paid consultant in PNG as John Dinsdale, a former clerk of a court in
He is paid more than A$500,000 a year, tax-free, as PNG law and justice adviser.
Executive Gerald Gahima, a former justice in his native
The
Nikhil Desai, whose glamour address is listed as
Around the Pacific Rim, questions are being asked as to why consultants, such as Peter Kelly, who is paid A$433,000 a year to supervise
That explained why Susan Ferguson earns A$293,423 tax-free a year as “gender integration adviser” to PNG, the newspapers said.
“The review into the flagship PNG programme is particularly embarrassing – and raises serious questions over the value of pumping billions of dollars into fragile states.
“The former Howard government tightened aid to PNG in 2005 after it received secret intelligence of scams involving senior members of the then PNG administration.”
They reported that AusAID will pour A$415 million into PNG next year but the review – conducted by three independent experts Stephen Howes, from the Australian National University, Dr Eric Kwa from the University of PNG and Canadian Soe Lin – is scathing of the present scheme.
They found tens of millions of dollars was “wasted” on consultants and glossy reports. Money also props up bureaucracies instead of buying life saving medicines and equipment.
The review team found
The review has criticised the amounts being spent on highly-paid advisers and called for a shake-up in how the PNG scheme is managed. It did identify some positive outcomes – particularly in health programmes run by churches and other non-governmental organisations.
It wants a stronger focus on this sort of programme – and, yesterday, Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith backed changes in the aid programme when he announced the public release of the treaty review in
“Advisers have been a feature of Australian aid over many years and, while we do not intend to pre-judge the outcome of the (PNG) review, it may be that there is an over-reliance on advisers in some countries,” Smith’s spokesperson said.
In a media statement, the minister said: “Under the Rudd government, the proportion of foreign aid spent on technical assistance is already significantly lower than it has been previously.
“During the Howard government, average spending on technical assistance was 41.8% of the foreign aid budget. It peaked at 47.4% in 2004.
“During the Rudd government, average spending on technical assistance has been 34.5%.”
The lid is lifted on Australia's foreign aid programme
From PAUL OATES
In a Special Report in today's Courier Mail on Australian foreign aid, some of our overseas aid were listed in detail.
The report claimed that around a quarter of our aid to Papua New Guinea is paid to a handful of firms who in practice deliver little of substance.
Under the heading 'Pacific nations outraged by huge salaries paid for advisors', examples include a former clerk of a Melbourne court who now receives $500,000 a year, tax free, as the law and justice adviser to PNG.
Under the 'Millennium Development Goals', a female adviser is paid $293,423 tax free a year as a 'gender integration adviser' to PNG.
It was reported that the newly appointed head of AusAID, Peter Baxter, has 'vowed to crack down on highly paid consultants as part of a broader restructuring of the foreign aid programme'.
Other references to PNG include:
- over 12.5 million for private rental accommodation contracts in Port Moresby.
- three quarters of a million dollars paid to the Media Council of PNG for a 'new funding agreement'.
- an independent review of the PNG/Australia treaty found 'millions of dollars being "wasted" on consultants and glossy reports'. Australia's financial support was "being spread too thinly" across areas including health, education, transport, law and justice and HIV/AIDS.
- Health programs run by non government agencies and churches received a tick of approval however.
"It may be that there is an over reliance on advisers in some countries," Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister is quoted as saying.
So what about introducing outcomes based auditing into our Foreign aid programs? I searched and searched the report but couldn't find any reference that might be even slightly construed as approaching anywhere near that revolutionary concept.
_________________________________
Tens of millions in foreign aid wasted on salaries and commissions
Steve Lewis and Nic Christensen
From: The Courier-Mail
May 24, 2010 12:00AM
AUSTRALIA'S foreign aid program is under siege after revelations tens of millions of dollars are being wasted on huge salaries for consultants and rich contracts for private firms.
An extensive investigation has uncovered a lucrative foreign aid "industry", raising questions about the Rudd Government's decision to double annual spending to more than $8 billion.
And a high-level review has slammed the $414 million program in Papua New Guinea, claiming $100 million is being paid to a handful of firms - but delivering little.
Aid experts also have questioned the size of contracts paid to "briefcase" advisers who fly in to poor countries, including East Timor, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
The Courier-Mail's extensive investigation can reveal:
. A small clutch of five firms have secured $1 billion in contracts.
. More than a dozen aid consultants are earning more than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, flying around the Pacific to advise on everything from "gender integration" to sport, transport, energy and justice.
. Millions of dollars are being diverted to aid programs including $12 million to research the giant panda in China and $13 million to redevelop a single school in Nauru.
. AusAID, the agency in charge of foreign aid, is investigating allegations of fraud - and is about to undergo a significant restructuring.
. And millions of dollars are being spent by the AFL, Girl Guides, ACTU and other community groups "selling" a pro-aid message to the public.
The review is embarrassing for the Government - and raises serious questions about the value of pumping billions of dollars into fragile states.
__________
On pages 4 and 5 of the same paper there are some further details:
Foreign Spending as at December 31, 2009 was quoted as:
1. Major five consultancies $955,090,376
2. Government payments $759,912,587
3. Corporations $537,205,016
4. Non Government organisations $225,700,306
5. Major charities $213,056,756
6. Universities $ 85,942,386
7. Smaller consulting firms $ 78,514,144
8. Advisors $ 24,271,03
Big five Australian contractors
Total value of current contracts as of Dec 31, 2009:
1. Coffey International $310,079,609
2. Cardno Acil Pty Ltd $302,413,369
3. GRM International $266,538,015
4. GHD Pty Ltd $ 54,534,579
5. Sinclair Knigh Merz $ 21,704,802
In a Special Report in today's Courier Mail on Australian foreign aid, some of our overseas aid were listed in detail.
The report claimed that around a quarter of our aid to Papua New Guinea is paid to a handful of firms who in practice deliver little of substance.
Under the heading 'Pacific nations outraged by huge salaries paid for advisors', examples include a former clerk of a Melbourne court who now receives $500,000 a year, tax free, as the law and justice adviser to PNG.
Under the 'Millennium Development Goals', a female adviser is paid $293,423 tax free a year as a 'gender integration adviser' to PNG.
It was reported that the newly appointed head of AusAID, Peter Baxter, has 'vowed to crack down on highly paid consultants as part of a broader restructuring of the foreign aid programme'.
Other references to PNG include:
- over 12.5 million for private rental accommodation contracts in Port Moresby.
- three quarters of a million dollars paid to the Media Council of PNG for a 'new funding agreement'.
- an independent review of the PNG/Australia treaty found 'millions of dollars being "wasted" on consultants and glossy reports'. Australia's financial support was "being spread too thinly" across areas including health, education, transport, law and justice and HIV/AIDS.
- Health programs run by non government agencies and churches received a tick of approval however.
"It may be that there is an over reliance on advisers in some countries," Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister is quoted as saying.
So what about introducing outcomes based auditing into our Foreign aid programs? I searched and searched the report but couldn't find any reference that might be even slightly construed as approaching anywhere near that revolutionary concept.
_________________________________
Tens of millions in foreign aid wasted on salaries and commissions
Steve Lewis and Nic Christensen
From: The Courier-Mail
May 24, 2010 12:00AM
AUSTRALIA'S foreign aid program is under siege after revelations tens of millions of dollars are being wasted on huge salaries for consultants and rich contracts for private firms.
An extensive investigation has uncovered a lucrative foreign aid "industry", raising questions about the Rudd Government's decision to double annual spending to more than $8 billion.
And a high-level review has slammed the $414 million program in Papua New Guinea, claiming $100 million is being paid to a handful of firms - but delivering little.
Aid experts also have questioned the size of contracts paid to "briefcase" advisers who fly in to poor countries, including East Timor, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
The Courier-Mail's extensive investigation can reveal:
. A small clutch of five firms have secured $1 billion in contracts.
. More than a dozen aid consultants are earning more than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, flying around the Pacific to advise on everything from "gender integration" to sport, transport, energy and justice.
. Millions of dollars are being diverted to aid programs including $12 million to research the giant panda in China and $13 million to redevelop a single school in Nauru.
. AusAID, the agency in charge of foreign aid, is investigating allegations of fraud - and is about to undergo a significant restructuring.
. And millions of dollars are being spent by the AFL, Girl Guides, ACTU and other community groups "selling" a pro-aid message to the public.
The review is embarrassing for the Government - and raises serious questions about the value of pumping billions of dollars into fragile states.
__________
On pages 4 and 5 of the same paper there are some further details:
Foreign Spending as at December 31, 2009 was quoted as:
1. Major five consultancies $955,090,376
2. Government payments $759,912,587
3. Corporations $537,205,016
4. Non Government organisations $225,700,306
5. Major charities $213,056,756
6. Universities $ 85,942,386
7. Smaller consulting firms $ 78,514,144
8. Advisors $ 24,271,03
Big five Australian contractors
Total value of current contracts as of Dec 31, 2009:
1. Coffey International $310,079,609
2. Cardno Acil Pty Ltd $302,413,369
3. GRM International $266,538,015
4. GHD Pty Ltd $ 54,534,579
5. Sinclair Knigh Merz $ 21,704,802
Monday, May 24, 2010
Keeping district and people lost
By JAMES WANJIK
GOVERNMENT is of the people by the people for the people.
It is a trite principle in democracies.
In Wosera, East Sepik province, this principle is remote.
Since 1997 people have faced politically-motivated pain.
Their elected representatives since 1997 had no impact.
Till Wosera leaders see light of truth Wosera and her people will be lost.
To win Wosera people need change.
Change in leadership and governance at Wosera.
Without such change Wosera people will be ever more turned into human workhorses and buffalos carrying among others cocoa bean bags over long distances to bring in foreign exchage for leaders and bureaucrats to squander out of greed.
So bad it is that the trunk road from Patigo to Nungwaia has deteriorated so bad that now only well equiped and fitted four wheel drive vehicle can make the road.
GOVERNMENT is of the people by the people for the people.
It is a trite principle in democracies.
In Wosera, East Sepik province, this principle is remote.
Since 1997 people have faced politically-motivated pain.
Their elected representatives since 1997 had no impact.
Till Wosera leaders see light of truth Wosera and her people will be lost.
To win Wosera people need change.
Change in leadership and governance at Wosera.
Without such change Wosera people will be ever more turned into human workhorses and buffalos carrying among others cocoa bean bags over long distances to bring in foreign exchage for leaders and bureaucrats to squander out of greed.
So bad it is that the trunk road from Patigo to Nungwaia has deteriorated so bad that now only well equiped and fitted four wheel drive vehicle can make the road.
Papua New Guinea Parliament now irrelevant
From PAUL OATES
A recent editorial in a Papua New Guinea newspaper highlighted how the increase in the Somare ministry from 28 to 32 has effectively created a quorum that could govern PNG in its own right.
With 32 ministers and a Speaker, the required number of 33 or a quorum is achieved.
The Speaker could merely in future convene the ministry and have them pass laws without having any Opposition or other members available.
The Somare government has therefore finally reduced the PNG Parliament to a toothless and silent rubber stamp.
The current government has in effect, voted their fellow non government members into irrelevance.
Opposition members might just as well install cardboard cut-outs in their seats in Parliament or become computer images of virtual reality.
What happens when all members of Parliament other than the current government ministers are excluded from the Parliament for example?
If there were to be a lock out of Opposition members or those members were in some way delayed from attending a sitting, the Somare/Temu government has now become a law unto itself.
There is now, no effective way of holding the Somare government accountable either in or out of the Haus Tambaran.
With one vote, PNG has entered an entirely new phase of non-representative Parliamentary government.
The next step and final step is full blown dictatorship.
But wait, could there be light at the end of the tunnel?
When the two new governors of the two new districts Jiwaka and Hela, arrive in the House in 2012, the numbers required for a quorum will be altered.
But then the creation or yet another ministry could always fix that minor hiccup.
So will the 20 new seats reserved for women alter the balance?
Not if they are to have 'appointed' members as occupants.
If the new female members are to be appointed by the government, this will deliver the final death blow to the last vestiges of PNG democracy.
So will these expensive machinations by the Somare government, worth millions of kina, produce a recipe for any better performance in a government that has presided over an almost total collapse of services and infrastructure.
Not by one iota.
_________________________________________________________
Editorial from today's The National
Cabinet alone can convene a parliamentary session
PARLIAMENT last week passed an amendment to the Organic Law on the number of ministers to allow the prime minister to increase their number by four from the present 28 (27 ministers and the prime minister) to 32.
In so doing, Parliament unwittingly gave the executive government the right to convene Parliament with only the speaker present.
Parliament's present quorum is 33.
By increasing cabinet numbers from 28 to 32, Parliament has virtually given the executive government the mandate to convene a parliamentary session on its own with only the speaker present and no other member.
Now, one might argue that such a situation is absurd and, in any case, no business could get done because of other requirements such as the number of members required to pass important legislations, but there is always a danger inherent as we shall see shortly.
Earlier last week, we raised the issue in this space about the independence of the three arms of government - executive, legislature and judiciary - and the need to ensure such independence is never undermined.
We raised the concern that Parliament is presently at risk of becoming a mere rubber stamp of the executive government.
To our mind, the vote to increase the number of ministries adds to this risk as it will erode the independence of the legislature (Parliament) further.
Look at the manner parliamentary business is conducted these days.
On most days, the business of Parliament is carried on voices. For those unfamiliar with parliamentary procedures, this means that the speaker asks the chamber whether they support or oppose an issue under discussion and invites members, who support it, to say "ayes" and those who do not to say "no".
The speaker is able to tell from the number of voices whether the "ayes" or the "noes" have it. Most days, this is how business is conducted.
Were this principle applied in a Parliament sitting, which had only ministers in attendance, it would be perfectly okay since every minister is a Member of Parliament. Every matter decided would be within the norms, practices and procedures of Parliament.
This means that the executive government could make a decision at cabinet level and then ratify it in Parliament without any other Member of Parliament participating.
Quite apart from the important issue about this being "another job for the boys", as the opposition claimed and the matter of the extra cost to the nation, by this amendment, Parliament has made it possible for the executive government to constitute the legislature as well.
Unwittingly, or perhaps by design in some circles, Parliament has undermined itself and removed its independence.
While this might sound far fetched at the moment, and in practice might never happen, the grave concern is that if such a situation was ever contemplated by this or future governments, it is now legally possible.
All the more reason why the size of Parliament needs to be expanded beyond 109 by the inclusion of the two governors for the Jiwaka and Hela provinces in 2012 and by the 20 reserved seats for women.
The other concerns, which have already been raised by the opposition, is the extra cost to the nation and the matter of jobs for the boys.
The list of jobs by the opposition is that there are 28 ministers (soon to be raised to 32), 12 vice-ministers, 19 permanent parliamentary committees and 14 parliamentary referral committees. This totals 73 which also constitute a three-quarter majority of Parliament, the number required to pass amendments to the Constitution. The additional four ministers are extras.
In the area of costs, K14.9 million is presently spent on the existing 26 ministries excluding the prime minister and deputy prime minister who, together, cost K3 million. The four new ministries are expected to cost an additional K2.8 million. This is a sizeable amount of money.
The question that must be asked is: What other sectors of this country need further ministerial rule?
The further question that must be asked is: "Are all the present ministries performing to expectations and producing results such so that more ministries can be expected to boost the productivity factor and, hence, be considered positive for the country overhaul?
If the answers to these questions are in the affirmative then, we suppose, the country can foot the bill as we can expect to gain something. If not, this is nothing but another wasteful use of taxpayers' money.
And, do not forget the encroachment factor referred to in the beginning of this editorial.
A recent editorial in a Papua New Guinea newspaper highlighted how the increase in the Somare ministry from 28 to 32 has effectively created a quorum that could govern PNG in its own right.
With 32 ministers and a Speaker, the required number of 33 or a quorum is achieved.
The Speaker could merely in future convene the ministry and have them pass laws without having any Opposition or other members available.
The Somare government has therefore finally reduced the PNG Parliament to a toothless and silent rubber stamp.
The current government has in effect, voted their fellow non government members into irrelevance.
Opposition members might just as well install cardboard cut-outs in their seats in Parliament or become computer images of virtual reality.
What happens when all members of Parliament other than the current government ministers are excluded from the Parliament for example?
If there were to be a lock out of Opposition members or those members were in some way delayed from attending a sitting, the Somare/Temu government has now become a law unto itself.
There is now, no effective way of holding the Somare government accountable either in or out of the Haus Tambaran.
With one vote, PNG has entered an entirely new phase of non-representative Parliamentary government.
The next step and final step is full blown dictatorship.
But wait, could there be light at the end of the tunnel?
When the two new governors of the two new districts Jiwaka and Hela, arrive in the House in 2012, the numbers required for a quorum will be altered.
But then the creation or yet another ministry could always fix that minor hiccup.
So will the 20 new seats reserved for women alter the balance?
Not if they are to have 'appointed' members as occupants.
If the new female members are to be appointed by the government, this will deliver the final death blow to the last vestiges of PNG democracy.
So will these expensive machinations by the Somare government, worth millions of kina, produce a recipe for any better performance in a government that has presided over an almost total collapse of services and infrastructure.
Not by one iota.
_________________________________________________________
Editorial from today's The National
Cabinet alone can convene a parliamentary session
PARLIAMENT last week passed an amendment to the Organic Law on the number of ministers to allow the prime minister to increase their number by four from the present 28 (27 ministers and the prime minister) to 32.
In so doing, Parliament unwittingly gave the executive government the right to convene Parliament with only the speaker present.
Parliament's present quorum is 33.
By increasing cabinet numbers from 28 to 32, Parliament has virtually given the executive government the mandate to convene a parliamentary session on its own with only the speaker present and no other member.
Now, one might argue that such a situation is absurd and, in any case, no business could get done because of other requirements such as the number of members required to pass important legislations, but there is always a danger inherent as we shall see shortly.
Earlier last week, we raised the issue in this space about the independence of the three arms of government - executive, legislature and judiciary - and the need to ensure such independence is never undermined.
We raised the concern that Parliament is presently at risk of becoming a mere rubber stamp of the executive government.
To our mind, the vote to increase the number of ministries adds to this risk as it will erode the independence of the legislature (Parliament) further.
Look at the manner parliamentary business is conducted these days.
On most days, the business of Parliament is carried on voices. For those unfamiliar with parliamentary procedures, this means that the speaker asks the chamber whether they support or oppose an issue under discussion and invites members, who support it, to say "ayes" and those who do not to say "no".
The speaker is able to tell from the number of voices whether the "ayes" or the "noes" have it. Most days, this is how business is conducted.
Were this principle applied in a Parliament sitting, which had only ministers in attendance, it would be perfectly okay since every minister is a Member of Parliament. Every matter decided would be within the norms, practices and procedures of Parliament.
This means that the executive government could make a decision at cabinet level and then ratify it in Parliament without any other Member of Parliament participating.
Quite apart from the important issue about this being "another job for the boys", as the opposition claimed and the matter of the extra cost to the nation, by this amendment, Parliament has made it possible for the executive government to constitute the legislature as well.
Unwittingly, or perhaps by design in some circles, Parliament has undermined itself and removed its independence.
While this might sound far fetched at the moment, and in practice might never happen, the grave concern is that if such a situation was ever contemplated by this or future governments, it is now legally possible.
All the more reason why the size of Parliament needs to be expanded beyond 109 by the inclusion of the two governors for the Jiwaka and Hela provinces in 2012 and by the 20 reserved seats for women.
The other concerns, which have already been raised by the opposition, is the extra cost to the nation and the matter of jobs for the boys.
The list of jobs by the opposition is that there are 28 ministers (soon to be raised to 32), 12 vice-ministers, 19 permanent parliamentary committees and 14 parliamentary referral committees. This totals 73 which also constitute a three-quarter majority of Parliament, the number required to pass amendments to the Constitution. The additional four ministers are extras.
In the area of costs, K14.9 million is presently spent on the existing 26 ministries excluding the prime minister and deputy prime minister who, together, cost K3 million. The four new ministries are expected to cost an additional K2.8 million. This is a sizeable amount of money.
The question that must be asked is: What other sectors of this country need further ministerial rule?
The further question that must be asked is: "Are all the present ministries performing to expectations and producing results such so that more ministries can be expected to boost the productivity factor and, hence, be considered positive for the country overhaul?
If the answers to these questions are in the affirmative then, we suppose, the country can foot the bill as we can expect to gain something. If not, this is nothing but another wasteful use of taxpayers' money.
And, do not forget the encroachment factor referred to in the beginning of this editorial.
99% say Prime Minister not doing enough on corruption
24 May 2010
The poll was conducted by the public interest group ACT NOW!
Effrey Dademo, Program Manager, says: “The message to the Prime Minister and the government is clear. The people want to see much more action on corruption. That has to include prosecuting white collar criminals in the public service and those they conspire with”.
ACT NOW! says corruption is the biggest single issue facing PNG as it takes vital funds away from the health sector, education and infrastructure maintenance.
“Why are our hospitals crumbling? Why do our kids go to schools with no books in the library? Why are our roads impassable? It is because our government is failing to stop corruption and the theft of public money”, Ms Dademo says.
ACT NOW! says the people of PNG have a right to know what the government is doing to give effect to the recommendations of various Commissions of Inquiry, including the very recent finance inquiry. Also, what steps have been taken to investigate allegations against government Ministers who have been linked to bank robberies committed by William Kapris?
“We hope the Prime Minister will listen to what the people are saying and take some immediate action.”
For further information and comment contact Effrey Dademo on (675) 7689 5266 and at effrey@actnowpng.org
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