Namah alleges dirty deals at BDA

FORMER forest minister Belden Namah yesterday raised serious allegations of corruption and questionable deals involving some government ministers, The National reports.

The prime minister tried to get the speaker to stop Namah raising the allegations publicly in parliament, claiming the former minister could not divulge confidential cabinet information for five years.

But, speaker Jeffery Nape allowed Namah to speak out.

Namah, former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu and culture and tourism minister Charles Abel walked out of government on Monday and were sacked by the prime minister yesterday.

When parliament resumed after 2pm, the three walked in with the opposition and sat in the opposition’s middle benches.

During question time, Namah told parliament he was fed up with corruption in government, and decided to walk out.

The Vanimo-Green MP alleged a number of corrupt practices by the Border Development Authority (BDA). One of them involved buying boats at inflated prices.

He said the BDA bought six border vessels for six border provinces for K2 million each, when the price of each boat was K600, 000.

He also alleged that a company that was awarded a contract to set up VSat communication in the border areas did not have technical capacity.

He said the company was owned by a senior government minister.

He claimed that an Icelandic company was awarded a contract of K15 million to do the town planning for Aitape, with no work done so far.

Namah said such deals and transactions showed that the BDA had lost its way and was not serving the purpose it was set up for.

He said serious issues still remain to be addressed at the border areas, including the deteriorating border posts and closure of police posts, border incursions, illegal drugs, firearms and human smuggling.

He said BDA was established to build infrastructure like bridges, police posts and roads in the six border provinces but that had not happened.

In his questions to acting Finance and Treasury Minister Arthur Somare, Namah asked whether the minister was aware that BDA had not carried out its functions and roles to build infrastructure.

He asked the minister if he was aware that last Friday, K14 million was released to buy another two vessels.

He said one of the vessels had been allocated for the prime minister’s use in East Sepik and questioned whether East Sepik was a border province.

Namah also alleged that BDA was buying properties in Port Moresby.

“Institutions and infrastructure in the border areas are in dire condition and we are doing things for our own personal gains.

“There is supposed to be proper facilities built at Wutung. Where is our priority?

“The reason I moved over here is because of corruption on the other side.”

In response, Somare said he needed to be briefed on the BDA operations before he could reply to the allegations.

House closed to public: Police

THE public will not be allowed to observe parliament when it resumes today, The National reports.

NCD police operation boss Supt Andy Bawa told The National that the ban was to instill control during this politically-sensitive period, especially with the looming vote of no-confidence against the government.

Yesterday, armed police personnel stood guard at parliament’s two gates and turned away the public from entering.

A huge crowd had gathered at the gates but could not enter.

Bawa also warned that police would not allow any planned public protests or marches in fear of riots.

The crowd, which consisted of mainly young people as well as women and children, were keen to learn and wanted to be the first to know about the outcome of yesterday’s  parliament session.

Some public servants, especially teachers and landowners from Hides in Southern Highlands, were part of the crowd that waited outside the gates of parliament.

Many people said they wanted a change of government.

“The change is necessary because we, the resource owners, have not benefited from the developments taking place, especially from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project,” chairman of the project development licenced (PDL) 1  area Takis Purawi said.

“LNG has become a political agenda for politicians while many of my people have not benefited from this project.”

Purawi, from Koroba, said he also wanted the government to be fair in its deals with the resource owners by offering better options.

Waigani Noblet Primary School teacher, Veronica Evare, said a change in government was necessary for the good of all people.

“There are so many issues to be addressed.

“We, the teachers, nurses and many others, including those in the informal sector, have been neglected over the years.

“Equal services and opportunities must be provided for all, including the rural areas, and I believe that will come with a change of government,” Evare said.

Bawa also commended the people for retreating peacefully after they were denied entry.

“There was no arrest and the general behaviour of the public was excellent.

“I commend the public for respecting the law and leaving for home quietly,” Bawa said.

Parliament will meet again today for the anticipated swearing-in of the governor-general at 10am.

Papua New Guinea government survives another day

AAP

Papua New Guinea's government has survived another day, with the opposition unable to muster the numbers to move a vote of no confidence today.

However, the opposition is confident it will be able to get more ministers onside overnight in order to move a successful vote of no confidence when parliament sits again on Wednesday.

Former forest minister Belden Namah told reporters outside parliament today that the opposition would have the numbers to roll the government.

"When parliament sits we will have 55 on our side and we'll see a change," he said.

Parliament will sit on Wednesday morning for the swearing in of Governor-General Paulius Matane, and then the opposition is expected to move the vote of no confidence.

The strength of the opposition, which doubled in size this week after a raft of defections, was tested in parliament on Tuesday.

It gained 42 out of 109 votes when moving for an extension of question time.

The scene is now set for a busy night, with the opposition moving to convince other government members who remain on the fence to join them and form a new government.

Former deputy prime minister Puka Temu resigned on Monday and is now vying for the prime minister's job.

 

Former Papua New Guinea deputy fails to mount challenge

By ABC PNG correspondent LIAM FOX

There have been tense scenes inside and outside Papua New Guinea's parliament amid speculation of a move to topple the prime minister.

Scores of heavily armed police patrolled the parliament precinct where the gates were closed to the general public and a large crowd chanted for the police to let them in.

Inside former deputy prime minister Puka Temu took a seat on the opposition side of the house with two other former ministers.

The trio defected from the government yesterday to a coalition made up of opposition MPs and smaller parties.

Mr Temu held discussions yesterday with opposition MPs at a resort outside Port Moresby.

Question time was tense with a lot of shouting and fist pumping but the new opposition group did not follow through with a threat to move a motion of no confidence against prime minister Sir Michael Somare.

 

Papua New Guinea politics in pictures

Top: The opposition camp at the March Girls Resort outside Port Moresby yesterday with Sir Julius Chan (from left), NCD Governor Powes Parkop, middle group leader Jamie Maxtone-Graham, opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta, prime ministership candidate Sir Puka Temu and former attorney-general Dr Allan Marat.

Bottom: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is flanked by Education Minister James Marape (from left), parliament speaker Jeffery Nape and Transport, Lands and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye at the PNG Institute of Public Affairs at Waigani yesterday.

 

 

 

Temu, Namah, Abel walk out

DEPUTY Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu walked out of government yesterday, and has been offered the alternate prime ministership in a possible vote of no-confidence, The National reports.

Sir Puka walked out with Forest Minister Belden Namah and Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel, declaring they were fed up with too much power concentrated in the hands of the Somares.

Their group camped at the March Girls Resort outside Port Moresby. They were joined by the opposition.

A notice is expected to be given for a vote of no-confidence when parliament sits today.

In a day of dramatic political development, a National Alliance party caucus meeting scheduled for yesterday afternoon at the PNG Institute of Public Affairs did not go ahead as planned.

Learning of Sir Puka’s walkout, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare met with his NA members and, later, the leaders of his coalition government.

He is expected to sack the three ministers and announce a cabinet reshuffle today.

Last night, the Somare camp at IPA claimed they had more than 60 MPs to starve off a challenge, while the March Girls camp said they were building enough numbers to successfully overthrow the prime minister.

Sir Puka, with the two ministers’ backing, also has the support from the opposition led by Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir Julius Chan and Bart Philemon, the Eastern bloc led by Chimbu Governor John Garia and the middle group led by Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

Namah, who is the power broker, has declared an all-out war to go in and form the next government by today.

Sir Puka declared that the move was to form a new government as of today and accepted the leaders’ support for his candidacy.

“I have accepted support to be candidate for the prime minister’s post; I accept it honourably and with solemnest,” he said.

“The reason why I moved out is because I believe this is the right thing to do in the current situation where the chief and his son control enormous level of policy decision and resources.

“I don’t think it is right to congregate power in the hands of two family members. Power must be shared, and that is why I took this bold step.”

Sir Puka said his group decided to join the call by the opposition and the people to hold hands together and change the government.

He said this was the right step, knowing full well the risks involved.

He assured the business sector that he would continue to give priority to the LNG project to ensure it crosses the line.

Sir Temu gave credit to Sir Michael for bringing the country from independence until now, but said the prime minister’s mind was not as sharp as before.

“I believe this is the time for the Grand Chief to step aside.”

He said with a young crop of leaders behind him, he believed what PNG needed right now was good, dedicated, honest and transparent leadership.

“If the government has the numbers, and we don’t have them, let it be so,” Sir Puka added.

 

 

Prime Minister to reshuffle cabinet

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare will replace the three ministers who walked out of his government today, when he announces a reshuffle of his cabinet, The National reports.

Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye was most likely to be appointed deputy prime minister.

The prime minister was expected to announce the reshuffle yesterday afternoon, but decided to defer it to today.

Insiders said because the political situation was very fluid, the prime minister was holding off a reshuffle and announcing a new deputy prime minister for “a few more hours”.

Sir Michael, who is leader of NA, told more than 50 supporters and coalition partners in front of the PNGIPA Hall that the party constitution was very clear that the three ministers – Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu, Forest Minister Belden Namah and Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel – moved out on their own accord.

“According to party systems, the three ministers have made their intentions known and, virtually, sacked themselves.”

Sir Michael, in a move to keep the NA party intact, also touched on the leadership issue that was now confronting the party, saying his time as leader of the party was nearing an end.

He said the constitution was explicit that no party leader could lead NA after two terms at the helm, claming that he would not be seeking re-election.

The prime minister said the party leadership issue would be brought up at the NA party convention in Minj, Western  Highlands, next month.

Some of the 32 NA members present included Attorney-General Ano Pala, Works Minister Don Polye, Education Minister James Marape, Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, Wapenamanda MP Miki Kaeok, Tambul-Nebilyer MP Benjamin Poponawa, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, East New Britain Governor Leo Dion, Labour Minister Mark Maipakai, East Sepik Governor Peter Wararu, Communication Minister Patrick Tammur and Bougainville MP Fidelis Semoso.

Party officials said the NA faction and its partners had a combined 62 MPs intact and would remain together to stop moves to remove the government.

Sir Michael was speaking to coalition partners who were all present to give their support including United Resource Party (URP) leaders William Duma and Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru, Pangu’s Andrew Kumbakor and Francis Marus, People’s Action Party’s Gabriel Kapris, Ben Semri and Tony Aimo, People’s National Congress leader Peter O’Neill and the People’s Party led by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas.

National Party’s Joe Mek Teine, who was earlier with the March Girls camp, was also seen outside the IPA Hall last night.