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.
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.
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 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, WesternHighlands, 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.
RAMU NiCo, developers of the K3.3 billion Ramu nickel project in the Bismarck Ranges of Madang, said yesterday that they were disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision last Friday not to lift the interim injunction and allow the company to install and operate the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) facility at Basamuk Bay, The National reports.
“We are now keenly waiting on advice from our lawyers on the full meaning of the decision and its likely effect on the continued development and operation of the Ramu nickel project,” it said in a statement from Madang.
“This project was approved in 2000 and, subsequently at different stages of development, Ramu NiCo obtained the permits required from the PNG government.”
Ramu NiCo said the project had been under construction for more than two years and was now nearing completion, but Basamuk landowners’ court action only started some four months ago.
It said that during this time, it had used about K3.3 billion out of a total budget of K3.8 billion.
However, the company was confident that with a full trial on the issues in the National Court of Madang, the matter would be resolved satisfactorily.
Ramu NiCo estimated that for every day that operation of the project was held up by virtue of these court orders, the developer and its partners, Highlands Pacific Ltd and MRDC, would lose up to K7 million.
“No company can sustain losses of this magnitude for extended periods and, now, we will find it exceedingly difficult to raise funds to invest in PNG until Ramu NiCo’s rights to develop this project are confirmed.
“We suspect that this will become more than just our concern once the implications of these issues confronting us are fully assessed by the international investment community and their responses, in turn, are felt in PNG.
“The extended delays will create enormous disruption to DSTP construction and, therefore, the commissioning and operation schedule.”
The company said this would be further complicated by the coming rainy season.
“The impact on the overall plant viability could be far-reaching.”
It said that once it had been briefed by its lawyers, Ramu NiCo would discuss its present situation with project stakeholders, including the other owners, the government and key landowner and provincial government representatives, and it would make another full statement on these developments in due course.
THERE will be no protest march today, Police Commissioner Gari Baki said yesterday, The National reports.
Baki warned that any protests occurring today would be deemed illegal and that police would be deployed in parts of the city to ensure his directions were strictly followed.
Baki’s comments come in light of announcements in the media and the public by anti-corruption activist Noel Anjo and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that there will be a protest march to Parliament today.
“We want to make it clear that there will be no protest march tomorrow (today) and that it will be business as usual,” Baki told a media conference yesterday.
He said there had been so much speculation going around about a planned protest but that established procedures relating to obtaining permission to stage such a march had not occurred.
The police commissioner said also that with talk of a motion of no-confidence being moved on the prime minister when parliament sits, his men were stretched and spread too thinly to contemplate another matter such as a protest march.
Baki said he was briefed on the situation by NCD police commander Awan Sete and metropolitan commander Chief Supt Fred Yakasa.
“As far my colleagues and I are concerned, these are just speculations. There was no formal arrangement with me and my men on the protest,” he said.
Baki said requests would normally come to a committee which determined whether or not a march would go ahead and that this had not occurred.
The commissioner announced that 300 police personnel would be deployed to parts of the city today to monitor the situation and to stop any group from protesting.
Half of the policemen and women will be at the parliament while the
rest will be stationed in strategic
parts of the city.
“With so many things happening around us and now with parliament resuming with talk of vote of no-confidence, we are stretched to the limit.
“That must be respected by public, NGOs and any other individual groups. We have no time to divert those amongst ourselves to activities outside of our normal duties, it is too much,” he said.
Baki said such grievances such as the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) had to be addressed nationally with parliament as the forum.
Yakasa said any public forums or assemblies today would be deemed as illegal.
“Now is not the appropriate time for protest marches. Any peaceful demonstration on any issues is capable of re-igniting certain things that can go out of hand. We want peace to prevail and are concerned about the safety of our people,” he said.
Catholic agency schools have told their students not to turn up for school today and it is expected other schools have done likewise in case the protest goes ahead.
Up until the turn of the century, says prominent Papua New Guinea tourism operator Sir Peter
Barter, there were positive signs that tourism would continue to prosper providing
Papua New Guinea
with a renewable resource that was sustainable.
Sunset in Kavieng.-Pictures courtesy of SIR PETER
BARTER
Not so, however, statistics show.
More recently, visitor
arrival figures issued by the Tourism Promotion Authority indicated that PNG
had one of the “fastest-growing tourist industries in the South Pacific region
and constant positive media reports indicated a healthy growth”.
“Nothing could have been further from the truth,” Sir Peter
admonishes.
Picturesque Tsoi Island, New
Ireland province
“The tourism industry in PNG generally has declined by more
than 50% over the past few years.
“I refer to ‘bona fide’ tourists, not visitor arrivals which
in real terms include all types of visitors to PNG.
“No one disputes there are more people arriving in PNG,
(however) the reality is most are not tourists, instead, they are people visiting PNG for other
purposes in most cases work-related, many of whom abuse the ‘tourist visa’
system which help to distort the real situation of the tourist industry.”
Nusa Island Retreat, New Ireland province
Historically, much of the growth of the tourist industry is
directly related to overseas tour operators.
It is through the
partnership arrangements that have been concluded between local operators in
PNG and these overseas operators who for the want of a special word have
‘packaged’ tours or parts of their tours to visit PNG.
Bilbil pottery making, Madang province
“These overseas operators are experts in their respective
markets,” Sir Peter explains.
“They produce the superb tourist brochures that highlight
reasons for visiting a particular destination.
“In more recent years they have used their websites and
internet to expose their destinations and tours, most of whom concentrate on
their specific interests, as an example diving, trekking, birding and they know
how to market their tours.
Bilbil singsing for tourists, Madang province
“The end result is the tourists contract to purchase the
product that is described in their brochures and this has a direct impact on
bona fide tourists who visit PNG.
“The number of operators featuring tours to PNG from North
America, Europe, UK, Japan, and Australia would have been in the
hundreds, supported by the various airlines.
mv Melanesian Discoverer at Simsim in happier days
“The exposure PNG received at this time resulted in the industry’s
growth.
“This coupled with other marketing by individual operators,
agents, airlines - not least Air Niugini - and hotels including the attendances
at tourist shows placed PNG in the right direction to expand the tourism
industry.”
Visiting cruise liner
mv Columbus in
Madang
The decline began with circumstances beyond PNG’s
control: fuel price increases, SARS, terrorism,
and a general change in which PNG expected a continuation of the industry to
grow without the need to retain personal contact with the operators, many of
whom also suffered from the same effects.
Bamboo band, Madang
province
Most recently, the
worldwide economic situation and continuation of problems in the Middle East have frightened tourists, especially
Americans, from travelling internationally and to lesser-known destinations.
“Whilst Air Niugini cannot be blamed for the reduction in
tourism, the unreliability of schedules, cancelled and disrupted flights have
not been helpful over the past couple of years,” Sir Peter admits.
Bagabag entertainment group, Madang province
“Tourists from developed countries have become increasingly
aware of the ease to sue and tour operators are frequently targeted for not
providing the services described in their brochures, which in turn has forced
tour operators to sell destinations that are better known for their reliability
and safety.
“Another obstacle to developing tourism is the withdrawal of
commuter air services that previously linked the Highlands
with the coast and islands.
“A tourist visiting PNG wanting to see each of the
geographic regions is forced to fly back to Port Moresby and connect with flights into
the next geographic region,
“This not only wastes time, but also substantially increases
the airfares, making PNG more expensive to visit.
“The law-and-order situation in PNG is another obstacle and
we have failed to handle this situation well in PNG.
“A good example where it has been handled well is in Fiji, where
after three military coups and bad press, the tourism industry coordinated by
the Fiji Visitors Bureau have quickly responded and been proactive in offering
all types of deals to maintain their fledging tourism industry, which is a
very-important part of the economy.
“In PNG, we have done nothing!
“Perhaps worse than the law and order problem itself is the
perception created by the various ‘Travelers Alerts’ that are widely dispersed
to travel agents, airlines and consumers.
“Having read some on PNG, it is a wonder anyone comes to
PNG!
“An industry association no longer appears to exist!
“If it does it is not effective!
“In Fiji,
the Fiji Visitors Bureau along with the Fiji industry members have
coordinated their efforts to recover the damage done by the coups.
“It goes without saying that a travel or tourism association
in PNG could do the same, yet, attempts to date have really failed to support a
number of attempts to establish industry associations.”
Sir Peter, however, is not all a harbinger of doom about
PNG’s tourism industry.
“There are many types of tourism catering for various
interest groups,” he lightens up.
“The one segment that has been doing relatively well is the
Kokoda Track, but this year, again, there has been a large decrease in numbers
of people walking Kokoda.
“PNG is well-known for its spectacular diving and the dive
segment has always shown some growth, but over the past year, it also has
experienced a decrease.
“For more than 30 years I have endeavoured to develop a cruising
segment and finally sold the Melanesian Discoverer because it was becoming
almost impossible to transport our passengers to and from the ship by Air
Niugini and charter aircraft in and out of the Sepik.
“Since we sold the ‘Discoverer’, we have been assisting
international expeditionary vessels continue to operate in PNG waters.
“We act as ships and tour agents for most tourist vessels
visiting PNG and again, the difficulties experienced by the owners of these
vessels deter many from coming back into PNG.
“I will not go into the detail, but excessive charges of
fees levied, overtime claims by officers, inconsistent rules, policies, charges
for services not provided are just some of the obstacles faced in handling
tourist vessels.
“TPA and PNGPorts are seriously
considering ways in which these problems can be eliminated to restore
confidence in attracting motor yachts and cruise ships, as like other segments
in the tourism industry, cruise ship operators class PNG as one of the most-exciting
and interesting destinations in the world.”
So how does Sir Peter see things in his crystal ball?
“It is encouraging to see competition on the Cairns/Port
Moresby route and equally encouraging is the development of more hotel rooms in
Port Moresby,
Rabaul, Madang, Wewak,” he forecasts.
“Regretfully, most of these rooms have not been built to
cater for bona fide tourists, rather, commercial travellers and work related
accommodation due to the development of resource projects under way in PNG.
“Whilst Cairns is gearing up to cater for increased visitors
that are expected to fly in and out of PNG with the LNG project, little is being
done to encourage imported workers to either reside in PNG or take the R and R
(rest and recreation) in PNG.
“It is difficult to force this issue unless confidence can
be restored as to the safety of the various potential tourist destinations in
PNG and this should be one of the tourist industry’s prime objective.
“It makes sense to attract workers in the LNG project to
really see PNG and return to whence they come as good ambassadors, rather than
pessimists, spreading doom and gloom about PNG which is not warranted.
“We spend millions of kina on the development of our natural
resources that ultimately will be exhausted.
“The one industry that is sustainable is tourism and yet it
is not given the priority it deserves in PNG.”
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