Somare: IPIC funds safe

PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare yesterday gave a full disclosure of the government’s funding of the liquefied natural gas project, saying the money, in a quarantined account, is safe and payments are on track, The National reports.

The minister was forced to give the disclosure in a media statement released yesterday, following a story published in the Post-Courier on Wednesday.

Somare said there was absolutely no truth in the Post-Courier story, which said that the government had lost A$300 million recently because it converted US dollars to Australian dollars in relation to the exchangeable bond issue with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

“The story is pure fiction because, as pointed out to the Post-Courier before its report, IPBC has not made any currency conversion recently,” the minister said.

The Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) concluded an agreement with IPIC in November 2008 to raise A$1.681 billion.

The exchangeable bond deal with IPIC was approved by the national executive council.

The transaction was concluded in March last year, and the funds were deposited in a quarantined bank account in Singapore for use as and when payments were due for the government’s share of the LNG project.

Somare said most of the funds from the IPIC transaction were converted at the time to US dollars with a portion retained in Australian dollars to cover the interest costs of the loan.

A sum of A$1.285 billion was converted to US$828.3 million at the prevailing exchange rate in March last year.

PNG LNG equity payments to the present time had amounted to US$525.5 million, while interest earned on funds totalled US$0.287 million and A$20.7 million.

The cost of the exchangeable bond transaction was US$18.7 million while the “coupon” payments on the exchangeable bond totalled A$135.6 million.

The net balances remaining in the quarantined accounts following these transactions and payments were US$493.7 million and A$262.4 million.

Somare said: “The details of these transactions were audited by the auditor-general for the year 2009.

“This accounting process has already been undertaken for 2009 when the funds were first received and placed in an escrow account and government payments made for sunk costs in the LNG project as well as for ongoing cash calls.”

Somare said he considered it highly improper for the Post-Courier, and any other media, to make false claims on issues of national importance, but it was even worse when news stories were based on fictitious information and unreliable and uninformed sources.

He urged the national media to take a more responsible approach, especially when it came to issues that were critical to social and political stability and future economic growth and prosperity.

 

 

MPs duty to protect PNG's interest: Namah

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has reminded members of parliament not to loose focus of their prime responsibility to act in the best interest of their people and the nation.

Namah said all elected leaders in government and opposition were duty bound and had moral obligation to rise, oppose and depose the current scandal-plagued Somare regime.

“Together with parties in the opposition and government defectors, PNG Party will continue to seek support from concern members for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister,” he said.

Namah was responding to statements by National Alliance party president Simon Kaiwi who criticised opposition attempts to topple this government through a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. “Simon Kaiwi has turned himself into a one-eyed monster, which sees only NA and the Somares,” he said.

“He has no right to question the opposition.

“His position as NA president gives him no right to question the opposition’s legitimate role to question government on important national issues and concerns.

“Presidency of NA is not an elective position.

“He is not equal to members of parliament.

“As such he cannot question the rights of elected leaders to question the government.

“Who is running the government? The elected prime minister, the unelected prime minister or Simon Kaiwi?”

Namah said it was the opposition’s legitimate right to question the government and hold it accountable for its actions and policies.

 He said that Kaiwi should be telling his political masters in the government of its dismal failure to provide basic and essential services to the people.

As well, Namah said the government should stop pretending, come out clearly and inform the nation of how it spent the K5 billion in various trust accounts.

Ombudsman Commission completes probe on Somares

THE Ombudsman Commission (OC) has said it has concluded its investigations on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Minister for Public Enterprises Arthur Somare, The National reports.
The OC also said the matters were now within the competence of other relevant independent constitutional offices such as the courts and the Public Prosecutor.
The commission said these matters would be addressed by those offices in way they would be considered appropriate with regard to the issues of delay raised in the media.
The commission made the statement in relation to the status of referrals of Sir Michael and Somare to the office of Public Prosecutor as a result of its investigations.
The OC said it was mindful of the operation of the common law principle of sub judice, which essentially prevents public discussion of cases that are currently before the courts.
The statement from the OC said in part: “In the OC’s view it has concluded its investigations.
“However, the parties have exercised their rights to take the matter to court.
“OC assures that it is doing all it can to defend these cases and that of other leaders that have instituted legal proceedings against the OC so as to protect the integrity of its investigations.”

 

Settlement children mark international day

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE and GRACE AUKA (UPNG journalism students)

A GROUP of children at a settlement outside Port Moresby have been reminded that they have rights to live full good lives and, along with these rights come responsibilities, The National reports.

Children displaying placards with messages expressing their rights to live full and healthy lives. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

 Addressing a fun day at 8-Mile settlement to mark International Children’s Day yesterday, World Vision representative Delphine Nuia also reminded parents that children must be valued and have a good childhood so that they could grow into responsible adults.

“In order for a child to live a happy life free from violence and abuse, all adults should respect these rights and ensure these rights are not abused,” she said.

To the children, Nuia said: “You also have responsibilities to go along with those rights; you have the right to go to school and your responsibility is to study hard, attend classes and do your homework everyday.”

Also joining the fun day were children from the 2-Mile and Garden Hills settlements.

Speaker Nape summoned

Court appearance tomorrow over alleged breaches on July 20

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE opposition has taken the unprecedented step in issuing criminal proceedings against Speaker Jeffery Nape over his conduct in parliament in July, The National reports.

Nape had been served summons to appear in court tomorrow for allegedly breaching the constitution.

Opposition leaders said they decided to act on their own after losing faith on organisations like the police, Ombudsman Commission and others.

Opposition leaders Sir Mekere Morauta, Sir Puka Temu and Bart Philemon said the summons was served on the speaker at the Crowne Plaza hotel at about 2.30pm yesterday afternoon.

The alleged breach was in relation to Nape presiding over the proceedings of parliament on July 20 and certifying four legislations when he was the acting governor-general.

Sir Puka said Nape had breached section 95(4) of the constitution that prohibited the speaker from performing his duties as the speaker when he was acting governor-general.

 “In our view, the constitution recognises the office of the governor-general to be non-political and impartial and, therefore, when the speaker is acting governor-general, he must divorce himself from his political role and maintain the integrity and impartiality of the office of the governor-general at all times,” Sir Puka said.

The breach of section 95(4) is criminal in nature that carries a penalty of K10,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment, or both.

“For this, we will be seeking orders from the court to punish the speaker by sending him to jail or be punished under the sanctions provided by the constitution.

“We see the conduct of the speaker as blatant and disrespectful of the constitution.

“He is not above the constitution.

“He deliberately took control of parliament to suit himself and the government to avoid dealing with a constitutional matter of a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister,” Sir Puka said.

“It is imperative that such serious breaches of the constitution, whether it is for political reasons or otherwise, must be tested in the appropriate forum, in this case the National Court, to see if the constitution has indeed been breached.

“It is our duty to bring such breaches to be dealt with according to law.”

Sir Puka said complaints to the Ombudsman Commission previously on similar matters had been to no avail and it would be interesting to see if the Ombudsman Commission will join the proceedings as it claims time and again to be the upholder of the constitution.

“The speaker must not abuse the democratic process of running the affairs of parliament fixed by the constitution and the standing orders.

“He has a duty to uphold these processes whether they suit him and the government or not.”

Sir Puka said the processes were laid down so that those in position of power and authority did  not abuse them.

“In this case, we say the speaker had abused the position he held at the time as acting governor-general to suit him and the government and he must face the consequences, including being brought to court.”

Nape could not be reached for comments last night.

 

Former bureaucrat queries nil dividends

By PATRICK TALU

 

A FORMER senior bureaucrat has questioned the non-availability of dividends from state-owned enterprises in the budget, The National reports.

The bureaucrat, who observed the budget lock-up on Tuesday, said so much had been invested in these enterprises, controlled by the public enterprises ministry, that it was time to reap the pay-offs in the form of dividends.

He was concerned that “there is an absence in public policy where the government has not stipulated a dividend policy in the fiscal policy and revenue strategy so as to reign in profits and net income from these enterprises”.

“The revenue policy is weakened by the fact that the non-tax revenue is missing out on critical pay-off in dividends from state-owned enterprises,” he added.

“Government has invested a lot from the supplementary budgets of 2007, 2008 and last year and should see the pay-off in improved capacity and efficiency and profits resulting in good dividends.

“There is risk to state revenues when the state trustee – the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) which is managing these enterprises – is withholding dividends that are due to the national government.”

He said key policies in the budget strategy to manage compliance did not feature in the fiscal policy framework.

“This is an important aspect of budget management and fiscal control and discipline that must be featured strongly in the policy because past regimes and experiences have shown that administration of budgets has been weak,” the former departmental head said.

“The budget is passed by an appropriation act which is law and any administration of budget, which deviates from the budget, is breaking the law.”

For a number of years, dividends from state enterprises, under the control of IPBC and the ministry of public enterprises, had declared profits but reinvested those revenue to growing those businesses rather than pay dividend to the government.

Some state enterprises under the control of IPBC included Air Niugini, PNG Ports Corporation, PNG Power and Post PNG.

 

Natural disasters and emergencies miss out on budget

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE National Agriculture Research Institute is concerned that no funding was allocated in the national budget for emergencies and unexpected natural disasters like the climate change-induced prolonged dry spells that were widely publicised recently, The National reports.

NARI director-general Dr Raghunath Ghodake said while K5.7million was appropriated for disaster risks management and disaster management getting K1.9 million, nothing was specifically set aside for natural disasters and emergencies.

Experts had said the El Niño phenomenon was likely to hit PNG between next year and 2014, causing severe drought everywhere.

When asked for his comments on the 2011 budget yesterday, Ghodake said: “Yes, indeed, we are all concerned that there has been no funding apportioned for climate change-related drought events. 

“There is a development project funded for NARI this year, and that was to have continued for the next four years so that we can prepare PNG and its communities for a severe drought.

“I cannot comprehend how this was misplaced, and I am in touch with central agencies to find out and have already expressed my concern and dissatisfaction to them.

“I can only guess at this stage that there may have been some misunderstanding and omission, and also hope that good sense prevails and this area gets funding support in whatever way possible.”

According to the NARI website, there were strong indications for El Niño conditions developing in the later part of next year.

Ghodake said in an article posted on the website that food production in PNG was highly vulnerable to El Niño-induced droughts and other seasonal events of droughts. 

He warned that unless action was taken to empower and equip our farming and rural communities with appropriate technologies and information, people would be exposed to food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger. 

“It is advisable that PNG has contingency measures in place which can be activated at short notice to deal with drought and food shortage situations under such a highly likely scenario.”

Besides food and water shortages in the rural and urban areas, severe droughts could cause disease outbreaks, population out-migration, school closures, bush and forest fires, hydro-power shortages, breakdown of transport and communication infrastructures and law and order problems. 

Many parts of Eastern Highlands and Morobe had reported cases of people and domestic animals dying from starvation as a result of food and water sources drying up.