Papua New Guinea needs a new leadership

Today, Papua New Guinea desperately needs good strong and a honest leadership to drive our government machinery forward.

Presently, it is sluggish and all agencies do not seem to be functioning as a collective,  well-drilled team.

This is because the coalition government is not made up of the right people who want to see change in our country.

It is comprised of selfish people with many different personal agendas who do not really care about PNG's national interest.

Papua New Guinea needs to now make broad and sweeping political reforms to overhaul all systems and processes.

We also need good honest leaders in parliament.

The government must take the lead and be prepared to make the required changes for a better future.

This is PM Somare's greatest challenge before he exits the political scene.

If he is not prepared to do this, then it is time he retired from politics.

He will be more respected in future if he hands over the tough job to a more-capable and energetic political leader to take PNG to a whole new level of strong political leadership, good governance and accountability.

Lastly, our government must start taking pressure off its Australian counterpart by systematically reducing AusAID funding levels as a grant component of the national budget over the 15 to 20 years.

I feel we are again all going to wait for some time until the current leadership dies out and hope the next lot do a better job than the current mob.

To totally transform PNG in future, parliament must be fully functional, as must all state agencies at the three levels - national, provincial, local - right down to the ward councils.

The national mindset, and the people put in charge at all levels, must have the required training, experience and be properly remunerated.

This way, they can be totally committed to what is required of them to make the whole state mechanism work to the country's benefit.

Papua New Guinea needs a responsible and responsive government with an effective opposition as a counter-balancing force to make parliament an effective law-making body.

Importantly, the PM must be in tune with what the whole country needs and work in direct and close collaboration with the opposition leader in and out of parliament.

The leaders of both the government and opposition must work with industry, community stakeholders and external development partners to ensure the state is functioning like a well-oiled machine.

While it's easier said than done, it's all about good leadership, organisation and ensuring the environment created by PNG's political leadership (and government) is conducive to make every agency function well and in unison.

Parliament must elect a new prime minister

By REG RENAGI

 

The political stability PNG has endured under Prime Minister Michael Somare since 2002 is becoming unravelled.
This can be prevented by the man in the centre of action – acting PM, Sam Abal.
Yes, this whole situation can be well managed with the required finesse; if Abal’s formerly acquired skills of diplomacy are properly
exercised with some careful measure of prudency.
Yes, citizens should now be asking their local members ‘relevant questions’ who must now indicate to their respective constituencies as
to how they will cast their vote without fear or favour if parliament is to elect a new prime minister this year in accordance with our
constitution.
Well, should parliament elect a new prime minister?
But first let’s look at how this whole political situation could have all been avoided in the first place.
The predicament facing the acting PM now is a result of having left something outstanding for too long by the government since 2002.
Had something being done then to prepare for future political contingencies in future, we would not even be speculating whether we
should change leadership in midstream now and go for early polls.
Thus, we are now faced with this task of finding an agreed procedure to change leadership to the satisfaction of all vested-interests in
parliament.
Today’s situation shows the government and the NA Party do not have a good succession plan during critical incidents such as now.
By now, we should have stipulated constitutional provisions stating clearly and without ambiguity something to the effect that: should the
PM be indisposed from official duties for a consecutive period exceeding 90 days through ill-health or otherwise, then the acting PM
through NEC and parliament must without delay invoke relevant sections of the national constitution.
These provisional clauses should be both mandatory and legally be applicable here and in foreign jurisdictions.
What’s now happening was already set into motion some months ago when the PM was referred to a leadership tribunal.
This resulted in a fortnight suspension of the PM from official duties followed by a routine medical check up in an overseas medical
facility.
After the PM underwent medical operation,  his post-operative recovery period has now extended well over three months due to some earlier
medical complications.  

Latest reports say he is well and recovering.
But full recovery will take some appreciable period of time.

 Hence, the uncertainties surrounding the overall health condition of Sir Michael Somare will no doubt continue.
In addition, the prolonged anticipated recovery period of the PM will undoubtedly prompt obvious questions being raised in parliament regarding the government’s leadership succession arrangements to be addressed in a timely manner.
PNG and parliament can not be held in suspense for obvious reasons.
Consequently, there has now been increasing calls from the parliamentary opposition party and speculations are now rife in media
commentaries of late to activate provisions of the country’s Constitution (Section 142, s5c).

 This is to accurately determine Sir Michael Somare’s overall state of fitness to continue as the PM.
This clearly indicates the groundswell voice of reality by the citizenry in recent times.
Thus, the time is now ripe for parliament to elect a new PM using appropriate constitutional and legal means to effect a regime change
at this time.
Many Papua New Guineans also feel it is time for a new young captain at the ship’s helm.
Yes, it is a good idea for a fresh new competent leadership to take PNG to a whole new level that must go beyond the next election.
Moreover, the perceived political instability started some months ago was the government’s own doing.
The public is not really interested in the NA party’s dirty linen being aired in public.  

They don’t care at all for it but do care if it’s done on the people’s time.
The prevailing situation could have been altogether averted had the PM not unduly changed his then competent deputy PM, Don Polye.
The member for Kandep’s total commitment to his party is unwavering.
Don’s loyalty is unquestioned and his actions proved this on many occasions.
When peers in more recent times have tried to distract his attention elsewhere, he was not easily swayed but remained fully focused on the
job at hand at all times.
But like former deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu, Don Polye also saw many serious deficiencies within his own party and the government machinery.
Perhaps it was his declared intention to clean up the mess left unaddressed since 2002 that may have alarmed those within the party
inner circle to see that Don did not rock the boat now during the terminal stages of the PM’s long reign.
Nevertheless, Don’s assertive nature as the deputy PM looked good to the citizens.  

The people had hope that he would bring some good order and much credibility back into the government.
Whether the PM saw Don’s future plans to do some much-needed house-cleaning in government is a bad thing for PNG, so in his own
wisdom altered his senior status can only now be speculated upon.
PM Somare knew fully well that his decision to replace Don Polye was fundamentally wrong when he was the Highland’s deputy party leader; but went ahead anyway.  

This has had a far-reaching implication in government as well as create deep rift among the Engan MPs.
This deliberate act has not given positive outcomes but only created more confusion, distrust within government ranks and unnecessary
political instability.
So there may not be any compelling reasons to go for early polls before 2012.
Firstly, there is no constitutional avenue to do this and secondly, the NEC itself will for obvious reasons, not recommend that option to
the Governor General to dissolve parliament now and go for early polls.
Let’s now look at the options available for PNG.
Option one: Maintain the status quo.  

This will confirm Sam Abal as the PM as he is not doing too bad a job.  

An experienced former bureaucrat, level-headed and is a cool guy under pressure.  

But Sam needs to further fine-tune his team as the last reshuffle has some flaws about it.

 Under Sam, the government must immediately lift its game to improve the quality of life of the people.
Option two: A ‘vote of no-confidence’ motion.  

This has failed a few times due to ineffective strategies to garner majority support.  

The opposition still does not have the required numbers and its agreed choice of an alternative PM is not generally supported.  

The majority of MPs would want to serve under a credible leader who will make a real difference in the short time that parliament has before the polls.
Option three: the credibility of the regime leaves a lot to be desired.  

There are many good quality MPs in both the opposition and middle benches who can still offer much to greatly enhance government’s performance levels.

 Hence, it is a good idea for a grand coalition of a ‘unity government’ to take PNG on a path of righteousness in future.  

With the acting PM under pressure from within his own party, the opposition and middle-benches must offer its full support to Sam Abal for a grand coalition to work for the good of PNG.  

Good governance, rule of law and a strong anti-corruption action is the way to go in 2011 and beyond.
Option four: An ‘absolute majority’.  

Should a grand coalition be rejected than parliament should now be working hard to form an ‘absolute majority’ by building coalitions numbers within itself.
This may be possible by grouping together all like-minded government front and back-benchers, middle-benches along with opposition MPs to form a ‘unity government’.

 The whole aim here is to ensure that parliament and government actually practices good governance, accountability, transparency and the rule of law at all times now and in future.  

A credible and a strong leader with a caring heart and a champion of the people must be elected as the PM now.
There are many good reasons why PM Somare should be allowed to retire in dignity.

 The grand old man has achieved many things in politics and has nothing more to prove now.
Sir Michael Somare should be allowed to fully recover in his own time with his family; and with no undue stress from official duties.
It is now time for a new era of good leadership for PNG.
The way forward now is for parliament to elect a new prime minister using what best option it sees fit in the national interest.
Parliament must be given three credible nominees for a prime minister candidate to be elected ‘at this time’.
After much in-deep analysis, the following recommendations to parliament for the next new prime minister in 2011 are as follows: for
the government, acting PM, Sam Abal;  for the opposition, Sir Puka Temu and Governor Powes Parkop for both options three and four above.
In the final analysis, I see all three men as good capable and humble leaders representing PNG at best.
But if for some reason parliament wants to see a real difference in the way PNG is governed than I appeal to all MPs now to set their
personal prejudices aside, and elect Governor Powes Parkop as the next new prime minister for PNG in 2011.
Powes Pakop has empathy, humility and humbleness who will lead PNG well.  

He has a real kind heart and spirit for people and has credibly proven his genuine leadership qualities as governor NCD against many
odds.  

Parkop is a man of few words like Sam Abal and Sir Puka Temu but a good decent man of action to see the better side of tomorrow who
will give real hope to our people in future.
In the past few years, many Papua New Guineans have now seen Powes Parkop as a capable leader who has greater potential to lead the nation to the path of prosperity now and in future.
I call on every Papua New Guinean to give their full support for Powes Parkop to be elected the next new prime minister for PNG now.

·         The author is a former senior PNG Defence Force officer and now a part-time social commentator and community advocate.

 

BSP decries fraud guideline

 By FRANK SENGE KOLMA

THE largest commercial bank in PNG has decried new regulations imposed on banks by the police fraud squad to stop fraudulent payments, The National reports.
Bank South Pacific yesterday said guidelines from the fraud squad's financial intelligence unit were "actually aimed at abrogating the responsibility and liability of the government in terms of ensuring good governance".
Answering questions from The National, BSP chief executive officer Ian Clyne said the application and enforcement of the guidelines would result in extra cost to banks which would naturally pass on to government. 
He said government development projects around the country would be delayed for unnecessarily long periods while audits were conducted by banks to ensure payments for each of the pro­jects were legitimate. 
"While well-meaning, the guidelines are unlikely to achieve their objective of reducing fraud associated with government contracts and payments, and may well lead to a reduction in development and infrastructure pro­jects," Clyne said.
Clyne said: "Government road, school, health, electricity and water projects will be delayed for months, regularly stopped to await milestone payments or simply not done.
"For banks to 100% comply with these guidelines, they will need to engage or recruit a large number of lawyers, civil engineers and auditors.
"This is simply not the responsibility of commercial banks."
At the same time, he said government officers would have their private bank details examined on a regular basis even if they had acted properly and professionally. 
"The banks would pass on all additional costs to the government and/or the company and could involve many thousands of kina."
He said the guidelines effectively transfer government's oversight and checks and balance responsibilities to commercial banks and the Bank of PNG.
"The lack of public debate on the FIU's assertion that 25-40% of all government payments are defrauded is a concern."
Clyne said it was the responsibility of the auditor-general, attorney-general and all government department secretaries and the Ombudsman Commission to ensure there was transparency and accountability in all government transactions.
Clyne said the new regulations would seriously hinder the go­vernment's ability to effectively undertake and deliver public service projects as banks will now be required to undertake stringent checks before making payments to contractors and suppliers.
Some of the checks included:

• Validating the tender document and process to ensure all documentation follows all rele­vant government regulations;
• Checking that no public servant associated with the process has received any financial benefit which will require a check of personal bank accounts;
• Ensuring the selection of the successful contractor or supplier is done on a transparent and independent basis. That the owners of these entities have not made any strange payments during this period to third parties close to the government again requires checking company and personal bank accounts;
• Ensuring that the contractor or supplier delivers the project or goods in line with the contract specifications and that requires specialist engineering verifi­cation which will have to be conducted on site all over PNG (this is not a normal banking service);
• Identify and check the people receiving payments are entitled to such payments in terms of their employment or ownership of the contractor or supplier; 
• Payments must be made on set milestones and deliverables, which means that this audit process has to be undertaken by a bank several times for each project to validate each indi­vidual milestone payment;
• Every payment cleared by the bank must be signed by two verifying bank officers; and
• These officers and the banks are liable on an on-going basis if, at some time in the future, it can be proven that a fraud or overpayment has occurred, even if the bank has made an enormous effort to validate the transaction.
  

Clyne said: "The conse­quen­ces are obvious and conside­ra­ble. 
"Any company or individuals, who tender for government contracts, will have all milestone or contract payments delayed by several weeks, if not months. 
"Contractors may suffer severe financial cash-flow problems as they must fund the whole project and pay wages, among others, and then wait until the banks have finished their full file compliance review. 
Should banks not be willing to accept the risks and liabilities associated with auditing and processing government cheques and payments of this type, they will simply refuse to negotiate these government payments which would have very serious ramifications for both the government and the banking sector.
The FIU's regulation is initially aimed at all transactions of K2 million and above. 
Clyne claimed the FIU regulations were "not" based on any international "best practice" precedence. 
They are "not" enforced in this way in other democratic countries. 
He also expressed concern that the potentially damaging regulation had been in force since last month but had largely been ignored by the government and businesses.

Polye: Come and get me

By ZACHERY PER

MEMBER for Kandep Don Polye, who insists he is still the National Alliance highlands party deputy leader, says those who want to oust him should do so at the caucus meeting, The National reports.
He arrived in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, yesterday for the NA highlands caucus meeting.
He told the NA regional leaders that he was in Goroka to conduct the caucus meeting as required by the party constitution.
"If they want to remove me, this is their chance," Polye said. 
"They must come to this meeting and follow the proper procedures in the party constitution to remove me.
"But, if they do not come, I, Don Pomb Polye, will remain the deputy leader of NA in the highlands."
He said that any breaches of the party's consti­tution would set a bad precedent for the party.
"Therefore, I followed the constitution as the regional deputy leader to call the meeting," he said.
Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal was last week elected by the party's parliamentarians to replace Polye. 
Polye yesterday thanked the highlands party provincial executives who met him at the airport, saying they were also committed to seeing the party's constitution maintained and followed.
He said the faction supporting Abal was trying to use the parliamentary process to remove him.
Polye said this was not the correct process in the party constitution.
Party executives Joyce Grant, John Timberambe, NA highlands president James Kond and NA MPs Sailon Beseo (Kainantu) and David Arore (Ijivitari) accompanied Polye to Goroka.
Provincial executives in the highlands region came with party members to the caucus meeting in Goroka.

Police burn 14-Mile compound

By JUNIOR UKAHA

A COMPOUND belonging to the Central provincial government at 14-Mile, outside Port Moresby, was burnt down by police because residents there were suspected of harbouring criminals, The National reports.
Central police commander, John Maru, said the place was known as a "transit point" and a haven for drug traffickers who smuggled drugs from Goilala to sell in Port Moresby.
He said based on community complaints and police intelligence information, Central police moved in and razed the home.
A senior officer at the 15-Mile police station said the building had been condemned but the tenants, mostly of Goilala origin, illegally settled there and harboured drug traffickers, making money out of the trade.
"This is a hideout for notorious criminals," Maru said.
"This is the reason why police needed to get rid of the property. 
 "We want the place to be free of thugs and law-breakers," he said.
The tenants said police did not explain why their homes had been razed.
Amei Evarista, who lost her home and all her property including K180, was unhappy with the police action.
"They should have explained their action," she said.
"I have lost my home and my belongings in the fire." 
Tenant Chris John denied that they harboured criminals and that they did not know what the police were talking about. 
"Eight units have been burnt down and 10 families are affected," John said.
He said they were now living in make-shift shelters and were asking local MPs to help them relocate elsewhere.

Officials told to report to census director

By ALISON ANIS

National Statistician Joseph Aka has advised all census officials, including provincial coordinators nationwide, to report directly to the census director and publicity division at the National Statistical Office in Waigani, The National reports.
An official said Aka met with the census management and coordinating team yesterday and advised them that the two divisions would be the central point for reporting and sourcing information on the population count.
"Aka has advised that any queries or information on the counting from now on would be accessed only through census director Hajily Kele and publicity officer Peter Maime," the officer said when asked to comment on the status of the head count in the Southern region. 
"The counting in the Southern region, including NCD, has progressed well while the mop-up will depend on how fast checks are performed and information is finalised."
He said reports from all provinces in the Southern region had been submitted to the two divisions, which would go through the data to make final assessments and see if a mop-up was needed.
Mop-up operations are under way in many parts of the country as reports reaching NSO in Port Moresby indicate an encouraging outcome.
Kele said 94% of training and enumeration had been completed in all the 334 LLGs.
This is despite a few hiccups on accessibility given the remoteness of some parts of the country and slow accounting procedures for allowances.
"These are inevitable in an event as massive as the national census, although they are being addressed," she said.
Deputy census director Boe Douna said every­one in the country would be counted and assured census workers that what was owed to them in allowances "will eventually be paid".
This week the NSO is concentrating on getting materials and workers into at least eight remote and difficult areas – five in West Sepik, two in Gulf and one in Morobe.
It is anticipated that all of them will be covered by the end of the week.
The NSO advised that any queries on the census should be directed to census officials on the toll free numbers: 180 2055, 180 2036 and 180 2093

Opposition queries political interference on policing

The Opposition today called on Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie and acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to come clean and explain why there was an intervention to stop police from laying charges against a national parliamentarian.

The Opposition's call, led by deputy leader and Member for Bulolo Sam Basil, follows information from police insiders that following complaints and investigation, an MP from the Highlands region was on the verge of being charged with carnal knowledge.

"Our informants were very particular and specific that police top brass acting on instructions from the Office of the Prime Minister caused the police who had carriage of the case to stop from bringing the MP in and charging him with carnal knowledge," Basil said.

"This is a very serious matter.

"The Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Commissioner of Police are constitutional offices.

"And there is a long standing tradition of separation of powers and functions in our Westminster democracy between various constitutional offices,  especially when it comes to the enforcement of law.

"Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal must explain why such instructions were issued from the Office of the Prime Minister.

"Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie must equally and more particularly explain why he allowed the constitutional office he heads to succumb to political dictates on this matter.

"They must explain what special circumstances, and under what laws or regulations if any, they saw fit to intervene in what on the surface amounts to normal exercise of police duties to enforce law and order.

"These type of actions fuel public perceptions that in application of law and enforcement of law, there are two sets of laws – one for the ordinary people and another for the 'big man' or elites, privileged and wealthy citizens.

Basil said that the Opposition - as an alternate Government - would be watching this case very closely as it fitted the National Alliance led government's brand of politics and governance where laws enacted by representatives of the people were flaunted, bent and broken at whim and will of a privileged few.

"That is why, as an alternate Government, we are appealing to other MPs,  especially in Government back benches to come out of them before they end up in the same mould," he said.
"We must form an alternative Government that understands, appreciates and allows the exercise of separation of powers, functions and enforcement of laws and regulations.
"This is important if we want to see good governance in the country."