I’m still attorney-general, Amet tells Marat

By JULIA DAIA BORE

SIR Arnold Amet attended the handover-takeover ceremony between him and his successor, Dr Allan Marat, yesterday, and told those gathered that he was still the attorney-general  and minister for justice, The National reports.
He referred to Marat as the "purported attorney-general" saying neither he nor Sir Michael Somare's government recognised the "purported" events in parliament of last Tuesday which culminated in the change of government.
Sir Arnold said yesterday's occasion (to him) was not a handover-takeover.
Rather, he was only "vacating" his office due to the result of parliament's "unconstitutional" action following which he now had to "vacate" his office pending the court's determination on the matter.
He said he had attempted to seek a Supreme Court reference but "as you know, you Allan (Marat) withdrew it," he said, while smiling at his successor. 
Sir Arnold said he had complete trust in the independence of the judiciary which had yet to hear and determine its outcome on the issue currently before it.
"So I am merely vacating the office" pending the outcome of the courts, Sir Arnold said and slid the set of keys to the attorney-general's office across the table to Marat. 
 Sir Arnold said: "Yesterday, my mind meandered between whether I should do this or not…"
He said  he respected the independent judicial process and pointed out that what he could not do what was being done by the East Sepik provincial executive government.
He said he was confident of the judicial system and would await the outcome of the reference.
He then urged department staff to "stay focused" despite the political diversions and to concentrate on taking the profession to a higher level of competence.
"Leave the politics to us politicians," he said.
His words were echoed by Marat who set down the rules for his staff, saying time was of essence and he expected each person's eight working hours to be properly used as public servants.
Marat said: "I am the purported attorney-general. I will say I am now confused. I have been gazetted attorney-general and it is now up to you (those within the department and ministry) whether to refer to me as AG or purported AG."

Somare: New govt fails to show ex-PM due respect

By SAMUEL RAITANO

ANGORAM MP Arthur Somare is upset that while his father lay on his sick bed, the new government has quickly taken over power and "divided the loot", The National reports.
He said he was hurt because they (new government) had disrespected his father and had "started rummaging through things while he is still on the sick-bed".
"That old man (Sir Michael) spent his life for the good of this country but it seems that nobody cares or appre­ciates the work of such a man like him," he said.
Somare, who at times seemed emotional, said the Peter O'Neill-led go­vernment had gone through a phase that made things constitutionally chaotic.
He, however, declined to comment on the proposed sale of the K120 million Falcon jet his father used on his travels, as announced by Prime Minister O'Neill on Tuesday in parliament.
O'Neill had said the money from the sale of the aircraft would be better used on sectors such as education and health.
Speaking outside the National and Supreme Court yesterday, Somare said he had his own court cases to worry about and
he did not wish to comment on what the current go­vernment was doing with things that belonged to the people of PNG.
Meanwhile, the people of Madang are generally happy with the proposed sale of the K120 million Falcon jet.
A nurse at the Modilon Hospital intermediate ward, Sister Clancy Kom, was happy that the money would be spent on health and to provide free education.
She said the Falcon jet was a luxury item benefiting only a few people and should be done away with.
"Peter O'Neill knows what he is doing,'' she said.
"If the country can fork out such a huge sum of money (to buy and maintain the jet), where is the logic of such an exercise?
"Everyone here at the hospital is talking about that news and is overjoyed that someone finally has the guts to put his foot down."
Lesley Nailon, a community leader from Furan village, said he had to find a K3 flex card yesterday just to call The National office to express his joy.
He said he was die-hard O'Neill supporter and supported the go­vernment.
He said O'Neill had made the best decision yet to sell the Falcon jet.
Ray Kone, a youth at Sisiak was yesterday sitting among his friends outside The National's office discussing the news.
He said they agreed that enough squandering had been done by the previous government and now with the new government ma­king the cost-cutting chan­ges, it was definitely good news.
Many said the purchase of the jet never benefited the people directly and, as such, many government policies in the last government would never come to fruition such as the Vision 2050.
"We have been begging for a change and now we will see it," one betelnut seller at the Handy Mart service station known only as Bobby, said.
It was reported yesterday that the Falcon jet would cost K22 million a year to operate.
The jet had been used by the former prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, and his government ministers.
Other news that were widely welcomed by the people included the proposed free education, weeding of corruption through the re-introduction of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Bill, the implementation of 2011 deve­lopmental budgets by splitting the ministries of National Planning, Monitoring and Rural Development, revamping the Public Service Management Act to cut down on graft and corruption and to penalise those found guilty among others.

Morobe helicopter crash leaves 3 dead

By ELLEN TIAMU

Three people are dead following a helicopter crash in Morobe province on Monday, The National reports.
The twin-engine helicopter (pictured above during a recent trip to Finschhafen) , belonging to the Lae-based Manolos Aviation, was on its way to Wafi, in the Bulolo district, but a heavy cloud cover prevented it from landing.
The helicopter was trying to return to Lae when it went missing between Mumeng and Wafi.
Two G4S security guards and the expatriate pilot, Peter Wallace, were on board the helicopter. 
An air search was launched immediately to locate the missing helicopter.
However, aerial search and rescue attempts during the past three days had drawn a blank because the area was still under a heavy cloud cover.
Late last night Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said the crash site had been found but there were no survivors.
He said the crash of the helicopter, P2-RUH, happened about 5km south of Timini.
"The investigation commenced shortly after the accident happened and the onsite component of the investigation will be continuing for several days," Ruing said,
He said the bodies of the pilot and the two passengers were being retrieved late yesterday while the investigators' reports would be ready within four weeks.

Morobe helicopter crash leaves 3 dead

By ELLEN TIAMU

Three people are dead following a helicopter crash in Morobe province on Monday, The National reports.
The twin-engine helicopter (pictured above during a recent trip to Finschhafen) , belonging to the Lae-based Manolos Aviation, was on its way to Wafi, in the Bulolo district, but a heavy cloud cover prevented it from landing.
The helicopter was trying to return to Lae when it went missing between Mumeng and Wafi.
Two G4S security guards and the expatriate pilot, Peter Wallace, were on board the helicopter. 
An air search was launched immediately to locate the missing helicopter.
However, aerial search and rescue attempts during the past three days had drawn a blank because the area was still under a heavy cloud cover.
Late last night Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said the crash site had been found but there were no survivors.
He said the crash of the helicopter, P2-RUH, happened about 5km south of Timini.
"The investigation commenced shortly after the accident happened and the onsite component of the investigation will be continuing for several days," Ruing said,
He said the bodies of the pilot and the two passengers were being retrieved late yesterday while the investigators' reports would be ready within four weeks.

Morobe helicopter crash leaves three dead

By ELLEN TIAMU

Three people are dead following a helicopter crash in Morobe province on Monday, The National reports.
The twin-engine helicopter (pictured above during a recent trip to Finschhafen) , belonging to the Lae-based Manolos Aviation, was on its way to Wafi, in the Bulolo district, but a heavy cloud cover prevented it from landing.
The helicopter was trying to return to Lae when it went missing between Mumeng and Wafi.
Two G4S security guards and the expatriate pilot, Peter Wallace, were on board the helicopter. 
An air search was launched immediately to locate the missing helicopter.
However, aerial search and rescue attempts during the past three days had drawn a blank because the area was still under a heavy cloud cover.
Late last night Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said the crash site had been found but there were no survivors.
He said the crash of the helicopter, P2-RUH, happened about 5km south of Timini.
"The investigation commenced shortly after the accident happened and the onsite component of the investigation will be continuing for several days," Ruing said,
He said the bodies of the pilot and the two passengers were being retrieved late yesterday while the investigators' reports would be ready within four weeks.

Sale of the Falcon jet a smart and timely move, says ACT NOW!

Community advocacy group, ACT NOW! says the announcement by new Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, that his government will sell the controversial Falcon jet is a smart move.

"The Falcon jet was an expensive mistake that epitomised the greed and corruption of the previous government, it is a smart move by the new PM to get rid of what was effectively a private PMV for the Somares and their supporters", says Effrey Dademo, programme manager for ACT NOW!

ACT NOW! has also congratulated the new government on its announcement of an Independent Commission Against Corruption, but says there still remains much to be done to reverse the blatant stealing of public money and other abuses.

"An ICAC is a great move, but it must be adequately resourced and free from political interference," says Ms Dademo.

ACT NOW! welcomes O’Neill’s announcement on ICAC

Community advocacy group, ACT NOW! has welcomed the announcement by Papua New Guinea's new Prime Minister that his government will establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption.

"ACT NOW! is very pleased the Prime Minister has pledged to establish an ICAC and has recognised the crippling effects of corruption in PNG", says Effrey Dademo, programme manager for ACT NOW!

"ACT NOW! has been campaigning against the blatant stealing of public money and we see the introduction of an ICAC as a necessary step to tackle the problem, but it is only the first step of many that will be required."

The Prime Minister told parliament on Tuesday that he was acting "in response to the public outcry against the rampant corruption and mismanagement of public money" and is committed to "investigate, charge, prosecute and jail persons, or groups, or companies who have illegally profited from the State's coffers"

ACT NOW! says while Mr O'Neill's words are very heartening and mark a clear separation of his own government from that of Michael Somare, everyone will be watching very closely to see that his actions match his rhetoric.

"As well as looking to the future, and ensuring a well resourced ICAC, the Prime Minister must ensure the recommendations of previous inquiries like that into the Finance Department are implemented and people already implicated are prosecuted", says Ms Dademo.