THE date set for the return of writs for the Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election coincides with the National Executive Council (NEC) declared public holiday on Aug 26, The National reports.
When Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio issued the writs, he set Aug 26 as the date for the writs to be returned, which falls next Friday.
According to yesterday's newspaper reports, there were "three public holidays remaining this year and 12 public holidays for next year".
Attempts to get comments from PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen were unsuccessful.
However, it was understood that a new date would be set for the return of writs.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
PM urged to make wise decisions
By SAMUEL RAITANO and JEFFREY ELAPA
LEADERS in Mendi, Southern Highlands, want Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Public Service Minister Bart Philemon to make some wise and sensible decisions on the administration of the province, The National reports.
It comes as the National Executive Council reinstated William Powi as acting administrator for Southern Highlands.
Lawrence Olkoben was acting in the position.
It led to a clash last Monday between their supporters in Mendi town.
Olkoben was appointed by the Somare government while Powi was appointed last week by the O'Neill government.
Powi's move to occupy office on Monday was resisted by Olkoben's supporters and
resulted in the clash which left some people injured and properties damaged.
Both men are understood to be from Nipa, a section of the highway that leads to the LNG project hub, Tari.
The leaders in Mendi said if politicians continued to promote their own cronies to be administrators in Southern Highlands, there was a potential for chaos, anarchy and bloodshed in Mendi and elsewhere in the province.
Community leaders from Hunjahumap, Wogia, Longo, Kiburu, Lai Valley, Upper Mendi, Lower Mendi and the surrounding communities and LLGs want the government to appoint someone neutral to administer the province.
They wanted the government to appoint someone from Mendi or Lai Valley.
Meanwhile, Governor Anderson Agiru claimed the earlier appointment of Olkoben was done through proper procedures.
Agiru said that Powi's appointment was a "rushed move" by the prime minister.
The court registry in Mendi has denied a report that a court case had been filed by Olkoben against Powi.
Powi had earlier this year challenged the Southern Highlands provincial executive council in its decision to have Olkoben appointed.
The matter is still pending in court.
Meanwhile, police in Mendi said the situation in town was still tense following Monday's fight.
Sources from Mendi said people were openly carrying bush knives around the town's streets.
LEADERS in Mendi, Southern Highlands, want Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Public Service Minister Bart Philemon to make some wise and sensible decisions on the administration of the province, The National reports.
It comes as the National Executive Council reinstated William Powi as acting administrator for Southern Highlands.
Lawrence Olkoben was acting in the position.
It led to a clash last Monday between their supporters in Mendi town.
Olkoben was appointed by the Somare government while Powi was appointed last week by the O'Neill government.
Powi's move to occupy office on Monday was resisted by Olkoben's supporters and
resulted in the clash which left some people injured and properties damaged.
Both men are understood to be from Nipa, a section of the highway that leads to the LNG project hub, Tari.
The leaders in Mendi said if politicians continued to promote their own cronies to be administrators in Southern Highlands, there was a potential for chaos, anarchy and bloodshed in Mendi and elsewhere in the province.
Community leaders from Hunjahumap, Wogia, Longo, Kiburu, Lai Valley, Upper Mendi, Lower Mendi and the surrounding communities and LLGs want the government to appoint someone neutral to administer the province.
They wanted the government to appoint someone from Mendi or Lai Valley.
Meanwhile, Governor Anderson Agiru claimed the earlier appointment of Olkoben was done through proper procedures.
Agiru said that Powi's appointment was a "rushed move" by the prime minister.
The court registry in Mendi has denied a report that a court case had been filed by Olkoben against Powi.
Powi had earlier this year challenged the Southern Highlands provincial executive council in its decision to have Olkoben appointed.
The matter is still pending in court.
Meanwhile, police in Mendi said the situation in town was still tense following Monday's fight.
Sources from Mendi said people were openly carrying bush knives around the town's streets.
SHP locals want ‘powers’ stopped
THE people of Southern Highlands are calling on the national government to immediately withdraw the powers of the Southern Highlands provincial government, The National reports.
Many people rang from Mendi, Southern Highlands, while others from the province living and working in other provinces also rang to call on the government to withdraw the financial powers of the provincial government.
They have also condemned the current administrative struggle between reappointed provincial administrator William Powi and the former and sidelined administrator Lawrence Olkoben.
Senior lawyer Marley Nandi said the government should immediately withdraw the financial powers back to Waigani while an independent investigation team was established to look into the rot in the province.
He said the province had become a milking ground for people since the time of the late Dick Mune, the Hami Yawari regime and the Agiru government.
He said that provincial administrators also needed to be investigated as many unscrupulous activities have been going on in the manner in which the funds of the province have been used.
He said that the recent investigation and jailing of seven people involved in the fraud was just a tip of the iceberg as many such people were still on the run and an immediate investigation was required.
Former member for Kagua-Erave David Basua said so much money into the province's coffers from the resources but it lags in development as the huge sums of funds are squandered by people in authority.
Meanwhile Southern Highlands National Alliance secretary Terence Perene called for another declaration of state of emergency.
He said there were many thing wrong with the governance of the province and it was time the national government intervene to correct it.
He said the coming election was also a threat as more guns were brought in to the province while such weapons were brought into the town without anyone being arrested by police as in the recent clash between the two groups over the administration position.
Basua also condemned the action of the two groups and stated that the position was not a birthright for few people.
He said any credible Papua New Guinean can apply for the position and not just the cronies of politicians and people from one district.
Leaders from Lai valley and surrounding villages of Mendi town have also expressed similar sentiments.
Many people rang from Mendi, Southern Highlands, while others from the province living and working in other provinces also rang to call on the government to withdraw the financial powers of the provincial government.
They have also condemned the current administrative struggle between reappointed provincial administrator William Powi and the former and sidelined administrator Lawrence Olkoben.
Senior lawyer Marley Nandi said the government should immediately withdraw the financial powers back to Waigani while an independent investigation team was established to look into the rot in the province.
He said the province had become a milking ground for people since the time of the late Dick Mune, the Hami Yawari regime and the Agiru government.
He said that provincial administrators also needed to be investigated as many unscrupulous activities have been going on in the manner in which the funds of the province have been used.
He said that the recent investigation and jailing of seven people involved in the fraud was just a tip of the iceberg as many such people were still on the run and an immediate investigation was required.
Former member for Kagua-Erave David Basua said so much money into the province's coffers from the resources but it lags in development as the huge sums of funds are squandered by people in authority.
Meanwhile Southern Highlands National Alliance secretary Terence Perene called for another declaration of state of emergency.
He said there were many thing wrong with the governance of the province and it was time the national government intervene to correct it.
He said the coming election was also a threat as more guns were brought in to the province while such weapons were brought into the town without anyone being arrested by police as in the recent clash between the two groups over the administration position.
Basua also condemned the action of the two groups and stated that the position was not a birthright for few people.
He said any credible Papua New Guinean can apply for the position and not just the cronies of politicians and people from one district.
Leaders from Lai valley and surrounding villages of Mendi town have also expressed similar sentiments.
Group cuts off Telikom services
By GABRIEL FITO
ALL telecommunication services in parts of East and West Sepik have been disrupted after people purporting to be landowners unplugged solar panels and heaped rubbish onto the helipad preventing the helicopter from off-loading fuel at the Mt Albawagi repeater station at Dagua in East Sepik, The National reports.
Telikom workmen have made unsuccessful attempts this week to fly in fuel as the helipads were still covered with debris.
Mt Albawagi landowners' chairman Paul Amit said the problem was not caused by the landowners of Woginara but opportunists from Magopin village.
He lodged another complaint at the Wewak police station yesterday
Anit apologised to those who were affected by the actions of the perpetrators, saying the problem had been caused by an outside group.
He called on Telikom management to meet with the landowners immediately to resolve the issue of landowners' chairmanship so opportunist did not take advantage of such situations by disrupting vital services.
The Telikom customer service manager in Wewak could not be reached for comment as she was out of the office yesterday, but an employee confirmed the disruption of services.
ALL telecommunication services in parts of East and West Sepik have been disrupted after people purporting to be landowners unplugged solar panels and heaped rubbish onto the helipad preventing the helicopter from off-loading fuel at the Mt Albawagi repeater station at Dagua in East Sepik, The National reports.
Telikom workmen have made unsuccessful attempts this week to fly in fuel as the helipads were still covered with debris.
Mt Albawagi landowners' chairman Paul Amit said the problem was not caused by the landowners of Woginara but opportunists from Magopin village.
He lodged another complaint at the Wewak police station yesterday
Anit apologised to those who were affected by the actions of the perpetrators, saying the problem had been caused by an outside group.
He called on Telikom management to meet with the landowners immediately to resolve the issue of landowners' chairmanship so opportunist did not take advantage of such situations by disrupting vital services.
The Telikom customer service manager in Wewak could not be reached for comment as she was out of the office yesterday, but an employee confirmed the disruption of services.
‘Blake was forced out'
INDEPENDENT Public Business Corporation managing director Glen Blake was forced out by the new Minister for Public Enterprises Sir Mekere Morauta and did not voluntarily resign as claimed in a newspaper report, The National reports.
Sources said the former minister Arthur Somare said Sir Mekere told Blake to go shortly after taking office, saying his services were not needed.
State entities had performed exceptionally well, making huge returns through sound and prudent management of the state's enterprises since 2002 when the National Alliance-led government took office.
They said there might be a return to a sale of all entities as was the case when Sir Mekere was prime minister.
The government businesses had made "significant progress from insolvency to profitability and marketable organisations", the sources said.
Some notable performances were made by PNG Power and Post PNG, which had improved from being insolvent entities into becoming the best performing entities.
The sources said too much money had been paid to foreign consultants during Sir Mekere's leadership.
The source said decisions were likely to be manipulated by international organisations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to privatise and sell state entities that were now performing very well.
Sources said the former minister Arthur Somare said Sir Mekere told Blake to go shortly after taking office, saying his services were not needed.
State entities had performed exceptionally well, making huge returns through sound and prudent management of the state's enterprises since 2002 when the National Alliance-led government took office.
They said there might be a return to a sale of all entities as was the case when Sir Mekere was prime minister.
The government businesses had made "significant progress from insolvency to profitability and marketable organisations", the sources said.
Some notable performances were made by PNG Power and Post PNG, which had improved from being insolvent entities into becoming the best performing entities.
The sources said too much money had been paid to foreign consultants during Sir Mekere's leadership.
The source said decisions were likely to be manipulated by international organisations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to privatise and sell state entities that were now performing very well.
Vehicle owners told to be responsible after accidents
By BUSTIN ANZU
VEHICLES involved in accidents are the owners' responsibility and must be cleared so that roads are free for other road users, Morobe's police chief Supt Peter Guinness says, The National reports.
He said once a vehicle had been involved in an accident, the owner must try to remove the vehicle so that roads were free for other commuters.
"The owners must remove the remains of the accident. They must not leave the remains or debris from accidents lying around. That will help avoid further accidents," he said.
He said this after visiting the scene of a two fatal accidents that claimed the lives of 13 people.
Guinness said if that semi-trailer had been removed after the first accident in which five people died, the second accident would not have occurred.
He said his officers, who attended to the scene, had advised the owner to remove the semi-trailer but it was ignored and which led to the death of eight other people travelling from Madang a day later.
A frustrated Guinness, who visited the scene on Monday with Assistant Commissioner of Police for Momase Giossi Labi, said the second accident could have been avoided if the semi-trailer had been removed.
Guinness said the owner was negligent and was the cause of the fatal accident.
He said he would seek legal opinion if the driver of the semi-trailer could be charged with manslaughter or murder.
"The second accident will be investigated and presented to the coroner for its deliberation," he said.
A full media briefing will be held today by the Land Transport Board and police regarding the fatal accidents last week.
Meanwhile, Guinness said the rescuers in the helicopter crash in the jungles of Wafi revisited the scene and collected more body parts and pieces of the crashed helicopter.
"The plane crash investigators are working on the case while police will present its report to the coroner," he said.
VEHICLES involved in accidents are the owners' responsibility and must be cleared so that roads are free for other road users, Morobe's police chief Supt Peter Guinness says, The National reports.
He said once a vehicle had been involved in an accident, the owner must try to remove the vehicle so that roads were free for other commuters.
"The owners must remove the remains of the accident. They must not leave the remains or debris from accidents lying around. That will help avoid further accidents," he said.
He said this after visiting the scene of a two fatal accidents that claimed the lives of 13 people.
Guinness said if that semi-trailer had been removed after the first accident in which five people died, the second accident would not have occurred.
He said his officers, who attended to the scene, had advised the owner to remove the semi-trailer but it was ignored and which led to the death of eight other people travelling from Madang a day later.
A frustrated Guinness, who visited the scene on Monday with Assistant Commissioner of Police for Momase Giossi Labi, said the second accident could have been avoided if the semi-trailer had been removed.
Guinness said the owner was negligent and was the cause of the fatal accident.
He said he would seek legal opinion if the driver of the semi-trailer could be charged with manslaughter or murder.
"The second accident will be investigated and presented to the coroner for its deliberation," he said.
A full media briefing will be held today by the Land Transport Board and police regarding the fatal accidents last week.
Meanwhile, Guinness said the rescuers in the helicopter crash in the jungles of Wafi revisited the scene and collected more body parts and pieces of the crashed helicopter.
"The plane crash investigators are working on the case while police will present its report to the coroner," he said.
People urged to report early campaigning
THE people of East New Britain are being urged to report illegal early campaigning by aspiring politicians, The National reports.
Provincial electoral manager Terence Hetinu made the call after his office received reports of illegal political meetings where aspiring candidates were giving away money and food items.
He called on people to capture the meetings on their mobile phone cameras and record the speeches being made during such gatherings and to pass these on to the electoral office in Kokopo.
He said if such were confirmed as political campaigning, those people would be arrested by police for early campaigning and could be banned from contesting the coming elections.
Hetinu said the Electoral Commission was gearing for a massive awareness programme in the wards to educate the people on the meaning of early campaigning and how the community could distinguish between political and social gatherings.
He stressed that the Electoral Commission wanted the province to conduct a clean and transparent national election next year.
He said people had the right to make decisions and not to be intimidated or have their rights violated on who to vote for in elections.
Hetinu was responding to queries by Kombiu LLG president, Komit Kunai, who complained of early campaigning by candidates.
Provincial electoral manager Terence Hetinu made the call after his office received reports of illegal political meetings where aspiring candidates were giving away money and food items.
He called on people to capture the meetings on their mobile phone cameras and record the speeches being made during such gatherings and to pass these on to the electoral office in Kokopo.
He said if such were confirmed as political campaigning, those people would be arrested by police for early campaigning and could be banned from contesting the coming elections.
Hetinu said the Electoral Commission was gearing for a massive awareness programme in the wards to educate the people on the meaning of early campaigning and how the community could distinguish between political and social gatherings.
He stressed that the Electoral Commission wanted the province to conduct a clean and transparent national election next year.
He said people had the right to make decisions and not to be intimidated or have their rights violated on who to vote for in elections.
Hetinu was responding to queries by Kombiu LLG president, Komit Kunai, who complained of early campaigning by candidates.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)