ANGORAM MP Arthur Somare's judicial review challenging his referral to the leadership tribunal has been adjourned yesterday to Monday, The National reports.
Presiding judge Justice Panuel Mogish said he did not have the files for the case.
The review was to have been listed yesterday.
Somare's lawyer Ian Molloy disrupted Mogish's hearing of criminal matters to have the matter heard.
But Mogish said he had other matters to deal with and that the file was not before him.
The matter is in relation to Somare being referred to the leadership tribunal.
The argument in the review was to question the legal powers that acting public prosecutor Camillus Sambua exercised in appointing state prosecutor Katwa Umpake to sign the referral.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Govt clarifies appointment policy
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
THE national government will not make wholesale changes to the heads of departments and statutory bodies.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday said there would not be any political appointments, The National reports.
"We are making two changes in the public service because they did not follow proper procedures."
Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali said on Monday that more heads of government departments and statutory bodies would be removed.
Senior government officers who had been removed since the O'Neill-Namah regime took office were Margaret Elias as chief secretary and Gabriel Yer of finance.
Manasupe Zurenuoc took over from Elias while Stephen Gibson was appointed acting finance secretary.
When asked about the confusion the changes would create if a Supreme Court reference challenging his election as prime minister, and the validity of his government, was upheld, O'Neill said parliament had spoken.
He said democracy was demonstrated by the parliamentary process which was determined by more than 50 votes to put a new government in office.
State Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said parliament and the courts were independent institutions.
"The government must move on. It cannot wait for the courts to make a decision," he said.
But Sir Mekere said a decision on the matter by the courts would be respected.
THE national government will not make wholesale changes to the heads of departments and statutory bodies.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday said there would not be any political appointments, The National reports.
"We are making two changes in the public service because they did not follow proper procedures."
Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali said on Monday that more heads of government departments and statutory bodies would be removed.
Senior government officers who had been removed since the O'Neill-Namah regime took office were Margaret Elias as chief secretary and Gabriel Yer of finance.
Manasupe Zurenuoc took over from Elias while Stephen Gibson was appointed acting finance secretary.
When asked about the confusion the changes would create if a Supreme Court reference challenging his election as prime minister, and the validity of his government, was upheld, O'Neill said parliament had spoken.
He said democracy was demonstrated by the parliamentary process which was determined by more than 50 votes to put a new government in office.
State Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said parliament and the courts were independent institutions.
"The government must move on. It cannot wait for the courts to make a decision," he said.
But Sir Mekere said a decision on the matter by the courts would be respected.
Court to hear bid to restrain govt today
By JACOB POK
THE East Sepik provincial government's bid to obtain an interim injunction to restrain the government from withdrawing its financial powers will be heard in court today, The National reports.
The matter was heard yesterday at the Waigani National Court but adjourned because state lawyers were not present.
Despite the urgency of the matter, and the provincial government's move to have the matter heard ex-parte (only one party), presiding judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ruled that all parties should be present in court to properly deal with the matter.
He then adjourned the matter and told state lawyers present in court to advise their colleagues to appear today.
The Finance and Treasury had last week proposed to withdraw the financial powers of the Morobe and East Sepik provincial governments because of alleged abuse and mismanagement of funds by executives.
The Morobe provincial government successfully obtained interim restraining orders on Monday at the Lae National Court, temporarily stopping the government from signing instruments that would effect the decision to remove its financial powers.
THE East Sepik provincial government's bid to obtain an interim injunction to restrain the government from withdrawing its financial powers will be heard in court today, The National reports.
The matter was heard yesterday at the Waigani National Court but adjourned because state lawyers were not present.
Despite the urgency of the matter, and the provincial government's move to have the matter heard ex-parte (only one party), presiding judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ruled that all parties should be present in court to properly deal with the matter.
He then adjourned the matter and told state lawyers present in court to advise their colleagues to appear today.
The Finance and Treasury had last week proposed to withdraw the financial powers of the Morobe and East Sepik provincial governments because of alleged abuse and mismanagement of funds by executives.
The Morobe provincial government successfully obtained interim restraining orders on Monday at the Lae National Court, temporarily stopping the government from signing instruments that would effect the decision to remove its financial powers.
O’Neill puts stop to withdrawal of powers
By FRANK SENGE KOLMA
PRIME Minister Peter O'Neill has directed a halt on all moves to withdraw the financial powers of provincial governments, The National reports.
O'Neill said yesterday: "There is no NEC decision directing suspension or withdrawal of powers of any provincial government.
"If there is any allegation of financial mismanagement, there should be proper investigation conducted into the allegation first.
"We do not want to appear to be vindictive."
The prime minister's directive comes as the East Sepik and Morobe provincial governments go to court to challenge the withdrawal of their financial powers, apparently by a ministerial edict on Aug 12. The order is said to have been issued from the Finance and Treasury ministry.
The Morobe government, on Monday, sought and got an injunction preventing the national government from withdrawing its powers.
The East Sepik provincial government's bid to obtain a similar injunction was heard briefly yesterday and postponed to today.
The prime minister's stance is likely to affect these matters on foot and will prevent future moves against provincial governments without any good cause.
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said yesterday cabinet had no authority to withdraw financial powers of a provincial government except in a state of emergency or during a war.
He said this was established beyond any doubt by the Supreme Court when he challenged the suspension of his provincial government in October 2000 by the Mekere Morauta regime.
The court voided division 8 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments which purported to authorise the National Executive Council to withdraw powers or suspend provincial governments.
That provision, in its entirety, was found to be contrary to the dictates of the Constitution and was declared null and void.
Agiru said the purported withdrawal of financial powers of the East Sepik and Morobe provincial governments went against that Supreme Court decision.
He further said the purported action had sent fear and instability racing up and down provincial administrations nationwide.
"There has been no investigation into the financial affairs of provincial governments, no natural justice accorded .... just generalisations about misuse and abuse of powers and finances.
"As I have said before, the prime minister has all the credentials but his ministers are going astray and he needs to pull them into line."
PRIME Minister Peter O'Neill has directed a halt on all moves to withdraw the financial powers of provincial governments, The National reports.
O'Neill said yesterday: "There is no NEC decision directing suspension or withdrawal of powers of any provincial government.
"If there is any allegation of financial mismanagement, there should be proper investigation conducted into the allegation first.
"We do not want to appear to be vindictive."
The prime minister's directive comes as the East Sepik and Morobe provincial governments go to court to challenge the withdrawal of their financial powers, apparently by a ministerial edict on Aug 12. The order is said to have been issued from the Finance and Treasury ministry.
The Morobe government, on Monday, sought and got an injunction preventing the national government from withdrawing its powers.
The East Sepik provincial government's bid to obtain a similar injunction was heard briefly yesterday and postponed to today.
The prime minister's stance is likely to affect these matters on foot and will prevent future moves against provincial governments without any good cause.
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said yesterday cabinet had no authority to withdraw financial powers of a provincial government except in a state of emergency or during a war.
He said this was established beyond any doubt by the Supreme Court when he challenged the suspension of his provincial government in October 2000 by the Mekere Morauta regime.
The court voided division 8 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments which purported to authorise the National Executive Council to withdraw powers or suspend provincial governments.
That provision, in its entirety, was found to be contrary to the dictates of the Constitution and was declared null and void.
Agiru said the purported withdrawal of financial powers of the East Sepik and Morobe provincial governments went against that Supreme Court decision.
He further said the purported action had sent fear and instability racing up and down provincial administrations nationwide.
"There has been no investigation into the financial affairs of provincial governments, no natural justice accorded .... just generalisations about misuse and abuse of powers and finances.
"As I have said before, the prime minister has all the credentials but his ministers are going astray and he needs to pull them into line."
Natschol in, OBE out
By FRANK SENGE KOLMA
NATIONAL scholarship for tertiary students will be reintroduced by January next year, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said yesterday, The National reports.
Among sweeping changes the government is introducing for the education sector under its free education policy:
He said he was confident that despite "early teething problems", the policy was on secure ground.
He said the OBE had failed and would be scrapped as well as the user-pay and the student loan policies for tertiary students.
"As a person who benefited from Natschol (national scholarship) with the K13 per fortnight allowance, I strongly believe that everybody has to get a chance," O'Neill said.
"The cost estimates that have been given to us for free education are well within our expectation.
"Education have estimated K610 million when we have planned for K700 million."
O'Neill said on Sept 20, the government would bring down a supplementary budget during which K350 million would be allocated and parked in a special trust account held by the Education Department for this purpose.
He said in order to avoid delays in payment, the government would start releasing payments by November and December so that, by Jan 1, all schools would have received their fees.
On school drop-outs, the education officials wanted to maintain a hybrid structure where some drop-outs are allowed at Grade 8 but the prime minister was dead against that.
"We are using the same infrastructure so I cannot see why we cannot accommodate more," he said.
"We have to utilise what we have smartly.
"We have a good environment. We can have classes under coconut trees.
"I do not see why we should not have night classes in places where there is electricity.
"Why should we deny our children the right to education just because we have capacity issues?"
O'Neill said for the first time, the 2011 development budget allocation for education would be fully utilised.
At present, about 20% of the entire recurrent and development budget goes to education.
By the time the free education policy was implemented, it would be closer to 30%, which puts education spending among the highest in the world, he said.
The prime minister assured that such heavy emphasis on education would not take money away from other priority government areas such as health, infrastructure and law and justice.
"We have the money. We just need to spend it right," he said.
NATIONAL scholarship for tertiary students will be reintroduced by January next year, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said yesterday, The National reports.
Among sweeping changes the government is introducing for the education sector under its free education policy:
- The controversial outcomes-based education (OBE) would be scrapped by January;
- Government to pay all tuition fees for students from elementary to Grade 10;
- Government to subsidise 75% of fees for Grades 11-12;
- No drop-outs at Grade 8; and
- Payment of K350 million into a special trust held by the Education Department by November this year for distribution to all schools by January.
He said he was confident that despite "early teething problems", the policy was on secure ground.
He said the OBE had failed and would be scrapped as well as the user-pay and the student loan policies for tertiary students.
"As a person who benefited from Natschol (national scholarship) with the K13 per fortnight allowance, I strongly believe that everybody has to get a chance," O'Neill said.
"The cost estimates that have been given to us for free education are well within our expectation.
"Education have estimated K610 million when we have planned for K700 million."
O'Neill said on Sept 20, the government would bring down a supplementary budget during which K350 million would be allocated and parked in a special trust account held by the Education Department for this purpose.
He said in order to avoid delays in payment, the government would start releasing payments by November and December so that, by Jan 1, all schools would have received their fees.
On school drop-outs, the education officials wanted to maintain a hybrid structure where some drop-outs are allowed at Grade 8 but the prime minister was dead against that.
"We are using the same infrastructure so I cannot see why we cannot accommodate more," he said.
"We have to utilise what we have smartly.
"We have a good environment. We can have classes under coconut trees.
"I do not see why we should not have night classes in places where there is electricity.
"Why should we deny our children the right to education just because we have capacity issues?"
O'Neill said for the first time, the 2011 development budget allocation for education would be fully utilised.
At present, about 20% of the entire recurrent and development budget goes to education.
By the time the free education policy was implemented, it would be closer to 30%, which puts education spending among the highest in the world, he said.
The prime minister assured that such heavy emphasis on education would not take money away from other priority government areas such as health, infrastructure and law and justice.
"We have the money. We just need to spend it right," he said.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Goroka girl having time of her life in San Antonio, USA
Caption: A proud ambassador for PNG... Goroka girl Serah Gahuno meets Rotary International president Ray Klinginsmith at the New Orleans Rotary International convention in May.-Picture courtesy of SERAH GAHUNO
By MALUM NALU
Goroka girl Serah Gahuno is having the time of her life in San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, as an exchange student at Providence High School.
The 18-year-old former Goroka Secondary School student is the first-ever exchange student sponsored by the Rotary Club of Goroka, District 9600 (which covers parts of Queensland, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea), for this unique scholarship.
"The Rotary District 9600 Youth Exchange Programme is designed to give young people aged 14-17 years with the opportunity to study overseas," explains Port Moresby-based Rotarian Rio Fiocco.
"The programme allows young people to develop their leadership potential and gain experiences that will assist them in forming their own values and moral standards.
"The program builds confidence, self-esteem and broadens one's cultural, social and academic horizons.
"Serah is being home hosted by various Rotarians in San Antonio, Texas.
"During her 12 months study in the USA, Serah has been visiting various Rotary clubs in Texas where she has been telling people about her country and her people's culture."
Gahuno is part Nagamiza and Kerefa villages in Eastern Highlands province, was born on Feb 7, 1993, and is the oldest and only girl in a family of three younger brothers – Emmanuel, Wayne and Abraham – as well as stepbrother Osbourne.
Her father is Raymond Gahuno and mother is Stella Gahuno.
Gahuno did her elementary school at Goroka Christian Academy in 2002-2003, primary at East Goroka Primary School in 2004-2008, and secondary at Goroka Secondary School in 2009-2010 when she was selected to go to the USA.
She remembers that last year, she was awarded the scholarship after it was awarded to her school, requiring students aged 16-18 to fill out a paper and then write a short essay on how much they knew about Papua New Guinea.
"Several of my class mates, plus other students, filled out the application plus having our parents to sign the paper we handed in to the school's administration," Gahuno told me from San Antonio this week.
"Later that same day, my mum got a call from the Rotary Club of Goroka that I would attend an interview at the Bird of Paradise Hotel.
"It was not only me who went for the interview, but two boys from my school, so we were three altogether.
"In the interview, the Rotarians gave us few minutes to stand up and talk about what we know about Papua New Guinea and how we could tell other people about the country.
"They gave us few days to wait and then, again, my mum got a call that I finally won the scholarship.
"That's how I was told I would come to US.
"My exchange year is form 2011 to early 2012.
"It's a year's exchange."
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the USA and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million.
It's a world away from home sweet home in 'kol peles' Goroka, however, Gahuno is enjoying every minute of it
"Well, San Antonio is one of the top cities in Texas with lots of beautiful attraction like Alamo Riverwalk," she says.
"It has the influence of mostly Mexican-American culture, which makes me love the TexMex food, especially tacos.
"I am attending a Providence Girls Catholic School, San Antonio, Texas.
"My thoughts of being an exchange student challenged me as to how well I can become a good ambassador of my country, and also helped me to improve my skills of communicating with people of different occupations, religion and people from different parts of the world.
"Being here in USA is very different to me and it makes me feel a lot different.
"When seeing things here, it makes realise how long I've been missing all these technologies, which I'm just now trying to explore.
"Almost everything seems to be my first time experience!
"All I can say about the difference is, here is a developed nation as the world knows, and Papua New Guinea we are developing but I still love my country.
Gahuno says being an exchange student gives her the greatest opportunity to explore the world and also enables her to broaden her knowledge.
"Everyday, there is more to learn, see and talk about," she tells me.
"Being here in San Antonio, Texas, United States, was a surprise for me.
"I have met other exchange students from almost all parts of the world and that helps me to understand the diversity of people we are.
"One of the interesting facts is that while being here for my exchange year, it has been a great opportunity for me to be an ambassador of my country and to share the diverse culture PNG has.
"Everywhere I went, people thought I was from Africa, which sounded strange to me.
"When they asked me where I'm from, I told them I'm from Papua New Guinea but they couldn't figure out where exactly it was located,
"I told them it was an island off Australia, and from there they started Googling and learned more about the country.
"This was the case not only with the Rotarians but also in the school that I attended, and families that I stayed with.
"Now I am glad at least people know where PNG is.
"One thing that I can never forget is carrying my country's flag at the Rotary International convention in May at New Orleans.
"That time was the first time in my life that tears fell from my eyes while walking with the flag in front of thousands of Rotarians from around the world.
"When I took my seat I said, 'Thank God here I am a Papua New Guinean carrying my own flag and not a representative'.
"Being here is a challenge for me as well as a stepping stone.
"Not because of what I've done but because of God's plan in my life.
"The things I see help me to think further beyond.
"Personally, I would like to thank my loving parents who are always there for me, my cheerful brothers, all my family, friends and most importantly to Goroka Rotary Club and its members, especially Lesley Ririka.
"Last but not the least, thanks to the 9600 Rotary District in Australia and my host club San Antonio Mission Trails in District 5840.
"My words to young people of Papua New Guinea is Phillipians 4:13: 'I can so all things through Christ who gives me strength'."
Gahuno says she would love to continue college studies in the USA if given the opportunity.
"I would love to do my college here if I get a chance to and go into medical school," she adds.
"In the future, I would like to work in the medical field and help my own people.
"I have been set up by the Rotarians at the hospital so I can do hospital tours and I really love it.
"Big thank you to Goroka Rotary Club and the Rotary International for their work of 'Service above Self'."
Wartoto: ‘I have nothing to hide’
By MALUM NALU
Kokopo businessman Eremas Wartoto (pictured above with his Fokker 50) today declared that he had nothing to hide about the K10 million he received from the government to help start his Travel Air company.
He said this after arriving in Port Moresby from Madang on a training flight on his Fokker 50 with his pilots, a day after its arrival from Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The F50 is one of seven plans that Wartoto plans to bring in to Papua New Guinea.
However, shortly after talking with reporters on the tarmac at Jackson Airport, Wartoto was seen being questioned by police detectives before he flew back to Madang
The K10m has been the subject of much controversy lately, with accusations of foul playing involving Wartoto and former National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten.
"I won't waste time," Wartoto told reporters.
"I'm going straight into training and infrastructure.
"I have no shame in spending some of that money in training our pilots and our engineers.
"The (K10m) subsidy was given to me.
"I applied for it from the government through normal processes and I was given the money.
"I thank the government for that subsidy.
"Today, you can see how that subsidy is being spent.
"The money is auditable and traceable.
"The K10m is not about buying the plane – it's about the infrastructure."
Wartoto said his new airline would travel into remote areas of the country such as Maprik in East Sepik, Palmalmal in East New Britain and Kandrian in West New Britain.
He also has plans to spend K150m on a new hangar in Madang and on setting up an aviation college.
"This is not about Eremas Wartoto," he said.
"This is about PNG infrastructure.
"This is about 200 national employees."
Wartoto said of the six additional aircraft to come, three would be from Malaysia on lease purchase while three would be from the USA on operating lease.
Asked about his move into aviation, he replied: "It's painful and the publicity doesn't help.
"I'll be based in Madang because that's the centre of PNG.
"Such an infrastructure drives development to the rural areas."
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