4 more MP cross floor

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

A MAJOR coalition partner in the previous government has crossed the floor to merge with Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah’s PNG Party, The National reports.

PNG Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah embracing PAP leader Gabriel Kapris yesterday.-Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

The move by the People’s Action Party cedes to the government party leader and Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, Ambunti-Drekikir MP Tony Aimo, Middle Ramu MP Ben Semri and Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP John Kekeno.

This swells Namah’s PNG Party numbers to 21, making it the second biggest group in the government after Don Polye’s National Alliance.

The PAP MPs were welcomed by PNG Party members including Namah, founder Sir Mekere Morauta, Sam Basil, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, Wake Goi, Peter Iwei and Anthony Nene.

Kapris said the PAP was a small party that had a proud record in forming two previous governments after elections in 2002 and 2007.

“We are a very solid team that believes in loyalty and stability.

“PAP is a party that has to be recognised and our joining the PNG Party is not a mistake,” he said.

Kapris said the party had met with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to let him know that they would be joining the PNG Party under the leadership of Namah.

He said another reason was that the PAP had initiated many projects under the former government and would like to support those development projects by being in government.

“We have created more impact projects and we want those to continue.

“We do not believe in a witch-hunt so let’s support good projects,” Kapris said.

Aimo said another reason for the party’s move was that PAP leaders did not want the people of East Sepik marginalised.

“The respect for Grand Chief Sir Michael still remains but the people of East Sepik must not be marginalised,” he said.

Sir Mekere described their move as “heroic and not selfish but made in the interest of the people of PNG”.

He said said the country needed fewer political parties that were well run and managed for stability.

Namah congratulated the MPs for leaving aside their political aspirations and differences to forge a partnership that would strengthen and stabilise politics.

Namah said the decision was reached after long negotiations with PAP and the amalgamation of the two political parties was not easy.

Hami Yawari farewelled

NCD Governor Powes Parkop paying his respect to the late Hami Yawari

FORMER Southern Highlands Governor, the late Hami Yawari has been described as a leader who had his people and country at heart.

Yawari, from the Kutubu area, who rose up to become governor of the resource-rich province, was also praised for his role in supporting the LNG project to become a reality.

Former Petroleum and Energy Minister Sir Moi Avei said although the Yawari had passed on, he had left behind a legacy that would be benefit the people.

Sir Moi said Yawari was instrumental in ensuring the project agreement was signed.

He said the people of Boera and at Portion 152 must appreciate that the pipeline would be passing through Central province because of leaders like Yawari.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, who attended the funeral service at Hohola Christian Outreach Victory Church yesterday, conveyed his praise for a leader who had at heart his people and country.

His body will leave for Mendi this morning before the Late Hami Yawari is laid to rest at his Gesege Village, Lake Kutubu, on Thursday

Goroka Show Committee finally gets its K700,000

Eddie Mike (left) deputy chief-of-staff of the office of the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill,  handing over the K700, 000 to Chairman of Goroka Show Society Gideon Samuel (right) as committee members look on.Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

By ZACHERY PER

THE K700, 000 earmarked for the Goroka Show Committee from Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has finally been released.

Prime Minister's deputy chief-of-staff Eddie Mike delivered the money to show chairman Gideon Samuel on Sunday night at Bird of Paradise Hotel.

"It is unfortunate that it took a little while before the cheque came into your hands," Mike told Samuel and members of his committee who were present to witness the presentation.

He said the cheque was made payable to provincial treasury, whom the committee would have to liaise closely with them to draw cash.

Mike encouraged members of the society to follow required procedures as stipulated in the Public Financial Management Act and report accordingly to the source of the money.

Samuel thanked the O'Neill/Namah government for being the first to give such a sum of money.

He said the show belonged to the people and the committee was made up of stakeholders.

"We are committed to ensure the show is maintained as it belongs to the people and we are only here to facilitate for the people," Samuel said.

He said the O'Neill/Namah government was getting its priorities right.

"Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister O'Neill and his government for the money," he told Mike.

Meanwhile, in a local radio talkback show this morning, Goroka MP and Minister for Environment and Conservation Thompson Harokaqveh claimed he rescued the money by taking custody of it when it was first released during the Goroka Show.

He said certain members of the show committee were attempting to cash the cheque but he knew that the money would be misused so he quickly took custody of it.

He said there were certain procedures to follow.

"There are many instances of misuses of government cheques without proper paper work in place," Harokaqveh said.

 "This is not a personal cheque.

"It was written to the provincial government for the show committee."

Morobe leader Utula Samana dies

By MALUM NALU

Firebrand former Morobe politician Utula Samana died at his home at 6-Mile outside Lae in the early hours of today (Sunday).

Lae-based medical doctor Mosey Sao confirmed the death of Samana, from Saigara village in Morobe Patrol Post,

Sao said the cause of death was not known, however, added that Samana had been suffering from the debilitating effects of Parkinson's Disease for the last couple of years.

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.

Parkinson's disease most often develops after age 50.

It is one of the most-common nervous system disorders of the elderly.

Sometimes Parkinson's disease occurs in younger adults.

It affects both men and women.

Sao said he and other supporters of Samana went to 6-Mile this afternoon and took the body to the Lae International Hospital morgue.

 Samana was a graduate in arts from the University of Papua New Guinea (1974) where he majored in politics and public administration.

Following his work as provincial planner and then premier of Morobe province, in July 1987, he moved into national politics when he unseated Boyamo Sali for the Morobe Regional seat.

Samana was Morobe Regional MP until 1992, when he was unseated by his longtime rival, Jerry Nalau.

He later became Secretary for Department of Agriculture and Livestock and and PNG Ambassador to the United Nations, among others.

Longtime friend and supporter, Paul Itama, said all of his friends and supporters were saddened by the sudden death.

"He was a kwila post for all of us in Morobe," he said.

"He was a very-decisive leader."

Samana is survived by his two wives and children Yaungtine, Nuki, Cher and Galiki.

Morobe provincial government is expected to take over funeral arrangements including a state funeral for Samana.

Former Samana chief-of-staff Ben Micah, now chief-of-staff to Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, is also helping with funeral arrangements.

Yawari’s funeral service to be held tomorrow

By MALUM NALU

The funeral service of former Southern Highlands Governor Hami Yawari will be held at the Hohola Christian Outreach Victory Church from 9am to 2.30pm tomorrow (Monday).

On Tuesday morning, the body will be flown from Port Moresby to Mendi on a charter flight, where it will be received by Southern Highlands provincial government and administration.

Public viewing of the body and paying of last respects will be from 10am to 1pm.

At 1.30pm on Tuesday, the casket leaves Mendi by helicopter to Nipa, where there will be public viewing of the body and paying of last respects.

At 1pm on Wednesday, the casket leaves Nipa by helicopter to Pimaga, Kutubu.

Public viewing and paying of last respects will be from 1.30pm to 4pm.

At 4.15pm, the casket leaves Pimaga by convoy to Yawari's Gesege village, where it will overnight.

Yawari will be laid to rest at his Gesege village in Lake Kutubu on Thursday.

Duma fires another broadside at InterOil

By YEHIURA HRIEWAZI

PETROLEUM and Energy Mi­nister William Duma last Thursday fired another broadside at InterOil Corporation accusing it of misleading major companies interested in the Gulf LNG project.
In what appears to be a tit-for-tat exchange between the go­vernment and the company, the minister accused InterOil of denying major companies access to data about the Gulf LNG project as part of the due diligence.
His comments to Radio New Zealand yesterday followed Inter-Oil's insistence it was still committed to delivering a world-class LNG project in compliance with the 2009 project agreement.
On Tuesday, Duma announ­ced that the National Executive Council on Sept 21 had decided
to terminate the Gulf LNG project because it was pursued by InterOil as a small-scale fragmented project as opposed to the original agreement for a large-scale world-class plant to be operated by an internationally recognised LNG operator.
Cabinet shelved InterOil's plan­ned project after it found the Canadian-based petrol company had deviated from a 2009 project agreement.
But InterOil's chairman Phil Mulacek said he had discussed the government's concerns with Duma and he was still committed.
Duma responded that the agreement stipulated the project involved a "major international LNG operator", something he claimed InterOil was not.
He said InterOil had denied a host of potential operators access to data about the project as part of the due diligence.
"We're not forcing them to go into bed with a particular company. All we're saying is look, these are the options, explore them and do a deal and sell down the equi­ty and develop the project and get on with it,'' he said.
"InterOil for some reason is misleading a lot of people. It's a concern. Papua New Guinea is a small country, we have to be frank with each other."
Meanwhile, Reuters last Thursday reported that InterOil's shares in the New York Stock Exchange sank to nearly a two-year low on Wednesday after it got hammered the previous day.
Shares of the company were trading down 16% at US$38.60 in morning trade on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.
They touched a low of US$38.40 earlier in the session.
MKM Partners analyst Curtis Trimble said the PNG government's decision was likely to have little material impact on the company.
He said he expected plans for the LNG project to remain on track.
"Papua New Guinea government has a direct participation interest in the LNG plant.
"It is a major driver of government re­venues and employment growth.
"It would make little sense for the government to make additional difficulties to build the plant at this point," he said.

Government sacks Wagambie as police commissioner

By JEFFREY ELAPA

GOVERNMENT has sacked Po­lice Commissioner Tony Wa­gam­bie, saying it is in the interest of the state and necessary for the stability of the police force leading to the 2012 general election, The National reports.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said the sacking was "through no fault of Wagambie" and accused the ousted Somare go­vernment of mishandling the appointment in the first place.
O'Neill yesterday said the decision by the National Executive Council to remove Wagambie was not politically motivated.
Former deputy police commissioner Tom Kulunga will be acting commissioner.
Kulunga is an experienced police officer and was the deputy commissioner (administration).
O'Neill said he had advised the head of state to terminate the appointment of Wa­gambie in the interest of the state.
He said the revocation was done after full consultation with the public ser­vice commission and permanent parliamentary appointment committee.
He said the government's actions were absolutely necessary to ensure stability within the police force over the next 12 months until the general election was over.
The announcement fol­lowed the disbanding of the NCD fraud unit on Tuesday and the replacement of NCD central division commander Fred Seekiot and NCD me­tropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop.
Kulunga when asked to comment on the recent developments within the force, said he would not make any statements currently affecting the top NCD command.
He said he had learnt of the decision from news being relayed to him and was yet to receive an official notification from the government and head of state.
A senior police officer said Kulunga should look at issues affecting the police force such as the dis-
banding of the NCD fraud squad and the relocation of the top NCD command.
O'Neill said the former government had appointed Wagambie without concluding the mandatory consultation process with the appropriate constitutional institutions.
He said Wa­gambie was due to retire next July and his appointment was confirmed by the former government for only 14 months, contrary to the Police Act which required that an appointment must be for four years.
O'Neill said Wa­gam­bie's retirement meant a new commissioner would have to be appointed during the crucial stages of the 2012 general election.
He said such changes would most likely disturb the command and control of the police force at a most critical time.
He said he could not put at risk law and order and the peace in the country during the elections due to a change of command and control in the police force.
O'Neill said Wagambie's contract entitlements would be paid out so that he did not lose out on remuneration prior to his retirement next July.
He said cabinet had also directed that names of suitable candidates be submitted to it for perusal.