Port Moresby needs to be cleaned up

These are pictures I took of the drain leading into Sir John Guise Stadium - major host of the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby today.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to clean up the city.
The clean-up should have started on Day 1 of 2014 and not be left until the last minute.

The shame of Malolo Estate, 8-Mile

All pictures @MALUM NALU

I used to once admire Malalo Estate, 8-Mile, as a top-end housing estate but all that has changed since I moved in next door last year. 
The place is filthy, shops sell beer 24/7, there is no road repair, drains are clogged up, the entrance looks like a pigsty.
 I took these pictures today.
Where are the property managers?

This is one of the streets where beer is sold.

Unsealed roads.

The place needs a massive clean-up.

Driving out of Malolo.

Drains filled with fetid water.

A drain clogged with all manner of plastics.

New developments along the main road.

Looking from Malolo out onto the main road.

Entrance to Malolo, with an almost unreadable sign and potholes to welcome you.

Port Moresby embarks on massive K800 million roads development

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Port Moresby has embarked on a massive roads development which will cost up to K800 million, according to city manager Leslie Alu.

He said these projects included the K318 million four-lane arterial road from Poreporena Freeway to 9-Mile by China Harbour Engineering (CHE), K160 million Kookaburra Street to Erima Flyover by Hawkins, K84 million Gordon Industrial Area by Global, K77 million four-lane road from Erima to 9-Mile by Dekenai, K62 million 6-Mile to Jackson Airport road by Hebou, and K52 million Paga ring road by Curtain Bros.

Work is already progressing at Gordon Industrial Centre, Erima to 9-Mile, 6-Mile to Jackson Airport, and Paga Ring Road.

Construction of the Kookaburra Street – Erima Flyover is set to commence in January 2014 with groundbreaking planned for later this month.

The day after New Year's Day last week, I took a leisurely stroll from 8-Mile to Erima and back to do some exercise, thinking and check on the progress of road works, during which time I took these pictures.

Looking towards 9-Mile.

Looking towards Erima.

The heavily polluted stream over which 8-Mile Bridge runs.

8-Mile Bridge.

Afternoon traffic looking towards 9-Mile.

Task Force Sweep on investigations into Paul Paraka Lawyers

By SAM KOIM

 Chairman                 

Task Force Sweep

This is the Task-Force Sweep’s position on the progress of investigations into alleged fraudulent payment of K71.8 million to Paul Paraka Lawyers (PPL) in light of the recent events. The initial allegations relate to a staggering amount of K71.8 million that was paid to PPL between February 2012 and May 2013.
As you all are well aware, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is the complainant and initiator of these investigations through a Prime Ministerial Directive he issued on 13th May 2013.
The investigations are carried out by Investigation Task-Force Sweep (ITFS). A number of people including the principal of PPL, Mr Paul Paraka have been arrested and charged. Their cases are going through the normal court process. My officers have been working on the court files since their arrests. Some files have been served whilst others are still being prepared.
Amidst the investigations, the Opposition Leader, Hon Belden Namah laid fresh complaints against Prime Minister O’Neill and Ministers Don Polye and James Marape for their alleged involvement in the payments made to PPL. The complaint was laid with the Police and a copy was served on Task-Force Sweep. In his wisdom, the Police Commissioner viewed that for the proper management of the conduct of these delicate investigations and given that ITFS was at an advanced stage of the investigations, referred the Opposition Leader’s complaints to ITFS.
ITFS has taken steps to exhaust all avenues of inquiry including obtaining records from banks, Department of Finance, Department of Treasury, Department of PM& NEC, Department of Justice & Attorney General and many others. We are interviewing all persons that need to be interviewed in this investigation and have obtained their written statements.
We have sought the advice of Southern Counsel (legal experts) on the sufficiency of evidence. We have involved the office of the Auditor General and other accountants to audit the trail of flow of illicitly obtained funds.
With respect to the alleged letter by the Prime Minister dated 24th January 2012, Prime Minister O’Neill himself publicly denied authoring that letter. However, we have independently interviewed officers from the Prime Minister’s Office and checked their outgoing correspondence register and Officers at the Department of Finance and inspected their manual and electronic incoming correspondence register. We have searched all possible avenues including PM’s Office, Department of Finance, Department of Treasury and banks for the original copy of the subject letter without any success. Nevertheless, we have forwarded a copy of the letter for forensic signature experts to test the authenticity of the signature.
A brief history of payments of legal fees to PPL should enlighten many people as to how this case has come about.
PPL was instructed by the State to act on a number of State civil litigation matters towards the end of 2002. The then Chief Secretary, Mr Joshua Kalinoe issued a stop payment directive in June 2006 on any outstanding legal fees owed to PPL. An internal departmental inquiry was instituted by the then Minister for Justice, Hon Bire Kimisopa in October 2006 concerning the allegations of improper payment of legal fees to PPL. PPL’s retainer brief out contract with the State was subsequently terminated in November 2006.
PPL challenged all these decisions in two separate judicial review proceedings in the National Court. PPL obtained orders in its favour staying those decisions and further for payment of outstanding legal fees. Those orders were then appealed to the Supreme Court by the State. Two separate Supreme Court stay orders were obtained by the State preventing any payments to Paul Paraka Lawyers, the latest being March 2007.
In May 2008, then Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance concerning alleged improper payments of legal fees and out of court settlements, amongst others. PPL features prominently in that report.
Mr Paraka in a recent paid advertorial he took out on 20th May 2013, claimed that his law firm had outstanding legal fees that were not paid until the beginning of 2012.
We have extended our inquiries to ascertain whether PPL actually had outstanding legal fees and that those fees were not paid until beginning of 2012 as Mr Paraka claimed.
Contrary to the assertion by PPL, documents obtained from Department of Finance and the banks reveal that PPL continued to receive payments since March 2007 through a number of conduit law firms and a nominee company owned by Mr Paraka himself. Payments were also made directly to service providers on account of PPL. The payments which spread over almost seven (7) years runs into hundreds of millions of kina and not just K71.8 million which was paid between February 2012 and May 2013.
I am pointing out all of these to demonstrate that it is a massive investigation that needs a lot of collection and collation of documents, perusal of documents, thinking, analysing, compilation and reaching conclusions before taking penal actions.
We are also mindful of what information we release to the media as sometimes doing so can jeopardise our investigations. ITFS is not just another inquiry team that investigates and releases its findings for public consumption. We investigate and implement our own findings by taking appropriate penal actions using our various combined powers as a multi-agency team.
Although it is taking a bit of time, we are handling this delicate investigation with care. The law places an onerous duty on the State to build a strong case that would ultimately result in conviction. The journey from investigation through to conviction is convoluted with procedural requirements that we need to comply every step of the way.
“I can assure the public that we are doing all we can to see justice for all and we will make sure that no stone is left unturned. Again, I have to reiterate that our focus is not on people. We investigate an offence and the offence leads us to the offender. Whoever is connected by overwhelming evidence of an offence will be held accountable regardless of their status.”
With respect to the warrants that have been taken out by another officer of the Police for the arrest of the Prime Minister, Ministers Don Polye and James Marape, I am not privy to it so cannot say much. I am not in charge of that investigation and I cannot comment. That is a matter for the Police Force.
For your information, we also have a Police team that was seconded to work with us who are carrying out the criminal side of investigations as well.
Thank you and God bless you all.

Authorised for Release by
Sam Koim
Chairman

Arrest warrants issued for Papua New Guinea PM and key ministers

ABC

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says he has taken out a stay order from the Committal Court against a warrant issued for his arrest.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Mr O'Neill, Treasurer Don Polye and Finance Minister James Marape.
The warrants were sought last November by an investigator with the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Photo: Peter O'Neill has issued a stay order issued on his arrest, along with Treasurer Don Polye and Finance Minister James Marape. (AFP: Ness Kerton)

They were issued after an investigation into government payments of millions of dollars to a Port Moresby legal firm.
"They are not (the) investigating officers of these files," Mr O'Neill said at press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
"That responsibility lies with the task force."
Papua New Guinea's multi-agency anti-corruption unit, the Investigation Task Force Sweep, charged one of the nation's largest law firms in October with offences including conspiracy to defraud, stealing by false pretence and money laundering.
Mr O'Neill says the Investigation Task Force Sweep is conducting a full investigation into the payments to the law firm.
He says the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate is not conducting the investigation.
"They have not given in to commands given by their superiors as required by a disciplined organisation like the police force," he said.
He alleges rogue police officers within the force are being directed by opposition leader Belden Namah to conduct a 'Kangaroo Court' in breach of proper processes.
Mr O'Neill has directed the police commissioner to start investigations into how due processes have been sidestepped.
"I have also instructed the police commissioner to investigate all parties including Belden Namah for his role, the way he goes about inducing and contacting police men and women to try and meet his political agenda," he said.
Mr Namah has warned Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga he will face contempt of court charges unless he executes the warrants against the prime minister and two of his ministers.
"I have given them the ultimatum to do so within 72 hours," he said.
"Failure to do so, I have instructed my lawyers to institute contempt of court proceedings against them because this is the high profile corruption case in Papua New Guinea."
Mr O'Neill says Mr Namah should stop trying to involve police in politics.
"Belden Namah needs to be a bit more responsible, he is an alternative prime minister of this country," he said.
"This is another attempt to try and stage a coup to try and overthrow a legitimate government."

Airlines PNG crash report not available...yet

The report into the Airlines PNG crash of October 2011 in which 28 people died will not be available for at least another 60 days, according to Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner Nema Yalo.

Yalo, flanked by his deputy Micah Mas, commissioner Minson Peni and chief executive David Inau told reporters last month that the report had been completed but was now going through a “directly involved persons (DIPS)” process to get comments

“The AIC would like to inform the people in the country that it has progressed its investigations into the accident involving Airlines PNG, on Oct 13, 2011, where so many passengers lost their lives,” he said.

“It is currently going through what is called the DIPS process, the report of the investigation being sent out to directly involved persons for their comments

“Directly involved persons would involve aircraft manufacturers or aircraft part manufacturers, for them to comment on the report, and also families of victims.

“AIC is currently going through that process.

“We have a report that has been done.

“Under the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements, we are not going to publish this or distribute it for public consumption at this stage.

“As to when this report will be ready, is really a matter of process and I must inform the public that it is not like investigating a simple traffic accident on the road.

“There are international civil aviation requirements and rules that must be followed.

“When aircraft accidents happen, like the Arlines PNG accident, you look at parts like propellors and engines being sent out to the manufacturers to analyse and that takes a lot of time.

“That will require experts to take a look, test it and the analysis comes back to the AIC.

“The AIC does not necessarily have to agree with any suggestions or any comments from directly involved persons.”

The report into the Oct 13, 2011 Airlines PNG crash in which 28 people were killed in Madang has been completed, according to Accident Investigation Commission chief executive David Inau.

The Airlines PNG de Havilland Dash 8-100, registration P2-MCJ performing flight CG-1600 from Lae to Madang with 28 passengers and four crew, was lost from radar about 20km south of Madang around 5pm.

The aircraft was later located on land about 20km south of Madang, on fire.

A total 28 occupants perished while both pilots as well as a flight attendant and a passenger survived.

No budget support for investigations into plane accidents

 The PNG Accident Investigation Commission is disappointed that it has not been allocated any funding in the 2014 national budget to carry out investigations into plane accidents.

“In 2014, Accident Investigation Commission has not been allocated any funds for conducting investigations,” Accident Investigation Commission chief commissioner Nema Yalo told reporterslast month.

“It’s provided funds just for emoluments.

“This is very important because the Accident Investigation Commission of PNG has to comply with international civil aviation requirements.

“That means that whenever accidents happen, AIC investigators must be on site immediately to ensure the aircraft are safe for investigations to begin immediately.

“If we have to salvage aircraft from underwater, that will require money, and if we don’t have money, we don’t go out and investigate because we don’t have the financial resources.

“We’re failing our obligations under the international civil aviation requirements.

“The importance of that is that the International Civil Aviation Organisation can bar international flights coming into Port Moresby or into the nation, and flying out of PNG.

“It has negative implications for our aviation industry.

“I’d like to call on the government to find money elsewhere and provide for accident investigation.”