Sir Mekere calls for inquiry into APEC scams

The Member for Moresby North-West, Sir Mekere Morauta has called for a full independent inquiry into government spending on APEC, the behavior of the APEC Authority including the letting of contracts, and the cost to the nation of holding the event.

“Over the past few days, with the revelations about the importation of luxury Maserati cars by the APEC Authority, it has become clear that corruption surrounding APEC is out of control,” he said.

“We need to get to the bottom of it, and hold the guilty parties to account.”

Sir Mekere said the first step should be for the Fraud Squad and the Ombudsman Commission to investigate the Prime Minister, the APEC Minister, and APEC Authority officials in relation to the major discrepancies in the Maserati purchase, and contradictory statements by all involved.

"In the meantime, APEC Minister Justin Tkatchenko and APEC Authority CEO Christopher Hawkins should stand down.

"The second step should be a wider inquiry into all aspects of APEC, focusing on corruption, waste and mismanagement and the impact the cost of the event has had on ordinary Papua New Guineans through the diversion of funds away from essential services such as health and education.

“The Maserati purchase is a scandal,” he said.

“There is no other word for it.

"The most basic legal and financial procedures appear not to have been followed, and it looks to me as if there is a discrepancy of several million kina in the transaction.

"Why would the Government buy vehicles from Italy via Sri Lanka?

“The Prime Minister must explain in detail the entire transaction, and he must account for every toea of the people’s money that has been spent.

"For example, he must publicly provide evidence that a competitive public tender was held for the purchase of the cars, as required by section 21 of the APEC Authority Act.

"Was the purchase approval given by NEC, as required by the Act?

“He must cease the secret sale of the cars to PNC cronies and others in the private sector, and conduct a proper tender under Section 21.

"Mr Tkatchenko says the cars ‘are selling like hot cakes’ to private buyers.

"What is the price? What are the terms and conditions? Who is buying them?

"And yet the Prime Minister says there will be a public auction for the vehicles after APEC.

"Whom are we to believe – PM or Justin? 

"They are both trying to deflect all questions, and in the process are contradicting each other.

“Did any part of the transaction go before the APEC Supply and Tenders Board?

"Did it go before the Independent Probity Auditor required under Section 24 of the Act?

"These questions and many more are a matter of great public interest and they should be answered immediately.”

Sir Mekere said the Maserati scam had exposed the broader issue of the extravagant expenditure of the Government on APEC at a time when the nation cannot afford it.


“Let me be clear. I am not against APEC,” he said.

“I am against the way the Government has sucked Papua New Guinea dry to pay for it.

"According to figures provided to the International Monetary Fund by Government officials, PNG’s budget for APEC was about K3 billion between 2015 and the end of this year.

"It could actually be more; the public needs to be told the truth.

“The fact that we have had to ask other APEC countries to help meet the costs shows that Papua New Guinea cannot afford to host APEC. 

"Australia has apparently contributed $130 million to APEC security on top of the cost of the internet upgrade and other support for APEC; China has spent hundreds of million of Kina on APEC – upgrading roads and buildings, etc; New Zealand, the United States of America, Japan, Canada and Indonesia are also contributing to APEC security and costs.”

Sir Mekere said the opportunity cost – the price of diverting funds from elsewhere to pay for APEC – is enormous.

"Cuts to departmental budgets; PNG missions overseas starved of funds – none of the recently-appointed heads of mission for example have been able to take up their posts as the department allegedly has no money for such use; foreign governments being asked to pay for PNG ministerial travel; cuts to teachers’ salaries; deteriorating health and education services; failure to immunize children resulting in a polio epidemic; a looming measles outbreak; an increase in the incidence of TB and malaria; no basic drugs or medical equipment in hospitals and health centres; a huge backlog of arrears – debts to businesses for goods and services already supplied to the Government.

“The list is endless,” Sir Mekere said.

“Virtually every sector of the economy is suffering from Mr O’Neill’s cuts to pay for his grandiose and wasteful self-promoting projects in Port Moresby.

“As I said in Parliament in July, APEC was being portrayed as a king tide that will float the nation to high planes of social and economic development and drown our sorrows for good.

“It is not.

"It is a burden on ordinary Papua New Guineans.

"It has helped bankrupt the nation.

"It has become a source of ill-gotten gains by a favored few.”

Sir Mekere supports national stop-work

The Member for Moresby North-West, Sir Mekere Morauta, supports a call for a nation-wide strike in protest at continuing corruption by and within the O’Neill Government.

“Astonishing revelations in the last couple of days about the crooked contract to buy luxury Maserati cars for APEC, and then secretly sell them to private sector cronies, is the last straw,” he said.

“People are right to be disgusted by the information that is now coming to light, and they are fully entitled to express their opposition to this blatant fraud.”

Sir Mekere also called for an independent inquiry into the Maserati fraud, concocted by the APEC Authority and the O’Neill Government.

This latest episode in the O’Neill Government’s corruption, waste and mismanagement needs to be investigated and the facts put before all Papua New Guineans, he said.

He said Papua New Guineans, and politicians with a conscience, should join with respected MPs Bryan Kramer, Gary Juffa and Allan Bird to express their disgust by staying home from work on Thursday and Friday.

"It is not good enough for the Prime Minister, Mr Peter O’Neill, and the APEC Minister, Mr Justin Tkatchenko, to make statements in social media that are clearly incorrect, contradictory and designed to mask the smell of corruption and wrong-doing.

“The APEC Authority has broken its own laws with the purchase of the Maseratis and the Prime Minister’s proposed sale of them.

“The Prime Minister and Minister Tkatchenko have connived with the authority and are trying desperately to hide the truth.

“But we are not fools.

 “This is just another chapter in the monumental abuse of APEC contracts, which I and others have exposed.

"Look at all the over-priced and unnecessary roads and buildings constructed by PNC cronies to glorify the Prime Minister.

“These projects, and the multi-million-kina Maserati scam, have proceeded at the expense of the health system, the education system, rural infrastructure, law and order, Government finances and the economy, and employment.

“Why are we importing luxury cars for Mr O’Neill and his wantoks to ride around in when children are dying of polio, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases?

“There is no medicine in hospitals and clinics.

" Schools are closing all over the nation, and teachers are being robbed of their pay by this Government.”

Sir Mekere said the O’Neill Government’s corruption, waste and mismanagement had brought international shame on Papua New Guinea.

"The whole world is looking on and asking why Mr O’Neill, Mr Tkatchenko and others are spending this money when Papua New Guinea cannot look after its own children.

"We have become an international laughing stock.

“Corruption’s time is up.”

Oldest building in Lae turns 85

St Andrew's Lutheran Church at Ampo in Lae turns 85 this month.

The church in May 2018.~Malum Nalu

The church, built in its present form in 1933 (until renovated in 2005), is the only pre-war building in Lae and the timberwork used to bear many bullet scars (until renovated).

During the war, it served as a Japanese hospital when its custodians from Butibam village fled into the foothills on the far side of the Busu River.

A bush material chapel was built at Ampo in 1912 by pioneer German missionary, Gottfried Schmutterer, and the first baptism took place on October 20, 1912.

Timber from Bukawa was put on the ship Bavaria and brought to Lae on Feb 11, 1933.

They started building the church on March 4, 1933, with dedication being on Oct 8, 1933.

Refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery reopens to all

Australian High Commission


Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Emil Tammur and Australian Foreign Minister Senator Marise Payne reopened the refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) in Port Moresby on Friday.

Dignitaries attending the National Museum and Art Gallery reopening including Museum Director Dr Andrew Moutu, Former Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur, and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Emil Tammur opening the newly refurbished National Museum and Art Gallery

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Dr Moutu, director of the National Museum and Art Gallery during tour of the museum.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne with Former Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare watching traditional performers from Sepik

Foreign Minister Marise Payne with High Commissioner Bruce Davis during the National Museum and Art Gallery tour

Foreign Minister Marise Payne looking at pieces on display at the National Museum and Art Gallery with Dr Andrew Moutu, director of the National Museum and Gallery.

The project involved the extensive refurbishment of the museum’s gallery spaces and external entrance area.

The upgrade was supported by the Papua New Guinea - Australia partnership in close cooperation with the NMAG Board of Trustees and senior management.


“With limited work done to the museum since it first opened in 1977, we are pleased to see the building brought into the modern era with Australian support,” said Dr Andrew Moutu, director of NMAG.


“The refurbishment will ensure NMAG remains a source of national pride for Papua New Guineans as the country’s leading cultural institution, preserving and protecting our nation’s rich culture and heritage.”


Curators selected 450 items of significance for display from more than 30,000 artworks and artefacts in the museum’s archives.

All 22 provinces across Papua New Guinea are represented, with items chosen from the anthropological, archaeological, natural history, war relics and contemporary art collections.

The five galleries have been renamed to Tumbuna, Susan Karike, Bernard Narokobi, Ian Saem Majnep and Be Jijimo in honour of the original vision for the museum as an authentically indigenous institution.

A large mural artwork on the pavilion entrance of the museum has also been repainted by local artists.

Payne acknowledged the importance of communicating cultural knowledge and educating the public.

“The National Museum and Art.Gallery is a breathtaking monument to Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage, and importantly, it improves considerably the PNG public’s access to this stunning collection of artefacts,” she said.

Disability access was a key part of the upgrade, with ramps and accessible amenities installed inside and outside the building.

Collections are also being made accessible for the first time using new technology. The Voices from the War exhibition was developed in collaboration with NMAG, local universities, and Australia’s Deakin University, and allows visitors to hear Papua New Guinean stories from the Second World War.

Completed ahead of Apec Leaders' Week in November, the refurbished museum will become a must-see attraction for local and international visitors, and a major asset of Papua New Guinea’s growing tourism industry.

The museum opens to the public on Monday Oct 15 2018.

 It will be open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 3.00pm, and on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm.

On weekends, adults will pay a small entry fee.

The year of living dangerously in Apec City, Port Moresby

by MALUM NALU

 I had a 9.30am meeting on Saturday Oct 13 2018 at Islander Village.

I call my faithful City Loop cabbie Albert Wangua (video below) to pick me up.

Near the Islander Village, I get a text saying 10am, so I get off at the service station, walk into the  Bank South Pacific ATM, withdraw K100, and walk into the fried chicken outlet.

Albert, who is parked outside BSP,  suddenly runs in, warning me to take care, as he'd seen some dangerous characters watching my every movement.

As I cross the road, unaware, this gang is following me.

Albert, now with another passenger, speeds towards Hohola, makes a u-turn, and shouts at me to jump on.

He points out the gang following me.

We go drop off the passenger at Boroko and Albert drives me back to Islander Village.

We pass the men who would have robbed me, perhaps killed me, waiting for another unsuspecting prey.

Albert, a committed Christian, says this is Divine Intervention.

That's a snapshot of living in Apec City.

Times are hard.

People are desperate.

Apec City is a very dangerous place to live and work in.

PS: Albert is the hero and a credit to City Loop. It pays to have a trusted cabbie, who in my case, may have saved my life.

Australia gives another A$6 million for polio in PNG

By Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Australia 

 The Australian Government will provide a further $6 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to support the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to respond to the current polio outbreak.

In June 2018, the PNG Government declared a national public health emergency in response to confirmed cases of polio virus.

The PNG Government, along with key partners including GPEI, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have developed an outbreak response plan that includes mass vaccination rounds.

Australia’s contribution to GPEI will support the delivery of PNG’s polio response plan.

PNG is our closest neighbor, and a strong response is needed to protect both PNG’s and Australia’s health security.

Routine immunisation remains the most effective prevention for highly infectious diseases including polio.

The Australian Government is committed to the vital work of global polio eradication and has contributed $104 million to support the work of GPEI since 2011.

Australian support for sexual and reproductive health in communities across PNG

Australian High Commission

Health clinics run by faith-based organisations across Papua New Guinea are integrating services, facilities and resources to better serve the primary health care needs of communities.

A blood sample is taken from a young woman at Anglicare’s Begabari Clinic

In partnership with the National Department of Health, Australia is supporting Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) and Anglicare to widen the health services offered at standalone sexual and reproductive health clinics across 18 provinces.

Sr Julie Bamban stands in front of antiretroviral medication at the CCHS-run St Joseph Freinademetz clinic in Port Moresby

This is a true partnership, with Australia funding staff salaries and operations of facilities, PNG Government paying for medicines, and the Catholic Church Health Services providing facilities.

Graham Apian is the project manager at CCHS who is overseeing the integration process at the organisation’s 22 health clinics across Papua New Guinea.

Community Health Worker, Johnson Tipora, consults a patient at Anglicare’s Begabari Clinic

“Integration involves combining HIV clinics with primary health care clinics, so that people just visit one place, and no longer need to visit separate clinics for health care.

For example, a pregnant woman with HIV should only need to go to one clinic, not two, for her needs,” said Apian.

The Begabari Clinic in Port Moresby is one of two health facilities run by Anglicare that is expanding its focus to provide a broader suite of services.

The busy clinic serves the National Capital District and neighbouring Central Province, and treats around 1100 people living with HIV, with over 200 new patients each year.

While the clinic will continue to offer HIV and STI testing and treatment, it will also offer a range of other health services, such as antenatal care, child immunisation, family planning, and tuberculosis and malaria testing.

Sr Josepha Tametalong is the clinical specialist at Begabari and is pleased the clinic will be providing integrated health care.

“Mothers and children especially, and the general population, will now have a government recognised and accredited primary health care service, as this clinic will be upgraded to a Grade 3 clinic,” said Sr Josepha.

Many church and non-governmental organisations set-up sexual and reproductive health clinics in Papua New Guinea in response to the country’s HIV and AIDS crisis.

The Director of Anglicare PNG, Heni Meke, says it is time these specialist clinics provided a more integrated service to patients.

“Our clinics and health centres want to offer a ‘one stop shop’ service,” said Meke.

“These clinics are on the frontline of community health needs, where nurses and community health workers assess patients before they are referred to larger health facilities and hospitals.”

Integrating health services is expected to be more convenient for communities, and also provide improved health care and value-for-money for Provincial Health Authorities and the National Department of Health.

Anglicare’s Begabari clinic in Port Moresby and Newtown clinic in Mt Hagen are both currently being assessed to become government-accredited primary health care providers.

“We are looking forward to meeting government regulations, as this is very important to get proper access to other government services and sustainable funding,” explained Meke from Anglicare.

“We also need our own facility code so that we can be able to get our medical supplies from the national area medical store.”

In addition to providing more holistic services to patients, integration will also provide more comprehensive health data to the government in order to better target services to community needs.

“Previously we only fed HIV/AIDS and other STI statistics to the National Health Information System, but with the integration of other services, we are able to send health data on other diseases and infections that our nurses and community health workers attend to,” said Meke.

In preparation for the delivery of integrated primary health care, organisations have begun training clinic health workers.

Mentor training is being rolled out to build up a cadre of Papua New Guinean health workers who can not only deliver high quality services, but also mentor colleagues to improve their STI, HIV and sexual and reproductive health skills.

Sr Julie Bamban is a senior nurse at the CCHS-run St Joseph Freinademetz clinic in Port Moresby and participated in mentor training in 2017.

The training covered integrated health clinic processes and procedures, and how to monitor the progress of health professionals delivering integrated health care.

“It may take a bit more time for those processes and procedures to reach the clinics here in PNG, but realising that such innovations exist is a motivation,” said Sr Julie.

“The training really helped me understand in detail why I continue to do what I am doing.”

Since the training, Sr Julie has been holding mentoring sessions once a week with other nurses at the St Joseph Freinademetz clinic.

“I think there is a lot of progress for me as an individual and I am happy my other colleagues are grateful and adhering to the support I am offering.”