PM O’Neill officially opens Games Village

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill officially opened the XV Pacific Games Village yesterday at the University of Papua New Guinea, Waigani Campus.
The Prime Minister said after their use for athletes at the Games, the facilities will stand for decades in support of education in Papua New Guinea.
"These facilities are not only going to serve these one off event of the Games, they will be passed on for the education of future young leaders and citizens of our country," O'Neill said.
"There will be close to 4,000 students using these facilities into the future.
"We are going to work with the university in making sure that we have the maintenance and the management of these facilities, so that we can maintain the standards we all expect.
"We will not be in the culture of letting them run down and then look for things to be rebuilt.  We must maintain it so that it can last a long time."
During his inspection of the facility the Prime Minister met a number of representatives from games countries who were already using the facilities and he wished them well in their competition.
"We must stand together and support not only our athletics but please, extend the same support to all the other athletes that are going to come and join us.
"They are our visitors, and we must never forget our Melanesian way of welcoming visitors.
"We must look after them, making sure that they all return home safely."
O'Neill said the completion of the facilities is a testament to the commitment of the people involved to deliver the infrastructure.
"Thank you very much for all the hard work that contractors and everyone involved has put in."

PNG seeks to have lawyers on SBS to be investigated by Australian authorities

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has asked the Minister for Foreign affairs, and the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, to engage with relevant Australian law enforcement authorities to investigate comments made by two lawyers that were aired on overseas media in the past week.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Rimbink Pato CMG MP, and the Attorney General, Hon. Ano Pala MP, will now seek to have the claims, that were aired on SBS television, to be investigated in both the Papua New Guinea and Australian jurisdictions.
"The comments made by the two men in question (Greg Sheppard and Harvey Maladina) are alarming and are the subject of investigation in Papua New Guinea,"  O'Neill said.
"I have sought advice on the most effective way to have these claims investigated from all angles and now we are seeking to ensure that this process takes place in both countries relevant to the claims.
"It is not for the Government to judge these individuals, and all people are innocent until proven guilty before the law, but suggestions of money laundering involving high level officials must be properly investigated.  
"Now I expect relevant authorities will undertake their independent investigations and pursue the course of action that they see most appropriate."
The Prime Minister said beyond any legal proceedings, the claims made in the SBS story feed into an old stereotypical view of Papua New Guinea that had developed after Independence.
"For decades Papua New Guinea suffered at the hands of foreign and local people who sought to take advantage of the then young nation.  We called them spivs and carpet baggers and over the course of time legislation has been introduced to stop these activities.
"Papua New Guinea of today is a country where there are checks and balances, where digital fingerprints are a tool of investigation and where we have access to the resources of international law enforcement to prevent illicit financial activities.
"We are part of a global legal and economic system where illegal practices of the past can be identified and dealt with."
The Prime Minister called for patience as relevant authorities undertake thorougher investigations.

O’Neill Opens Taurama Sporting Centre

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has officially opened the new Taurama Sporting Centre in preparation for the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
In opening the new centre, that includes swimming and indoor sporting facilities, the Prime Minister said as the largest Pacific Island nation, Papua New Guinea must take a leadership role.
"Let us show leadership, not just in words but in deeds, to advance our region and help countries around the Pacific," he said. 
"The Taurama Sport Centre must be a centre for sporting excellence well beyond the Games, and draw athletes from around the Pacific to pursue their sporting dreams.
"The facilities here will be here for the sporting men and women of Pacific countries to make a sporting career."
O'Neill highlighted criticism made by individuals who sought to undermine the nation's chances to deliver a successful Games.
"Our Government inherited the commitments of the past government to host the Pacific Games, and we had to honour these commitments.
"I thank all those who have put in great effort in the hard work, leadership and delivery of the infrastructure for the games."
The Prime Minister undertook a tour of the sporting centre that includes a stainless steel swimming pool.  
This is only one of two pool of this quality in the Southern Hemisphere, with the other being in Melbourne.

Prime Minister O’Neill outraged and saddened by terror sttacks

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O'Neill has expressed outrage and sadness following a series of terror attacks that occurred in France, Tunisia and Kuwait.
"This is senseless violence that serves no purpose," O'Neill said.
"We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims of these attacks.
"People from the United Kingdom, Kuwait, France, Belgium, Tunisia and Germany are known to be among the dead and injured, and to each of these countries, Papua New Guinea offers its sympathy and support.
"These attacks, that have occurred during the Muslim holy month, are particularly disheartening to people in the affected countries.
"In our places of worship, I hope Papua New Guineans will pray for the families of those affected by this violence."

PM O’Neill welcomes ExxonMobil President

Prime Minster Peter O'Neill has welcomed the visit by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil Corporation, Rex W. Tillerson, and senior executives who visited Papua New Guinea this week.
The Prime Minister met with Tillerson at a welcome function in Port Moresby on Wednesday, where  Tillerson introduced the board of directors who had travelled from the United States.
O'Neill thanked the ExxonMobil executives for the contribution the company has made to national economic development.
"On behalf of our Government and the people of Papua New Guinea, I would like to thank you for your commitment to our nation," he said.
"Your board of directors, management and staff have demonstrated your confidence in our country and this has delivered a world-class project for Papua New Guinea.
"This project has been delivered ahead of time and on budget and we appreciate your dedication to achieving this outcome."
The Prime Minister said ExxonMobil had demonstrated a clear understanding of the practicalities of working in a land as diverse as PNG.
"We appreciate the approach you took in dealing with landowners and other stakeholders.
"This was respectful and engaging, and the project was better for these considerations."
O'Neill said one of the important benefits of the construction phase was the chance to increase the skill levels of workers involved in the project.
"What has made a difference for us is the quality of work that has been developed under your guidance.
"Thousands of people who worked on the PNG-LNG construction phase have increased their skill levels.  
"Many have now moved on to other jobs where their new skills have been recognised and they are taking home a higher income for their families.
"This increased skill level further adds to economic growth and has led to an increase in the quality of work in many sectors related to the LNG project.
"Ultimately, the partnership we have with ExxonMobil is strong and is based on mutual trust and we look forward to a long term engagement with your company."
The visiting delegation visited some of ExxonMobil's operations in PNG.
ExxonMobil Corporation employs around 75,000 globally.  Their operations in PNG employ more than 2,100 people, with 70 percent Papua New Guinean.

PM O'Neill's speech delivered at MSG Leaders' Farewell Dinner - Mendana Hotel - June 25, 2015

Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama,
The Chairman of FLNKS, Victor Tutugoro and, of course,
The Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
Honorable Ministers of State,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Firstly, let me take this opportunity to thank the Government of Solomon Islands for hosting this very important meeting for the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders.
It has been a successful meeting. One we feel is historic in nature. This is a region that is starting to capture some of the challenging issues Melanesian countries have had for many years. We are a group that thrives on potential and thrives on consultation, living as one Melanesian Community in the region.
But we have to be responsive to the issues that are brought up to the Leaders by our communities.
As a Melanesian Group, it is important that we hear what our communities are demanding.
Today's decision to include our Melanesian brothers and sisters from Indonesia is one that is very historic. We, hereby, welcome them to our Melanesian Family.
As everyone else in the region, we want the same things. We want peace, we want security and we want better standards of living for our families.
It is important as a region that we continue to work together in achieving goals that our people expect of us.
Papua New Guinea is achieving many of the security that it requires for the better standards of living for its people through many initiatives our government has been implementing over the last three and a half years.
Our government continues to grow on an average of 9% per annum over the last 14 years. That is enabling us to address many challenges like education, health and infrastructure development, with a given population rise, which I must frankly say, is quite challenging.
But, Papua New Guinea has been able to put an extra one million children to school over the last four years.
Papua New Guinea is expanding its health care to many remote communities throughout the country.
Papua New Guinea today is investing more in infrastructure than it has ever done in history – investing close to 30 per cent of its budget.
Papua New Guinea is putting close to 25 per cent of its budget into rural communities, directly to the districts throughout the country.
As a result of that, we are lifting the standards of living for our people. We are educating them, we are providing them with better health care and that is a desire, I know, all Melanesian countries in the region want.
We want the same for our brothers and sisters in the Melanesian provinces, across the border. That is why today's decision is an historic one, that we should be proud of, and I also want take the opportunity to thank the Indonesian Government for the strong support that they have given in some of the ways forward that we are seeking.
And, of course, we thank all the officials, who have worked tirelessly in ensuring that we come to an amicable arrangement.
This is just the start, where I know, more can be achieved by working together with many of our partners and, of course, many of our neighbors.
Finally, Papua New Guinea, is going to host some major regional events in the next few months and years.
We are going to host the Pacific Games, next month, and I expect to see each and every one of you in Papua New Guinea. We look forward to welcoming you. It is going to be a first-class Pacific sporting event.
We have also invested substantial funds into getting first-class infrastructure for you to enjoy.
We are also going to host the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in September this year between 7th and 11th.
Please come and join us so that we can address the challenges we face as a region.
In 2018, we are going to host 50 per cent of the world's economic leaders, representing 22 countries in the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC), which will be held for the first time in the Pacific.
Again, we expect all the Pacific Island Leaders to come and join us so that we can together and voice our concerns of the Pacific to the rest of the global community, so that it can be heard.
Tomorrow, Papua New Guinea will be opening its Papua New Guinea Chancery here and we look forward to you joining us in that occasion also.
Once again, thank you very much to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands and its leaders, its Cabinet, its government for hosting this very successful meeting and we look forward to seeing you all, next month, on July 4 and in September.

Breakthrough in engaging with Indonesia’s Melanesian provinces

"Today is very a important day for peace and goodwill for our Brothers and Sisters living in Indonesia's Melanesian provinces," Papua New guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill said as he left the meeting of Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders in Honiara.
"Following discussion between the Leaders of Melanesian Spearhead Group countries, the groups has decided that Indonesia is to be admitted to MSG as an associate member, and be represented by the elected leaders of these Melanesian provinces.
Further to this, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) will be given observer status as a development partner representing the welfare of Melanesian people living outside.
" Papua New Guinea welcomes the decision that reaffirms representation at the sub-regional level must be made by mandated leaders that have been elected by their people.
"This decision by MSG will pave the way for Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to engage in consultation within the framework of agreement with Indonesia.
"I look forward to having deeper conversations with Indonesia and in the true spirit of being part of a regional family.
"We are all partners in facilitating peace and security in our region.
"I believe we have the respect of Indonesia for the honesty and genuine nature of our offer to offer cooperation on this sensitive, issue.  I further believe that groups such as ULMWP appreciate that our intentions are genuine.
"Soon after coming to office I began a dialogue with then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and now continue with President Joko Widodo."