Michael Somare

It is all because of corruption that our sisters are giving birth on hospital floors

On 30 Mar, 2011 By tok stret With 3 Comments

This is the reality that our leaders continue to ignore. This is the reality that our Prime Minister and his ministers continue to ignore. This is the reality that our health minister Sasa Zibe continues to ignore!

Papua New Guinean women are giving birth on the floor because there aren't enough beds. We have the means to take care of our people. We have the resources to make life better for women giving birth. Why aren't we doing it?

Bainimarama wins last laugh over Canberra in Pacific politics

On 29 Mar, 2011 By tok stret

By Graham Davis* for Pacific Scoop

Australia’s impotence in influencing events in its own backyard is being demonstrated in dramatic fashion this week as the Fijian dictator, Voreque “Frank” Bainimarama, fulfils his long-held ambition to assume the chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

All of the other Melanesian leaders – from Papua New Guinea, the Solomons, Vanuatu plus the Kanak FLNKS from New Caledonia – are joining Bainimarama for the MSG summit in Suva on Thursday.

Port Moresby wired for change

On 27 Mar, 2011 By rait man

By ROWAN CALLICK

PAPUA New Guinea's founding father and Prime Minister Michael Somare, aged 75 next month, was found guilty last Monday of 13 charges of misconduct and on Thursday was suspended from office for 14 days.

Until recently, this would have caused a sensation that would have virtually stopped the nation.

Where have the billions gone? Where do they end up?

On 23 Mar, 2011 By rait man

Spotted on PNG Blogs

BETWEEN 2003 and 2008, the Somare government amassed a whopping K6 billion in extra revenue. That is money over and above what was budgeted each year. The excess billions were parked in trust accounts and drawn down in one-off payments which were approved in a number of mid-year supplementary budgets.

Who is Hudson Ramatlap protecting?

On 22 Mar, 2011 By rait man

By SAM BASIL, Bulolo MP

I refer to the comments by the first legislative counsel, Mr Hudson  Ramatlap, and note with great concern that a person who is supposed to  protect the independence of Parliament legislative process is now  making outlandish comments in support of the contemptuous behaviour of  the Prime Minister. 

His statement is not only misleading, but calculated to undermine the  seriousness of this matter.  This is not just another political scoring issue here it is an issue  of national importance.  

PNG PM found guilty of misconduct

On 21 Mar, 2011 By rait man

By Ilya Gridneff, AAP

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare has been found guilty of 13 charges of misconduct in office for submitting annual financial statements late or incomplete.

A three-member tribunal sitting in Port Moresby handed down its decision on Monday afternoon and will reconvene on Tuesday to hear recommendations for an appropriate penalty.

Somare, 74, who has been at the forefront of PNG politics for 40 years, will remain in the top job and is expected to be punished only with a small fine.

PM "in contempt" by reappointing Pruaitch

On 21 Mar, 2011 By rait man

By SAM BASIL, MP for Bulolo

The Prime Minister published the names of the national ministers  constituting the National Executive Council and their respective  responsibilities in the National Gazette on Thursday 3rd March 2011,  National Gazette No. G57 of 2011.

Tribunal all a big anti-climax?

On 20 Mar, 2011 By rait man

From ABC Radio

It was expected to be one of the most explosive legal cases Papua New Guinea had seen for years. The elderly prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, was hauled before a specially convened tribunal to answer charges of official misconduct.  

But compared to the political dramas that preceded it, the action in court turned out to be something of an anticlimax.  

Has Papua New Guinea descended into dictatorship?

On 01 Mar, 2011 By rait man

By PAUL OATES

Has Papua New Guinea descended into dictatorship?

PNG's Prime Minister Somare has previously denied he has become a dictator but what is a dictator? Here are a couple of definitions:

Wikipedia: A dictator is a ruler (e.g. absolutist or autocratic) who assumes sole and absolute power ….

People's hero, Sam Basil, threatened again

On 25 Feb, 2011 By tok stret With 4 Comments

From the PNGexposed blog

MP Sam Basil has received a number of abusive and threatening emails from an anonymous yahoo address created with the name Borit Yaken.

The emails (see below) threaten that Mr Basil’s wife will be raped and his children strangled if Mr Basil continues to speak out.

Mr Basil has been an outspoken critic of the government on corruption and governance issues and has assisted his people to take legal action against the owners of the Hidden Valley mine over the pollution of the Watut river.

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