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Education

PNGTA Expresses Concern

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The Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) is taking the Education Minister, Secretary and Teachers Service Commission to court following non-compliance with a four-month court order that’s not being complied.

PNGTA National President Aita Sanangkepe said the court had ordered their inclusion in the discussions of the National Education Board, National Capital District Education Board and Provincial Education Boards.

“I’ve directed my lawyer this morning to take contempt proceedings against these people named because there is a court in place,” Mr Sanangkepe said.

He continued, “There’s a national court order in place to allow us PNTGA to represent teachers in Papua New Guinea (in) all education boards”.

The Union representative for the Teachers said for unknown reasons the court order of May 27, 2022, wasn’t implemented and it was frustrating.

“Court order is Court order, no one is above the law,” Mr Sanangkepe said.

The union is also crying foul over the National Education Department and Teaching Services Commission for its failure to publish the Education Gazette for the third consecutive year.

The Education Gazette is important for teachers when it comes to:

  • Applying for a position within the school they are teaching in,
  • Applying for a teaching position in another school,
  • Applying for a position in another district or:
  • Applying for a position in another province.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra in response said it is now incumbent on the PNGTA to appoint their representatives and submit them to the Education Minister’s office.

“The Minister appoints the NEB after each rep of stipulated organizations submits names with CVs. The CVs are assessed to determine a nominee’s fit and proper status by the department,” said Dr Kombra.   

Furthermore, the Minister has recently resumed duties and the matter will be addressed if the Union has made its submission.

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Business

Paga Hill Paradise

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Prime Minister James Marape has urged investors to have confidence and invest in Papua New Guinea.

“My government or the government I lead do not care about colour, which political divide or which religion you come from or what tribe, we want to encourage business investments,” Marape said.

He said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the K130 million Paga Hill Paradise development – a 22-floor high-end apartments building project.

The luxury accommodation will be built on the added backfield land on the Port Moresby beachfront just as the ring road takes a bend overlooking the old Fairfax Harbour.

Mr Marape said the country is loyal to investors who are loyal to the country.

“This is a country that has shown its ability to repay our investors a substantial amount on return on investment,” Prime Minister Marape said.

Governor Powes Parkop thanked Asian businessman Jimmy Po and other investors for having trust in the Capital city and for their commitment to ensuring modern facilities for accommodation.

He added the city government has devised the “Amazing Port Moresby global branding to promote the city as a liveable city but the government can’t do it alone.

“For me as a governor I’ve been very passionate about making it happen but it’s been taking a long time. But today, the journey has begun and I thank the investors,” Governor Parkop said.

Lead architect Andrew McFadden said the building meets international standards both from PNG and Australia and is a project that involved input from local knowledge.

The building will be constructed by China State Engineering, a company that has its footprint in the construction of hotels and accommodations including the Ela Beach paradise, Toaguba hill paradise and construction of an office building at Waigani.

An Artist’s impression of the Paga Hill, Paradise 22-floor Luxury Apartment

While the beachfront luxury is yet to be built, interested occupants have purchased 67 units and duplexes out of the 83.

The lowest accommodation is valued at K1.3 million and a whole floor on the 19th worth K10 million has been paid ahead of opening time.

The residential building is expected to be completed after two years.

An Artist’s impression of the Paga Hill, Paradise 22-floor Luxury Apartment
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News

Papua LNG Project Signing

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Director of the Gas Project Coordination office Peter Koim said the paperwork to ensure the Papua LNG engineering will be ready in the coming week.

“I think we are expecting the Papua LNG front-end and end engineering design very soon, most likely it will coincide with the independence celebrations,” he said.

Director Koim spoke to the media after the government renewal of his employment for another four years at Government House.

“Once the project feed is announced, then they will announce the final investment decisions and move into construction,” he said.

He was involved in the Pynang, Pasca A and Stanley Gas Condensate project in the Western province.

All four projects are on the radar for commercialisation.

Mr Koim said, “Once we have those projects up and running, we hope to see most of our young people running around employed in different capacities. “

“These are billion-dollar projects and they will create a lot of employment, development and economy for the country,” he added.

The Gas Coordination office facilitates all the new LNG gas project negotiations and after the gas agreements are signed, proceeds on monitoring the implementation of the projects.

These include front-to-end engineering design as well as the conclusion of construction before the Department of Petroleum takes over.

Mr Koim continued, “With all the world energy prices going up, we stand to benefit from these developments”.

“Going forward I will be monitoring the implementation of the signed gas agreements which is Papua LNG and Pynang LNG projects”.

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Politics

Revenue from a Black Economy

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Gary Juffa_Inside PNG

A member of parliament has urged government to ensure the revised 2022 money plan is implemented soundly.

Northern Governor, Gary Juffa said while many local citizens were being over taxed and paying their dues, others weren’t.

“We have a black economy! It is an area where a lot of illegal activities happen or taxes are evaded or transferred,” Governor Juffa said.

The former PNG Customs Chief turned politician said, “The black economy has billions of Kina in there that never make it into our (PNG) coffers”.

He alleged that there were illegal activities taking place outside PNG waters.

“Did you know Mr. Treasurer, that significant or large volumes of fuel used by some of the players in this black economy, especially those in the forestry sector and those in the fisheries sector come across from the borders of Indonesia?”

“They are never taxed, they just hover outside our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zones), ships go out (to sea) and get the fuel and come here and spread it out to their operations, and they pay absolutely no excise duty on this,” Garry Juffa said.

“We need to take these guys (companies not paying tax) on, we need to hold them accountable, we are not doing that!” Governor Juffa added.

“Most of it is transmitted offshore to build empires in other countries,” he concluded.

He said it was time institutions of government step up, and ensure that they serve the interest of the nation with integrity.

“We need to carry out a review of all the creatures (government entities) that we have created”.

According to an Attorney General’s report of the year 2018, 1419 government entities are operating in the country.

“Many of these organizations are performing in the best interest of the country, they are assets but there are a great number of them that are liabilities,” Governor Juffa said.

“They have executives, some have boards, they have a budget line, we don’t know what they do.

The state entities soak up significant amounts of money that ought to go to schools, aid posts, roads, bridges etc,” said Juffa.

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News

Supplementary Budget Tabled

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Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey_Inside PNG

The seven new electorates have been included in the Supplementary budget of 2022 which captures revenue from reviewed tax measures, plus surge in global oil prices, versus a K611 million Household Assistance Package.

“We have major increase in net revenues as well as the need for specific appropriations such as, K160 million school project fee subsidies announced as part of our household Assistance package,” Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey said in parliament.

The Supplementary budget is framed following the country’s election aimed at continuing the promise by government to steer the country to the Prime Minister’s dream of “becoming the richest black Christian nation.”

“There is also the need to provide additional funding for the seven (7) new districts that have been created and K3million each has been provided,” he said.

This is Ling-Stuckey’s fourth Supplementary Budget since being elevated to the Ministry and one that is still framed amidst pressure from external economic conditions.

“(Budget) is framed in what the IMF (International Monetary Fund) calls, the ‘gloomy and uncertain‘ outlook for the global economy, however, there are promising economic times ahead for PNG.

“PNG is experiencing by far its highest growth rate, in the Kina size of our economy in its history,” the treasurer added.

While the announcement may seem as welcome news for many, the real pressure of the rising price of goods and services is still being felt by the average Papua New Guineans.

“As highlighted in the comments on MYEFO (Mid Year Economic Fiscal Outlook) report, we must make sure, that positive macro economic news, does not blind us to the pain being faced by many families,” he said.

The priority areas of government expended through the K611million Household Assistance include:

  1. K250 million for continued removal on tax on all fuel products.
  2. K126 million for school project fees.
  3. K135 million from Tax collection
  4. K100 million for subsidizing household commodities.

Tax measures are again a key feature in the 2022 revised money plan, this time with cuts in Personal Income Tax for all wage earners.

“I was pleased that from 1 June 2022, all wage earners paying tax are receiving up to an extra K42.30, in their fortnightly pay packets,” Ling-Stuckey said.

He also noted the Additional Profits Tax which was supposed to be implemented on the banking sector, has not been implemented.

“For some reason, the tax cuts have not been processed, through the ALESO pay (roll) system”, the Treasurer said.

Another initiative of the Pangu led government is to subsidize household items.

“In April, we announced, that arrangements will be made by IRC with local firms, whereby firms would lower cost on key items such as flour, tinned fish, rice and OX and palm and in return they would be granted an equivalent reduction in taxes,” Ling-Stuckey said.

The assistance, however, took time to implement earlier this year because of the need for several legislative changes.

“We apologize for the delay…we will be watching closely the performance of IRC in this area, to ensure the changes are put in place this year,” he said.

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Climate Change

Steps To Accessing Climate Funding

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Steps are now afoot to ensure the country has access to the climate funding that’s available for climate change preparedness and adaptation available to affected smaller island nations like Papua New Guinea.

Lead agency Climate Change Development Authority together with its partners and stakeholders concluded a two-day validation work on the final draft of the National Adaptation Plan which is the first step to achieving the cause.

“There are two sides to climate change, you have the mitigation and adaptation. Climate change adaptation is mainly to do with enhancing the capacity of people at this time with the event of climate change with its intensity and frequency of the adverse effects happening to us,” General Manager Adaptation and Project Division Jacob Ekinye said.

He added, “We have to reduce the level of vulnerability and exposure of our people to those effects and we have to build their resilience so that they are able to cope with the adversities”.

“Under the Paris Agreement article, 79 under the climate change manage act section 74 provides for a national adaptation plan. Even you have heard of the global climate change facilities like the climate investment fund, especially Global Climate Fund (GCF), in order to solicit funding from those financing institutions; this is the box you have to tick,” Mr Ekinye said.

The Adaptation plan will be the first for the country in terms of its strategies and actions needed to deal with climate change impacts and meet international standards.

“This National Adaptation Plan, it has taken us two years, GCF funding we got if from a resource pool called the Reediness Finance to the tune of US D 1.7 million (to deliver this plan) and UNDP is our delivery partner,” Mr Ekinye said.

He added, “It’s not business as usual anymore, we have to factor in the climate change element in every development planning process”.

The CCDA is committed to ensuring this document is in place before the year-end.

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Politics

Sawang Misses Out

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Kessy Sawang, Rai Coast MP

One of only two women members of Parliament, Kessy Sawang narrowly missed out on a ministry as the new cabinet was made known today.

Prime Minister, James Marape said, she could have been considered if her party numbers permitted and provincial number allowed.

“She’s (Kessy Sawang) in the mix. I’ve consulted her and she was gracious with her words,”

“She said whether Minister or not I’m here to offer services,” PM Marape said when he contacted the MP.

All provinces who have representatives in the Pangu led coalition where given two ministries each.

The two continuing ministers from Madang where returned their jobs with Madang MP and single member of the Allegiance party in the coalition, Bryan Kramer as Minister for Labor and Immigration while Pangu man, Jimmy Uguro was re-awarded the Education portfolio.

“This was not an accidental pick or for political rearrangement. The leaders are placed to the structures we have in place now to secure our country and improve the economy,” Marape added.

Two provinces missed out in the ministry distributions including the two-seat Manus province as well as the Prime Minister’s beloved Hela province.

Mr Marape added, citizens should move away from the Western view of women representation in parliament.

“I want to encourage our Papua New Guineans to think away from the gender issue.”

“The Ministers here represent our people and we represent the women as well,” Marape said.

The 9th parliament saw women MPs hold office of minister. In 2017 no women were elected into Parliament, now there are two.

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Politics

Agriculture Reform Centre

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Major changes in the agriculture sector herald an economic drive by government as it laid out its ministries and office bearers this afternoon.

Prime Minister, James Marape announced the new ministries which includes:

*Livestock,
*Oil palm,
*Coffee and,
*Agriculture.

Mr Marape says this will help streamline the job of the ministers concerned into specifics, so that the country’s produce can be enough to supply locally and meet global export demands.

The new look cabinet will also have a minister responsible for International Trade and Investment.

Other key changes in the cabinet make-up include reforms to police and correctional services which will now come under one ministry which is International Security.

All other ministries remain the same with little or no changes in the 33 ministry National Executive Council.

With 32 already occupied, the only other ministry yet to be filled is Bougainville Affairs.

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National Elections

O’Neill Extends PNC’s Support to Alternate PM

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Former Prime Minister and PNC leader, Peter O’Neill says he is ready to support any leader as an alternate Prime Minister.

“I am quite happy to spend my time focused on Ialibu Pangia and home Province of Southern
Highlands,” Mr O’Neill said in a statement.

He continued, “This creates space for young, dynamic leaders from within our People’s National
Congress Party and all parties to step up and form Government”.

He said he gives his party’s full support.

“You will have my 100% support and I ask nothing special in return,” the member-elect for Ialibu Pangia said.

The PNC leader said the formation of government is not about only him and Pangu Pati leader, James Marape.

“I encourage leaders who have been elected properly and who are genuinely interested in rescuing PNG from the economic and social chaos Marape has plunged the country into the past three years, to consider putting their hand up for the top job,” he said.

With a day left till the Return of Writs and declarations wind down the 2022 National Parliament election, PNC and Pangu are clearly the front-runners to dictate who forms the next government.

Many parties have given their support to the ruling party while none have openly expressed support to PNC.

“Genuine leaders do not want another five years like the last three,” Mr O’Neill added.

While the camps muscle up before a show of numbers on the floor of parliament, the political affair between O’Neill and Marape were not always about blame and accusations.

In 2017 around this time, Marape was part of the PNC camp in Alotau that delivered the Prime Ministership on the floor, a seat he later reclaimed following a Vote of No Confidence.

Pangu, with its current numbers and coalition partners look set to form Government, however, the true outcome will be revealed on the floor of Parliament.

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