O’Neill names caretaker team

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday announced a 14-member caretaker cabinet while calling on the outgoing government to respect parliamentary democracy in his election to the top post, The National reports.
But ousted acting prime minister Sam Abal hit back, saying he had been unseated by default and stealth.
The caretaker ministers included Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah, Don Polye, William Duma, Francis Awesa, Sam Basil, Sir Puka Temu, Sir Mekere Morauta, Bart Philemon, Dr Allan Marat, John Boito and Theo Zurenuoc.
The old faces in the new line-up are Job Pomat, Moses Maladina and Ano Pala while O'Neill had advised the governor-general to decommission the rest of the Somare cabinet.
He said his full cabinet would be announced before parliament resumed next Tuesday.
O'Neill said that the interim cabinet was made up of experienced, talented and vibrant young leaders. 
"The immediate task of the new go­vernment is to prepare the country for a decent and fair general election next year," he said.
O'Neill was due to call his first cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon to set the course for the new government in the next 10 months.
He also received a call in the afternoon from his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard to congratulate him on his election as prime minister.
"There are many challenges facing the country in health, education, transport infrastructure, land and justice and massive corruption in government and we are serious in addressing them.
"We will not be vindictive but to be accountable to our people," O'Neill said.
 "We will be working for the majority of the people, not for a few individuals but for accountability and transparency.
"There are some decent policies of the former government that we will maintain like the Vision 2050, district services improvement programme and the district treasury roll-out programme. Programmes that we have lost we will review and move them forward."
O'Neill also called on the former government to respect parliamentary democracy. 
"It is an indication of our people's desire to have change.
"The number 70-24 is not a one-vote majority. I appeal to them to be responsible and respect the wishes of our people through the parliamentary process."
He said any legal challenges would be defended fully.
Vanimo-Green MP and former opposition leader Namah thanked O'Neill for appointing him as deputy prime minister.
"There are many challenges ahead of us but we have a good team of experienced and talented leaders to address them.
"The people of Papua New Guinea, you have been calling for change and this government is for change," Namah said.

New Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea: Breaking news!

Peter O'Neill is the new Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, being elected by an overwhelming majority of 74-24, just minutes ago.

He is now being transported to Government House to be sworn in by Governor General, Sir Michael Ogio.

O'Neill was nominated by Opposition Leader, Belden Namah, when Parliament resumed at 2pm today, and seconded by sacked Petroleum Minister, William Duma.

Bulolo MP Sam Basil closed nominations.

Forests Minister Timothy Bonga walked out in protest.

Several Government Ministers and MPs moved over to Opposition ranks today.

Ministers included O'Neill, Internal Security Minister Mark Maipakai and Minister Assisting Prime Minister Charles Abel.

Opposition queries political interference on policing

The Opposition today called on Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie and acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to come clean and explain why there was an intervention to stop police from laying charges against a national parliamentarian.

The Opposition's call, led by deputy leader and Member for Bulolo Sam Basil, follows information from police insiders that following complaints and investigation, an MP from the Highlands region was on the verge of being charged with carnal knowledge.

"Our informants were very particular and specific that police top brass acting on instructions from the Office of the Prime Minister caused the police who had carriage of the case to stop from bringing the MP in and charging him with carnal knowledge," Basil said.

"This is a very serious matter.

"The Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Commissioner of Police are constitutional offices.

"And there is a long standing tradition of separation of powers and functions in our Westminster democracy between various constitutional offices,  especially when it comes to the enforcement of law.

"Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal must explain why such instructions were issued from the Office of the Prime Minister.

"Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie must equally and more particularly explain why he allowed the constitutional office he heads to succumb to political dictates on this matter.

"They must explain what special circumstances, and under what laws or regulations if any, they saw fit to intervene in what on the surface amounts to normal exercise of police duties to enforce law and order.

"These type of actions fuel public perceptions that in application of law and enforcement of law, there are two sets of laws – one for the ordinary people and another for the 'big man' or elites, privileged and wealthy citizens.

Basil said that the Opposition - as an alternate Government - would be watching this case very closely as it fitted the National Alliance led government's brand of politics and governance where laws enacted by representatives of the people were flaunted, bent and broken at whim and will of a privileged few.

"That is why, as an alternate Government, we are appealing to other MPs,  especially in Government back benches to come out of them before they end up in the same mould," he said.
"We must form an alternative Government that understands, appreciates and allows the exercise of separation of powers, functions and enforcement of laws and regulations.
"This is important if we want to see good governance in the country."

Opposition urges caution on Manus asylum seekers

The Opposition today called on the Government to treat with caution Australian government's indication of using Manus as the asylum seekers' processing centre again.

Deputy Leader of Opposition and Bulolo MP Sam Basil said that limited enforcement capacity in key authorities like customs, police, Port Services Ltd and immigration had resulted in reports of illegal immigrants arriving onshore in PNG and disappearing.

"Given our nation's vulnerability, bringing in active asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea poses a real threat of having unknown illegal immigrants escape into the nation," Basil said.

"Both Australian and PNG authorities must discuss intensely and intimately the potential dangers and implication of re-using the Manus processing centre before a final decision is made.

"The last thing Australia – and PNG – needs is to allow unidentified potential terrorists, guns-for-illicit drugs smugglers or even people smugglers to escape and build hives in Papua New Guinea."

The Bulolo MP said that he appreciated the economic returns this could mean for Manus and other commercial suppliers in the country.

 "I also recognise the gesture of goodwill this can be to Australia as the largest developmental partner and investors over the years to PNG," he added.

"However, what I fail to understand is why Australian does not want to use its own vast landmass and offshore islands, backed by a superior police, military and naval force, to process the asylum seekers who, after all want to enter Australia.

"Naturally, they should be contained and processed in Australia instead of Australian Government trying to enlist and endangering a smaller developing country like ours.

"At the end of day, a foothold in PNG is a terrorism beachhead that Australia would not want.

"Isn't that the reason for Australia's role in the Second World War in our seas, shores and jungles?

"I urge the PNG Government to weigh all issues related to this carefully and ensure that national interest and national security plays a paramount role in the final decision they make."

Opposition urged to update nation on prime minister's post

The opposition has called on acting prime minister Sam Abal to be a man, a national leader, and tell the nation how and when the issue of a permanent prime minister is going to be resolved.

Deputy leader of opposition and Bulolo MP Sam Basil raised the issue on what is the five days after the anniversary of the seventh month since Abal was first appointed on December 13, 2010 as acting prime minister.

“When are the two medical officers going to be appointed and announced? Basil wondered.

“When are they going to do their job?

“Parliament will be sitting on August 2, 2011.

“Will the report be ready then?

“You owe this to the nation, Mr Abal and to your late father Sir Tei Abal, to rise up now and show that you are your own man, a chip of the old block.”

The opposition’s call follows the announcement of the National Executive Council chaired by Abal, announcing the activation of the constitutional provision to determine the fitness or otherwise of Sir Michael Somare to continue to hold office as prime minister.

According to Section 142 (5)(c) of the Constitution, NEC and Parliament are to advise Governor General to request the PNG Medical Board to appoint two medical practitioners to examine and provide two medical reports on the condition of the prime pinister to be tabled in Parliament.

If Sir Michael is unfit to perform his duties as prime minister, there will be a vacancy and a new prime minister has to be appointed.

Abal was appointed acting prime minister when Sir Michael stepped down to face a Leadership Tribunal on misconduct in office charges.

Abal has continued to occupy that office since Sir Michael stood trial, was found guilty, and suspended for two weeks from office.

Abal continued in office when Sir Michael fell ill and underwent medical treatment in Singapore.

“In case you have forgotten, Sir Tei Abal, as founding leader of United Party pre-independence, opposed then young Michael Somare in the push for political independence against a formidable push,” Basil said.

“PNG people – especially those familiar with history – have watched you ignore that legacy and associate yourself with Sir Michael and the National Alliance Party.

“You have been rewarded – against NA odds – with your appointment as acting prime minister,” the Bulolo MP added, highlighting that many saw the appointment as that of “one who is most vulnerable to manipulation by the real powers behind the scenes”.

“Mr Abal, now is your chance to break free.

“Now is your chance to assert your true inner self and demonstrate the leadership potential that Sir Tei deposited and groomed you into.

“Show the people of Wabag and Papua New Guinea that you are of that stock.

“Do it for Papua New Guinea – and leave a lasting legacy that will overshadow the charge against a member of your household on the body found in your residential yard.

“Do it and dispel the clouds of doubt that blocks some rays of the spotlight on your acting prime ministership.”

Bulolo MP slams MMJV and government over environment

Morobe Mining Joint Venture and the government’s Department of Environment  and Conservation came under intense fire today over the environmental approval process and suspicions of waste disposal into the Watut River system.

Bulolo MP Sam Basil had both the company and DEC in his sights as he unleashed a scathing attack beginning with the delay in responding to the people’s petition , which took 22 months, the approval of a seemingly-flawed environmental management plan as well as questionable practice in monitoring assessing key environmental indicators.

 Drawing from the SMEC report commissioned by DEC after the September 2009 people’s petition to carry out an independent environmental performance audit of Hidden Valley Gold Mine, Basil said: “It took the entire 2010 for DEC to work with MMJV to get their act together before this face-to-face meeting with the people.

“I believe DEC would not have responded to the issues or formed the expert committee if there was no petition from us.”

Basil pointed out that the SMEC Report between June 6, 2010 and November 19, 2010 went through a total of three revisions.

 The main key objectives of the audit were:

a) To assess mine performance with regard to permitting compliance and environmental management;

b) To assess offsite impacts due to historic and current mine activities; and

c) Therefore, enhance DEC’s capacity to effectively monitor and regulate the future operation of the mine as well as provide the basis for the formulation of an appropriate response to the Watut River community.

“The SMEC report confirmed that from the two permits (waste discharge and water extraction) issued in April 2006 to March 2010, there were a total of 10 non-compliances and 30 partial compliance conditions out of the total 73 conditions,” Basil said.

“This is 54.8% non or partial compliance to the permits issued by DEC.

“Not only that, the environmental management plan (EMP) which was granted with 11 conditions in April 2006 was not updated by March 2010 audit.

“The EMP did not significantly meet ISO 14000.

“This is an international standard on environmental management aspect.

 “The report confirmed that the environmental management is not properly co-ordinated and there has been generally poor response in resolving permit non-compliances.

“What my people and I fail to understand is how despite the EMP for MMJV project not being compliant to ISO 14000, DEC saw fit to allow the project to go ahead.

“Permit No. WD-L3 (50) was also not followed.

“The EMP was said to have been updated since August 2009.

“Coincidently, that might have been triggered again by the petition we handed in September 2009.”

Referring to details in the report, the Bulolo MP added: “The report confirmed that the soil and surface water and erosion management requirements were not fully implemented across the site.

“There were significant erosion issues associated with unstable slopes and waste dumps.

“There is no permit limit or adopted target for suspended solids concentration in water drainage off the site.

“DEC has again failed to establish clearly the target for suspended solid concentration in water drainage off the site.

“That alone should result in disallowing MMJV to discharge waste excessively off site.

“The report also pointed out that the waste management was not done in accordance with the waste management Plan.

“There was no waste register or evidence that waste minimisation and re-use programmes were fully implemented across the site.

 “The landfill was poorly located and managed, and posed an ongoing environmental risk.

“This significantly throws away the principle of sustainable mining practice.

 “So where have all the hazardous and toxic mine wastes generated over the years gone to?

“Where were they disposed?

“It does not take a rocket scientist to work out they were disposed into the Watut River!

“There was no thorough ground water monitoring done to assess the bioavailability of hydrocarbons, VOC, PCB, and other environmental persistent chemicals.

“The SMEC report confirmed that these waste treatment systems appear to be overloaded and unable to treat wastewater to permit standards.

“There was potential for downstream pathogenic and nutrient contamination, which poses a

health threat to downstream inhabitants.

 “This indicates high potential of raw wastewater discharge downstream.

“ Riverine communities and alluvial miners can and may still be easily be affected.

“Highly raw pathogenic contamination of the river system which can easily affect/influence the river health balance.

“That in turn is highly unhygienic and harmful, especially when the river communities use the river for drinking, laundry and washing cooking utensils daily.

 “This also has the potential of aggravating skin irritation and affects small sores or cuts on the epidermal layer of the skin especially on the foot or below the waist line.

“Issues raised by pregnant women bathing or crossing the river resulting in other health concerns can also be clearly linked to this.”

Adding to this quotes from other relevant reports including one commissioned by MMJV itself, Basil said: “These are very serious – and dangerous flaws.

“Their impact and implications are long-lasting on the water source health and even lives of the people.

“They signal a lack of confidence in MMJV as a trustworthy development partner and investor.

 “But worse of all, the attitude of the Department of Environment and Conservation together with the Minister involved, to these issues completely goes against the democratic idea of governance.

“Instead of democratic governance being for the people – this is completely against the people.

 “This is the reason why there is growing pressure for the government to relinquish its option on equity in mining projects to landowners, LLGs and the districts and assume the role of being regulator and tax collector more.

 “When the alternative government is in office, we will pursue this as a policy so there is clear demarcation between the government’s role as compliance regulator and tax collector, the private sector and investors’ role as developers, and the landowner’s role and interests

 “I hope my presentation - based on the hard work of many experts and professionals - will cause all stakeholders to do the right thing  for all our collective benefit  and especially the people living along the riverine areas from near the mine site all the way to the coast of Huon Gulf.”

Opposition concerned about controversies against Abal

The opposition today expressed serious concern about the accumulating controversies against the acting prime minister Sam Abal which he seems to ignore in pursuit of the nation’s top post.

Deputy leader of opposition Sam Basil said that the people have had enough of controversies, legal blunders and ill-repute against the top post.

“They deserve a government led by a prime minister they can depend on and have confidence in,” Basil said.

“In any other country, any impropriety by a member of an acting prime minister is sufficient cause for resignation to protect the integrity of the public office.

“In PNG, we describe it as a police matter and refuse the perception that if a leader cannot manage and mentor those in his household to be good citizens, what qualification does he have to lead a nation?”

Basil, who is also Bulolo MP, slammed the latest revelations of questionable funding management in relation to the acting prime minister’s district funds.

“The integrity with which a leader handles district finances indicates his qualification to handle national finances,” he said.

“ An acting prime minister,  regardless of who is in that post and especially one who is actively pursuing a permanent election into that position of prime minister,  should be squeaky clean.

“Sacking cabinet ministers like Don Polye and William Duma because they are likely contenders for the prime minister’s post demonstrate insecurity and an unhealthy early hint on the attitude to wielding of power by Mr Abal.

“The Opposition is calling on all right-thinking MPs – in Government and in our ranks – to completely halt the Somare era and the negative leadership legacy that has tarnished our leadership quality and capability.

“Now is the time to act.

“Let’s mobilise; align aright and begin the re-alignment process of leadership before it is too late.”