ABC Radio reports that Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance party has denied reports that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is preparing to step down at the party's national convention next month,
PNG's Post Courier is reporting that Sir Michael is planning to relinquish the party leadership before August 14. But party spokesperson Stephen Pokawin says those reports are false.
However Mr Pokawin has confirmed the party's leadership will be the meeting's number one agenda item. Deputy leader Don Polye has reportedly announced he will make a bid for the top job.
The National Alliance Party's general secretary says the party constitution restricts Sir Michael from contesting the leadership for a third time.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Aust and NZ are not Pacific Island people: Sir Michael
SOLOMON STAR
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest.
Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
"I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here".
Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji.
“He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing.
“And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is how things are going in Fiji.
“He’s given dates and he’s given a timeline for democratic elections. He is the leader, recognised for a long time now, almost four years, and we allow him to look at his own process and determine the future of his own people.”
Sir Michael was also adamant that the Pacific was not politically divided, and in an exchange with FBC News, says Australia and New Zealand are not Pacific island people.
FBC News: Sir, is the Pacific politically divided?
Somare: No. Pacific is not divided. We are unified.
FBC News: Some of you are here and some are not…
Somare: Who are these people?
FBC News: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa..
Somare: Well I don’t consider Australia and New Zealand as Pacific island people, Samoa may have other reasons, as a sovereign state they determine their own stand, but we’ve decided that I attend the meeting, I attend the meeting.
Sir Michael further said that Australia and NZ don’t consider themselves as Pacific island states but as continents.
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says Pacific Island nations have an obligation to each other to share views of common interest.
Sir Michael told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation he and other island leaders are at the Engaging Pacific Meeting to discuss regional issues and also talk to Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
"I’m here to also talk to Prime Minister Bainimarama and find out how things are going, and I think other leaders the same, so that we have a firm mind of what we are doing up to the Forum, as Pacific nations we have an obligation to each other and that is the reason why we are here".
Sir Michael said Bainimarama is now the recognised leader of Fiji and they want to know how things are going in Fiji.
“He’s a leader of his people, that’s his responsibility, to talk to us and share some views that he has, how things are going and what he is doing.
“And if we have to report back to main Forum, then we will say, this is how things are going in Fiji.
“He’s given dates and he’s given a timeline for democratic elections. He is the leader, recognised for a long time now, almost four years, and we allow him to look at his own process and determine the future of his own people.”
Sir Michael was also adamant that the Pacific was not politically divided, and in an exchange with FBC News, says Australia and New Zealand are not Pacific island people.
FBC News: Sir, is the Pacific politically divided?
Somare: No. Pacific is not divided. We are unified.
FBC News: Some of you are here and some are not…
Somare: Who are these people?
FBC News: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa..
Somare: Well I don’t consider Australia and New Zealand as Pacific island people, Samoa may have other reasons, as a sovereign state they determine their own stand, but we’ve decided that I attend the meeting, I attend the meeting.
Sir Michael further said that Australia and NZ don’t consider themselves as Pacific island states but as continents.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
PNG Conman Noah Musingku Takes U-Vistract Online
TUBUANS & DUKDUKS
The Australian recently published an article about John Momis, the President-elect of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. There is no doubt that Momis is widely respected in both Bougainville and PNG – respect achieved through an established track record entrenched in his invaluable contribution as a founding father of PNG and an equally insatiable commitment to seeing things through.
Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract.
I would argue that after the Bougainville Revolution and blackbirding, Musingku’s U-Vistract ranks as the next event that has had the most devastating impact on the island. U-Vistract emerged after the 1997-1998 Asian economic crisis when foreign investment in PNG fell by two thirds and the currency slumped by 45 percent. The pyramid scheme preyed on the PNG public, from villagers to political stalwarts, and conservative estimates place U-Vistract’s financial gain and total personal loss at around K580 million.
In fact, it was indeed this naivity of political support from established leaders of the day (which included Bougainvilleans Francis Ona and Joseph Kabui; and PNG’s Speaker of the House Iairo Lasaro and even Chief Ombudsman Simon Pentanu) that contributed to the perceived validity of the scheme as viewed by the PNG public.
To some degree, that political support still remains – albeit fragmented. This was most recently demonstrated with outgoing ABG President James Tanis asking the PNG Government last year to pardon Musingku for the sake of peace – despite Musingku maintaining an armed security force and remaining secluded in his no-go zone stronghold of Tonu.
What would be of interest to many in PNG is that Noah Musingku and U-Vistract have not capitulated nor have they ceded their efforts. Instead, and quite true to his word, Musingku is operating U-Vistract from the heart of Bougainville through his International Bank of Me’ekamui (IBOM) – the “official bank for Bougainville reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation”. In other words, U-Vistract has adopted a marketing approach in line with the 21st century – they’re using the web to increase market share and foster growth.
Musingku’s IBOM offers a wide range of financial services including interest bearing desposits, treasury securities, high-yield investments and the most incredible stable foreign exchange rates I have ever seen including a portfolio offering no fewer than five unique PNG currencies!
So, being the patriotic Papua New Guinean, I thought I’d put my hand up to invest K25,000 ($AU 10,000) into South Bougainville through IBOM under the pseudonym Mr. James Tsonaii, an expat Bougainvillean based in Australia.
What followed was a flurry of emails between myself and IBOM’s International Manager – a Mr. Solomon Kakoto. I wanted to see how far I could “U-Vistract” U-Vistract so to speak. Click on the following link to read the exchange of emails between International Bank of Me’ekamui (IBOM) and Mr. James Tsonaii.
It seemed that as the only international bank in the province (so IBOM claims itself to be) couldn’t transfer my make-believe K25,000 directly from my company’s account to my new corporate account in South Bougainville. Instead, two bank account numbers were provided with addresses in Sydney – one being ANZ, and the other being National Bank of Australia (NAB). Theoretically, my investment was to be deposited into these private bank accounts and then they would consequently be transferred to Siwai. Two further documents were emailed to me by IBOM to fill out: a Royal Registration Authority Application Form and a Customer Rekod Kad.
As a final ploy, I thought I’d ask IBOM to send me a Letter of Intent on their official letterhead for Mr. James Tsonaii to pass on to his senior partners as a gesture of good faith before final approval of the company’s investment was given . Find this below:
One thing worth noting about the above Letter of Intent is the date in the top right-hand corner. The “UV” stands for the U-Vistract Economic Calendar – where Amethyst is June. For more information about this cargo-cultic characteristic, click here.
What really is concerning about U-Vistract’s so-called International Bank of Me’ekamui is the fact that they are disguising themselves as the “bank for Bougainville reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation” without any relevant substantiation. It makes one wonder just how many genuine international clients wanting to help Bougainville have fallen victim to the scam?
Momis has declared that number one on his priority list is the disarmament of the large number of weapons still present in the province. No doubt, the revisiting of the imminent restoration of Panguna mine is also high on the agenda. However, one issue that seems to have taken a back seat over the past few years and left to wither in the wilderness is the controversial figure Noah Musingku and his fast-money scheme, U-Vistract.
In fact, it was indeed this naivity of political support from established leaders of the day (which included Bougainvilleans Francis Ona and Joseph Kabui; and PNG’s Speaker of the House Iairo Lasaro and even Chief Ombudsman Simon Pentanu) that contributed to the perceived validity of the scheme as viewed by the PNG public.
To some degree, that political support still remains – albeit fragmented. This was most recently demonstrated with outgoing ABG President James Tanis asking the PNG Government last year to pardon Musingku for the sake of peace – despite Musingku maintaining an armed security force and remaining secluded in his no-go zone stronghold of Tonu.
What would be of interest to many in PNG is that Noah Musingku and U-Vistract have not capitulated nor have they ceded their efforts. Instead, and quite true to his word, Musingku is operating U-Vistract from the heart of Bougainville through his International Bank of Me’ekamui (IBOM) – the “official bank for Bougainville reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation”. In other words, U-Vistract has adopted a marketing approach in line with the 21st century – they’re using the web to increase market share and foster growth.
Musingku’s IBOM offers a wide range of financial services including interest bearing desposits, treasury securities, high-yield investments and the most incredible stable foreign exchange rates I have ever seen including a portfolio offering no fewer than five unique PNG currencies!
So, being the patriotic Papua New Guinean, I thought I’d put my hand up to invest K25,000 ($AU 10,000) into South Bougainville through IBOM under the pseudonym Mr. James Tsonaii, an expat Bougainvillean based in Australia.
What followed was a flurry of emails between myself and IBOM’s International Manager – a Mr. Solomon Kakoto. I wanted to see how far I could “U-Vistract” U-Vistract so to speak. Click on the following link to read the exchange of emails between International Bank of Me’ekamui (IBOM) and Mr. James Tsonaii.
It seemed that as the only international bank in the province (so IBOM claims itself to be) couldn’t transfer my make-believe K25,000 directly from my company’s account to my new corporate account in South Bougainville. Instead, two bank account numbers were provided with addresses in Sydney – one being ANZ, and the other being National Bank of Australia (NAB). Theoretically, my investment was to be deposited into these private bank accounts and then they would consequently be transferred to Siwai. Two further documents were emailed to me by IBOM to fill out: a Royal Registration Authority Application Form and a Customer Rekod Kad.
As a final ploy, I thought I’d ask IBOM to send me a Letter of Intent on their official letterhead for Mr. James Tsonaii to pass on to his senior partners as a gesture of good faith before final approval of the company’s investment was given . Find this below:
One thing worth noting about the above Letter of Intent is the date in the top right-hand corner. The “UV” stands for the U-Vistract Economic Calendar – where Amethyst is June. For more information about this cargo-cultic characteristic, click here.
What really is concerning about U-Vistract’s so-called International Bank of Me’ekamui is the fact that they are disguising themselves as the “bank for Bougainville reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation” without any relevant substantiation. It makes one wonder just how many genuine international clients wanting to help Bougainville have fallen victim to the scam?
PM Off to Fiji after blowing opposition move to topple him
THE AUSTRALIAN
PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence.
Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority.
Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament.
It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government.
But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minister -- usually a difficult but potentially rewarding portfolio, given the controversies that swirl around the sector.
He also gave a ministry, but so far without portfolio, to Moses Maladina, the architect of legislation to curtail the powers of PNG's anti-corruption agency, the Ombudsman Commission. The Speaker, Jeffery Nape, also a member of Sir Michael's party, spurned on Wednesday the louder calls opposing an adjournment, refused to permit a division, and declared the house adjourned until November 16.
The budget usually takes precedence in the November session, making another attempt at a no-confidence motion unlikely until next year -- when success would trigger an early election, which most MPs, who stand to lose their seats, usually wish to avoid.
Thus -- although the Post Courier editorialised that the events in parliament on Wednesday comprised "a shameful exhibition" -- Sir Michael may have cemented his power through to elections in mid-2012.
PAPUA New Guinea's veteran Prime Minister Michael Somare took the government's Falcon jet to Fiji, a favourite destination, yesterday as he celebrated escaping a threatening vote of no confidence.
Before attending the "Engaging with the Pacific" meeting organised by the country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, Sir Michael swiftly appointed eight new ministers to shore up his majority.
Five of them come from the populous Highlands region, which accounts for 40 per cent of the seats in parliament.
It appeared that Sir Michael's deputy, Puka Temu, a Papuan, had pencilled in a deal with Highlands bloc leader Don Polye -- both being members of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- to quit and form a new government.
But only Sir Puka walked out, to become Opposition Leader. Mr Polye stayed behind and was rewarded with the post of Deputy Prime Minister.
Sir Michael appointed long-time supporter Timothy Bonga as the Forestry Minister -- usually a difficult but potentially rewarding portfolio, given the controversies that swirl around the sector.
He also gave a ministry, but so far without portfolio, to Moses Maladina, the architect of legislation to curtail the powers of PNG's anti-corruption agency, the Ombudsman Commission. The Speaker, Jeffery Nape, also a member of Sir Michael's party, spurned on Wednesday the louder calls opposing an adjournment, refused to permit a division, and declared the house adjourned until November 16.
The budget usually takes precedence in the November session, making another attempt at a no-confidence motion unlikely until next year -- when success would trigger an early election, which most MPs, who stand to lose their seats, usually wish to avoid.
Thus -- although the Post Courier editorialised that the events in parliament on Wednesday comprised "a shameful exhibition" -- Sir Michael may have cemented his power through to elections in mid-2012.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Crafty Somare survives no-confidence challenge
ROWAN CALLICK - THE AUSTRALIAN
PAPUA New Guinea's wily, veteran fox of a Prime Minister, Michael Somare, contrived yesterday to escape what seemed a likely sudden political death by having parliament adjourned until November.
Buoyed by his win, Sir Michael, 74, crossed the chamber as MPs began to leave the house, pointed at rising young opposition star Sam Basil, and shouted in Pidgin: "If you were outside, I would kill you."
He was constrained by his son, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare.
This is the second year running that he has avoided a no-confidence challenge by simply shutting parliament down.
But this time, he is also likely to face a legal challenge, with a strengthened yet bitterly frustrated opposition claiming they were robbed by a ruse in which the Speaker, Jeffery Nape -- a member of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- played a crucial role.
Legal appeals may come over the nature of Mr Nape's ruling in parliament, and the consequent failure of parliament to meet its constitutional requirement of sitting days each calendar year.
Following a mass defection of MPs from the government ranks, the opposition -- now led by Puka Temu, deputy prime minister until Monday night -- moved a motion of no confidence in the morning.
Resuming after lunch, the government moved an adjournment -- the traditional blocking manoeuvre, in PNG's feisty political rugby games.
Mr Nape asked for a verbal response, and most witnesses say the "nos" were clearly louder. But Mr Nape said "the ayes have it", slammed his gavel down and declared parliament adjourned.
He ignored the roars from the opposition calling for a division.
If Sir Michael had felt confident about hanging on to his majority -- 55 of the 109 MPs -- he would have sought a formal vote. His reliance instead on the Speaker's apparently partial hearing betrayed his uncertainty.
Sir Puka told AAP after the drama in parliament: "They call him the 'father of the nation', but he and his family are destroying the nation. They break laws, they treat parliament like a joke. Is this what PNG wants? No, they want an end to this."
PAPUA New Guinea's wily, veteran fox of a Prime Minister, Michael Somare, contrived yesterday to escape what seemed a likely sudden political death by having parliament adjourned until November.
Buoyed by his win, Sir Michael, 74, crossed the chamber as MPs began to leave the house, pointed at rising young opposition star Sam Basil, and shouted in Pidgin: "If you were outside, I would kill you."
He was constrained by his son, Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare.
This is the second year running that he has avoided a no-confidence challenge by simply shutting parliament down.
But this time, he is also likely to face a legal challenge, with a strengthened yet bitterly frustrated opposition claiming they were robbed by a ruse in which the Speaker, Jeffery Nape -- a member of Sir Michael's National Alliance party -- played a crucial role.
Legal appeals may come over the nature of Mr Nape's ruling in parliament, and the consequent failure of parliament to meet its constitutional requirement of sitting days each calendar year.
Following a mass defection of MPs from the government ranks, the opposition -- now led by Puka Temu, deputy prime minister until Monday night -- moved a motion of no confidence in the morning.
Resuming after lunch, the government moved an adjournment -- the traditional blocking manoeuvre, in PNG's feisty political rugby games.
Mr Nape asked for a verbal response, and most witnesses say the "nos" were clearly louder. But Mr Nape said "the ayes have it", slammed his gavel down and declared parliament adjourned.
He ignored the roars from the opposition calling for a division.
If Sir Michael had felt confident about hanging on to his majority -- 55 of the 109 MPs -- he would have sought a formal vote. His reliance instead on the Speaker's apparently partial hearing betrayed his uncertainty.
Sir Puka told AAP after the drama in parliament: "They call him the 'father of the nation', but he and his family are destroying the nation. They break laws, they treat parliament like a joke. Is this what PNG wants? No, they want an end to this."
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