PNG News Updates and SME Marketing

03/04/2023

To: Mr Tonny Maben & Others.

" Without prejudice"

To my esteem friend, your close proximity to James Marape will cloud any objective analysis on the fiscal interventions your PM is making. I dont blame you but respect your views and will take your comments with a grain of salt.

A lot more lives are being lost and truth telling has become a scarse commodity and here in the land of the unexpected, lies and more lies has become the o***m of the masses.

Just a few pointers.

Marape is a good man without the politics, just like O'Neill but the fiscal policy he is peddling is seriously flawed. It is sad, we find Marape deeply mirred in this very toxic stew served by PNC. There must be a better way, unfortunately the policy cabinet appears to be empty, so the begging bowl gets bigger and bigger every year.

Debt and Deficit as a fiscal tool was flawed since 2011 and has become a contagion. Marape has made it more nobler after 2019. If you a fed something you are familiar with, its possible that you will serve the same stew. A leopard does not change its spot, it may sound genuiene, or patriotic but all the same, is still a leopard.

What good is average GDP growth of 3 - 4% from 2019 when you have a systemic cash flow problems accentuated by a ballooning debt burden. The real question is who will pay for this debt and if so, for how long?

Balancing the budget in 2027 and paying off soverign debt in 2034 appears to be sketchy. Who makes such an outrageous claim when cost to public service is almost 10% of GDP or 3% of the entire 2023 budget and growing with more hiring in the public service.

A small proportion of wages tax as income has been removed as a consequence of the tax break climbing to a new threshold of K200,000 per annum. So where will the substitute income lost come from?

Debt and deficit is a stupid fiscal tool and only execebates the misallocation of capital. So how does Debt to GDP ratio below the bandwith of 60% under the adjusted FRA.

08/12/2022

11/09/2022

25/08/2022

Female MP Kessy Sawang On PNG Cabinet Ministerial Appointments

25/8/2022

​One of the two female Members of PNG Parliament has explained the appointments of the ministers. Ms Kessy, Member of Raikos says ''It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, James Marape to appoint ministers based on merit.
This was the response from a female parliamentarian and member of Raicoast, Kessy Sawang on the question of the lack of gender equality in the distribution of Ministerial portfolio in the current Government.
PNG FACTS

Female MP Kessy Sawang On PNG Cabinet Ministerial Appointments

25/8/2022





​One of the two female Members of PNG Parliament has explained the appointments of the ministers. Ms Kessy, Member of Raikos says ''It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, James Marape to appoint ministers based on merit.
This was the response from a female parliamentarian and member of Raicoast, Kessy Sawang on the question of the lack of gender equality in the distribution of Ministerial portfolio in the current Government.

Ms. Sawang also told NBC News, that her party, People's First Party has already given a Ministry based on the three is to one ratio agreement of the coalition Government.'

'The first and foremost thing that we must understand is that it is the prerogative of the prime minister to make ministerial appointments and with the size of the parliament with now 118 seats you can imagine, it must have been pretty tough for him (PM) to make those tough decision and as he had said people really get appointed based on merits and best fit for the respective jobs.
''I come from the People's First Party and we have 4 members of Parliament and our party has an agreement with the rest of the coalition partners and I think the ministries are given 3 is to one so on that ratio we have our party leader who has been given a ministry,'' said Sawang.

25/08/2022

PNGUT Welcomes Kramer As Labour Minister.

The recent appointment of PNG Labour and Immigration Minister Bryan Kramer, has been welcomed by the PNG Trade Union, and its affiliated unions, and their members throughout the country.
PNGTUC General Secretary Clemence Kanau, in a statement said that Mr. Kramer as a second term MP, and a learned person, has the experience and fair knowledge of labour related issues in the country.

Mr. Kanau said that the Unions, Industrial Organizations and associations representing their workers are looking forward to working with Mr Kramer, as the Minister responsible, in this PANGU Pati led government.
He said that there are many adverse issues affecting workers in the country, the most glaring one is the rising cost of inflation, which has resulted in price increases of goods and services.

Mr Kanau also said the PNGTUC is willing to propose to the Minister, to seek Cabinet approval of the institutional and conventions of the Minimum Wages Board, to review the Minimum Wages rates, Organisational Health and Safety Law, and Review Industrial Organization Act.

21/08/2022

PNG PM Welcomes Signing of Porgera Shareholding Agreement

byStaff-Thursday, August 18, 2022

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Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has welcomed the signing of the Porgera Gold Mine shareholder agreement by Enga Provincial Government-owned Mineral Resources Enga (MRE) and landowners in Port Moresby today (August 18 2022).

He said it was a “milestone achievement” towards reopening of the Porgera mine which has been closed since 2019.

“The long-overdue reopening of the Porgera Gold Mine is finally in sight following today’s milestone achievement,” PM Marape said.

“I thank Enga Provincial Government, particularly Governor Hon. Sir Peter Ipatas, and Porgera landowners, led by their leader Nixon Mangape, for making this possible, “Today’s agreement paves the way for the Development Forum and progression towards mine reopening at the earliest.”

17/08/2022

PNG Needs A Citizens Initiative As Our Constitution Harbours Corruption

16/3/2022



PNG’s copy-paste constitution adopted from the British and Australians is still in its colonial form, wielding more powers to the rulers. Whatsoever the incumbent individuals prefer becomes the final solution.

The PM’s post is typically occupied by a leading party in parliament, while the Ministry cabinets are shared among its affiliated party leaders under a common-understanding. So when the PM wants to ensure its demands are met, a direct call is made to the respective ministries to eventuate its missions.

The PM remains the chairman to NEC and so calls the shots in every circumstance despite hindrances. The PM, through procedural-protocols, reserves the right to hire and fire whoever that is beneath the atmosphere of the government. This system has proceeded and facilitates the PM to be a systematic dictator.
The elected ministers, commissioners, managing directors, CEOs, the Vice-Chancellors and the Ombudsman have all been entangled by a strain of string attached to the government of the day. The final recommendations made to anoint them is mandatorily done by the NEC.

How can PNG rely on the Ombudsman Commission when it is in fact selected and appointed by the NEC? People under the NEC’s reliance-sphere are frequently engaged to uphold the highly-sensitive office. And when functional, they honour and execute the NEC’s ambitions. Failure to follow orders would lead to removal of powers and a new official is substituted with an aim to empower the NEC after all.
This process is evident in every prestigious institution that usually provides the standardized operations for our nation.

Therefore, we need a direct voice in parliament to guide our welfare. PNG must establish a mechanism such as the Citizens Initiative, which will consist of legal-voters who will have direct influence in parliament.

Petrus GAND
Anti-Corruption-Activist

17/08/2022

PNG PRIME Minister James Marape has urged the people to give Pangu Pati another five years in Government and see what the party can do for the country.
Marape, who is also the party leader, said Pangu had given political independence to Papua New Guinea in 1975, and now wanted to give people economic independence.
We’ve had just three years as a government, give us another five years and see what we can do, if we fail to deliver then you can vote us out in 2027,” he said.

He made this statement while in Iokea, Gulf, to show support for Pangu’s Kerema open candidate Thomas Opa.
Marape reiterated that Pangu was standing for economic independence.
We don’t just want to talk about education, health, and infrastructure; we want to give our people the economic independence they deserve.
“When Pangu first became the government, we strived to take back PNG and we have strived to give our people economic independence.
“We have made agriculture a priority, coffee was around K3.50 per kilo, today coffee price has risen to K12.50 per kilo.
The National / PNG Economy Watch

17/08/2022

Posted By Staff Reporter

PNG On Economic Life-Support

20/6/2022



OPPOSITION Leader and Vanimo Green River MP Belden Namah (PNG Party) says Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s foreign exchange nose-dived significantly in 12 years under the governments of Peter O’Neill (People’s National Party) and James Marape (Pangu Pati).
“Our country’s debt-to-gross domestic product now stands at 52 per cent and our borrowing threshold has been raised to 65 per cent which means we will keep on borrowing,” he said.
“After 12 years in the Opposition, I promise Papua New Guineans a different kind of leadership as prime minister,” he added.
“I have been properly refined to lead PNG now.

“Under O’Neill, PNG amassed a debt of K26 billion which further increased to K53 billion under Marape.
“That means PNG borrowed a total of K27 billion in just the last three years.
“But the funds were not invested in export-driven infrastructure to see positive returns for the country.
“PNG is now on economic life-support.
“To the people of Morobe, I am here to collect numbers and form the next Government after General Election 2022 (GE22) to bring positive changes.”
Namah spoke at an election rally in Eriku Oval on Friday.
He announced the 11 PNG party candidates for all 10 districts of Morobe and the regional seat and highlighted his party’s agenda.
Namah stressed: “There is no other formula or magic to economic independence but through God which is the approach my leadership will take.
“We will amend the Constitution to have 10 per cent of the National Budgets going towards church-run institutions and services like schools and health centres, and we will work from the bottom-up, focusing on the development of rural sectors like agriculture.
“We will introduce a National Service concept to have every student out of Grade 12 to undergo military training, which should address the attitude problem in our youths and remove lawlessness that is rampant in the country.

17/08/2022

Perform Or You'll Be Kicked Out, Marape Tells Underperforming Departmental And Agency Heads
PNG Prime Minister James Marape

DEPARTMENT and agency heads who delay the implementation of economic recovery measures will be removed, says PNG Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape said the Government had addressed inflation during the last Parliament and had passed a K611 million budget to support the economy but a slow bureaucracy had meant recovery measures were not as effective.
He said some of the measures had included the fuel subsidy, the removal of goods and services tax on essential food items, the payment of school project fees and lowering of income tax .
“This was supposed to be implemented by the public service, but unfortunately when we went to election, they went on holidays or they probably thought Pangu Pati wasn’t coming back ,” he said.
Marape said department and agency heads who had dragged their feet would be kicked out.
Meanwhile, Marape also called on Mineral Resources Enga to sit with government agencies and sort out legacy issues and start talks so that the Porgera mine could be re-opened.
The longer you delay, the more it is eating up your 15 per cent.
“We have already approved a K7 million infrastructure grant that also includes resettlement for the people, let’s work together,” he said. Marape said that the Wafi-Golpu project was in its final stages of preparation and would start soon and the Papua LNG was set to start operating in 2024.

17/08/2022

Prices Of Goods And Services In PNG To Increase. Photo by pngfacts.com

​Papua New Guinea is expected to see the prices of consumer goods increase by 12 per cent and 20 per cent as businesses try to offset increasing costs, PNG Manufacturers Council told local newspaper, The National.
Council chief executive officer Chey Scovell says the increase in prices of goods was driven by the increased costs that businesses could no longer afford to absorb. He said fees for Government services such as licensing and permits had also increased “astronomically”.
“There has been no increase in service, no increase in productivity, no increase in enforcement, however costs are soaring and businesses have no option but to pay,” he said.

“Local manufacturers are doing their best to maintain their employees despite a flat market and increasing costs. Typically from Independence Day to Christmas, there is an upswing in consumer spending, acknowledging the market conditions many manufacturers had downgraded expectation leading into Independence Day.
“Of concern was that despite lowered expectations, actual sales were still less and there has been no increase as we go into year’s end.
“Weaker than expected sales and sharp increases in operational costs have put businesses under a lot of pressure.”
He said only electricity rates had not been increased for years.
“The increases in costs for clearing of cargo via ports has far outstripped inflation, in particular across the international terminals,” he added.
“The cost for stevedoring in our international ports has been head-spinning. Worsening law and order has also increased the costs of doing businesses.
“Our police force is under-resourced, the absence of employment opportunities for our youth, the absence of coordinated programmes to get them earning coupled with a severely under-resourced enforcement effort, it’s predictable that businesses and citizens will be subject to lawlessness.”