Tari-Pori son makes it to the top as Prime Minister

Forty-eight year old James Marape from Paipali village Tari in the new Hela province registers himself in the political history books of Papua New Guinea as the eight Prime Minister.

A son of a Seventh Day Adventist elder and pastor, he was yesterday overwhelmingly voted by Parliament registering 101 votes in the 111 seat Parliament.

Mr Marape the eldest has four other siblings among them only one female.

He attended Minj Primary School in Jiwaka and later Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in the Eastern Highlands during the early part of his education.

James Marape (right) in his Hela regalia

He later attended the University of Papua New Guinea gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 and further attained a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000.

He recently graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from the same university.

In his highest public service career, he served as acting assistant secretary for policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 until 2006 and later entered Parliament.

He also worked in the private sector with Hides Gas earlier on.

A third term politician, he defeated eight votes against him yesterday favouring former Prime Minister and Moresby Northwest MP Sir Mekere Morauta.

Parliament voted for him replacing Peter O’Neill after two months of unstable political climate under the leadership of Peter O’Neill with many defections, back-flips and resignations of government ministers who were bitter about how the government was being run.

James Marape apparently started the mission to replace Peter O’Neill by rattling the Cabinet when on April 11, 2019 he resigned as Finance Minister.

He was then also leader of government business.

Peter O’Neill subsequently tendered his resignation to Governor General Sir Bob Dadae at 9.45am on Wednesday, May, 29, 2019 after conceding that he did not have the numbers to lead commanding only 42 MPs and there was imminent dissent and motion of a vote of no confidence against him was looming.

O’Neill’s resignation effectively rendered any motion invalid as there was already a vacancy in the office of Prime Minister and Parliament subsequently voted Marape a day later.

After being sworn in at government house by the Governor General Sir Bob Dadae yesterday, Marape presented his maiden speech in Parliament as Prime Minister admitting to the leaders there were mammoth tasks ahead in addressing development challenges and fixing the economy.

He told Parliament that on his way to be sworn in at Government House yesterday there was much jubilation on the streets but he was reminded that he has a huge responsibility a head.

“This is a privilege I don’t take for granted and I humbly accept on behalf of my wife, children, tribe, Tari-Pori, and Hela I am greatful,” he said.

“I acknowledge all the past Prime Ministers for what they have done some of those men are still serving their country.” 

“Among us you have a pool of leadership and wisdom I am encouraged by the fact that there is strength and stamina among this house,” he added.

In acknowledging the wealth of experience, among his government coalition he said he would immediately appoint his Cabinet.

Marape is not new to politics, he first entered Parliament after the 2007 national general elections as a National Alliance party member.

He defeated former Tari-Pori MP Tom Tomiape and under Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister he first served as parliamentary secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation.

He was also given additional responsibilities as Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-government relations.

A year later he was appointed Minister for Education in 2008 and held that ministry until the controversial overthrow of Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister on August 2, 2011.

In February 2012 Marape joined the People’s National Congress party led by former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

He won the June 2012 national general elections for the second term representing the people of Tari-Pori and again in 2017.

After both elections which the People’s National Congress party under Peter O’Neill successfully installed government, he served as Finance Minister for seven years- the period of time Peter O’Neill was Prime Minister and he yesterday succeeded him.

The ride to be Prime Minister though was not plain sailing.

There had to be intense lobbying and political marriages and break ups but he appeared to have commandeered a following of 28 MP’s who committed to him and when the vote was taken, it shot up to 101.

He is now the chief government minister of Papua New Guinea and as he admitted it comes with more responsibility for the nation and if he hadn’t said it, he had to also juggle this with his family life- attending to six children and wife Rachel.

Rachel Marape (middle) with Parliament staff when her husband
 was elected Prime Minister

In Parliament yesterday, he said his government would perform a diagnostic analysis of how the country has been functioning with an emphasis on “taking back the economy” and looking at resource laws.

He has three years to lead as Prime Minister before the next general elections in 2022.

The previous longest serving Prime Ministers were Sir Michael Somare 2002 to 2011(9 years) and Peter O’Neill 2011 to 2019 (8 years).

Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament

New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament on May 29, 2019. It was during the resignation of Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

My friends, I just want to say a few words today. 

I have been part of the politics of this country for more years than this country has existed.  I have seen times of crisis, times of danger, times of peril.  But in my more than 50 years of politics I have never seen the kind of hostility, the kind of division, the kind of – and I must use the word – the kind of hatred I have seen in the past weeks. 

That is why – three days ago – I went to see the Prime Minister.  And I talked frankly to him.  I said I felt that the longer he tried to stay in office the more the country would become divided.  And as a friend I suggested that the thing that he could do at this time to show his love for his country was to step aside. 

Peter O’Neill heard what I was saying.  And he agreed to step aside. 

I think we can learn from Peter O’Neill.  Let us put away self-interest.  Let us put away greed.  Let us put away anger.  Because, my friends, we have made a horrible mistake. 

We have fooled ourselves into thinking that Government and Opposition are enemies.  They are not.

Sir Julius Chan makes the statement in Parliament

 We have enemies, but the enemies are those who would divide us, those who would have us attack and slander each other.  And in doing so they prevent us from dealing with the real problems our country faces.  And believe me, we have serious problems we all need to deal with.

A wise man once said “There is no sea more dangerous than the ocean of politics.  And it is when the waves rise to their highest that there is the greatest need of an experienced captain, a good crew, and of a single, unfaltering purpose. “

So today let us act as adults.  Today let us declare ours is not a Government of any one party, or of three or four or five parties.  No…

Today let us declare our Government is a UNION of Papua New Guinea PATRIOTS.   Today let us agree that we will ALL WORK TOGETHER – as Patriots of Papua New Guinea – to take control of our country – to take our country back!! 

Today we can take the first step.  Today we can work together – TOGETHER – to find a captain.  Peter O’Neill has opened a door for us.  Let us walk through. 

Let us all agree on an experienced captain to pilot the Ship of State into a truly prosperous future.  And let us all serve as a good crew, a united crew. A patriotic crew.

Together we can do this.  As Patriots.  As Papua New Guineans. 

United States mission in PNG to recover fallen soldiers

From Washington in United States of America to the remote Kovu village along the Lakekamu River of Gulf Province a senior US Department of Defence personnel Patrick Murphy delights with the locals.

Patrick Murphy delights with the locals of Kovu for a photo

He is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Easter Asia Pacific Affairs based in Washington.

He visits the little known village because a group of US soldiers have spent a month there working to recover missing personnel who are listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) from past wars and conflicts the US was engaged in.

They are currently carrying out a recovery mission at Kovu village, Gulf Province.

“In the United Sates we have a very important mission and that is to account for our missing personnel from past conflicts,” Mr Murphy said.

“Where ever and whenever that might have taken place.”

And at Kovu village and less than 30 metres from the bank of the Lakekamu River is a wreckage of a plane buried less than 20 metres.

Patrick Murphy takes a photo with the US soldiers in their make shift
common area

Excavation work which involves US military personnel in collaboration with PNG Defence Force personnel, police and locals is being carried out.

“It’s very important to the American people and especially to the families that went missing,” he said.

“I was fully happy to see the contributions and hopefully we get good results,” he added.

Murphy described the meet with the remote villagers at Kovu as heartwarming and he praised the partnership  they are forging with the locals as they share food and moments of watching the Game of Thrones and other American movies on evenings.

His visit on the weekend to the excavation site was also meaningful and timely.

This week was also  had a  Memorial Day on Monday across the United States where they remember the fallen who defended freedom for America and it was significant for him visiting the site at Kovu.

Mr Murphy said the recovery actions is an ongoing process where they have historians and archeologists among other professions who do their work in laboratories to gather information and conclude findings.

Some of the wars the Americans took part were the Korean war, the Vietnam war and the World War II.

Major political power play to oust Peter O'Neill

A political power shift surprises Papua New Guinea at yet another weekend of political lobbying as Prime Minister Peter O'Neill faces a stiff indictment that he must forego his leadership.

The tone was clear for the last two months when several of his senior Cabinet ministers resigned and a breakaway by several coalition MPs took place reducing his government number to just more than 60.

His government defeated a potential vote of no confidence in early May 2019 by adjourning Parliament to the end of the month after successfully winning on majority votes, endorsing motions to change the composition of the members of the Private Business Committee.

He then attempted to ask the court to stay a potential vote of no confidence after the Opposition through Patrick Pruaitch filed a motion of no confidence.

This case apparently couldn't be heard by a three man bench of the Supreme Court, as there was no utility.

It was withdrawn by the Prime Minister's lawyers.

The circumstance was a result of an un predicted twist- while the case was on foot the Opposition withdrew its vote of no confidence motion on the premise that they would change the alternate Prime Ministerial nominee, replacing James Marape.

Two MP's who also defected from Peter O'Neill's coalition to the Opposition also back flipped- the increasing social media audience has described the MP's as "political ÿoyos". 

Peter O'Neill through Alotau MP and Treasurer Charles Abel after a long awaited press conference said the coalition was in tact and would defeat a vote of no confidence.

But it seems in PNG this is not true. In PNG politics one must guard its coalition members well and for O'Neill the trend of events meant he must be cautioned that anything can happen.

There was already a crack when his lieutenant and possibly the most trusted person, then leader of government business and Finance Minister James Marape resigned.

Marape's move has commanded, influenced and became an attraction for other MP's to add to the originally committed 24 Opposition MP's under Patrick Pruaitch.

The team dubbed the alternate government has now confirmed 62 members joining the camp, that is six more MP's than the required 56 MP's to successfully elect a Prime Minister.

Do we have a new government now? 

Their mission was to change the political leadership and end Peter O'Neill's reign of close to eight years.

Peter O'Neill was Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019

After holding firm about 49 MPs in the Opposition,  United Resource party Leader William Duma led his 11 MPs defecting from Peter O'Neill's camp at Crown Hotel and joined them at the Laguna Hotel.

Ministers for Higher Education Minister Pila Niningi, Police  Jelta Wong.

and in fact before all Commerce Minister Wera Mori announced his resignation as Minister and joined the opposition.

The number crunch is 62 and that includes 49 original MPs, then adding Wera Mori, Pila Niningi and 11 URP members led by Hagen MP William Duma.

James Marape says the camp still welcome like minded leaders from Peter O'Neill's side.

There are 111 seats in Parliament and with the Opposition commanding 62 basically means Peter O'Neill now runs a minority government.

Is this the end of his Prime Minister's term after ascending to the role controversially in August 2011?

PNGDF presents a back brief about its security operations during APEC 2018

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has presented a back brief about its five years of engagement in the security operations of APEC 2018 to stakeholders and the media on Wednesday.

The briefing which is essentially “Lessons Learnt from PNGDF” is focused on three key areas of strategic planning, operational and tactical.

“We went through a sequence of events and identified strengths and weaknesses,” said Colonel Siale Diro, then the Deputy Commander of APEC 2018 Joint Security Task Force.

Twenty-five organisations were part of the joint task force team.

“It is our responsibility to record and present for our future generations,” he said.

In what is hailed as the first ever kind of briefing following any security operations, it will then be merged into a journal, copyrighted and becomes an intellectual property of the PNGDF for history and reference for future operations.

“This is the biggest security operation that we’ve ever been part of in the history of our country,” Diro said.

“It would be irresponsible and remiss of us not to do justice and pass on information to our next generation.”

“It will provide a baseline understanding for the generation to come,” he said.

Colonel Siale Diro (right) ready to offer a gift to Australian High Commission representative Marc Fox

He revealed the security planning, upon request from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and as it was the first time APEC was going be hosted by a small Pacific nation-they included a subtle “Pacific flavour.”

What that meant was that they tried to make sure the environment was “happy and condusive” for the visitors with minimum military presence or concerns of security threats.

“You didn’t see fighter aircrafts dominating the skies during that one week,” he began.

“You didn’t see Royal Australian Air Force providing total air support.”

“You didn’t see on the street overt military presence.”

“We tried to hang back as much as we could and arrive at the safe moment so our visibility will be minimized as much as possible.

Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia who provided support to the security operations congratulated the PNGDF on their effort.

Head of Australian Defence Staff Colonel James Kidd said though the security planning was trying to satisfy what foreign and big economies desired, it was done through the Pacfic Way and they were immensely proud.

Is there anybody?

BY BARNEY ORERE


Some taxi drivers were asked what they thought about the politics. All said they were busy with making a living and left politics to politicians who know best.

In some street corners people of highlands origin are deep in discussion and names like William Duma and others pop up- they’re obviously evaluating how the region’s politicians are placed in this tug-of-war which is about control over the country’s resources.

But the people are not so focused on resources. Time has come though where party strength, party policies and resource exploitation is going to determine the cadre of leadership in the Highlands; the domineering power bloc.

The winds of change is blowing where resources such as oil and gas is going to bring more of this kind of political instability, that is exactly what has been started.

Government departments competing for larger share of the budget is going to put service-delivery further out of reach because politicians place their cronies in public service positions to dance to their music. The bottom line is people are left behind. This is a far greater threat than the country has ever faced and the intensity is alarming.

Ordinary Papua New Guineans at this Koki Market in Port Moresby do their usual sale of food daily to make ends meet

Everyone wants to build on success that appears to be the trend nowadays. You will see support from abroad going to active provinces and never their original initiatives and you begin to wonder why because put your best foot forward is an old saying yet they keep going to fix trouble spots while ignoring those trying but are languishing in boredom.

We need to change this pattern because people of PNG are going to depend more and more on friendly governments and donor agencies. It is how you actually make subtle interventions, responding to small humanitarian projects if our leaders are going to fight on and on about who has the fattest cheque book.

Some groups engaged in this ridiculous fanfare are busy digging their graves but they cannot see beyond their nose. In front of the nose is something more sinister. People are calling for calm everywhere. What are we thinking of? Whose interest are we really talking about because it is the wheels of politics that is turning, not something else and this wheel apparently has a few cogs?

Friendly countries more often than not do not understand PNG politics because our mindset, that is attitude, is different- our culture (values and beliefs) and our background or upbringing is different. If we are truly educated, we will overcome these hurdles, education increases our ability to reason.

Questions that pop up at times like this is- what are they fighting for and who is the enemy?  This evaluation is done to help those who  need some explanation as to what is going on.

True, political instability will alarm neighbours and others who want to take advantage of chaos so there’s got to be a point where common sense needs to prevail.

Some people may be waiting to see PNG collapse and we may be just working very hard at getting close. You can never tell how close, close can be, that is the problem. But the alarm bells could be ringing if Mister democracy is indeed creeping into the picture.

Our ears may be closed. Our minds; oh, sorry, our eyes may be closed?  One can say this assumption is absurd. But what do you call something where the system of government is brought into question?  If you have to defend this, what will you be defending?

The Pangu Pati may be an institution but the nation’s oldest party is not stable; something that has plagued the part for many years. We have the named alternate prime minister joining Pangu according to news reports and the Governor of Morobe saying he is still the party leader. Oh dear.

If you really want to change the guard tell the nation something that makes sense. People do not need to know there are many prime ministers running around out there; they want a good captain for the ship, that’s all. Morobe has many gold fields and so in Oro where there’s oil, gas and all the minerals you can think of.

Guess who is going to have the last laugh if you do not end this soon? But please take a break because Christians are praying for all of you.

Here’s a children’s story. One Sunday, the parish chairman organized a family sports day. The Sunday School was invited to run a race. Among the children was a boy whose one leg was shorter. The starter’s gun went off and cheered on by parents and citizens, the children took off down the field. The field got uneven in the middle and the boy with short leg stumbled and fell.

He began to cry loudly as his friends sped away. But when one of the bigger girls heard the boy’s cries, she stopped running and looked back. The rest of the pack also stopped running and they all looked back.

The crowd by now had stopped cheering and looked on in silence. The bigger girl walked back to the child still on the ground and said, look you have not lost, get up and she offered her hand. They both walked back to the rest of the group and at her bidding, everyone joined hands and they all walked together to the finishing line. The watching parents and citizens cheered wildly with many fighting back tears.

New Hanover people in New Ireland urged to take ownership of law and order issues

The people of New Hanover in New Ireland are being urged to take control of their own policing and community affairs.

The New Ireland Provincial Government has issued a statement.

Governor Sir Julius Chan made the call at Ungat during his last visit on Sunday  April 28. His visit was a result of a murder committed on Saturday April 27, following fighting between villages in the area. New Hanover is known to be a volatile area historically, with much of the fighting attributed to revenge killings.

According to a police report the deceased Sition Michael, of Neikaukai village was beheaded. He had previously also murdered another person namely, Passinganrina Laitis of Tabotakalas village, South Lavongai.

“There are two fighting groups that are in these remote areas having access to weapons of their choice, using them for paybacks from nearby villages. There was destruction to food crops, pets, 7 houses were burnt and another 2  were badly damaged,” reported Provincial Police Commander Gideon Ikumu. 

Again recently more senseless violence and destruction of private property has occurred leaving some 20 children and adults homeless after homes were burnt.

Sir Julius told locals that if they want lasting peace it had to come from themselves through change in their attitudes. He urged the people to value life.

“ God created and you destroyed. What you did is against the 5^th commandment “ Thou shall not kill”. 

There is no use dispatching police here, what will it solve? You leaders and the community have to take a tough stance. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.” expressed Sir J.

He said the local population has grown but there has been very little to show in terms of physical infrastructure on the ground. This is attributed to the lack of responsibility by the locals to look after infrastructure which included the Digicel communication towers.

“ The population is growing but you have nothing to show. Lavongai is still the same as when our forefathers were still around. We have to think about the future generation, what will we leave behind for them?”

The 60km Unity road, which is 25km complete, is the vision of Sir Julius to unite   the North and South of New Hanover. He said next time he returns to New Hanover in August, is to open the road.

“This road has received the biggest funding allocation of the 2018-2019 budget with K7.5 million spent so far, the total cost after the road is complete is an estimated K20 million,” said Sir Julius.

Responding to a query by the President of the Lavongai LLG Mathew Makapa about the government assisting with funding for start up Small to Medium Enterprises, Sir J said, “ My Government has authorized K200, 000 for all 10 LLG Presidents to fund approved projects and K30, 000 to your ward members, you can submit your proposals to them.”

Sir J said this is the biggest allocation ever to restore the third tier LLG Government and is in line with his government’s policy of decentralization of Powers.

The hurdles in ousting Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

Intense lobbying is going on between politicians to muster numbers in electing a Prime Minister through a motion of no confidence against incumbent Peter O’Neill.

The motion is likely to be moved when Parliament resumes next week, May 7.

At this stage, we don’t know who would be the candidate.

Peter O’Neill though has enjoyed a strong and stable Government since his ascension and controversial election as Prime Minister on August 2, 2011.

He then successfully returned as Prime Minister after two national general elections- 2012 and 2017.

Peter O'Neill (right) sitting in Parliament

His ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party in 2017 mustered majority of the electoral wins and was invited by the Governor General to form government which he did and enjoyed stability and cohesion since.

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was the last longest serving Prime Minister who held the post for a record nine years (2002 to 2011).

Despite Peter O’Neill’s much stabilised reign, there were serious and constant allegations labeled against his government for mismanagement, running the economy down, corruption, breaches of law, favoritism in offering contracts- allegations mainly issued by the Opposition, pressure groups and political commentators.

But Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has never been weakened and countered the allegations through some well crafted public relations responses playing down the severity of the allegations and pointing people to increased infrastructure developments.

He was loved, admired, praised and his coalition government numbers increased to a comfortable 86.

But the recent events of resignations by his government ministers’ (James Marape –Finance and Davis Steven- Justice and Attorney General) and MP’s defecting from his PNC party though minor from his standpoint- it’s been rattling and Papua New Guineans with their rationale conclude that things are not right within Peter O’Neill’s coalition.

If we were to prematurely crunch numbers, Peter O’Neill has about 79 members, that includes West Sepik’s Governor Anthony Wouwou who did an unorthodox move courting one anti-O’Neill camp comprising members of the Opposition, made news headlines that he had defected but within less the 24 hours made news headlines again courting his party leader Peter O’Neill and dispelling media reports he left the party.

Tari Pori MP James Marape (right) shaking hands with Morobe
 Governor Ginson Saonu, 

The Opposition has 24 members and excluding the Speaker, the balance of seven dissenting MP’s would most likely vote against Peter O’Neill.

While lobbying and strategic political maneuverings and discussions may not have reached the mass media, surely there are deep discussions behind the scenes.

People everywhere are watching with keen interest through social media, radio, TV, newspapers and online news media.

As it is, there are three options likely to eventuate after all the political hype and lobby against Peter O’Neill is settled within the next possible three weeks.

I say three weeks because a notice of motion to move a vote of no confidence has to be presented to the Speaker of Parliament, a week before it is moved.

The motion will be vetted by a committee chaired by the Speaker and the motion must be signed by several MP’s who also propose the alternate Prime Minister.

So there’s a bit of work to do for any one or group to first muster the magic number of 56 and then get the nod from the Speaker and his committee.

If Peter O’Neill was to survive the vote of no confidence, though he has been confident and firm that his coalition government was intact and as vibrant as ever, he must be reminded that cracks have surfaced from within and he must be at his best than ever to counter.

He must hold strong the 79 he has as turn of events indicate shocking decisions can be made when you least expect it.

He must first ensure he is not voted out in the party caucus meeting.

James Marape has been forthright this week, he wants the PNC party leadership to be tabled-essentially he says he does not want Peter O’Neill to lead the party and be the Prime Minister.

Does James Marape imply he was one of many within the party who desires a change in party leadership?

Peter O’Neill has since responded that Marape was not welcome in the party caucus meeting.

The second option which could work to replace Peter O’Neill as Prime Minister is a major dissent from within the government coalition who votes against him. Again the magic number is 56.

The third which uses a similar modus operandi as the above in the vote of no confidence-the person can be from the coalition government or the opposition but they must convince and secure 56 votes to oust Peter O’Neill.

The first hurdle though is an alternate Prime Minister must have been chosen within the next six days.

While that looms, Papua New Guineans observe with keen interest how this would ­­­­­eventually pan out as lobbying intensifies and THE day gets closer day by day.