Why should you vote for Robert Agarobe to be Central Province Governor?

 

FEW ACHIEVEMENTS TO NOTE

10 percent GST from NCDC to increase annual budget

Central Province is owed close to K400 million that is supposed to come from Goods and Services Tax from the National Capital District Commission 

The people of Central Province are entitled to this GST but have never been receiving it

No other Governor over the years pushed for Central to rightfully receive its share of the GST until Honourable Chief Robert Agarobe was elected Governor

The three pillars for development are 

Agriculture, Sports, Tourism

Under Hon Chief Robert Agarobe’s leadership, the long overdue Provincial Lands Board was established to deal with Central Province land issues

                                                December, 2018

Some component of GST should come through Central Province so that we can develop infrastructure and services in the province

As a first time parliamentarian, Hon Chief Robert Agarobe has been very vocal on the floor of Parliament raising critical matters for Central Province. Most of them are legacy issues.

Honorable Chief Robert Agarobe’s push to get the GST from NCDC has received big endorsement from Prime Minister James Marape 

Hospital Launching

 Central Province is the only province that does not have a  provincial town of its own

 

As far as health workers is concerned it has only 138 Health Workers

 

Three are three doctors, 20 are Health Extension Officers and  115 are general nurses

 

We have a shortage with health manpower in the province and our people are forced to seek medical attention at the Port Moresby General Hospital

History has been made to improve health care. That’s a very good news.

On the 30^th November2021, the Central Governor and other dignitaries who include Prime Minister James Marape gathered at Bautama to launch the construction of a 390 bed  Central Provincial Hospital. 

It’s a milestone ceremony.

Out of the760 hectares of land allocated, 50 hectares will be used to build the Central Provincial Hospital

The K300 million, 390 beds hospital will be the first ever for the province and this is something we always wanted as a people and as a province

 Other infrastructure that will be built include

·         A nursing college

·         A transit drug store

With the new Central Provincial Hospital being launched, work on its construction will progress and once the hospital is completed, it will provide much needed health services for Central Province.

Apart from housing 390 beds for clinical treatment, specialist health care in internal medicine, surgery, pediatric, women’s obstetrics and gynecology will be provided.

Governor Agarobe says we are now progressing to be on par with other provinces in delivering quality health services.

Such huge development is a catalysts for more development at the provincial headquarters.

 

 NCD Amendment

 

For over 20 years, NCDC had been giving less than 2 per cent of its GST to Central Province

This contravenes the NCDC Act which requires NCDC to remit 10 percent to Central Province

This was a long standing issue with both the provincial government and the municipal authority at loggerheads and the two parties went to court.

However with the new NCDC Amendment Act passed after Honourable Chief Robert Agarobe brought it to Parliament, the dues for Central Province are set out clearly

We must be proud and happy. After years if hardship, disputes and court battles, Central Governor Robert Agarobe successfully moved and amended the NCDC Act on the floor of Parliament.

 Before the private members bill was passed, there was heated debate amongst Members of Parliament

Despite a few opposition, there was tremendous support from several Members of Parliament

Governor Agarobe’s bill moved to amend the NCDC Act explicitly states that the Commissioner General of the Internal Revenue Commission shall pay 10 per cent directly to the Central Provincial Government

For the first time in history and backed by the NCDC Amendment Act, both the Central Province Governor and the NCDC Governor will sit on the same NCDC board and make decisions

Ultimately, Governor Agarobe is now a member of the National Capital District Commission Board

 

 

 

 

 

Driver of vehicle crashing into DPM Sam Basil was intoxicated

Police Commissioner David Manning released an official statement today in relation to the vehicle accident that claimed the lives of the late Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Sam H Basil MP, and his Close Protection Officer First Constable Neil Maino.

Sam Basil's funeral Photo Rueben Giusu Facebook

Following a brief from the Divisional Commander Northern Assistant Commissioner Peter Guiness, Mr Manning said, “A Police investigation commenced immediately following the incident and on documenting the accident scene and interviewing the two survivors of the accident, police investigators were satisfied with the evidence on hand to lay charges on the driver of the other vehicle.

“Investigators were able to confirm that the accident involved two vehicles. The late DPM was the driver of one vehicle whilst a Mr Mathew Barnabas, a 37 year-old male from Ambai village, Simbai in the Madang Province was the driver of the other.

Barnabas, a coffee buyer who is married to a local woman from Mumeng, Bulolo District, is being transported into Lae tomorrow where he is likely to be charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing the the deaths of the Deputy Prime Minister and his CPO and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to the other two passengers.

Mr Manning said investigations pointed to allegations of a dangerous combination of speed and driving under the influence of liquor, allegedly by Barnabas, as evident from the bottles of alcohol recovered from his vehicle.

Mr Manning expressed his condolences to the families and described the incident as “very tragic”. He went on to say that whilst the country is coming to terms with the loss of its Deputy Prime Minister, the RPNGC is also coming to terms with the loss of one of its own.

“The loss of late F/C Maino is very tragic. We witnessed his young wife and daughter as well as his parents mourning over his casket and it was a very emotional day on Sunday when their bodies were flown into Port Moresby.

“The RPNGC and the Police Legacy will ensure we continue to support F/C MAINO’s widow and daughter as much as we can during this time of bereavement and into the future,” Mr Manning said.

Mr Manning renewed his call for calm during this time as a sign of respect for the memory of the late DPM and his CPO.

“Yumi mas soim pasin kastom na respect lo dispela taim. Hevi kamap pinis. Polis wokim wok painim aut pinis lo as blo dispela hevi. Na nau em taim lo sindaun wantaim na soim sore lo lida blo yumi. Luksave na strongim femili blo lida blo yumi, na blo polis man blo yumi tu,” Mr Manning said in Tok Pisin.

Commissioner Manning added he was aware of posts on social media regarding the circumstances leading up to and during the incident.

“I would like to caution those who are involved in this reckless behaviour to refrain from causing unnecessary stress and provoking violence during this time. Police have obtained sufficient evidence to support the charges that will be laid and that is what we will do.

“I had made an appeal to anyone with any information relating to the incident to come forward to the investigation team and provide that information officially, and that offer is still there. To date we have not received anything officially supporting the social media posts, except information on the vehicle accident itself,” Mr Manning concluded.

Press Release-Police Department

Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister dies following a tragic car accident

Papua New Guinea woke up to a distressing and shocking news about the death of its Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament representing the people of Wau-Bulolo Samuel Basil on Thursday morning, May 12, 2022.

Police Commissioner David Manning issued a statement late Wednesday evening that Basil and his close protection office Neil Maino succumbed to injuries sustained during the car accident along the Lae to Bulolo highway.

Another police officer and a media personnel were seriously injured and were being treated.

 Manning said another vehicle was involved in the accident and police would question the driver of the vehicle.

Late Basil's dead body was brought to Port Moresby by a Manolos Aviation helicopter on Sunday arriving at the evening and a state funeral will be afforded to late Basil.

The police department will honour CPO Maino in a special funeral as well.

A police officer who survived the accident told Post Courier in an exclusive interview.

"As we were driving it was a small corner,  so as we were about to turn the corner, we could see the lights of the oncoming vehicle coming from up there," Sgt Fred Setu said.

Samuel Basil (late)

He said as they were negotiating the corner with late Basil at the steering wheel "this car from nowhere just drove straight" and rammed them from the drivers side where Basil was driving.

"In a few seconds as I saw the car approaching us I screamed at the leader (Basil) but it was too late, the car hit us already and after  a few seconds time mi tanim long ol boys long backside, I could see them but olgeta ol sleep long backsait, we were all in a state of shock in few seconds."

Setu was sitting offside Basil in front and was saved by the dashboard and security wires in front of the windscreen though his head impacted the windscreen.

He rushed to save Basil who was unconscious but breathing and lying down on his seat.

He turned to late CPO Maino and he got the response: "Mi orait savim lida pastaim."

Both Basil and Maino passed on 30 minutes apart at the Bulolo clinic.

 

Michael Kandiu "the real estate businessman" denies offering money to election official

A candidate contesting the National Capital District governor's seat in 2022 is aggrieved The National Newspaper mentioned him as the one who offered bribe money amounting to over K180,000 to one Terence Hetinu.

The parts of the report which mentioned aggrieved Michael Kandiu's name were: "Hetinu, 51, from Kainantu’s Biteve village in Eastern Highlands, corruptly received K184,300 from Michael Kandiu to influence the outcome of the election for the NCD seat in 2017 general election."

"“The monies were received pursuant to a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between Kandiu, Hetinu and coordinator for Moresby North-East electorate Williue Winstand Ipuia, under which an unspecified sum of monies was made available to Hetinu and Ipuia for distribution amongst themselves, their families and for distribution ensuring the election of Kandiu.”

"Judge Berrigan added that upon Kandiu’s election, Hetinu was to be awarded all security contracts with the NCD Commission for a period of at least five years, subject to renewal."

Hetinu , the 2017 Election Manager for NCD was sentenced to seven years in prison with light labour  on Friday April 30, 2022 for having in possession K184,300.

He was jailed for official corruption.

Police investigations then concluded the money was to bribe election officials and Hetinu was caught on June 27, 2017 at a polling station at Six Mile in Port Moresby.

Michael Kandiu who was the runner up to Powes Parkop in the last two elections who was named in the newspaper report was disappointed that his reputation has now been tarnished.

 He said he was not charged by police after investigations because of the said memorandum of agreement.

Michael Kandiu at the press conference today

The sentencing of Hetinu and the report published appeared at the eve of another national general election and Kandiu, the real estate businessman is very concerned.

Calling a media conference he said the court decision did not implicate him in any way or form to have offered the money.

"What the judgment indicated was that the election manager received the money to secure my elections," Kandiu said.

He said he was rather a state witness during the court proceeding as the signature on the said agreement that police found in possession by Hetinu did not corroborate with his signatures used in his bank account, passport nor his drivers license.

Kandiu has now asked The National Newspaper to retract the report or he would seek legal advice and take legal proceeding against the media organisation.

"I don't go around bribing people to buy my way into anything," Kandiu said.

"I would have been arrested and charged (if) I was involved in any of this."

"Even I did not sign any contract with Mr Hetinu or whoever to induce my way into power."

He said Hentinu may be a sacrificial lamb and the real person who offered the money to Hetinu is out there.

Staff undergo training to improve sex crimes prosecution

A three-day Sexual Offences Squad (SOS) reflections workshop was held recently in Port Moresby with a view to improving investigations and prosecution of sex crimes.

The workshop, held at the Koitaki Country Club in Sogeri, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, was attended by the members of the Sexual Offence Squad of Boroko, Police prosecutors, a State prosecutor from the Office of the Public Solicitor of PNG and Advisors from the Papua New Guinea Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP).

The workshop was hosted by the Justice Services and Stability for Development (JSS4D) Program and led by Advisor Tevita Seruilumi and fully supported and funded under the Papua New Guinea Australian Partnership program in its priority areas to improve access to justice and help protection for survivors of family and sexual violence.

Mr Seruilumi said the workshop is a combination of reflection on the work of the SOS and to learn about some new areas they can improve on together as a group from prosecutions and investigations.

“Often when you do this work, it is not just exhaustive but also very traumatising and it impacts you.

“Not many people value and recognise the work of the CID and prosecutions, so this is one way to say thank you and also continue our learning,” Mr Seruilumi said.

The workshop was put together to reflect on the work of the SOS for the past three years and discuss the issues that arise as challenges, what currently works, and how they can improve in carrying out their duties diligently.

Police Prosecutor and Officer in Charge (OIC) Committal Court Sergeant Chris Iga said it was important that as prosecutors they know and understand how they would charge people committing sexual offenses, which relates to gender-based violence within the family circle, any organisation or the general public.

He said already on day one they had learnt a lot on topics surrounding sexual penetration of a minor, persistent sexual abuse, what kind of charges they can lay, understanding the concepts of why these laws have been changed or done away with such as the rule of corroboration, and the consent aspect of it.

Day one saw the participants paired into groups of two, with an exercise for crime scene identification, and search for elements that helped drive team work through a collaborative effort.

-Police Media Release

Papua New Guinea election official jailed

 As Papua New Guinea prepares to head to the campaign and polls, an election official was jailed for seven years by a judge at the National Court.

Terence Hetinu, 51, from Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands Province was the election manager for National Capital District in the 2017 election.

Terence Hetinu FB National Broadcasting Corporation

Judge Teresa Berrigan in sentencing Hetinu on Friday April, 30, 2022 said this must serve as a strong deterrent against election corruptions on the eve of another election.

She said there must be free, fair and safe elections.

Post Courier quoted Judge Berrigan: "It should never be forgotten that free and fair elections are the foundations upon which every thriving economy rests ensuring that government authority derives fromm the will of the people.

"The right to vote is enshrined in the Constitution and that right is sacred.

"The future of this country depends on it."

Hetinu is reported to have committed election fraud by corruptly receiving a large sum of money totaling K184, 300.

That money was to be used to pay polling officials in Port Moresby to secure the election of a candidate against incumbent Hon. Powes Parkop during the 2017 National General Elections.

Police arrested Hetinu on June 27, 2017 at a Six Mile polling location when he was caught red handed with the money bag inside an official Electoral Commission vehicle.

The money found by police Source: EMTV FB

Police also found in Hetinu's possession a contract of agreement between the candidate and himself detailing that Hetinu would be given a security business contract if the candidate won the election and be the Governor for National Capital District.

Judge Berrigan had described the crime as "official corruption of the worst kind", Post Courier reported.

Former Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato who defended Hetinu at that time saying the money were election allowances was charged with similar offences but was later cleared while Hetinu was found guilty of official corruption.

Metropolitan Superintendent then Sylvester Kalaut had pointed out that they understood that all allowance for election officials  were to be paid through their respective bank accounts, and not in cash

Corruption in Papua New Guinea by public officials had been a huge concern by the public and corruption watch dogs and commentators.

Blogger Martyn Namorong has once commented on a panel discussion that Papua New Guineans were too aspirational and want to own assets and in order to acquire them sooner is through corrupt means.

This has contributed to increase in fraud and corruption by public officials.