It has been one year since the 2022 National General Election (NGE) was held and like the previous elections before it, it was riddled with violence; however, the question now posed is that will the next National Election be better. Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas is one of the Members of Parliament who is adamant to see this change for the better and is enquiring what the government is doing now to get the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) to work on improving the election process going forward. “To maintain democracy, it is important for government to make sure…
Author: Emmanuel MAIPE
The Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission’s (ICCC) recent online survey on the BSP Financial Group Limited’s (BSP) new banking system has concluded that despite the upgrade, more problems followed after affecting alot of its customers. The ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Paulus Ain said that the key finding of the survey, revealed that despite BSP’s claim that the new Core Banking System would deliver an enhanced customer experience for all customers by providing a greater range of digitally enabled services making it simple and efficient for customers; that was not the case as revealed in the survey.…
The Member for Vanimo- Green, Belden Namah, has blamed the Treasurer for killing the logging industry by increasing the Log Export Tax over 50%, which was included in the 2023 National Budget passed last year. Mr. Namah argued that the increased logging tax has resulted in unemployment, revenue losses from the logging industry and landowners affected due to poor royalties being paid out to them. Namah said that the Treasurer, Ian Ling Stuckey, made a decision to increase the Log Export Tax, where parliament passed through the budget on the 2nd of December 2022. He questioned why the Treasurer had…
The State has resumed its payment of arrears owed to Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) for the outstanding rentals for the use of the superfund’s buildings and properties by State Departments, with NSL confirming receiving payment of K60 million from the State. This payment is in line with the agreement reached between the State and NSL last year, where the State had committed to settling its total rental arrears through monthly instalments of K5 million for the previously accrued arrears and K5 million to pay its current rental invoices. The State’s total rental arrears owing to NSL are expected to be…
The Momase Regional Youth Games are set for September in Madang, and it was made possible with the signing of the Host Contract Agreement between the Madang Provincial Administration and the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) of Papua New Guinea. The Regional Youth Games (RYG) is set to be hosted from September 25th to the 30th and is a new sporting concept targeting the rural youths who have less opportunity of participating in formally sanctioned sporting codes. “We have huge sporting potential and rural talents locked in the rural areas, they need some exposure in the mainstream sporting arena, hence…
Vanuatu’s parliament is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to debate a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau’s government. A political stalemate persists, with both the government and the opposition having the support of 25 MPs each. The mover of the motion, opposition leader and a former prime minister, Bob Loughman, requires the backing of at least 27 members to unseat Kalsakau. However, Kalsakau also needs a majority in the house if he is to be able to pass legislation going forward. Last Thursday, the government side boycotted a special sitting of parliament to avoid the no confidence…
The Momase Regional Youth Games is coming up and a total of 17 out of 26 districts in the Momase region have confirmed their participation in the inaugural event that will be staged in Madang province. Regional Youth Game (RYG) Coordinator John D’siguria said the games are set for 25th-30th September and Tournament Directors in 5 sports will draw up competition draws based on entries received. “Some 4,000 to 5,000 youths are expected to attend this Momase Regional Youth Games. There is overwhelming support and interest being shown by youths and sports administrators in all districts of the region as…
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird wants the government to make it known to parliament in the future just exactly how much the state owes in arrears for utilities and rentals to service providers. Governor Bird, when giving his response to the 2023 Mid- Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) update presented by the Treasurer recently in parliament, said the disclosure of such information for consideration for future government expenses in budgets, is important. “I’m not sure how far back a lot of these arrears have been carried by the government, whether these things have happened over the last couple of…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will continue to put in funding support to improve the country’s health sector in providing health services to the people. The USAID Administrator Her Excellency (H.E) Samantha Power said that health is another priority area for Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the partnership with the United States (US) is driving meaningful successes. She said for 22 years of working together, both countries have been collaborating to combat HIV/AIDS and other forms of illnesses. “Over 96, 000 people in the capital district alone have been tested, over 7, 000 people have been receiving…
Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey has assured Papua New Guineans that the country’s economy is performing so much better than the world economy, because of the government’s efforts in put together measures to protect the economy during a period of tough economic times experienced globally. Mr. Ling-Stuckey, when presenting the 2023 Mid- Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) update in parliament this week, said that the good performance reflects the Take Back PNG stance by the Prime Minister, whereby the government putting together policies and strategies, that have protected the people from the economic downturns facing the rest of the word. According…