Change PNG!

Comment

Comment by Rips Amesii on September 2, 2009 at 5:50pm

Guys!! Just wanna make a comment about the sickness which has already claimed almost two hundred lives in Morobe province.The sickness/disease is confirmed as cholera and that disease is very common in most underdeveloped countries where especially water is a real problem to them where people use water which is conteminated with sewage and other household or agricultural wastes.They even go to the extreme of using urine for animals to wash or drink when there is no water.
However,we PNGeans are not doing that because we have abundant fresh waters throughout the country but yet how comes those people are dying from that disease? It doesn't matter how much millions of kina the international donors can donate to us to improve our health status.As long as poverty and unemployment still remain unsolved,people will continue to die even from the minor curable diseases like flu or mild diarrhoea.If our blind government can continue to spend our scarce resources without looking into what really causes all that suffering and pains to our ordinary citizens,then,how on earth will the government and even us change PNG???? You are proud of PNG because it is a land of the unexpected but for me,I am sad because,if there is no PNG on this planet,then,there won't be any pains and sufferings for PNG......

Comment by Rips Amesii on July 16, 2009 at 4:50pm

Leader of Opposition
PO Parliament House Waigani
National Capital District Papua New Guinea
Tel: 3277 631 Fax: 3277 632
Statement by Opposition Leader
15th July 2009
Carbon Trading and Office of Climate Change and Environment Sustainability

Mr Speaker

Our country has the world’s third largest rain forest. We note and applaud the part Papua New Guinea is playing as a member of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CRN), a body set up to encourage the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and to convert forest assets into revenue without timber or other commercial exploitation.

At the same time, however, we note the paradox between these efforts and the very close connections between the Somare Government and timber companies, as well as the paradox between these efforts and our fiscal regime for forestry, and with logging practices throughout the country. Paradox might, Mr Speaker, be seen to be a polite word for hypocrisy.

While the Opposition applauds the CRN initiative, we would like the PNG Government to give us more information about the CRN Secretariat – whether for example the PNG Government is contributing funds to the Secretariat, or whether any Secretariat staff are in any way connected to commercial transactions that the Government is entering for the sale of carbon credits from tracts of land in Papua New Guinea.

Of course climate change conferences are popular in 2009, but it would be hard for anyone (apart from perhaps our own Prime Minister) to match the globe-trotting of Kevin Conrad and Co – or indeed the theatrics they are performing. Last week at Chatham House in London Mr Conrad attempted to defend what he called “irregularities” in PNG Government actions over REDD.

Mr Speaker, we note the alarming developments that have recently come to light in relation to premature carbon trading, and the most unusual agreements that the Government appears to be entering with a large number of individuals and companies to represent and trade carbon on our behalf, without proper scrutiny and without regulatory policy or legislation in place.

On behalf of the Opposition I wish to caution the Prime Minister and his Government and say that we trust that they will ensure that carbon revenue derived in respect of our country will be for the people, not for a few individuals or companies here or abroad.

I deliberately say “trust”, Mr Speaker, because if we are not careful, cowboys operating behind the scenes, using our name and wearing our cloak, will reap the lion’s share of carbon revenue. Even Mr Conrad has admitted that, quote, “we had every carbon cowboy in the world descend upon Papua New Guinea and try to get a deal with landowners”.

Mr Speaker it appears that the Prime Minister and his henchmen, including the Minister for Planning and more recently the Director of the Office of Climate Change, have been hawking these potential assets around the world to all and sundry, including some of Mr Conrad’s “carbon cowboys”.

As far back as 2005, long before we had an Office of Climate Change, the PM and one of his kitchen circle were dabbling in carbon trading. On 24th October 2005, Hon Paul Tiensten, then Minister for Trade and Industry wrote to a company called Climate Assist (PNG) Ltd.

Mr Speaker it absolutely amazes me that a minister of state could sign such a letter as this to anyone. The lack of policy or process reflected in and by the letter is astounding.

I quote:
“The Prime Minister has accepted that PNG has carbon credits and they are trad[e]able commodity. The Prime Minister and I have accepted that Climate Assist (PNG) Ltd acts as brokers on behalf of the Independent State of PNG to buy and sell carbon credits.

The carbon credits have been assigned to Climate Assist (PNG) Ltd through our certificate and monetization that will finance designated projects within PNG.

Therefore, this letter sets to acknowledge the role of Climate Assist (PNG) Ltd and advise that the Government of the Independent State of PNG unconditionally guarantee[s] all actions undertaken for the monetization of these credits.”

In the years since 2005 Climate Assist (PNG) has been actively pursuing the deal it struck with Mr Tiensten. It seems that last year, 2008, the PNG Office of Climate Change signed memos with Climate Assist and another company called Earth Sky, whereby these companies would advance $10 million to the Office of Climate Change in return for the rights to sell $500 million carbon offsets, retaining 20% for themselves. Mr Speaker, that 20% is worth $100 million.

A search of Climate Assist (PNG) Ltd with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) reveals it to be a one dollar company based in Rockhampton with its sole director, Mr Gregory Corby, providing an address in Toowoomba. We wonder what credentials this company has, Mr Speaker, to be appointed as broker for the state by the Prime Minister and Minister Tiensten. We also wonder what connections it might have to associates of the Mirigini kitchen cabinet.

Recent media reports have revealed that another Australian company, Carbon Planet, last year advanced the Office of Climate Change $1.2 million. This payment was reported by Carbon Planet in its 2008 financial statement to ASIC as quote “advance funding on [PNG] origination projects in the 2009 financial year”, that is, money which will be recouped from profits from PNG carbon trading.

It is interesting to note that Carbon Planet says that it expects the voluntary carbon market to exceed $20 billion by 2012, just three years away.

As with Climate Assist, Mr Speaker, the Opposition wonders what connections Carbon Planet and its Chairman, Mr Jim Johnson have with the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister’s associates.

We also wonder why, when questioned about this payment by an AAP reporter, Mr Johnson would say so defensively (quote): “I am not explaining at all. I am not having this conversation”.

We wonder what this payment was for, who this payment was made to, and what commitments either the Prime Minister or the Office of Climate Change has given to Carbon Planet in return for this money.

The three cases I have already cited Mr Speaker are not the only examples of premature carbon trading conducted by the Government. Apparently last year, the Office of Climate Change authorized a Swiss based broker, South Pole Carbon Asset Management, to market 1 million tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emission per annum from a PNG logging project based in the Sepik, April Salome.

A close relative of the Prime Minister is involved with yet another company, Pacific Carbon. The media alleges the PM’s relative has been urging people in East Sepik to sign away rights to land for trading carbon to this company.

The Governor for Eastern Highlands brought more anomalies to light at the Regional Conference on Climate Change held in Goroka in May. Hon Mal Kela Smith asked the Director of Climate Change why foreigners were controlling the millions of kina being poured into the Office. He asked why the Office’s Advisory Board was demanding a percentage of income raised, rather than having a fixed budget like any other government agency. He asked why a company based in the British Virgin Islands, Earth Sky, was being used as an agent, and who the real owners of the secretive Virgin Islands company were.

Governor Smith drew attention to the checkered track record of Kevin Conrad in Papua New Guinea, and his close association with both the failed multi million kina POSF housing scheme (where K17 million disappeared, unaccounted for) and the demise of ANGCO, which resulted in PNGBC having to write off 35 million kina. Understandably the Governor for Eastern Highlands was concerned about the financial probity of the Office of Climate Change. Taking his lead, the Conference resolved to request the Public Accounts Committee to examine the Climate Change Office and the Auditor General to audit the books of the Office immediately.

To my knowledge neither action has yet taken place.

Not to be outdone by lesser known companies, Macquarie Bank seems to have also entered the arena. Macquarie Bank has been in discussions with the Office of Climate Change, offering to broker carbon trade deals and retain 15% of profits. If the voluntary carbon market turns out to be worth billions of dollars in the next couple of years, as predicted by a number of players, the Bank’s 15% would be very handsome income indeed.
And then we have the controversial Kumula Doso concession in Western Province. Despite the ongoing court case over this concession between the Eco Forestry Forum on behalf of landowners and Rimbinan Hijau, it seems that Carbon Planet has hooked up with a company called Nupan PNG Ltd, to trade carbon credits in respect of this land - all sanctioned by the Office of Climate Change. When asked why the Office had issued certificates authorizing such trade, the Director’s lame excuse was that the certificates – all 39 of them – were not real certificates, they were “samples”.

Mr Speaker, it is obvious that the whole situation in relation to carbon trading in our country is a complete and utter mess. Instead of developing an appropriate policy and legal framework that ensures protection of the interests of landowners and the state, the Prime Minister, Ministers and the staff of the Office of Climate Change have been criss-crossing the globe, appointing “brokers” on who knows what terms, and basically selling people’s and national assets at whim.

Mr Speaker the Opposition wants to know whether Cabinet has approved all of these schemes. We want to know what the purpose of these so-called advance payments is. We want to know whether these monies were paid to Consolidated Revenue or directly to the Office of Climate Change or its agents.

If the funds have not been paid to Consolidated Revenue, we want to know how are they being accounted, and what authority the Office of Climate Change has to raise or to spend these funds.

Above all, we want to know why the Government is promoting all these deals, when there is no regulatory policy or legislation for carbon trading in Papua New Guinea.

Thank you Mr Speaker.


Rt Hon Mekere Morauta KCMG MP

Comment by Rips Amesii on June 20, 2009 at 8:35pm

We must not ask what PNG can do for us but ask what we can do for our great nation,which is rich but yet poor.Every citizen of PNG has the potential to cotribute towards the development of the nation whether they are rich or poor,male or female.It doesn't matter,what matters is to put the inward abilities into action..

Comment by Random on June 2, 2009 at 4:58pm

I agree,women do have the potenial to make a better nation.In order for more female politicians and to put an end to gender inequality,certain issues concerning women need to be addressed.Issues such as Domestic and Sexual Violence,these issues hinder females from reaching their full potenial and what they are capable of achieving.It gives a menatality of fear and weakness to women from excelling.Men need to realise the FACT that women are capable of anything and that they need to be treated with REPECT.However Renaissance you have highlighted that politicans as "corrupt,selfish and self-centered",I must advise you that not all politicans and departmental heads are corrupt and selfish.If you want to critize them,I suggest you be specific,DO NOT generalise our politicans because this nation does have some exceptional leaders.God Bless PNG!
PNG REP.

Comment by Renaissance on June 1, 2009 at 3:43pm

Definitely all equal oppunitiies be given to women who are highly respectable and abided by our cultures and traditional norms. If women can manage their family with whatever little income given by their husbands,and organise household staffs in order, why not the country! Ladies you must know that, that is the most important gift that you have and with that gift you can always change the nation. Nothing is impossibe. If women can become pilots, enginners, doctors, police, lawyers and politicians& etc... why not. We really need good mothers in this country to move our country forward with good fathers and not the corrupt, selffish and self centered politiciants and their department heads who hold onto the positions greedly as if it is theirs by birthright.Together with good fathers we can change this nation.God Bless you and be a good mother of this great rich nation.
I am for Change PNG! are you there?

Comment by Some-One on June 1, 2009 at 1:10am

Yes, I agree with Random 100%. Women really can do ALOT for the betterment of our country. All they need, is to be provided with avenues that encourage and welcome their input.
Somebody also made the comment about how we have to accept things as they are...
I actually think that if we choose NOT to accept things as they are, only then can change truly take place. As by recognisng the things we view as flaws or inadequate, only then will we be motivated to work towards improving certains conditions. But thats just my opinion.
And yes, we definately need to eradicate nepotism. the wantok system, corruption and bribery. But if our very society operates on such things, it will be very difficult to put an end to it all,

Comment by Random on June 1, 2009 at 12:05am

Our country needs change.Change in all aspects for this country to move forward.I believe that change can take place.....I'am a patriotic citizen,but I believe that in order for change to take place we need reform in some aspects of our culture,to allow change.Firstly,It is evident that corruption is a contributing factor to PNG backwardness,in order for that to be eradicated,we need to bring stop to 'Wantok System'.Wantok System creates divisons and favouritism hence corruption is still in exsistent.We need to strieve as one people one nation,in order for a better PNG,we cannot continue to prioritize our 'wantoks',we must look beyond that,and view every Papua New Guinean as equal,regardless of gender or ethnic background,we must become one.Secondly,Gender Inequality,we have to respect every PNG women as an independent indivudual not as possesions.We have to realize the FACT that women can do anything as their male counterparts and that they are capable of achieving anything! This may see the eradication of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence against women.I'am all for Change in this great nation of ours but in order for change we need to change our attitudes.

Comment by Santoo on May 31, 2009 at 11:35pm

Obviously change is not that easy but let us see it through the word of mouth. I believe my mouth makes a louder noise than my limbs so let is say I am for Change PNG!Yep.

Comment by Renaissance on May 25, 2009 at 5:23pm

Very interesting to hear people speaking their mind as a real nationalist. Well done! Really, every seconds, every minute, every hour, every day, every night, every week, every month and every year we are becoming the victims of corruptions. from the small baby to the students, from the unemployed youths to the poor public servants, we have been reaped and are still being reaped by the foreigners and the corrupt, self centered government of the day.
Look at the informal sectors on the street, Honestly speaking , they are the ones that are really boosting the economy and the cash flow of this country of ours. How many of these informal sectors have huge investments abroad like our self fish corrupt government officials and Politicians? No none of them! They are real nationalist . Really i cry for them from the depth of my heart. God Bless them all.Look at the poor public servants who have sleepless days and nights just to make sure that the government departments of these country runs smoothly. They are the ones who are doing the most dirtiest job in running this country and not the politicians with their ministers and department heads and yet they are paid the lowest. While the politicians who do nothing but just passing policies of neglect which are not favorable to the whole population of this country. And now the Asian invasion of our country.Look at all the business activities in this country? Starting from manufacturing to wholesale, super market to taka box stores (trade stores ) which are then preserved for the Papua New Guineans. All forms of business sectors have all been taken over by the Asians and what business is reserved for the Papua New Guineans? Nothing!! They are even going in extreme into selling of flour bols, frying sausages, lamp flaps, selling of cigarettes and all the way to selling of Flex card and prepaid on the street.Hey! whats all this!!And what business are we all going to get involved in please?? We have have been blocked in every angle so that we suffocate and die. This is slavery in our own land. I am FED UP!!DAMM ! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! Even after graduating from the colleges and universities, what job are we going to get involve into? All the jobs are all been occupied by foreigners and mostly Asians. After wasting huge sum of money on paying school fees, there is no job, What is all these?? Come on Nationalists we got to do something before we become minorities in our own country. This is my country and not the Asian.

Comment by sL@DE on May 24, 2009 at 1:15am

Before you talk about changes in this country as a whole, changes must begin from you as an individual and it starts from your own home. If you learn to accept things as they are, then you will have no problems but it seems that we are always complaining about food, money, clothes. These are small things in life. Think about helping, sharing, caring, loving our own brothers and sisters. Stop corruption, brivery and fraud, nepotism and etc....I'll just leave you all with this phrase" If you cannot love the one whom you see with your naked eyes, how can you say I love you Jesus or God, whom you cannot see" You all have a top week.

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