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Niugini Facts, Port Moresby (2026)

04/03/2022

PNG CUSTOMS SETS 2022 AS THE YEAR OF ELEVATION

CUSTOMS Chief Commissioner David Towe is confident that the PNG Customs Service will be successful again this year. The Chief Commissioner declared 2022 as the Year of Elevation, challenging his leadership team and Customs Officers throughout the country to elevate on all fronts! Elevate on Leadership! Elevate in Productivity! Elevate in Producing Outstanding Results! Elevate in Team Work and Elevate in Integrity!

Whilst launching the 2022 Customs Work Plan in Port Moresby last Friday, the Chief Commissioner encouraged all officers to lift their performance again this year after a very successful 2021 with some outstanding results in both revenue collections and strong enforcement and compliance management.

Last year the Customs collected a total of K3,170.34 million in revenue, exceeding the Supplementary Budget projections by K54 million driven by increased compliance efforts at the borders and supported by a very successful ‘Run Home’ revenue recovery operation, that prompted Prime Minister James Marape to publicly commend Customs for the great effort and outstanding results. From 2020 results there was a significant 12.4% growth in revenue or K350million increase in revenue collections in 2021. This is a significant growth in revenue despite the year being depressed by Covid-19 induced factors suppressing the economy and limited imports and consumption.

The Chief Commissioner, his deputy, Benjamin Sine, Commissioner for Border Security and Regional Operations and Director Donny Kowuropa addressed staff through a nationwide zoom conferencing meeting to inspire and encourage them to elevate their performances this year to meet Government expectations.

“Last year is history,” the Chief Commissioner stated. “When you exceed projections, it is always difficult to maintain or better it but we can do it because we have reviewed and rebuilt the foundations of our business, we have fixed the loop holes, we have introduced the standard industry practices, fixed the standard operating procedures, all combined to establish the strong fundamentals of Customs to operate and thrive as a robust organisation.

“Leveraging from these and the resilience built last year, we are well positioned to deliver on a much higher note this year.

The Chief Commissioner stated that the work plan launched provided key result area and the key performance indicators all aligned to ultimately deliver on Government expectations again this year.

Acknowledging the Government’s budget support, he strong encouraged Customs officers to work together as a team with commitment, passion and loyalty to make this year a success. The success in 2021 was built on “Commitment to Excellence at Work in 2021 and Beyond. Creating Sense of Urgency.” 2022 is the Year of Elevation to produce far better results exceeding the results last year.

The key strategic priorities to be pursued by PNG Customs Service in 2022 were identified as:
1) Establishment of robust Enforcement & Prosecution
2) Rebuild the Intelligence & Targeting to enhance and strengthen a risk-based intelligence led operations
3) Strengthen the Post Clearance Audit processes with strong emphasis on compliance
4) Establish a stringent compliance management of excise through application of SIPs.
5) Stringent treatment of Error Detection Reports including Red Lane Entries.
6) Recruitment and Training with a key focus on leadership skills development at the middle management levels.
7) Strong Governance and Integrity in the organisation
8) Maintenance of ICT systems including AW
9) Development of new Corporate Plan 2023 - 2027
10) Build and construct the Lae Container Examination Facility (CEF) Project
11) Outstanding Impact Projects

The Chief Commissioner highlighted that given Customs’ great performance, the Government has in this year’s budget tasked Customs to collect up to almost K600million in addition compared to last year’s budget projection.

All the Customs divisional heads were gathered last month to review and revise the work plan to deliver this outcome as projected by the Government.

“We developed a total of 15 divisional work plans, total of 15 key result areas and 221 key performance indicators to be implemented,” he added.

The Chief Commissioner explained to staff the importance of ensuring the Government receives its return-on-investment citing the Governments unwavering budgetary support to Customs for its operations.

“With the increased investment by the Government this year in PNG Customs Service, the Government has increased our allocations for personnel emoluments and allowed Customs to recruit close to 100 new officers this year. The Government has also invested close to K25million for the procurement and construction of a border infrastructure - the long awaited non-intrusive container examination facility in Lae, Morobe Province.

“But this is not a free handout,” he explained. “The Government has done this because they want us to deliver because they know we can deliver greater results. This year our revenue collection target is close to K3.8billion, signifying an increase of about K600million from last year’s target” he stated.

The Chief Commissioner encouraged all officers to buy into this year’s theme to ‘Elevate On All Fronts’ in order to meet the Government’s expectations and be successful again this year.

“You must continue to maintain commitment to excellence but at an elevated level,” he stressed. “We have to elevate on leadership, elevate on teamwork and elevate on results to deliver stronger results in 2022.”

DAVID TOWE
Chief Commissioner of Customs
March 2, 2022

11/02/2022

The fear of snakes....Justin Olam

09/02/2022

GOVERNMENT MUST ABOLISH SPECIAL PREFERENCES FOR FOREIGN ACADEMICS

By Dr. Vojtech Novotney

Why is there still such an outdated policy as the International Market Allowance for the academic jobs in Papua New Guinea? A person with the same qualification and at the same university position will get twice the salary of a PNGnean on the account of being a foreigner. As a foreigner myself, I can assure you that there is a vast supply of completely useless foreigners in academic jobs everywhere and so paying somebody extra just because they are foreigners is absurd. Why not to scrap the IMA and use the money to reward high performance, treating the national and international staff to the same performance standards? Is that such a radical idea?

02/02/2022

300 NHC Land Titles Transferred: PUTTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT BY LABI AMAIU

The resent articles that were posted on pngicentral.org has prompted me to come out clear on the current statues of my criminal matter which is currently before a competent Court of Law. And my company Png Resources Corporations Limited trading as Kwikbuilt PNG’s legal position.

The bias, misleading and untrue statements against my self and PNGRC only go’s to show one’s lack of knowledge of our country’s constitution in far as citizens rights is concerned.

Below is a brief explanation in a nut-cell:

LABI KAMIAK AMAIU: STATUS OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

1. COMM NO. 999-106 0F 2018; THE STATE -V- LABI ALEX KAMIAK AMAIU. COMMITAL COURT ORDER.
2. OS NO. (JR) 161 OF 2019; LABI ALEX KAMIAK AMAIU -V- COSMOS BIDAR AND STATE – STATEMENT IN SUPPORT
3. OS NO. (JR) 161 OF 2019; LABI ALEX KAMIAK AMAIU -V- COSMOS BIDAR AND THE STATE. NATIONAL COURT ORDER
4. INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA -V- LABI ALEX KAMIAK AMAIU, CR (FC 108 OF 2019. NATIONAL COURT ORDER.
5. PNG RESOURCES CORP LTD-V- NHC AND STATE, O.S. NO. 379 OF 2018. NATIONAL COURT ORDER INTERIM INJUNCTION
6. OS. NO. 379 0F 2018; PNG RESOURCES -V- NATIONAL HOUSING CORPORATION. NATIONAL COURT CONSENT ORDERS
7. SCM NO. 15 OF 2019. LABI ALEX AMAIU-V-COMAS BIDAR AND STATE. SUPREME COURT ORDER 10TH MARCH 2021.
8. OS NO. 200 OF 2021 (IECMS) – CCI; DAUNARI LAND GROUP INC -V- PNG RESOURCES CORPORATION LTD AND NATIONAL HOUSING CORPORATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LANDS & PHYSICAL PLANNING AND STATE

I refer to the above.

Criminal Charges and Committal Case

1. District Court Case described as CB No. 2083 of 2017; The State-V- Labi Alex Kamiak Amaiu is a committal proceeding for seven (7) counts of conspiracy and seven (7) counts of misappropriation in relation to a land at 8mile suburb outside Port Moresby CBD referred to as Duran Farm.
Duran Farm was a vacant underdeveloped State Lease registered under the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

2. The charges emanate from a Public Private Partnership Agreement (PPP Agreement) between the National Housing Corporation as owners of the Duran Farm and PNG Resources Corporation Ltd Trading as Kwik Built PNG (PNGRC) executed on 27th July 2016. In a nutshell, the main terms of the PPP Agreement were for NHC to put Duran Farm as their consideration into the partnership and for PNGRC to do all things necessary to develop the Duran Farm as a Housing Estate and share the proceeds from the sale of houses whereas 20% to NHC and 80% PNGRC.
NHC only puts in the undeveloped land while rest of the work including subdivision, engineering, financing, construction and sales to be the responsibility of PNGRC. PNG Resource Corporation made a business decision to Aquire Kwikbuilt PNG from City Pharmacy Limited or commonly known as CPL Group to beef up its capabilities and capacities to bide for the Duran Housing Project in 2013.

3. The PPP Agreement was executed by duly authorized persons being the NHC Managing Director and Minister for Housing and for PNGRC it was signed and sealed by its Managing Director. It was entered under a transparent process, legal representatives from both sides were involved and for NHC the agreement went through two different Managing Directors.

4. Both parties were committed to the PPP Agreement and part performances of their obligations were preformed where PNGRC subdivided the Duran Farm and the titles were issued for different allotments with the full knowledge and approval of NHC. The titles were first registered under NHC and subsequently in accordance with the PPP Agreement, they were transferred to PNGRC in order to advance their mutual interest of developing an Housing Estate.

5. PNGRC on the other end has sanctioned engineering work, subdivisions, installations of basic services such as water, sewage and power with the approval of the NCD Physical Planning Board. PNGRC has also engaged reputable building contractors, built a factory to develop its building materials for the project, and was in negotiations with financiers and end users particularly for corporate sales for institutional housing schemes.

6. When both parties were harmoniously honouring their respective commitments and starting the development, after 2017 General Elections the new Minister for Housing was sworn in and that happened to be the person who unseated me in the Port Moresby North East Open Electorate. The Duran Farm PPP Agreement has no issues until the new Minister, Hon. John Kaupa started the process to take issue including the referral to Police Fraud Squad which result in the arrest of myself and these subsequent cases.

7. I have denied the charges on the basis that the PPP Agreement and the subsequent transactions involving the Duran Farm are between the National NHC and PNGRC establishing a concept of Build Sell and Share. Both parties have made part performance of their obligations and the deal was still being progressed by the two parties. However, I was arrested with those charges alleging that I have conspired and misappropriated public funds firstly, over a mutually agreed commercial partnership which does not involve myself and secondly, where the funds subject of the complaint are yet to be received from the sale of the houses which are yet to be built and sold based on the PPP Agreement.

8. The committal court Magistrate made his decision to commit me under SECTION 95 of the District Court Act without taking my statement as required under SECTION 96 of the District Court Act and without reaching the process at section 100 to make submission on sufficiency of evidence.

9. Further, the committal court did not assess or determine the genuineness of the police witness statements. The court simply accepted them without doing any checks and relied on them. Court didn’t ask if the persons who made the statements in support of police were in court, who they were and where they work before it relied on them in its committal decision.

National Court Judicial Review

10. On 23rd March 2019, I filed National Court Judicial review proceedings for review of and to quash the District Court committal decision on two main grounds:

(i) For failure to follow committal process under the District Court Act and

(ii) For considering irrelevant factors, which if they were not considered, the magistrate would have arrived at a fair decision that there were insufficient evidence to commit me.

11. My leave for judicial review and stay applications were heard before Justice Colin Makail on Friday 12th April 2019 at 0130pm. It was opposed by the counsel from the Solicitor General’s Office representing the State. After considering submissions from both parties, Justice Makail decided that I have raised arguable case which raises issue of failure by the committal Magistrate. His honour also held that there is issue raised as to the magistrate considering irrelevant factors and these require to be reviewed and determined by the National Court. Leave for judicial review was granted and pending the judicial review, the committal decision which put myself to trail was stayed. Subsequently, Her Honour Justice Teresa Berrigan issued a separate National Court Orders to revoke and set aside the bench warrant for my arrest on the 08th of May 2019.

12. Failure to the fact that I maintain innocence and denies the allegations as being fabricated and political by my political rival, on the strength of the grounds raised in the judicial review and past case precedents on similar matter. I was confident that I would succeed, my committal would be quashed and criminal charges discharged.

13. However, on the 01st of July 2019, His Honour Justice Makail, heard the substantive judicial review and dismissed it and effectively discharged the Stay Order. Immediately after the dismissal of Judicial review proceeding, I through my lawyers appealed at the Supreme Court, SCM. NO 15 of 2019 from the National Court decision and applied for stay pending hearing and determination of the appeal.

14. On August 2019, my Supreme Court application for stay was moved and His Honour, Justice Dingake granted a stay. His Honour ordered that the judgement and orders of the Honourable Justice Makail made on 01st July 2019 in proceedings OS 161 of 2019 be stayed forthwith until the Appeal is heard and determined by the Supreme Court or until further orders of this Court. My lawyer advised the Court at the hearing the effects of the Committal decision in the circumstances of my rights of appeal at the Supreme Court and His Honour considered fair to grant a Stay. I have instructed my lawyer to write to the registrar of the National & Supreme Court to have my matter listed in the next Supreme Court circuit/sitting in March 2022.

National Court Case on Unlawful termination or Breach of the PPP Agreement over Duran Farm

15. Together with referral of myself to the police for investigation, the Minister has influenced NHC to unilateral terminate the PPP Agreement and backflip on their legal binding commitments.

16. To secure the PPP Agreement from being terminated and damages arising from it, PNGRC has filed civil proceedings at the National Court against the NHC and the state, O.S. No.379 of 2017. Pending this civil claim, the National court has issued orders against the NHC and state not to interfere with or remove any of PNGRC’s set up at the Duran Farm. There orders were issued after the court considered that there was a genuine PPP Agreement and that PNGRC has a claim that is highly likely to succeed at the substantive hearing.

17. This letter is pending trial on substantive hearing but we are confident based on the binding PPP Agreement, NHC Act and the fact that both parties have done part performance of their obligations, PNGRC will succeed.

18. Court proceedings were instituted by PNG Resources Limited trading as Kwikbuilt PNG in respect of 301 titles of Duran Farm in which I was allegedly dragged to the District Committal Court. Those battles were fought between PNG Resources Corporation Limited and National Housing Corporation over the issue of the 301 titles. However, parties have resolved the matter once and for all by consent to the court.

From my understanding, the issue over the 301 titles has been resolved by the National Court and is now a dead issue.

To be continued…….

23/01/2022

Patriotic Message to all Simbus by JOHN DEGE- First Secretary to Opposition Leader- Hon. Belden Namah

Morning Simbu's on this forum. Firstly I appolize to all of you for unnecessarily defending two Honourable man, Peter O'Neil and Belden Namah in my last post.

Regardless of who becomes Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition, Simbu's must never never betray our fellowship, but where apparent help always.

In the 18 months, Marape promised countless Simbu's to give them Jobs without one getting an appointment. Stanley Alphone, Henry Mokono, John Mua, Joe Tia, Clement Waine, Amb. Aiwa Olmi, Peter Kora, Gabriel Yer, Joe Kumlgo, John Bola, Milan Dirua, Musi Sau and the list goes on.

John Endemongo Kua, Milan Dirua and Samuel Maima were promised various appointments to no avail. While still waiting for those promised jobs, they continued to support Marape.

Peter O'Neil appointed Stanley Alphonse to PNG Ports, Jerry Garry to MRA, Clement Waine to IPBC, Henry Mokono to Eda Ranu, Michael Temai as PA simbu, Bire as Deputy Customs Commissioner, Musi Sau to Telekom PNG, Mawe Dala to AIDS Council, Prof Sinabare to UOG, and myself to NHC and NHEL.

In my capacity as MD I employed 253 simbus in NHC and NHEL, some notable simbus are Paul Siwi, (currently working for Marape), Davia Dom Kua, Amb. Aiwa Olmi, Bonney Korugl, Peke Kuman, Wilson Thompson, Gabriel Gore, Mark Mondia, Ewdin Usoni, Mohammad Bashir, Martin Mintai Waure, Michae Temai Bal, Rebeca Kiage, Wemin Boi, Kennedy Wemin, William Mondo, Alex Dawa, Joe Maule, late Samson Wena Joe Bulage, Lukas Nilkare, Bruce Gigmai, Alex Dawa, Prof John Witney and many more. Consultants and contractors Includes; Samuel Maima, Hon. John Kaupa, Hon. Bare Palma, Hon. Nick Kuman, Gabriel Yer, Tony Sipa, Peti Lafana, Felix Unage, late Tangil Okuk, Jacob Numapo, Toby Miori, Milan Dirua, Wamil Gul and countless simbus that approached my office.

I did what was within my reach and my fellow CEOs would have done the same. We collectively recognized Simbus as viable human capital and put them to good use. We owe it to Peter O'Neil.

Whatever the younger generation calls us, we are patriotic Simbus and forms the inner core of your future success. When the Opposition gets into Government I'm guaranteed another opportunity at the top and as usual I will provide the conduit for your success.

Simbus, we are our own worse enemies, you can't be silly anymore, be counted, support each otherwise watch others succeed.

God bless

John Dege
Chief of Staff to the Opposition and Former Managing Director- NHC, Chairman NHEL.

04/01/2022

Shut down Vitis Industries!

02/01/2022

BORNEO PACIFIC PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED CONTRACT FOR 100% MEDICAL KITS.

I have read the views by some in concern re the Contract recently awarded by the Marape -Basil Government to Borneo Pacific Pharamaceuticals ltd. I have also read a brief opposition to the Contract by Hon. Governor for East Sepik.

Let me say this principle that should guide all of our discussions: I believe; it is wrong to punish the INNOCENT! In the same token, it is also wrong i believe to accquit the guilty.

I have a long historical knowledge of the National Health Plan ( I lodged it as DPM in 2011) and thence had several reviews done to it. I also have long knowledge of the Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals contracts and and the operations of the National Health Department in PNG. I also do have experiences of foreign Government and businesses involvement in the Health sector. I can not overlook the geopolitičal and commercial rivalries that perpetuate year in year out in the health sector and other sectors as well.

Due to my knowledge and experiences in the Health sector, i did lodge my own private investigation into the matters of corruption raised by the public in the Health sector, NDoH , Borneo Pacific Pharmaceutical Ltd , and other contractors in the Health Sector. My studies revealed the following:

1. There was corruption in the Health sector.
2. Corruption perpetration is at the distribution network that exist from the 5 régional distribution supply stores.( Medical stores).

3.The most corrupt practices were carried out by the distribution companies that deliver pharmaceuticals to the rural health facilities. BORNEO PACIFIC i learnt was not the distribution compnay. It was the procurment and supply company.

4. I established that the distribution and delivery of 100% medical kits by distribution companies were never done timely, neither delivered in full by the distributor.

5. I also learnt that the distributors were seperate contractors from the procurment supplier company

02/01/2022

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸.

By: Andrew Arthur

2021 will go down in the history of Papua New Guinea to be known as the year that James Marape single-handedly destroyed the last Guardian of Papua New Guinea, its Central Bank.

The 2000 Central Banking Act by Somare Government in August 2000 was a masterstroke. It ended years of political interference in the running of BPNG by securing the tenure of the Governor and the Board. Gone immediately were the days when the job of BPNG Governor was a revolving door. Alas, all those stabilities were undone in a blink of an eye by Marape and Ling-Stuckey!

In September 2021, Marape Government set up an Independent Advisory Group (IAG) to review the Central Bank Act 2000. https://postcourier.com.pg/central-bank-act-under-review/ The objective of this review was to dilute the ‘powers’ of the Governor and transfer those powers to the Board of the Central Bank which would be under the control of Marape and Ling-Stuckey.

The main powers were in the making of the Monetary Policy and the control of the money supply in Papua New Guinea which are the main objectives of any Central Bank in the World. On a macro basis, central banks influence interest rates and participate in open market operations to control the cost of borrowing and lending throughout an economy. Central banks also operate on a micro-scale, setting the commercial banks' reserve ratio and acting as lender of last resort when necessary.

The Central Bank had been operating independently of government control and thus Ling-Stuckey had not been able to exert any influence. Ling-Stuckey was able to influence the Fiscal Policy but never the Monetary Policy. To control the Bank of PNG, changes need to be made. Changes in the board who are the ‘Yes man’!

The Composition of the Board of Central Bank is critical and those appointed must have professional qualifications in Economics. They must know the Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Money Supply, Inflation and understand Micro and Macro Economic policies to make a sound judgment for the benefit of Papua New Guinea.

Marape and Ling-Stuckey removed those critical criteria from the Board of Central Bank. They have appointed individuals with no local professional qualifications in Economics. This ultimately means that a foreign appointment or advice would be made and thus Papua New Guinea will rely heavily on foreign influence on the monetary policies which will lead to Papua New Guinea DEVALUATING its currency something O’Neill Government had tried to avoid.

Under the recommendation of the IAG, it was proposed that the Board of BPNG would receive advice from a Monetary Policy Committee. When the AIG made its recommendations, they focused primarily on MPC and made 7 recommendations (recommendations 3-10) of its board and its functions. https://pngcentralbankactiag.org/report/ The IAG intended that the MPC would play a crucial role in the Governance of the Central Bank and be relied upon by the Board

Instead, Marape and Ling-Stuckey ignore the IAGs critical recommendation to establish the MPC and push through the changes to the Central Bank Act without the inclusion of the MPC, effectively leaving the newly appointed, inexperienced Board clueless and in the hands of an overly emotional political puppet such as incoming Governor Benny Popitai

Seems like a perfect way to remove the independence of the Central Bank and make way for the printing and borrowing of money to further destabilize our country. Next stop Zimbabwe where the basics like fuel, rice, bread, flour, and alike will be thousands of kina and foreign investment nil.

The changes in the Central Bank Act now give Marape and Ling-Stuckey complete control over the Bank of PNG! They and their failed Australian advisor in Paul Flanagan would further exert their control on the Monetary Policy and the Money Supply!

They can start to print money as they like and devalue the Kina when it suits them! This will result in massive inflation and the PNG Kina will go down a spiral slide and in time the Kina would be worthless just like Venezuela when its currency collapsed.

On one hand, Marape cries that Sir Michael Somare has passed and next he rips apart his greatest legacy, the Central Bank, and Ian Ling Stuckey and his advisor Flanagan rub their hands together with glee at the departure of one of PNG’s most dedicated public servants, Loi Bakani. Our last hope has left the building!

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