Gary Juffa

This was the bold statement from the People’s Movement for Change (PMC) Party Parliamentary Leader when talking about their platforms heading into the 2017 National Elections.    

He was speaking at the PNG National Research Institute political parties’ forum last week in Port Moresby.

Juffa said the PMC policies revolve around the key platforms of good governance, law and order, national security, education, health, taxation reform, economic empowerment, land and resource ownership, non-extractive industries, gender equality and Bougainville and West Papua.

The weekly open forum, organised by NRI for registered political parties to promote their policies, will end next week with two major parties in the coalition government, National Alliance and People’s National Congress, taking to stage.   

NRI director Dr Charles Yala earlier said the forum is organised to encourage political parties to develop constructive policies and give awareness to the voting population before the issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections.     

“Our interest is to make an input into the policy debate during the national elections.

Juffa made the call after an individual by the name of Kila Sibolo held meetings and misled many people especially ward councilors and community leaders.

Sibolo alleged to call meetings in regards to a grant of K500,000 for the Kokoda station redevelopment.

However, Juffa clarified that the K500,000 is a grant for the provincial government to use as part of its Kokoda development initiative to rebuild Kokoda.

Juffa said Sibolo has lied to many of the people of Kokoda to claim that the grant was for landowner projects.

O’Neill told Loop PNG that funding for the UN have been in a trust account for months.

He said someone in the Foreign Affairs department is not doing his/her job which resulted in such.

PNG lost its vote in the United Nations General Assembly because it failed to pay its annual contributions of at least (K532,000) to regain voting rights.

PNG is one of six countries whose voting rights have been suspended for non-payment — the others being Venezuela, Libya, Sudan, Cape Verde and Vanuatu.

O’Neill told Loop PNG in a text message that the funding for the payment of the UN General Assembly has been sitting in a trust account for months.

“Someone in the Department of Foreign Affairs needs to explain why they did not pay,” says O’Neill.

PNG lost its vote in the United Nations General Assembly because it failed to pay its annual contributions of at least (K532,000) for its voting rights.

PNG is one of six countries whose voting rights have been suspended for non-payment — the others being Venezuela, Libya, Sudan, Cape Verde and Vanuatu.

Juffa made this call after PNG lost its vote in the United Nations General Assembly because it failed to pay its annual contributions.

PNG needs to pay the UN at least (K532,000) to regain voting rights.

PNG is one of six countries whose voting rights have been suspended for non-payment — the others being Venezuela, Libya, Sudan, Cape Verde and Vanuatu.

Juffa said once more the people of Papua New Guinea have been collectively humiliated internationally.

Juffa stated that he had been informed by reliable sources in several missions that they have not been paid for up to three fortnights.

He said that in the Solomon Islands water had been cut and power would soon follow.

Juffa further reiterated that it was totally embarrassing for the Pacific’s largest economy to be grandstanding at various international meetings and promoting APEC when it could not fund its international stations and was unable to fund its elections and free health and school fee policy.

Juffa revealed this during an opposition media conference on Tuesday.

The tabling of the reports follows on from reports he received as well as investigations conducted by himself into the alleged syndicate operating in PNG, which he claims has proliferated in the province.

Juffa claims that the syndicate has been colluding with the Labour Department to bring in foreigners on illegal work permits when they have not passed an English proficient test, a key criteria before a work permit is issued.

The vocal first term parliamentarian made this comment following the National Executive Council decision to deploy armed disciplinary personnel to curb law and order problems in Hela Province.

The province is home to the multi-billion kina LNG Project operated by ExxonMobil.

Police and PNGDF soldiers are expected to be deployed next week.      

“The deployment of military troops to Hela Province is reminiscent of tragic events that unfolded about 28 years ago that sparked off a crisis and left more than 20,000 Papua New Guineans dead,” Juffa said.  

In an exclusive interview with Loop PNG, Juffa said we have facilities in the country that can facilitate the conference rather than Sydney.

“We now have facilities to host such conferences and the government must make a conservative effort to make use of the facilities in the country.”

He said such conferences will only make sense if it is being hosted in the country as the resources and landowners are in the country and can attend.