Peter O’Neill

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in a media conference announced that NEC today agreed to an Administrative Inquiry which will start tomorrow (Wednesday).     

O’Neill said the decision for the change was because of a court proceeding testing the legality and payments of past COI.

“Today NEC have decided that we will have an Inquiry that is Administrative in nature, but the principles of accountability and transparency and all the other investigative requirements will still be conducted by a leading legal professionals,” Prime Minister O’Neill said this afternoon.   

Family mourns death of radio legend Roger Hau'ofa

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/family-mourns-death-radio-legend-roger-hauofa-53746

The family of radio legend the late Roger Hau'ofa is saddened and in mourning following his death on Saturday, March 4.

PM welcomes court decision on nomination fees

The Supreme Court has refused the application by the Ombudsman Commission for an injunction that would have prevented Parliament from debating, deliberating and voting on National Election Nomination Fees and Petition Filing Fees.

O’Neill said the proposed amendments will strengthen democratic process to enable true contenders to stand for elections, and will help prevent the malicious use of the court system after elections.

PM Peter O’Neill made the comments as competitors from around the world prepare to travel to  Papua New Guinea for the Kumul PNG World Longboard Championships at Tupira on 18 to 25 March this year.

“Papua New Guinea is looking forward to hosting the World Surf League Longboard Championship in Tupira near Madang,” the Prime Minister said.

“I am glad that people around the world are discovering that Papua New Guinea is a great surfing destination, with challenging waves in pristine waters on beautiful beaches.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill confirmed the new dates with Loop PNG this afternoon.

The summit will coincide with the last sitting of the 9^th Parliament on March 28.

It was first cancelled on Feb 8 to Feb 27 -28, but did not eventuate on the deferred date.

Chief Secretary to Government, Isaac Lupari, in an earlier statement said, the two day programme will highlight the outcome of the O'Neill-Dion Government

Lupari said the meeting was pushed back after a number of provincial delegations experienced travel delays.

"It is with great sadness that I have been informed of the passing of the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, the Late Sir Michael Ogio.”

 "As a nation and as a Government, we have prayed for His Excellency to return to good health, but this was not to be.’

"We now pray for the family of the late Sir Michael Ogio, and thank them for the commitment that Sir Michael gave to our country.”

“The National Parliament has voted to nominate Bob Dadae as the tenth Governor-General of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea,” the Prime Minister said.

“I congratulate Mr. Dadae on his nomination, and for the confidence that Members of the National Parliament have vested in him.

“Bob Dadae has provided honourable service to our nation as a Member of Parliament and through his work in the community.”

O’Neill said as the Vice-regal representative of Her Majesty the Queen, the Nation’s Governor-General is a person of inspiration for our people.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said: “As part of this, it is essential that funding be streamlined to enable climate change projects to be rolled out around the country.”

He said an important focus for current GCF engagement is to work with Pacific countries to develop project proposals before submitting to the GCF Board for deliberation.

“The process of identifying and developing projects is driven by individual countries and ensures that projects are developed that are specific to the dangers faced by our people.

PM O’Neill said there will be a clarification of some measures that were included in the 2017 Budget that are intended to ensure that entities who are not paying their fair share of tax will be compelled to do so.

“We need a review of some taxation measures so as to eliminate any confusion that people may have,” the Prime Minister said.

“This includes measures in the budget that have been raised by the public and businesses.

 Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch and Secretary Dairi Vele will give the final details of allocation to each sector.

After the press lock up, the Treasury Minister at 2pm Parliament sitting will introduce the 2017 National Budget to the house, and adjourned for one week for the Opposition to give its respond.

In last week Parliament sitting, Sinasina Yonggumgl MP Kerenga Kua asked the ruling government to give opposition time to research and debate before the passage of the 2017 National Budget.