Peter O'Neill

As of January 1 next year, any expatriates working in departments will to have be employees of the Government of Papua New Guinea.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced this when answering a question from Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang about the numbers of foreign consultants in the country.

Mr O’Neill said there were advisers and consultants in many of the government departments and that the Papua New Guineans in top roles often deferred to those advisers.

He claimed there was a move to “sideline’’ the Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika as part  of a plan to remove officers who were seen to be acting against the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister strenuously denied the claims and told Sir Michael he was being “mischievous and self serving’’.

The East Sepik governor in Question Time claimed that the Prime Minister was trying to remove all official figure who were trying to fight corruption.

A PNG detention centre guard was allegedly murdered after being bashed and drowned at the weekend and another PNG worker lost his hand in a separate machete attack.

There's also claims three Australian expat workers allegedly drugged and gang raped a local woman earlier in July.

Local authorities are angry the trio have been flown back to Australia before an investigation, and a peak Australian lawyers body fears there's been a cover up.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said the incidents were not a reflection of the island's safety.

In a statement, O’Neill said the projects were playing a very important part in transforming Papua New Guinea’s economy.

“The Papua LNG project will create an additional 10,000 new jobs for Papua New Guineans.

“We see this as a major expression of confidence by France and its businesses in Papua New Guinea and its economy, and we look forward to developing these opportunities together,” he said.

Speaking at the opening of the expo Women in Business president Janet Sape told the women that it is their chance in showcasing PNG through the expo.

"It is our time as we will be showing what we have to our Pacific Island countries who are in the country for the Pacific Games."

She said for us to be known, the expo is the venue to start with.

The expo was officially opened by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

The village was officially launched by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill when he did the unveiling of a plaque today.

The village has ten blocks with 30 rooms in each block and will house 4000 athletes and officials. It also has a mess that will be serving 10, 000 meals a day.

O’Neill visited the village and was pleased with the outcome of the K230 million facility and thanked the contractors for the hard work.

He said PNG had set a standard and the village was a testament to the government’s commitment in making the Games a success.

However, he said what the MSG leaders will be focusing on is to try and find the right organisation that is going to represent them at MSG.

He said in order for that to happen, West Papua leaders must be elected, mandated and properly appointed to participate in the MSG.

“We cannot expect anybody coming up from the streets and telling us that we represent these groups of people,” he said  

However, O’Neill emphasised that “we have to do it properly and that is in an orderly manner that we want to allow our brothers and sisters in West Papua to participate.

Speaking to reporters in a media conference today in Port Moresby, Polye says the government has been blaming the past governments, leaders, public servants and citizens of this country without having a solution for that particular issue.

He was responding to the latest media statement from the Education Minister who had claimed that more than K50 million have been lost in the education system.

“The government knows nothing about providing solutions to prolonged challenges and corruptions.

Papua New Guinea’s ABAC group will now be comprised of:

- Mr. David Toua

General Manager Corporate Affairs, Steamships Trading Company

- Mr. Isikeli Taureka

Executive Vice President PNG, InterOil Limited

- Mr. Kostas G. Constantinou

Managing Director, Lamana Development Limited

In announcing the new lineup the Prime Minister said membership in the group will be rotated to ensure a fresh injection of perspectives and a broadening of business networking.