Prime Minister Peter O’Neill

I do not give orders to PNGEC: Prime Minister

O’Neill was responding to a series of questions from Opposition Leader Don Polye during Question Time in Parliament today.  

Opposition Leader Don Polye asked who is the in-country agent of the Indonesia Company awarded to print ballot papers, the bidding process, the cost compared to Government Printing Office, shareholding of Tried Print and the extension of Form 29 to fill bio-data of intending candidates.  

Telefomin will be connected to Tabubil: PM

Telefomin District in West Sepik Province is accessible only by air.  

O’Neill was responding to questions from Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim in Parliament on Tuesday.  

He said cabinet on Monday approved funding for this particular project and also other national highways.

“A statement will be released in Parliament by me or Works Minister,” O’Neill said.  

The Prime Minister also said the cabinet had approved an increase in infrastructure tax credit scheme, from 1.75 to 2 percent, to support road constructions.

Highway policy to go before NEC this week

The policy will look at providing greater attention to dealing with damage caused by extreme weather made worse by climate change.

“Increasing extreme weather conditions, as well as years and years of neglect by many Governments in the past, as well as a lack of investment, has made our national highways vulnerable to disruption by landslips and flooding,” the Prime Minister said.

“The National Government is approaching this as an emergency case and will provide special intervention, directed by Cabinet, when it meets on Thursday this week.

Election dates still stand: Electoral Commissioner

He made this statement in light of the Opposition’s outburst of his comments in a daily newspaper last week on legislations before Parliament to change the election dates.

Gamato said the revised date for the Issue of Writs from April 20 to May 20 depends entirely on Parliament's deliberations on the legislative amendments Bill on election laws to be tabled when it sits on January 24.

"If Parliament, which is the law-maker decides to change the date, I have no choice but to go by the laws that are made by the Parliament."

Only Parliament can change election dates: Basil

The local Bulolo MP told a press conference in Port Moresby that, this week’s announcement of the deferral of a major constitutional event, such as the issue of writs is illegal.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato was quoted in The National newspaper that the dates for the issue of writs may be deferred to May 20 because of legislations before Parliament.   

The date for the 2017 National Elections issue of writs is April 20 and July 24 is the return of writs.

PM slams Opposition claims on Electoral Commission

O’Neill said the Electoral Commission is a constitutional office and must not be dragged into politics.

"It his highly disrespectful, and goes against the nature of our democracy, for the Leader of the Opposition to seek to tarnish the reputation of the Electoral Commission as he has done,” the Prime Minister stated in a statement.  

“The Opposition has to respect the fact that the Electoral Commission must remain separate from political debate and be allowed to deliver its mandated job without fear or favour.

Proposal to change election dates a cover-up: Polye

The O’Neill – Dion Government is expected to introduce the first reading to reduce the campaign period from two months to one, when Parliament reconvenes on January 24.

If the Government uses its numerical strength on the floor of Parliament to pass it, the date of the Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections on April 20, will be changed to May 20.

NEC yet to receive IMF report, says PM O’Neill

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told Loop PNG that, the report is still with the Treasury Department for consultation.

“It is my understanding that IMF mission report is still being discussed between Treasury and IMF because of some discrepancies.”

“The report has not reached NEC and therefore cannot comment any further,” O’Neill said.        

Institute of National Affairs executive director, Paul Barker said it’s unheard for a country to delay the release of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Report.

‘He was a great writer’

Attending the funeral of the Late Susuve Laumaea on Friday, the Prime Minister said he had a long working relationship with Laumaea, having first met him in the 1980s.

“One of the many talents that he had was of course communications,” the Prime Minister said.

“He was a great writer and the standards he has set in journalism in this country are beyond a lot of the writing we have today.

“His writing was always fair, factual and always well researched, and that is how Susuve and many others have touched lives during that era.

Why is Government not responding to IMF report?

Institute of National Affairs executive director, Paul Barker made this comment after the PNG National Government have not yet responded to the IMF Article IV which was released in November 2016.

However, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told Loop PNG that, the report is still with the Treasury Department for deliberation.

“It is my understanding that IMF mission report is being still discussed between Treasury and IMF because of some discrepancies.”

“The report has not reached NEC and therefore cannot comment any further,” O’Neill said.