Prime Minister Peter O’Neill

He made the statement after being heckled by the Government caucus when questioning Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the financing of APEC 2018 in PNG.

Polye asked O’Neill on the actual figure the Government was spending on the APEC Summit and was moving to his second question when the government coalition interjected with comments and boos.

“Shut up and listen!” shouted Polye.

He further stated: “You don’t understand the economy, you listen. You economy illiterate leaders in this house.”

Sir Peter was at Ambum valley, Enga Province, speaking to more than 2000 residents during the weekend.

“There is no leader or a group that can make miracles. Everyone that is in Parliament now have utterly wasted their time,” he told parents, students and teachers on Saturday.

People must understand that leaders do not have the extraordinary ability to address issues overnight, he added.

Sir Peter stated that he is committed to supporting Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the coalition partners to continue to deliver much-needed services and projects to the people.

O’Neill in a statement said when PNC party was elected in 2012, they made few promises to the people of PNG, but those they did make were ambitious, expensive and very hard to achieve.

“Free and universal education was one of these promises, and today it remains one of our top priorities.

“Over the coming days the party hopes to explain why free education is our most important policy, while giving you the people of Papua New Guinea a chance to discuss the impact of the hard work the government has done in this area.”

That is the guarantee from Minister for Sports, National Events and APEC Justin Tkatchenko when speaking exclusively to Loop PNG on Wednesday.

He said the submission for financial funding and technical expertise to support Tonga will be handed to the Prime Minister and National Executive Council in the coming weeks.

Tkatchenko said he expects the announcement of the funding to be made in the next month. 

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made the commitment to Tonga Prime Minister Akilishi Pohiva in January this year when he visited Port Moresby.   

He says while previous governments had sought to inflate spending ahead of a national election in order to increase votes, the O’Neill-Dion Government has more respect for the people and will not go down this path.

“The good Treasurer, Patrick Pruaitch, and I, have well over a decade of economic governance experience between us,” PM O’Neill said.

"We have been through the good and the bad times, and I know the Treasurer’s budget in 2016 will be the most thoroughly considered in the history of our nation.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the National Executive Council (NEC) has approved a discounted Option Exercise Price, which will enable beneficiaries to raise the finance to buy shares. 

Through this they can reap the returns they could expect through dividends from their shareholding in Kroton, the company overseeing the State’s interest in the PNG LNG project.

“The original Option was granted under the terms of an agreement that was reached between landowners, provincial governments and the National Government in 2009,” PM O’Neill stated.

O’Neill said the appointment comes at a time when the Government is fully realising its strategy to restructure and streamline the management of its assets in order to maximise efficiency and shareholder gain.

“As the trustee shareholder of Kumul Minerals, and on behalf of the State as beneficial shareholder, I have every confidence in the leadership of Mr. Graham,” PM O’Neill said.

“Kumul Minerals will benefit immensely from Mr. Graham’s extensive experience and knowledge of the extractive industry.

The Prime Minister made the comments when officiating at the opening of Madang Resort’s new Wenong AB accommodation wing last week.

“Don’t sell customary land, you should register it to maintain continued ownership for our future generations,” advised the PM.

“If you start selling land, the future of our kids is not there anymore.

“Landowners are better served by leasing their land to collect rent that will have more beneficial long-term value and keeps the land for the people.

Papua New Guinea has more than 3 million Catholics. 

The Archbishop of Port Moresby is the first Papua New Guinean to be evaluated to become a cardinal, and the appointment is done by the Pope.

Immediately below the Pope in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are the cardinals.

The primary responsibility of a cardinal is to elect a new pope when a pope dies or abdicates the papacy.

Also cardinals have many responsibilities.

Prime Minister O’Neill said the elevation of Archbishop Ribat to Cardinal on Nov 19 will be a time of national pride.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia allowed a final adjournment to parties in the case to next Monday, Oct 17.

A hearing date to address the issue of standing is expected to be set next week.

This is in relation to the case that Polye re-filed, challenging the legality of the Government’s decision to acquire the K3 billion loan from the Union Bank of Switzerland.