Peter O'Neill

He said the 2024 Budget is more of the same of last year where the Treasurer promised the record spending would make our people’s lives better and our country safer.

“In 2023, despite the record taxes, spending and debt, we have endured one of the worst years in our history with people now experiencing outright poverty and violence on the increase.”

“We are being told by the Treasurer and PM all is well and to be excited about more of the same in 2024.”

Although the back-to-back Defence Agreement as well as Ship Rider Agreement was signed on the 22^nd of May, 2023, several parliamentarians are against the idea.

Former Prime Minister and Member for Ialibu-Pangia, Peter O’Neill, for instance stated that there was nothing wrong with the agreement however not much value towards the country was seen in the agreement.

“These are very strong words were used in the agreement and they’ve got very specific meaning. He asked whether or not the agreement will build the Defense Force, Navy, and help build the Air force.”

O’Neill polled 37,501 reaching the absolute majority to be declared.

When giving his victory speech, O’Neill thanked God for the win and the continuous deliberation during the elections in the province.

He also thanked the Returning Officer, Ronald Rambu and his team for a job well done in facilitating the polling and counting in the district. The sitting member also commended security personnel for their tireless effort during the elections.

His declaration was witnessed by former Ialibu Pangia MP, Roy Yaki, Philemon Embel and other leaders.

He was accompanied by his predecessor Roy Yaki and Sir Nathaniel Poiya.

Although Ialibu Pangia electorate voted, Imbonggu, Kagua Erave, Nipa Kutubu and Mendi polling was deferred to today.

Southern Highlands Election officials say the late distribution and  confusion in the list of polling officials was the cause of voting delays in most parts of the province. Polling went ahead as districts received their ballot papers. Security in the province remains on high alert.

Polye in a statement described the welcome ceremony as something that will not empower Peter O'Neil or anyone else to become Prime Minister, describing invocations of ancestral spirits as calling on something that does not exist. Polye also described the ceremony as hocus-pocus to deceive the PNC Party and Peter O’Neill’s followers. 
 

He was welcomed into Mendi town yesterday by thousands at Momei Oval. Accompanying O’Neill were members of his Election team and the MP met with the people during a campaign rally.

O’Neill said Southern Highlands Province was blessed with an abundance of natural resources that can better the lives of the people. These resources need to be utilized to better the lives of the people and service delivery.

The province has around 450,000 young people under the age of 25 with 21,400 babies born each year.

"Sam Basil was a genuine man of the people and served his electorate with distinction. He was unrelenting in his pursuit to improve the lives of his people. He represented PNG on the World stage, most recently at the World Expo in Dubai, but he was truly at his happiest at home in Wau- Bulolo with his people.”

"James Marape, as Prime Minister and his Police Minister at the time, promised our people and the nation in 2019 that he will be go after the perpetrators that killed dozens of innocent men, women  
and children."

Mr O’Neill says nothing has been done to curb this escalating violence, and questioned the much publicised and costly gun buyback programme promoted by Hela Provincial Governor Philip Undialu and Tari Pori MP, Prime Minister Marape.

O’Neill went on to question the visit to Indonesia.

"I have known the late former MP for over 3 decades.

"I know that Late Ben Micah has made a huge and important contribution to public life in our country both as a student leader and a political leader. 

O’Neill said Micah will be remembered for the reforms he championed in the systems of government in Papua New Guinea that saw the establishment of the provincial governments. 

He added that he was especially proud of the leadership Late Micah provided to his people of Kavieng and New Ireland.

“I feel I owe the nation an apology. I acted in good faith to humbly resign in May 2019 thinking that the change that was asked for would be youthful and move us forward faster than my government could.

“I have, like you, been bitterly disappointed in the performance of the Marape-led Government over the last 31 months.

“He said economically we are in one heck of a mess with debt at over K51 billion and no plan to increase income except to tax our people more.