Duban hands over ministry to Tabar

Caption:  (L) Minister Tabar, Secretary Mumu, and Minister Duban pose for picture to signify the handing over of the ministry.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 31, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

The Department of Transport yet again conducted another handover-takeover ceremony to accommodate a cabinet reshuffle that took place this week with former Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Malakai Tabar taking up his posting as the minister for transport and infrastructure from outgoing minister, Nickson Duban.

This was the fourth handover with the fifth minister to take over the transport department in a four year period.

Transport and Infrastructure Secretary Roy Mumu thanked the outgoing minister for his leadership and valued assistance in achieving vital outcomes and projects during his short tenure and welcomed his new minister, who he said was not a stranger to the ministry.

“Minister Tabar is not new, he was our former minister two years ago for two months before he went across as minister for higher education, research, science and technology,” Mr Mumu said.

“Minister Duban, thank you for your leadership in the last 5 months. As we launched our corporate plan last month- these are changes that are inevitable.”

“As a department as our plan says- we will continue our line of sight.”

Now Petroleum and Energy Minister, Duban thanked the prime minister for the opportunity to be the transport minister- adding that a lot had been learnt and achieved in such a short span of time.

“I have come to realize a lot of policy angles in the industry and I believe this department is privileged to have a very reputable secretary in the making of policy development, secretary Mumu is one of the best so far giving us leverage in getting our work done faster,” Duban said.

“We are a government that requires strategic plans, strategic thinking, and strategic approach. I am satisfied as a minister.”

“With the new minister coming in, he is a second time minister for this department and he will be able to pursue some of the challenges that we have not addressed.”

Mr Tabar thanked Duban and his staff for looking after the department- adding that his move back to his former department of petroleum and energy minister as vital to addressing issues that have arisen in the sector.

“I believe that the Prime minister has made a good decision to bring Mr Duban into the petroleum and energy department. “

“That is an important department and it is only fair that we bring someone with experience to effectively look after that department.”

“It is also going to be a bigger challenge for him given the difficulties on the ground especially the outstanding issues of our projects. We have our confidence of the commitment of Mr Duban to handle the department.”

Tabar assured the department of his commitment to it.

Free Facebook mode to increase internet penetration

Caption:  (L) Digicel Head of Products Paul Byrne and MD Mobile Shivan Bhargava displaying the free mode on a phone.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 31, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

OFFICIALLY launching its Free Facebook mode on Tuesday (July 26)- Digicel PNG has attested that the free mode will enable internet connectivity and boost the country’s low internet penetration rate.   

Launching the new product, Digicel PNG Managing Director Mobile Shivan Bhargava said the new free Facebook mode enables Digicel users to access the popular global social networking site for free without the cost of credits and data.

He also made mention of the economic dynamics involved in a more informed population via the social networking medium.

“It’s more to ensure a lot of people in PNG start to get connected. The data stats here lets us know that just 13 percent of people in PNG using data and social media,” Bhargava said.

“There is a Deloitte survey which actually goes ahead and demonstrates that across the world and in any part of the world that the more the population gets onto social media it improves the productivity of the people and therefore the economy of the country.”

“We have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that social media penetration in this country grows.”

Mr Bhargava said countries like Kenya have a mobile penetration has gone to over 40 percent, whereas, in India it is beyond 50 to 55 percent.

The option to switch to free Facebook delivers a lighter version of the full Facebook experience with no data costs.

Any and all browsers of smart android phone are able to access the service along with those with the Facebook application preinstalled in most smart phones.

Free Facebook on the Digicel network went live on July 15, with the company stating that internet users have increased by the tens of thousands since the inception.

Hard work of the pioneers not easy: Chan

Caption: New Ireland Governor and former PM, Sir Julius Chan.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

SENIOR politician and former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan has expressed his confusion as to why the Government of the day is finding it difficult to run the country while preaching what he termed was “the gospel” of its success and that of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

Sir Julius was referring to comments made by Finance Minister James Marape who compared Mr O'Neill as the best prime minister the country has ever seen, and the struggles the government is making do with to maintain the country in the current economic environment.

“What you people are enjoying now are the hard work of those pioneers in those times,” Chan said.

“That is why when the finance minister started to preach the gospel of we know how hard it is”.

“I do not think he knows how hard it is. I had to crawl when he (Sir Michael Somare) was prime minister. I had to crawl to borrow money.”

“I had to crawl to Australia just to get K120 million for our independence budget and we survived 40 years of independence.”

He said with the resources available, the minister for finance was questioning the opposition on their awareness of the circumstances in the economy.

“To tell me whether we know the circumstances. I don’t know. I really don’t know why we can’t sustain now.”

Govt economic upheavals analysis rubbished

Caption: Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather.

 

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG) 

THE opposition has taken a swipe at Minister for Finance James Marape for his explanation of the economy’s downturn due to global oil price falls and the drop in commodities, which Opposition MPs refuted both on the floor and in a conference held after.

Minister Marape said what the country is facing is in relation to one of the toughest global economy in many years.

“Our commodity price are falling to the floor that we know. The economy of our largest trading partner China is not doing too well that we know,” Minister Marape said.

“But I ask an honest question. Who amongst us will be the savior of this country to bring the oil price to where it was before when it started to fall down?”

A war of words ensued from the opposition benches who shouted down the finance minister as asking the wrong questions.

In a point of order raised by Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather- he told the house that the continued falling of all commodity prices were not true.

“Coffee is at a reasonable price, cocoa is at a high price, gold is at a very high price, and oil is not at a historically low price- it is at a very good price historically.”

“There was a time when it was over a US$100 and now it’s back to US$50. So don’t just talk rubbish.”

The minister, however, reiterated that prices were globally controlled of commodities like oil.

“I’m sure the member for Sumkar looks at the prices and appreciates the fact that we live in an environment that you are dependent on the global market price out there.”

“The price is fluctuating going up and down the reality is oil contributes to 60 percent of our country’s economy revenue dropped in the last instance by 70 percent.”

Battle lost, but war yet to be won: Polye

Caption: Opposition Leader Don Polye (pic by Bae Kimali).

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

AFTER losing its attempt to overthrow the government on Friday’s vote of no confidence vote- Opposition leader Don Polye said the opposition would maintain its stance to hold the government accountable for good governance in the country.

Mr Polye said despite the loss, they were not moved by their focus to fight corruption at the highest levels.

“After all this I would like to stress the focus or the fight of the opposition the alternative government has been fighting will not lose focus,” Mr Polye said.

“The focus is fighting corruption in Papua New Guinea. The focus of this team is making sure that there is a strong compliance to the rule of law and upholding of justice.”

“The focus of this team is making that the institutions of governance, the public service delivery mechanisms in place are strengthened effective.”

He said what occurred on the floor was a minor battle for a war that keeps the country from being destroyed.

“What you saw in parliament today is just a minor battle. We have lost the battle but we will win the war against what is destroying this country.”

“Peter O’Neill we will continue to maintain he is not a fit and proper person to maintain this economy.”

“We will provide alternative solutions and policies we have done into 2017 elections. We will continue to make use of the resources we have available to make our people realize what we are saying,” Mr Polye said.