Douglas Tomuriesa, Pope Francis and James Marape

-
Image
  Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said he is disappointed and embarrassed over the way His Holiness Pope Francis was treated by Prime Minister James Marape over the last three-days during the Papal visit, and the lack of courtesy and respect shown by the Prime Minister. He said the Prime Minister continuously declares PNG as a ‘Christian country’ and prides himself on being a religious individual but he was surprised when the Pope was continuously snubbed by the PM over the weekend since the Pope’s arrival on Friday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, the largest Christian church in the world and he is also a head of state. “PNG not only being a Christian country, but a country that prides itself as a ‘friend to all, enemy to none’, the PM should be according the Pope with the highest level of respect,” Tomuriesa said. The Opposition Leader pointed out that on Friday, the Prime Minister did not welcome the Pope at the airport, a tradition he had accorded to many othe...
Post a Comment

Government focusing on free, fair election, says Marape

-

 

THE Government is focused on delivering a free and fair general election next year, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Marape said this during the opening of two-day national integrity summit in Port Moresby yesterday that the focus was on the common roll, security, planning and conducting the elections.
Marape reiterated plans to use biometric options on voter registration.
“We admit major challenges on the national identification card process but we are turning our attention to home-grown solutions on biometrics registration,” he said.
Marape said building a process was essential to ensure the outcomes had integrity.
He thanked Transparency International PNG for organising the national integrity systems assessment for 2021.
“True partnership is when we deliver structures as the Government.
“And when the private sector, citizens and civil society are able to respond, (it) ensures that the full intents of the legal structures are realised.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marape warns against negative comments about visits

-
Image
  Marape warns against negative comments about visits May 4, 2023 Main Stories PRIME Minister James Marape has cautioned Papua New Guineans about comments they make in the media regarding the visits by United States President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month. “I appeal to all Papua New Guinea commentators, on both social and mainstream media, to refrain from unnecessary comments and innuendoes about the visits of President Biden and Prime Minister Modi,” Marape said. “Such visits are not easy to put together, as Papua New Guinea is not the only country in the Indo-Pacific that they could have chosen to visit, especially at a time like this. “Let us not take such visits for granted. “I appeal to all commentators on both mainstream and social media to refrain from making unnecessary inferences, especially on matters that they know little of, such as global geo-politics and various other issues.” Biden will arrive in Port Moresby on May 22 for a meeting wit...
Read more

PM: No breakaway provisions

-
Image
  July 9, 2021 Main Stories PRIME Minister James Marape says there are no provisions in Papua New Guinea’s Constitution that allows for one part of the country to break away and form its own country, including Bougainville. “The word ‘Independence’ was used as a referendum choice,” he said. “It does not mean the Government has automatically agreed to that move. “A political settlement can only happen for Bougainville when all parliamentary processes have been complied with, including a wide national consultation and Constitutional amendments reflecting the result of that consultation.” Marape said 2027 was the proposed date by the Autonomous Bougainville Government for its Independence. “The Government has tentatively accepted the date but at no point did we agree to Independence,” he clarified in a statement on Wednesday. “Sensitivity in disseminating information to the public is paramount as ‘Bougainville Independence’ not only meant changes to Bouganville’s political autonomy bu...
Read more

Speaker's Decision Sparks Controversy in Parliament

-
Image
The parliament’s speaker Job Pomat’s decision on Wednesday has ignited a fierce debate among members, highlighting the complexities and challenges of parliamentary procedures.  In a phone interview yesterday afternoon with Kalang News, Douglas Tomuriesa, the Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough, and the Opposition Leader expressed the oppositions concerns regarding the Speaker's ruling, which they argue undermines the decorum and impartiality expected of the chair. Tomuriesa emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and dignity in the House, asserting that the Speaker must embody impartiality. "The decorum of the House depends on the chair, and the respect, the dignity of the chair must always be maintained. In this case, impartiality is very important," he stated. He criticized the Speaker's approach, questioning the decision to seek court clarification after making a ruling. "It's like putting the cart before the horse. How can you make your ruling and lat...
Read more

No Cabinet reshuffle: Marape

-
Image
  August 4, 2021 Main Stories By MIRIAM ZARRIGA PRIME Minister James Marape has ruled out any Cabinet reshuffle despite two ministers currently facing a leadership tribunal. The ministers are Telefomin MP Solan Mirism, the Defence Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Commerce and Industry Sam Basil, who is Bulolo MP. Marape told The National he respected all Cabinet ministers “and there is no vacancy and there is no reshuffle”. Mirisim had three charges of the 22 allegations of misconduct in office against him struck out by the tribunal after the public prosecutor indicated that the provisions relied upon were wrong and misconceived. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, told Mirisim that he would still have to answer to the remaining allegations. Mirisim had pleaded guilty to declaring false and misleading information in the annual statement for 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The tribunal rejected Mirisim’s submission to throw out the remaining allegations. T...
Read more

Families on repatriation

-
Image
  July 9, 2021 Main Stories By MIRIAM ZARRIGA ANOTHER repatriation exercise was carried out on Wednesday in Kimbe, West New Britain, as the provincial government began evicting Sepiks. A total of 200 families, who were plaintiffs in a court case against the provincial government in 2009, were put on a boat in Kimbe. All were from East Sepik and were repatriated to their home province on Wednesday night. They’re scheduled to arrive in Wewak today on MV Momase charted by the WNB government. There were some mixed emotions from the people. Parents and grandparents were happy to return home but the young people – males and females – wept openly. They were sad leaving Kimbe as they said they were born and grew up there and regarded it as home. This second group included many youths. This brought the total repatriated to 297. The third repatriation exercise is scheduled for next Monday. The repatriation was only for the plaintiffs, those who took the WNB government to court. The court ord...
Read more