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Douglas Tomuriesa, Pope Francis and James Marape

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  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 other wo
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O’Neill: Our People the Losers in the 2024 Record Taxing Budget

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  I made a statement late this afternoon about the 2024 Budget presented by the Treasurer to Parliament today. O’Neill: Our People the Losers in the 2024 Record Taxing Budget I am shocked that the cries of our people and even members of the ruling Government have been ignored in the 2024 Budget. 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. The 2024 Budget seems to have been carefully crafted by foreign advisors and a Treasurer who is out of touch as it is devoid of understanding that the economic mismanagement and wastage this past five years is denying our people the basics of life. The Tre
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Why the need to take overseas trips whether it is state funded or free?

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  by  DAVID LEPI In the realm of political discourse, especially on social media platforms, the travel habits of Prime Minister James Marape have sparked a fiery debate. His latest expedition, a journey to San Francisco for the APEC Economic Leaders meeting from November 11-17, 2023, is no exception. This trip, like others, involves an extended entourage, raising questions about the necessity and implications of such frequent overseas engagements. The role of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in forums like APEC cannot be understated, especially considering the country's dire need for foreign direct investment amidst looming budget constraints and the impending vote of no confidence. Full representation in these international forums seems imperative. However, this brings us to the question of the Prime Minister's travel prerogatives. Indeed, as the leader of the nation, travel is part and parcel of the job, with a designated budget for such engagements. Yet, the issue transcends mere budg
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Ire over daughter’s TikTok post

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  May 11, 2023 Main Stories A TIKTOK post by Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko’s daughter, boasting of her trip to witness King Charles III’s coronation, has infuriated many citizens. Savannah Tkatchenko accompanied her father who represented the Prime Minster to attend the coronation on May 6. The video hash-tagged #aussiesinengland and showing selfies of Savannah at various stages of the trip with one scene showing her bare back getting dressed, brought angry responses on social media forum, many wanting to know who paid for her trip. Calls have been made for the prime minister to decommission Tkatchenko and to have him referred to the Ombudsman Commission. Tkatchenko has come to his daughter’s defence, claiming the social media posters were “opening their big mouths” without finding out the facts. He said because his wife could not make the trip, his eldest daughter, Savannah, had to represent her mother. “Savannah is a Papua New Guinean citizen, but holds an Australian pas
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Staff locked out

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  By DYLAN MURRAY EMPLOYEES of the National Housing Commission (NHC) were locked out of the head office in Port Moresby, following differences over who is the rightful managing director, a spokesman says. A commission spokesman said that they had been locked out by police since Friday, preventing them from entering the premises. “Police had given instructions to the security company taking care of the premises, which is owned by Tropicana, to not let us in,” he said. The row began when the National Court in Waigani on April 28 quashed the appointment of Henry Mokono as the managing director by the National Executive Council in July, 2021, saying it did not follow proper process. The court upheld a judicial review application filed by former NHC acting managing director Elizabeth Bowada. Mokono in a statement claimed that Bowada last Thursday accompanied by police stormed into the NHC head office and demanded that the keys to the managing director’s office be handed to her. But Bowada t
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Kramer must appeal tribunal ruling

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  May 4, 2023 Letters IN the name of fairness and natural justice, the dismissed Member for Madang Bryan Kramer should be allowed to appeal the ruling of the leadership tribunal that dismissed him for scandalising the Judiciary. It is crucial for Kramer to appeal to the higher court his dismissal as most people want the higher court to interpret what is accorded in Section 46 of the Constitution in relation to whether there are limits in that provision on the freedom of expression. Here, Section 46 of the Constitution gives a person freedom to express what they see and feel as improper or can openly counter it by expressing via the public media on the suspicious conduct or malicious intent of other persons holding public office. Quite frankly, when Kramer’s alleged offence was spotted at that time, the tribunal provided no evidence of public outrage that could have resulted in open public protest or protest in other social media platforms that could nail Kramer to the cross. A parliame
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I will appeal decision, this is not the end: Kramer

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  SUSPENDED Madang MP Bryan Kramer says he will appeal the decision of a Leadership Tribunal recommending his dismissal from public office. He said outside court yesterday that he was not surprised by the tribunal’s decision. “I expected such penalty when looking at the decision on verdict,” he said. “This is not the end. “I will appeal the Tribunal’s decision in the National Court and Supreme Court – where necessary. “There are some past instances where MPs got dismissed, appealed their decision and got reinstated. “I will do the same.” The tribunal, consisting of Judge Lawrence Kangwia as chairman, and magistrates Josephine Nidue and Edward Komia, yesterday recommended to the speaker that Kramer be dismissed from public office for three years. They said Kramer’s social media post gave birth to public perception of corruption by the Chief Justice (CJ) and the judiciary, as the CJ could not be isolated from the judiciary. “The judiciary is the third arm of Government referred to as the
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Nasfund, IRC sign deal

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  May 4, 2023 Main Stories THE Internal Revenue Commission and Nasfund will work together to promote transparency and accountability in managing company and private employee benefits, and improve tax collection following an agreement signing in Port Moresby yesterday, commissioner-general Sam Koim says. Koim said non-compliance behaviours flourished due to information gap as such partnership and collaboration would help IRC to eliminate and reduce the gap and the information, especially in relation to private employees contributing to Nasfund. “Both organisations would enhance their information sharing capabilities, enabling the IRC to better comply with regulations and assess risks associated with salary packaging abuse by employees through their employers,” he said. “We look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial partnership with Nasfund.” Nasfund chief executive officer Rajeev Sharma said it was a significant step forward promoting transparency and accountability in the man
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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 other wo
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