Verbal Tug-of-war between PNG PM O'Neill and his former counterpart Sir Mekere far from over

PM's COMEBACK ON CALL MADE BY SIR MEK

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS of Post Courier

In a front page of Post Courier news article today, PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has made a scathing attack on former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta describing him as “just a sore and bitter person” who lives in a glass house and has lost touch with reality.

Mr O’Neill in a scathing attack said Sir Mekere, who is Moresby Northwest MP, is misleading the public and Members of Parliament about changing government when he does not even have the numbers and even a political party. He said the former prime minister should form his own political party and or revive his own PNG Party and go seek the mandate of the people in 2022.

“Do not use numbers on the floor of Parliament to pursue your own personal interest and political interest.”

Mr O’Neill said Sir Mekere has lost his opportunity to make a difference in the country when he was Prime Minister.

“He is living in the past, PNG is moving forward and he is left behind, his followers will remember, he Sir Mekere has nothing to show for when he was in power.”

Mr O’Neill said Sir Mekere did not build any infrastructure and put in government intervention in health and education.

He said law and order was getting worse when Sir Mekere started retrenchment and downsizing of the disciplinary forces in Defence, Police and Correctional Service.

“Simply lost in the glass house, never travelled within Papua New Guinea and therefore lost touch with reality, as he is even today.”

Mr O’Neill was responding to Sir Mekere’s call which was reported in the Post-Courier yesterday for a change of government.

Sir Mekere had said that PNC and Peter O’Neill had changed the face of Papua New Guinea in the past seven years.

Sir Mekere, who was speaking at the Allegiance Party membership card launch last Saturday evening, called for a change of government that will put the country back on track.

“A change of government can of course only be made by Members of Parliament. But to convince enough MPs of the need for change, we all have a part to play, this includes doctors, nurses, teachers, academics, students, business men and women, unions, NGOs, churches and community leaders,” Sir Mekere said.

“People cannot leave it to the MPs in the Opposition to speak out. All of us must take responsibility.”

Why councillors are going to be paid their outstanding dues?

FINSCHHAFEN MP PAITA TAKES PLIGHT OF COUNCILORS TO GOV’T ATTENTION

By Wanpis Ako

Finschhaffen MP Renbo Paita has taken yet another responsibility of the councilors’ plight in a question to Treasury Minister Charles Abel on their outstanding allowances.

Finschhfen MP Renbo Paita

In the wake of the LLG elections looming in July this year, during Question Time in Parliament this month, Mr Paita sought clarification from Abel on when he was disbursing the balance of their dues.

Paita, who is the assistant Speaker in the 10th Parliament, said his initial question to the minister in the previous Parliament session had prompted the government to have disbursed a portion of their allowances. Their outstanding allowances should be paid in full before they go to the polls, he told Parliament.

Paita in action with the Raffles band of Singapore at PNC party's red ball fundraiser for earthquake relief

Treasurer Abel -who is also the Deputy Prime Minister- said the government had recognized the three- tier levels of government by way of ‘improved allowances.’

 he government, he said, was serious in empowering the sub-national governments.

 Abel added that their allowances for January were released. He further stated that the government was betting on the improvement in global economic conditions to fulfill its commitment entirely.

From the left: Western Governor Yoto, Petroleum Minister Pok, Police Minister Wong and Finschhafen MP Renbo Paita

 Abel assured them that the government was hoping to pay them in drips and drabs soon. Treasurer Abel congratulated Paita for the development of Special Economic Zone-a first of its kind-through an innovation on feasibility study of block chain technology in the district.

Related readings: https://www.thenational.com.pg/officials-meet-hear-submissions-llg-elections/

Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended into the Prime Minister Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy.  He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.