Kandep’s hour has arrived

Source: yutok, Post Courier, June 21 2012

For 10 lone years, Kandep people have been deprived of basic services delivery. All they have seen under the leadership of T.H.E party leader Don Polye is nothing except different musical tones with empty promises and mere lip services.
Realising that the time is near for the next term, he has delivered cold hard cash onto the hands of the people.
I wonder if a huge sum of money such as K4.7 million can be put to good use in maintaining and upgrading tangible service that can serve the majority of the people.
The poor people have stood by their sitting MP Polye as he promised them of getting the Prime Ministers post and promised that service delivery will come just like that.
All resources including the monies earmarked for projects in the district have all been wasted. Two terms have passed and the PM ambition has not materialised. The platform of being the next PM again appears to be the platform for Polye during the 2012 elections.
The sad thing that Polye has done to the people is just simply feed the people with crab with his words and a lot more empty promises.
Polye has totally deprived the people on basic service delivery in the area of human resource development, road and bridge infrastructure, one of the worse affected in the district. Health service delivery has been the other area that is in a very deteriorating and the public service machinery in the district has ceased to operate.
It’s a day away and the people of Kandep have a final opportunity to vote in a leader to represent them and deliver tangible services for the next five years. History for Polye in his last two terms (10 years) shows that he has delivered absolutely nothing to the district except playing better musical tones at the national level vying for the PM failing to realise that you and I will have such an opportunity one day to show him the door for the better.
In return for his total negligence, the people of Kandep now have a unique opportunity for change for the people, our children and the future generation to make a difference, that is, to show Polye the door on June 26, 2012. We have only two choices, make a change in leadership now for the better or miss this opportunity and return to the life style of our ancestors.
The ball is now in each individual’s court to make or break Kandep!
Sambakali -pennlam
Mariant Constituency, Kandep

Polye’s vote sums don’t add

Source: yutok, Post Courier, Friday June 16, 2012

Out of curiosity and interest, I read the news report titled “Polye confident of returning for Kandep” as reported on Post-Courier of 12th June 2012.
The reality in Kandep now is that Polye is expected to score even less than what he has scored in the 2007 and the 2009 elections. His support base is all gone and the reality is that, Polye has no full votes in any polling venue, once his 100 per cent support base.
Votes in his support base such as Lakalap 1, 2 and 3 is split between his brother rival Sakias Tamao as well as Gini 1 and 2. Kolopa 1 and 2 are all split between his greatest rival Alfred Manase, Sakias Tamao and Polye himself. Kokas 1 and 2 is also split between Manase and Polye.
The Aimbreps, an area where were Polye scores good votes are now rallying behind the former Post PNG managing director Peter Mission Yaki, another possible contender for the seat. If his full 100% support base is split, Polye has no say in the rest of the polling venues.
The news should have been reported as, more people have left Polye and he has higher chances of loosing the Kandep seat.
Polye to win by more than 30,000 votes raises concern because he does not have the numbers now.
His supporters have left him because of his non-delivery of tangible services accompanied by his conning tones of voice for people to rally behind him during his past elections.
His more popular free cash hand-out of millions of kina to the hands of the people has fuelled up tribal fights resulting in trouble but appears that this has not worked in his favour.
I urge all the Polye’s 59 rival candidates including the two front runners, Alfred Manase and Sakias Tamao to rally together and block off all possible techniques that Polye can use to meet score his 30,000 votes.
With an honest, true and fair election for Kandep in 2012, Polye and his T.H.E party will be history in the making.
The Kuprups
Mariant Constituency, Kandep

Investigations reveal MPs misusing public funds

Source: Post Courier News, Friday June 16, 2012

By Simon Eroro

PUBLIC funds held in district and provincial trust accounts are being used by certain Members of Parliament dishing out public funds for elections purportedly for new projects from district and provincial trust accounts.
Investigations conducted reveals transactions are conducted in relatively large amounts which includes payments made to companies where there are no evidence of ongoing projects and duly executed contracts.
Investigations also revealed that other MPs are involved in money laundering activities, orchestrated through different bank accounts.
The Chairman of Taskforce Sweep Sam Koim also confirmed receipts of numerous complaints recently of sitting MPs dishing out public funds on the eve of elections on purported projects.
Mr Koim said one of those that they had receipts of was a complaint of allegation of recent payments out of Wabag DSIP Trust Account held at Bank South Pacific Limited.
Copies of the bank statements also obtained by this paper show from January – June 2012 for Wabag DSIP Trust Account-subsidiary, large cash withdrawals and payments were made by Wabag MP Sam Abal and in the months of May and June 2012.
It shows persons by the names of Emily Abel, Ester Ere (district treasurer), Peter Sarr (policeman and bodyguard) received substantial amounts, totaling millions of Kina in the last three months.
In June 7, 2012, a total of K310,000 was cashed and paid to chicken farmers and another K388,000 was withdrawn by Mr Abal personally and K360,000 was paid to Ester and Emily on June 8, 2012 from Wabag DSIP Trust Account 1001372834 with BSP.
Mr Abal could not be reached for comment, however, his First Secretary Larsen Talian has denied the allegations made against Mr Abal.
Mr Talian said these project payments were not bogus as alleged.
He said this was the work of Mr Abal’s political rivals, trying everything they feel to discredit him.
He said candidates should spell out their policies and platforms for the people to see rather than raising mere allegations against a leader like Mr Abal who had delivered well for his electorate, province and the country.
He said cash handlers, including commercial banks also had a duty under the Proceeds of Crime Act to report suspicious transactions – and they were encouraged to observe those obligations, especially at this time.
This paper was also informed that the Ombudsman Commission used to issue directions under its lawful powers to stop unnecessary payments from provincial and district trust accounts before the issue of writs for the 2012 National Elections but had not done this election.
Mr Koim said it did not matter who was the signatory to those trust accounts because the signatories of those trust accounts were mere trustees over those accounts.
He said the State was the ultimate holder of these trust accounts and still had proprietary interest over the funds kept in those accounts.

Enga road needs repairs, says Kandep councillor

Source: The National, Thursday 10th May 2012

THE Laigaip-Kandep road in Enga province needs urgent repair and maintenance, a councillor says.
Kandep electorate councillor Thomas Wenge said the road from Niungu-Liyan was the most affected part as people had to lift vehicles across treacherous sections.
Wenge blamed governor Peter Ipatas and Laiagam-Porgera Philip Kikala for doing nothing to maintain the road that served 100,000 people.
He said Ipatas, who travelled to Kandep two weeks ago to pay village court magistrates, had seen how his people were suffering.
Wenge said services such as schools and health centres were affected.
He said the road starting from Laigaip Het Wara and Kandep border were the responsibility of Ipatas and Kikala to fund and make sure they were in good stage.
Wenge said schools and health centres on the other side of the road at Laigaip Het Wara were Pilikambi Secondary School, Keplam, Mapumanda, Papayuk and Wanapop primary schools and the two health centres of Yango and Keplam.
He said in Kandep, schools and health centre that were affected were Lawi, Walwin, Yapum, Ketel, Longap, Muripi, Kesu, Kirip, Kambia, Tinjipa, Wer, Kandep, Marian and Maur primary schools and Kandep High School.
The health centres are Kete, Kirip, Kambia, Yapum, Longamp, Walupim, Tinjipa, Wer and the Murlp National Agriculture Institute station.
Wenge said those were the services people needed the most.
He said people had been deprived of these services because of poor road conditions.
He said people found it hard to transport their garden crops to sell in markets and trade store owners had been affected because it cost them more to transport goods.

.......Photograph of road condition as stated in this report................courtesy of author's own photo collection............

 Road condition at Lagiap het wara.... notice the huge pothole

 Lyain road - only manoeuvred by land cruiser

 Road to Kambiya - where one of local sub-health center is located. now at a run down state

 Road to Margarima on the right at Wasa

The state of wara mariant bridge - up to 12 council wards live and access this bridge

 Road to mendi via winja on the right - huge potholes and craters of water

The road to last wert, pura-segin and momde on the left and on the right si road to Mendi via tap mountain and last Krints

More of these photograph display can bee seen under Kandep News, development etc. tag in header tab on this blog.

Enga scores highest in tertiary schools

Source: The Post Courier, May 10, 2012

By MELISSA MARTIN

More than 9,000 students attending tertiary institutions throughout Papua New Guinea come from Enga.
And this is the highest so far, coming from a single province – all because their leaders have invested so much in the education of their elites.
This was revealed by the Chairman of Ipatas Foundation Isaac Lupari when presenting a total of K182, 798 worth of school fee assistance to the Engan Students at the University of Papua New Guinea recently.
Mr Lupari said Engan students have the highest number of enrolment at UPNG than any other tertiary institutions in the country.
Engan students’ population at UPNG is estimated to be around 500 which include the School of Medical Sciences and the Open Campus.
“Enga has the highest number of students compared to other provinces and this will still increase as the Engan Provincial Government continues to invest in quality education,” Mr Lupari added.
Enga Governor Peter Ipatas in a recent interview told the Post courier that Enga does not have lucrative resources like cash crops, other commodities or major impact projects therefore their only “great” investment and impact project was to invest in the province’s human resources.
Mr Lupari has stressed that Enga Province is fortunate to have a governor who believes in the value of human capital and someone who has dedicated his entire term of leadership to invest in human resource development.
“The Students Financial Assistance Scheme is an interest free loan scheme; the students will repay the money after completing their studies and when in a full time employment.
“The Scheme is the ‘first of its kind’ being introduced and implemented in Enga and we are determined to make it more successful,” he said.
Ipatas Foundation Inc.has furthermore established a Job Assistance Scheme which will help graduates to find jobs.
Mr Lupari pointed out to the students that IFI will be assisting those who have put all their efforts in studies and have excellent results to get employment. The UPNG Vice Chancellor Professor Ross Hynes while acknowledging the initiative also confirmed that Enga has the highest student population at the University.
Professor Hynes said this reflects the dedicated investment by the Governor Ipatas and this is remarkable.
“You cannot go wrong with investing in human resource, for any country or society to prosper education is the key, Enga has made the right decision therefore it is now beginning to reap its fruit,” he added.

Polye aims for top

Source: Post Courier, May 10, 2012

By FRANK RAI

Kandep MP and Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) party leader Don Polye has been hailed as a potential Prime Minister after the 2012 General Elections.
Deputy party leaders Tom Olga (Highlands) and James Gau (Mamose) told more than 1000 people during the party’s convention at the Eriku Oval in Lae yesterday that Mr Polye had the credentials to become the new Prime Minister.
Mr Olga is the Governor for Western Highlands province and Mr Gau is the Madang Governor.
Mr Polye vowed to lead the country as the PM if given the confidence by people of Papua New Guinea through the candidates that the party had endorsed.
The Kandep MP said he had been in the Government for the last 10 years as two-times Deputy Prime Minister, had held other senior ministerial portfolios and was confident to be the PM.
“Papua New Guinea needs new leadership, a leadership that is shaped with quality, vision and wisdom,’’ Mr Olga said.
“And those characteristics are found in none other than Don Polye who is prepared to take this country forward.’’
The Western Highlands Governor reiterated that former PMs in the likes of Paias Wingti, sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir Julius Chan and Sir Michael Somare would no longer lead this country when PNG needed young leadership.
Mr Olga said THE Party was as good as its leaders, including Don Polye, James Gau and himself who were committed to weed out corruption and deliver services to the people.
Meanwhile, Mr Gau also said after 37 years of Independence, the country was still swathed with issues affecting family units, Government and the country.
Mr Gau said he had reasons to break away from the National Alliance (NA) party after careful consideration because State Ministers in the NA Government went ahead to drain the country’s wealth and resources.
“There were no change and there were too much corruption involved in all the government business so I had to break away and form this new party with Mr Polye,’’ Governor Gau said.
“I have no regrets but am confident that THE Party will form the new government.’’
He added that his party will have its force in the Mamose region, basically to ensure that the candidates put up a good challenge on other candidates in the respective Open and Regional seats in the region

THE party puts up 80

Source: Post Courier, May 10, 2012

By FRANK RAI

Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) party announced 80 candidates for Open and Regional seats around the country in the 2012 National General Elections.
The announcement was made by party leader and Minister for Finance Don Polye before 1000 supporters at the Eriku Oval in Lae yesterday.
Mr Polye said after intense consideration by the party council, it has resolved to endorse 80 candidates in the 111-seat parliament.
Supported by his deputy party leaders, Madang Governor and Raicoast MP James Gau (Mamose) and Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga (Highlands), the party leader urged other candidates to work together with those endorsed by the party.
“I am humbled to say that the party received more than 10 to 20 applications for intending candidates for an Open or Regional seat. And it was extremely hard for the council to make the decision. I urged those who have missed out to stay with the party and work together to form the new government,” Mr Polye said.
He added that since having experienced the system of governance with the former National Alliance regime for the last 10 years, he broke away to form THE party.
Mr Polye said the party needed innovative and youthful leadership, a generation of leadership that would bring the country forward from its current doldrums.
“After being in the Government for the last 10 years, I have assessed the government system and how it works. We need to address the current widespread of corruption that is crippling the nation to its knees,” the Minister said.
Mr Polye said the party’s vision was to empower individual family units – the husband, wife and children so that the family would have confidence and resources to contain social and economical challenges.
Meanwhile, Messrs Olga and Gau also shared same sentiment saying THE party intends to form the new government after the elections.
Both deputy leaders said they were committed to Mr Polye and THE party to ensure that the party forms the next government for the betterment of the country.

Ex-NA members criticise party

Source: The National, Thursday 10th May 2012

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare’s National Alliance Party got a verbal bashing from its former members during the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party campaign launch in Lae.
Don Polye, T.H.E Party leader and national treasurer, was joined by his deputy party leaders Madang Governor James Gau and Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga to address supporters at the Niall Oval in Eriku.
The event also saw a Sepik singsing group participating with a crocodile dance – seen as an attack on the NA party whose stronghold is the Momase region.
The leaders despite having respect for Sir Michael, said they were convinced to break away from the NA party because it was leading the government on bad advice.
Polye acknowledged Raicoast MP Gau for leading the breakaway.
He said he panicked a bit prior to exiting Sir Michael’s party “because NA was so powerful.”
He said Olga was a young and dynamic leader.
Gau said for 36 years, the country had different parties with different policies but the wealth of the nation was not shared properly resulting in an increase in poverty among the people.
Olga said the nation was at the crossroads and needed quality leaders.
He said for the past nine years, a person from Momase had been the prime minister.
Olga declared that Polye would become the next prime minister because he had been the deputy prime minister on two occasions.

Vote for good leaders to bring about change

Source: The National, Thursday 10th May 2012

TODAY most of our  parliamentarians are wearing sheep’s clothing to show their innocence as far as transparency and accountability is concerned.
They have made one commitment after another. Sure, some will live up to their commitments but some are manipulating the system to build their own empires.
It is shameful to read in the media the kind of malpractices  involving politicians.
Do they have no respect or appreciation of the trust and lo­yalty that the people have given them?
Sadly for us, most goods and services that we have a right to expect have not been delivered or delivered on time because the funds have been hijacked.
The perception is many leaders have become millionaires over­night through corruption and malpractices.
They do not care about the country or the people, including those who voted for them.
Leaders are supposed to be good stewards and managers to help direct and lead people in the right direction.
Unfortunately, once elected into parliament, most tend to take a different approach altogether.
 Is it so hard to deliver to the people and keep your promises?
As most would say, PNG  poli­tics is 85% lies and 15% truth.
Let us use the coming general election to change all this and elect those who will  bring real change.
Ignore those who speak sweet words to win our vote. In the past 36 years, PNG 
has not achieved much in terms of delivering goods and servi­ces.
Most rural areas are still ha­ving problems with roads, aid posts and other infrastructural development while most major towns in the country are poor in terms of waste management.
The time has come for us to choose leaders who can deliver.
                                               Fa’e@redz
Goroka

PNG needs a vision to ensure a better future

Source: The National, Thursday 10th May 2012

THE current political turmoil we have been forced to endure has exposed many things that are wrong with our country.
Top on this list is the vision of ensuring a better future for our children.
Since Independence in 1975, the public-private service and our various government regimes have deteriorated to an all-time low.
This is most evident in the public system where everything is in shambles.
The country agonises in anticipation of a revisit to that initial vision of our founding forefathers.
 Sadly, however, no one seems to  take serious notice of the situation.
Corruption is rife and everyone is keen to make a quick buck.
The wantok system is crippling our government system.
At the very top, our good  politicians and bureaucrats seemingly are leading the nation astray through mere greed.
Then in the middle is the ever-corruptible public and at the very bottom, the average Joe, struggling to make ends meet.
 As a nation, we are in danger of lo­sing that vision of our founding forefathers.
Depending on how one looks at it, fortunately or unfortunately, I prefer the former.
There is now a changing of the old guard.
We, the children of those public/private servants and politicians of the pre-Independence era, are now taking over from our parents.
The initial efficient government  system handed over from our colonial masters is now almost non-existent.
We inherited from our parents a predominantly corrupted and inefficient system.
Who will change that now for the better for our children’s future?
 No alien will do that.
It is up to us, the children, who will change that corrupt system.
We start with our own behaviour.
We need to reactivate that fallen government sys­tem to function efficiently again.
 We need a national vi­sion.
We need to vote for good leaders to carry our nation forward.
We need to educate our children in better schools.
We need better health services.
 Overall, we need to re-visit that initial vision to make our country better for our future generations – be it an overhaul of our parliament, the Constitution, the judiciary,  the public service, etc.
It is evident that something drastic needs to be done now, in every  aspect, to achieve that vision of a better tomorrow.
We owe it to  ourselves and our children’s future.

Lawrence
Via email