The current economic gaing now being experiencing is from the hard policies that were put into place by the then Mekere Govt. and we commend Sir Mek for the good job well done. God knows what damages the NA (Not forgeting that Bart was part of NA for 4 solid years and is equally responsible for NA's decisions) has done which will be felt by the new Govt. after the 2007 August. We need Mekere to build a strong png economy with more good policies.
Re: Mekere or Bart - Who will be a good PM candidate
March 20 2007, 7:09 PM
Mekere Morauta built up his fishing empire through backdoor deals, so I give him credit for that.
Bart Philemon, on the other hand, certainly led the way to giving outrageously overpriced government work to lawyers outside of government while he was at Finance. The amounts are so huge that it has inevitably started the rumours that this is nothing more than a kickback scheme. That is pretty sneaky.
Comparing the two enrichment strategies, I would say that Morauta, while not as sneaky, has kept his public nose cleaner and still gotten rich. For that reason, my vote is for Mekere Morauta to be given a 5 year reward for a job well done.
This Monday on The National was actually great news for the future of Papua New Guinea where the two GIANTS join hands. Its a dream come true for me. Who will be a good PM candidate ??? That is a most difficult question for me to answer. However I must be more critical, analytical and realist. I still think Sir Mekere should be the Prime Minister. Though I am not in either one of their electorates I will still give my first preference to Sir Mek's Party and the 2nd to Bart's Party.. I am still undecided on my 3rd preference. That reminds me, please enroll if you are above 18. Don't waste your time attacking our Leaders if you're are not going to vote.
Who will be their backdoor briefcase carriers and who will be their financial mastas? Please answer that because unlike nearly all of you, I'm concerned who will actually be the owners of Bart and Meke.
Good managers, questionable business ethics, no leadership qualities
March 21 2007, 5:03 AM
They don't have the level of ethics that we really need in a leader. We need a leader who isn't into making money and has a far better sense of inspiring the people than either of these two.
Both of them have had years to inspire the people and they've failed. Bart Philemon has been like a shadow and Mekere Morauta has forgotten that corruption didn't go down under this time in office either.
Maybe they can be great Ministers behind the scenes but they are boring, dull bureaucrats, not leaders, just like you say.
Before I'd even feel comfortable with either of them being ministers, I'd also like to know exactly what went on when Morauta was Fisheries Minister and owned fishing businesses that increasingly prospered. I'd also like to know what happened when Philemon was Finance Minister and tens of millions of kina went into the pockets of outside lawyers with his blessing.
Of course we're assuming that both will be re-elected.
Your postings are all very interesting, some are factual about true leadership.
At this juncture, Im inclined to support Mekere and Bart Philemon simply because the current calibre of leadership leaves alot to be desired. I do agree that they are both good managers with technocratic and bureaucratic backgrounds. I also acknowledge their terms and experience in parliament. Mekere has had the opportunity to lead and he's demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and wisdom as a PM. Both man have the qualifications to swing the economy of this great nation.
For me, a true leader is one that is able to say "NO" with wisdom and humility for the good of this nation. He will have to lead by example, go against his peers, wantoks and party pressures for the good of all. He must be humble and bring himself down to the level of his people in order to understand and appreciate the problems and suggested solutions. A true leader should also be able to mobilise resources. Above all a true leader must be a servant to his people.
In this day and age, and with the current trend of political ploys dictating the mode of leadership it is very difficult to find such leadership.
Hopefully one such leader will emerge after the comming elections.
We Want Change For The Better- Stop Little Politics
March 21 2007, 5:42 AM
I have read with interest the views and find some very amusing and some very realistic and critical postings. I think the concern for all Papua New Guinaeans now is to make a change for a better government.
These two men have reputations and we all know at the national level who can lead the country with hope for a change and progress beyond the same old development issues we have since Independence. Regardless of their personal lives and business, they have the experience and worthiness to lead all the other aspiring young leaders who are fed up of selfish politics and are looking forward to make changes.
We should concentrate more on their public performance than their individual lives as we are all different and as human beings we sometimes cannot escape the human nature..lets be frank. It happens to all of us in our lifetime so lets not waste our time on small politics.
So, Mekere from his career as a top bureacrat and technocrat in economic matters has the brains which we all should commend him to lead from what he has done within short time in politics to achieve the best economic performance in governance. He does not matter how smart one can talk with charisma, but it is how well one can think and make things happen. He definitely has the quality to lead with action.
Bart has been quite too but can talk straight and do alot more. He is capable and like all aspiring leaders who have great respect for the old man Somare, was following him casually all along under his guidance. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave against his own will..that is all history you all know.
Papua New Guineans do not underestimate any person as lacking of leadership qualities. Just give them power and you will see these men taking actions from what they see as insiders of the government machineries which has already been painted black by others. Remember Leaders are not born but made, shaped by their experiences and knowledge of life.
The Best News Article read with a great joy in the midst of gloominess....I very much agree.
Amazing that one poster doesn't care about personal lives (even though the way a person carries on in their private life says a great deal about their convictions and philosophies in making leadership decisions) nor do they care about how they got their money in business (ethics are ethics are ethics).
Suddenly the Bart and Meke show have become PNG's newest and most popular cargo cult.
Personally I would like Ben Philemon to take his father to an alcoholic recovery programme before I would even think about him being PM.
More cursing of the darkness.Why cannot people think about lighting the candle in the black darkenss of personal prejudice and biased agenda and leave out talking about the individual lives of others. Shame on you lot like you never in your life play the game itself for serious or fun.
Think about lighting your own candles for the better PNG, that is what these guys are trying to do.
Get real, no one in this world is a perfect human being-100%.
Our present PM is a nepotist, liar and really into self enrichment for his immediate family. So we really do not want this nut any more.
(I assume you are talking about Bart). This guy was also around when the biggest Finance scams occured under his nose. This guy also is untried as a PM.
The other may or may not have benefited himself through unfounded allegations that he used his position to increase his business earnings (I assume this is Sir Mek). This guy is also credited with turning the economy around and passing some of the gutsiest constitutional amendments we have ever seen while holding the job for less than two years.
Do we really need to sweat on this?
I think the answer is elementary. We need Sir Mek back.
This message has been edited by 7milebeach on Mar 28, 2007 9:07 AM
The whole reason why we're in this mess and we get one new mob after another of drunk womanising thieves after another every time we cave an election is that not one leader (and Somare once had the most potential to do good) has been an effective communicator to the people (I'm not talking about a bull**** artist who does nothing but mauswara. I'm talking about someone who can talk about ideals and principles, and most of all, practice what they preach).
Morauta and Philemon look almost painful in a village setting, they are coconuts through and through. That's fine for their constituencies but as PM 80% and more of their constituency becomes village people. Not one PM sinced the early days of Somare has bothered to communicate and communicate often on the ideals of a democracy. Without the effective checks and balances that an informed public provides, we will continue to get garbage in, garbage out as our leaders. We must have an inspirational leader who believes that the village environment is his favourite place as well as ours, and inspires us to make this great nation greater by joining hands together and walking forward.
Both Morauta and Philemon have been around for years and there is more than enough evidence that they cannot communicate to the people. So long as there is the lack of that kind of leadership, we're screwed.
I just don't understand how you can envision the leader of a nation to be a technocrat. Don't go invoking Dr Mahathir of Malaysia, he was far more than a technocrat. Compared to him, Philemon looks like ice and Morauta looks like lethargic slime mold. Mahathir is a brilliant communicator and he always reached beyond the people of the cities to those of the countryside. He spoke of dreams as well as ideals. Even though he failed to solve many problems with his own hands, he did get the population as a whole to take aim and take control, which in fact has kept things from getting out of hand. In PNG's case, we have had no one to inspire us to achieve our greatest.
Morauta cannot turn things around, only put his finger in the hole, just like he did the last time. He does not have leadership capabilities and when he leaves, the sewage water will flows again, just like it did the last time, because he failed to inspire.
Bart Philemon has proven himself to be the invisible man, and quickly frankly he is a drunk and an alcoholic almost rising to the standards of the late Bill Skate. Single or married, he has an alcohol problem.
Neither offer the populism we need in a leader. Why must our PM be selected amongst a bunch of used nappies?
No one of you critics will put up a race against the NA and that is a fact to fight tooth and nail to get rid of their corrupt governance once and for all for a change.
These guys are an alternate governement in the making whether you like it or not there are somethings about their private lives that are there to stay only time shall erase them. One can cry over it but these individuals are capable Papua New Guineans of the late in politics who are brave to face one of the giants of old and have proven by their management capabilities. We now need a change and a change must come despite their individual lives mishaps as it is their own ethics and moral values that they have conflicts with themselves not all of you. Don't rub mud on others as when we talk about ethics, its all idividual basis and people live up to them on their own actions.
No one can tell someone that this is right or wrong as it depends on how one sees his/her actions will affect others-one person directly,some or the whole country.
Come on get real... these peoples' actions are private and and it concerns their own individual and business life and should not be dragged into the public.Don't you guys have your own private lives to live as well than worrying about others? . These are private matters where always there are solutions to solve them, there cannot be one problem in the world without any solution in this world.So don't try to dig an old grave of yesteryears as its all useless.
I think these people will be lighting candles in the darkness amidst this blackness of grand corrupt governance.We all should help them in our own way to light the candle by our support than cursing more of the darkness giving more glory to it in the current political climate which affects "everyone" and not few landowners of Lamana like some of us I assume and whoever the victim of circumstances was on a particular night.Lets talk about bigger issues affecting the country than small time little politics.
Ol lain, long sait bilong meri, Bart em smart pela man tumas na ol meri save dai long em yah. tasol...Ol meri yet save hangamap long em ya. Tok indai. Insaida info... And also the fish company of Mekere was started before he went into politics. He is helping PNG after all in employment, taxes and etc.
The question of who becomes the next PM is dependent on the party that has the numbers to form the governemnt. If NGP has the numbers then, obviously it will be Bart while Mekere will be the Deputy and Finance Minister and likewise to the PNG Party. PM's job is not a tradable item among Party leaders today unless the leader is a man enough to sacrifice the duty, like Bart handing over the PM's job to Mekere (unlikely).
We have talked about various issues which are relevant for a leader (ethics) but have we really cared about what they did for the country. Please bear in mind that no one is a perfect man, even you and me. We are struggling like all other beings so let us refrain and focus on the good things and weigh them out. Otherwise, people without vision and courage to accept consequences of their actions will rule this good nation again.
It was sympathetic that the political stability enjoyed by Somare regime did not mature into tangible impacts. The governement was relaxing without fear of a nonconfidence and went on a spree in hire and fire and political reshuffles...Is this a good thing to you all. Come on, wake up and see. We have to move and even think about leaders who have visions for PNG in the next ten years. Lets not judge them for on their social impetus but on what they can do for the country.
For me, I would realy want to see Mekere become the PM though it is the number game (wish). From his few years as a PM, he did great things which Central bank, BSP and POSF and NAFUND are experiencing. He did not beg away though students died in the wake of privatisation. The country needs more amendments and needs a visionary. We do not need petty free education policies or freelancers. We need visionaries and practical leadership who can accept responsiblities of his/her actions though the result was not intended for.
The country needs alot of amendments on its laws, carry out privatisation and provide good governance to enhance provision of tangible government goods and services. We need a strongpela het PM who can not be swayed but is firm on his decision for the benefit of PNG in the long run and not the shot term. The only person is none other than Mekere with the support of Bart, to be the DPM and the Finance Minister.
Friends and country man, PNG will move towards erasing the "failed state" when the two take on the leadership of PNG into the next phase.
Stay intact to experience the real PNG economics.
This message has been edited by 7milebeach on Mar 28, 2007 9:23 AM
I am ashamed of people mentioning selfish, greeting, theif, crab persons like your Peter Ipatas. Don't you know that Paul Paken Torato is defeating Ipatas in the coming election? When Ipatas heard of Paul Torato, he is already scared and loosing his weight.
As you have seen that Engans are going for Paul Torato the National Alliance candidate. After the defeat, I assure you that Peter Ipatas will definitely kill himself. Peter has no support at all. Hence, your next Prime Minister would be Grand Chief Somare or Don Polye.
I am afraid Hon Poly might be your next Prime Minister for 5 years term in government after the 2007 National Election.
I am ashamed of people mentioning selfish, greeting, theif, crab persons like your Peter Ipatas. Don't you know that Paul Paken Torato is defeating Ipatas in the coming election? When Ipatas heard of Paul Torato, he is already scared and loosing his weight.
As you have seen that Engans are going for Paul Torato the National Alliance candidate. After the defeat, I assure you that Peter Ipatas will definitely kill himself. Peter has no support at all. Hence, your next Prime Minister would be Grand Chief Somare or Don Polye.
I am afraid Hon Poly might be your next Prime Minister for 5 years term in government after the 2007 National Election.
Dont count the chicks before they hatch!! It all comes back to numbers game but obviously NA will NEVER be allowed to head a government again, they are SUCKs, big time, OK!! Ipatas if he gets enough numbers, he can be allowed to form a government. I dont think he will be defeated, he is quite a handful for the intending candidates including your choice... Don is a puppet, he is just setting up things for the sepiks, and will not be allowed to become PM under their nose!
And although in our comfortable libraries or homes next to the computer, we'd all like to pretend otherwise, the numbers game, through and through, boils down to money. More money than any party can raise through normal donations.
It's who has managed to steal, launder, or sell out their ideals and PNG souls for the most money and use it in the campaign will be the ones who will be able to come up with a decent number of MPs elected, and will still have enough money to bribe the additional political parties to come on board to form a government. The bribes are outright cash to a lesser or greater extent, then promises of ministries, projects, etc.
This process as it now exists (including picking the 2007 PM), messes up any possibilities of a government that fits into a well thought out national planning framework and picks only the most qualified members to become ministers in each department (and only appoints a minimum number of ministers as needed to head actual staffed departments).
People, do not forget this! Do not forget this! Do not forget this! The more you ignore the reality of PNG and putter on with dreamland conversations of who will become PM, the longer it will be before the breakdown in electing good governments will be solved.
Yes, with all thye finances department corrupt money being secured by the ex-Finance Secratary TK and now financing the NGP ??? Corruption at its best ???
Be Positive for a Change- All is well with the two Guys
March 25 2007, 4:05 AM
It does not matter about the money, what matters now is to have a change of government and these people are very credible to make the change of the current government led by some stupids who have no clear direction in what they do.
Fine if they have or have not their hands in the money there is a bigger force who is also backing them to topple this government for the good of PNG. This lousy millions if some of your claim that they really have is all peanuts. The big brother will see to it that more than this millions will be pumped back into the economy. There still need to be proof of their monkey business, otherwise, keep intact and support for a change by these new leaders.
You guys must be mad to even think Bart Philemon will come back in the next election. Where was he when Lae city needed him? You guys in Port Moresby vote for him if you want him to be PM, we in Lae will appoint another member.
This message has been edited by 7milebeach on Mar 28, 2007 9:14 AM
NA & NGP must go as NGP has sprout from the main shoots of NA. In fact NGP leaders has contributed to NAs decisions for the past four years and are equally responsible for the current sitiation incl. the missing millions from the finance department, millions paid to lawyers the list is never ending.Anyway my point is that NA & NGP must go. Rabbie, Mekere, Ipatas, O'neil and many more. Somare & Bart are on each side of this disposal coin which must be dumped.
We have called on Bart to come to Kamkumung to address the bad section of the Y2K market to the Kamkumung Kona. Today the road is at its worst where the hell is Bart for the last 15 years? We hear he is discoing away at Lamana and we breath dust in Kamkumung. We will be very very crazy to vote the idiot back again. There are several ahi's now contesting Lae Open we will study them carefully first and mantains that Lae seat must be retained by an ahi and a better young ahi with good back ground is preferable but for gods sake not Bart & Lamana.
Bart actually endorses Wenges budget for the last 4 years
March 26 2007, 7:29 PM
So who is responsible ? f Bart thinks back then that Wenge's budgets for 2003,4,5 & 6 hasn't addressed the Lae roads then he as the Finance Minister should not have authorised the Morobes Budget. Lae Roads is Barts responsibility as Lae MP for the past 15 years, Bart has also never attended many Tutumang sessions, let alone the budget sessions where he could argue for more funds for Lae Roads, should Wenge refuse he should not have sign or authorise the budgets until Wenge accomodate the Lae Roads into Morobe's budgets. BART YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE, there is no way out this time, you will be history.
Bart has come to a turning point in his political career,no doubt. But I think some of these Lae people are crying too much all about their woes in bad roads,crimes,no new developments and the list goes on like they think the rest of PNG is a little US or Singapore. Come to your bloody half sense state of mind and think about the whole picture than clouding your minds with little $hits on peoples' lives at Lamana or else where like Bart is raping one woman. PNG wants a change of leadership and we need Bart and Mekere to take the lead. You cannot assume a fresh person with no experience will do a good job. It might be the worse that you expect. So don't be too prejudiced about a persons weaknesses but look at the good and positive sides that this person can contribute to the whole development of the nation and has proven it.Your Lae will not and never develop if PNG is not in good hands and this is a fact. Bart and Mekere will have to form the next government.
You should be more worried about your own electorate, PNG won't collapse tomorrow. Its up to the Lae voters to decide their fate with Bart or their new MP.
This message has been edited by 7milebeach on Mar 28, 2007 9:21 AM
Why are you guys counting on these two thieves to return to parliament ?
Bart has done nothing for the Lae City, absolutely nothing, zilch.
Makere subotaged one of the best PNG magazines we ever had, the Paradise Magazine. It used to be printed in Singapore in very high quality gloss and were actually collectors items. Until Mekere as the Air Niugini Chairman gave the printing contract to his own family company to print in Australia as a poor quality run-of-the-mill publication.
Names From Disqualify
1 Bart Phelimon Ahi X (15 years wasted)
2 Jerry Nalau Finchafen X (Non-ahi/ too old)
3 Utula Samana Finchafen X (Non-ahi/ had his days)
4 Benson Nablu Ahi OK to contest
5 Frank Pologo Labu OK to contest
6 Micheal Badui Highlands x (Non ahi/ Tourist candidate)
7 David Kaupa Highlands X (Non ahi/morobean)
8 Mathew Minape Highlands X (Non ahi/ Tourist Candidate)
9 Kevin Kasimbau Highlands X (Non ahi/morobean)
10 Elaijah Kissing Ahi OK to contest
11 Gareth Kissing Ahi OK to contest
12 Jack David Ahi OK to contest
13 John Makanda Buang X (Non ahi)
14 Max Lester Morobe X (Non ahi)
15 Loujaya Tony Ahi OK to contest
16 Apaso Siso Highlands X (Non ahi/morobean)
17 Titus Wambun Highlands X (Non ahi/morobean)
18 Bob Aaron Ahi OK to contest
19 Fred Wak Highlands X (Non ahi/morobean)
20 Augustine Baimur Sepik X (Non ahi)
So guys this is how Morobean see their candidates, only an Ahi can replace another ahi so Lae will consider;
Benson Nablu
1 Frank Pologo
2 Elaijah Kissing
3 Gareth Kissing
4 Jack David
5 Loujaya Tony
6 Bob Aaron
So guys the best of these six, who posses the quality to replace Bart not to be a PM but for Lae and its problems that Bart failed to address for the last 15 years.
Are you sure voting anyone of the above will solve all the Lae problems? Let us hope they will, Lae problem is more bigger than voting leaders with inexperience trying to find their ways out of the maize in Waigani corridors. Lae needs a leader with experience and Bart. Philemon is still the man for the job. No young man or in youthful age should consider standing as the older are more wiser and prudent in making sound decisions. The young ones may end up in all the mischievious ventures of the attractive life in the capital city and forget about their electorate once they have money and power, so forget about them.
Unbelievable that you could fool everyone by not really giving a single thing good about any of those candidates that we could use to evaluate. You just say whether they're good or bad based upon absolutely nothing.
That's how most PNGs vote. That's why we get such worthless MPs each time around.
Personaly I think we should consider a new Blood Like Dr Clement Waine but if he does not make it than we can think of Sir Mekere. He is a reformist. PNG's laws are too old and not living upto its current changes so alot of legislation changes need to take place before we see some real change. Sir Mekere successfully persured some and it has worked. He needs to continue.
Sorry Highlanders Morobe Power doesn't belong to you
April 2 2007, 6:17 PM
Highlands is so full of tribal fights and are running out of good land and opportunities. You are wellcome to do business here but we do not need your custom, pasin and our political power is not for sale. Shame on you highlanders who out number the candidates for Lae Open, we the coastal respect your highlands province and we will are not interested in your highlands seats as Hagen is full of pot holes and crimes, Goroka, Chimbu, Southern Highlands and Wabag have their problems so what have you highlanders fixed up there which grants you to stand in Lae Open Seat. Coastal Candidates in the Highlands will be attacked if they do stand for elections up in the highlands. All in all you foolish highlanders who wish to stand for Lae Open are just wasting your time. The Morobeans will honour their rights to have an Ahi man/women to have the Lae Open Seat after 2007 elections.
Re: Sorry Highlanders Morobe Power doesn't belong to you
April 2 2007, 9:28 PM
Ahahaha bara!!, come out of your cell, accept the realities of the diverse PNG culture!! Lae is a Metropolitian area and not only for the Ahi people as you would think in your little brain. Are the Highlands candidates not PNGeans? Well,the foolish Highlanders only would like to give a good challenge to the wise Ahis just to remind them that Lae despretly needs a Leader, becuse 15 years has been wasted!! Remember, peopl from different parts of PNG and abroad including Highlanders have thier businesses in Lae and it is fair and appropriate to get someone regardless of where they come from to protect and serve every interest well.
Lus tingting lo liklik rethorics blo Ahi and look beyond as a PNGean.If you do that you will be like the thriving Highlanders!!
Re: Sorry Highlanders Morobe Power doesn't belong to you
April 3 2007, 8:04 AM
Morobe-Papa Graun,
wanbel istap for your comment but you forgot that Chuave Open in Chimbu once had a Morbean(from Finchafen) has its MP, so don not ever brand Higlanders as such. We do respect people if you respect us and treat us as such so if you have something to offer for a change in the highlands why not live in Hagen or Wabag for 5 or so years and nominate to contest up there. PNG is a free country. for the highlanders who have been living in Lae, they are Morobeans & PNGeans so they have the right to contest. Mama lo blo PNG tok i-olrait lo contest if you have been living there for a good number of years.
Fellow Highlanders in Lae, this is a challenge to you All to win the Lae Open seat in 2007 and see what difference you can make to improve Lae. If you play your cards right you will win.... so do not let your differences dictate here.
Re: Sorry Highlanders Morobe Power doesn't belong to you
April 3 2007, 9:42 AM
Ol Ahi noken lusim tingting. I am a Highlander and I am Morobean. I am from a place called Kabum in case you guys forgot. I support Highlanders from the Highlands and Highlanders from Morobe to take up this challenge
Re: Sorry Highlanders Morobe Power doesn't belong to you
April 3 2007, 8:25 PM
Bart Philemon i lukautim gut ol Ahi olsem na ol silip long ros kapa haus nabaut long Butibam. Ol bai votim em ken nau long givim ol ros kapa ?skul or ros kapa hausik?
We will surely replace Bart but with an ahi not one of you gris pig stone headed short fused kanakas. We will eat your lamb flaps and we will talk bull with you ol kandere long antap but at the end of the day you all highlanders will be the greatest fool who ever walked the land of ahi's.From record and history ha ha ha ya arse grass kange.
