Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698054237273.pdf (Papua New Guinea)
FOURTH DAY Friday 08February 2013 The Deputy Speaker (Mr AIDE GANASI) took the Chair.

The Clerk – I have to inform the Parliament that the Speaker is unavoidably absent.

Mr Deputy Speaker will take the his as Acting Speaker.

There being no quorum present, Mr Acting Speaker stated that he would resume the Chair after the ringing of the bells.
Sitting suspended The Acting Speaker again took the Chair at 10:15 a.m., and invited the Member for Rabaul Dr Allan Marat to say Prayers: PRAYERS ‘Sovereign God we stand before you in the name of Jesus Christ.

You know the hearts of each of us gathered here today, we are ready to resume business on the Floor of Parliament for your people.

We pray that you will search our hearts and set them right with you.
We continue to commit our Prime Minister, his deputy, his Ministers and all other Members of this Parliament, because together in your hands, we can progress development that will benefit your people and the nation in the right way.
Father we thank you and ask you to be with us now as we about to begin our meeting,, we pray for your guidance and the Holy Spirit to lead us this morning, Amen.’ DEATH OF FORMER MEMBER- STATEMENT BY Mr ACTING SPEAKER Mr ACTING SPEAKER – I refer to the death on January 16, 2013 of Sir Barry Holloway, CBE, KBE a former Member of the Kainantu Open Seat and Eastern Highlands Regional Seat.

The late Sir Barry Holloway was first elected as Member for Kainantu Open in the First House of Assembly from 1964-1968.
During his term as a Member of the First House of Assembly, he was appointed as a Member of the House Committee, Public Accounts Committee and Deputy Member of the Public Works Committee.

He was re-elected to the third House of Assembly and First National Parliament from 1972-1977 for the Eastern Highlands Regional Seat.
He was elected Speaker from 1972-1977 and was appointed Chairman of the Constituent Assembly which adopted the Constitution and the Organic Law of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

He was then re-elected to the Second National Parliament from 1972-1982 as member for Eastern Highlands Province.
He was again re-elected to the third National Parliament from 1982-1987 for the same seat and was appointed Minister for Education from 1982-1984, then Minister for National Planning and Development from 1984-1985.

Honourable Members, as a mark of respect to the memory of the late honorable gentleman, I invite all Honorable Members to rise in their places.
(All honourable Members stood in their places and observed a minute of silence in memory of the late gentleman) QUESTIONS Mr WILLIAM POWI –My question is directed to the Minister for Communications and is in relation to social chaos and disorder, abusive language including threats that we are frequently being bombarded with through the use of mobile phones.
Mr Acting Speaker, while we acknowledge the benefits brought about by its introduction into the country, the social disorder and abuse that goes with it cannot go unnoticed.

I think the issue of SIM cards with some form of identification in the country will serve some purpose.

I want to ask the Minister for Communications if his department is taking any measures to deal with these prevailing problems we have in the community.
Mr JIM MIRINGTORO –I want to say thank you for the question raised by the Governor of Southern Highlands in relation to the use of mobile phones.

02/04 Mr Speaker, there are lot of negative impact stemming from the use of mobile phones.

One thing I want to highlight here is that when the government liberalized communication a lot of accessories and peripherals of mobile phones came into the country.

There is no control over this and many of these mobile phones can be obtained from the streets.
A lot of bad influence is permeating into society.

If we study it properly we will find that there is high rate of drop outs in schools because many students use mobile phones and cannot concentrate on classroom work.

We also read in the newspapers about the high rate of marriage break downs and an increase in prostitution due to abuse of mobile phones.

I also wish to stress here that mobile phones are not the problem it is the mind and hearts of individuals, especially in the way we use this equipment.
This is what really matters.

For example, in developed countries the users are experienced in this use of this technology and they have also come across such negative impacts of the equipment.

It is not a new problem.

Lot of the problems emerging from the abuse of mobile phones are propagated by a few people and not the majority of users.

And so my department, in attempting to prevent such problems, are looking at formulating laws and policies to get smart cards registered.
When people wish to use their mobile phones they must registered their smart cards so that there must be some control.

I must also stress here that even if we make laws to prevent such happenings if our intentions are not right we still will not have an answer to that problem.

That is the best answer I can give in reply to the question from the governor for Southern Highlands.

Dr ALLAN MARAT – Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker.

My question is directed at the honourable Prime Minister.
And I urge the Minister for Commerce and Industry, State Enterprises and Police to take note.

My questions relate to the management of the Investment Corporation of Papua New Guinea, the Investment Corporation Fund of Papua New Guinea and the new Pacific Balance Fund.

There was a Commission of Inquiry set up by the Prime Minister the Right Honourable Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in June 22006 with its report due in March 2007.
The inquiry was similar to the National Provident Fund and the Defence Force Retirement Fund Commissions of inquiry.

Mr Acting Speaker, there were 11 terms of reference relating to administration and financial management procedure, appointment of trustees, managers, write off of K37 million of shareholder funds ad many more issues.
Mr Acting Speaker, the point is we must not establish expensive commissions of inquiry when the public pressure is on, and then once reports are presented there does not seem to be any direction from the office or person being the Prime Minister who I authorized by the Commission of Inquiry Act to establish the inquiry in the first instance.
Mr Acting Speaker, my questions are; When if the Prime Minister going to give directions as per the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report into the Investment Corporation, the Investment Corporation Fund to various authorities and state agencies to be implemented?

Many persons and firms were referred to the Ombudsman Commission, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the Register of Companies, the Securities Commission and IPBC for appropriate action.
And so when are we going to have a report to date, tabled on the progress or status?

Thirty Seven million of employees, cooperatives, churches, students, youths, business groups and individuals investments were written off.

What is the state doing to ensure these people are compensated for the state and agencies failure as highlighted by the Commission of Inquiry?
It is surprising to see many persons implicated in the Investment Corporation of Papua New Guinea saga now appointed to many state-owned-enterprises.

Was the Prime Minister’s announcement on corruption and merit based appointments a smokescreen to appeased Papua New Guineans.
What will the Prime Minister do to remove people implicated from the various boards and as CEO of state owned enterprises and the public services since for them to remain in those positions they are liable to continue to plunder state institutions?
Mr PETER O’NEILL – Thank you, Mr Acting Speaker, and I thank the honourable Member for Rabaul for his question on this very important issue about people’s funds managed by Investment Corporation of Papua New Guinea and subsequently the Pacific Balance Fund and related issues.
My understanding of this particular inquiry was that it was tabled in this Parliament and – 03/04 (incomplete) 04/04 Of, course the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration has cancelled the passport, which was recommended by Ministers and many of us in the Government.

Because he is still a citizen, he has got every right that is accorded to the citizens like ordinary citizens.
Whether he got the citizenship in the right way or wrong way, I as the Chief Executive of this country or any Member or Minister of Cabinet does not have the powers to cancel a citizenship.

It must go through a process of investigation and then we must apply to the National Court or the court of law so that the courts can cancel the citizenship if there are allegations that prove that he got his citizenship in a deceitful manner.

So that process is now beginning.


The first thing we have done is cancel the passport and though his lawyer Mr Loani Henao who is very familiar to our friends on that other side and familiar to me too, yes.
(Laughter in the Chamber) Mr PETER O’NEILL – He is now representing Mr Tjandra and he has written and rightfully so, to me, that he needs a Ministerial Committee which is under the Immigration law that we establish a Committee to review that decision of cancellation of passport basically stating that he is still a citizen of this country, which our Citizenship Committee has awarded like any other citizen, he is entitled to the right of access to a passport and other things that we citizens take for granted.
My position has been very clear that I do not want to set a precedent where a Government of the Day willingly goes and cancels citizenships.

That will set a very bad precedence in this country.

There are other good naturalized citizens who are already exposed to that kind of practice.

If I don’t like someone who is a naturalized citizen, I can go and cancel his citizenship and put him on the plane.

We cant take those steps because we have laws in place.
We have investigated the matter and the Reports from the Attorney Generals Office are clear and we will now present that to Cabinet and Cabinet will endorse the next course of action which is to go to Court and we have set up a Review Committee which by law we must give him the right as a citizen.

That Committee is been headed by the Minister for Forest including the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Finance.
This three men Committee will review and make their recommendations to Cabinet and Cabinet will take further actions from there on.

I know it is taking too long but if we don’t we will be subject to litigation and further frustration so let the due process take its course and of course we will see the outcomes of the court case.
In regards to Public Servants who have been involved in this matter, of course if the Courts prove that things where not done correctly they will be held to account and that is my assurance to the Honourable Governor.
In regards to the issuing of citizenship, I agree with him and it was discussed in Cabinet and we are now trying to change the law rather than the Citizenship Committee screening the applications and recommending to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration for his approval, we are now saying that, that recommendation should come to the Minister through to the Cabinet, so that almost thirty Ministers or so can screen that person again so that when we all agree to it any body who objects violently can object in that room and then we can all know that it is open and very transparent.
We are now changing the systems to put in place a much more stringent process for people who want to become citizens of this country.

Mr JOE KOI KOMUN –Mr Speaker, I direct my question to the Deputy Prime Minister but seems he is not in the Chamber I would like to direct it to the Prime Minister.
My people have been baldy affecting by the heavy wet conditions recently and I responded by writing to your Office and the relevant authorities and I did a submission for some relief as well as arresting that problem of flooding because my electorate is in the Waghi Valley and it is flat and so many tributary are within and they over flood the whole area and the river level is almost close to the land and when there is heavy rain.
I engaged relevant engineers to work on my submission and they did some work on it and I submitted almost two or three months ago and I wish to ask when can I get some relief supplies?

If there is any, notify me so that I can inform my people.

I also would like to ask if the Government help with arresting that Flooding situation in my electorate.

Mr PETER O’NEILL – I thank the Member for Anglimp/South Waghi for his question on the struggles that our people are facing in our electorate.
Firstly I want to advise him that I received his submission just this week and infact I am aware of that bridge that he is talking about the bridge that collapsed and has been washed away.

I have already directed the Works Department to look into that and I understand that they are looking for a spare bridge and there is one either in Mt Hagen or Lae which I am not too sure but I am – 05/04 the department to look into it.
I understand they are looking for a spare bridge, I think there is one either in Lae or Mt Hagen I’m not too sure but I hope they will facilitate that as quickly as possible.

The other works programs that he has requested are quite substantial and the figures are above what we have projected.

In the 2014 budget, we budgeted K50 million for disaster relief which is managed by the National Disaster office.
In addition to that we are trying to engage the other agencies or government like Works and Health department.

In terms of immediate food supplies and basic health supplies to the affected areas I have been using the community development fund to assist the people, in the case of Bulolo, Oro province and recently in Dei.

I have put in a request for K500, 000 to assist you on that and I’m hoping it would be ready within the next few days to pass onto the district.
But in terms of the work program on the bridge and the road we are working through the Works and I will continue to pursue that for the member.

Thank you Mr Acting Speaker.

Mr ROBERT GANIM- My question is directed to the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations but firstly I would like to take this time to thank two other Ministers who responded promptly to the questions I raised previously.

Firstly I thank Hourable Ben Micah the Minister for Public Enterprise.
I raised the questions previously about the power blackout in Wabag and I think he has responded favorably by making sure that Wabag town has a stand by generator.

On behalf of the people of Wabag I thank you for your prompt action.

I would also like to thank the Minister for Works, I raised a question yesterday and he promptly advised his officers.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER- Member for Wabag what is your question?

Mr ROBERT GANIM- Well Im just trying to thank people who responded to my question.
I thank him also for his prompt response for sending engineers up to Wabag.

Mr Acting Speaker my question is directed to the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations and is on the allowance and pay rates of the village court magistrates and peace officers in our villages through out Papua New Guinea which I want the Minister for Provincial Affairs to also take note.

(Members interjecting) Mr ACTING SPEAKER- Member for Wabag, the Deputy Prime Minister is not present.
Mr ROBERT GANIM- I’m trying to say something in relation to the minimum wages board determination so I think the board should take note of that therefore I’m directing my question to him.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER- Who is him?

Mr ROBERT GANIM- The Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations , Mr. Acting Speaker.

My second question is related to the Minister for Labor and Industrial Relations so I think Ill just ask the question and whoever can answer, can do so.
The village court Magistrates are paid K29 per month and according to the information that I received, the previous Somare government have raised the minimum wages determination yet the village court magistrates and peace officers though they are doing a lot of work in our villages particularly in remote areas where there is no Police officers, they help to solve problems.

We are expecting the pay to be increased but this has not happened.
(1) I would like the minister to tell us whether the government is in breach of this minimum wages determination?

(2) And if they have plans to increase the pay for these officials, when will that be and how soon?

Mr BEN MICAH- The appropriate Minister responsible for determination of Village court Magistrate pay is the Attorney General.

On the general issue of pay rise that comes under my ministry.
Just for comfort of general public the government has directed for a new minimum wage board to be established.

The last review was done by me in the last Ministry that was about three to four years ago and the pressure is out there for new rates to be set for our workforce out there.

I can inform Parliament that the submissions are before cabinet for the decision to establish a new minimum wages board, once that is in place, we’ll set the new rates.
To answer our good members question, under the determination the right Minister would be the Attorney General and I think he will make a note of that.

But I can recall the last increases were done couple of years ago when I was Justice Minister since then I don’t think any new changes happened but I will leave that my colleague Minister to take on to look after our very important people because without these people we cant have peace and order in communities so that’s my answer to these Parliament.
Mr HAVILA KAVO- Thankyou Mr Acting Speaker for giving me the opportunity to ask my questions without notice to the Minister for Works.

06/04 Mr HAVILA KAVO – Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.

My question is directed to the Minister for Works and for the Prime Minister to take note.

Hiritano Highway is a very important road to the people Gulf Province and Central Province and I believe Papua New Guinea also as a whole.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER – Governor the Minister for Works is not here.
Mr HAVILA KAVO – Very well, my questions are directed then to the Prime Minister.

My people including the people of Central Province travel that road and it is also an economic corridor.

During your Budget nothing much was said and not much funding was allocated to fix this road.

(1) Will the Prime Minister consider putting some money to fix that road so that my people and the people of Central Province can use to market their commodities?
This highway is like the Highlands Highway and I believe that the government has allocated funding for the Highlands Highway and the same should be done for the Hiritano and Magi Highways.

These two highways are economic corridors and I am asking your government to immediately put some funding to fix these roads.

I have already gone through five motor vehicles because they got damaged travelling on the highway due to bad road conditions.
The bad conditions of the road are costing PMV owners lot of money to the wear and tear sustained by the PMVs.

(2) Therefore, can the government immediately put funding into this highway?

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Mr PETER O’NEILL – Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Honourable Governor for Gulf for his very important regarding this major highway that links Gulf Province, NCD and Central Province.
I would like to state here that the National Government in the Budget about K80 million for the continued maintenance of the National Highways, which includes both the Hiritano and Magi Highways.

Therefore, I want to assure the Governor, and as he knows the accounts have just recently opened and we are starting to roll out most of the funds for many of these projects.
I will also bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Works and I will make sure that he distributes some funds for repair work on key areas because of the heavy rainfall experienced recently.

I am also aware that between Bereina and Malalaua that there is contractor working on the ground already and doing some work there.
I will also ask the Works Department to supervise that work more closely so that quality work can be done rather than just superficial work because the roads are need of maintenance for many years now.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I do not want the Governor for Gulf to think that we are neglecting other responsibilities throughout the country.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in fact, we have got the National Roads Authority (NRA) in place who mange about 7000 km of national roads throughout the country which includes these two major highways and there are enough funds for us to continue to maintain many of these roads.

Due to the PNG LNG Project the Highlands Highway in the last 3 or 4 years has been completely destroyed has very high volumes of machinery were carried up and down that road.
Apart from that, the highway is also used by 4 to 5 provinces and therefore, the population mass that is using this road is quite significant.

Therefore, I do not want the Governor to think that because I am from that region we are focusing more on that region.

We are trying make sure that we distribute the government funds evenly across the country because all roads in the country are of priority to this government, nevertheless, the Highlands Highway is in more need than any other road.
I also want to inform the Governor that we are now 20 km away and continuing to fund the road between Sembiriki and Kikori.

The road between Kikori to Sembiriki is fone and we are now doing Sembiriki to Erave, which will eventually link up the Highlands Highway all the way from Lae down to Kikori.

We are also doing the road from the other side from Hela Province down to Kikori.
That road following the pipeline is already done and we are ion negotiations with the developer of the PNG LNG Project to declare that road as a National Highway so that our people can travel.

Mr Deputy Speaker, you can now travel from Lae all the down to Hela Province and down to Kikori following the Highlands Highway.

We are focusing on linking up the country so that we have options because when we have landslips and collapse of bridges our people suffer, and therefore, we must give our people options.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I must also let you know that, when Shadow Finance Minister did the Budget Reply he spoke about a piecemeal approach on some of the funding that we were putting for design, study and scoping for many of the highways like Hagen to Madang.

It is another major road project that we are trying to do, a four lane road following the Highlands Highway from Hagen to Tokuba, Hagen to Kunjip, Goroka to Asaro and Goroka to Bena Bridge.

Those roads have 4 km extensions.


There is also an upgrade of 20 km from Madang to Lae, and these are deliberately done because we must know the cost before we allocate that project to a contractor.

We just cannot go and estimate because I am not an engineer therefore; we must design it, cost it and scope it so that we will know that budgets can be allocated to it so construction work can be carried out.
Mr Deputy Speaker, these things are planned for the next 3 or 4 years and we will attend to many of these projects throughout the country and we can only do it by working together.

I am also very happy that some of the provincial governments have taken ownership of this, for instance, the Western Highlands Province is putting its own resources to help us design the Mul Baiyer/Madang Highway.
That is very encouraging because if we know the actual cost and design then we can look for funds either form ADB or EXIM Bank and other sources that are able to give concessional loans to our government so that we can build these infrastructures.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to assure this honourable Parliament and the nation that we are doing all we can under the limited constraints of funds that we have to make sure that we have a long term solution to fixing – 07/04 Mr PETER O’NEILL - If we know the actual costs and the design we can than look for funds either from ADB or the Exim Bank or from any other sources who are able to give concessional loans to our government so that we can build this infrastructure.
I want to assure the nation that we are doing all we can under the limited constraints of funds that is available.

We want to make sure we have a long term solution to fix the key infrastructure road network in the country.

Mr AMKAT MAI – Thank you Deputy Speaker.

I direct my question to the Minister for Enterprises and State Investment.

The population growth in Vanimo town has increased from 10 to 20,000 over the last 10 years and the rate is increasing.

We have huge demand for water supply.


It is now a major impediment to development.

But thank you to O’Neill – Deon government because there are big on-going projects in progress, like the Boarder Development Project.

A lot of money has been injected into Western and Sandaun provinces however; Vanimo town is still faced with no water problem.

During dry seasons all the public servants go to the steams and rivers to do laundry with their families.
In doing so, they do not provide service to the people and country as a whole.

Can the Minister direct PNG Waterboard to do a survey and come up with a solution to solve this problem in Vanimo Township?

Mr BEN MICAH – Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker, the population explosion in Vanimo is not my concern.

It is your concern as well as the Opposition Leaders.

But we can work together and by Monday I will be deploying the Engineers of PNG Waterboard to inspect this problem.
I urge you together with the Oppositon Leader to set aside money from your DSIP program to assist PNG Waterboard to address this problem.

Mr RONNY KNIGHT – I direct my question to the Minister for Health.

For the benefit of this Honourable Parliament can the Minister advice my people of Manus the case of Lorengau Hospital where the Board has drastically inflated fees for our patients.

I think it is probably the highest in the country in terms of public hospitals.
(1) If this is sanction by your department if not, are you taking any action against the Board?

(2) The much talked about asylum seeker package which we appreciated is still contested by our people, can you please advice on the floor what is on offer from your ministry and the Australian Government to help our ANU hospital?

Mr MICHAEL MALABAG – We are not supposed to be charging hefty user fees to patients especially to the outpatients and providing medicine to our people.
Hopefully next week in Cabinet we will be bring an amendment to the Hospital Charges Act to amend that provision so that the full component of the free health care will come into motion.

But I will also take this opportunity to assure you that I will take up that issue with Lorengau Hospital if they are charging hefty fees.

On the second issue I was fortunate to have travelled with the Prime Minister to Manus recently.
The High Commissioner Ian Camis was also on the same flight who also accompanied the Prime Minister.

We had an open meeting with the people of Lorengau at Lorengau market.

Mr Ian Kemish, Australian High Commissioner also addressed the people at the same venue and I think the Member was also present at that time.

He mentioned that together with the Asylum seekers issue the Australian Government will spent up to K1 million towards improving facilities at the Lorengau Hospital.
They will also be looking at acquiring essential equipments for the hospital and I believe they will also be looking at the Dental facilities within Lorengau Hospital.

So the High Commissioner has made that commitment but at the same time, the Government through the Prime Minister gave a cheque of K18.5 Governor of Manus.

Of the K18.5 million K1 million will also go to improving basic infrastructure rehabilitation at the Lorengau Hospital.
So Member this is worth K2 million but as we go along improvement will take place.

Mr KILA HAODA – I direct my question to the Minister for Public Enterprises and State Investment.

I will continue to complain because I have been deprived my rights to the resources in the capital city which is taken over by Papua New Guineans.

The resource found in this city belongs to my people and my people must benefit from these resources.

Eda Ranu was here for a very long time.


However, they will be moving out in four years time and therefore I want shares belonging to the Central Province Government.

Mr Speaker, the Motuan villages for instance Tubusereia is a big village with eligible voters of 3,900.

Many of our people live in the village and travel to town to work.

But water problem is a big problem for them.

08/04 ..some of the provinces in this country will probably put maybe 100 villages will make up tubusereia.
Lot of our people come to work in town, from Tubusereia, Barakau, Gaire, Lealea and other villages close to the city.

We come to work here in the city and contribute to the growth of this city.

We help the government because by way of acquiring land we save the government and housing as well because we are living on our land.
I want the important services of electricity and water, especially so that bulk of the population that are commuting to and from the city are hygienically clean and fit to be at work every day.

Mr Minister, do you have a plan for these villages to have water?

Mr BEN MICAH – Thankyou, if I could speak motu, I would reply in motu but I cannot .
I was not present in Parliament yesterday as I summoned all chairmen of the Board of the SOE and CEOs and we had a consultation on finalising a policy on state-owned enterprises and state investment that I will soon bring to Cabinet and if all things are well, I will table this statement to Parliament.

Because you asked, I will briefly outline part of the policy but once the Cabinet approves it, I will answer your questions very well.
We are looking at a policy where the resource owners of dams and waterways where power is generated from and reservoirs for collecting water and sea ports.

These landowners must be treated similar to those that own gas and oil because they are being deprived of hunting and gardening grounds.
We use water and power and we say that we are paying for the services of using power and water but we do not realise that these services are being provided from someone’s land that would otherwise have been used for other purposes.

There is a policy proposal that I will bring to Parliament and it is approved, these issues of participation of landowners are being proposed in this policy.
Also I have made an announcement during the handover-takover ceremony of the board of Eda Ranu and also at the policy consultation yesterday that Eda Ranu will remove restrictions for it to be able to do business in Central and Gulf provinces and the rest of Papua New Guinea because I believe in supporting the aims of this government that is to provide clean water and sanitation services to all people of this country for the next 10-20 years.
It is part of that policy that we are removing the restrictions and Eda Ranu will go to Tubusereia, Gaire and even to your place at March Girls Resort.

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION Mr … I wish to ask leave of Parliament to respond to a question raised by the Member for Chuave.

Leave granted.
Leave granted.

The Member’s questions were in relation to pubic servants and citizens who have settled on land at ATS (Air Transport Squadron) but now they are being asked to move and he asked if we can let the pubic servants remain on this land.

I have carried out some investigations and I want to clarify to the Member that this land has three titles to it.

Firstly, there is the agricultural lease with two portions; 693 and 694.
The other portion is the freehold lease, which means it is a private area where it has been purchased by a private company and it is being put under the government system and, therefore, we do not have a limit to it.

The former Prime Minister, the last Sir Bill Skate, during his term there were some issues with wildlife are there were ethnic clashes so he moved for groups to the ATS area.
When these people settled they settled on the agricultural lease and the Lands Department had no knowledge of this exercise, this decision was done to relocate groups to resolve the conflict of the wildlife area.

Today we are unable to remove people from this area as they have already settled with permanent residences.

And also the landowners have taken ownership and have sold block of land to other locals as well.
09/04 They reside there and them improve their status to permanent settlement status so we just leave it and allow them to settle there.

At the same time the landowners have also taken ownership of that by selling small portions of land there.

I wish to make this House understand that at that time the Prime Minister made a decision to relocate some of the people who were facing problems to that area so the department will not evict them we will let them remain on that land.
It is an agricultural lese, portion 693 and 694.

GRIEVANCES DEBATE Question proposed – That grievances be noted.

Mr TITUS PHILEMON (Milne Bay) – Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker for giving me this first opportunity to speak in today’s Grievances Debate.

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to the Minister for Lands for the papers he brought to Parliament on the land matters in this country.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I’d like to raise a land issue on Milne Bay Province and that is on the Woodlark Island land issue.

I know successive ministers had this matter brought to them and they are fully aware of it.

The land on Woodlark Island in totality does not belong to the people of Woodlark.

Now I want to return this land to the people of Woodlark Island, I tried in my time as the Member for Samarai-Murua to return the land to the people but I only succeeded in return I little bit of it.
Now, as the Governor of Milne Bay I want to try again because the people of Woodlark are still concerned.

As a leader I want to see this happen.

When the Minister presented his papers and I wish to endorse it and what many of the speakers spoke on yesterday.

My concern for Woodlark Island is this, why hasn’t the government returned the land back to the people?
All the arguments, debates, comments and presentations to the government is to no avail but when corporate companies want to acquire land in that particular area we are very fast in facilitating that.

But when the traditional landowners wish to reclaim their land we do why don’t we act that fast.

I’ll make a classical example of mining on Woodlark Island, Woodlark Mines, the company has now made an application for the licence to be granted to them to start mining for nine years.
My fear is that if the mine licence is granted to Woodlark Mines while the land is not owned by the landowners they will not be compensated for the damage that is going to be done to the land.

I am standing with my people of Woodlark Island to say that we will disagree to that mining licence being issued or anything else for that matter to happen on Woodlark Island until the land is given back to them.

That is my position because we need the people to get back their land.
Woodlark Mines is one company, in a previous arrangement Vitro Plants was another company which went there to introduce oil palm plants to the island.

And the Woodlark people protested against those companies because their interest was in reclaiming their land.

I have with me information stating that way back in 1978, when Boyamo Sali was the Minister for Lands, he gave it back to the Woodlark people.
I will give these documents to the Minister for Lands so that he can correct the situation by ensuring that the land is given back to the people.

These documents were obtained from private research.

Against this backdrop and the current situation I want the Minister for Lands to give us a quick attention and an immediate response before other companies move in to carry out commercial activities on the island.
I feel very strongly for my people because this is just like any other projects in the country where landowners have been denied their rights to ownership of their land.

That’s my first grievance.

My second grievance is also in regard to the questions that I raised yesterday to the Minister for Transport and I know that my brother the Minister for Public Enterprises is fully aware of it.
But I just want to emphasize this for the support of my fellow Members of Parliament, especially those of us who come from islands and those of us who belong to maritime provinces.

Our seas have been used as a highway by overseas companies.

Big fishing and shipping companies are passing through our reefs and our islands and destroying it and our fish by pumping rubbish, especially their oil and gas into our seas.
Our little people are fishing in the canoes and dinghies and are always being threatened by these big ships.

I’ll give one example.

If we are on land and a make a truck route through your land without giving you any payment or even without your knowledge how would you feel.

You would feel upset.

And that is the same treatment that we in the coastal provinces are feeling.

Milne Bay is currently being used as a highway.
I com from Rossell Island, at the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea and there we have ships that – 10/04 Milne Bay is currently used as a highway, I come from Wasol Island the Eastern tip of PNG and there we have the ships that pass through and then you come in further and reach Samarai- Murua, then you come further inside just next to Samarai Island and the Alotau mainland there is a strait called China strait, the reason behind it is that you have to go through that passage to China.
And then you have all these other major ships like Jomad that goes to other provinces such as New Ireland, Bouganville, East and West New Britain and Manus and I know that members from these provinces have this same concern.

In other countries they get payment for that or recognized and have what they call (PSSA) particular sensitive sea areas, for example, in Australia Great Barrier Reef has been identified as PSSA.
But here in PNG none has been declared as PSSA that is why we are not qualified under any terms to get anything.

So these are some of the issues that I want the government to know that it’s about time that we declare our maritime boundaries, reefs, waters and so forth as PSSA then we can argue for compensation but at the moment we are not.
Even they call us as innocent people and any time they can come into our waters and fish and do other business as well and we can’t track them because they are very big ships.

And so our Island communities are always living in danger by this big ships and I want this government to support us and I know this matter has been brought up to the appropriate minister already and I want the support from Parliament especially those members from Maritime Provinces.
In the pervious day when I asked the Minister for Transport on this same question his reply was legislations will be tabled in Parliament.

Therefore, I thank the Prime Minister and his cabinet for recognizing the needs of the Maritime Provinces and so I urged all the members to support this legislation.

Mr BIRE KIMISOPA – Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker, the people have overwhelmingly embarrass the 2013 National Budget.
This government has given the legislative support it deserves in order to implement its programs given its major policy announcement it made since it resumed office in August 2012.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the fiscal landscaping for 2013 and beyond as been drastically altered given the emphasis on planning spending which is based on a five year period as opposed to a one year fiscal cycle.
The serious threats to the National Budget can not be underestimated given the Executive Governments resolve to ensure it delivers on its full commitments to the economic enablers it has identified as education and health.

Mr Deputy Speaker, the dramatic fiscal intervention into the districts is unprecedented were K890 million would be spent over the next 12 months.
There are cheating problems in terms of the performance of each district which may require the Department of Finance to conceive a reporting template to capture the government intervention for districts socio economic development.

This major development stimulus will increase domestic growth as a result of public spending and political leadership is required more than ever to maintain economic growth in both formal and informal sectors of PNG economy.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the Governments considered move to amendment Section 145 of the National Constitution by extending the grace period for vote of no confidence from 18 to 30 months is well understood.
However, the test for absolute power as to be met with a slate of legislative responses that will enhance the public confidence in the performance of the executive branch of the government and also provide for Parliament the recourse mechanisms it needs to hold executive government to account for such an extended time in office.

Mr Deputy Speaker, an extension of time from 18 to 30 months is actually half the term of Parliament.
Further more by convention a government can not be removed 12 months prior to any election.

And therefore what the government has secured in reality is 48 months with only a year for anyone who wants to challenge a Prime Minister and his government.
If this is the intention of this government it would also seem fair that this Parliament insist that we quarantine this power graph with a series of legislative responses that will hold this government and future governments to account for all its executive decisions.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I am proposing a number of legislative responses that is then amount to good governance which is required now more than ever.
Further more under the present circumstances we must make every effort to secure the good will of our people as the powers we hold are actually held in trust.

Any attempts to surf the intentions of the Constitution must be met with stiff opposition within this Parliament or alternatively must be mitigated with an appropriate legislative response that will act as a counter balance in the event of a fiscal crisis or legislative curios.
Mr Deputy Speaker, firstly, this Parliament in my view should consider enacting a Freedom of Information Act that should hold executive government to account by making public executive decision so that we do not have a repeat of the public service housing - 11/04 That should hold Executive Governments by making public executive decisions so that we do not a repeat of the public service housing debauch.
This Parliament should be prevee to NEC decisions to award contract as a matter of public interest and such an Act of Parliament to enforce the mandatory publication of information would curtail the over ambitious and conspirious activities of corrupt Ministers and Government agents.
Mr Deputy Speaker, secondly, it is my view that the Courts in this country should be restrained by statute in so far as the accommodation of Court Orders, Court Injuctions and Ex parte Orders which prevents the administration of the Leadership Code and the Commissions of Inquiry.

It is an established fact that tribunals or commissions are unnecessarily frustrated or impeded on by leaders or well of citizens who are sprinting to the Court House seeking unnecessary Orders.
That is a gross insult to our people where the Leadership Code or Commission of Inquiry worked primarily for the advancement of good governance.

Mr Deputy Speaker, furthermore it is now a national travesty that the Finance Inquiry is forever gagged in the National Court and it appears we are dragging our feet when Parliament should reassess the peoples right to restrain the Courts from unnecessary interruptions through legislative recourse.
A legislative response is now required to leave the gag order for the Finance Inquiry to be made public and those responsible should be made to account.

An amendment to the Judicial Act is urgently required under the present circumstances.

The vast public resource of our people is entrusted to only a few in this country and therefore it is mandatory that Governments or agents of Governments are made to account.
Since, we have extended the Grace-Period from 18 to 30 months it is now fair and just we keep our political ambitions checked and ensure that we don’t short change our people for one sided political greed.

Mr Deputy Speaker, thirdly, this Parliament should immediately introduce a Budget Integrity and Honesty Bill that requires the strict adhearance to the appropriations sanctioned by Parliament.
There is no further Executive discretion guaranteed by incumbency to allow for misappropriation of funds designated by Parliament appropriations.

In 2012 Parliament appropriated K130 million to the National Development Bank and before the year ended a K60 million was withheld and applied for purposes outside of the Parliamentary appropriation.
This is a blunt abuse of Parliament and an extension of Grace Period from 18 to 30 months can only bolster the cause of a Government who has unserted powers by enjoying the privileges of public office and then abrogate the good intention of an extended period that is on leaser.

Mr Deputy Speaker, an Act of Parliament that enforces Budget Honesty and Integrity will ensure Government is held to account for public monies regardless of its longevity in office.
The longer the grace period the greater the scrutiny it should be.

Otherwise too much political power will erode public confidence which is the case in Papua New Guinea where the agenda for political patriotism is purely driven by monitory interests.

Mr Deputy Speaker, finally this Parliament should consider a Bill to quarantine the remaining 30 months of the life of Parliament by review Section 145 of the Constitution.
A Public Commission of Inquiry must be instituted by the Law Reform Committee to address the issues pertaining to the appointment of a Prime Minister the State of Political Parties and the fluid nature of changing allegiance which continues to invoke fear within the ruling Party.
Mr Deputy Speaker, furthermore, it would be an appropriate time to ask this question, can we consider changing the Term of Parliament from 5 years to 3 years and remove altogether the requirements of Section 145 of the Constitution.

I am cautiously optimistic that we are now politically matured and any fear of too much power can only be mitigated through a concerted legislative effort to quarantine the abuse of privilege and power and on that note our people must be involved.
Mr RONNY KNIGHT (Manus Open) – Mr Deputy Speaker, I also would like to contribute in this debate the plight of my people of Manus and the dismal situation we find our selves as leaders in trying to serve them.

My province is a scattered northckle province somewhat similar to Milne Bay province in respect that we are both notically challenged.

However, Manus does not have the benefit of private or church agency vessels services at all.

The private transport sector is by banana boat.


This province and district which I have to look after may have a small population but the remoteness of this island and its scattered atolls is huge challenge logistically.

The furthest island is about 400 N/miles from Lorengau.

Manus, contrary to many assertions is a huge province taking into account the sea nd surrounding islands.

The actual cost of freight sometimes over run the cost of the project itself.
For example if we had to build a double classroom on one of our islands the logistical component will often be more expensive than the actual project, simply because of lack of cheaper effective local shipping.

Mr Speaker, 80 percent of the populations of my province live on the coastal mainland and many surrounding islands.

These people are producers of copra, coco and marine products.
Mr Deputy Speaker, this people are the slat of the earth and may not have much materially but they are the kindest most hardworking humble and intelligent people you will meet in the country.

They are the survivors living as their ancestors did many thousands of years ago unchanged from the bounty of the sea.

Their crops are rotting in the plantations because there is no way for them to get this items to the market.
Mr Speaker, my people are dying of malaria related diseases, child brith complications and infections yearly because of intermediate service they receive.

The medical staff on the island must be commended for doing what they can do with what they have but invariably the medical supplies they need are sitting down in Lorenagu for want of delivery.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Members of East and West Sepik as they have taken many of our emergencies into their hospitals in the Western Islands and served us without compliant.

Mr Deputy Speaker, on top of these we have the effects of climate change asserting itself adding further misery into our dilemma.

Our coastlines and small islands are getting inundated.

Our arable land is being reduced from salt permeation through the water tables.
Dye indeed is the projected focus for my peoples future and they are becoming more and more dependent on commercial food supply.

Mr Deputy Speaker, these issues are often the major catalysts for the tragedies that occur yearly in the form of boating accidents.

When my people desperate with no option risk traveling over open seas in banana boats to seek help and transport patients needing urgent medical care.
Mr Deputy Speaker, on one island alone in AUA in my South Western LLG, five boats have been lost in the sea and whole families have lost their bread winners and men folk.

Mr Deputy Speaker, in Christmas 2011, a former LLG Prseident and one of our prominent sons and an executive of British American Tobacco lost his dear life with the whole family.

What was left of his body bids on our paddy island some 400 miles from where they sank.
Mr Deputy Speaker, until we have a decent monthly shipping service that can provide logistical support to my people, this terrible tragedy will continue to play out and we will have more and more deaths.

Mr Deputy Speaker, a death at sea is one of the most horrible ways for a human being to endure, drowning is the easy part.

In previous debate, in this Parliament the Honourable Sir Puka Temu told us of his experience of swimming with his people when their ship over turned.
He however was from the coast and saved quickly.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I too, had the misfortune of loosing a banana boat 32 N/miles from Bukei Island and I swam that distance in 17 hours to get assistance for my boys.

Invariably when sea tragedies occur in my province they do so in open seas and help arises when its already too late.

Mr Deputy Speaker, it is really indescribable the feeling of being alone in the sea, with a vast open sea to cover, the thirst and the feeling.
I tell this Parliament that I know when I am talking about when I say that it is horrible way to live this world.

12/04 the feeling of being alone in the sea with the vast open distance to cover.

I tell this house that I know what I’m talking about when I say it is a horrible way to leave this world.

It is at such times that we acknowledge that there is a God.

Mr Speaker since the demise of the government trawler service in the eighties, our province has had no proper alternative to serve our people.
All the stakeholders including health services, education prime industries whatever other relevant department has building materials and supplies sitting in Lorengau for some years without means to get these items to the site.

In addition, our people cannot move their marine produce as cocoa and copra to market and when they do so these items would have deteriorated, be unfit to use and need replacement.
The Border Development Authority attempted to help the Western Isands where they did one trip but it’s not working anymore and it’s not assisting.

Mr Speaker in the last government’s term my province acquired several fishing boats and they are support vessels which are now basically freighters and suitable to service my needs and until we find our own vessels or a permanent solution to these long lasting problems, we should be able to use them.
Mr Speaker these perfectly good vessels are sitting idle in Lorengau while my people suffer.

The status of these vessels’s brought in by MAFIASCO is quite murky and I don’t know if the import duties on these vessels have been paid yet.

However we don’t dwell on the past the funding for this project has been the subject of much discussion and finger pointing and the whole thing collapsed leaving us with several sea worthy vessels sitting idle.
Mr Speaker as soon as my sit was declared I wrote a plan for the use of these vessels especially the freighters to service my island in our dire need.

I believe this issue is a provincial and national emergency and I emailed copies of this plans to Customs, National Maritime Safety Authority and National Fisheries Authority to ascertain the status of the vessels and asked them to assist us to allow use of these vessels for our relief on the plight of our people.
Only Customs responded to me with the foresight intelligent of someone understanding the situation.

Mr Speaker the National Maritime Safety Authority seemed to be like an animal held up in an air-conditioned office behind an empty desk, which can only quote regulations to us.

Their negativity is seriously and impediment to bettering the lives of our people.
The reply I got from a senior officer within NMSA was that no passengers are allowed on fishing boats despite my asking them to provide guidelines to equip one of these freighters with the required safety considerations to make her fit to serve this urgent run.

Another officer told me that they don’t want another Rabaul Queen situation, its not a good idea to carry pregnant women and sick people on a fishing boat in fact I was advised that this was criminal act and I could be charged for it.
Mr Speaker what is the alternative, I was taught by my father not to criticize without a valid alternative as it’s the hallmark of stupidity.

There are no alternative vessels available in my Province, and these freighters are virtually unsinkable owing to the huge water tide ice holds they spot and they are freighters not fishing boats.

Mr Speaker it seems that I am being victimized for doing the right thing here by asking this government agency to help.
Instead of advising me on what I can do get some of these vessels up to standard to assist my people I’m told I cannot do it and I should forget about it.

To add more insult my next reply was from the Secretary whom through commensurate and feeling very badly on the shocking plight of my people and duly noting the terrible circumstances of our predicament referred me to the health department for assistance.
Meantime my people die while we pass the buck, Mr Speaker we need urgent positive action from the NMSA with young vibrant officers who can think outside the box to help our people by telling us what we can do to help the situation.

I fully expected them to advice me on the number of life rafts, life jackets and other requirements I would need for NMSA to certify this vessel as safe for making an urgent service run to the islands on a monthly or fortnightly basis.
I am not asking to circumvent the rules or break the laws that are in place.

Mr Speaker we don’t need negative people who quote regulations and cannot help the people in need.

If they cannot help us, what use are they?

Mr Speaker I was mandated by people to better their lives and serve them and we are in the stages of near disaster here and I feel that I should have just gone ahead and used the vessels.
Mr SPEAKER- Honourable member you time is up Mr RONNY KNIGHT- Mr Speaker if that’s the case can I have the rest of my speech incorporated into the Handard.

I seek leave to have my statement incorporated into the hansard.

Leave granted.

Mr. Speaker I cannot ring up a hospital ship in the yellow pages or conjure a passenger boat out of thin air!

I am not a magician or sorcerer but I am mandated by my people as their leader so hard decisions must be made.
Mr. Speaker our own NMSA seems to be telling me that we should leave all those pregnant mothers and sick people to die in prolonged agony rather than help them on the only available ships to seek medical help.

It is further telling us that we should leave all the building materials for aid posts and schools to rot in the rain, leave all the medical supplies to sit in a damp warehouse until they expire while we wait patiently for an alternative vessel to turn up sometime in the future.
Or do we consign our people to a fate worse than death by risking a run over open three hundred nautical miles of rough open sea by overloaded banana boat?

Mr. Speaker here in this province we have a term suicide by boat!

It is self explanatory.

What do NMSA regulations say about banana boats traveling overloaded over vast distances in vast open seas?

Why in the world are we allowing banana boats to be used in situations where they are unseaworthy?
Mr. Speaker these boats we have adopted as our premium sea transport are banned in our countries.

Mr. Speaker it would be interesting for NMSA to give us the statistics of boating accidents over the last ten years, you will probably find that most have been these death traps.

Mr. Speaker I must tell this house that for someone from NMSA to quote the Rabaul Queen to me and sprout regulations is not only sickening it is highly offensive and makes me very angry.
Shipping in all aspects is my blood; it has been my family’s bread and butter for generations.

I have numerous times in the past reported Rabaul Shipping and Boarder Development Authority overloading vessels and carrying dangerous and obnoxious cargo along with passengers to this very NMSA for years and there has been no action taken.
I for one do not know what the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy think about the incident, or who you and other honorable members consider may be the responsible party.

I have read the report presented to Parliament and gone through it with interest.
This subject for Rabaul Queen is before this very house for deliberations But I must say we cannot lay blame solely on Mr Sharpe , he was only doing what every other shipping operator has been ding for years –ripping off the traveling public risking their lives for a profit by overloading and it s still done today.

In fact it amazes me that her sister ships are still carrying passengers from Manus.

.
.

No I lay the blame solely on NMSA they are directly responsible party who should be held accountable for not making sure shipping standards and practices were adhered to.

Is the NMSA another toothless hound?

Are we the Manus people to bear the brunt of the NMSA attempt to show they are doing something about the Rabaul Queen?I feel that is the situation here.
Mr Speaker I am now in a quandary here, do I sit and let my people die as NMSAQ has decided so or do I become a criminal and commander these vessels and service my people.

Mr Speaker that is an easy decision to make , I must uniform this house that I am now a criminal because I will not let anyone in my province die needlessly because of bureaucracy tomfoolery.
For someone to tell me that its against the law to use fishing vessels for passengers is an insult to my intelligence as there are so many such vessels all over this country, some in nearby New Ireland and Milne Bay Provinces which carry passengers continually through these islands and have done so for many years they are all former fishing boats.

I wonder what planet this NMSA officer lives on.


Mr Speaker I am not impressed by Public servants with fancy titles who quote regulations that they don’t enforce and my reply to them has clearly indicated that I’m not happy.

Mr Speaker it seems that I am being victimized for doing the right thing here by asking this government agency to help.

Instead of advising me on what I can do get some of these vessels up to standard to assist my people I’m told I cannot do it and I should forget about it.
To add more insult my next reply was from the Secretary whom through commensurate and feeling very badly on the shocking plight of my people and duly noting the terrible circumstances of our predicament referred me to the health department for assistance.

Meantime my people die while we pass the buck, Mr Speaker we need urgent positive action from the NMSA with young vibrant officers who can think outside the box to help our people by telling us what we can do to help the situation.
I fully expected them to advice me on the number of life rafts, life jackets and other requirements I would need for NMSA to certify this vessel as safe for making an urgent service run to the islands on a monthly or fortnightly basis.

I am not asking to circumvent the rules or break the laws that are in place.

Mr Speaker we don’t need negative people who quote regulations and cannot help the people in need.

If they cannot help us, what use are they?


Mr Speaker I was mandated by people to better their lives and serve them and we are in the stages of near disaster here and I feel that I should have just gone ahead and used the vessels without advising them of my intention then there would be no issue at all.

Mr Speaker and the good Ministers responsible for these agencies I stand before you pleading for urgent common understanding of my concerns and the plight of my people.
If the Department of transport has surplus funds can they assist us.

We have been spending a lot of money on the construction of highways but what about the sea and sea transport are we to remain this way?
Mr Speaker on December 19th a young boy from Minigo was rushed by his family three hundred miles to Lorengau in a banana boat only to die in sight of mainland Manus .He suffered meningitis and because of lack of antibiotics his parents took the risk to travel and what is more saddening is that he was buried on Manus away from his family.
On December 17th another banana boat with eight passengers ,two males and five females and a three year old boy ran out of petrol and drifted for eighty hours .By the time the alert went out our naval base had no fuel in the patrol boat and we duly refilled it.

By the time they had finished refueling they were picked up by a fishing boat and saved from drifting into international seas.
Mr Speaker I must advise you that this trip that I am referring to has already been done on the vessel that we mentioned and if I am a criminal as inferred then I am proud to be one.

I have brought the sick children and pregnant women to get hospital care and if the need arises I may do so again.

Thankyou Mr Speaker.

Sir PUKA TEMU-Mr Acting Speaker my grievance debate will be very short.

Firstly I want join the Prime Minister in condemning the burning of that young mother in front of a crowd.
I think every leader in this country should condemn this barbaric act it should never happen in this country particularly when the reason is an unproven thing such as Sanguma, magic or puripuri is blamed for the death of her own child.

Acting Speaker I wish to take the queue from the Prime Minister in condemning this barbaric act and this Parliament should seriously look at this issue.

We cannot run away from it because it will happen again, it has happened in the past and has fallen on deaf ears.
We as legislators must look at this issue so that it does not happen to another citizen in this country any where whether its in my electorate in Abau or Goilala This issue is a terrible issue and is happening in many of our institutions tertiary and even primary school which makes every one to believe in it.

13/04 This is happening in many of our tertiary institutions as well as the primary schools.
Mr Deputy Speaker, therefore, I recommend that we establish a committee at the parliamentary level to address this issue, or that the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General refer the matter to the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission.

Nevertheless, we have to find a solution.

I have consulted with our legal brains to come up with a law to deal with the practice of sorcery and witchcraft to better understand and deal with this issue.
Mr Deputy Speaker, on that point, I am becoming worried that we are bordering towards a lawless society as many of our people are not complying with the law.

For instance, just the other day the Attorney-General raised an issue regarding land titles.

Regardless of a person who has a title to a particular land, he is still brought before the courts to dispute his title ownership by third parties.

The Minister for Lands must protect these land titles.
Even so, third parties still use dubious means to remove the land title holders from their land.

They do this through people in the courts and through the police.

This was a similar case regarding a family from Gulf who was residing in a National Housing Commission property for 30 years got a shock when someone went and paid the police to have that family removed from that property.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in my own experience during the General Elections the Metropolitan Supervisor went to the court and got a warrant to search my houses in Port Moresby, Kupiano and my village.

This happened because somebody complained during the counting that I was keeping ballot boxes, ballot papers and factory made guns.

Mr Speaker, I for one do not know how to use a firearm or even owned a firearm.
I drive from Port Moresby to Kupiano with a guard or a firearm and therefore, I cannot understand how the system allowed the complainant with the Metropolitan Supervisor got the search warrant from the courts.

The police came to my residential property carrying firearms.

They came in five vehicles loaded with seven policemen carrying high powered guns in front of all my scrutineers.

They came and showed their warrant which was also signed on the same day.
At that same time around 9 a.m. another ten vehicles went to Kupiano and Kapari and that exercise cost the State money.

Mr Deputy Speaker, institutions responsible to maintain law and order are now conniving with people with certain interests.

Anybody can go and pay the police through a middleman or go to policeman and evict other person from their property, which they have a title to.

Then again, in front of a crowd of people, someone can pick up a young mother and burn her in public.
We have a serious problem and we have to address it.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I have been in Parliament for 10 years and after next we are going to our districts for the so-called delivery of services.

Is that what we are here for?

There are many laws that need to be changed and many that are outdated.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we really need to have a look at how the Parliament can be restructured.
Mt Deputy Speaker, my personal opinion is that, once we are elected as National Members of Parliament our people must then forget us.

We must come and sit here and the Parliamentary committee system must be restructured to work in that regard.

We must work day and night.

At the moment the parliamentary committee system is not working because half the time we are worried about coming back in the elections.
And when we get our cheques in our accounts; we hold our meetings; run around; go to all the wedding ceremonies so that they see our face and funerals.

How many of you new Members of Parliament have received letters and on that letter the sub matter is always financial assistance?

You are lucky that many of you do not leave in Port Moresby.

I live in Port Moresby and as I am speaking people from Abau are waiting outside my gates now.

When I woke up at 6 a.m. in the morning they were not there.
We have to change this political culture for it cannot be allowed to continue.

Now, sixty of us Members here are debutants including you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Together we have to have the will to change this political culture because there is too much pressure on leaders.

We are always watching our backs.

We must look towards the front and see what this Parliament the highest institution in the land and the pride of our democracy.
We are here to represent the people for we need to look at restructuring Parliament.

Mr Deputy Speaker, we have to be serious about this matter.

I am on my way out and most of you are just building your political careers and have another 10 to 15 years to be here.

I do not want you to follow the same path because then, this Parliament is not being utilised for its intended purpose.

I will be doing a survey to see how many Bills have come through the private Member, the Opposition and by the Governors.
The answer to that is few to none at all.

Yet, during grievance debate we hear complaints after complaints, thus, putting pressure on the Prime Minister, especially, regarding funding.

Mr Deputy Speaker, this has to stop otherwise we will not make use of this Parliament and its responsibility as a legislator.

Therefore, part of the restructure that I would like to see happen is that, all the National Members are given more than capable secretariat support.
We must employ the best brains to support the leaders to advice us on law and policy making.

The Honourable Governor for Milne Bay raised a matter regarding our sea borders in country and if he did not mention it we would not know about it.

There are lots of loop holes in our system and that is why our institutions are dysfunctional.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I look forward to the time when we strengthen the delivery arm of the Government; the Public Service and probably make it independent.
Therefore, we give them funding and the institutions will delivery it so that we Members come here sleep day and night to improve the laws of our land.

I hope and pray that one day this will come about in this nation.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Motion (by Mr…) put – That the question be now put.
ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr…) agreed to – That the Parliament do now adjourn until Tuesday 12, February at 10 a.m.. Parliament adjourned at …….p.m.. 14/04 As mentioned by the Governor of Milne Bay, we must make such policies because if he did not mention it we will not know about it too.

There is a lot of loop holes in our system that is why our institutions are dysfunctional.
I look forward to a time Mr Acting Speaker, when we strengthen the delivery arm of the government, the public service and make it probably independent.

So that when we inject funds in the institutions will deliver it.

The Members can only come here to improve the laws of our land.

I hope and pray that one day we will achieve it.

Thank you.

Motion – That the question be now put – agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT Motion (by Mr JAMES MARABE) agreed to – That the Parliament do now adjourn.
Parliament adjourned at ……..