Is the PNG Government Silencing Free Speech on Facebook? A Mysterious Facebook Disruption in Papua New Guinea Imagine waking up and realizing your Facebook isn't working properly. Pages won’t load, messages are stuck, and videos won’t play. This is exactly what many  Papua New Guineans  experienced recently. But what made it even more suspicious? It happened  on the same day Prime Minister James Marape testified in court against Jacob Yafai . Coincidence? Or was this a test to  control social media and suppress political discussions ? Government Testing New Censorship Technology? Police Minister  Peter Tsiamalili Jr.  confirmed that the government has successfully tested new technology under the  Anti-Terrorism Act 2024 . The official explanation? The goal is to  stop fake news, hate speech, and explicit content . On the surface, this sounds reasonable. Social media can spread misinformation and harmful content. However, many people are concerned...

Showdown in Papua New Guinea: Allegations of Corruption Rock Parliament Date: February 17, 2025 In a stunning episode that has captivated the attention of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Prime Minister James Marape faced explosive allegations of corruption from former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during a tense parliamentary session. The confrontation, which many are calling a pivotal moment in PNG's political landscape, sparked widespread debate and calls for accountability. The Heated Exchange The parliamentary video released online shows O’Neill accusing Marape of deep-rooted governance failures, demanding transparency regarding crucial matters affecting the nation. As O’Neill pressed Marape with pointed questions, the Prime Minister's avoidance seemed to aggravate the situation, leading to heightened tensions within the parliament. Suddenly stepping into the fray was Governor Allan Bird, who interjected with a passionate demand for honesty and a cessation of perceived cover-ups in...

PNG Court Upholds No Confidence Vote! Nomane updates on the Supreme Court's decision regarding the vote of no confidence. The court dismissed objections to a section 18 application, allowing a trial on March 14.  The ruling emphasized that proposed amendments to section 145 of the Constitution cannot regulate parliamentary votes, ensuring accountability in governance for Papua New Guinea. You may be interested in these questions: What is the significance of section 145 in the Constitution?  How does the Supreme Court's decision affect parliamentary proceedings?  What are the implications of a vote of no confidence? Watch the interview to learn more: Highlights The Supreme Court has decided to proceed with a trial concerning the constitutionality of a parliamentary standing order related to votes of no confidence. This decision comes after dismissing all objections to the case's competency. The court's decision emphasized the principle of separation of powers, assertin...

A Cabinet of 39 Ministers is Clumsy (30.01.25) Since PNG’s Independence in 1975, no Prime Minister has appointed 39 Ministers to Cabinet. The superficial appointment of 12 Vice-Ministers is also unnecessary and wasteful. 39 Ministers in Cabinet will only augment the complexity of decision-making, confusion, and ineffectiveness of government. The Prime Minister has created an obese, convoluted, and clumsy Cabinet that has proven to be lethargic since 2019, unable to develop solutions for the litany of problems that it has created, exacerbated, and run away from. For example, worsening inflation by compromising the Central Bank’s independence, creating a law-and-order crisis in Enga province and foregoing revenues and taxes by shutting down Porgera gold mine, and weakening public institutions across the board through nepotism and overlapping of Ministries.  Political expediency is the sole reason for the 39 ministerial appointments. For the sake of staying in power, the P...

Lino Tom on Vote of No Confidence Date:  September 11, 2024 Author:  Duncan Gabi By Dr. Lino Tom MP PNG is a democracy meaning “RULE by PUBLIC but MAJORITY CONSENT”. Our constitution prescribes or has put in certain provisions to hold the Government to ACCOUNT and one of them is the opportunity for a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” in the Prime Minister. It’s not a “GAME” as some like to depict. It’s a sacred opportunity to test confidence in the way a Government is run and held to account. The only factors any INTELLIGENT and SANE leader should consider when making his or her decision is the basic SOCIOECONOMIC indices of the country. Nothing more, nothing less. Masquerading with cheap political gimmicks and flouting basic principles of morality and good government is an insult to our people. Politics in PNG gets away with mediocrity and poor performance as most of our people are uneducated, ignorant and very credulous; the educated heavily taxed masses who carry the weight of our na...

Pakakota Electrical Engineering Secures Green Energy Storage Partnership in PNG Pakakota Electrical Engineering Ltd, a prominent electrical engineering firm based in Papua New Guinea, has announced its acquisition of distribution rights for innovative green energy storage products from Shuangdeng Group Co Ltd.  Renowned for its high-quality lithium-ion and voltage regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, Shuangdeng specializes in solar power energy storage solutions.  Managing Director Anthony Pakakota, who has a wealth of experience in telecommunications and electrical engineering, highlighted this development as a pivotal moment for the company, emphasizing its role in delivering reliable and sustainable energy alternatives.  The new partnership will introduce cutting-edge battery technology suitable for diverse applications, including residential, commercial, industrial, micro-grid, and large utility grids, furthering Pakakota Electrical Engineering’s commitment to prom...

TOWNS AND CITIES ARE ENGINES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND NOT HUBS FOR POVERTY AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY  by Lucas Kiap - PNG Anti-Corruption Movement (PNGACM) Port Moresby is ranked 4th as the city with the highest crime rate in the world. We are not only ranked the highest in corruption but also in crime rate, development index and everything. All these reflects largely on the leadership of the country.  Yet cities and towns are economic hubs, and have always played an important role in a nation’s growth by providing investment, employment and trade opportunities, as well as improving connectivity with rural and urban areas.  Today, global competition for investment, trade, and talent is increasingly between cities, making it very important to invest in cities in order to attract and retain investment, create employment and business opportunities.   However, lack of planning and littered with rubbish, pothole filled roads, substandard and rundown buildings, town...

Urgent Call for Church Leaders to Remove Structures Voluntarily at Eviction Site Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Media Statement.  Police - NCD/Central Divisional Command CHURCH LEADERS ARE ASKED TO REMOVE THE CHURCH STRUCTURE  AT THE EVICTION SITE VOLUNTARILY.  The Sixth day of the eviction Exercise is progressing well at the Nine Mile Bush Wara. According to the reports provided by police officers at the eviction site, the majority of the squatters had already voluntarily vacated the area.  According to acting Commander of National Capital District and Central Province Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Guinness, it had also confirmed that some of the church structures at the eviction sites are yet to be removed voluntarily. He said the Seven Day Adventist church inside the eviction had been voluntarily removed by the congregation while three other church buildings from different denominations are still up which is not good.  “I was expecting the church leaders...

  Papua New Guinea National Court sentenced 2 soldiers to 25, 20 years for teen’s murder, emphasizing strict rules for military, police, and Corrections. Justice Served: Soldiers Jailed for Teenager’s Killing in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. NATIONAL Court on Friday jailed two soldiers to 25 years and 20 years respectively for killing a teenager in Port Moresby nine years ago. Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, presiding in Waigani, said the disciplined forces – the army, police and Correctional Services – needed to know that it was wrong to mobilise and retaliate against civilians as in this case. “Soldiers, you are not at war with civilians. Your rules of engagement are very strict and must be exercised with restraint and caution with civilians and in combat in warfare,” Sir Gibbs said. He said Jude Nidung, 33, of Finschhafen’s Yunzang, did not need to go back to Murray Barracks after he was assaulted at Coronation Primary School to mobilise soldiers to retaliate. “There were ab...