Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today an Independent Commission of Inquiry must be set up to investigate the 2017 election chaos and make recommendations to prevent a repeat of the mismanagement and corruption that has occurred. “There is enough evidence now, from the first few days of polling, to justify such an inquiry,” he said. “Police, soldiers and voters have reported widespread corruption and irregularities and we have all witnessed the failure of elector

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato’s responses and comments at his media conference yesterday raise serious questions and concerns about the election and the mismanagement and irregularities that have been revealed, and confirm he is not in control of the operations. Papua New Guinea deserves more than the unsatisfactory and contradictory answers from Mr Gamato and the suspicious silence from Election Steering Committee head Isaac Lupari. “Mr Gamato spent yesterday aftern

The election chaos caused by Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, Election Steering Committee head Isaac Lupari and the PNC Government has reached the point of no return. Either a new, independent, competent and honest election management team is installed immediately, or the election will fail. The Prime Minister has no choice – either he saves the election or condemns it to failure. “This chaos and corruption cannot be allowed to continue,” former Prime Minister Sir Meke

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato and Election Steering Committee head Isaac Lupari must be sacked or stood down immediately to prevent further election chaos occurring. They must be replaced by competent, independent people capable of conducting the election effectively and honestly. Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today that Mr Gamato and Chief Secretary Lupari have compromised the election. “Many people expressed fears previously that the election would

“Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is costing the people of Papua New Guinea a fortune,” former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today. “The Government has severe cashflow problems. There are no medicines in hospitals and health centres; schools have not received nearly enough money to operate; businesses are owed millions by the Government, but Treasury and Finance seem to have no problem paying the huge expenses the Prime Minister runs up daily. “On top of the damage he is

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has once again told us that PNC will win more than 40 seats and form the next government. Why the absolute confidence, Mr Prime Minister? This is an election with thousands of candidates and many parties competing on a level playing field under the same rules. Or is it? Tell us all what gives you this absolute confidence. Have you got any special advantage over other candidates and parties? Do you know something that we don’t know? “Public sentime

At a rally in Kiunga today, the former Prime Minister and current chairman of PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd, Sir Mekere Morauta, told Western Province people the sad story of the Ok Tedi mine since Prime Minister Peter O’Neill took it in 2013. He told them that the latest annual financial results are a disgrace, and confirm his worst fears about Mr O’Neill’s expropriation without compensation in 2013. “They show that a well-managed and very profitable company under

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Health Minister Michael Malabag should inform the public of their plan to fix the worsening shortage of drugs and medicines across the nation, including whether failed supplier Borneo Pacific is to be given a new contract. We are now told that emergency measures have been put in place while a new tender is discussed by National Executive Council. “But this is too little too late,” former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said today. “Peopl

Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta today said that the Prime Minister needed to deal with PNGLNG landowner issues immediately to avoid shutdown of the LNG plant. “Why is Peter O’Neill so quiet and passive on this very important issue?” Sir Mekere said. Sir Mekere said he understood that PNGLNG had paid royalties due to the Department of Petroleum and Energy, which should then have passed the money to MRDC for distribution. “What has happened to this money? Why has it no

Former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta today challenged Peter O’Neill to reverse his cowardly decision not to participate in televised political debates during the election. “He should be man enough to debate his opponents,” he said. “It is unheard of for a Prime Minister to hide from the people like this. “I am ready to debate him any time, any place. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition, Don Polye is also ready. It is time for the Prime Minister to put his record and hi