Time for Sir Peter Ipatas to be the Prime Minister seems today

by Bryan Kramer

Madang MP 

Today, Post Courier published a feature article by Daniel Kumbon I thought was worth sharing.

Over the next few days, the Enga Governor, Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas, must give serious thought to consider putting up his hand to become the next prime minister of Papua New Guinea.

This could be his time. He has been a politician all his adult life. His achievements for the Enga people speak for themselves.

The post of prime minister would be his final crowning accomplishment for Enga and Papua New Guinea.

A person lives only once and golden opportunities do not come very often.

The Opposition's impending vote of no confidence in prime minister Peter O’Neill is that golden chance.

If there is an opportunity, the governor should take it.

Ipatas has experience at all levels of the three-tier system of government in PNG - local, provincial and national.

He is one of the longest serving governors and one of the most experienced politicians in government ranks right now.

He must not miss this golden chance like Don Pomb Polye did. Instead Polye became instrumental in making Peter O’Neill the national leader.

He must now be regretting all those lost opportunities when he should have had a crack at the top job in the 15 years he was in parliament.

The other highlands provinces (pre Hela and Jiwaka) have had their share of governors-general and prime ministers.

Enga has patiently waited and hoped.

Politics can be brutal. Waiting and hoping don’t count.

The vote of no confidence is that golden chance.

Ipatas should consult with the experienced and wise Enga quartet of Rimbink Pato, Alfred Manase, John Pundari and Tomait Kapili, who are all in government.

When O'Neill formed his Peoples National Congress, Ipatas formed the Peoples Party, Pato resurrected the United Party and Pundari started the PNG Peoples Revival Party.

Meanwhile Polye built the Triumph, Heritage and Empowerment Party, that other ‘Enga hausman’.

Any one of them could have become prime minister if their political party had been more successful. But instead they spread their voices.

The five Enga MPs in government have supported O'Neill long enough.

They are all educated and understand what is happening to this country. PNG desperately needs a change of leadership to point this resource rich, sovereign nation in a different direction.

The five Engan MPs in government must move with Ipatas in one accord to prevent PNG sinking deeper into anarchy and total chaos.

They need to let the Enga people see them unite to install Ipatas as prime minister.

They should discuss among themselves who should replace him as governor of Enga and negotiate with the Opposition to retain the ministerial portfolios they already have.

Besides poor governance, law and order is the number one threat to peace and unity in Enga and PNG.

Because there is poor governance, there are unprecedented law and order problems, deep rooted corruption, cold blooded killings, illegal logging and so many other serious problems – including those in education and health - which worry the people of this country.

The use of high-powered guns in tribal warfare is increasing in Enga Province, resulting in hundreds of people being killed and property worth billions of kina destroyed every year.

Many impact projects have been initiated by Ipatas and Enga MPs past and present.

But many of these projects have been destroyed by tribal warfare and the government now finds it hard to replace them.

It is time for Enga’s elected leaders to unite and move to opposition and help Ipatas become the next prime minister.

A united stand will unite Enga and save Papua New Guinea.

It is time for Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas to make his move.

end//

My Response:

The Author Daniel Kumbon appears well informed on in workings of political strategy. It was no mistake that the Opposition considered Ipatas as alternative Prime Minister to replace O'Neill.

A plan that also involved rallying support from the other Enga Open Members, three of which hold senior Ministry Portfolio's which Mr. Kumbon has rightly alluded to.

For me the more important point made was:

"A person lives only once and golden opportunities do not come very often."

"The Opposition's impending vote of no confidence in prime minister Peter O’Neill is that golden chance."

"If there is an opportunity, the governor should take it."

To add to that point, make no mistake the offer by the Opposition to Ipatas will only come once.

Food for thought - famous quote by Martin Luther Kind Jr.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Following the article by Post Courier I believe O'Neill will put pressure on Ipatas to come out publicly to declare his loyalty to him.

While Abel and Maru unashamedly did so last week it will be interesting to see if Ipatas will toe the line and follow suit or stand his ground.

Interesting times ahead.

Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel claims he is not fazed by the Vote of No Confidence

by BRYAN KRAMER 

Madang MP

Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel went on record in an interview with the Post Courier claiming he is not at all fazed by the looming vote of no confidence.

“We are fully intact as far as I am concerned, Prime Minister has our support” Abel said.

My Response:

Really??? If the Government was really intact then why did it adjourn Parliament to January 2019 to avoid sitting in first week of February, which has been the practice in the past.

Government is anything but intact! The real question is what will the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, the likes of Abel and their foreign cronies, who have become millionaires on our people's tax money, going to do to ensure they have the numbers to defeat a motion of Vote of No Confidence (VONC)?

Abel claims people gave the mandate to PNC Party after the 2017 national general election to govern.

“PNC Party got the mandate of the people and I think any incoming government after an election must continue to have the opportunity to govern. I don’t think changing governments or Prime Ministers and disturbing the mandate of the people is conducive to good governance" Abel is reported saying.

My Response:

Wrong! PNC did not get the mandate of the people. PNC went into the 2017 General Elections with 52 sitting Members and endorsed a total of 93 candidates.

Of the 52 sitting MPs only 22 were re-elected representing a return of just 42% and of 93 candidates endorsed by O'Neill, only 29 or 32% were elected.

These results are hardly a mandate of the people. A majority mandate would be returning 56 MPs and not 29.

Further still, International Independent Observers described 2017 General Election as marred by widespread violence, vote rigging and bribery declaring it anything but free and fair.

The question is just how many seats would PNC have won if the election was free and fair - perhaps just 10, if any.

An interesting fact is that Abel even lost support in his own electorate. In 2012 Abel polled 15,00 votes, however in 2017 his votes dropped to 11,000. His primary (1) vote dropped from 12,000 to 8,000.

With all Abel’s praise of the purported achievements by PNC and O’Neill Government one would think his voter base would be going forward not backwards.

The recent unrest and on-going social issues faced in Alotau suggests Abel is at serious risk of not being returned in 2022.

Now while some will say the same of issues faced in Madang, the difference is I inherited the issues in Madang, on account I’ve only been in office one year into my first term, while Abel has been the Member for Alotau for 11 years so there is no real excuse on his part.

Abel talks of good governance, well I believe Abel is confused between opportunity to govern with opportunity to steal. PNC's Party Leader O'Neill is known for everything but good governance. It is my view O'Neill will go down in the history as PNG's most corrupt Prime Minister.

Abel goes on to declare his unwavering support to Prime Minister O’Neill.

"Prime Minister certainly has my support and our PNC Party is fully intact, we are not particularly fazed by vote of no confidence, it is part of politics and we just have to deal with them.”

One would understand Abel wouldn't support a change of Government for starters, it would mean he would be stripped of his position as Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer and may end up becoming politically irrelevant.

Meanwhile, the people have to deal with a flat-lining economy, record increase in cost of living, increase in taxes, a hike in tertiary fees, little if no job prospects, hospitals without drugs, escalating law and order issues, and none payment of their entitlements and allowances, to name a few.

Another issue of serious concern is Papua New Guineans are forced to live in poverty and watch influx of Chinese Nationals, who arrive in PNG overnight, with nothing but a suit case and end up overnight millionaires on our resources and public funds, thanks to stupid corrupt Politicians and Government Officials who are only too willing to award them multi million inflated contracts.

Parliament will resume in 9 days on 22nd January 2019, if Abel is of the view it would be wrong to disturb the peoples mandate, maybe it time to ask the people where their mandate lies.

Perhaps it's time for strike 3....

Don't believe in 'Vote of No Confidence', prepare for 2022 if you wanted to change the Govt - Garry Guffa

Commentary by Hon. Gary Juffa - Oro Governor 

I see much written on social media about the Vote of No Confidence and there is much expressed on social media.

There are two opinions that can emerge from the numerous expressions.

One group are for it. The other against.

The group for it seem most loud. The group against are just as aggressive but do not seem to have the majority support of the inhabitants of PNGs social media.

Remember though, what is on social media is not necessarily indicative of how the people of this nation actually think and feel. That is a subject as slippery as the popular tinned-fish fed eels of New Ireland.

The fact is, there are two possible options for throwing out a Government.

By popular uprising against such a Government by majority of the politicians in parliament or via popular uprising by their voters.

In either case it all comes down to one thing: discomfort.

Who is sufficiently discomforted by this Government to bring this about? In regards to the politicians, the majority are in Government and they appear to be MOST sufficiently comfortable or lets say that their level of discomfort is within their range of tolerance. 

Many have acquired a lifestyle that can be funded by their membership in this Government. These are personal responsibilities which upon their own self consideration, unfortunately (for the people) outweigh their responsibilities to their people.

In regards to the people, who are a most tolerant people, their level of discomfort is not yet sufficient for them to rise up and overthrow this Government. They have the wantok system that adequately caters for one and all. Everyone has a roof and some coins for bus fare and of course can return to their land and farm. Some one takes care of everyone it seems.

Now lets look at the politicians in parliament, those who are plugged into the system,m especially, many are but sheep. There is very little to discuss when we consider sheep. They are mere followers. Not leaders. Let us not expect much of them. 

They follow the shepherd, their Government who feeds them and provides for their needs, especially the needs recently acquired, after elections perks and privileges.

Here is the question we need to ask...Who does the Shepherd work for?

The Shepherd works for whoever pays for their services.

Immediately many will assume "of course the people".

Why?

Because they voted?

Come on.

How much did the people pay exactly? Their vote? They hardly know the value of that. In fact many throw that away for lambflaps and beer.

Those who own the Chief Shepherd and his troup of shepherds are those who finance the shepherds movements and feed him and give him the title he seeks and the power over the sheep.

This is an arrangement of three parties. One party seeks political office - usually for self interest. Another expects their rights and resources to be promoted and protected. Another expects to be paid their dues for empowering the elected party and their payout will the very resources that the second party expects will be protected. So who owns them?

Cartels. Cartels who own shares. And there are not a few. A giant conglomerate.

That is who own the Shepherds. Not the people. The people may as well believe they own paradise. Cartels who have carved out much of their stake in the land you have run about beating your chest claiming to be a "landowner" over. They own the rights to your timber, fish, oil, gas, minerals and just about everything else that has some significant worth. They hardly pay taxes. You will be paying the taxes they don't pay. 

They need their money to build their empires and some to pay your Shepherd to herd you about so you can barely eat grass. As for the cartels they are building these giant machines, companies, empires whatever you want to call them...Do not worry..you are part of it all...you and your children will slave for them for years to come and wave your flag on the 16th September and sing about independence.

As is usual, many will clamor for saviors and demand that someone rise up to show them the way. This is tremendously intriguing if you think about it. Adults demanding to know what to do to save their children's future! You made them! Surely you must know what to do! What can we do? Who will save us? Why is this happening? 

It’s easy! Act now and remove the tyrants making your life miserable or if you are fine with that, leave them be until 2022!

But its not unusual no one acts. It is to be expected in the land of the unexpected actually. You see, everyone wants to turn up to the feast but not everyone wants to do the hard work. We apply this principal throughout much of our life.

 Why should politics be different? So it shall be that sheeple will seek other shepherds but not seeing any they will merely feed on their grass and bleat here and there and follow the shepherd they know already while hoping and wondering as to who will save them.

My thoughts only don't develop stomach ulcers over it. Form yours. If you have the solutions to this nation's problems, 2022 is around the corner. Raise funds or find a cartel and run and good luck.