Sir J loses trust in PM

The National Main Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan is disappointed with the stripping of a Cabinet position from his People’s Progress Party, saying he is losing trust in the Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership.
“I am not only surprised (but also) disappointed by the recent reshuffle in which the tourism ministry was stripped from the PPP (Kokopo MP Emil Tammur) for no reason and without meaningful consultation and handed to a junior MP (Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt),” he said.
Marape said after making changes to Cabinet last week that he had talked to Sir Julius about the change.
Sir Julius said his party had lost two ministries under the Marape-led Government “that we helped elect”.
“Why Prime Minister Marape is entertaining members that never even voted for him is puzzling indeed. It is clear to me that he is calculating to challenge PPP in New Ireland,” Sir Julius said.
He also criticised Marape for planning to block provinces seeking autonomy.
“Enacting a law to suppress talks of autonomy will be a breach of our constitution and the freedom of expression this country has enjoyed for 45 years and beyond,” he said.
“In short, you will be turning this country into a dictatorship.”
He said the sudden backflip by Marape was divisive and shallow.
Last week during the inauguration of President Ishmael Toroama in Buka, Marape said provinces seeking autonomy following Bougainville’s self-determination for independence “may be charged with sedition”.
Sir Julius said Marape had told everyone in Kavieng on July 15 that he would be giving greater autonomy powers to the New Ireland.
New Ireland, Enga and East New Britain have been advocating on autonomy.
“It is a slap in the face of our people and our provinces,” Sir Julius said.
“We are not trying to cause disunity. In fact we are trying to make the provinces stronger and collectively we will make PNG even greater.
“No province is thinking of becoming a totally independent country. That would be absurd.”

28 comments

  • In the process of taking PNG back, politics is taking precedence and causing dishamony.

  • Autonomy is the first step towards referendum followed by independence like Bougainville is doing. Freedom of expression comes with responsibility and not to be abused and to serve greed and selfishness. I still advocate for that law to be enacted for the benefit of our children and their children. Bougainville is still sitting on the fence to fall either way due to ill advice given in the first place. Leaders should speak responsibly and not to lead people to astray. We need a strong united PNG to have an impact in the world.

  • VONC is imminent. I suggest it is more appropriate for PPP MPs to move to the Opposition side. Why occupying the government benches when you don’t have the trust of PMJM’s Leadership?

  • The provinces need greater autonomy to run their affairs, especially financial autonomy. Provinces contributing much to the national purse have been marginalised by a centralised govt, that is giving them crumbs from the monies/tax generated within their borders. For 45 years, the provinces have been experiencing paper farming and getting lip service from Waigani.

    Greater autonomy for the provinces that are ready for it ensures a stronger province and collectively, a stronger nation. A detailed framework for the status of sutonomy can be worked out between the national govt and the respective provinces, who are ready for autonomy.

    The current decentralised system we have is only in name. Everything is still controlled via switch from Waigani. The national govt needs to empower her citizens and autonomy can be a way forward to acheiving this, where the people can have greater powers to contribute meaningfully to their respective provinces.

  • 98% of Bougainvilleans voted for Independence – that is not sitting on the fence. They realised that it would be impossible for an independent Bougainville to be any worse than the hell hole that PNG has become due to corruption, cronic misgovernance, , the rabble that infest our police and army, horrendous crime, the widespread primitive belief in sorcery and woeful domestic violence levels. I am not sure how successful and independent Bougainville or New Ireland would be, but surely they could not fare worse as nations that contemporary PNG.

  • I would like to say Prime Minister has made prominent note about no more autonomy in the country. This is what people who full understand the main objectives of this country can get to realized what our Prime Minister has said. Autonomy and self independence is not about be on our own , is all bout how potential we as a leader can be able work with our people in Unity. Those who talked about Autonomy are greedy, selfish, incompetent and doesn’t understand Constitutional framework of United as one people and one country. We have seen Bougainvile movement to independence they have the reasons and aspects. What about New Ireland and Enga. As leaders we need to stop talking about Autonomy. Have you develop your towns to city stages? How much resources both human and natural resources you have in your province? How much you contribute as provincial GDP to PNG economy?

  • People like sir julius has run down New Ireland. He has been in Parliament since 1968.
    He can not blame anyone else for the poor infrastructure in NIP .
    New Ireland needs the bigger PNG to survive. Just like we need everyone else to survive as a bigger nation of PNG.
    I have to agree with James Marape on the proposal to outlaw autonomy and referendum.

  • Some governors and MPs dream about extra powers and glory just because they have a mine or two or maybe oil and gas in their provinces. Their arseholes pop open upon awakening from their daydreaming where illusions of grandeur and the creation of an utopian wonderland are high on their agendas for politicizing while they do not have what it takes to be autonomous!

  • And now the power gain begins! Vote of no confidence is just around the corner. Very interesting to see

  • There is no wisdom, nothing at all in Prime Minister James Marape’s statement. It is another statement of TakeBackPNG or making PNG Richest Black Christian nation in the world, an ambitious statement with the policy mechanics or in other words, “policy on the run.” To simply put, it is promising the people of PNG that he will all PNGeans in the rocket to the moon (promising moon).

  • autonomy can be a deadly issue. stop giving authonomy because it will give opportunity to the small boys to go lose

  • Old man, simply retire! Or else get your 4 MPs and move to the opposition to team up with O’Neill.

    Very funny to read you’re labelling Walter as inexperience MP in comparison with your decommissioned minister.

    What legacy will you leave for the country as an old-timer when your days are up?

  • “NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan is disappointed with the stripping of a Cabinet position from his People’s Progress Party, saying he is losing trust in the Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership”….

    ….if stripping off ministries from your party [PPP] is the main cause of your criticism and distrust in this Govt then thats pure party politics – all uttered by you Sir (as per above report) is nothing sincere and beneficial to the country but plain “SELFISHNESS”

  • PMJM knows, every politician knows that if an idea is not bound by law, people can still be persuaded towards a decision. That’s why he does not approve the idea of autonomy!! Eventually autonomy will cause disunity, let us not pretend to be in good faith to PNG and give all sorts of reasons. Secondly, Julius Chan has no one to blame but himself for his province, he has been Governor for a long time now, being also a former prime minister…. And lastly, Prime Minister James Marape is making the cabinet changes for the good of Papua New Guinea….. The way their argument is going, one has to ask whether Those disgruntled MPs are concerned about Papua New Guinea or their political parties? Or when they decided to elect PMJM did they do it because they believe what was best for the people of PNG or do it because they wanted something in return, ministry previleges, etc….????

  • Corruption and nepotism are the main factors here affecting everything.
    Autonomy is good, autonomy is bad. Everything has its good sides and bad sides.
    I suggest for all MPs to sit and discuss this further before passing any laws.
    Be mindful that we have 800 plus different tribes and languages, different understandings and different interpretations. United Kingdom speaks one language which is English. I suggest for amendments in our system to give greater powers to Provincial Levels, to eradicate nepotism which leads to corruption. But the nation must remain as one.!

  • PMJM, Stand by your decision, Every True PNGean should be supporting the call to stop this nonsense about autonomy. We are truely One people, One country, One nation. Grand chief Sir Michael Somare held PNG togather when there were intentions to split this country by the Papua Bessena movement, Mataugan Association, and Bougainville secessionist movement. PNG is with you to have made such a bold announcement. Over to the MPs to enact the Law.

  • I agree with Sir J.
    Marape cannot even change Tari and yet he thinks he can change PNG.
    We need a new PM ASAP since Marape is very, very incompetent.

  • Look among the ruins of the past leadership & you will see the struggles that PMJM is trying to correct. In that context, some decisions make him unpopular but he is slowly making progress. It’s still taking shape. PMJM, hold steady, the sea is getting rough but hold on to your course, you will get there.

  • Sir J. U prostituted yourself by devorcing PO n going to bed with JM. Why complain when he dumps u for a new wife

  • JC you have done nothing much for NIP. What fog have you done for the whole NIP township. Stop crying feel. When will you seal roads from Labur to Fangalawa ..rivers and streams with bridges na u bc stret lo stret palace blg u.

  • Autonomy??? Imagine all 22 provinces having autonomy!
    Heartless politicians who are power hungry, full of greed, selfishness and ignorance advocate so much on autonomy.

    PPP was intact with the likes of Mekere, Marat and the National Alliance until they switched to the O’Neil camp on the 11th hour upon the defeat of Byron Chan by NA. Real matured leaders put aside family and personal interests, forgive and prioritise the nation’s interest.

    No wonder we almost committed the worst international crime against humanity by attempting to sink Bougainville in the 1997 Sandline crisis.
    If its true, why PMJM promised New Irelanders on autonomy just like how PNGLNG upstream landowners claiming the same on PMJM’s empty promises.

  • Sir JC, stop that nonsense of describing other elected MPs as ‘young or inexperienced’. Every MP has the same mandated right like you being empowered by their people. And when your son(Byron Chan) became MP and was given Mining Ministry you never complain and say he is inexperienced or young. I think you are personalizing too much here. I do not think your son will win any more again in the coming elections unless you step down to make way for your son. And please stop thinking that New Ireland belongs to Chan Dynasty. So stop crying like a prostitute.

  • Sir Julius Chan, first you trust PMJM, now you loose trust in PMJM.next going to be what????

  • Precedence is already set for as we see in Bougainville so there is nothing stopping other Provinces to ask for Autonomy, the Courts will have no Choice unless the decision to disallow Autonomy is in the Legislation.

  • I agree with Mr Marape no other province in the country would allow to take autonomy apart from Bougainville this will bring disunity and break the nation apart therefore what said by Sir Chan shouldn’t be entertained those mentioned provinces

Comments are closed.