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+--- Thread: Polye relieved of Finance duties due to failure to perform per Oneill (/showthread.php?tid=435)
- Palm - 02-28-2012
PM Oneill has relieved Mr Polye of his Finance minister duties due to LO payment issues which have not been resolved. He retains the Treasury and Border duties, but when Finance might return to him is up in the air. Oneill also hinted that there is a major reshuffle in the cards. Hang on, we might be headed for another little ride.
"Polye loses powers
Source:
The National, Tuesday 28th Febuary 2012
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday removed all financial powers from major coalition partner Don Polye.
Polye, who leads the new Triumph
Heritage Empowerment Party and who was instrumental in putting O’Neill in power, was until yesterday Finance and Treasury Minister.
Today he is vested with Treasury, Border Development and a sprinkling of statutory institutions.
In a letter, O’Neill informed Polye that
his removal stemmed from recent events concerning the payout of landowner funds and also cited “runaway expenditure” in
the Department of Finance.
Polye only last week assured frustrated gas and oil landowners in Port Moresby that they would be paid their Infrastructure Development Grants (IDG) but only after all necessary government processes had been completed.
Last Friday, the landowners converged on Morauta Haus, which houses the offices of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to vent their frustration again.
“These project grants are to fund infrastructure projects such as public roads, bridges, schools, clinics, hospitals and so forth,” Polye had said.
“These funds are not cash handouts to landowners but are specifically grants made to those provinces and local level governments affected by the PNG LNG project.”
Polye yesterday revealed that at least K129 million in IDG funds had been disbursed outside approved processes.
He said this was unlawful and promised an investigation.
Polye’s statement did not appease the prime minister who said in his letter on the decision to relieve him of financial powers:
“This decision is in light of complaints in relation to various landowner funds as per the state’s responsibilities and commitments under the Oil and Gas Act and UBSA (umbrella benefits sharing agreement) and various LBBSAs (licensed-based benefits sharing agreements) under the PNG LNG Agreement.
“Furthermore, the continuing lack of ability by the department and ministry of finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations has not abated since I wrote to you last,” O’Neill said.
“This decision is taken in the best interest of the government.”
Polye is now the minister for Treasury and Border Development,
the latter role having been
removed from the ministry of
Inter-Government Relation and District Development.
O’Neill said last night the measure was temporary to resolve the pressing landowner issues and runaway expenditure.
But he did not indicate when the Finance portfolio would be returned to Polye.
He also hinted that a major reshuffle was imminent"
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/29601
- my2cows - 02-28-2012
"“The decision is taken in the best interest of the government and our commitment to fight corruption at all levels,” the PM said last night."
idk palm, everything O'Neill has done seems to be the interest of fighting corruption. Poyle and Duma have not been friends of IOC, probably because of Shells bride. O'Neill clapping down on any type of corruption I would view as a good thing!
- Palm - 02-28-2012
I agree my2; wasn't insinuating that this was necessarily bad. Just another shifting that is normal for PNG, but will raise all sorts of questions and worries for those that don't understand PNG politics. I think it will be a non-issue, just interesting that it is being billed as a possible major reshuffle. I don't expect Mr Duma will be ousted.
- jft310 - 02-28-2012
Duma will be made to look good before its all over.What he wants is a large project 10.6 mtpa production and a major operator. How is a larger size project bad for IOC? As long as its phased in.The current Exxon project is 2 trains with 6.6 mtpa and a traditional LNG plant.The PNG govt likes that project. How is the use of a major experienced operator bad for IOC? Its not of course. Would Duma prefer Shell well yes thats apparent but can he demand Shell well no he can not demand Shell. He can accept other major operators. There is simply no way Duma or anyone else can deny Japex and Kogas and Mitsui as a group.
- jft310 - 02-28-2012
Duma will be made to look good before its all over.What he wants is a large project 10.6 mtpa production and a major operator. How is a larger size project bad for IOC? As long as its phased in.The current Exxon project is 2 trains with 6.6 mtpa and a traditional LNG plant.The PNG govt likes that project. How is the use of a major experienced operator bad for IOC? Its not of course. Would Duma prefer Shell well yes thats apparent but can he demand Shell well no he can not demand Shell. He can accept other major operators. There is simply no way Duma or anyone else can deny Japex and Kogas and Mitsui as a group.
- Tree - 02-28-2012
Polye was deputy PM under Somare when he proved himself incompetent. O'Neill said last week there was a shake-up a coming as at it looks Polye was not a lone incompetent or crook. Of note, is Polye is still backing O'Neill after this demotion.
**********
Polye loses PNG finance portfolio
Posted at 05:51 on 28 February, 2012 UTC
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has taken on the finance portfolio after stripping it from his treasurer, Don Polye.
However, Mr Polye will retain his treasury portfolio.
Mr O’Neill took the action after alleging in a letter that Mr Polye failed to contain expenditure overruns.
Mr Polye, who was briefly the deputy prime minister in 2010, late last year presented PNG’s largest ever budget of five billion US dollars.
Angry landowners impacted by PNG’s massive LNG project have twice in the past two weeks staged protests outside government offices in Port Moresby.
Meanwhile, Don Polye says he will continue to support the coalition government.
The Kandep MP and leader of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party, a major coalition partner in the O’Neill Government, also still has the Border portfolio under his name.
Mr Polye says that as a pivotal figure in forming the coalition government, he wants to remain a part of it and to ensure political stability in the country.