03-25-2014, 11:41 AM
**** Prime Minister Hon. Peter O'Neill stands his ground ****
Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill has accused Opposition leader Belden Namah of being a self-appointed “financial expert”.He said this in response to Namah releasing a letter from State Solicitor Daniel Rolpagarea who advised the State that Parliament should approve the Government US$1.225 billion (about K3 billion) loan to fund its 10.1% stake in Oil Search.In a letter to acting Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele dated March 5, Ropalgarea said it was a requirement under the Constitution that Parliament must approve such “bridge-and-collar” loans.O’Neill told reporters last Friday: “I know the Opposition leader’s issue about the advice from the State Solicitor.“That was an earlier advice given to Treasury. There was an advice, which was later given to Cabinet which cleared the transaction.“So there’s a later advice from the State Solicitor saying that the transaction was in order for Cabinet to approve it.“What we have seen, of course, is a few leaders taking it upon themselves to become financial experts and try to undermine Cabinet decisions, undermine the integrity and interest of PNG citizens.”O’Neill said he was elected by the people to protect their interests and would not be influenced by Namah.“They gave me that mandate in 2012,” he said.“I know that Namah has been calling for my resignation every time he has a press conference.“Tell him to be patient, tell him to give us his policies. “We know he says that we’re stealing his policies.“Not long ago, he said he went on a three-month overseas tour because he was writing up his policies.“Now he can’t produce one so he’s giving all kinds of excuses.”