Michael Somare - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:53:48 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg Michael Somare - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 New building for Catholic Bishops' Conference in PNG https://cathnews.co.nz/2018/09/24/building-bishops-conference-png/ Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:04:35 +0000 https://cathnews.co.nz/?p=112090 new building

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) opened a new building in Port Moresby last week. The new building has two blocks. ToRot Block (Building A) has a conference room with a capacity of 100 people, 25 workstations and 11 living rooms. Mazzuconi Block (Building B) has a fireproof archive room, Read more

New building for Catholic Bishops' Conference in PNG... Read more]]> The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) opened a new building in Port Moresby last week.

The new building has two blocks.

ToRot Block (Building A) has a conference room with a capacity of 100 people, 25 workstations and 11 living rooms.

Mazzuconi Block (Building B) has a fireproof archive room, office space for 15 workstations, parking space and two residential flats.

According to CBC General Secretary Father Victor Roche, there is also a recording studio space for the commission of communication with the possibility of a future radio or television station.

The money for the construction came from:

  • Fundraising
  • The prime minister's office - 3 million
  • MISSIO Aachen - 1.08 million.
  • Other leaders and generous donors - 1.22 million

Those attending the ceremony included Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea's first prime minister, and the current prime minister, Peter O'Neil.

In his speech, Somare acknowledged the role of the Catholic Church in the development of the country.

'The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have, through their efforts, made a contribution to keep alive the teaching of Christ in the country," the Grand Chief said.

O'Neill congratulated the architect and the builders who had constructed a wonderful building.

"It will not only serve the Church but also serve our people in Papua New Guinea and in the Solomon Islands. It is important that the government continues to support the work of the Church.

"The government and the church must work hand in hand in partnership to not only develop our country but to also provide spiritual guidance for our people and make sure that they have the services they deserve in education and health," said the prime minister.

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New building for Catholic Bishops' Conference in PNG]]> 112090 Supreme Court judgement puts Papua New Guinea in crisis https://cathnews.co.nz/2012/05/29/supreme-court-judgement-puts-papua-new-guinea-in-crisis/ Mon, 28 May 2012 19:30:52 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=26306

A Supreme Court decision has once again put Papua New Guinea in crisis. The court has again declared that the current government, led by Peter O'Neill, is illegal - this time on the eve of scheduled elections. Parliament has voted to declare a State of Emergency, and the Chief Justice has been arrested. The decision Read more

Supreme Court judgement puts Papua New Guinea in crisis... Read more]]> A Supreme Court decision has once again put Papua New Guinea in crisis. The court has again declared that the current government, led by Peter O'Neill, is illegal - this time on the eve of scheduled elections. Parliament has voted to declare a State of Emergency, and the Chief Justice has been arrested.

The decision was a majority with two of the five judges dissenting. On May 21st, the chief justice, Sir Salamo Injia, joined two other judges in upholding the Supreme Court's December verdict, which ordered the restoration of Mr O'Neill's predecessor as prime minister, Sir Michael Somare.

One of the dissenting judges, Gibbs Salika, the deputy chief justice, said the court's deliberations had been compromised by the circulation of an e-mail from one of the majority judges which called the O'Neill administration an "illegal regime".

Another dissenting judge said endorsing the majority verdict would be contrary to his judicial oath of office.

A senior member of the office of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio says the head of state has refused to sign any documents presented by parliamentary elected prime minister Peter O'Neill or from his court-appointed rival for the top job, Sir Michael Somare.

The spokesman says the governor-general has also refused to sign an instrument recalling parliament for a special sitting last week in which the government voted for a state of emergency in three provinces including the capital, Port Moresby.

 

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Supreme Court judgement puts Papua New Guinea in crisis]]> 26306 Archbishop Ribat asks Michael Somare to resign https://cathnews.co.nz/2011/12/23/archbishop-ribat-asks-michael-somare-to-resign/ Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:30:48 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=18667

Archbishop Ribat, The Catholic Archbishop of Papua New Guinea, has called on Michael Somare to resign from politics so as to avoid a repeat of last week's political tension. Archbishop Ribat says while the Catholic Church recognises that the Supreme Court ruled Sir Michael Somare be reinstated, it wants him to end the fight to Read more

Archbishop Ribat asks Michael Somare to resign... Read more]]> Archbishop Ribat, The Catholic Archbishop of Papua New Guinea, has called on Michael Somare to resign from politics so as to avoid a repeat of last week's political tension. Archbishop Ribat says while the Catholic Church recognises that the Supreme Court ruled Sir Michael Somare be reinstated, it wants him to end the fight to get back into office.

"In all respect to him, we want him to resign," Archbishop Ribat said.

A constitutional law expert says Mr O'Neill has breached the constitution despite winning the support of the governor-general and a majority of MPs to end a week-long political crisis.

Dr Tony Regan, from the Australian National University, says Sir Michael does have a case under PNG's constitution. Yet even if Sir Michael wins, it is unlikely to get him back into office.

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Archbishop Ribat asks Michael Somare to resign]]> 18667 Church leader says coalition solution to PNG impasse has broad support http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65101 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:30:41 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=18472 The Catholic Archbishop of Papua New Guinea says there is broad support for the churches' call for a grand coalition to run the country until next year's elections as a way to resolve the PNG impasse. The churches suggested the grand coalition on last Thursday as the two groups claiming they have the right to run Read more

Church leader says coalition solution to PNG impasse has broad support... Read more]]> The Catholic Archbishop of Papua New Guinea says there is broad support for the churches' call for a grand coalition to run the country until next year's elections as a way to resolve the PNG impasse.

The churches suggested the grand coalition on last Thursday as the two groups claiming they have the right to run the government remain at loggerheads.

Archbishop John Ribat says they envisage all politicians working together with no opposition.

Church leader says coalition solution to PNG impasse has broad support]]> 18472 PNG Crisis - Churches call on leaders to talk https://cathnews.co.nz/2011/12/16/png-crisis-churches-suggest-another-way/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:30:48 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=18260

Papua New Guinea church leaders called on Thursday for a "grand coalition" to end the PNG crisis. Such a coalition would be a "Melanesian way" of solving what appears to be an intractable crisis with both Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his opponent Peter O'Neill refusing to back down. "If they are to release Read more

PNG Crisis - Churches call on leaders to talk... Read more]]> Papua New Guinea church leaders called on Thursday for a "grand coalition" to end the PNG crisis.

Such a coalition would be a "Melanesian way" of solving what appears to be an intractable crisis with both Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his opponent Peter O'Neill refusing to back down.

"If they are to release the tension they must come together and either form a grand coalition or negotiate a solution. The Melanesian way is to sit down and work out your differences," said Port Moresby's Catholic Archbishop John Ribat.

"If this situation is prolonged I believe we will not avoid it (violence). There are some opportunists out there that want to capitalise on the situation," Ribat told Reuters.

Church leaders from a number of other denominations have united to call for an end to the tensions. They want the two sides to put aside their differences and form a government of national unity.

Anglican archbishop, Peter Ramsten, says churches will help to facilitate a meeting between the two men.

Paster Joseph Walters form the Assembiles Of God said the best christmas present for Papua New Guineans would be peace and good will.

But Radio Australia PNG correspondent Liam Fox has reported on twitter that Mr O'Neill has rejected the churches call for unity, saying Mr Somare is no longer an MP.

Paul Barker of the Institute of National Affairs (INA) has also suggested that a solution to the PNG Crisis could be found by agreeing on "some sort of caretaker unity government until the elections."

"I mean the elections are just around the corner. The priority should be to try and prepare for the elections and give the voters an opportunity to make their own selection". he said

Barker said he had been told the O'Neill faction was willing to engage and compromise, but the Somare side was less enthusiastic.

The two rival attorneys-general have agreed to meet to try to resolve the PNG crisis.

INA is a privately funded, non-profit policy research institute, or "think tank" based in Port Moresby.

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PNG Crisis - Churches call on leaders to talk]]> 18260 Bishops say let Michael Somare retire gracefully https://cathnews.co.nz/2011/07/05/bishops-say-let-michael-somare-retire-gracefully/ Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:00:05 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=6825

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare must be allowed to retire gracefully from politics, and not be forced out. This is the view of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Port Moresby, following the recent announcement of the Somare family's intention to have their father retire from politics on medical grounds. General Read more

Bishops say let Michael Somare retire gracefully... Read more]]> Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare must be allowed to retire gracefully from politics, and not be forced out. This is the view of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Port Moresby, following the recent announcement of the Somare family's intention to have their father retire from politics on medical grounds. General Secretary Father Victor Roche said Sir Michael has done a lot for the country and should be accorded the respect he deserves.

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Bishops say let Michael Somare retire gracefully]]> 6825