JK ‘might have been’ governor general

By MALUM NALU
On Wednesday evening, while my kids were laughing away at Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy on my laptop, I was flicking through a scrapbook belonging to well-known media personality Justin ‘JK’ Kili and wondering what might have been.
The scrapbook basically contained old newspaper and magazine cuttings dating back to the early 1970s when JK began his colourful career in radio.

JK grtduating from a course at BBC London in 1985

In fact, so much has been written about JK over the years, that I need not ditto.
The cuttings jumped out at me, as I am a child of the 1970s, and feel very much of an affinity to this iconic pilot of our airwaves.
Suddenly, I was a child again, listening to JK, and singing these unforgettable words from the Carpenters’ Yesterday Once More:

“When I was young
“I'd listen to the radio
“Waitin' for my favorite songs
“When they played I'd sing along
“It made me smile…”

Ironically, I became familiar with this song while growing up on Sohano, the island off JK’s home of Buka, back in the halcyon days of the early 1970s.
What if JK was our current governor general instead of the incumbent-elect, North Bougainville MP, Michael Ogio?
But for all sad words of tongue and pen, wrote the great American writer John Greenleaf Whittier, the saddest are these, “it might have been”.
Early last month, through another good mate and former radio personality, Emile ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa, I found out that JK had out his hand up to be in the running to be governor general.
Then-acting governor general Ogio, also minister for higher Education, was understood to have met prime minister Sir Michael Somare to declare his unavailability for election and to lobby for JK to contest on behalf of the people of Bougainville.
The government was understood to have asked for Ogio’s candidacy for the governor general’s seat, however, he had decided against it because of political commitment to his people as North Bougainville MP.
JK was said to have the support of all four Bougainville MPs in Ogio, South Bougainville’s Steven Kama, Central Bougainville’s Jimmy Miringtoro and governor Fidelis Semoso.
JK, 58, from Lemanmanu village on Buka, confirmed his availability for the governor general’s election when I met him at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, Jan 6.
.For those who came in late, he is a Queen’s awardee, PNG Logohu medal awardee, two-time prime ministerial awardee, Australian senatorial awardee and the most-trained, most-honoured, and, most-celebrated media and industry manager in Papua New Guinea.
JK needed the support of another 11 MPs to meet the required 15 to be eligible to contest, however, was confident of garnering the support because of his nationwide popularity as a radio icon.
“If the people (through their MPs) want me to contest, then I will oblige,” he told me then.
“If anything comes to fruition, I can honestly say that I am qualified as a citizen of Papua New Guinea.
“I have the international exposure and the regional experience for the job, if the people so want me to do.
“I think I’m capable, willing and able.
“If Parliament elects me, that’s on merit.
“I have not put my hands up, but the people of Bougainville have put their hands up for me.
“Our (Bougainville) members are pushing for me, so I leave it to them.”
However, by the time deadline for nominations for the governor-general’s post lapsed at 4pm on Wednesday, Jan 12, only two candidates – JK not included – were confirmed.
Government candidate Ogio and Sir Pato Kakaraya were the only nominees who would go through the secret ballot on Friday, Jan 14.
Ogio seemed to have made an about-turn on JK, and the man who had been campaigning hard for him, ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa.
“I see him (JK) as a very-qualified candidate,” ET, another charismatic former radio man from Bougainville (Mortlock islands) told me.
“On top of that, he is not politically-aligned with any party and is well respected by the people of PNG, because of his services to them as a radio broadcaster and a journalist.
“”He’s a household name who is known to MPs from both sides of parliament.
“There’s a misconception that governor general’s position is for former politicians.
“The governor general’s position has got to be a neutral one.
“The governor general has got to be elected on merit.
“I totally agree with having someone from the outside!
“Let’s not create the misconception among ourselves that the position is for former politicians, as well as based on regionalism!”
On Friday, Jan 14, Parliament elected Ogio as the ninth governor-general of PNG.
Voting for the new governor general went ahead despite a notice of appeal being served to the acting speaker, the clerk of parliament, the acting prime minister and the state solicitor.
The government, with its strength in numbers, elected Ogio, defeating his rival Sir Pato 65-23 while another eight votes were declared informal.
Papua New Guinea was left wondering what might have been if JK had become governor general, as so many MPs on both sides of the house, grew up listening to his voice on radio.
I leave the last word to JK: “I am young, intelligent, and have the charisma to do the job very, very well.
“I bring to the position of governor general 38 years of a wealth of experience in the public service, private and corporate services.
“I have a very strong knowledge of regional and international relations and co-operation, and the necessary understanding of how government and provincial governments work.
“I have many, many years of national exposure and international exposure, which places me in the right position and the right level and tilt, to make this job work successfully for PNG and our people.”
American writer John Greenleaf Whittier: “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”

Yasi vents fury on Popondetta

* Dam busted
* Taps run dry
* Police on alert

By JASON GIMA WURI

A lone villager crossing the Bango River which had provided Popondetta residents water until Wednesday when it flooded its banks and washed away the temporary dam. Part of the wire fencing at right is what is left of the dam. – Picture by JAMES WILA

POPONDETTA in Northern is without water after the Bango River flooded its banks and washed away the town’s dam following heavy rain since Wednesday night, The National reports.
Reports said rain was still pouring yesterday with local police stepping up patrols to deter opportunists and looters.
The National Weather Service had confirmed that the heavy rains experienced in Popondetta and other parts of Oro and Milne Bay were directly related to Cyclone Yasi.
Weather service acting director forecasting and warning centre Jimmy Gomoga yesterday said Popondetta, the Owen Stanley Ranges and Milne Bay’s Misima and Rossel Islands were experiencing rain bands.
Gomoga said: “This may also suggest continuous rain in the days ahead.”
Oro provincial disaster office acting coordinator Lawrence Baisa said the town’s water supply had been cut off after the dam was destroyed.
He also reported the flooding of Kausada village along the North Coast but there was no casualty.
“The flood waters have risen to post levels with every good gardens destroyed.”
Baisa said the creek next to the St Margaret’s School of Nursing was flooded but there were no reports of any infrastructural damages.
“Although the Girua River is flowing dangerously fast, the bridge and airport have not been affected,” he said.
The provincial administration was arranging a vehicle for Baisa to visit the affected areas and assess the damages.
Popondetta police station commander Insp Noboya Zozowa had instructed his men to stay on full alert following rumours of possible looting and other crimes.
PNG Water technicians were understood to have retrieved the main raw water pump and were trying to get it repaired.
“While that is going on, there will be no water supply for the township for an indefinite period,” Baisa said.
“Fortunately, we have not received reports of any casualties.”

TWL, Lynden ink JV deal

By PATRICK TALU

 

PAPUA New Guinea’s biggest prime and logistic mover Trans Wonderland Limited (TWL) will venture into air and sea transport services to meet the growing logistics demand from the PNG LNG project and other new resource developments in the country, The National reports.

This was revealed yesterday by TWL managing director Larry Andagali during the signing of a deal with one of world’s leading logistic movers – Alaska-based Lynden Logistics.

Lynden Logistics’ country manager Greg Vaughan lauded TWL’s plan and said: “From PNG we can build a sustainable global business.

“We are looking forward to the possibilities of developing a sustainable multimodal transport business and providing the best possible services in PNG and the Australasia region.

“It’s perfect for us to begin here in PNG and I have no doubt we can achieve that,” Vaughan said.

The companies signed the deal that would pave the way for them to develop an integrated transport and logistic company for fast, efficient and quality services to clients and explore other opportunities in the Australasian region.

Andagali said the deal marked yet “another significant milestone for TWL in its quest to becoming a truly integrated transport and logistics company”.

“I admire the commitment and determination for Lynden Logistics in developing a world-class company from its humble beginning as a two-truck company some 60 years ago.

He said Lynden and TWL have some parallel in history as both companies started small then grew with resource based development project.

“We also have an opportunity to use this relationship to explore benefits derived from setting up well-managed landowner future funds like Alaska Permanent Fund.

TWL, with a fleet of more than 70 prime movers and growing rapidly, makes the joint venture the biggest road transport company in PNG.

Meanwhile, Education Minister and Chairman of the Hela Transitional Authority James Marape commended TWL for achieving success as a landowner company.

Marabe has urged all the LNG project area landowners companies to unite for successful business ventures.

Constantinou is BSP chairman

BANK South Pacific has a new chairman, and he is Kostas Constantinou, The National reports.

Chief executive officer Ian Clyne announced that Constantinou was elected unanimously after Noreo Beangke stepped down during a special board meeting of the directors yesterday.

Constantinou had been a director of BSP since April 2009.

He is a prominent businessman in PNG and is chairman of Airways Hotel and Apartments Ltd, Airways Residences Ltd, Lamana Hotel Ltd, Hebou Constructions (PNG) Ltd, a director of Gazelle International Hotel Ltd, Heritage Park Hotel Ltd in the Solomon Islands and Grand Paci_c Hotel Ltd in Fiji.

Constantinou was also a director of POMSoX-listed Airlines PNG Ltd and ASX-listed Oil Search Ltd.

Clyne, on behalf of the board, congratulated Constantinou on his appointment as BSP chairman.

He said Constantinou was a well regarded and successful businessman in PNG, and that he would bring a wealth of experience to the role of chairman of BSP.

Constantinou and Clyne both expressed their gratitude to Beangke who had been a director of BSP since August 1993 and chairman since May 1994.

During that period, Beangke was instrumental in the development of BSP as a PNG-owned commercial bank following the exit of National Australia Bank as owner of BSP in 1993, which ultimately led to BSP amalgamating with PNGBC when PNGBC was privatised in 2002.

Beangke provided leadership and vision during this period and also oversaw the development and implementation of BSP’s Paci_c strategy that led to BSP operating in Niue, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Beangke would remain on the board as a director.

Tom Fox was also re-elected as deputy chairman.

 

 

Teacher report finds flaws in selections

By DULCIE OREKE

 

A NEW National Research Institute report yesterday found evidence of flaws and corrupt practices in the teacher appointment process in PNG, The National reports.

The report stated that although, there were guidelines to appoint teachers in the Teaching Service Act of 1995, teachers were appointed illegally.

The study conducted in eight provinces, two from each region highlighted some teachers being appointed through nepotism, bribery and by force.

“This contributes to corruption, lack of accountability and transparency and failure on the part of the appointing authorities to effectively and efficiently manage the process of teacher appointments,” the report read.

It was pointed out that teacher appointment process continued to be a concern among teachers, parents, board of management and governors throughout the country.

“The education gazette is always late, the appointment of teachers is not done before the end of the year and teacher resume late for duties.”

It was also revealed that teachers who were eligible for higher level positions were rarely notified of the outcome of their application.

An example was a 2009 case where teachers in East Sepik who applied for promotional positions were informed about their outcome of their applications in October 2010, which was already late to take up their appointment.

The report also identifies the following;

* Factors contributing to teachers’ refusal to take up teaching appointments;

* Actions teachers take when take when they are given positions for they apply;

* Actions appointing authorities take when teachers refuse to take up their appointments;

* Factors contributing to teachers late resumption of teaching duties; and

* Problems associated with the resumption of duty process.

 

 

Judge wants court to look and smell good

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

THERE is one thing I do not like, and that is body odour, said National and Supreme Court judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, in a courtroom filled to capacity with lawyers and their clients who were present for the alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mediation session yesterday morning, The National reports.

Kandakasi dropped this bombshell when announcing that the mediation session would continue later in the afternoon at the smaller ADR centre mediation facility which he said would prevent overcrowding and disruption to the air ventilation system

That is said was common knowledge in any overcrowded courtroom situation.

The judge, therefore, asked that only lawyers and a limited number of clients should come for that afternoon session and not like the big turnout earlier in the day.

In saying that he appointed to begin at 3pm.

Kandakasi also pointed out to the lawyers present that lawyers must dress up according to their profession’s ethical dress standards. 

“We need to raise the standards of lawyers dress,” he said, adding that he had raised these issues in the past and he would do so again.

“I will not hear any lawyer who is not appropriately dressed.

“Your appropriate dress is white shirts and black trousers, not brown trousers.

“Ensure that your shirt is tucked in neatly into your trousers.

“For those of you who chew betelnut, make sure there are no stains.

“I do not want to see stains on your white shirts or bibs – they must be clean.

“I do not want to see you sweating and puffing when you arrive to present yourselves in court; this is not a nightclub but a court,” the no-nonsense judge told the civil courtroom 10, which was filled to capacity with lawyers and their landowner clients who were present to hear the LNG-related mediation session yesterday.

 

Parents swap foodstuff for school fees

Chimbu scheme proves a success

 

By VERONICA FRANCIS

 

School fee is the main problem all parents in rural and urban centres face nowadays with the high cost of living.

However, for parents in Chimbu they were fortunate with the introduction of a scheme in which fresh produce and livestock were given to the schools as payment for school fees for their children.

According to Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia, the scheme was successful and had been running for two years.

This year will be the third year, adding the schools and especially parents were very cooperative.

He said it was difficult for parents to meet the standard required fee upfront, therefore the scheme allowed them to bring vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, greens and livestock such as pigs and cows to the schools in exchange for school fees.

Garia said the vegetables and livestock were weighed and charged at a normal retail price against the school fees.

He added that parents could bring in supplies over time until they meet the required amount.

“This scheme has worked successfully for both the parents and the school. The schools run all year and have surplus at the end while the parents are not burdened to look for cash,” he said.

Garia said that Chimbu had the lowest school fee rate because of good management.

“Most schools in the province have no management problems and the records are good because they do quarterly checks to make sure everything is running smoothly,” he said.

He said the idea was to maintain the strength of human resource, adding that sometimes students missed out and did not further their education because of school fee problems.

Garia said that with no natural resource to dwell on, Chimbu focused on developing its human resource and would continue to do so.

 

 

Abal denies saying 'LNG was rushed'

DEPUTY Prime Minister Sam Abal yesterday said the PNG gas agreement is a well-considered document that will stand the test of time, The National reports.

He refuted claims and inferences that the whole gas agreement and processes had been rushed.

Abal said he had used the Tok Pisin word “hariap” to describe the process of negotiation and signing of the gas agreement in May 2008 in order to secure the 2014 market window, “and this was wrongly reported as a statement that the project has been rushed”. “This is unfortunate.

“I was certainly not trying to suggest that the government has rushed finalisation of the gas agreement, but wanted to convey that we needed to get on with the task of concluding the agreement in a specific time frame,” the deputy prime minister said.

“As a senior member of cabinet, I was aware that the negotiations took a year to conclude and I am confident that it will stand the test of time.”

He said the chronology of events leading up to the financial close and beginning of full execution of the PNG LNG project clearly showed no “rush” in the project.

The gas agreement was negotiated from 2007-08. Gas agreement signing took place in May 2008. Licence-based benefits sharing agreement (LBBSA) was negotiated from 2008-09. BSA was signed in May 2009 and UBSA thereafter in December 2009.

The final investment decision was reached on Dec 8, 2009. Financial close and beginning of full execution took place in March last year.

“The gas agreement is a well-considered document.

“It was essentially negotiated by a team of senior bureaucrats with key economic ministers and the ministerial economic committee endorsed all significant progressive documents with concurrency of the full cabinet,” Abal said.

He said cabinet was always aware that there would be significant benefits to all PNG stakeholders if sales from the LNG project could target a perceived global supply shortfall in the 2013-14 period and “this is what we achieved”.

“Those who follow international trends, particularly since the global financial crisis, would be aware that experts are now forecasting the possibility of a glut in LNG supplies from around 2017.

“Many Australian projects are now in a race to try and beat the deadline.

“In PNG’s case, we have concluded sales for our production at exceptionally good terms starting from 2014 because we remained schedule-driven despite the many challenges we face.”

The deputy prime minister said it was unfortunate that because of news stories suggesting the agreement had been rushed, others were now claiming the gas resources had been “sold cheaply”.

“That is erroneous reasoning without the basis of depth and objectivity,” Abal said.

He said government statements had clarified that this was not the case and international commentators and analysts had embraced the PNG agreement as a model for other countries to follow.

 

 

Yasi's strength felt in Alotau

By JASON GIMA WURI

 

TREES were uprooted and a temporary blackout was reported in Alotau and parts of Milne Bay yesterday morning as Cyclone Yasi passed through the Coral Sea producing strong gust winds of between 30 and 45 knots, The National reports.

Milne Bay provincial disaster coordinator Eric Balaria confirmed the reports.

The cyclone was heading towards the Australian state of Queensland and made landfall at 10pm PNG time.

“The strong surge of wind between 10am and noon caused minimal destruction.

“We also received reports that some houses had their ridge caps blown away, banana and betelnut trees were uprooted and a temporary blackout, allegedly caused by tree branches falling across power lines,” Balaria, who was at East Cape, 50km out of Alotau town, monitoring the situation, said.

Confirmed reports said straight after the strong winds subsided, rain and thunderstorms took over.

No major incidents had been reported.

Officials were hopeful to get updates from the outer islands by today.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Port Moresby confirmed that Cyclone Yasi had moved onto North Queensland.

Senior broadcaster Kwekweina Maiwori said by yesterday afternoon, the cyclone was 345km east of Cairns.

“PNG’s area of responsibility has been cancelled as the cyclone is moving west southwesterly and will directly hit the coast of North Queensland at a category 5 level and travelling at a speed of 280km per hour. 

“In Milne Bay, gale winds warning of 34-45 knots, which were felt earlier yesterday, have been cancelled.

“Winds of 25 knots will still be in the Milne Bay area for another 24 hours,” Maiwori said.

“Because of the unpredictability of the wind and the rains, we should continue to stay clear of the waters and take extra care until NWS clears the weather warnings in the next few days.”

 

 

Five die in Southern Highlands gunfight

By ELIAS LARI

 

FIVE people are dead, a man is under medical treatment and properties worth thousands of kina were destroyed in a fierce gun battle between two tribes in the Nipa-Kutubu electorate in Southern Highlands, The National reports.

The fight, between the Hulsoan and Tegipo 1 and 2 tribes, started over a prolonged delay in compensation payment over the death of businessman Hulson Song from the Tegipo tribes believed to have been killed by someone from the Hulson tribe through sorcery in 2009.

However, in the delay, the Hulson tribe shot dead two other young men from the Tegipo tribes during New Year’s Eve last year.

The Tegipo tribes then retaliated and shot dead two Hulson men and wounded another young man who is nursing pellet wounds on his legs.

Tegipo councillor Jack Elal said this was one of the most fearsome fights they had been involved in.

He said the fight had destroyed the lives of many people and properties worth thousands of kina.

Elal said a bishop’s house and a primary school at Injua were also burnt down and the fight was getting out of control.

He said his tribe was willing to make peace because they did not want the fight to continue.

Elal said if leaders like local MP Philemon Embel and administrator William Powi who is from the same area, together with the police and peace mediators went to the scene and initiate peace talks then people would surrender.

He said Embel had not made any effort to iuntervene in the situation.

Elal said Embel was focusing on sports and forgot to help his people.

He said the situation could turn worse because high-powered weapons were being used.

Elal added that people wanted the tribal fights to end and urged Embel and Powi to intervene to restore peace between the two tribes.

The National called SHP police commander Teddy Tei yesterday but he said he was in a meeting and could not comment.

Also attempts to contact the Mendi General Hospital were not successful.

 

 

Chamber slams fights

THE Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PMCCI) has described the recent spate of ethnic clashes in the nation’s capital as barbaric and primitive behaviour by uncivilised people, The National reports.

In a statement yesterday, the chamber said the causes were often petty, and could be solved quickly and efficiently by a police force which should be equipped and committed to stamping out such behaviour.

“Gordon Market should be one of the premier markets in the city, but it is in an anarchic state; a battleground for various groups from the highlands vying for economic supremacy in an area which is literally a stone’s throw away from the police station. How can the Lae City Market operate so efficiently when NCD’s cannot?

“The various groups from the resource areas hanging around town are a large part of the problem.

“Let’s be honest – do we really believe the money they are seeking is for ‘business grants’ or ‘seed capital’? It is pocket-money that is being spent in bars and brothels, and is fueling the increase in public drinking and offensive behaviour.”

The chamber added that such behaviour at  markets were out of control and just tinder boxes waiting for some drunkard to bump someone or step on someone’s produce and we have World War III triggered by opportunistic and armed young men.

PMCCI said if police were under-resourced then City Hall should step in by engaging heavy security provided by qualified security companies who were instructed to exercise a zero tolerance policy on those causing trouble and allow the law-abiding public to get on with their lives peacefully.

“We despair of our police getting a handle on such clashes – we have yet to see one person charged – yet  crimes committed, such as beheading and mutilation, are beyond belief in the capital city,” the statement said.

PMCCI called on police and Governor Powes Parkop to lead a crackdown into public drunkenness, threatening, abusive language and carrying of weapons such as bush knives in the city’s confines saying, “We have had enough, and the streets and our markets belong to decent people.”

 

set baseline and data on what was on the ground.

Industrial park planned for Gulf

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

 

GULF will see the development of an industrial park project that will cater for all the resource project activities in the province like the PNG LNG Project in partnership with Inter-Oil and Energy World International, The National reports.

Gulf Governor Havila Kavo revealed this at a media conference yesterday.

Kavo said extensive studies such as social mapping and environmental studies are underway in projected impacted areas to establish snapshots on the likely impacts and other issues to allow for equal participation from the people.

“We hope the industrial park would help Gulf citizens and PNG at large,” said Kavo.

He said PNG is blessed with vast resources and these resources should be used to industrialise PNG.

Gulf has established a business arm called Gulf Oil and Gas Company (GOGC) which is solely responsible for resource development projects in the province.

GOGC chief executive Mark Baia said they were doing checks and balances to ensure that everyone was included in the projects and that relevant studies and awareness were conducted before the implementation.

Baia highlighted that once everything came into place, they were also looking at developing key such as airport and deep water port facilities and housing infrastructure.

He said they were looking at improving cash economy such as local coffee processing and coconut production for the people.

Also yesterday, two consultants who would be engaged in carrying out marine and ecological studies in the impacted areas around Ihu, Baimuru and Kikori were commissioned.

Prominent marine biologist Pochon Lili said he was honoured to be included in the project and that it was vital the studies should be conducted to set baseline and data on what was on the ground.

LNG project No.2 signed

First gas shipment scheduled for 2013

By BOSORINA ROBBY

THE second LNG project in PNG, led by InterOil Ltd, has set a tentative date for its first gas shipment at the end of 2013, one year ahead of the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG project, The National reports.

Gulf Governor Havila Kavo (left) and InterOil chairman and SPI 208 director Phil Mulacek signing the project funding, construction and shareholders agreement on behalf of the people of Gulf and the three InterOil partners yesterday. At right from Mulacek are Treasurer Peter O’Neill, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma. – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

This was revealed by partner Liquid Niugini Gas Ltd (LNGL) chief executive officer Henry Aldorf yesterday at the signing of the project funding and construction agreement and a shareholders agreement between LNGL, South Pacific InterOil (SPI 208), Energy World Corporation (EWC) and Gulf Governor Havila Kavo.
The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma, Finance and Treasury Minister Peter O’Neill and Internal Security Minister Mark Maipakai.
Yesterday’s event essentially marked the launch of construction of the US$4 billion three million tonne per annum (mtpa) land-based LNG plant in Gulf. It would be developed in two phrases – 2mtpa and 1mtpa expansion.
These agreements followed an announcement last September of a partnership between Pacific LNG Operations Ltd and EWC.
Aldorf explained that the LNG plant would be built economically, compared with other new LNG projects and would provide the Asian market with clean energy.
He said this was due to a new financial modular that was developed with other partners to ensure the second LNG would deliver in record time.
He thanked the partners involved in the project and the landowners and provincial and national governments for their assistance in making the project come to reality.
InterOil chairman and SPI 208 director Phil Mulacek explained that the timeline for the project was set to start selling the LNG from the Elk Antelope fields, beginning at a cost of US$450 million per million tonne.
EWC CEO Stewart Elliott said the project could be seen as having two parts – hardware and software.
“The hardware refers to the equipment, pipelines, the plant and the LNG shipment and finding new markets in Asia.
“We are looking to develop a receiving terminal in the Asian market to cater for the 20 million tonnes of gas we produce,” he said.
The software part involved the people of Gulf who had been in close contact with the company from the beginning, because they wanted the project to improve their lives.
Elliott said no one has opposed the project because they see the benefits they will get including business opportunities, education and other infrastructure facilities.
“You have our assurance that we will do our utmost to care for the people,” he said.
The partnership was that SPI 208 would be in charge of the Elk Antelope fields while LNGL would construct the pipelines and would also work with EWC to build the LNG plant off the coast of Gulf.
The plant would process an estimated 2.25 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas over 15 years.
In return for its commitment to fully fund the plant, the agreements provided that EWC was entitled to a fee of 14.5% of the proceeds from the sale of LNG, less agreed deductions and subject to adjustments based on timing and execution.
The agreements provided a framework for the possible expansion of the plant’s capacity to 8mtpa of LNG.
In monetary terms, Mulacek explained that since it would cost US$450 million per million tonne, this would be US$450 million multiplied by the 8mtpa the LNG is capable of producing, which should be around US$4,000 million (US$4 billion)

The strength of women farmers in Papua New Guinea

By BARBARA TOMI of NARI
A recently-completed survey conducted under the project ‘Improving Business Acumen for PNG Women Smallholders In Horticulture’ has unearthed some very enterprising women who have quietly been producing and marketing some of the country’s best local fruit, vegetables and niche products.

Marey Yogiyo displays a sample of her Bauka packaged coffee.-Pictures by CATHY MCGOWAN

Many of them have been growing and processing these foods under the radar with little support other than that of their family members in order to meet their immediate needs.
Some of these enterprising women found in the Central province are growing the juiciest water melons in that part of the region; in Morobe they are raising sheep for wool and keeping bees for honey; and in the highlands these women are flooding the markets with temperate cut flowers and growing, training and supplying African yam seeds and packaging home-grown organic coffee for export.

Maria Linibi and Cathy McGowan visits bilum sellers of Goroka town and urge them to join the PNGWiADF network

These women came together from their respective regions to participate in a survey conducted by Cathy McGowan and Val Lang from the Australian Women in Agriculture to map out the membership of women’s peak agriculture body in the country, the Papua New Guinea Women in Agricultural Development Foundation (PNGWiADF), to determine the organisation’s current institutional arrangements and the women’s expectations of the organisation, identify governance issues affecting PNGWiADF and the support they need from the organisation.

Members of registered groups represented in the Eastern Highlands Women in Agriculture with members of the survey team

McGowan and Lang were assisted by project partners, Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) and National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).
PNGWiADF President Maria Linibi facilitated the survey of various groups.
A report of this activity will be put together by McGowan to present to the project leader, Prof Barbara Chambers from the University of Canberra to submit to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), who funded the project.

Specialist African yam grower Jennifa Kena displays some of the yams she presented as gifts to new members of EHWiA

Over 20 registered groups, 10 individual members and hordes of interested women and men attended and participated in the survey, expressing their personal experiences and recommending ways PNGWiADF can best serve their interest to promote locally-grown foods and vegetables, flowers and tree crops.
Most of the women farmers said good communication systems, training, access to markets and credit facilities were a major hindrance to their success.

Meeting members in the Central province

For instance, Julie Anton travelled from Mt Wilhelm to Goroka to participate, hoping that PNGWiADF would network her to a market for her highlands orchids.
Another woman from Garaina in the south of Morobe province walked for nearly a week to reach members of her group from Bulolo district, then travelled together to Lae to participate in the survey; she was determined to actively participate and express her group’s need to be trained to grow quality vegetables to be able to tap into a ready growing market in their area, the mining townships of Bulolo and Wau.
Budding entrepreneur Marey Yogiyo attended the gathering in Goroka as an interested coffee farmer but with the burning desire to encourage other coffee farmers to drink their own coffee.
Yogiyo and her family grow organic coffee in the Aiyura Valley of Eastern Highlands and process and package it for sale in retail shops.
Since it is a new brand, the Bauka Blue Kofi is up against the established brands such as the Kongo Coffee, Goroka Coffee Roasters and Sigri Coffee.
So far she has secured Bintangor Trading in Goroka to sell her product.
These women are a few finds from the survey and there are more to be discovered.
The survey team was pleased with the information collected so far which will go a long way in identifying strategies to address women’s issues and to make them equal partners in agricultural development.
As part of the report, the survey team will recommend to the project initiators a capacity training that will address an area that has been raised by various groups.
The onus will be on PNGWiADF to use the information to be responsive to the needs of women and continue to raise their issues to the various pillars of government as the national mouthpiece of women food producers.
A full report of the survey will be available in May.

Farmers want simple extension materials

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
Kamba villagers in Madang province say agricultural information and extension materials should be made more simple and easier for farmers to read and understand.

Kamba farmers study samples of extension materials produced by the workshop participants and voice their approval

The villagers, mostly farmers who grow all kinds of food crops, as well as produce coffee, cocoa and others like spices and balsa, told participants of a sub-regional training course on production of extension materials held in Madang recently that appropriate information and extension materials and regular extension visits were important to support the rural farmers and boost the sector.
The workshop participants from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, under the auspices of CTA and IRETA, spent a few days interviewing farmers and discussing their requirements for extension materials and information.
Based on the interviews and discussions, the participants prepared a number of materials including booklets, pamphlets, brochures, posters and others which they took back and presented to the farmers.
Kamba farmers were impressed with the materials produced by the participants saying that they would like more of the materials to be produced and widely distributed to boost agriculture productivity.
The materials produced covered topics such as control of taro leaf blight and taro beetle, pruning cocoa to increase yield, and formation of farming co-operative associations and came in the form of booklets, brochures, posters and other materials.
They said that they were always busy doing other things and many of them also understood little English.
They preferred extension materials in a form that was simple and understood by everybody.
After the completion of the two-week training, the course facilitators from CTA and IRETA handed over all the extension materials to the farmers and Madang provincial agriculture division to distribute to others as well.

Manus islanders take to farming

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

Community members clearing land to plant sweet potato and cassava on M’Buke Island

Growing food crops is a difficult task on islands and atolls and the M’Buke Island in the Manus Province is no exception.
Efforts are being made to encourage M’Buke Islanders to grow their own food, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) and the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).
Under a two-year food security project, NARI is introducing improved crop and livestock varieties in an effort to encourage the islanders to grow their food.
NARI-released technologies to be transferred under this project include: African yam, NARI taro, drought-tolerant and high-yield cassava varieties, corn, lowland land early maturing sweet potato varieties, Muscovy ducks and other vegetables.
Located on the south east of Manus Province, M’Buke Island has a population of about 700 people and food shortage is a common problem.
The islanders, who depend on marine resources for their livelihood, will now be able to grow their own food with planting materials and training on crop and livestock production, and on simple processing techniques provided by NARI.
This food security project funded by PNGSDP is aimed at alleviating the current food shortages and malnutrition problems by improving crop and livestock production on a sustainable basis.
To kick-start the project on the island, a baseline survey was undertaken last June and planting materials of the improved varieties are being supplied to the island from the NARI Southern regional centre based at Laloki.
The project, which is being implemented in partnership with the Manus Investment Peoples Association and the provincial Department of Agriculture, has created interest among the islanders to grow their own food.
A resource centre would be established from where planting materials and other information would be distributed from.
It is hoped that the outcomes of this project will also benefit other communities on the neighboring islands and mainland Manus as well.
NARI is carrying two other similar projects funded by PNGSDP in the Rabaraba district of Milne Bay and Morehead in Western province.

Jiwaka kaukau show on tomorrow in Minj

By JOSEPHINE YAGI of NARI

Youths watch attentively as Sr Louisa of the Catholic Church conducts food processing training at Don Bosco in Minj last year

Sweet potato (kaukau) accounts for 63% of the dietary energy of the population and is becoming the mainstay of the country's food security.
Current production is more than three million tonnes per annum.
The biggest challenge facing the village communities in Papua New Guinea is knowledge on possible products from sweet potato that can be developed for the retail market.
Traditional technologies are no longer capable of producing products that are better quality for the retail markets.
To address some of these issues, a kaukau fair will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at the Anglimp South Wagi district administration office in Minj, Western Highlands.
The fair is funded under the Australian Centre for Integrated Agricultural Research (ACIAR) post-harvest and marketing project and is the first of its kind that will be facilitated by key stakeholders including Lilly Be’soer group (RWDI), Sr Louisa’s groups, Jiwaka interim administration, National Agriculture Research Institute NARI) and Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA).
Participating groups and individuals are expected from in and around the Jiwaka region.
“Kaukau fair is one of the projects of the technical component projects of ACIAR sweet potato post-harvest management and marketing, which is the main initiator of the projects,” said NARI post-harvest project leader Anton Mais.
“The fair focuses on the idea of identifying possible sweet potato products to link with training to be held in March.
“It offers a variety of ideas and information on various sweet potato processing practices and attendees will gain valuable information for their well being.
“The expected output of the project is to identify and develop sweet potato products to exhibit during the fair and conducting evaluation to assess the potential link to the training.”
Activities apart from speeches include food exhibitions by groups and individuals, judging of food entries by judges, taste panel of kaukau products, evaluation of major products and award presentations of the best products.
‘The kaukau fair concept is new in PNG and it plays a central role in the value chain, as it reinforces and develops the fundamental linkage between agriculture and the industry or market access improvement, thus creating a more favorable environment for spin-off business development,” Mais said.
“As such, we would like to utilise the concept of kaukau fair as a helpful event to get the women and vendors thinking about processing sweet potato products."
The kaukau fair starts at 10am tomorrow with an open invitation to everyone and and around Jiwaka to attend.

Bank of Papua New Guinea backs bid to review super funds

THE Bank of Papua New Guinea is supporting the proposal by Nambawan Super Ltd (NSL) to review the Superannuation General Act 2000, the umbrella legislation covering the operations of all super funds in Papua New Guinea , The National reports. 

According to NSL managing director Leon Buskens, a task force was established to review the SGPA legislation introduced by the Mekere government more than 10 years ago.

“Nambawan Super is in the forefront of lobbying to enact key changes to the act to improve operational arrangements aiming to achieve more benefits for members, especially in light of the economic boom expected from the LNG project,” Buskens said in a statement yesterday.

He said the Bank of PNG had indicated its support for the proposal to set up a task force committee to review the act.

 “Nambawan Super’s board and management are in regular contact with the industry regulator (Bank of PNG) as well as the government and other industry participants. 

“Last year, we wrote to the regulator proposing a comprehensive review of the Superannuation Act. 

“We are pleased to report that the bank has been receptive to this and will present the proposal to the minister for finance and treasury,” Buskens said.

Nambawan Super had proposed changes on its services to include contribution rates, life and medical insurance, payments on compassionate ground, family super, housing withdrawals, extending the super net and RSA limited increase.

It had proposed increasing compulsory contribution rates by 2%, which would move the current employee portion of 6% to 8% and the employer portion from 8.4% to 10.4%.

NSL also proposed to fund members’ life insurance premiums from its profits by election by each member and with extra contributions by them and would recommend to consider the position if compulsory contribution rates were increased.

It also advocated amending the legislation to allow the trustee to be able to make payments to a member on compassionate grounds, such as where the member’s immediate family is critically ill and life can be prolonged with medical treatment.

It was also in favour of introducing a new product to allow fund members to have sub-accounts for their family members. These accounts would be set up on voluntary contributions.

“A culture of savings in our society will also be promoted here,” Buskens said.

“For housing withdrawals, NSL considers putting in place a formula that allows the member to use part of his or her employer contributions for this important purpose.

“In extending the super net, NSL has proposed lower contribution rate for companies employing 15 people to contribute to superannuation which provides a scope for the self-employed to contribute to superannuation.

“NSL recommended consideration of K500,000 as the revised maximum that could be held in the RSA product as it believes that as member balances continue to increase, it makes sense for RSA maximum to increase as well,” he said.

It was not clear if the National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) was aware of the proposal and had come up with similar recommendations to BPNG.

 

Southern Highlands teachers make their stand

By STAFF REPORTERS 

 

TEACHERS in the Southern Highlands yesterday reportedly stormed the education office located inside Agiru centre in Mendi and closed it , The National reports. 

A teacher at the scene told The National that teachers contributed money to buy a new padlock and chain and locked the office and chained it around 11am.

The teachers, who are supposed to return to their respective schools next week to prepare for classes, were angry at failure by provincial and national education authorities to respond to their demands for hardship allowances, a general pay increase and housing allowance.

The teachers gave a 14-day notice to provincial government, Education Department and national government to respond or they would walk off their jobs.

Southern Highlands adviser Joel Raitano, who was in Lae yesterday to assess teacher incentives, refuted earlier report that about 4,000 teachers had threatened to resign en masse over poor working conditions.

He said an inquiry team was investigating teacher incentives and the cause for education standards and systems.

A large number of teachers, however, decided yesterday that they would not fill their resumption of duty forms as directed by acting education secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio until their demands were met.

John Kuimp, one of the teachers on the working committee assisting the PNG Teacher’s Association (PNGTA) branch in the province, told The National from Mendi that the teachers had decided not to take up their posting until all their demands were meet by the provincial and national governments.

Kuimb said the teachers decided to stay out of class until their demands were met, adding that all schools in the province would remain close for indefinite period.

PNGTA national president Tommy Hecko has thrown his support behind the teachers and called on Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru to listen to the teachers’ pleas.

Hecko yesterday said teachers were feeling the effects of the LNG development in the province and that the K300-K400 base salary for teachers  there was insufficient to sustain their daily needs.

 “I appeal to Agiru to sit down and negotiate with the teachers. Do not ignore their calls, at least hear them out,” he said. 

Kuimb said the teachers wanted an additional K400 in mining allowances to be paid by the provincial government on top of their normal salaries.

They have been demanding   a mining allowance since Kutubu oil was first exported some 17 years ago. Successive provincial governments promised to pay them but that has never materialised.

He said with the big multi-billion kina gas project coming on stream, the teachers wanted their long overdue allowances to be paid, adding that their K6 housing allowances was “a joke” and should be increased to K100.

Hecko said primary and elementary schools would be hit the hardest with less than a week of school holidays remaining.

In Lae, Raitano said no specific teacher incentives for the liquefied natural gas project impacted areas were set in place.

The idea of incentives for impacted areas was discussed but is yet to be determined between all the levels of government (council, district, provincial and national government) and teachers.

Raitano did say however, that the incentives would begin this year and that teachers in most disadvantaged schools would benefit.

What these benefits are and when they might be implemented, he would not reveal.

 

 

21 die in flu and malaria outbreak

By VERONICA FRANCIS   

 

TWENTY-one people have died so far in the recent flu and malaria outbreak in the Salt-Nomane and Karimui area in Chimbu , The National reports. 

It is understood that of the 20, two are children under the age of five from Karimui, 17 are from Bomai and two from the Negabo area.

Karimui-Nomane MP Posi Menai told The National yesterday that 17 health workers from other parts of the province had been deployed to Karimui last week to help contain the outbreak.

He confirmed that a funding of K110,000 had been released for medical supplies and all costs for the health workers.

Menai said Bomai had recorded more deaths because the area was geographically isolated and the health facilities there were rundown, and health workers could not make it on time to contain the outbreak.

“As the member responsible and because of the remoteness of the area I will do my best to keep health workers on the ground and use all available resources to contain the outbreak,” Menai said.

He said at the moment the health workers were doing well, adding they had been given another week to stay in the affected areas.

Menai has made a personal commitment to monitor the situation and make sure everything goes back to normal.

 

 

Australian injured in car-jacking

AN Australian aid adviser in Papua New Guinea has been seriously injured in a violent car-jacking in Port Moresby, The National reports.

A spokesperson for the Australian High Commission confirmed the victim, a man in his 50s, worked for Australia’s aid programme.

“An Australian man had his car stolen in a car-jacking on Thursday evening in Port Moresby,” the spokesman said.

“He sustained serious injuries during the assault.”

The man was discharged from a Port Moresby hospital on Friday and flew to Brisbane for further treatment.

The spokesman would not disclose any more details for privacy reasons but said PNG police were investigating.

AAP also understands that at the weekend another Australian official was involved in an unsuccessful car-jacking by a gang of youths.

The attacks occurred in the same time frame as a fierce tribal fight in Port Moresby that left five men dead with scores more admitted to hospital with knife wounds.

The fight erupted at a popular market on Thursday afternoon but retaliation attacks continued until Sunday.

Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop called for calm in the wake of the “animalistic and barbaric” clashes that included a beheading and several dismembered bodies.

“Port Moresby is a modern city and I can’t understand why people resort to such barbaric acts,” Tondop said.

“It is very dangerous for such ethnic violence to erupt in Port Moresby.

The clash involved two Highlands ethnic groups, the Taris and the Engans, who have a fierce reputation for such clashes in their home regions that often spill over into the capital hundreds of kilometres away.

The Economist magazine regularly ranks Port Moresby as one of the five worst cities in the world to live in because of violent crime, corruption and the absence of basic infrastructure.

In November last year a young group of Australian volunteers travelling in Madang, on PNG’s northeast coast, were car-jacked, tied up and robbed, with one woman raped. – AAP 

 

Expatriate man believed killed, pregant wife raped

Belgian hubby missing since Jan 27

 

By ZACHERY PER

 

A BELGIAN man is missing, believed murdered, in the remote Nondri area of Gumine, Chimbu, after he and his wife were abducted by a gang of men two weeks ago, The National reports.

The pregnant wife was allegedly raped repeatedly for two days before she was rescued by tribesmen in the area, Chimbu police have reported.

Seven people, including a couple, have been arrested and charged in relation with the incident and yesterday appeared for mention in the Kundiawa District Court.

The National visited Gumine over the weekend and was told by locals that they strongly believed that expatriate Tony Boddin of Belgium had been murdered and buried in the thick jungle of the Bomai area.

Head teacher of Nondri Primary School Michael Sipa told The National  in Gumine in an exclusive interview: “It was reported that one of the gunmen put the gun to his (Boddin’s) neck and fired, killing him instantly.

“We believe that he has been killed.

“Some villagers saw bloodstains on the trousers of some of them when they brought the wife out so it is strongly believed that they must have killed him,” Sipa said.

According to Sipa, the attackers abducted the couple on Jan 12 and tied Boddin to a post inside a house before taking his pregnant wife to a nearby bush where she was raped repeatedly.

The attackers later took the husband into the bush where they could have killed and hid his body.

The wife was rescued by the head teacher and members of other sub-clans Toma and Barama of the Sa tribe.

She was reportedly treated at the Nondiri Health Centre before being taken to Gumine station.

She stayed with Sipa’s family near Gumine station and left for Jiwaka to be with her family before The National arrived in the area.

The woman told Sipa’s family that the next day, the men came to her armed with crowbars, spades and weapons so it was believed that they must have killed the husband.

Chimbu provincial police commander Chief Insp John Kale said police deployed to the area picked up five suspects, including a woman.

He said the thick jungle in the area had complicated their investigations, however, he would send more policemen into Nondri this week.

Boddin was an elderly retired member of the British defence force who later became a volunteer and came to PNG and was working in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville for some time before he went to the highlands.

Sipa said they knew that Boddin went with the Catholic church missionaries to Goroka before going to Chimbu and onto the Jiwaka region where he met his wife who has Manus and Jiwaka parents.

“The expatriate came and stayed with us at Nondri for four months. He remained in Nondri during the Christmas and New Year period,” Sipa said.

The expatriate went to Jiwaka and returned with his wife to Nondri and stayed with the people of the Gorekulame clan of the Sa tribe.

“He (Boddin) promised to help the people write proposals for development projects for the remote Nondri-Amia area,” Sipa said.

Dirima community leader James Wai condemned the action of a minority group of people, saying the people wanted changes and developments.

He said such incidents would scare off people and developments.

Particulars of the other suspects arrested would be made available soon after the completion of police files. The suspects had been remanded at the Kundiawa police cells.

Kale yesterday confirmed that a couple was among those arrested.

No motive for the abduction, rape and possible murder had been established.