A young man with a 'green' ambition

Caption: Graeme Ross of Alele Farm Fresh Produce (right) with his protege Elizah Kone at last Friday's University of Vudal graduation.

Young Elizah Kone from the Chimbu province, who graduated with a diploma in tropical agriculture last Friday from the University of Vudal in East New Britain province, is eagerly looking forward to making a big contribution to the industry.
He has been sponsored by major agricultural company Alele Farm Fresh Produce since Grade 12 at Yawe Moses Secondary School in Chimbu in 2004.
Alele general manager Graeme Ross last Thursday walked down to Popondetta from the mountains of Northern province, jumped on a plane to Port Moresby, and then got on another to Rabaul to see his protégé graduate.
Mr Ross has big plans for the young man, including further training in Australia, so that he can hopefully become Papua New Guinea’s first certified seed inspector.
He is already well-versed in extension work, Potato Late Blight and quarantine, among others, as a product of Alele.
“Alele has sponsored me for three years,” a beaming Mr Kone said at Vudal.
“During my practical breaks, I’ve been working with them, especially in extension.
“We’ve been training farmers on Potato Late Blight.
“We’ve also been teaching farmers about quarantine measures.
“Most of our training has been on safety.
“This has been taking place in the rural areas where most of the farmers are.
“The major achievement for me has been helping to bring back the potato industry into the country, after the Potato Late Blight disease.
“I’ll be going down to Tasmania to be trained as a certified seed inspector because we don’t have a certified seed inspector in the country.
“After that, I’ll be concentrating on tissue culture, because right now we can’t afford to import seeds into the country and bring in disease.
“Graeme Ross has put a lot of trust in me and I can’t let him down because I see that his aims and visions are for the majority of people in the villages, who have no access to government services.
“We are supposed to be collaborating with government agencies like National Agriculture Research Institute, Fresh Produce Development Agency, and National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority; however, because we don’t get the full support we need, that’s when the problem comes in.
“I see that what we are doing is more than the government agencies because we are reaching people in the very-remote areas.”
Mr Ross recalled that Mr Kone’s father approached him in 2004 to sponsor his son for agricultural training
“We sponsored him 100%,” he said.
“He had high marks and management capabilities.
“He has an outgoing attitude and was very keen on agriculture.
“His father worked with Chemica in chemical marketing.
“Through his training process, we had always kept him conversant with the company’s development programme.
“We want to promote him into new developments for agriculture at farmer level.
“That shows that we want to him into as much training as possible.
“Our priority at Alele is to do away with chemicals and try to find natural means of controlling environmental problems, such as pests and others.
“What we would like to see is him experienced in all aspects of commercial vegetable production, including overseas training, so that he will be able to contribute meaningfully to fruit and vegetable production in the future.
“We would like to help a lot of young people, and one of the ways we’re doing that is through practical training of students.
“As a private sector, we call on other private sector agricultural industries to support practical training for students with organisations such as universities.
“We’re very enthusiastic about PNG’s agricultural industries, especially in the food industries, which are very important developments within the economy.
“We have found that the dedicated students appreciate the exposure to the practical workforce.
“We also have an interest to see how these students progress in their lives.”

Vudal turns Warongoi land into pasture

Captions: 1. Cattle at Warongoi. 2. The Warongoi River

University of Vudal in the East New Britain province is turning government-owned land at Warongoi into grazing land for cattle and buffalo.

The university also has plans to turn the land - on the banks of the Warongoi River - into a place where pigs, ducks, sheep, goat and fish can be raised.

Planning is underway for a pump to run water from the Warongoi River, which will cost about K50, 000.

AusAID, through the Agricultural Innovations Grant Scheme (AIGS), has already made a commitment for K168, 000 for farmer training for drought animals.

Animal science lecturer Gitala Pranis revealed these plans after an extensive tour of the area.

“Warongoi is State land,” he explained.

“It was originally under Department of Agriculture and Livestock for training of buffalo for drought purposes.

“It became rundown.

“In 2006, a memorandum of agreement between Department of Agriculture and Livestock and Vudal was signed, that’s how all this came about.”

 Mr Gitala said one of Vudal’s aims was to raise breeding stock, especially cattle and cow.

“Weaners will be kept at the main campus for fattening,” he said,

“Apart from weaners, we also want to raise drought animals, especially cattle and buffalo.

“At the moment, we have 50 breeding stock with five fully-developed paddocks.

“We have 40 calves.

“We concentrate on breeding.

“The total land area at Warongoi is 185 hectares.

“It will be developed into paddocks.

“We also have plans for livestock like pigs, ducks, sheep, goat and aquaculture.

“We already have an abattoir on the main campus.

“At the same time, it’s good practical experience for the students in areas like pasture, fencing, husbandry, and so on.

“We have only developed 40 hectares.

“When we fully develop the area we are looking at 200 breeding stock.”

Mr Gitala said the project currently had 10 permanent staff and 20 casuals.

“The potential is there but we need the money,” he said.

 

 

PNG's potato industry faces more threats

Papua New Guinea’s K100 million potato industry faces threats from new diseases which can be far more destructive than Potato Late Blight, according to outspoken farmer Graeme Ross (pictured above).

Mr Ross, who runs Alele Farm Fresh Produce, said that PNG faced a very real threat from these diseases through imported Australian potatoes

“The industry is being threatened since 2003 by over four major diseases, and a new threat is looming on the Australian supply chain,” he said.

“Major diseases are Leaf Roll Virus, Bacteria Wilt, Black Lake and a new virus that the government hasn’t identified.

“These diseases are uncontrollable with chemicals.

“If introduced into new soil, the soil can be unproductive for up to 10 years.

“Potato Late Blight is totally controllable with chemicals and farmer training.

“A major new threat not clearly reported by Australian quarantine has been discovered in Australia and distributed by a certified seed grower in Victoria.

“The distribution of disease seeds in Australia now threatens ware or eating potatoes.

“It is now a high risk importing from Australian into Papua New Guinea.

“The industry is demanding total protection from this potato disease outbreak in Australia.

“Major government agencies support a total ban on ware potatoes coming from Australia.

“To date, Trade & Industry and quarantine have not responded to this threat,

“How can Papua New Guinea survive without potatoes?

“We need potatoes in Papua New Guinea.”

Mr Ross said potato was very important to PNG, worth about K100m to the national economy, and was an important cash crop for small rural farmers.

“It’s a major food source for some high altitude provinces,” he said.

“It’s easy to grow and there is a major interest in producing the crop within the country.

“It’s grown in nearly all the provinces.”

 

Dust over Rabaul...but there is a silver lining to the dark cloud

Tavurvur spews ash and dust as seen from Kokopo

Yachts at Kokopo





Tavurvur as seen from Kokopo

Scenic beachfront at Kokopo

Resort at Kokopo

Queen Emma's Steps, Ralum

Bitapaka War Cemetery, Kokopo

Beachfront at Kokopo

Going back to the dusty volcanic town of Rabaul after many years can be a very emotional experience.
And that’s exactly what I found out when my guide, University of Vudal lecturer Gitala Pranis and his lovely wife Jacinta, took me to Rabaul as a last stop after an extensive tour of the Gazelle Peninsula.
Last time I was in Rabaul was way back in 1993, when I traveled there from Lae one weekend with my uncle, Elijah Kissing, to support our beloved Lae Bombers in their rugby league clash against the Rabaul Guria.
Our team lost; however, we had a great time that weekend in Rabaul and the many nightclubs in town.
A year later, in September 1994, our hearts broke as Rabaul was destroyed by falling ash of that fateful volcanic eruption.
Before that, in the early 1970’s, when my late father Mathias Nalu was school inspector on Bouganville, we family often stopped in Rabaul as the DC3 we were traveling in refueled on the long run between Lae and Buka.
Those were indeed the halcyon days when Rabaul was widely regarded as the “pearl of the Pacific”.
Those memories of another day touched a nostalgic chord in my heart as I saw the sad remains of Rabaul, which were so poignantly captured in song by one of its favorite sons, the late John Wong, who died so tragically this year of a heart attack.
He was a huge figure on the PNG music scene in the 80’s and 90’s, playing with such legendary PNG bands as Barike and the Unbelievers.
His songs Dust over Rabaul and Rabaul Town were huge hits and meant a lot to the people of Rabaul after the destruction caused by the volcano in 1994.
Tavurvur Volcano in Rabaul continues to send out clouds of ash and steam, as I found out.
It was making belching noises like a mammoth jet engine and continuing to send out ash over Rabaul.
The area near the volcano is eerie and like a moonscape, however, people stubbornly
persist and continue to live in Rabaul.
The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994.
After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20km away.
Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano.
There are eight active vents in Rabaul Caldera: Tovanumbatir, Kabiu, Rabalanakaia, Turanguna, Tavurvur, Sulphur Creek, Vulcan, and Vulcan Island.
A large eruption occurred at Rabaul volcano on Saturday October 7, 2006, with ash to 60,000 ft.
The eruption shattered windows in the town, and lava flows reached the sea
Many long time residents of Rabaul whom I spoke to remarked that this year has seen one of the worst ash fallouts from Tavurvur, with one of the largest and most consistent amounts of ash.
On November 20 this year, Tavuvur released a spectacular plume of ash and steam, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took a picture the same day and posted it on its website http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.
In this image, a dingy gray plume blows westward over the Bismarck Sea from the volcano’s summit.
The plume differs from the nearby clouds in both its darker color and more diffuse shape.
At the Rabaul Hotel, staff are on the roofs, in the garden and its surrounds, every day, with shovels and wheel barrows digging out the ash that has accumulated over night.
A recent newspaper report, saying that the ash was life threatening, led to mass hysteria and panic by the workers of Rabaul and the closure of some much-needed utilities like the hospital, technical, school and power.
That aside, Rabaul is still a beautiful place with a lot of history, remaining the third largest port of Papua New Guinea, importing and exporting and the feeding straw to Kokopo Town and indeed, the whole Islands Region.
The history of Rabaul is one of wreckage and regrowth.
Modern historians will find a treasure trove of World War 2 relics, tunnels and caverns to explore within driving distance of Rabaul.
Close to the now-thriving centre of Kokopo, are the remnants of Gunantambu mansion, built in the 1880’s by the legendary Queen Emma.
After the eruption of Tavurvur and Vulcan in September 1994, most Rabaul services were relocated in Kokopo, which is strung along the edge of Blanche Bay.
The town has grown rapidly and the busy market, selling fresh produce, local cigars and betel nut, is located on the main road from Tokua Airport.
The waterfront is the place to find boats for travel to the outer islands or for a spot of fishing.
The drive from the airport, now located at Tokua about an hour from Rabaul, is along a narrow road winding its way around the glittering waters of the Gazelle Peninsula.
Through the coconut trees villages of thatched huts surrounded by colourful flowerbeds and tropical fruit trees look out over calm waters.
East New Britain has a fascinating World War 2 history and visitors can explore Japanese caved systems, barged tunnels, aircraft wrecks and submarines.
The people of East New Britain have been seen as culturely diversified with rich and unique traditions.
The ‘tumbuan’ signifies spiritual dancers and traditional ceremonies that demonstrate a history well kept and used in today’s society.
The Tolai people of the Gazelle Peninsulla have continued to use the traditional shell money called ‘tabu.
They use the tabu as a contribution to the Tolai male secret society of tumbuan and dukduk, for distribution to people at death ceremonies, as payment of a bride price, for settling disputes, to purchase land or even garden food from local markets.
The tropical nature of the province, with its evergreen rainforest vegetation and rugged mountain ranges, the imposing volcanoes which surrounds the town of Rabaul and the beautiful Simpson harbour have made East New Britain an attractive and adventurous place to visit.
The marine resources are diverse and the tropical environment provides opportunities for bush trekking, mountain trekking, mountain climbing and cave exploration.
Yes, indeed, there is a silver lining to the dark cloud looming over Rabaul.

Tavurvur continues to send dust over Rabaul

Tavurvur Volcano in Rabaul, East New Britain province, continues to send out ash and steam.

A visit to the volcano last Saturday saw it making belching noises like a mammoth jet engine and continuing to send out ash over Rabaul.

The area near the volcanoe is eerie and like a moonscape, however, people stubbornly persist and continue to live in Rabaul.

The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption.

After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20km away.

Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano.

There are eight active vents in Rabaul Caldera: Tovanumbatir, Kabiu, Rabalanakaia, Turanguna, Tavurvur, Sulphur Creek, Vulcan, and Vulcan Island.

A large eruption occurred at Rabaul volcano on Saturday October 7, 2006, with ash to 60,000 ft.

The eruption shattered windows in the town, and lava flows reached the sea

On November 20 this year, Tavuvur released a spectacular plume of ash and steam, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took a picture the same day and posted it on its website http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.

In this image, a dingy gray plume blows westward over the Bismarck Sea from the volcano’s summit.

The plume differs from the nearby clouds in both its darker color and more diffuse shape.

Another milestone for University of Vudal

Caption: Kampalap villagers from Siassi Island, Morobe province, leading graduating students at the University of Vudal in East New Britain province last Friday.

University of Vudal in East New Britain province celebrated another significant milestone in its history and development last Friday with the graduation of 125 students.

This included 35 diploma in tropical agriculture students from the Oro campus who could not graduate in their own ceremony due to the closure of Girua airport at their scheduled time of graduation.

While the majority of Oro students graduated in absentia, four – Jeremy Philip, Adolph Ruku, Isidor Saeke and Fidelma Sarsoruo – were part of the ceremony at Vudal.

Of the 90 main campus graduands, 50 students received their diplomas in tropical agriculture, 25 had their bachelors degrees in tropical agriculture conferred on them while 12 received graduate certificates in management studies.

A further three students received their masters degrees in management studies.

This, including the seven fisheries and marine resources diploma graduands in Kavieng the previous week, brought the total number of graduates from the university this year to 132.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner Bernard Bata’anisia officiated at the ceremony as guest speaker while others included Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru and student respondent Nason Gene

“I understand the department of forestry here in Vudal is finalising plans to start enrolling its first post-graduate students on a split arrangement with James Cook University, Cairns campus, in 2009, to work on ACIAR research projects,” said Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

“Early this year, we took delivery of 20 new high covenant houses and eight new student dormitories, a total of 28 new buildings for the growing and expanding university.

“These facilities were built at a cost of K23 million by the government and people of the People’s Republic of China.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to furnish them for occupancy due to the inability of the national government to fulfill its commitment in full to the university until recently.

“Even then, the money is yet to be paid to Vudal in full.

“Hopefully, we will have these facilities fully furnished and ready for occupancy by the beginning of the academic year 2009.”

University of Vudal VC attacks bureaucratic red tape

University of Vudal Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru launched a savage attack on bureaucratic red tape at the university graduation last Friday.

In a no-holds barred speech, he said that while universities in the country were focused on the production of manpower to develop Papua New Guinea, they continued to fight an uphill battle against bureaucrats in Waigani.

Vudal is a case in point, as earlier this year, the Chinese government spent K23 million to build seven dormitories (pictured above) and 20 houses, however, have not been occupied because the PNG government has not reciprocated by releasing K1.2m for beds and wardrobes for the dormitories.

“The problem lies in the corridors of Vulupindi Haus,” Prof Siaguru said.

“Our country is seriously suffering from what I call ‘governance deficiency syndrome’.

“There are many unnoticed symptoms, however, the eight common ones are:

• Sunken eyes every day from hangovers;
• Getting to the office at 10am every morning;
• Leaving the office at lunchtime;
• Backchatting and calling it a meeting;
• Cancelling meetings with CEOs from other organisations outside Port Moresby willy nilly;
• Forgetfulness and misplacing files and letters;
• Applying procedures to create a wall when a clear ‘no’ answer would have been constructive.
• On fortnights, weekends begin on Thursdays.

“That is how and why we are starving this nation of growth, development, resource sharing and progress, and our politicians are wondering why this nation is not delivering services.

“The old guard, in the likes of Sir John Guise, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Vincent Eri, Sir Tei Abal, and Sir Alkan Tololo were nation builders.

“They were men who had strong principles and high governance ethics.

“They believed in their beloved Papua New Guinea and guided it with firm principles of honesty and integrity

“They were taught and mentored by an order of disciplined colonial masters in government and churches who believed in meeting appointments and taking instructions from the boss.”

Prof Siaguru said in February this year, Planning Minister Paul Tienstein promised and delivered a dummy cheque “taller than myself” for K1.2m.

“This was to facilitate for beds and wardrobes for the dormitories,” he said.

“I have been given the merry-go-round by Departments of National Planning and Treasury since March, and my final year students are graduating now without sleeping in those dormitories yet.

“I was told to work with the Department of Works in Kokopo to organise a certificate of expediency to get the money to be released.

“I did.

“When I went to Moresby with the certificate of expedience, I was referred to Central Supply and Tenders Board and sent back to Treasury.

“I went to Treasury was told that it was not ethical to engage two government ministries.

“The involvement of Planning was sufficient, so they cancelled a 23-page document I had prepared showing all the quotations and justifications and referred me back to Planning.

“So I went to Planning and advised them of the information I picked up from Treasury.

“While walking back and forth and feeling very, very small in the powerful ‘governance deficiency’ corridors of Waigani, fortunately, I met the Honorable Minister Paul Tienstein in the hallway.

“The Minister had 15 minutes to spare and quickly called his Departmental Secretary for a meeting.

“In that meeting, we finally agreed that the K700, 000 balance would be included in the supplementary budget.

“The August supplementary budget has come and went.

“No money was allocated.

“I have since phoned up; they now say it will come from education rehabilitation.”

Prof Siaguru said the dormitories were still standing, and at the Kerevat National High School graduation recently, another K3.4m was promised by Planning for Vudal, however, nothing had been forthcoming.

“Unless we change the public service system and structure, this country will not come out of the ‘governance deficiency syndrome’,” he said.

“The overall management of the public service is sick and really needs a complete overhaul.

“It is like a cancer that is chronic and is already at an advanced stage.

“It cannot be operated on; it must receive external radiotheraphy or internal chemotherapy.”

Prof Siaguru called on graduating students to make a change from this status quo and take a turn for the better.

“If you do not stand up to be counted, the generation after you, your children, will live in a country that is corrupt, lazy, tired and greedy,” he said.

INTEROIL APPOINTS DIRECTOR

PORT MORESBY: INTEROIL Corporation announced today that Mr. Roger Lewis has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Lewis has also been appointed to serve on the Board’s Audit Committee.

Mr. Lewis is an Australian and a successful former senior finance executive, having spent 22 years with Woodside Energy Ltd in Western Australia, finishing as Group Financial Controller.

Prior to that, Mr. Lewis worked in commercial and finance roles for over 15 years in the heavy manufacturing industry both in Australia and overseas.

Mr. Lewis brings to the Board vast experience in commercial, financial and accounting matters. He is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA) with the Australian Society of Accountants and, since 2000, has been a Commissioner of the Lottery Commission of Western Australia, with particular responsibility for finance and accounting matters. He is a member of the Commission’s Audit, Remuneration and Major Projects subcommittees.

“We are delighted to welcome Roger to our Board. His skills and expertise complement those of existing directors and his significant experience at Woodside Energy during a major developmental period for that Company will be of great benefit to InterOil,” said Mr. Phil Mulacek, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of InterOil.

 

• InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is Papua New Guinea and the surrounding region. InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 8.7 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea. In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct Papua New Guinea’s first LNG plant on a site adjacent to InterOil’s refinery in Port Moresby.

For further in formation please contact

 

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation

Ph: 321 7040

Mobile: 684 5168

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

 

 

Wonderful Kavieng Market, New Ireland province

Wonderful Kavieng Market, New Ireland province, is one place where you can find the tastiest sea food and freshest vegetables.

The main Kavieng Market is situated on the foreshore and is a central hub of activity most days of the week, except Sundays.

There is a fantastic variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh and smoked fish, live mud crabs, baskets of sunga and kina shells, and of course plenty of buai.

Also found in large quantities are huge trays of tapioca slice made with coconut milk, sago slice, donuts, rice balls and other local delicacies.

While in Kavieng from last Thursday till Sunday, I took a stroll down to the market from my hotel almost every day, and ate smoked fish, kina shells, tapioca, sago and other local delicacies to my heart’s content.

Although generally a produce market, you will also find woven baskets, locally printed laplaps, and handmade bilums available for sale.

 

Pacific Freedom Forum applauds Justice Lloyd decision in Fiji

  The Pacific Freedom Forum, an online network of Pacific journalists committed to advocacy of a free media and access to information, applauds the recent decision by Justice Ian Lloyd to open up Fiji Court of Appeal proceedings between its former and current governments.

The appeal, led by former PM Laisenia Qarase and other members of Fiji's last elected government comes after a Fiji High Court ruling last month validating their 2006 ousting. Qarase, his government, and the entire Parliament had been dissolved by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo in the aftermath of the military takeover and ensuing state of emergency, two years ago.

"We commend and praise His Honour's wisdom and foresight in ruling that if matters are held in chambers, this would subject the judiciary to public suspicion," says PFF chair, Susuve Laumaea.

"By opening up all appeal proceedings to the media, Justice Lloyd is ensuring that there will be unfettered and unrestricted coverage of a case that is of interest to the citizens of Fiji," he says.

Setting March 2009 as the date for proceedings Justice Lloyd has ruled out the question of having the hearing in chambers, away from public scrutiny. He noted that the original case had been opened up to the media in the spirit of ensuring public understanding of the issues involved.

The PFF co-chair Monica Miller says Justice Lloyd has recognized the need for the trial to be held in open court thereby maintaining the trust of the Fijian people in the independence and integrity of the judiciary.  

"Coming at a time when the interim military regime has engaged in intimidating and harassing media organizations, journalists, editors and publishers, His Honour's decision gives us hope that the current climate is only temporary, and we sincerely hope that other decision makers of Fiji will emulate the example of Justice Lloyd in allowing open access to the media".

 PFF interim Chair

Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea

Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

 

PFF interim co-Chair

Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa

Mob    684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

 

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.

We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance.

In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

-- “More and more, if you're not in the digital conversation about your community, you're not in a conversation that matters” --   Alberto Ibargüen, President, The Knight Foundation.
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Thanks for being part of the "Pacific Freedom Forum" and supporting press freedom in our region.
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Winds of change sweep through remote Warakamb Valley

Captions: 1. Promoting self help – Raising goats in the valley. There are currently over 500 goats in the valley. 2. In a semi permanent church building self funded by elites. 3. New church building.  

 

The rural Warakamb Valley in Kandep district, Enga province, has decided to put its old ways behind and embrace change.

Sandwiched between Enga and Southern Highlands provinces, it is very remote.

The unreliable Mendi-Kandep Highway goes through the Warakamb Valley.

The valley was first discovered in the late 1940s.

The first missionaries were Anglican and Catholic priests who decided to settle there.

They set up schools, a mission station and cattle farms.

However, after the 1975 Independence and continued nagging by the locals, the Catholic missionaries packed up and left.

There was a vacuum left.

Then the Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs) moved into the valley.

The local people, having recognised their foolishness, embraced the SDA mission.

 Never did they know the blessings that will come later.

Despite that, trouble fights started to erupt here and there.

Nearby tribes went to war causing much destruction.

People were killed and thousands of kina worth of property was destroyed.

Weapons started to become more and more sophisticated.

The rules of law were no longer existent.

Meanwhile, the SDA church had started to use community school leavers of the previous years to train them into laymen missionaries to spread the word of God.

There were more than 10 of them.

They worked hard and the dividends paid off.

  Most went on to become pastors.

They excelled in their work, baptising many people and spreading the Good News throughout the PNG Highlands. 

The Lord blessed them with children who excelled in their school work.

Some have now finished university studies to work as lawyers, accountants, architects, doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, geologists and so on both in PNG and abroad.

Combined with other SDA students from the valley who had excelled, and with missionary’s kids and the local people, they have formed an association called The Warakamb Adventist Elite and Clergymen’s Association Inc (WAECA).

WAECA was formed in 1998 and registered with the PNG IPA in 2001.

It was formed to continue to spread the Word of God and promote peace and prosperity in the Warakamb Valley.

Since its establishment, many people have been baptised. 

The valley has seen a dramatic decrease in tribal fights and people are very hesitant to start any wars.

 The fact that WAECA is a non-political association means that the elites and clergymen can work with any MPs who are elected into parliament. 

Currently WAECA elites are helping two local MPs from Kandep and Mendi, and are available free of charge to any local people who need help.

Self-help projects including goat projects and tree planting have been initiated in the valley. 

All these and other information can be found on their web site http://www.waeca.com .

Since the launch of their website, compliments were sent from all over the world including Australia and the US, as this was one of the first of its kind from the developing world.

 Their other main activities include the areas of HIV/AIDs and climate change.

WAECA continues to hold its conventions once every two years.

Elites form all over PNG and abroad converge in a selected village in the valley to help spread the gospel, promote law and order, talk about world events, give talks on HIV/AIDs, climate change, show gospel movies on huge screens and promote self-help activities.

 Some of the self-help projects include three new church buildings, an aid post, tree plantations and few others coming up.

 The local people are well versed with major events in the world.

Their next convention will be held from December 28th, 2008 to January 4th,   2009, and runs for a week.

Many people are expected to attend including guests and visitors from all over the country.

A fund raising dinner is being organised for December 6 at the Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby, and invitations will be soon be sent out.

 Money raised will be used to run conventions, build churches buildings, pay laymen and pay for other socio- economic activities.

 Already two MPs have promised a health centre, a school, and other government services.

WAECA’s motto is “Together we serve”.

For further information, contact: info@waeca.com  or Joe- PR officer on 72689831 or Jack Assa on 72669451.

 Feel free to browse through their website http://www.waeca.com . 

God bless.

 

 

Unforgettable Kavieng, New Ireland province

Wonderful Kavieng, New Ireland province, is the ideal place to visit as I found out during a visit last week.

I especially loved the scenic and unspoiled beachfront, market and the long and winding Boluminski Highway.

The market, especially, is one place where you can find the tastiest sea food and freshest vegetables.

The highway is named after German administrator, Franz Boluminski, who landed at Kavieng on June 30, 1900, with his wife Frida.

He supervised the task of building a road, and in less than four years, 100km was built using karanas (dead coral) that is in plentiful supply.

Boluminski gained widespread respect for establishing peace on New Ireland; however, it is for the highway that his name lives on.

His tough but fair dealings with natives and whites alike in New Ireland were frequently referred to by visiting Germans as “the South Sea Pearl of German colonial possessions”.

Boluminski had built a fine residence on a ridge with a grand staircase descending to the harbour with extensive gardens.

A post office was established in 1904 and overseas vessels were visiting Kavieng by 1912.

He died on April 28, 1913, and is buried at Bagail cemetery in Kavieng.

At the time of Boluminski’s death, a fine road capable of being used by the new motor vehicles just arriving stretched 165km from Kavieng carrying produce to port and facilitating the administration by strategically-located government rest houses.

It was the longest and best road in the Pacific until the 1950’s.

My cousin Gebing Jethro, who manages a hardware store on the island, took me for a drive along the Boluminski and proudly asserted: “We don’t have potholes like you guys in Lae and Port Moresby!”

Of course, you can’t say anything about Kavieng and New Ireland province without mentioning the Chinese, who were brought to Kokopo and then Kavieng in the late 1800’s, inter-married with the local women, and their legacy lives on to this day.

Kavieng is situated at the northern tip of New Ireland.

It has often been described as the typical “Somerset Maugham South Sea island port”.

It has a large, beautiful harbour and is a popular destination for sports fishing enthusiasts and cruising yachts.

Along the edge of the harbour is Nusa Parade, a gently curving road, shaded by huge trees, which passes many points of historical interest, the main market, the port, fisheries and the hospital.

Kavieng is a sleepy little town with a golf course, a range of restaurants, bars and facilities, including banks, supply stores, bakeries and supermarkets.

 Places to stay include, hotel, guest house and resort style accommodation, while easy going traditional style bungalows are situated among the islands just offshore.

Visitors should not expect to come to Kavieng to experience an abundance of cafés or restaurants, shopping strips and nightclubs, as they will be very disappointed.

The main Kavieng Market is situated on the foreshore and is a central hub of activity most days of the week, except Sundays.

 There is a fantastic variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh and smoked fish, live mud crabs, baskets of sunga and kina shells, and of course plenty of buai.

Also found in large quantities are huge trays of tapioca slice made with coconut milk, sago slice, donuts, rice balls and other local delicacies.

Although generally a produce market, you will also find woven baskets, locally printed laplaps, and handmade bilums available for sale.

In addition to the Kavieng Market, there are a variety of kai bars in Kavieng where you can pick up a cheap local-style feed.

The Kavieng Hotel has a bar, complete with pool table and satellite TV, and a garden setting restaurant which is open every day of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Kavieng Hotel, however, is famous for its Friday Night Seafood Buffet with what seems like an unlimited amount of mud crabs and crayfish, as well as plenty of fish and other seafood, salads and vegetable dishes.

The Kavieng Club has a large bar and a billiard room, and is a relaxing place for a drink after a game of golf on their nine-hole golf course or a quick snack for lunch or dinner.

The Malagan Beach Resort is perfectly situated on the beachfront, and its outside pool decking area is an excellent place to watch the sun set whilst enjoying a drink from their bar.

Its restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and extends outside to a shaded patio area on the beach.

Sunday night is BBQ Night at the Malagan.

Nusa Island Retreat, only a short two-minute boat ride across the harbour, has an excellent bar and restaurant set right on the beach complete with sand floor and tables made from coconut trees.

The bar has a great selection of local and imported spirits, an excellent wine list, and an extensive cocktail list.

Nusa’s restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch with a good selection to choose from off their menu, with buffet dinners available every night of the week, specialising in the areas fresh seafood and vegetables.

Sea breezes keep Kavieng cool and it’s a pretty and peaceful place to wander around, with very friendly and welcoming people.

More and more tourists are visiting this part of paradise and you can also find out why with a visit there.

I spent a couple of days in Kavieng for the National Fisheries College graduation and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my stay.

I'm planning to go back very shortly, and who knows, might even buy a piece of land in this part of Paradise.

 

More pictures of Kavieng

Captions: 1. Air Niugini F100 arrives at Kavieng airport 2. Welcome to New Ireland signboard. 3. Welcome to Kavieng signboard.