The rape of Papua New Guinean women

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ of Letters From Port Moresby

 

 MANY YEARS ago, an Asian woman was abducted by a group of five raskols (hoodlums) while she was getting into her car at a parking lot near her workplace shortly after calling it a day.

The woman in her 40s was taken to the settlement just outside of Port Moresby where she was gang-raped. After the original group was done with her, she was again subjected to the same brutal assault by a pile of 10 young and old village men who paid K2 (US$0.70 at current rate) each for a quick, forced-sex, a torture that lasted the whole night.

Just before sunrise, she was brought back to where her car had been parked overnight. To save her from further humiliation, her family kept their silence about her nightlong ordeal.

Obviously, they believed that the local police won’t exert effort in bringing the culprits to justice if ever they filed a complaint. During those days the local police were, and are still these days, having difficulty earning the trust of Port Moresby expatriates.

These days, rape cases are rife across the country. The act is commonly committed within the family. A husband comes home intoxicated, demands for food and when there’s no food to serve, beats up the poor wife and rapes her, after which he turns his lust to the second female in the family – his daughter.

A young girl left alone at home would neither feel safe nor protected because chances are, some nuts from the village who could be her relatives would just barged into her home and assault her.

A lone female – whether she’s in her pre-puberty or old enough to be called a woman – would always face the risk of getting assaulted while working in the food garden or walking home from school. And even if they are in a group that just emerged from a disco house, the chances of attack are even greater, this time involving a bigger gang of usually drunken men.

Horrific stories of torture, rape and other violence against women are a common staple of Papua Guinea’s mainstream newspapers – The National, Post Courier and the Sunday Chronicle.

Over the last several months, the news pages had been dotted by rape stories involving young girls, young women, housewives and even elderly women. And their attackers were both young and older men who were either intoxicated or under the influence of marijuana. And a number of them are family members and relatives.

Take for instance, the rape cases in New Guinea Islands on the northern waters of PNG. (NGI is composed of big and small islands including the West New Britain, New Ireland and Manus provinces.) The island-provinces’ police commander expressed dismay that parents of rape victims – many of them minors – are not cooperating with the police by reporting the culprits, in most cases individuals who have been trusted by the family and the community.

The island provinces’ statistics showed that there were two incidents of “sexual penetration” being reported in one day. These figures are quite alarming, the commander said, and lashed out at parents who are supposed to be taking good care of their young daughters but are not. Most of the offenders were usually under the influence of marijuana and alcohol, usually home-brewed.

Sadly, many women have come to see sexual assaults among violence inflicted on them as “normal”, as have men, confident in the knowledge that the state will not act quickly, decisively or consistently against them.

WHY IS THIS happening in a country of more than 6 million and that is just beginning to make sense of the influences from the Western world brought in by outsiders from about 17 countries?

American researcher Shirley Oliver-Miller*, in a recent three-year study on sexuality in PNG, has observed:

“To most young Papua New Guinean women today, a man with money, a car, or even a schoolboy with promise, is a far more attractive prospect than a poor boy with no obvious future. For many young men, having no money with which to buy sex directly, or simply with which to make a girlfriend happy, is a frustrating state of affairs.

“Some men state that there is no opportunity for them to have sex at all, unless they rape a woman. Group rape is less likely to lead to trouble than individual rape, although most men who state they rape women do both.”

Oliver-Miller has observed that any sort (of raped) is disturbingly common in all areas of the country, rural, town, and city. In addition to commercial sex, there is the issue of “line-up” or pack rapes.

“Often associated with “six-to-sixes” (clubs that remain open from 6pm to 6am) or video showings that run from evening to dawn in both rural and urban areas, a group of men/boys take turns in forcing a woman to have sexual intercourse with them.

Says Oliver-Miller: “As they watch each other, the sexual dynamics of rape and homosexuality mix to produce, for some, a highly erotic event. In some communities, line-ups are reported to take place every weekend. Older men, many of whom are married, are also frequently involved. Younger men and even boys of 11 or 12 are able to join with their elders in sexually abusing a women.

A 17-year-old guy she interviewed described his village: “In here, rape and forced sex exist just like in other parts of the province. It happens especially during disco nights and video shows. When we brought our village girls to the disco or video show, the boys from other places came and took our girls for dance and sometimes take them home to sleep with them and have sex with.

“We thought they slept only with their friends, but somehow, the boys arranged it with their village boys and made single file on them (line-up). When the girls come back, they never tell us about it because they are afraid and ashamed. Then, we do the same to their sisters in return.”

Oliver-Miller noted that this type of sexual practice is extremely dangerous because the men involved are exposed to the semen of many of the men, thus raising the risk of acquiring STIs and AIDS, not from the woman, but from the other men involved. And the woman is placed at extremely high risk of acquiring STIs and HIV as well.

But even up to these days, many Papua New Guineans still do not like to admit that such things are going on. However, there is now a great deal of evidence from studies conducted in selected urban areas (like Daru, Port Moresby, Lae and Goroka) and may rural villages that such sexual activities are widespread.

These sexual activities are highly dangerous from a public point of view because they spread diseases very quickly, not just among the people who participate in them, but among all those other persons, wives and husbands, new and old boyfriends and girlfriends, with whom these people have sex. These activities are also responsible for many STIs, including HIV, among newborn babies.

In most areas of PNG today, pornographic magazines, picture books, and videos are available, despite laws to the contrary.

Many adults and young people seem to enjoy looking at pictures of people having sex. They consider it educational, and given the dearth of printed or other media on sex, this is hardly surprising.

To some young people, however, the experience is frightening, because they find themselves sexually aroused with little understanding of how to manage their desires.

And oftentimes, this leads to rape.

 

Email the writer: jarahdz500@online.net.pg

alfredophernandez@thenational.com.pg

 

*SHIRLEY OLIVER-MILLER is Senior Program Officer II, at Margaret Sanger Center International, Planned Parenthood of New York City. Since 1980, Ms Oliver-Miller has been responsible for managing government and non-government projects, and developing and implementing program strategies around reproductive and sexual health issues. She has worked in 37 countries, most recently Papua New Guinea, developing programs for government and non-governmental agencies around population health.

 

InterOil gears up to build gas plant

Oil company obtains five-year petroleum prospecting license extension

 

By SHEILA LASIBORI

 

THE discovery of a “world record” natural gas reservoir in Gulf province has now set the foundation for the construction of a natural gas liquefication plant in Port Moresby, The National reports.

The plant, to rise next to the InterOil Corp-owned Napa Napa oil refinery on the outskirts of the city, would set the infrastructure for the exportation of the condensate (gas in its condensed state) next year.

William Duma, minister responsible for Petroleum and Energy, made this known yesterday at Parliament where he turned over Government documents to InterOil formalising the announced “declaration of location” at Antelope One.

The documents also included a five-year extension of the company’s petroleum prospecting licences (PPL) No. 236, 237, and 238.

With these documents, the company will now expand its current exploration sites at Elk and Antelope One in Gulf province.

“InterOil has more than satisfied its commitment to maintain and extend its licence through investment in seismic data acquisition and drilling of wells over six years, which ultimately resulted in the largest discovery in the country’s history and the world’s largest vertical section of reef at 792m,” Mr Duma said.

Petromin Holdings Ltd, responsible for the State’s full 22.5% equity interest in the upstream and 10% in the mainstream of the project, said the declaration of location and the extension of the licence areas had paved the way for Petromin and InterOil to commercialise the project.

Joshua Kalinoe, Petromin’s managing director and chief executive, said the flaring of Antelope One last Monday underpinned a first train 3.5 million tonnes per annum capacity plant at an estimated cost of US$5 billion (K14 billion).

 

New Britain Palm Oil Limited: Revenue soars to US$352m

NEW Britain Palm Oil Ltd has increased its revenue by 56.5% to US$352.2 million (K994.9 million) for the operational year ending Dec 31 last year, The National reports.

Profit after-tax was US$106.3 million (K296.93 million).

NBPOL also reported a record 1.27 million tonnes of fruit processed and 320,000 tonnes in aggregate crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel produced.

Crude oil production was 7% higher than the preceding year and palm product extraction rates remained about 28%.

An average CPO selling price achieved by the company for the year was US$926 (K2,587) per tonne as against the previous year’s price of US$686 (K1,916.20) per tonne.

Forward sales of roughly a quarter of its production for this year of 82,000 tonnes of CPO averaged US$849 (K2, 371.51) per tonne.

As of yesterday, the production figure was now at 156,000 tonnes of palm oil output at an average price of US$780 (K2, 178.77) per tonne.

Dividends paid during the year totalled US$0.4180 per share, including an interim dividend for last year of US$0.14 per share.

A final gross dividend of US$0.14 will be paid this coming May.

 

Bloody end

Two suspects shot dead after hold-up

 

By SAMSON KENDEMAN

 

NCD police shot dead two suspects while three others sustained gunshot wounds after a daring daylight robbery at a store in Gordon, Port Moresby, yesterday afternoon, The National reports.

Police recovered one home-made gun after confronting the armed criminals around 3.45pm yesterday.

The bodies of the two suspects were taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital mortuary, while the three injured suspects were admitted to the POMGH emergency ward for treatment.

POMGH yesterday confirmed receiving the bodies of the two suspects, said to be from Kairuku-Hiri and Goilala districts of Central province respectively.

Traffic along the Poreporena Freeway, Boroko Drive and several adjoining roads came to a standstill yesterday for almost an hour as residents and bystanders flocked to the scene to get a closer look, before an ambulance arrived and removed the two bodies and the injured suspects to POMGH between 5pm and 5.30pm.

Police said the suspects had held up staff of Seeto Kui Holdings at Gordon around 3.30pm and took off with the day’s takings from the two cash registers in a stolen white motor vehicle.

Unconfirmed reports said the suspects had carjacked the vehicle of a person attending the funeral of Lady Miaru Amet, wife of ousted Madang governor Sir Arnold Amet, at the nearby Sione Kami Memorial church before proceeding to Seeto Kui to commit the robbery.

Witnesses said the suspects were armed with pistols and a home-made gun when they held up staff at the cashier’s desk.

Workers and security guards at the store swiftly called police.

The police then chased the suspects along Geauta Drive, Gordon.

Police said as the suspects were speeding from the scene, their vehicle collided with an oncoming vehicle.

The suspects then got out from the vehicle and jumped into the Gordon roundabout drain, where police shot dead two of them while the other three sustained gunshot wounds.

NCD metropolitan commander Chief Supt Fred Yakasa last night confirmed that two suspects were dead and three others were admitted to POMGH.

Supt Yakasa said the suspects were in a stolen motor vehicle when they committed the robbery.

However, he said full details of the incident would be available today, including the suspects’ identities and how much money was stolen.

“The public is fed up with lawlessness in the city.

“Police will come down hard on them and that’s the kind of retaliation that happened today (yesterday),” Chief Supt Yakasa told The National last night.

“Enough is enough!” he said.

Supt Yakasa urged unemployed youths to join the team Yumi Lukautim Port Moresby to work and sustain their living in the city.

“Lay down your arms and you must seek those kinds of opportunities to make yourselves useful rather than getting involved in illegal activities,” he said.

Chief Supt Yakasa also urged all citizens to cooperate with police to curb escalating crime in the city.

 

Where has all the money gone?

THE Opposition has questioned the whereabouts of K32.5 billion from Government budgets since 2003, The National reports.

Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta, his deputy and Lae MP Bart Philemon and other Opposition MPs told reporters yesterday that vital services like health and education were not reaching the rural people.

“We have the resources.

“If it is not the lack of money, then what is the problem?

“We need to ask these questions,” Sir Mekere said.

He said between 2005 and last year, K28 billion was passed through as national budgets and a further K4.1 billion as supplementary budgets, totalling K32.5 billion.

“Where is all the money?

“Where are all the schools?

“Where are all the hospitals?

“Can someone tell us?

Sir Mekere also supported Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, urging Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to show leadership to the nation by his readiness to accept alternative views and criticisms of his Government’s policies and actions.

“The Prime Minister should welcome comments from the public on the performance of his government.

“He should stop acting as though he alone has a monopoly over wisdom and knowledge,” Sir Mekere added.

He said the Prime Minister’s early and unexpected departure from Wabag last week, rudely missing a feast hosted for him by the people of Enga, was an example of his unwillingness to entertain different views and criticism of his actions and decisions.

“Most Papua New Guineans would find this behaviour arrogant, unacceptable and unbecoming of a national leader.”

Sir Michael and his officials left early last Friday (Feb 27) because he was upset by the remarks made by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas.

Mr Ipatas commented that the K142 million offered by the Prime Minister to the people of Enga should have been channelled through the provincial government.

Mr Ipatas was not happy that the Prime Minister had allocated a large amount of money directly to the districts and by-passing the provincial government.

Sir Mekere said he fully understood and supported the views of Mr Ipatas.

He said the Prime Minister’s decision to by-pass the provincial government would undermine the integrity and the legitimacy of provincial governments.

He said that if the Prime Minister wants to channel money directly to the districts, he should get rid of provincial governments.

“It is pointless having provincial governments in place and not using them to provide services to the people.

This incident once again demonstrates clearly this government’s habit of making important policy decisions on the run, without proper analysis,” Sir Mekere said.

Massive scam within Papua New Guinea AIDS Council

Papua New Guinea National AIDS Council Secretariat chairman Sir Peter Barter today confirmed reports that there is massive corruption “involving millions of kina” within the NACS.

He has also described as “unacceptable” a letter from NACS acting director Romulus Pakure regarding more than two million condoms going past their expiry date without being distributed.

Sir Peter made the confirmation as international media reports surfaced of HIV/AIDS ravaging PNG as the NACS became “rotten to the core”.

“It’s a mess,” he said.

“That’s all I can say about it.

“There is an inspection going on, as well as an internal investigation.

“It’s quite a big scam involving millions of kina.”

Australian Associated Press reported that the NACS had overspent its budget, with millions of kina wasted - most notably on unnecessary travel – as about 2% of PNG’s population became infected with HIV/AIDS.

AAP also had documents outlining abuses by NACS staff.

Sir Peter also said that the government should also shoulder its share of the blame as the NACS had been without a council and substantive director for almost two years.

“The government must also take the responsibility as well,” he said.

“To correct something like this that has been going on for so long is extremely difficult.

“The NACS first met on Dec 15 after almost 18 months without a council. 

“After a close down over Christmas/New Year, a meeting was held last month and the main focus was to get a director appointed to take charge again.

 “The NACS has been without a substantive director for almost two years.  

“We are dealing with alleged corruption along with ways to operate with a 67% reduction in the budget, coupled with the devalued Australian funding.  

“We are making progress towards appointment of a director, along with measures to prevent further wastages of funds.”

Sir Peter said a new director for the NACS should be appointed towards the middle of this month and early next month.

Meanwhile, NACS acting director Romulus Pakure, said in his letter to Sir Peter dated Mar 4 that only 586,064 condoms held in the AusAID/NACS warehouse at Badili had reached expiry date.

“None of these condoms have been purchased by NACS, rather, they are the remainder of inventories that were transferred to NACS following the wind-up of NHASP (support project) or part of a consignment donated in late 2007 which had a relatively short shelf life,” he said.

“It is not known exactly when the NHASP condoms were purchased, however; generally, condoms are supplied with a four to five year shelf life.

“Further, NACS has not purchased any pre-packed condoms that are unsuitable for current dispensing machines.

“Only the Karamap pre-packed condoms which were originally designed for retail vending machines were unsuitable for use in the NACS dispensers.”

HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea increases as National AIDS Council is "rotten to the core"

More than two million condoms paid for with Australian aid money have been left to expire in AIDS-ravaged Papua New Guinea, AAP reports.

The PNG government's National AIDS Council Secretariat left the stockpile, worth $A190, 000, sitting in a warehouse for more than 18 months.

The condoms are now past their expiry date and cannot be distributed in a country that has the highest incidence of HIV in the Pacific.

The secretariat has just appointed a new board, which aims to reform its activities and look into serious allegations of mismanagement.

Documents obtained by AAP show the secretariat has overspent its budget, with hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted - most notably on unnecessary travel.

The documents also outline alleged abuses by staff.

The secretariat's new chairman Peter Barter, a former PNG health minister, said the stockpile was discovered during a recent audit.

"I've only been on the board a month and have been dealing with various levels of alleged corruption and mismanagement (within the secretariat)," he said.

"AusAID is not to blame. We just need to distribute what condoms we can and get our direction right. We will also be getting the fraud squad (in)."

Another secretariat board member, who did not want to be named, said: "The new board recognises the immense problems within NACS and has commenced a major clean-up."

"NACS has become rotten to the core but the new direction is cleaning it up," the member said.

But board members have said a reduced budget from the PNG government will hinder the organisation as it tries to implement reforms.

Dr Ann Clarke, general manager of the PNG Business Coalition Against HIV and AIDS, said she was relieved that another batch of condoms had recently arrived in the capital, Port Moresby.

"We've known about AIDS since 1987 and could have had an effective condom distribution network set up in the 1990s," she said.

An AusAID spokesman said 45 million male and female condoms were on their way into PNG.

"While any wastage of resources is unfortunate, sufficient supplies of condoms are available in PNG," he said.

Australia has promised $A100 million to help PNG battle AIDS under a five-year program that began in January 2007.

It's estimated two per cent of PNG's population is infected with HIV/AIDS, affecting between 40,000 to 60,000 people.

 

Minister for State to appear next month over misappropriation charges

MINISTER for State Philemon Embel, facing a misappropriation charge, appeared in court yesterday, The National reports.

Police prosecutors told the court the Nipa-Kutubu MP was served his police file, which had been completed.

Embel, who appeared in person for his mention, was given until next month to respond to the allegation and serve his reply to prosecution before his next appearance next month.

Prosecutors said yesterday that Embel would need a legal counsel, in the event that the matter was committed to trial at the National Court.

He was arrested in January after being charged under section 38(3) A (1) (a), Chapter 256 of the  Criminal Code Act.

It is alleged that he misappropriated K165, 000 meant for a church in March 2006.

Police arrested Embel based on a complaint lodged by Southern Highlands provincial administrator William Powi.

Embel has appeared twice for mention at the Waigani Committal Court, but both times it was adjourned to give time for police to complete the files.

 

Police Minister grilled over deals

Rambi denies using position to get payment

 

By MADELEINE AREK in The National

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare was yesterday pressured to investigate allegations that millions of kina from the Police Department were pumped into a car rental company owned by Minister for Internal Security Sani Rambi, The National reports.

The Opposition raised the allegations on the floor of Parliament yesterday, and Sir Michael promised to look into the matter.

But while Mr Rambi admitted his company was doing business with police, he denied using his position to influence payments.

Bulolo MP Sam Basil told Parliament Mr Rambi had placed himself in a conflict of interest position, and this was a stumbling block in the minister’s administration of his duties as police minister.

Mr Basil alleged that Mr Rambi and Police Commissioner Gari Baki needed to be investigated over their alleged involvement in diverting millions of kina that could have been used to improve the working conditions of police personnel throughout the country into the Mt Hagen-based car rental company.

He also told Parliament that Mr Baki operated two bank accounts, the police commissioner’s trust account and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary infrastructure trust account into which monies transferred for special operations were being used “uncontrollably”.

Mr Basil identified Mr Rambi’s company as Mountain Hire Cars Limited, which he said had a very lucrative business engagement with the police force.

“The bills run into millions (of kina) which can be saved and used for vehicle purchases that can be used by the police department, which can cut costs by almost 50%, and the savings expanded into other logistical support that the department did not have,” Mr Basil said.

“Millions of kina had been transacted into these accounts for special operations and some excessive funds have run dry, therefore, bringing the morale of investigating officers very low.

“Regular cashing out of cheques and transfer of funds to other operating accounts needed to also be scrutinised,” he added.

He later circulated to the media copies of what appeared to be bank transactions of those accounts.

Mr Basil asked the Prime Minister to appoint an independent auditor to probe the expenditure in those two trust accounts, and monies paid to the car rental company.

Sir Michael said he would look into this as he had received documents relating to the matter and was aware of it.

Speaking to The National outside Parliament, Mr Rambi did not deny that his company, Mountain Hire Cars Limited, had business with the police department.

He said the department, in fact, still owed him K700,000 in outstanding hire car fees.

Mr Rambi said the payments were for a five-year period, from 2002 to 2006, before he entered politics and were for police special and election operations in the Highlands.

Mr Baki concurred with Mr Rambi, saying the department owed K1.2 million to two other Mt Hagen-based car rental companies.

Mr Rambi said Mountain Hire Cars leased vehicles to the police department for the Chuave and Anglimp-South Waghi by-elections as well as all the cars that were used in the state of emergency in Southern Highlands province.

However, all that was before he entered politics in 2007.

And, while he did receive some payments, Mr Rambi said he did not take it up as a matter of priority after winning in the 2007 general elections and was given the police ministry because he knew it would amount to a “conflict of interest” situation.

“I have been paid only K1.5 million; the State still owes me K700,000,” Mr Rambi said.

He said after he became minister, the police department rented vehicles from his company only once – during the ethnic clash in Mt Hagen last year.

He said the vehicles were rented for 42 days, but he got paid for 21 days’ use only.

He did not say by how much.

 

Papua New Guinea Defence Force Officer on UK defence scholarship

A senior officer from the PNGDF will leave for the United Kingdom this weekend to undertake a seven-week course funded by the British government.

Commander Tau Ila of the PNG Defence Force will attend the ‘Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context’ course at the Cranfield University in the UK from March 9 to April 24.

The high level international course is designed to expand a senior officer's knowledge and understanding of the skills required to run a modern, effective and efficient military in a globalised world – especially the military's relationship with a democratically-elected civilian executive and its promotion of transparency and good governance.

In wishing Commander Ila a safe trip to the UK the British High Commissioner to PNG, David Dunn, said:

“It is extremely important that senior military officers from around the world are able to come together to share best practice and compare working methods. Modern military forces need to be up to date with the latest thinking to ensure that they are able and equipped to deliver the quality of defence services expected of them and meet the new challenges ahead in what is a rapidly changing world.”

Commander Ila’s departure comes six months after PNGDF colleague Lt Col Mark Goina completed an international staff course at the UK Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS).

It also builds upon the very successful visit to PNG in October last year of senior international military officers from the RCDS in which they visited Port Moresby, Madang and Goroka.

The Cranfield University’s Defence College of Management and Technology is one of three main colleges of the UK Defence Academy, the others being the RCDS and the Joint Services Command and Staff College.

 

Vavine's Curse highlights Papua New Guinea's HIV/AIDS problem

A powerful new book by Port Moresby-based journalist David Lornie shines the spotlight on the terrifying HIV/AIDS situation and associated social problems in Papua New Guinea.

Vavine's Curse is the inspiring story of a young orphan girl from a small inland Rigo village outside Port Moresby who, through no fault of her own, finds herself with a HIV sentence.

Ostracised by her fellow villagers at a very young age, Vavine has to battle her way through prejudice, male chauvinism, superstition and violence.

Her journey in life takes her from the village to the bright lights of Port Moresby and through a world of drugs, corruption, crime, poverty and prostitution in the big city.

David Lornie, no stranger to PNG, takes us through the urban jungle and shows how the people dress, talk, eat and drink.

We are introduced to teenage girls with mini skirts in sleazy nightclubs, corrupt politicians, and sugar daddies who prey on high school girls.

Vavine's pimp "uncle" Dennis, a typical Port Moresby sugar daddy, brings her to the city to work in his nightclub/cum brothel.

The innocent Vavine is introduced to the shady and seedy world of prostitution, alcohol, drugs and all things evil.

Dennis and his partner in crime, Billy – on the recommendation of 'boss lady' Emily - get the naïve village girl to be a courier for their lucrative drug-running business on the streets.

The "stink thing" within her, however, gets too much and she seeks the wise counsel of Father Michael, who runs the Holy Cross Centre in Tokarara, one of the poorer suburbs of Port Moresby.

The centre is cramped beneath a government-sponsored clinic and offer blood tests, counseling, treatment and, above all, love and understanding.

Fr Michael recommends that Vavine starts the anti-retroviral drug treatment programme, which can keep the disease under control for a long time.

The story takes a twist towards the end as Vavine is busted by police – who have been keeping her under surveillance all this time - and her Mike Tyson-like driver Butler, fast becoming one of her best friends, is shot dead in the process.

Devastated, lost and alone in a tiny, dank room, she has just about resigned on everything when Emily – who all this time is an undercover cop – comes in and sets her free.

And in a final happy twist, Gaba, a young village boy who has had a crush on Vavine all this time, marries her and they live happily ever after in the village…despite her HIV status.

Lornie has created this story of courage and determination in the hope that it will increase awareness of the horrifying threat of HIV/AIDS.

"This disturbing events that surround Vavine in her struggle for survival are common in PNG," comments Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu.

"This is a novel that deserves to be widely read, particularly by high school students, as the awareness it brings will serve as a sober warning about HIV/AIDS and the human costs."

Fr Jude Ronayne-Forde, of the Simon of Cyrene Centre, notes: "I grieve for the children of PNG: for the ones infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

"They have a right to protection and care, and we adults are duty bound to give them a future."

David Lornie grew up in PNG in the 1970's, his parents teaching at Maprik High School, Goroka Teachers College and University of PNG.

He returned to PNG in 2001 to work for the Post-Courier where he is currently supplements editor.

He has a great love for PNG and is horrified by the HIV epidemic in this country which looks set to explode further and tear the country apart.

He wrote Vavine's Curse in the hope that it will help educate young people about the dangers of HIV and also to show that those with HIV are simply humans with a terrible disease who need love, not hatred.

Vavine's Curse – now on sale at Theodist and soon the UPNG Bookshop - is dedicated to the people of Papua New Guinea, with 10% of the author's royalties and 10% of the profits to be donated to Tessie Soi's Friends Foundation.

The Friend's Foundation provides support and care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

This support includes assisting parents in the prevention and reduction of the transmission of HIV to their babies; and Orphan Buddy system for children who have lost their parents, burials for unclaimed children from Port Moresby General Hospital and community-based home care.

Vavine's Curse

ISBN 13: 9780646488950

Publication Date: 2008

Binding: Softcover

Written by DAVID LORNIE

Dwyers Pacific Press

'Green Chip' Somare or is it 'Grand Chief' Somare?

Story and picture by JASON SOM KAUT

 

There was a buzz of activity in Enga with everyone busy.

Wabag Primary School students apparently, with teacher supervision, decorated the school for the ‘Grand Chief’s’ historical visit last Thursday.

They had different coloured balloons with welcome messages hanging everywhere.

‘Welcome to Enga NEC (National Executive Council), etc...

But one of these balloons read: “Welcome ‘Green Chip’ to Enga” when it should it should have read “Welcome ‘Grand Chief’ to Enga”.

Either very stupid or very clever with all the talk of Green Revolution and technological age of micro and computer chips...mmm.

 

 

 

Rainy day in Wabag

CHILDREN and the crowd braving a sudden downpour at Wabag Primary School in Enga province during the historical visit by Prime Minister

Sir Michael Somare last week Thursday. Picture by JASON KAUT.

 

 

 

Two more pictures of Busu High School in the 1980's

Champion Busu allround sportsman Bob Aaron wins an inter-house 100m race in 1981.

A high school soccer competition in 1982 with Busu, far left, followed by Bugandi and Lae International high schools.

A song for Jan Scharlach and Busu High School

The late Jan Scharlach (right) with huband Jim (left) and Busu head boy John Singas after graduation in 1983.

The author (seated) with fellow Busu High School graduates in 1983.

Left to right are Bosi Sayama,Ali Yapi, Edward Misob,John Cates, Malum Nalu and Ire Zuhuc (front) posing for a last shot at Busu High School in 1983.

Busu High School Class of '83

Last Sunday, while I was in The National office preparing my work programme for the week, I happened to check my GMail and received the sad news from my ex Busu High School teacher Jim Scharlach in Canada.
Jim sent me a couple of lines to let me know of the death of his wife Jan last weekend.
It was quite distressing for me, as the Scharlachs were good friends of me and so many other students who passed through Busu High School, Lae, in 1981, 1982 and 1983.
I was at lost for words, and the memories of the good old days of Busu, where I did Grades 7 to 10 from 1980 to 1983, came rushing to mind as I stared blankly at my computer screen.
There were great teachers in those days such as the Scharlachs, British headmaster and history buff Nigel Stanley, his fellow Briton maths/science teacher Roger Dallimore (who went to great lengths to teach us how to play chess), inimitable Filipino practical skills teacher Tony Socan (who taught us how to build houses and so many other things), and several other expatriates and nationals.
There was a sizeable expatriate community in Lae in those days, and around Busu, a sizeable missionary community at the Martin Luther Seminary and Lutheran Church headquarters at Ampo.
There were few if any potholes in Lae in those early days of independence, crime and settlement-related problems were unheard of, we neither smoked marijuana nor indulged in homebrew (apart from the occasional cigarette or bottle of beer out of teenage curiosity), didn’t engage in cult-related activities in school, or carried knives and homemade guns to fight against other schools.
There was respect for all, especially our teachers, something that is very much lacking these days, and I wondered how Lae and Papua New Guinea could deteriorate so fast in just one generation.
“I wanted to let you know that Jan passed away last night,” Jim wrote.
“She had been fighting cancer for many years.
“She is now in a better place.”
Jan, Jim and their three wonderful young children were in Lae in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and they played an important role in shaping so many students of Busu, many of whom now hold senior positions in both government and private sectors.
Jan was a great teacher who has had a great influence on my life, particularly in reading, writing and literature.
She imparted in me a love of poetry, the classics of literature, Shakespeare and writing and these have been with me all my life after leaving Busu in 1983.
Those who were at Busu in 1981, 1982 and 1983 will remember the great Jim Scharlach, our sports master extraordinaire and maths/science teacher who coached the school on to greater heights in basketball, volleyball, softball, athletics, rugby league and soccer against our rivals such as Bugandi, Bumayong, Lae High and Lae International.
Sports rivalry between Lae high schools in those days was intense, and under Jim’s coaching, Busu brought down traditional powerhouses such as Bugandi from their lofty pedestals.
National representatives such as champion high jumper Michael Elisha, basketballers Hilda Roy, Bob Aaron and Casey Stafford, and towering Kumul rugby league forward Kera Ngaffin – to name a few - were all protégés of Jim.
Jan was our English teacher and her literature lessons were unforgettable.
Last November, 25 years after leaving Grade 10 at Busu, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from one Jim Scharlach in Canada – whom I had not heard from all these years - apparently after he had read my blog so many times and was wondering if I was indeed the same ‘Malum Nalu of Busu’.
“Good day Sir,” he wrote.
“Was wondering if you were the Malum Nalu who attended Busu High School in the 80’s?
“I have enjoyed your articles.
“Thanks for your time.”
Since then, we have been corresponding, and I shared with Jim the tragic loss of my wife last Easter and he told me that Jan had been fighting cancer for the last six years.
“It has been a tough go, but she is surviving,” he wrote.
“The kids are doing well and as a group have given me five grandchildren.
“I am still teaching and enjoying it.
“I think back to our time at Busu and am so thankful to have been able to experience that.
“It was great to have been able to work with students who wanted to be there and worked so hard.
“I had always planned to return but conditions back here made it so difficult.”
Last Christmas, the Scharlach family sent me an email with their Christmas greetings, in which Jim poignantly told of a Christmas in Lae so many years ago at the Burns Philip store.
The Burns Philp store, which over the years became Best Buy, was burned to the ground just before Christmas last year.
Jim was quite saddened at the burning of the old Burns Philp store and the ongoing violence and law and order problems in Lae and throughout Papua New Guinea.
“I remember taking my kids to Burns Philp (Lae) to see Santa Claus,” he wrote.
“They were very apprehensive until Santa called each of them by name.
“Thanks to Santa, Simeon (a Busu Grade 10 student in 1981), my kids had an opportunity to meet their real Santa.
“I continue to enjoy reading your blog but am saddened by the violence that continues to be prevalent in your major cities.
“It is so sad that a few people – rascals and a few politicians – have given a beautiful country with the majority of people being great caring people such a negative image.
My cousin Peter Sayama, who went to school at the same time at Busu (under the name Bossi Sayama), was also saddened to hear of the death of Jan.
“The likes of you, Jan, and of course our principal at that time, Nigel Stanley, have no doubt shaped the lives of those of us who have come in contact with you all that taught us at Busu,” he said in an email to Jim.
“I can vividly remember Jan and her imposing figure in classroom: the way she reads a novel that can captivate our attention in class that we get so disappointed when the bell sounds for the end of English period and we have to wait for another time for her to continue.”

Massive gas find in Gulf

By SHEILA LASIBORI in The National

 

THE discovery of a large reservoir of top quality natural gas in the country has placed Papua New Guinea among the top producers of liquefied natural gas at world markets, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said yesterday.

He was speaking when officiating at the flow and flare ceremony for a massive gas find at Interoil’s Antelope One site in Gulf province.

InterOil Corporation needed to raise US$5 billion (K14 billion) to complete the infrastructure for the project, including the construction of a pipeline to its Napa Napa oil refinery on the outskirts of Port Moresby.

At yesterday’s test flow, Sir Michael opened the first valve, which flowed and flared gas equivalent to 105.5 million cubic feet per day (mcfd) (yesterday’s figure, as different testing schedules produce different measurements).

The second flare was measured to produce a “world record” 383mcfd and it could have been more as technicians allowed the gas to flow through a three-inch pipe instead of the full six-inch diametre to control the heat.

Antelope One can produce up to 545 mcfd of dry gas, which, when flowed, measures 382mcfd and this can produce up to 5,000 barrels of condensate per day (gas in its condensed state), or equal to a total of 68,600 barrels of oil per day.

The productivity of this well was way above the 350-550mcfd of gas production needed to start a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The company said a third party-confirmed capacity of 17.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcf) of gas, places PNG as one of the best quality gas producers in the world with a 760m column of gas.

InterOil’s chief executive officer and chairman Phil Mulacek said this was a world record as no such discovery (to date) had happened prior to Antelope One.

“The well flowed enough that in a little bit of time, just one minute, it would have filled up a pipeline from Port Moresby to here, in one minute.

“We took an hour and 30 minutes to fly the same distance,” he said.

“We understand it to be a record for the world; we’re not cheating, we’re not horizontal; it’s a straight vertical column.

“It proves that the nation has one of the highest quality reservoirs on this planet,” Mr Mulacek said.

The discovered oil well is the largest onshore vertical hydrocarbon column in the entire Asia-Pacific region with more than 2,600ft (792m) of gas and condensate, which is a new resource discovery estimated by InterOil engineers at more than 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

Sir Michael said the “world record natural gas discovery” will place PNG as a co-leader with Australia in supplying LNG to Asian markets.

“InterOil has elevated the status of PNG in global energy markets and has positioned our country to become the dominant source of new LNG for the growing energy markets in Asia for decades to come,” Sir Michael said.

“We (Government) introduced a new upstream fiscal policy and InterOil is the only company that believed in PNG and is willing to commit significant capital to our future development.

“InterOil stepped up to the plate with a US$125 million (K349 million) drilling commitment, the largest exploration programme in our history.

“The next steps to realise that vision has become clearer and it is now our turn to commit to clearing the path towards first production with our loyal and dependable partner, InterOil,” Sir Michael said.

Meanwhile, Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma announced that InterOil’s petroleum licence, scheduled to expire on March 23, was extended for another five years based on advice by the petroleum advisory board.

Wayne Andrews, InterOil’s vice-president on capital markets and investor relations, said InterOil might start condensating next year and, in the next five years, might start producing for world markets from its Elk/Antelope One field for leading LNG markets like Japan, South Korea and Spain.

 

Seeking the region's best and the brightest: APEC calls for papers

Singapore, 2 March 2009 – An all expenses-paid trip to present their views at the annual APEC CEO Summit – a gathering of the Asia-Pacific’s top business people, which will be held in Singapore this November – may just motivate business students to knock out one more paper. 

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) invites senior level and postgraduate students from business schools in APEC member economies to write an original essay discussing: “What can APEC do for business?” 

The topic, intended to stimulate discussion surrounding APEC’s core mission and long-term goals of free and open trade and investment, has been kept broad, to allow for the greatest range of perspectives and ideas.

“We put a good deal of thought into the best way to celebrate our anniversary,” says Michael Tay, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.  “We decided that the most appropriate way to reflect our values as an innovative and inclusive body would be to stimulate discussion – and maybe even debate – surrounding APEC and business and how they can work together in the new economic landscape.”

Three winners will receive prizes totalling USD 5,000.  The top essayist will present his or her work at the CEO Summit taking place in Singapore in November 2009 and will have the chance to meet his/her economy’s Leader.  This experience includes the cost of flights to Singapore, hotel accommodation and a per diem allowance, in addition to a USD 500 cash prize.

The second prize winner will be awarded USD 1,000 and the third prize winner USD 500.

For complete submission details, please visit: www.apec.org/20years

 

For more information, contact:

 

Linda Carroll at lac@apec.org or at (65) 6890 9672

Carolyn Williams at cdw@apec.org or at (65)9617 7316

 

 

Carolyn D. Williams

Media Manager, APEC

35 Heng Mui Keng Terrace / Singapore 119616

D: (65) 6891 9671 / M: (65) 9617 7316 / F: (65) 6891 9600

 

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