Malum Nalu

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Kokoda crash backs back a lot of memories

This latest air crash brings back a lot of memories and not all of them good.

Every sympathy should be extended to the families of the victims.

Some thought should also be given to those who have unenviable task of going in and investigating the crash site.

The role of the local people is very often overlooked.

I wonder if the media ever give that a thought when they have a 'feeding frenzy' on the disaster but then quickly lose interest in what some have to do afterwards.

The concentration on the crash and the victims and their family's subsequent grief is almost macabre and borders on the sensational, an aspect some have already commented on when media coverage of PNG is concerned.

Flying in PNG should never be taken for granted.

The number of times I have left my fingerprints in the aluminium seat frames of small planes in PNG is too numerous to mention.

Isn't it amazing that now PNG is a separate and sovereign country, the amount of assistance being offered to help with this exercise seems to dwarf any provided to us when TPNG was an Australian Territory?

We had to cope with similar situations, often with limited assistance from Australia, who had very little idea of our role and it sadly appears, still don't, if the recent Government reticence in supporting Chris Viner-Smith's long, hard slog and Keith Jackson's efforts in obtaining some recognition for former kiaps.

Thoughts on the Kokoda crah

From John Fowke

Like all fatal crashes, it's a tragedy. One of many in PNG which we have all been affected by in some measure over the years. And an unimaginably violent end to life for loved ones in the minds of suddenly-bereaved relatives, both in Australia and in PNG. But what did you think about the Australian response? Would the House of representatives stand in silence for a minute if nine Aussies had been killed in a tourist-coach crash whilst speeding to Uluru on a similar package deal? Or on a tour to the War Memorial in Canberra, for that matter? The Kokoda Track as a fashionable "feelgood" icon for affluent middle-class Aussies is getting a bit over the top in my admittedly-tetchy opinion; and as well, a horse to which our Canberra spin-meisters on both sides have proved only too ready to hitch a wagon or three. Dr Johnson's famous admonitory phrase about patriotism comes to mind.

Almost nobody ever goes to stand and think on the beach at Buna, or climbs to the crest of Shaggy Ridge, or visits the site of the Tol massacre or the beautifully-maintained War Cemetery in Lae, among many other reminders of wartime sacrifice and tragedy which are relatively easy to get to from major provincial centres. Why? Because all this is now forgotten- ignored entirely in the mish-mash of postmodern, lefty/sociology-driven drivel substituted for history and geography lessons in Australia's schools. To say nothing of what may or may not be taught in PNG's schools. In PNG it is often said that " the war wasn't of our making, we were just drawn in and suffered as a side-effect of antipathies among the industrialized nations." Of course, a very successful Asian invasion is in progress in PNG today. Allowing it to occur and to control major aspects of the economy, as it is being allowed to do, casts a shadow of shame upon the memory of all those thousands of Papuans and New Guineans who did in one way or another contest the imposition of the Japanese " Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere"- the invasion of 1942. Many more of them lie buried in their home soil than the 9000-plus Australians who lie in the various War Cemeteries in PNG, and in yet-to-be-discovered graves, lost and alone in the bush.

Those wartime carriers, labourers, PIB soldiers and the members of the RPC and the New Guinea Police who served in the conflict, 1942-45, are the true founders of the Independent State of PNG. Not the politicians of the First House. Not Gough Whitlam or his Parliament and his Department of Territories. No, it was the fighting men of PNG. Without them, and without the Australian and American servicemen and women who served and who died in the New Guinea campaigns, all of us in Australia and in PNG would live in very different circumstances, today. We in Australia, as well as their own countrymen, should honour their memory in the manner due; not in loose, emotional expressions flowing from the words of a part-time poet writing for the "Australian Womens Weekly." And not by allowing distortions of the facts to be generated by tour-operators and others who profit from the interest in Australia's part in the Pacific campaigns.

A few keen overseas bush-walkers do undertake a professionally-guided trek across the Bulldog Track from the upper Lakekamu to Wau, but this worthwhile adventure-tour has received very little publicity because of the big shadow cast by the prominence of the Kokoda Track/Trail enterprise. The whole Kokoda thing was raised to its current prominence by Paul Keating's Prime Ministerial visit, aided by the earnest zeal of the pioneer Track tour-promoter- who espouses the cause of the villagers along the track as a prime driver of his enterprise. The publicity so generated has created the erroneous belief that the Track-side and Kokoda villagers are the only descendents of the "Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels." This is a point recently repeated with laboured and entirely ignorant emphasis. In fact the "fuzzies" who, like a great many of the first wave of Australian soldiers to hit the Track, were conscripts, not volunteers, came from all along the coast of Papua from the Fly through the Gulf and Central Districts, on past Milne Bay and East Cape to the Islands. The "Track" villagers and all the people of the Northern Division, old and young alike, suffered the brunt of the Japanese invasion and subsequent campaigns, the danger and the disruption. Many of the men of the Division served with the Allies, too; but they were by no means alone in this.

Friday, August 14, 2009

A rare opportunity to invest in a landmark film

Producer John Schindler reports that production of his documentary The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru is progressing well and the series will be complete late October ready for screening on Foxtel.

This project has been the beneficiary of a great deal of John’s personal as well as professional commitment.

John mortgaged his home to achieve a budget to make a film that would live up to and be worthy of its epic subject matter.

“I had to invest $96,000 of my own money in the series; it just had to be done,” says John. “The story deserved to be told well and, to achieve this, our team needed to have a reasonable budget.”

John is now seeking two investors prepared to commit $48,000 each against future sales of the documentary.

“Even if we found just one it would take a big weight off my shoulders,” he says.

Investors will share in proceeds from the series, except for the Foxtel license fee which has been invested back into the project.

Other revenue sources to be negotiated include::

· Australian and worldwide DVD sales;

· Sales of the series to the USA, UK, Norway, Japan and elsewhere;

· Australian sales two years after the series goes to air on Foxtel; and

· A book

“Investors will also be contributing to the making of a landmark television series that will make many Australians aware of the Montevideo Maru tragedy and the events in Rabaul that led up to it,” says John.

“I will keep them personally informed of developments, they will be honoured guests at the Sydney and/or Brisbane premier, they will be invited on location for the filming of re-enactments and, of course, their names will feature in the credits.

If you are interested, or know someone who might be, get in touch with John Schindler at (07) 3267 0515, john@schindler.com.au or at PO Box 303, Northgate, Queensland 4013.

If potential investors wants to know more about legal and accounting aspects they are welcome to speak with the film’s lawyer Hendrik De Korte on (07) 3340 5193 and the film’s accountant Robert Edwards on (07) 3391 6300.

Certified products can command better prices on world market

Coffee being dried in a typical Papua New Guinea Highlands village. Our coffee can command premium prices if organically certified

Tom Kukhang…products must be properly certified

Prominent scientist Tom Kukhang has called for the establishment of a supervisory body to monitor certification in Papua New Guinea.
Mr Kukhang, who is country representative for Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES), told the National Development Forum that the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) must seriously consider financing of smallholder agricultural organisations for Organic and Fair Trade certification.
He called for a study to be conducted into potential smallholder food crops for exports.
Certification is the labeling of commodities or agricultural produces that meet a certain requirement - humanitarian, environmental, biological, chemical, origin, methodology or a combination of these – for specialty or a common market.
Common types of certification are Organic, Fair Trade, Global Gap & UTZ, Rain Forest Alliance, Starbucks CAFÉ Practices and Bird Friendly.
Mr Kukhang said certification was a marking tool which ensured responsible trade and should be used for reasons of social, economic, environmental and product quality.
He said certification also ensured personal trust, private associations, independent certification and professionalism – which all led to increasing volumes of trade.
Mr Kukhang produced graphs showing that demand, yield and prices of organic produce were increasing worldwide.
Rural communities in PNG can get their food crops, commodity crops, livestock, apiculture, flowers, wild fruits, native fruits, sea foods, coffee, vanilla, cocoa, honey, rhododendrons, sugar fruit, ripe bananas and prawns properly certified and command higher prices.
Those in PNG who can be certified include producer units, processors and packaging units and exporters.
In PNG, those who can certify include CERES (PNG/Germany), NAASA (Australia) and FLO (Germany/Australia).

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Pictures of Moasing's 5th birthday party

Our Princess Moasing turned five today and her three brothers Keith (2), Gedi (7) and Jr Malum (8) had a party tonight with lots of cake and ice eam as Moasing wanted.

She really is the apple of my eye and gets more and more beautiful every day

Bittersweet, however, with Mum, my dear wife Hula, not around to celebrate with us.

Thank you to all those wonderful people from around Papua New Guinea and the world who sent in their birthday greetings to Moasing.

There have been countless number of calls from the Opposition, NGOs and unions for the National Alliance-led government to step down.

Is this not a cause for concern by the current political leadership?

Whose voice can the leaders hear?

The Ombudsman Commission has been rendered toothless?

The Supreme Court?

Some areas of the judicial have been ineffective.

Parliament and the Speaker have been almost hijacked by the butt of a cheque leaf. Who knows what the amount may be?

Who next would be the voice for the NA led leadership to listen to?

Where is the effective voice of the masses of the population, when the Police Commissioner puts stop to any form or size of protest or rally nation wide?

Why the suppression tactic?

Whose interest is the Commissioner covering?

Where is the democracy and the freedom and the right to expression by the people?

Our nation needs a voice so badly, apart from the media, is there not a cause for concern?

Only God can raise up a man with a voice that can make a difference.

Bapa Bomoteng

LAE

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Nine Aussies die on way to Kokoda Track

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/848891/vic-woman-fears-husband-on-png-flight

Kokoda crash: sitting out the clouds in Papua New Guinea

http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/12/kokoda-crash-sitting-out-the-clouds-in-png/

Cucumber thefts

My good mate, former PNG kiap Paul Oates in Queensland, Australia, remembers my posting about the theft of cucumbers from my kids' backyard garden at Gerehu.

He sent in the news article below about cucumber thefts in Australia.
"Mate," Paul writes "it's not just happening in Gerehu. Adelaide now suffers from it."
_____________________________

Police in a pickle over cucumber thefts
Article from: AAP
August 12, 2009 12:33pm

A SPATE of cucumber thefts has Adelaide police in a pickle.
More than $10,000 worth of cucumbers have been stolen in 11 separate robberies in the past three months.
Thieves have targeted market gardens north of Adelaide, with police saying the latest robbery - of 50 bags of cucumbers - was reported from a glasshouse at Virginia at the weekend.
"The issue with the cucumber is how do you and I tell who owns a different cucumber?,'' SA Police Chief Inspector Kym Zander told ABC Radio today.
"We're having difficulty establishing where they (the cucumbers) are going.''

The pain of the Kokoda tragedy

I’m sitting down here trying to work, but tears are streaming down my eyes, as the tragedy of the Kokoda crash unfolds, as I read the personal stories of some of those in the crash.

My thoughts and prayers go out to families of those in the crash.

And I pray, that from the sad remains of the crash, may emerge a closer relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea, just like from World War 11.

We have so much in common.

Malum

Hopes fade for Kokoda crash victims

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/12/2653040.htm

Kokoda crash plane slammed into cliff

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25918837-5003402,00.html

Map of plane crash site

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106633912764415536846.000470d79d760bd66a10b&ll=-9.310859,147.384338&spn=1.891773,2.463684&t=h&z=9

Kokoda crash: Nine Australians on plane, wreckage found in jungle

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25917492-952,00.html

Article on Papua New Guinea leadership

Born to be free of anxiety and fear

By James Wanjik

God is life. God is truth. God is way. Those are the truth of God. In truth no mortal can claim to possess truth. Truth is a word steeped in the power of Word of God. No person can tamper with truth for it is immortal.

When Bal thought he was invincible God showed him how naive he was. When Nebuchadnezzar thought he was immortal God pushed him down and out. There are many instances in the Holy Bible especially in the Old Testament about the activism of God.

No superstition, sorcery, or witchcraft equates with Word of God. This truth will set our people free from their fear and anxiety.

Politics of PNG is steeped in fear and anxiety. So are our leaders and their advisers. Living in fear, leaders lead in fear. Living in anxiety, leaders only want power of position. Power politics has its root in fear and anxiety.

True leader is Jesus Christ. He overcame fear and anxiety. When the spirit of death tormented him Jesus Christ waited on God Father. Leaders of PNG can break free from their bondage of fear and anxiety. Leaders will find the way if they have the will. Will to be free of fear and anxiety.

More and more people are making same observations about our leaders. The common thread is leaders are selfish. Selfishness is another characteristic of the spirit of death.

Again Jesus Christ shows the best example yet of selflessness. No person can claim to be selfless exactly in the same way as Jesus Christ. But we can aspire to be selfless if we have the will. This is the power of free will and choice.

Power of free will and choice is a gift from God. Only the God of Life is free to give freely. To those this privilege has been given much is expected.

Time of lame excuse of leaders is not there anymore. It would not be taken at face value. People are increasingly restless. Such people will move without much analysis of circumstance or situation.

Playing on emotions is very unbecoming of leaders. Lot of emotive statements were made by leaders in the last week of this month. No worthy leader would want anarchy and mayhem. That would be unfortunate.

Anarchy and mayhem is the way of the spirit of death. So is where PNG is heading right now.

New way of development thinking is required to turn PNG back to journey of life. People must be reason and passion of leadership. God showed us the way by giving us Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was sent to show us the way to God Father in Him and through Him. That is the truth.

No new ideas are taken to be important by the present national leadership on both divides of National Parliament. Taking time to discern this would demonstrate leaders’ vision. Again leaders are fearful of upsetting the usual. Usual way is the way of fear and anxiety. It is the way of spirit of death.

Leaders are to lead without fear or favour. Truth is any leader who is in fear will be anxious. Fear and anxiety are terrible twins the spirit of death use to torment and imprison a mortal from being free.

We are born to be free. Freedom from fear and anxiety. Only thing is us. We have the free will to choose to be free or remain in bondage of fear and anxiety.

To God be all glory and praise.

.............

9 August 2009

For feedback contact: jameswanjik@hotmail.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nine Aussies on missing Airlines PNG plane

AAP

SEVEN Victorians and two Queenslanders setting off to walk the Kokoda Track are among 13 people aboard a plane feared to have crashed in rugged terrain in Papua New Guinea.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said there were fears for those aboard Airlines of Papua New Guinea flight CG4684 travelling from Port Moresby to Kokoda today.
"We hold grave concerns for their safety and wellbeing," Mr Smith said.
Authorities believe they may have located a crash site and Australia is deploying a contingent of military assets to help with search efforts when they resume, weather permitting, at first light tomorrow.
Eight Australians were part of a Melbourne-based No Roads Expeditions tour group and another was an Australian tour guide.
Their families are being offered assistance by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"This of course is an agonising time for these families," Mr Smith said.
There was also one Japanese national and three Papua New Guineans on board the plane.
The two crew members aboard are believed to be PNG pilots Jenny Moala and Royden Soauka.
An aviation industry insider said the missing plane had aborted its first landing attempt.
"We've heard she pulled out of the first attempt and a plane behind her landed, then she has done a loop and gone missing," they said.
The aircraft has an emergency locator beacon but no signal has been received.
Authorities were searching the Owen Stanley Ranges north of Port Moresby this evening but called it off after it got dark. They believe they might have narrowed the search area to a possible crash site.
"We hope, weather permitting, that a substantially-enhanced search and rescue effort can commence tomorrow morning," Mr Smith said.
Search and rescue efforts today - involving two helicopters and a twin-engine aircraft - were being hampered by bad weather, low visibility and very rugged terrain along the Kokoda Track.
"One of the helicopters has landed in a village which is thought to be near the vicinity of a possible crash site," Mr Smith said.
"I say a possible crash site because PNG authorities, PNG Airlines and Australian officials are relying on information relayed by villagers on the ground."
Mr Smith said Australia was working "single-mindedly" to help with locating the plane and those on board.
Late today, Mr Smith, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Defence Minister John Faulkner and Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston met to discuss Australian efforts shortly after being informed the aircraft was missing.
Mr Rudd then spoke to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to offer assistance, which was accepted.
"Steps were taken to arrange the deployment of those assets," Mr Smith said.
HMAS Success, with a helicopter on board, is being diverted from near Torres Strait and will arrive off the PNG coast by first light tomorrow.
A Caribou aeroplane, currently in Port Moresby, will also be available to help. A C1-30 aircraft with medical facilities will depart overnight and be ready to assist.
"It will have on board a fully-equipped ground party with search and recovery assets," Mr Smith said.
Two Blackhawk helicopters will be deployed via a C-17 aircraft. The Australian Maritime Search and Rescue authority also deployed aircraft which left today.
The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has established a consular crisis centre and was liaising with authorities.
People concerned about the welfare of family or friends are advised to contact DFAT's consular emergency centre on 02 6261 3305.

New international hotel for Kokopo

Picture of new hotel from the Golf Course.-Picture courtesy of NAMBAWAN SUPER

Picture of new hotel with the original steps of Queen Emma’s residence which has been retained and developed as a tourist attraction. - Picture courtesy of NAMBAWAN SUPER

The historic site of Queen Emma’s residence at Ralum near Kokopo in East New Britain will soon become an impressive three-storey hotel called Gazelle International.

Construction work started early this year on the multi-million kina hotel which is jointly owned by the largest superannuation fund Nambawan Super Ltd which has majority shareholding, plus Airways Hotel and East New Britain provincial government.
The owners of the new development have taken into account the invaluable historical significance of the hotel site and have modeled the design of the hotel to reflect as much as possible Queen Emma’s original house.

This included renovating the original steps of the Queen Emma residence as a drawcard and a major tourist attraction.

The steps are still located on the hotel property leading towards the golf course.
The hotel will comprise a reception, lobby shop, coffee lounge, restaurant, bar and poker machines all on the ground floor, while a total of 52 rooms make up the two upper floors.
Other amenities will include a resort pool, and a separate conference building which will seat up to about 150 persons.

In recent years, an influx of people have been attracted to Kokopo for conferences and a real need for good facilities have been unavailable to cater for their needs.
The builders for the hotel are Lamana Development Limited while the architect is Peter Kubli of Cairns.

According to the builders, the Gazelle International Hotel is designed to cater for a mix of customers, international tourists as well as conference people and weekenders.
All rooms will have spectacular views over-looking the blue waters of Blanche Bay and looking up to the green hills of Kokopo.
Building material for the hotel is mostly from PNG and via PNG suppliers.

Specialised equipment and furnishings are imported from various countries.
The hotel which is expected to be completed early 2010, will bring about greater employment opportunities creating jobs for around 60 people, and will also contribute to boosting the province’s economy through the development of tourism.
The hotel project managers agree: “Kokopo is a significant economic centre in Papua New Guinea plus it has an enormous untapped tourism potential.

"Rabaul, before the volcanic eruptions was held in high esteem as the most beautiful town in the country.

"We believe Kokopo will continue to expand, and with its unique mix of natural wonders, will attract people to visit this beautiful part of the world”.
Managing director of Nambawan Super Leon Buskens said the new hotel investment should not be seen as competing with existing accommodation facilities but rather complementing them as the hotel is pitched at another segment of the market.

The larger conference room facility compared to the accommodation will mean sharing of rooms within the Kokopo market
Mr Buskens said: “We are looking also at spreading our investments outside of Port Moresby and Lae where the investment returns are sustainable.

"The principle of partnership is one of long-term strategic value with the Lamana/Airways group which means that we are tapping into a proven and quality local brand with international standards, while the provincial government business arms bring local content and business alignment with provincial governments.

"Already one such model is operating in Alotau, in the Alotau International Hotel.

"Likewise, the Fund is also looking at the other centres to create a local hotel chain with international quality standards”.
He added that the partnership provided much needed training and development of local people as well as expertise in international hotel management services through the Airways/Lamana group.

Conversely, the involvement of provincial governments provides local representation and content.
Mr Buskens thanked the East New Britain provincial government for adopting a business friendly approach in enabling the international hotel venture to become a reality.

mv Siddy to serve Sepik River people

Moim villagers pay a visit on mv Siddy at along the Sepik River

mv Siddy prepared to berth at Moim village along the Sepik River

A NEW cargo and passenger barge called mv Siddy is certain to boost transportation along the mighty Sepik River.
The ship was launched last week at Timbunke purposely to serve the Sepik River people under the Community Water Transport Programme (CWTP).
The CWTP supports implementing the sector reform programme with the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), which is in line with the recent government Medium Term Development Strategy (MTDS) and National Transport Development Programme (NTDP).
It is mandated to provide viable and effective maritime transport services to selected remote and disadvantaged communities in the coastal and river based areas of PNG.
It also will establish a trust fund that will provide a source of finance to subsidise transport costs to selected remote and disadvantaged communities, restore small water transport infrastructure, improve small craft safety, and induce the ability of the affected communities to take full advantage of the benefits of transport provided.
About a month ago, the ship was christened mv Siddy by Lutheran Shipping on Siassi Island in memory of one of the company’s pioneer local captains, who died while on duty in the wheel-house some years back.
The ship was purchased by Lutheran Shipping in Pusan City, SouthKorea.
Four expert navigators from Luship travelled to Korea to bring her into PNG waters.
Captain Emmanuel Akau, of Manus and East Sepik parentage, said the ship under the programme of the CWTP would be making 13 stops along the Sepik River for two weeks.
mv Siddy stretches around 50 metres in length and is fully equipped with modern navigational aids including radar, depth sonar sound system, radio communications, inflated life rafts and jackets.
The ship also has two spacious air-conditioned cabins for 13 crew and 200 passengers (upper and lower decks).
According to chief engineer, William Robui, the ship was installed with a 570-horsepower Yanmar diesel-operated engine as well a Daewoo generator set capable of producing 137.5 KVA or 110 KW of electricity on board.
Both the skipper Mr Akau and the chief engineer Mr Robui were very helpful in hosting a team of journalists who boarded the ship at Angoram.
Mr Robui helped by providing electricity from a stand-by portable generator set to help journalists to charge batteries for their mobile telephones and laptops.
Many of the people, especially villagers along the Sepik River, expressed appreciation at having the ship providing transport for their produce such as cocoa, sago, fish and other agricultural produce.
Angoram MP and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, who officiated at the launch of the ship for its travel along the Sepik at Timbunke, said the CWTP was funded by the Asian Development Bank and co-funded by OPEC Fund for International Development and the PNG National Government.

Shipping freight subsidies help rural Western province rubber growers

Rubber growers line up to sell their produce at Kapikam village in Lake Murray, Western province.-Picture by NORTH FLY RUBBER LTD

North Fly Rubber Ltd, the only successful smallholder rubber project in the country, is an example of what could be achieved through shipping freight subsidies.
NFRL currently produces the highest quality PNGCR10 (rubber) in PNG and exports to markets throughout Europe and Australia.
Since 1995, NFRL has exported over 9, 442 tonnes of smallholders’ processed rubber to overseas markets, earning foreign exchange of K28.6 million and providing income of over K13.1m to the smallholder shareholders of the company.
In 1992, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd agreed to provide K100, 000 in loan capital as well as provide subsidised (free) shipment of containers of PNGCR10 rubber to Port Moresby or an international port for on-shipment to international buyers.
This has proved to be a win-win situation for all parties, particularly the rubber growers of Western province.
Papua New Guinea Rubber Board chairman Warren Dutton, citing the success story of NFRL, has called for National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) funds to be spent on freight subsidies to move rubber and other commodities to markets.
Mr Dutton, who is also chairman of NFRL and a former politician, told the National Development Forum in Port Moresby last week that only then could more money be put into the pockets of rural people as well as prop up PNG’s agricultural exports.
“The shipment of three or four containers of PNGCR10 rubber among a backload of over 100 empty containers cost OTML virtually nothing,” Mr Dutton said,
“In 1992, it allowed the rubber growers to be paid an extra 25t per kg for their cup lump.
“In 2008, it allowed for an extra 43t per kg.
“Without freight subsidies, there could be no rubber industry in the Western province.
“Without subsidies, there could be so much less agricultural production by the farmers in the major countries of the G8 and G20.
“Without subsidies, the production of most of the smallholder crops in PNG has been in continual decline.
“Production has been in decline ever since PNG destroyed its plantation industry and the partnerships which the plantations have with their neighbouring smallholders.”
Mr Dutton said other reasons for NFRL being a success story was because of hard working village rubber growers, and a public private partnership (PPP).
The PPP was originally between NFRL, which the rubber growers own and Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, but this has since grown to take on PNG Sustainable Development Program and the Fly River provincial government.
Mr Dutton emphasised that the government’s policy of encouraging PPPs was “correct” because it would help rebuild the relationship which used to exist between smallholders and expert agricultural; investors.
“These expert agricultural investors are then responsible for providing the training, the transport, and the marketing for their neighbouring smallholders,” he said.
“Most importantly, they must pay an acceptable price for the smallholders’ products.”

My Soul Mate

Twinkle in my eye,

Heart skips a beat,

I Smile from within

My Laughter echoes

The joy I have since we crossed paths.

I see you in my sleep

Even when I am very awake.

The very thought of you

Makes me smile all over.

I anxiously await you,

For our quality time however brief

Attaches an ounce, I so very much

am yearning for.

Our conversations,

A window to my soul

And yet a very down trodden glimpse

Of my inner being.

I have in you;

My shoulder to cry on

Warmth for shelter,

A reason to smile.

You don’t need to say or do more

You are my soul mate.

Pictures of my children playing at the new Gerehu Stage Two Recreational Park in Port Moresby

Monday, August 10, 2009

50 years shining over beautiful Madang

THE Madang landmark and icon– the Coastwatchers’ Memorial Lighthouse at Kalibobo Point – will be 50 years next Saturday, Aug 15.
The lighthouse was built in 1958 and completed in 1959 to recognise the invaluable contribution of the coast watchers who were spread all along the coastline and islands of Papua New Guinea during World War 11.
Armed with only tele-radios, the coast watchers took great risks to keep a look out for the Japanese forces, and reported them to the Allies, who then attacked the invaders.
Karkar planter and former parliamentarian Sir John Middleton said yesterday the coast watchers had a great impact on the war effort and deserved to be remembered.
The group was founded by an Australian naval officer named Eric Feldt, who later wrote a book about the role of the coast watchers during the war.
Apart from their many achievements in Papua New Guinea, it was the coast watchers who alerted American forces in the Solomons about a build-up of Japanese forces preparing for an attack on the Solomon Islands.
It is not known if authorities in Madang have organised any ceremony to commemorate the anniversary.
Prominent Madang resident Sir Peter Barter said the anniversary was a significant event for Madang and it would be regrettable if it was not commemorated.
ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day commemoration celebrations are now held at the light house memorial and Sir Peter said both events have attracted thousands of people.
The Australian Government built the light house and last year paid for the repainting of it.
The Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse was dedicated in 1959 to the mostly Australian and British soldiers and civilian volunteers who served as coast watchers during WW11.
Many of these brave men radioed the positions of Japanese ships to the Allies from Japanese-held territory such as one of the many islands surrounding New Guinea.

Papia New Guinea coffee urged to shift focus from production to marketing

Tiri Kuimbakul…shift from coffee production to marketing

Ripe red coffee cherries in the Highlands. – Picture by CIC

PNG made coffee products..among the best in the world but must be aggressively marketed.-Picture by CIC

Prominent economist and author Tiri Kuimbakul has called on the Papua New Guinea coffee industry to shift its focus from production to marketing.
Mr Kuimbakul, a former industry affairs general manager with the Coffee Industry Corporation and now a private consultant, said the industry had placed too much emphasis on research and extension over the last 20 years with no increase in production.
Figures show that production has stagnated over the past 20 years at one million bags, despite the fact that the industry has invested millions of kina into research and extension.
He made these comments after a presentation by PNG agriculture expert, Dr Mike Burke of the Australian National University, who said at last week’s National Development Forum that growers were getting better return for fresh vegetables such as kaukau.
“My view is that for the industry to move forward, there needs to be a shift in focus and emphasis from production to marketing, in particular, overseas promotion of PNG coffee,” Mr Kuimbakul said.
“What is important to the growers is the price.
“If they receive good prices for their coffee, they will continue to produce.
“If they feel that the prices that they’re getting for their coffee is not sufficient, they will simply neglect their coffee gardens, and even uproot their trees to plant food crops.
“From Dr Mike Bourke’s presentation, he showed that the returns to labour from coffee production are lower than fresh produce, in particular, kaukau.
“What the growers are faced with now is shortage of land due to population pressures, so they have to decide between coffee and other crops.
“Generally, food crops offer better prices than coffee.
“That’s why growers are responding by allocating more land and labour to producing these other crops and neglecting coffee.”
“So if we’re going to move the industry forward, coffee has to give better prices to growers.”
Mr Kuimbakul’s suggestion is that PNG coffee be aggressively marketed on the world stage.
“The only way that growers can receive better prices on a sustainable basis is for the industry to sell PNG coffee to international markets at better prices,” he said.
“We can get better prices only if we promote PNG coffee.
“PNG coffee is among the best in the world, but most consumers are not really aware of what PNG can offer.
“Other producing countries like Kenya, Columbia and Jamaica attract the best prices in the world because they have spent millions on promotion.
“This is why consumers perceive their coffee as of high quality, so they pay very high prices.
“I have tasted coffee from these countries, and PNG coffee is even better, but we get lousy prices because our coffee is no well-known.
“Basically, what I’m saying is that we shift from production to marketing.
“We’ve got to go out and tell the world what PNG has to offer, focusing on emerging markets like Japan, South Korea and China.
“Let’s create a demand for our coffee.
“When demand increases, prices will rise and growers will respond by increasing production.
“We want to increase production, but not by doing what we’ve been doing all this time.
“Let’s change the strategy, give growers better prices, and they will give us better coffee.

Papua New Guinea capable of producing world-class products

Micky Puritau of Paradise Spices shows some of the company’s products at the National Development Forum

Paradise Spices products on display at the National Development Forum

Papua New Guinea is more than capable of producing world-class finished products that meet international requirements, according to leading 100% nationally-owned vanilla and spice producer Micky Puritau.
Mr Puritau, managing director of Paradise Spices, said this in a heartening and widely-applauded presentation to the National Development Forum in Parliament last Friday.
Paradise Spices is a family run company that has been involved in the agriculture
sector in PNG since 1987 and exporting vanilla beans for 10 years.
The company this year received $170,000 funding from AusAID which will enable Paradise Spices to establish a solvent extraction facility at its Port Moresby site to produce pure vanilla extract, vanilla oleoresin (a naturally occurring mixture of resin
and essential oil) and other spices.
The facility would be the first of its kind in PNG and it would create a larger and more-reliable market for the farmers.
Part of the plan for the project is to gain international quality standard certification.
Once achieved, it is expected that this will lead to greater export opportunities.
“As a producer and exporter of finished products, Paradise Spices is constantly faced with new challenges and decisions each year after participating in trade shows around the world,” Mr Puritau told an appreciative audience.
“When we see products that can easily be made in PNG, we are challenged with questions like ‘why can’t we do this in our own country?’, ‘is it too difficult for Papua New Guineas to make these products?’; ‘do we grow the raw materials in PNG and is the supply consistent?’
“Quite often, the answer is quite simple and resulting from these challenges, Paradise Spices is now producing gold award products which are now being used as food ingredients to make gourmet products in Australia and Japan.
“From our experience, we believe many other Papua New Guineans can replicate what we are doing.
“The challenge for this nation is that we cannot continue to export raw materials which are susceptible to the oscillations of world market prices, generation after generation.
“We must change our mentality into one of growing, producing and exporting of finished products into countries like India and China.”
Mr Puritau said immense opportunities abounded in the global markets for PNG-made products.
“Many consumers from countries around the world such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, USA and Europe are seeking to buy organically-grown products and PNG is one country in the world than can supply these products,” he said.
“However, PNG producers must work towards obtaining quality standards certification from recognised certifying bodies already existing in order to satisfy the demand for quality products from these countries.
“We can no longer take these things for granted as we move into global trading and competition.
“Initially, the national government through its medium term development strategy (MTDS) 2005-2010, will need to provide support to existing producers and traders and improving their capacity to obtain quality standards certification.
“A database of local manufacturers needs to be established in order to provide direct and focused assistance.
“By increasing the number of certified producers over a 10-20 year period, this will result in increased volume pf trade and exports, thus, creating jobs locally and drawing in foreign currency which would contribute to a positive balance of payments never before seen in PNG.”

Sunday, August 09, 2009

National Agriculture Development Plan doomed to failure, says former agriculture boss

Former Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Mathew’Wela Kanua (pictured) says the massive National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) is doomed to failure because its initial recommendations are not being adhered to and will also have a drastic effect on the agriculture sector in Papua New Guinea.
He said this as this year’s NADP allocation of K100 million has been just about finished with no proper accountability and much of it going to dubious projects and individuals.
The government plans to inject a massive K1 billion, K100m a year for the next 10 years, to prop up agriculture in the country but this has backfired with many questions now being asked about the NADP.
Mr Kanua, one of the architects of the NADP during his tenure as DAL Secretary from 2002-2006, said after last week’s National Development Forum that the NADP was never intended to replace government public investment programme (PIP) funding.
He said this was a “recipe for disaster” and the biggest loser would be the agriculture sector.
“The NADP was not intended to replace the development budget of agriculture,” Mr Kanua said.
“NADP was created to be an investment fund for agriculture.
“What has actually happened is that NADP has replaced the PIP for agriculture and made the sector worse off than it was.
“For instance, the agriculture development budget used to average about K75-K85m annually.
“NADP has subsumed all the K85m with no extra funding for investment, so the sector is worse off than it was.
“The NADP was supposed to mobilise customary land and identify potential for large projects, using the model of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, with the government partnering with the private sector to develop one to two large projects in less-developed provinces every year.
“Over the tenure of the NADP, with private sector investment as well, the benefits would be tenfold.
“To do this, you need to set the NADP as appropriate legislation and corporatise the DAL, build up its capacity to deliver the NADP.
“It’s sad none of this is happening.
“And it’s also sad that all recommendations to improve it are mere recipes for disaster.
“It’s very heartening that the Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc has noted this.”
Mr Kanua said the only solution to making the NADP work was to go back to its original design.
He said various recommendations including streamlining of various layers of bureaucracy to improve the management and disbursement of NADAP funds would not
“I took care of the NADP planning process for six years under (former DAL Secretary) Utula Samana,” Mr Kanua said.
“When I left (as Secretary in 2006), I left a draft NADP, which was not the NADP that was intended.
“I left my hard notes to the incoming Secretary Anton Benjamin.
“I also wrote a letter to (then DAL) Minister Sasa Zibe, giving him a copy of the way forward.
“When John Hickey came in, I wrote another letter.
“I still have a copy.
“What everybody has to realise is that the NADP has been through three years of rigorous consultation provided by the economic sector ministers, headed by Bart Philemon.
“The plan is very simple: provide economic solutions to the myriad of social and cultural problems including mobilisation of land to grow the agricultural economy.

'Unproductive' public servants under the spotlight

Acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc (left) with PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation president Maria Linibi, one of the staunchest critics of “unproductive” public servants

The ‘unproductive’ public servants of Waigani came under the spotlight again at the National Development Forum at Parliament last Friday.
This led to Acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, who was visibly disappointed at the lack of attendance by senior and rank-and-file public servants, vowing to change the mindset of the huge and inefficient Waigani bureaucracy.
Mr Zurenuoc bluntly said when closing the forum that the entire public service needed a complete overhaul to make it click.
Ironically, that same day, the no-nonsense former Morobe Administrator had in the media likened Waigani public servants to “headless chooks” who wander aimlessly around Port Moresby without care or knowledge about what was happening in the provinces.
Concern was also raised at the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council forum about the lack of interest shown by politicians in this very important public meeting.
Speaker after speaker – some of whom had paid for their own travel from other parts of the country - raised the same concern at the lack of interest shown by public servants, particularly from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, given that the forum focused on “Opening up opportunities for agriculture and rural development”.
Many wanted answers about the massive National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), for which the government has injected K100 million into agriculture this year – money that has already been used up without proper accountability.
Like DAL, there was little if any attendance by the entire public service including key departments like National Planning and Monitoring, Treasury, Commerce and Industry and its line agencies, Lands and many more.
“I note with alarm your concern about people who are not here, not particularly politicians, but public servants,” Mr Zurenuoc said.
“This will continue to happen unless we change the mindset of public servants at Waigani.”
He admitted that the much talked about NADP was not working as indicated at the three-day forum.
“We know for a fact that the NADP is not working,” Mr Zurenuoc said.
“With the NADP, there is a serious problem,
“Let’s talk about NADP and making it work.”
Mr Zurenuoc said public –private partnership (PPP) was the only way to move the stagnant public service forward.
“That’s the direction that the government must go now,” he said.