Preparing to board the F100 at Jacksons
Junior, Gedi and Moasing
An excited trio
Gedi pokes his tongue
Keith and his nanny Olo
Keith and Olo
The gang or arrival at Nadzab
Walking to the plane at Jacksons
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Pictures from Mum's funeral
Hearse arrives from Angau Memorial Hospital on Friday, Sept 4, 2009
Rev Gideon Neo awaits arrival of the body of Mrs Moasing Nalu at Butibam village, Lae, on Friday Sept 4
Rev Neo and the Butibam village Gejamsaoc (women's group) line up to receive the body
The casket is taken out
Butibam village Gejamsaoc (women's group) line up to receive the body
The has krai (house of mourning)
The casket at rest
Mourning begins
Casket at Balob Philemon Memorial Church on Saturday, Sept 5
Mrs Saking Samuel and Mes Geob Gware sing one of the late Mrs Moasing Nalu's favorite songs beside her casket
The body is laid to rest at Butibam village cemetery
Grandchildren Juanita, Lavao and Moasing place flowers on the grave of Mrs Moasing Nalu
Flowers at the grave
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
A tribute to Mum
Moasing Nalu on her wedding day in 1963
Moasing Nalu and daughter Alison, 1966
Moasing Nalu with a baby whilst a nurse at Buangi hospital, Finschhafen+playing+the+flute+with+students+at+Buangi+School+of+Nursing,+Finschhafen..jpg)
Mrs Moasing Nalu (fourth from left, back row) playing the flute with students at Buangi School of Nursing, FinschhafenIn October 2007, I travelled with my Mum, the late Mrs Moasing Nalu, to Malalo in Buakap, Morobe province, for the 100th anniversary of the Miti (Word of God) reaching the Malalo Circuit.
She was so happy and proud that I was travelling with her and excitedly pointed out places like Malalo Mission Station, atop that iconic hill near Salamaua, as well as the historic Bula Girls School.
Mum had a lot to be happy about that day as her fellow villagers from Laukanu Village, just down the coast from Salamaua, arrived in Malalo that day on a kasali, a traditional sea-going canoe which was used by the Laukanu to take the Miti from Finschhafen to Malalo 100 years earlier.
She happily told people at Malalo that day that I, her journalist son, would write a story and takes pictures of the occasion, which I did, and it was given a good run in The National newspaper’s Weekender edition a couple of days later.
The saddest thing about me standing up deliver Mum’s eulogy at the Balob Philemon Memorial Church at Butibam village in Lae last Saturday was that it was an incomplete story, which will never be fully told, because the heroine passed away at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae on Wednesday, Sept 2, without telling me the full story of her life.
I had promised her on countless occasions that I would interview her and write the full story of her life; however, this was not to be.
The night before her funeral service, as I was putting together the eulogy, I realised that I could not find out very basic things like her exact date of birth, baptism and confirmation.
I talked to uncles from Laukanu, including Mum’s younger brother, Yanganu, and he told me that she was born in 1938, not 1942, meaning that she turned 71 last month.
Uncle Yanganu told me that she was confirmed at Malalo in around 1954, while as for baptism, he would have to check with missionary records from those far-off days, which he said were still available at Laukanu.
That aside, Mum was truly a woman of substance, an unsung hero whose deeds have contributed so much to the development of Papua New Guinea.
She commanded respect, as was seen by the number of people at her funeral service, as well as the laments at the haus krai at our Butibam village home last week.
Like Ruth, that great woman of the Bible, she accompanied Dad, teacher and later school inspector Mathias Nalu, to far-flung regions of the country such as Iufi-Iufa in the Eastern Highlands in the early 1960s, Ilimo in the Northern District (now Oro province) in 1969, Wewak in 1970 and 1971, Buka from 1971-1973, Port Moresby in 1974, Goroka from 1975-1977, Lae in 1978, Alotau in 1979, and Lae from 1978-1992.
All of us her five children – Alison, David, me, Lepung and Anna – have unforgettable memories of growing up and travelling all over the country in those colonial pre-independence days in TAA and Ansett DC3.
It was at Bula Girl’s School in 1956 that life really began, so to speak, for the young Moasing Nalu as it was there that she forged lifelong friendships with many women, many of whom went on to become prominent in community and church affairs.
Mum was one of the pioneers of this iconic school, which was dedicated on February 24, 1957, and was there for three years, passing out at the end of 1959, and going on to Buangi Hospital in Finschhafen, where she was trained as a nurse.
Buangi was renowned for training its young women in the skills of life, such as homemaking and music, and all of us her children will testify to what a good mother she was as well as a skilled musician who would often serenade us with her flute.
It was while at Buangi that she forged a relationship with a bright and ambitious young teacher from Butibam named Mathias Nalu, who was teaching at Yunzaing in Finschhafen, and that friendship led to eventual marriage at this very church – where we all gathered last Saturday for her funeral service – in 1963.
The newly-wed couple moved to Iufi-Iufa where they would be for the next five years.
Sir Nagora Bogan, one of the prominent sons of Butibam, accompanied Mum and Dad to Iufi-Iufa and it was also there in the Eastern Highlands that their first child, Alison, was born on March 11, 1964.
David followed on December 4, 1965.
I was born in Lae on August 9, 1967, while Dad was doing a Queensland Junior course at the Administrative College in Port Moresby.
Lepung was born on January 15, 1971, in Wewak while Anna was born on September 7, 1976 in Goroka.
Our house at Butibam became a meeting place for friends from high school, university and work, and Mum became very well-known to them because of her openness, friendship and hospitality.
One of these many friends, Dr John Ombiga, who is now based in Cairns, Australia, became a brother.
Almost exactly 16 years ago, on September 17, 1993, Dad passed away, leaving Mum to single-handedly hold the fort, which she did, with the real strength of a woman, until God called her earlier this week to be with her husband.
There have been down moments too, like the death of Alison’s eldest son Jack Nawatz on October 25, 2004, and my wife, Hula, on Eastern Sunday 2008, which left me with four young children to look after.
Mum was so concerned about me and the four young children that she would constantly check that we were doing well, something that we will never forget her for.
She loved her 14 grandchildren and always had time and a kind word for them until the day she died.
Mum may be gone, but she will always live on in our words and deeds, and her memory will continue to be our driving force in life.
Thank you God, for a wonderful life.
She was so happy and proud that I was travelling with her and excitedly pointed out places like Malalo Mission Station, atop that iconic hill near Salamaua, as well as the historic Bula Girls School.
Mum had a lot to be happy about that day as her fellow villagers from Laukanu Village, just down the coast from Salamaua, arrived in Malalo that day on a kasali, a traditional sea-going canoe which was used by the Laukanu to take the Miti from Finschhafen to Malalo 100 years earlier.
She happily told people at Malalo that day that I, her journalist son, would write a story and takes pictures of the occasion, which I did, and it was given a good run in The National newspaper’s Weekender edition a couple of days later.
The saddest thing about me standing up deliver Mum’s eulogy at the Balob Philemon Memorial Church at Butibam village in Lae last Saturday was that it was an incomplete story, which will never be fully told, because the heroine passed away at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae on Wednesday, Sept 2, without telling me the full story of her life.
I had promised her on countless occasions that I would interview her and write the full story of her life; however, this was not to be.
The night before her funeral service, as I was putting together the eulogy, I realised that I could not find out very basic things like her exact date of birth, baptism and confirmation.
I talked to uncles from Laukanu, including Mum’s younger brother, Yanganu, and he told me that she was born in 1938, not 1942, meaning that she turned 71 last month.
Uncle Yanganu told me that she was confirmed at Malalo in around 1954, while as for baptism, he would have to check with missionary records from those far-off days, which he said were still available at Laukanu.
That aside, Mum was truly a woman of substance, an unsung hero whose deeds have contributed so much to the development of Papua New Guinea.
She commanded respect, as was seen by the number of people at her funeral service, as well as the laments at the haus krai at our Butibam village home last week.
Like Ruth, that great woman of the Bible, she accompanied Dad, teacher and later school inspector Mathias Nalu, to far-flung regions of the country such as Iufi-Iufa in the Eastern Highlands in the early 1960s, Ilimo in the Northern District (now Oro province) in 1969, Wewak in 1970 and 1971, Buka from 1971-1973, Port Moresby in 1974, Goroka from 1975-1977, Lae in 1978, Alotau in 1979, and Lae from 1978-1992.
All of us her five children – Alison, David, me, Lepung and Anna – have unforgettable memories of growing up and travelling all over the country in those colonial pre-independence days in TAA and Ansett DC3.
It was at Bula Girl’s School in 1956 that life really began, so to speak, for the young Moasing Nalu as it was there that she forged lifelong friendships with many women, many of whom went on to become prominent in community and church affairs.
Mum was one of the pioneers of this iconic school, which was dedicated on February 24, 1957, and was there for three years, passing out at the end of 1959, and going on to Buangi Hospital in Finschhafen, where she was trained as a nurse.
Buangi was renowned for training its young women in the skills of life, such as homemaking and music, and all of us her children will testify to what a good mother she was as well as a skilled musician who would often serenade us with her flute.
It was while at Buangi that she forged a relationship with a bright and ambitious young teacher from Butibam named Mathias Nalu, who was teaching at Yunzaing in Finschhafen, and that friendship led to eventual marriage at this very church – where we all gathered last Saturday for her funeral service – in 1963.
The newly-wed couple moved to Iufi-Iufa where they would be for the next five years.
Sir Nagora Bogan, one of the prominent sons of Butibam, accompanied Mum and Dad to Iufi-Iufa and it was also there in the Eastern Highlands that their first child, Alison, was born on March 11, 1964.
David followed on December 4, 1965.
I was born in Lae on August 9, 1967, while Dad was doing a Queensland Junior course at the Administrative College in Port Moresby.
Lepung was born on January 15, 1971, in Wewak while Anna was born on September 7, 1976 in Goroka.
Our house at Butibam became a meeting place for friends from high school, university and work, and Mum became very well-known to them because of her openness, friendship and hospitality.
One of these many friends, Dr John Ombiga, who is now based in Cairns, Australia, became a brother.
Almost exactly 16 years ago, on September 17, 1993, Dad passed away, leaving Mum to single-handedly hold the fort, which she did, with the real strength of a woman, until God called her earlier this week to be with her husband.
There have been down moments too, like the death of Alison’s eldest son Jack Nawatz on October 25, 2004, and my wife, Hula, on Eastern Sunday 2008, which left me with four young children to look after.
Mum was so concerned about me and the four young children that she would constantly check that we were doing well, something that we will never forget her for.
She loved her 14 grandchildren and always had time and a kind word for them until the day she died.
Mum may be gone, but she will always live on in our words and deeds, and her memory will continue to be our driving force in life.
Thank you God, for a wonderful life.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Giant rat found in 'lost volcano' in Papua New Guinea
By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News
A new species of giant rat (pictured) has been discovered deep in the jungle of
The rat, which has no fear of humans, measures 82cm long, placing it among the largest species of rat known anywhere in the world.
The creature, which has not yet been formally described, was discovered by an expedition team filming the BBC programme Lost Land of the Volcano.
It is one of a number of exotic animals found by the expedition team.
Like the other exotic species, the rat is believed to live within the
"This is one of the world's largest rats. It is a true rat, the same kind you find in the city sewers," says Dr Kristofer Helgen, a mammalogist based at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History who accompanied the BBC expedition team.
Initially, the giant rat was first captured on film by an infrared camera trap, which BBC wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan set up in the forest on the slopes of the volcano.
The expedition team from the BBC Natural History Unit recorded the rat rummaging around on the forest floor, and were awed by its size.
Immediately, they suspected it could be a species never before recorded by science, but they needed to see a live animal to be sure.
Then trackers accompanying the team managed to trap a live specimen.
"I had a cat and it was about the same size as this rat," says Buchanan.
The trapped rat measured 82cm in length from its nose to its tail, and weighed approximately 1.5kg.
It had a silver-brown coat of thick long fur, which the scientists who examined it believe may help it survive the wet and cold conditions that can occur within the high volcano crater. The location where the rat was discovered lies at an elevation of over 1,000m.
Initial investigations suggest the rat belongs to the genus Mallomys, which contains a handful of other out-sized species.
It has provisionally been called the Bosavi woolly rat, while its scientific name has yet to be agreed.
Other rodents, the group of animals that includes rats, grow to a bigger size.
For example, the largest rodent of all is the capybara, which lives in or near freshwater in
It can grow up to 130cm long and weigh up to 65kg.
The
But of the true rats, which includes urban brown and black rats that belong to the genus Rattus, few can match the new species.
In 2007, an expedition to
However, that species lives in the
The expedition team entered the crater to explore pristine forest, where few humans have set foot.
Even members of the Kasua tribe, who acted as trackers for the expedition, live outside the crater, which is 4km wide and has walls up to 1km high, trapping the creatures that live within.
The island which includes
Over 57 species of true "Murid" rats and mice can be found on the island. The larger rats are often caught by hunters and eaten.
Broadcast of The
Monday, September 07, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY: APEC Singapore 2009 Leaders Week News Coverage
APEC Singapore 2009 Leaders Week News Coverage
Issued by the APEC Secretariat
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Iinteroil's proposed LNG project in Papua New Guinea
· Company Pleased with Support Received from Prime Minister and
Minister for Petroleum and Energy
· InterOil LNG Project Expected to Generate Competitive Economic Returns and
Create Thousands of New Jobs and Economic Benefits for
· Independent Resource Evaluations from GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. and
Knowledge Reservoir Provided to
PORT MORESBY, Mon Sept 7: INTEROIL Corporation today confirmed it would develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in PNG soon to underpin its commitment as a long-haul investment and development partner.
InterOil and its joint venture partners, Petromin PNG Holdings Limited and Pacific LNG Operations Ltd., have submitted a project agreement to the government of
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, William Duma, have stated their support for the proposed project and associated agreement.
As previously announced, the proposed LNG project targets a $6.0 billion two-train LNG facility, with each train capable of producing approximately 4 million tons of LNG per annum. Current plans call for first production of LNG towards the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015.
“We are pleased with the support that our proposed project and associated agreement have received from key government officials,” said Phil Mulacek, Chief Executive Officer of InterOil.
“By creating thousands of new jobs and other economic benefits, InterOil’s project has the potential to provide significant prosperity to the people of
The proposed LNG project is expected to have competitive investment returns compared to other projects under consideration in the region.
In particular, the high total volume of liquid content of the hydrocarbon resources estimated at the Elk/Antelope field as well as existing infrastructure in place, including the 99-year lease on government owned land for the LNG facility, deep-water harbour rights, jetty system with two berths for loading and off-loading ships, electricity, housing and roadways support the cost-competitiveness of the project and are expected to enhance investment returns when compared with other projects under consideration in the region.
Additionally, InterOil’s wells in the Elk/Antelope field are located in moderate foothills terrain, close to the coast and LNG plant site at
At least 5,000 jobs are expected to be created at peak construction of the InterOil facility.
Economic returns from the project are expected to help fund public infrastructure and community services in
In addition to the previously noted support received from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, the proposed project and associated agreement are also supported by other key members of the
To support the project agreement, InterOil has recently provided two separate independent resource evaluations, one developed by GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. and one developed by Knowledge Reservoir.
“Based on two separate independent resource evaluations prepared for InterOil and recently provided to Papua New Guinea officials, as well as the Company’s own results attained to date, InterOil believes that the likelihood of further successful exploration efforts for more gas and gas condensate, and for the potential discovery of oil in commercial quantities, have increased,” continued Mr Mulacek.
“Like the Prime Minister, we recognize how important this project is to the development and reputation of
About the Elk/Antelope Field
InterOil has three exploration licenses surrounding the Elk/Antelope field onshore in
Since late 2006, InterOil has drilled three gas or gas and condensate wells in the Elk/Antelope field and, in so doing, has established its wells as the first, second and third highest flow rates for onshore gas wells in
After preliminary testing for several weeks in March 2009, the Company’s Antelope-1 well flowed at 382 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcfd) with 5,000 barrels of condensate per day (BCPD) for a total 68,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD).
GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., an independent qualified reserves evaluator, prepared an evaluation of the potential resources of gas and condensate for the Elk/Antelope field, effective as at December 31, 2008 (the “GLJ Evaluation”) in accordance with the definitions and guidelines in the COGE Handbook and the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.
A summary of the GLJ evaluation is included in InterOil’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008, a copy of which is located at www.sedar.com.
Additional data from the drilling of the Antelope 1 well has been obtained since December 31, 2008, which data is included in the evaluation prepared by Knowledge Reservoir of the potential resources of gas and condensate for the Elk/Antelope field, effective as at March 31, 2009.
Knowledge Reservoir is not an independent qualified reserve evaluator, as such term is defined in NI 51-101.
Based on these evaluations, as well as Company results attained to date, InterOil believes that the likelihood of further successful exploration efforts for new gas and gas condensate, and for the potential discovery of oil in commercial quantities, has increased.
About InterOil
InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is
InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 4.6 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea, where the Company has invested more than $2 billion kina to date.
In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct an LNG plant on a site adjacent to InterOil’s refinery in
InterOil’s common shares trade on the NYSE in US dollars. The Company is headquartered in
Investor Contacts for InterOil:
Wayne Andrews
V. P. Capital Markets
The Woodlands, TX
Phone: +1-281-292-1800
Anesti Dermedgoglou
Phone: +61 7 4046 4600
Media Contact for InterOil:
Ed Trissel/Andrea Priest
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Phone: +1-212-355-4449
For further in formation in PNG please contact
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations/Public Affairs (PNG)
InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 321 7040
Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com or slaumaea@digicelpacific.blackberry.com
Fuel prices rise as world demand increases
PORTMORESBY, Mon Sept 7: INCREASED international demand for refined fuels has forced up retail prices throughout
Gasoline, diesel and kerosene will rise by about 13 percent for September.
InterOil President Bill Jasper said the higher prices reflect the current volatility of the international marketplace.
“In late August crude oil peaked at around $US73 per barrel, the highest it has been all year.
“However, last month domestic pump prices actually fell in the wake of a decline in international demand,” Mr Jasper said.
“Markets are in a state of flux.
“On one hand there is concern about the continued effects of the global financial crisis.
“On the other, there are signs (including the latest OECD forecast) that the worst may be behind us.
“It is this uncertainty that causes such volatility in the international marketplace and such rapid movement in prices.
“Again we see proof that local fuel prices are determined by global forces and perceptions.
Despite this month’s increases, all fuels remain less expensive throughout
“Gasoline (ULP), diesel and kerosene are all more than 40 percent cheaper than they were at the beginning of October 2008”, Mr Jasper said.
Mr Jasper said that all refined fuels are currently “very affordable” by historic and international standards.
“And that, in these trying economic times, is positive and welcome news”.
For further information contact:
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations/Public Affairs (PNG)
InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 311 2796
Email: slaumaea@digicelpacific.blackberry.com or susuve.laumaea@interoil.com
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Death notice
Death notice for Mrs Moasing Nalu
Family and friends are advised of the death of my mother, Mrs Moasing Nalu, at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at 10.15am.
Aged in her late 60s, she is survived by her children Alison, David, Malum, Lepung and Anna Nalu as well as 14 grand children.
Haus karai (house of mourning) is at our home at Butibam village in Lae.
My mum was a committed Christian until the day she died, and worked with my father, the late Mathias Nalu, all over the country in the colonial pre-independence days.
I will be posting a tribute to my mother on this blog.
Family and friends can contact me on my mobile (675) 6849763.
Family and friends are advised of the death of my mother, Mrs Moasing Nalu, at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at 10.15am.
Aged in her late 60s, she is survived by her children Alison, David, Malum, Lepung and Anna Nalu as well as 14 grand children.
Haus karai (house of mourning) is at our home at Butibam village in Lae.
My mum was a committed Christian until the day she died, and worked with my father, the late Mathias Nalu, all over the country in the colonial pre-independence days.
I will be posting a tribute to my mother on this blog.
Family and friends can contact me on my mobile (675) 6849763.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Three articles by James Wanjik
Leadership of position power politics in Papua New Guinea
By James Wanjik
E-mail: jameswanjik@hotmail.com
PNG is low on leadership. People are without true leadership. Leaders would have us think otherwise. He who boasts will not see light of truth. For boastfulness is not a true leadership attribute.
Both divides of our Parliament have been tearing each other apart. They are politically aggressive. No human dignity and common courtesy would be their way of moving people. Very sad indeed.
PNG is starved of true leadership. No leader is kind to any other leader. Every leader has more pride than the next leader. Weakness is human skills is covered with position power. Position power is very time-bound. When time is up position power also ends. No leader is invincible. This is the truth.
Person power on the other hand is time-honoured. It will last for as long as a person lives, moves and have his or her being.
Leaders miss opportunity to help leaders work for people. They plot and destroy each other while their people wait in vain for help of their leaders. PNG will only see lot of leaders lose their human dignity because that is what PNG politics is all about.
So far we have seen our leaders’ war of words. Politics of words our leaders are masters. Taking actions to help our people leaders are very timid. They are powerless if they were not Prime Minister or Ministers. It only shows timidity of leaders.
Vision and charisma are two key ingredients of true leadership. No position is required for realising a vision. No position is necessary for charisma. They are formed in mind and heart and are perfected in spirit of a person.
Vision helps a person to see into the future with lessons from past and present. Charisma draws people to the vision. PNG is starting to see people power movement taking shape. It will intensify. When it hits the roof leaders will know they were there for themselves. It is now only a matter of time. Low leadership will go packing. High leadership will delight. It will end leadership of position power politics. Only ending leadership of position power politics will PNG see true leaders serving people regardless of position power.
Long live PNG and may God bless her people.
Porgera Landowners’ petition start of activism
By James Wanjik
E-mail: jameswanjik@hotmail.com
THESTORY, “Los deliver petition to Temu” (Sunday Chronicle, Sunday, 30 August 2009, p.7 ) highlights damaging undercurrents at Porgera. “No resettlement; no mining” is the summary of the landowners’ petition. The future is hidden in words.
First, landowners say they had sent their petition to the Prime Minister earlier but after a month without a response they re-directed it to Minister for Mining Puka Temu.
Porgera project is the first project in PNG that was offered a development package now commonly referred to as benefits sharing agreement.
It was rushed to cushion the impact of the closure of Panguna mine. When deals are rushed problems are sowed. Porgera has a number of these problems.
1. The government accused the predecessors of Barrick Gold Limited that they had understated the reserve at Porgera to keep government out of equity participation. The Equity Agreement of 1979 was reviewed and increased to 25% from initial 10%.
2. The landowners were relocated within the Special Mining Lease to contain the initial cost of developing the mine. Otherwise the project would not have been developed.
3. The Mining Development Contract allowed fly-in fly-out mining operations at Porgera and the Memorandum of Agreement provided for the development of township at Paiam. Dispute resulted in a separate agreement for the development of Paiam town.
4. The mine has no legal obligation to develop a mine closure plan. There is no approved mine closure policy.
5. Lower Porgera people have running dispute with the Porgera mine on discharge of mine tailings.
6. Relocation of new generation landowners are not protected.
7. Small scale mining and illegal mining have not been clearly identified and separated.
These are just some of the problems for rushing projects like Porgera. We are just at the beginning of a long struggle by Porgera landowners.
Porgera landowners are respected deal makers and breakers. They were even the first to exit from MRDC Group of Companies.
Barrick Gold Limited may be leading gold producer but Porgera gold are on and in the
Would our leaders listen to Porgera landowners?
PNG is way ahead with Border Development Authority
By James Wanjik
E-mail: jameswanjik@hotmail.com
THE BORDER Development Authority (BDA) is a new special purpose development authority established under the BDA Act 2008. It was set up to coordinate funding and development in the border areas of PNG. Since independence on 16 September 1975 our borderless people have been neglected by the government.
Foreign policy is based on protection of state sovereignty. This was largely a function of regulation. It was about recognisance and preventative government intervention. Now after 33 years of independence the government saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Development of the border areas was a precondition to the protection of national sovereignty.
People-centred development will result in people being patriotic about their country. Education and training will naturally produce enlightened elites. Health care will give PNG healthy looking people. Transport infrastructure will create opportunities for beneficial employment. Supporting church-run programs will assist in forming spirit of morality and ethics. The BDA is about assisting the national government deliver on first national goal- integral human development.
Upon inauguration in March 2009 the BDA has won many firsts. It has won the support of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to develop Kangu Border Post where regulators can process inflow and outflow of goods and people. This truth will be confirmed by the regulatory agencies.
BDA also used its special status as a development authority to get Asian Development Bank support for a pilot project on trade and investment in Wutung,
BDA has also developed a ten year development plan from 2010 – 2020. It is a culmination of record consultation and collaboration with regulatory agencies, provincial governments and representatives of the ABG.
Before the end of this year BDA will take delivery of a number of landing crafts to assist the maritime transport needs of the islands, coastal, and river communities in the border areas and elsewhere in our country. More landing crafts will be acquired in 2010.
The BDA is perhaps the only service-oriented government organisation. It is a light the government created after 33 years of uncoordinated border development. Fear of light will destroy negative politics of old. Fiefdom syndrome is not what BDA is all about. It is about collaboration, cooperation and coordination. National sovereignty can only be protected in true unity of body, heart, mind and spirit. A whole person fully grounded in life knowledge and skills will protect PNG’s sovereignty. BDA is moving people to be patriotic about PNG. It will end the era of darkness in border development.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Malaysian investment in Papua New Guinea continues to grow
-726950.JPG)
Caption: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Malaysian High Commissioner to PNG Datin Blanche Olbery prepare to cut a cake marking
Malaysian has and will continue to invest highly in Papua New Guinea, says Malaysian High Commissioner to PNG Datin Blanche Olbery.
Ms Olbery said this at a function at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby tonight to celebrate Malaysia’s 52nd anniversary of independence.
“Malaysia’s investment in PNG is relatively high, as you can see by the number of prominent Malaysian businessmen present here today,” she told guests including Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
“The prospect of Malaysian investment in PNG remains positive as currently we have strong relations with PNG and our relations can be further enhanced for further investment to be facilitated into the resource sectors of the country.
“To date, the Malaysian private sector continues to have significant presence with investments totaling K3 billion since 1994.
“In addition, Malaysian companies are the leading citizen job providers in PNG owing to large number of jobs created per million kina invested and have in fact generated 36, 000 jobs since 1995.”
Ms Olbery predicted this investment would grow with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project soon to come on stream.
“With the recent discovery of world’s biggest natural gas reservoir and the LNG project, which is expected to begin its operations soon as well as with political stability in the government, the economic interest in PNG will continue to grow and I believe in near future, there would be an influx of foreign investors and businessmen to invest in this country, including new investors from Malaysia,” she said.
Papua New Guinea tourism industry to be regulated over time
By IVAN POMALEU
Managing Director
Investment Promotion Authority
The issue of having foreign companies operating as tour operators in the country has been described as complex and “does not have a clear cut business operation”.
For beginners, tourism in
Being such, the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), has been focusing its effort on marketing and promoting the destination than regulating the industry.
The PNGTPA in acknowledging the need to enforce industry standards has stated that though there are laws relating to foreigners doing business in PNG and the need to get foreign company certification, work permits and pay tax to the government, it is quite difficult to enforce them given that PNG’s tourism industry is at its infant stage and a lot of work needs to be done in terms of regulation and enforcement.
The Authority said that foreign tour operators visit the country on adhoc basis with varying number of days in PNG, furthermore complicates the monitoring of tour leaders or tour operators coming to PNG with their tourists.
The TPA has now taken a step in regulating the industry by developing the Tour Operators Code of Conduct for all operators in PNG and abroad.
This will be the building block to launch into regulating the industry.
This will mean that tour operators will be expected to comply with the necessary rules and regulations of the Government of PNG before doing business in PNG.
The PNGTPA has pledged to work with other government agencies such as Investment Promotion Authority of Papua New Guinea (IPAPNG), the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) and the Department of Labour and Immigration and the industry members both domestic and foreign to address the issue without causing any inconvenience for both the operators and the tourists within the short term.
Meanwhile, the Investment Promotion Act states that any one off or an isolated business transaction by a foreign company that is concluded within a period of less than 31 days does not require the company to be certified by IPA to carry on business in an activity in the country.
However, where the business is undertaken repeatedly over time, then that foreign company is deemed to be carrying on business in PNG and is required to be certified by IPA to operate in that business activity in the country.
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