Remain vigilant: Yakasa

THE public has been reminded to remain vigilant while in their homes and in their movement around the city while police are carry out operations to recapture seven of the remaining most wanted criminal still on the run and the more than 40 escapees who broke for freedom during separate jail breaks from Bomana last year, The National reports.

National Capital District metropolitan commander Chief Supt Fred Yakasa yesterday issued the warning while commending the public for their assistance in the recapture of the five dangerous fugitives, including most wanted bank robber William Nanua Kapris. So far out of the 12 that escaped last month, four of whom were caught in the vicinity of the city in the past week since.

Oliver Ben was the first of the escapees to be caught. He was found in the hills near Sogeri on Jan 22.

When asked if police had any new and reliable leads to the whereabouts of suspects still on the run, Mr Yakasa said he could not comment more on the ongoing NCD police operations to hunt down remaining escapees.

Mr Yakasa referred The National to seek comments and the latest brief from NCD and Central province police commander chief Supt Awan Sete and NCD Police Operations commander Raphael Huafolo.

Attempts to get comments from both Mr Sete and Mr Huafolo were unsuccessful.

 

Australia approves 650 fruit pickers from Papua New Guinea

PNG among 2,500 Pacific Islanders to work on Aussie farms

 

THE Australian government has approved 650 fruit pickers from Papua New Guinea to work in farms in Australia this year, The National reports.

Australia foreign affairs minister Steven Smith, in his letter sent to his PNG couterpart Sam Abal last month, said the Papua New Guineans would be among the 2,500 Pacific Islanders allowed to work in farms in Australia.

Mr Abal told The National yesterday from Hoskins airport, East New Britain province, that a task force had been set up within his ministry to establish provincial coordinators who will work closely with the churches, police and community leaders to identify good, young energetic men and women to work in Australia.

“The recruitment will be conducted in all the 22 provinces in the country, including the new Jiwaka and Hela provinces.

“The provincial coordinators to be set up this year will be working closely with churches, police and community leaders to identify Grade 10 and 12 school leavers with good character and record, no criminal record, disciplined, law abiding and hard working citizens to go and work in Australia,” he said.

Mr Abal said: “We want good people to work and establish a good reputation to convince the Australians to recruit more Papua New Guineans.

“We cannot blindly send all the 650 workforce down because this is the number of people allowed by the Australian government but what is the demand of the farmers.

“This we have to find out first before the fruit pickers are sent to Australia.

“Those selected will go through some form of training before they are sent off to Australia.”

He said his department was responsible for the recruitment and that no else or agents were appointed to carry out the recruitment.

“When demand for fruit pickers is high, we will engage a private company to take charge of the whole operation after two years,” he said.

Mr Abal advised the people not to listen to private consultants, companies or individuals claiming to represent his office and collecting fees and promising them jobs in Australia.

 

Partnership in rice extension

Caption: DAL rice extension coordinator Verave Gavali (right) and JICA’s senior advisor - rural development Akamatsu Shiro during the consultation with NARI in Lae last week.-Picture by SENIORL ANZU

 

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

 

A smallholder rice development initiative, promoted through the “model farmer” concept by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) and the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) is set to kick-off in the Manus and Milne Bay provinces come 2011.

 This will be an extension of the village-based rice development programme to rice-growing provinces of PNG following its success in Madang and East Sepik provinces when it was first implemented between 2003-2008.

But this extension phase would involve greater collaborations with other technically-oriented organisations such as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in order to address technical problems such as pest and disease which were encountered during the initial phase.

This was revealed in Lae last Thursday when a technical team from DAL and JICA visited NARI to seek its technical input.

DAL and JICA are promoting local rice production through the model farmer concept in which skills and knowledge are transferred to farmers in a multiplier effect fashion at village level to address for food security.

The concept is pursued by a newly-established Rice Extension Unit under DAL’s Food Security Branch.

Rice extension coordinator Verave Gavali said while the programme was a success in Madang and East Sepik, there were some technically-oriented problems such as pest and disease, soil, climate and other agro-ecological issues.

Therefore, he said DAL and JICA wanted partnership with NARI and other organisations to work together in expanding the programme so that such problems were also addressed.

JICA rice research techniques instructor Tatsuo Fujita said they would also be interested in NARI for varietal selection and farming systems research.

A senior JICA volunteer, Noboru Iwano, who has been involved in rice development in PNG for the last two years, said he had observed pest and disease as a major problem and NARI’s input was needed.

Mr Iwano added that the consumption of rice was high in PNG and all stakeholders should work in collaboration now to increase production locally.

NARI acting director-general Dr Sergie Bang said the institute would work with DAL and JICA in terms of research and development of rice.

Dr Bang said NARI had a rice and grain project which could team up in the programme in the areas of pest and disease, seed varietal selection, farming systems research and other ecological issues.

Other collaborators targeted in the programme include the Lae-based ROC Taiwanese Technical Mission to PNG and Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA), a Japanese eco-technical training centre based in Kokopo.

 Both organisations are also involved in local rice production. 

Under the programme, rice development is undertaken through model farmer approach as an extension to smallholder households.

Hundreds of farmers in Madang and East Sepik were trained as model rice farmers who in turn trained other farmers in their districts and villagers between 2003 and 2008.

These model farmers were also exposed to overseas training in various aspects of rice production.

Some of these models have also indicated to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to other rice farmers in the country.

The Carbon Cowboy rides again

From PAUL OATES

(A very illuminating report on this person was recently aired on Aljazeera TV)

The Post Courier reports that the well known 'Carbon Cowboy', Kirk Roberts of Nupan (PNG) Trading Corporation has galloped into the Papuan Gulf, fresh from his 'roundup' in the PNG Highlands. Previously, Mr Robert's reported 'modus operandi' involved obtaining the local people's Power of Attorney on the understanding that Mr Robert's Corporation will then sell the local people's forest as carbon credits or carbon sinks on the open market.
Apparently these 'credits' can be traded on the open market to electricity producers elsewhere in the world who use this credit to justify their
continued business as usual and yet claim they are reducing their emissions due to 'emissions trade offs'. A worrying factor to some is the lack of any
details being provided by Nupan as to how any income generated from selling these credits will be distributed or what Mr Roberts and his backers will
get for their efforts.
PNG has yet to legislate any regulations to govern carbon trading and the Office tasked with this activity has since been disbanded due to printing
millions of Kina worth of now claimed, false Carbon Credits with the PM  Somare's signature on them. The PM claimed these 'credits' were forgeries
and after copies were leaked to the press, the issuer then said they were only drafts. Somare has now moved to reorganise government control over this activity by creating a new office within a government department yet nothing appears to be happening.
On another blog site operated by Emmanuel Narakobi, some young, educated PNGians are asking Mr Robert's supporters some important questions like 'who are all these scientists' and 'where is the money coming from'?
All those who have seen how easy it can be to initially hoodwink the local village people with claims of wealth for very little effort will form their
own views about this new activity. No one would suggest PNG people are unable to sort out the sheep from the goats however this may be initially
difficult in the villages, where there may not be a lot of opportunity to gain a full picture of what the true situation about world Carbon Trading
may be.
Previous reports in the local news appeared to suggest that a prominent NA politician had been given K200,000 to 'assist' with this activity. The PNG
government is now for some reason, apparently either unable or unwilling to help their people with this determination. Now why would this be one is
tempted to ask?
So presumably, the Carbon Cowboy will ride off into the sunset with a thick wad of 'Power of Attorney's in his hip pocket and very little security for
those who signed them left behind. What is worrying is that the Post Courier reports that 'Australians' are organising this activity.

Japan-PNG relations take a turn for the better

Japan-Papua New Guinea relations take a turn for the better next month with the opening of the new PNG Embassy building in Tokyo and the commencement of twice-weekly Air Niugini flights from Port Moresby to Narita.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare will open the new PNG chancery on Wednesday, Mar 31, the same day that Air Niugini launches its second weekly Port Moresby-Narita flight.

Charge d' Affaires Dennis Bebego said from Tokyo today that the PNG Embassy in Toky was currently in the process of finalising arrangements for the formal opening and naming of the newly-constructed building by Sir Michael.

"This is a significant national event and is a realisation of the national government's commitment to the tune of K20 million towards this chancery project," he said.

"It is historic in that this would be the second building to have been constructed and owned by the government to house its overseas diplomatic mission; the first being the PNG High Commission building in Canberra.

"The construction of this chancery, which began in May 2009 with a groundbreaking ceremony performed also by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, was completed in December last year and the building formally handed over on Jan 19, 2010.

"It is now scheduled for formal opening on Mar 31, 2010, when Prime Minister makes an official visit to Japan.

"A large entourage of guests and VIPs from PNG as well as Japan will attend the event."

Mr Bebego said the commitment by the government to this project was recognition of the important and maturing relations between Japan and PNG – "a relationship that in recent times has gone to a higher level, with the recent involvement of some high profile Japanese companies in the PNG LNG project".

Sweet and proudly made in Bulolo

By PISAI GUMAR

 

Bulolo MP Sam Basil proudly posing with jars of honey harvested in his electorate in Morobe province.

This is Bulolo’s second harvest in two years after the visionary politician brought down established honey trainers from Goroka, Eastern Highlands province, to teach his people about beekeeping and honey production.

The first harvest after four months last year was less than 200kg while this second harvest is more than 300kg.

The 20-litre containers in the picture are packed with sweet Bulolo honey and the cardboard boxes as well.

Mr Basil also designed a logo for the jars.

On top, it states: “Bulolo Golden Honey”.

In the middle is a picture of a honey bee, the PNG Made logo and Bulolo district logo.

At the bottom, it reads: “Pure honey from natural flowers on the gold land.No additional additives.”

Last Thursday, The National reported that Eastern Highlands provincial beekeeping coordinator Tella Loie was in Bulolo to assist honey farmers with their harvest.

Bee farming is a project that falls under Mr Basil’s district support improvement programme (DSIP).

The hives matured for harvest in just four months from being established which has excited Mr Loie and his Eastern Highlands team.

“The results were very exciting, unexpected and greatly impressive,” he said.

Mr Basil is preparing to present each jar of 250g, 500g and a 2kg in the coming March session of Parliament.

He will be presenting the jars of honey to the Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister, other MPs and the Department of Agriculture respectively.

Mr Basil has urged his colleague MPs to invest into honey production because the country had wasted its flora and fauna which could be useful for the honey industry.

Apart from that, it could also have some indirect benefits such as employment opportunities, food security, education and income generation.

It has been estimated that PNG produces 40 tonnes of honey valued at K400, 000 that is consumed annually.

PNG consumption, however, is estimated at 200 tonnes and valued at K2 million annually, which is heavily subsidised by imports mainly from Australia.

Mr Basil said if only the agriculture department were in union with the political will of MPs, the bee market would be captured by promoting locally-produced honey in the rural areas or districts in the country.

 

Attempted assassination of Ombudsman not as grim as the national silence

From Nasfund Newsletter

On December 11, 2009, something fundamentally changed in Papua New Guinea. One of the most important institutions of State, the Ombudsman Commission was sent a message.

That message was delivered by an attempted assassination on the Chief Ombudsman himself, Chronex Manek.

Having attended a round of functions, he was followed only to be met by three gunmen as he attempted to enter the gates of his house.

A bullet meant for his heart missed him by a few millimeters.

Let us be under no illusion about this attempted assassination. Chronex Manek was attacked for what he represents and for attempting to fulfill his role under the mandate of the Commission.

This brazen attack should concern everyone who believes in accountability, the rule of law and independence of institutions.

There can be no room for vigilantes who feel that intimidation and avoidance of potential scrutiny can be dealt with by violence.

 The attempted assassination is a direct attack on this country's future, its attractiveness for investment and its reputation.

  It is an attack on the people of Papua New Guinea.

Surprisingly and worryingly there has been little to no reaction from members of Parliament or civil society to this matter.

Have we become so fatigued by corruption, maladministration and abuse of the system that this episode is just but another to skim through briefly on our read of the daily newspapers?

 Is this what we have now come too?

This episode must not be forgotten.

The Government and the police must ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Failure to do so, turns this country backwards, tears at the constitution and makes a mockery of our democracy.

This is not a direction any of us wish to see.



 

Happy 8th Birthday Gedi 'Boy' Nalu

Happy eighth Birthday to my second son, Gedi 'Boy' Nalu Jr, who turned eight years old on Saturday, February 13, 2010.
I love you son, and God Bless You as Your prepare to take your place in this wide, wide world.

Love from Dad, as well as big brother Malum Nalu Jr, sister Moasing, and baby Keith, plus family and friends in Daru, Lae, Goroka, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the world.

A thought for Valentine's Day

Hula, my Darling,

Today, I will see all the lovers having a good time, but you are not here to share with me.

Why, why, why?

 

The times we spent together, in Lae, Goroka, Port Moresby, will be cherised forever.

You left me all alone on March 23, 2008, with our four lovely young children.

 

This picture is one of the happy times we had in Goroka in 1999.

 

Hula, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!

Chinese investor looks at oil palm for biofuel

By BUSISI SIWAKA of DAL

 

A Chinese investor is looking at opportunities in oil palm development and management of oil palm plantations for biofuel (diesel).

The company, ZTE Agribusiness Company Ltd, believes PNG can become the next location for its quest for expansion of oil palm plantation development and management.

Papua New Guinea has massive land available as well as the climate being conducive for oil palm development.

Two senior executives of the Chinese company recently held discussions with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Investment Promotion Authority and relevant government agencies.

ZTE Agribusiness Company Ltd is a subsidiary of ZTE, one of the biggest telecommunication companies in the People’s Republic of China.

It has recently diversified into agri-business activities and currently has developed thousands of hectares of oil palm plantation in Congo, Indonesia and Laos.

The company is interested in PNG because of the vast potential of its agriculture sector.

Company executives Chen Long and Ran Ran met DAL’s acting director for policy and planning, Ian Mesibere, to discuss their proposal as well as seek more information on government policies, procedures and issues relating to agro-forestry investment and agribusiness.

Mr Mesibere, on behalf of the DAL Secretary, welcomed the officials and outlined the role and responsibilities of DAL as well as the Oil Palm Industry Corporation.

 He spoke on a number of issues including land tenure system, state and customary land, joint venture arrangements, environment and delivery of agricultural services.

He also highlighted the existing and proposed oil palm development in various parts of the country.

 

Simbu welcomes agriculture support services project

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

A project implementation agreement has been signed for an agriculture extension project in the Simbu province.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Simbu administration signed the agreement in Port Moresby recently for the Smallholder Support Services Expansion Project, which is to be funded under New Zealand Aid.

 The Department of National Planning and Monitoring is the other signatory to the agreement.

The agreement basically reaffirms that the Simbu administration will utilise the funding made available through grants from NZAid and other sources to promote effective agriculture support services delivery system to smallholder farmers.

The project is aimed at contributing to the overall goal of an improved quality of life for smallholder farmers and their families by increasing their access to agriculture support services. It covers priority areas such as food crop production, livestock, farming systems management, input supplies, marketing, training and awareness, and community development.

The provincial division of agriculture and livestock will take charge in implementing the project and will establish a support services contract facility, management unit and a steering committee. A key component of the project will be capacity building for agricultural staff and support service providers in the province.

At the signing of the agreement at DAL headquarters, witnessed by Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia, all parties pledged to work closely in supporting the project.

DAL Secretary Anton Benjamin said DAL as the executing agency would ensure that funding was made available for the next two years and that the project ran smoothly.

 He said donor agencies were mindful of how their funds were spent and urged the recipients to instill strict accountability in use of funds.

 The project will have an impact in the rural communities especially in extension and agriculture services delivery.

Simbu administrator Joe Kunda Naur said the project was an excellent opportunity to boost agriculture development and urged the provincial government to give its full support.

 He was confident that his administration had the capability to implement the project, which will be launched in two districts.

Fr Garia welcomed the project and assured the administration and DAL that his government would give its support.

He said agriculture was important for the province and such projects must have a positive impact.

 

 

 

 

Villagers hail kaukau testing technology

Caption:  Meteyufa farmers happily harvesting the PT Trial

 

By DORCAS HOMARE of NARI

 

Sweet potato or kaukau farmers at Meteyufa village near Goroka were proud harvesters of improved kaukau yields of a research trial planted from clean planting materials developed through a new technology known as pathogen testing.

The trial,  by the National Agricultural Research Institute’s Highlands Regional Research Centre at Aiyura, Eastern Highlands, which was planted late last year, had both pathogen tested (PT) and non-pathogen Tested (NPT) planting materials.

The comparative trial was conducted to demonstrate the advantage of PT materials over non-PT materials in terms of yield differences.

PT materials are planting materials of kaukau that are tested to be clean from diseases such as scab and scurf, but most importantly viral diseases.

Research in Australia and elsewhere has shown that complexities of viruses are perhaps a major contributing factor and so far three major virus strains have been identified in the kaukau production systems in PNG.

 Viruses are microscopic pathogens and are systemic.

They thrive in the plant from generation to generation and silently contribute to yield decline, a problem which could be overcome by the use of the PT materials.

In 2008, a PT scheme was established in PNG to improve sweet potato yield and quality by removing virus and virus-like organisms.

The PT scheme includes germplasm maintenance, foundation seed production, reselection, heat treatment, meristem culture, virus indexing using indicator plants, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and/or molecular methods. In removing viruses from the plant, the PT scheme also frees plants from other diseases such as scab and scurf and pests like gall mites and weevils whose eggs are deposited on the vines and leaves.

The PT comparison trial at Meteyufa was part of an ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) funded project which is investigating the impact of pests and diseases on sweet potato in PNG cropping systems.

NARI and the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA), PNG, are collaborating with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and fisheries (QDPI&F), Australia, to trial out and disseminate information on the PT technology to farmers in the Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands provinces.

As part of field demonstration of the technology to farmers, FPDA, through mini field demonstration trials, has distributed more than 500 PT cuttings to farmers for cultivation at various sites in both the Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces.

Meteyufa village is an agriculturally dynamic area in Eastern Highlands with many different agricultural activities taking place.

Sweet potato is one of the most-dominant commercial crops the village cultivates.

A Meteyufa commercial farmer, Aku Ulo, noticed yield decline in his sweet potato farms and expressed it in 2009.

 In response, NARI and FPDA set up the comparative trial at the village to demonstrate that planting of PT materials can help improve his kaukau yield.

The trial, which lasted about four months, was harvested on Dec 15, 2009.

 Fifteen farmers from the village as well as president of the Eastern Highlands Women in Agriculture (WiA), Margaret Seko, and another member of the group, Jennifer Kena, participated in the harvest and witnessed improvements that can be derived from the PT technology.

They observed huge yield differences.

One of the farmers, Tom Soles said there were obvious differences between the PT and non-PT tubers in their shapes, sizes and general yield.

He said he was astonished to see much better yields from PT materials as compared to those by non-PT materials.

With excitement, other farmers requested for PT materials to be distributed.

The trial was hailed a success as it achieved its goal of demonstrating the advantages of the PT technology to the farmers.

From the preliminary results, it is envisaged that the project is likely to result in higher productivity through increased overall yield, improved tuber shape and flesh colour, resulting in greater market appeal.

Currently, the PT project is in the phase of cleaning up all the commercial sweet potato varieties from the Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces.

The cleaning process is undertaken at the NARI tissue culture laboratory in Aiyura.

After the cleaning process, the clean materials will be re-introduced to the farmers for cultivation.

 

 

 

 

Kompiam sets out to develop coffee industry

Caption: Eager…Kompiam Cooperative Society Farmers at the CIC coffee nursery site during their visit

 

Story and picture by YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

 

Kompiam district in the Enga Province is gearing up to set the pace for its coffee industry as plans progress.

Kompiam district is located northeast of Enga Province.

 It is one of two leading coffee producing districts in the Province.

The other is Wapanemanda district.

Steep slopes in the area pose strong agricultural pressure on the land and its people.

 Incomes are derived primarily from coffee and sale fresh produce.

The Kompiam Cooperative Society has big plans to service its district by establishing central coffee nurseries, rehabilitating existing tree-stock, in-filling and gradually progress its coffee industry backed with financial support from local MP John Pundari.

Kompiam District produces on average about 20,000 bags of parchment coffee annually, valued at K5 million.

Subsequent to a basic coffee training on nursery establishment and harvest and processing late last year 2009, the Kompiam Cooperative Society refurbished its drive to work on coffee.

The Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) facilitated training.

Then, a recent visit to the CIC research division in Aiyura, Eastern Highlands province to get a glimpse of the practicalities of coffee production saw a group of keen farmers adamant and eager to reap the blessings of the crop.

The trip was also intended to gain technical expertise and advice coffee production.

 

 

 

FW: InterOil announces purchase of second drilling rig

PORT MORESBY, February 9, 2010 -- InterOil Corporation has announced it has purchased a second drilling rig.

The 1,500 horsepower heliportable “triple” rig with top drive was originally built by Parker Drilling. Total cash consideration for the rig and an extensive inventory of drilling and oil field service equipment, currently located in New Zealand, is NZD $6.5 million (approximately US$4.5 million).

The rig specifications are:

• OIME SL-1500 horsepower heliportable “triple” rig.
• Tesco 500 ton top drive.
• Two 1,300 hp mud pumps, both 5 inch and 3 1/2 inch drill pipe.
• 60 ton crane and 40 ton all terrain crane.

The new rig is capable of drilling to 16,500 vertical feet and of drilling longer horizontal sections than the company’s current rig.

The added depth capacity of this rig, in addition to the top drive system, is expected to add flexibility and efficiency to our drilling operations.

The additional rig is not only suitable for development of the Elk/Antelope field, but also adds increased depth capacity and well design versatility to our exploration program.

The rig is capable of tripping drill pipe in “triples,” which InterOil believes will lead to significantly shorter drilling times.

 Two rigs in the field are expected to add efficiency to our overall drilling operations as many of the services and equipment can be shared across both rigs.

The Company anticipates moving the rig to PNG in the second quarter of this year following completion of the transaction and refurbishment of tubular and other rotating equipment.

InterOil chairman and CEO Phil Mulacek stated: “We are very satisfied with the acquisition of the InterOil’s second rig which is outstanding in terms of design and capabilities and is particularly well suited for operations in the area in which our development and exploration activities are being conducted.”

About InterOil

InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is Papua New Guinea and the surrounding region. InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 3.9 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea. In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct an LNG plant on a site adjacent to InterOil’s refinery in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

InterOil’s common shares trade on the NYSE in US dollars.

For further in formation please contact

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation

Ph: (675) 321 7040

Mobile: 675-72013870

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com  

 

Oral language Further preserved at University of Goroka

Associate Professor Steven Bird with two workshop participants learning how to use the digital voice recorders

Mr Philip Tama from the University of Goroka's Language & Literature department recording members of the Alekano Gako Oti'tive group

On Monday, February 8, 2010, a three-day workshop on the preservation of indigenous linguistic heritage via Basic Oral Language Documentation (BOLD) was opened at the University of Goroka. The workshop is an exciting step forward from the study of the Alekano language offered to students by the Language and Literature department of UOG.

The University of Goroka is participating in the workshop as part of the BOLD project.

Visiting academic and facilitator Associate Professor Steven Bird, from the University of Melbourne, was at UOG to conduct the workshop voluntarily to students and staff from the Language and Literature Department of the University.

Day one involved demonstration on the use of a digital voice recorder, 35 of which have been donated by Associate Professor Bird to the Language and Literature department through the generosity of Olympus.

Participants also had practical lessons on how to use the recorders, and practised on each other the new techniques learnt.

The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Alekano Gako Oti’tive (Alekano language revitalisation group) and three volunteers from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL).

Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka Dr Gairo Onagi officially opened the workshop by stating that: “language is very important to us as it is life.”

Dr Onagi thanked Associate Professor Bird for his interest in coming to UOG and welcomed him to the campus.

He was grateful that Associate Professor Bird could teach staff and students new technology and methodology to record and preserve languages.

Dr Onagi challenged the workshop participants to learn more about their culture via language technology and innovation.

He ended by telling participants that “this is the salvation to dying languages”.

Associate Professor Bird stated that language preservation was at a very exciting moment as it has a lot of new technological solutions appropriate to capture languages before they became extinct.

He was glad to see the university’s support for languages and culture, and was appreciative to help the University of Goroka achieve its vision of language promotion and the study and preservation of Melanesian culture.

The workshop continues until Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

For more information on the BOLD project and the workshop visit http://boldpng.info/

Interesting statistics

From PAUL OATES boonah.vista1@bigpond.com

Interesting statistics

http://www.worldometers.info/

Oral language Further preserved at University of Goroka

On Monday, February 8,  2010, a three-day workshop on the preservation of indigenous linguistic heritage via Basic Oral Language Documentation (BOLD) was opened at the University of Goroka.  The workshop is an exciting step forward from the study of the Alekano language offered to students by the Language and Literature department of UOG. 

The University of Goroka is participating in the workshop as part of the BOLD project.

 Visiting academic and facilitator Associate Professor Steven Bird, from the University of Melbourne, was at UOG to conduct the workshop voluntarily to students and staff from the Language and Literature Department of the University. 

 Day one involved demonstration on the use of a digital voice recorder, 35 of which have been donated by Associate Professor Bird to the Language and Literature department through the generosity of Olympus. 

 Participants also had practical lessons on how to use the recorders, and practised on each other the new techniques learnt. 

 The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Alekano Gako Oti’tive (Alekano language revitalisation group) and three volunteers from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). 

 Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka Dr Gairo Onagi officially opened the workshop by stating that: “language is very important to us as it is life.” 

Dr Onagi thanked Associate Professor Bird for his interest in coming to UOG and welcomed him to the campus. 

 He was grateful that Associate Professor Bird could teach staff and students new technology and methodology to record and preserve languages. 

Dr Onagi challenged the workshop participants to learn more about their culture via language technology and innovation. 

He ended by telling participants that “this is the salvation to dying languages”.

 Associate Professor Bird stated that language preservation was at a very exciting moment as it has a lot of new technological solutions appropriate to capture languages before they became extinct. 

He was glad to see the university’s support for languages and culture, and was appreciative to help the University of Goroka achieve its vision of language promotion and the study and preservation of Melanesian culture.

 The workshop continues until Wednesday, February 10,  2010. 

 For more information on the BOLD project and the workshop visit http://boldpng.info/

 

US Jazz Ambassadors conduct musical workshop

US Ambassador Teddy Taylor, Mrs Corbin-Taylor, Jazz Ambassadors Freddie Bryant, Gilad Dobrecky, expressive arts teachers and students of Gordons Secondary School

US Ambassador Teddy B Taylor and Mrs Antoinette Corbin-Taylor today visited the Gordons Secondary School to see visiting US musicians Freddie Bryant and Gilad Dobrecky conduct a musical workshop for the music students at Gordons Secondary School followed by a public performance for all staff and students.

The students learned about different musical styles, with Freddie playing three types of guitars and Gilad putting on a show with a myriad of percussion instruments.

The Gordons music students also taught the visiting musicians about traditional musical instruments of Papua New Guinea, which the students then used in a performance for their fellow students, accompanying Freddie and Gilad.

The performance was well-received by the students and administration of Gordons Secondary School, with the audience participating in several songs through both clapping in rhythm and singing along.

Everyone at the show, including the musicians themselves, had a wonderful time, and everyone enjoyed the cultural exchange and coordination of American Jazz, international rhythms, and Papua New Guinean accompaniment.

Freddie and Gilad are in Papua New Guinea this week conducting music workshops and performances with students in Port Moresby at Marianville Secondary School, Gordons Secondary School, Korobesea International School, and youths from the Eight-Mile Settlement.

They will also conduct a two-day music clinic at the University of Papua New Guinea and a public performance on Wednesday, Feb 10 at 3pm.

Freddie Bryant and Gilad Dobrecky were in Port Moresby last June and conducted several musical workshops and performances for students at Gerehu Secondary School, Kilkila Secondary School, POM Grammar School, UPNG, the Children’s University of Music and Art and the Community Partnership Art Education Programme in Eight-Mile.

Stop marine poaching by foreigners!

Papua New Guinea loses millions of kina worth of fish and other marine resources every year through illegal poaching by foreign fishing vessels. 

Despite numerous public complaints and media reports of illegal fishing activities in our waters, these illegal marine activities still continue.

 An effective response action is urgently needed before many fish stocks run out.  

We need immediate measures to deter illegal fishing by foreigners. What the country requires now is effective collective action from relevant agencies to safeguard our rich marine resources. 

Here are some improved solutions to this and we can do it several ways.  The government should start by having more surveillance crafts and at the same time, set up an effective national coast guard service to carry out effective resource protection all year around.  Maritime surveillance of our archipelagic waters out to 200 nautical miles EEZ can be greatly enhanced where vast distances are involved. 

First, we pre-position our naval ships in strategic locations.  Second, we can achieve good synergy by the use of aircrafts to augment overall surveillance coverage.  Third, we periodically home-port naval ships to operate out of key Maritime Provinces.  A future solution is for the government to also set up forward naval operations bases.  This will greatly improve our chances of catching foreign vessels found illegally fishing in our waters.  The advantage for forward operations bases will mean improve surveillance efforts, better fuel conservation for ships with much reduced response times and better coverage of distances involved. 

The Defense Ministry must plan to establish forward operations bases from strategic locations in Western, Milne Bay and New Guinea Islands and in northern waters towards the Western islands region of the Admiralty group.  Presently, the Manus patrol boat base and Port Moresby landing craft base somewhat limits surveillance coverage by our two maritime squadrons to respond effectively to their offshore tapestry protection duties.  Having strategic but smaller forward bases will see better results in the arrest of foreign fishing vessels due to improved surveillance coverage of our vast EEZ. 

Having extensive naval operational experience in our waters and the 200 miles EEZ for many years, I urgently recommend priority government intervention now.  We must immediately programme into our short to medium development strategies, the setting up of naval forward bases within the next five years.  I further propose forward bases at Bwagawaia Harbour on beautiful Misima Island for the eastern Papua region, and in Western province mainland with perhaps another in Pomio, Wide Bay area of the ENB province.  The big advantage here for our navy to effectively project its forward presence better in response to illegal marine activities.  The economy has really improved for some time now so we should be able to make some big improvements by acquiring additional surveillance platforms (ships and aircrafts), including other support assets. 

This is a big challenge for both the Ministry of Defence to ensure collective action by key agencies to safeguard PNG’s rich marine resources.  If we fail to do this now, than it won’t be long before our country’s marine resources will be completely fished out.  Many foreign fishing nations have already depleted their own fish stocks and over fishing our rich marine resources today with much impunity. 

Can the government now take immediate action to deter illegal fishing activities by foreigner snow before all our fish are gone forever!    

 

Reginald Renagi

 

Former Professional Mariner

 

Who will be the next Prime Minister?

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

Recently the media raised three interesting questions: “Who will be the next PM when the prime minister quits politics in 2011 before the 2012 National Elections, What will happen to the National Alliance Party or the current Government?”

This is a subjective issue and you will get many different answers.  I will try to predict what may happen gauging from public perceptions and opinions of a coalition government’s performance since the 2002 national elections.

So who will be the next PM?  This is easy in an ideal political world where the job will naturally go to the next senior MP after the prime minister in the ruling party’s hierarchical ‘chain of command’.  In this case, it should go to the deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu if the PM quits politics next year as speculated by the newspapers. 

This will not happen because we are not in an ideal political world.  There are many competing interests and shifting alliances within any coalition party government. 

First of all, the PM will not quit politics in 2011 and before the elections.  PM Somare is enjoying the feeling of power and controlling the destiny of some six million citizens that he would still has to extend his record breaking streak of being in politics until after the 2012 national elections.  

More so, no one believes this talk of leaving politics any more.  The people of PNG have heard it many times before, like prior to the 2012 and 2007 elections as predicted.  The PM did not quit politics as speculated by the media like this one.

On a hypothetical note, if the PM was to quit politics in 2011 due to some reason like ill-health, the NA party will most likely see splits in its senor ranks.  Some party members have openly shown that they do not prefer the deputy PM take the reins as they see themselves as the ideal choice for the top job.  A further outcome is that the NA party may not do too well in the 2012 polls without the stabilising presence of its draw-card, the grand chief; the glue holding the NA party together.

With due respects to other NA party members, no one is eminently qualified with the required seniority, depth of public administration knowledge and experience; and political  maturity to succeed the PM Somare than the deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu.  Sir Puka has the edge over all the NA party’s regional deputies as none were effective departmental heads like him before entering politics. 

As apart from the deputy PM, there is another option that may seem a controversial outcome but not impossible.  This option could be another record breaker for the grand chief that will be unbeatable in both PNG and Commonwealth politics.  If PM Somare was really serious about elevating the status of PNG women in his twilight years of politics, he will give his job to the best-performing MP in the coalition government: Dame Carol Kidu.  The Dame as an MP has no equal and her actions speak louder than words as she is well supported by a competent Secretary running an effective department than most of her peers.

This decisive action by grand chief Somare will be in full recognition for the tireless efforts of a lone women MP in parliament (and one of PNG’s best lawmakers in recent times).  This will upset the men in parliament but they will soon get over it to see that good governance, accountability, responsibility and ‘sanity’ returns to both parliament; and government before the 2012 national elections.

Finally, I predict PM Somare is not yet ready to quit politics in 2011 and before the 2012 national elections.  There are still many outstanding political reforms left by former PM, Sir Mekere that this government has yet to progress and this is no time to be quitting politics.

 

Airvos View adds to Port Moresby's changing skyline

An exciting new multi-million property development is taking place along Airvos Avenue in Port Moresby (artist's impressions pictured above).

The K30 million development, called Airvos View, involves prestige, upmarket two to three level three-bedroom townhouses within a fully-fenced secured compound with panoramic views of Port Moresby harbour.

They feature a spacious basement area for gym and owner design use, as well as children’s swimming pool, a lap pool, barbeque area and generators.

Property owner John Boo said that work would commence next month and would be completed by September 2011.

“We are doing all the earthworks and retaining wall now,” he said.

“We are doing the earthwork first and getting the land into shape.

“We expect construction work to begin in March/April.

“It will take about one and a half years.

“We expect completion in September 2011.”

Mr Boo said the development would comprise of 18 units, which would be a mixture of either two-level or three-level.

“This is an upmarket, quality accommodation,” he said,

“I don’t think there is any such accommodation at the moment.

“A lot of people like it because it’s convenient, with facilities nearby such as Harbour City.”

Such has been the demand that Mr Boo has already sold five units with another five to be released soon.

“Port Moresby must have more of these to class up its skyline,” he said.

“We are living in the 21^st Century.”