Rice fields of Japan

From PAUL OATES

Stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan, but this is no alien creation.  The designs have been cleverly planted.
Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye.
Instead, different color rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the  paddy fields.
As summer progresses and the plants shoot up, the detailed artwork begins to emerge.
A Sengoku warrior on horseback has been created from hundreds of thousands of rice plants.
The colors are created by using different varieties.  This photo was taken in Inakadate, Japan.
Napoleon on horseback can be seen from the skies.
This was created by precision planting and months of planning by villagers and farmers located in Inkadate, Japan.
Fictional warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife, Osen, whose lives are featured on the television series Tenchijin,appear in fields in the town of Yonezawa in the Yamagata prefecture of Japan.
This year, various artwork has popped up in other rice-farming  areas of Japan, including designs of deer dancers.
Smaller works of crop art can be seen in other rice-farming areas of Japan such as this image of Doraemon and deer dancers
The farmers create the murals  by planting little purple and yellow-leafed Kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed Tsugaru, a Roman variety, to create the colored patterns in the time between planting and harvesting in September.
The murals in Inakadate cover 15,000 square meters of paddy fields.
From ground level, the designs are invisible, and viewers have to climb the mock castle tower of the village office to get a glimpse of the  work.
Closer to the image, the careful placement of the thousands  of rice plants in the paddy fields can be seen.
Rice-paddy art was started there in 1993 as a local revitalization project, an idea that grew from meetings of the village committees.
The different varieties of rice plants grow alongside each other to create the masterpieces.
In the first nine years, the village office workers and local farmers grew a simple design of Mount Iwaki every year.
But their ideas grew more complicated and attracted more attention.
In 2005, agreements between landowners  allowed the creation of enormous rice paddy art.
A year later, organizers used computers to precisely plot planting of the four differently colored rice varieties that bring the images to life.

New Papua New Guinea blog

This new blog promises some action on PNG's corruption problems ...
http://www.actnowpng.org/blog

Chow family praised for contributions to Papua New Guinea

The plaque which was unveiled by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane when opening the Lae Biscuit Company factory.

A Chinese dragon dance being performed at the opening of the Lae Biscuit Company factory.

Old friends…Governor General Sir Paulias Matane and Lae Biscuit Company founder Sir Henry Chow.

Sir Henry addresses guests at the opening of his new factory.

Governor General Sir Paulias Matane addresses guests with Sir Henry Chow in the background.

Governor General Sir Paulias Matane opens the new Lae Biscuit Company factory at Kamkung in Lae on Saturday.-Pictures by GABRIEL LAHOC

Governor General Sir Paulias Matane has paid tribute to Lae Biscuit Company founder Sir Henry Chow and his family on their long and faithful contribution to Papua New Guinea over the years.
Sir Paulias made the tribute when opening the magnificent new K65 million Lae Biscuit Company at Kamkumung in Lae in front of hundreds of people from both PNG and overseas on Saturday.
The Governor General, in his speech, concentrated on Sir Henry and the Chow family’s contribution to PNG since its grandfather arrived at Kokopo as a coolie laborer under the German administration in 1895.
“The forefathers of the Chow family were peasant sharecrop farmers from Kaiping County, Guandong province, Southern China,” Sir Paulias said.
“One male member was recruited by the New Guinea German colonial government as a personal servant for one of its administration officers at Rabaul in 1895.
“Two younger brothers followed and settled in Rabaul.
“The Chow family now has six generations in Papua New Guinea.
“The family became part and parcel of the history and development of East New Britain and New Ireland provinces.
“Members of each generation have been active in community affairs and contributed much to the development and advancement of the two provinces.”
Sir Henry said that to have achieved and completed the brand-new facility, the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the Southern Hemisphere, needed the support of many people and friends.
“To have come this far, it had taken us 52 years of sweat, toil and hard work, and on the way we had experienced failures, discouragement and many hurdles,” he said.
“It had not been a fair sailing all the way, and with determination and willpower, especially with the help of my good wife Lady Colette, we managed to come this far.
“So they say that a successful man, there is always a woman behind him, so my friends, Lady Colette is really claiming the credit today.
“She did produce seven childen for me, five boys and two daughters.
“On their return to Papua New Guinea after their education in Australia, all our five sons had worked for Lae Biscuit Company, and they had contributed to the growth, expansion and success of the company today.
“They brought with them fresh ideas and innovation on how to manage and operate the company, even though they were not totally agreeable with me.”
An emotional Sir Henry passed the rein on to his fourth son, Ian Andrew Chow, to be the new managing director of Lae Biscuit Company.
Invited guests were entertained by singsing groups as well as a Chinese dragon dance and firecrackers, before being treated to a big party at the factory site.
The new factory will provide employment to some 450 people and with some of the best-working conditions and remuneration packages in PNG.
It is a massive vote-of-confidence in Lae, Morobe province and PNG by a Chinese family which has come to call the country ‘home’.
The buildings and whole facility consist of a main factory building which is 204 metres long, administration building, staff facility building, workshop building, emergency generating set building and guard house building.
The two biscuit-making lines are installed in the main factory building and the administration building will accommodate administration, planning, accounting and marketing.
The staff facility building has a fully-equipped kitchen and a large dining room which can prepare and provide meals and caters for 200 persons at one seating.
Lae Biscuit Company will provide meals to all staff at no cost to them.
Ablution and laundry facilities are up to international standards for a food-manufacturing facility.

InterOil signs preliminary works joint venture agreement with Mitsui

·        Agreement Provides Funding For Preliminary Works at Condensate Stripping Plant

·        Project Anticipates Yield of Approximately 9,000 Barrels of Condensate Per Day

 

Port Moresby  PNG, Cairns, Australia and Houston, TX --April 15, 2010: INTEROIL Corporation  announced ON Thursday, April 15, that the Company has entered into agreements with Mitsui & Co. Ltd., to jointly operate and fund the preliminary works involved to develop a proposed condensate stripping facility ('the Project') at InterOil's Elk and Antelope field site in Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea.

The preliminary works program is for all the works required to take us through the Front

End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage for the construction of a condensate stripping plant, to

the point of Final Investment Decision (FID).

The Project is proposed to be designed to process 400 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/day) of wellhead gas with an anticipated yield of approximately 9,000 barrels (bbls) of condensate per day.

Dry gas will be reinjected into the reservoir for storage until the proposed LNG facility has been constructed.

The condensate will be barged to the InterOil refinery in Port Moresby for processing and sale.

InterOil and Mitsui will each be responsible for half of the capital expenditure involved in

the preliminary works and Mitsui will fund InterOil's share.

Standard conditions of the agreements include the completion of FEED, an EPC agreement,

and the definitive agreements by December 31, 2010, necessary to reach FID.

In the event that FID is not reached, InterOil will be required to refund the capital expenditure incurred to date within a specified period.

 "We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Mitsui, one of the largest energy conglomerates in Japan, InterOil Chairman and CEO Phil Mulacek said.

"When in production, the condensate project will provide a stable platform of early cash flow enhancing the benefit to partners in our proposed LNG project."

 

For further in formation please contact

 Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager  - Media Relations/Public Affairs

InterOil Corporation (PNG Operations)

Ph: 321 7040 or 3099363

Mobile: 72013870

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com   

A dream comes true for Chow family with opening of Lae biscuit factory

Caption: Lady Colette Chow and Sir Henry Chow with son Ian, Lae Biscuit Company managing director, with a Chinese guardian lion at the new factory in Lae.-Picture by GABRIEL LAHOC

 

Hundreds of invited guests from Papua New Guinea and overseas are expected to converge on Kamkumung in Lae tomorrow (Saturday) for the opening of the new K65 million Lae Biscuit Company factory in Lae by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane.

The guest list reads like a who’s who of PNG business, government and politics who will be there to witness the opening of PNG’s largest single factory and the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the southern hemisphere.

Excitement is already building up among the Lae business community and people as they see this as an opportunity to shrug off some of the much-maligned ‘pothole city’ tag and to regain some of its lost glory.

It will be a special day for company founder and chairman, Sir Henry Chow, aged 76, a member of Chinese family that has been in the country for 115 years – spanning six generations - since its grandfather arrived at Kokopo as a coolie labourer under the German administration in 1895.

“The family has done very well over the 115 years from our coolie grandfather labourer to come to this stage,” an emotional Sir Henry told reporters in his magnificent new boardroom.

“It has not been easy.

“The family has been through two world wars.

“With a coolie labourer background, we have been discriminated against by the Germans and then the Australians.

“Our parents have sacrificed and educated all their children in Australia, who have returned to PNG to run little boats, little trade stores and little plantations.”

Sir Henry, a trained boat builder, bought off a small biscuit-making company called Lae Biscuit Company at Voco Point in Lae in 1974.

“It was a very small factory, making a quarter tonne of biscuits a day,” he recalled.

“In 36 years, Lae Biscuit has grown and expanded 150 tonnes.”

Asked what his secret was, Sir Henry revealed: “Determination and will because I want to make good.

“My grandparents on both sides instilled in me that they were discriminated against and we have to work hard to become a success.

“That has been ringing in my head all these years.”

Tomorrow, a dream comes true for Sir Henry and the Chow family, as they shrug off a stigma that has haunted them since their grandfather first set foot on PNG shores all those years ago.

Lae’s new biscuit factory to open on Saturday

Captions: 1. The popular Snax biscuits being produced at the new factory yesterday.-Pictures by GABRIEL LAHOC. 2: Sir Henry Chow…a dream come true with the opening of the new factory

 

The magnificent new Lae Biscuit Company factory at Kamkumung in Lae, the largest single factory in Papua New Guinea, will be officially opened by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane on Saturday.

This brand-new biscuit-manufacturing facility is a modern and functional one and is the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the Southern Hemisphere, comparable in standard with any similar factory in Australia.

It will provide employment to some 450 people and with some of the best-working conditions and remuneration packages in PNG.

The buildings and whole facility were built by Lae Builders and Contractors and consists of a main factory building which is 204 metres long, administration building, staff facility building, workshop building, emergency generating set building and guard house building.

The two biscuit-making lines are installed in the main factory building and the administration building will accommodate administration, planning, accounting and marketing.

The staff facility building has a fully-equipped kitchen and a large dining room which can prepare and provide meals and caters for 200 persons at one seating.

Lae Biscuit Company will provide meals to all staff at no cost to them.

Ablution and laundry facilities are up to international standards for a food-manufacturing facility.

 Lae Biscuit Company chairman Sir Henry Chow told reporters yesterday that it had cost the company K65 million to build and operate the factory.

 "This is the best food-making facility in PNG," he said.

 "Nothing can compare with it."

 Sir Henry said he came up with the idea of a new factory after Lae Biscuit Company found out that demand for the its popular Snax biscuits was outstripping supply.

 "This new factory, when fully functional, will produce 100 tonnes of biscuits a day," he said.

 "We will be able to fully meet our (PNG) needs for the next five years."

Prime Minister opens new UNRE buildings

Captions: 1. Sir Michael with Tropicana owner Sandra Lau at the Vision 2050 Library. 2. Plaque at the new Vision 2050 Library. 3: Vision 2050 Library plaque. 4: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare opens the UNRE’s new administration building which is named after him. 5: Plaque at UNRE’s new administration building

 

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare opened two new buildings at the University of Natural Resources and Environment in Vudal, East New Britain province, last Friday.

 Sir Michael opened the UNRE’s new Vision 2050 Library which was built at a cost of about K500, 000 and its new administration building which is named after him and built at a cost of about K1.5million.

 He opened the buildings immediately after officiating at the UNRE graduation.

 The library extension and upgrading was completed with a K100, 000 donation from leading Kokopo business house, Tropicana, through its owners John and Sandra Lau, while UNRE chipped in with K400, 000.

 Work started on the new library in the middle of 2009 and was completed at the end of the year.

 The problem of a cramped library from the old days of UNRE as Vudal Agricultural College is now a thing of the past with students now having more space for study in air-conditioned and carpeted furnishings.

 There are more study tables and space for library staff has also been improved.

 The administration building, named after Sir Michael, was completed in 2008 with staff moving in last year.

 It houses the offices of Vice Chancellor, public relations, registrar, human resources, planning and internal auditor.

UNRE addresses seven pillars of Vision 2050

Captions: Vice Chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru addresses the UNRE graduation in Vudal last Friday

 

The University of Natural Resources and Environment in Vudal, east New Britain province, is addressing all seven pillars of the Government’s Vision 2050, according to Vice Chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru.

This is what places the UNRE in good stead for the future, he said at the university’s graduation last Friday.

Prof Siaguru said despite all the hype about liquefied natural gas and other non-renewable resources, these would all be gone one day, and the cash generated from these should be invested in Papua New Guinea’s vast and rich renewable resources sector.

“Hence, in this University of Natural Resources and Environment, we have made it our business to build this task into our vision and mission, so that al arms of this university, together with our likeminded partners such as the National Fisheries Authority, must stay focused on the primary task of alleviating poverty, reducing displaced cultures, and most importantly through agricultural and fishing skills, keep providing food security to the critical masses,” he said.

“The very basic reason youths and those displaced in the community steal and kill is because they are hungry, they are deprived of a very-basic but significant need.

“The university’s vision, which is ‘sustaining the livelihood of critical masses through education’, was carefully woven into the university’s task because this institution believes in empowering communities to help themselves.

“We believe our professionally-trained graduates will drive this vision and multiply it on for its worth, beyond today, beyond what the two Sirs, and former and one current Prime Minister (Sir Michael Somare and Sir Rabbie Namaliu) seated here have started.

“We must begin by empowering the communities to be self-reliant and bolster food security in households and fishing lots.

“We must rearrange their attitude through education by providing that confidence in farmers so that they can lift from the mentality of waiting for government services and assistance, and propel themselves towards being self-reliant.”

Prof Siaguru said the focus should be shifted from training for jobs to that of job creation.

Agriculture a noble profession

Captions: 1. Graduands marching proudly to the graduation area to receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates at the 13^th UNRE graduation last Friday.2.  Dux of the 2009 graduation degree class at UNRE, Michelle Jambui, receives her degree from Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu. Apart from being the top overall student in her class, which earned her the coveted National Agriculture Research Institute Kana Aburu Medal, she was the top graduating student in industry project, animal science, crop science and rural engineering. As dux of the graduating class, Ms Jambui presented the respondent speech on behalf of her fellow graduands.

 

 

Graduating students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment in Vudal, East New Britain province, have been told to be proud of agriculture as a career.

 Student representative Michelle Jambui, also the dux of the degree class, said agriculture was often disparaged as a “low standard profession”.

 “I stand here today on behalf of all the graduating students as a proud product of this university,” she said.

 “In my study days, I have often heard people say that agriculture is a profession for those that cannot become lawyers, doctors and accountants.

 “Many perceive agriculture, and for that matter natural resource profession, as a low-standard profession for those with low academic aptitude.

 “I stand here today with my head held high for all our graduates and say this is not true.

 “Natural resources, its wise harvesting and sustainability provide the much-needed wealth of this nation.”

 Ms Jambui gave a vote of thanks to the New Zealand government for providing scholarships to all female agriculture graduates.

 She appealed to her fellow graduates to perform to the best of their abilities.

 “As we venture into our various professional fields, we must always be honest to ourselves and to our employers and perform our duties diligently with our utmost best,” Ms Jambui said.

 “As a start, we have to change our prespective and mindset from student hood to an independent and self-reliant person, willing to contribute to the nation, regardless of what our individual expectations are as a university student.

 “Regardless of how difficult our studies were, we overcame such obstacles with determination and perseverance.

 “Success in life means mastership and mastership means utilising every human force and power of the being, as well as the outer force, to reach your desired goal.”

Local birds

From PAUL OATES

'Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you,' goes an old saying.

We cast our stale bread on the back lawn and all we got was some local birds.

Pictures of Prime Minister arriving at Toku Airport, Kokopo, on the new Falcon jet

Above are pictures of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare arriving at Tokua Airport, Kokopo, on the new Falcon jet for the 13th graduation ceremony of the University of Natural Resources and Environment last Friday.

Pictures of Rapopo Beach Resort

Pictures of the beachfront at Rapopo Beach Resort in Kokopo, East New Britain province, last Friday.

Pictures of the Rabaul volcanoes

Pictures of the Rabaul volcanoes as seen from Rapopo Beach Resort in Kokopo last Friday.

Prime Minister Somare to visit New Zealand

 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will welcome the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Michael Somare, when he visits New Zealand from April 19 to 23.

"Sir Michael's visit will underline New Zealand's close relationship with Papua New Guinea," says Mr Key.

 "We have a large aid and development relationship, enjoy defence co-operation and share commercial and business linkages. New Zealand has also helped with security and infrastructure in Bougainville following the peace process in the late 1990s.

 "I look forward to discussing with Sir Michael his views on Papua New Guinea's economic development, particularly with the new liquified natural gas project.

 "As the Pacific's longest-serving leader Sir Michael's knowledge and experience of the region is invaluable."

 While in New Zealand Sir Michael will also meet with Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, business leaders, academics and members of the Papua New Guinea community in New Zealand.

 

 

Graduands urged to be agents of change

Graduating students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment at Vudal in East New Britain province have been urged to be agents of change.

 Vision 2050 chairman Prof David Kavanamur (pictured) urged the graduands to become key agents of change towards attaining the vision and mission statement contained in Papua New Guinea Vision 2050.

 “Our vision: ‘We will be a smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy society by 2050’,” Prof Kavanamur said.

 “Our mission statement: ‘We will be ranked in the top 50 countries in the United Nations human development index by 2050, creating opportunities for personal and national advancement through economic growth, smart innovative ideas, quality service and ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of benefits in a safe and secure environment for all citizens’.

 “Your country, the independent state of Papua New Guinea is now calling upon your knowledge, skill sets, values and nationalism that UNRE has inculcated into your being for attaining the country’s overarching strategic intent.

 “It is encouraging indeed to note that PNG UNRE has already aligned itself to the implementation of Vision 2050.”

 Prof Kavanamur said in strategic planning, once the strategy was set, the next challenge was strategy execution.

 He said the UNRE had captured all seven pillars of Vision 2050 which were human capital development and people empowerment;  wealth creation and natural resources;  service delivery;  environmental sustainability and climate change;  spiritual, cultural and community development; strategic planning; and bio-security and food security.

 “What’s more, the university’s name, following your timely and smart rebranding strategy, reflects the PNG Vision 2050,” Prof Kavanamur said.

 “The name, the Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment, will be recorded in the annals of history and talked about for a long time to come.”

 Prof Kavanamur said the Vision 2050 team recognised that natural resources held so much untapped potential.

 “We recognised much earlier on that enclave industries like mining, oil and gas would never provide all the employment or business opportunities that would satisfy our people’s aspirations or even at the least be effective mediums for equitable distribution of national goods and services,” he said.

 “Contrary to popularly held views, the key lies in unlocking the potential in our renewable natural resources sector through positive empowerment and engagement of our people.

 “We all know too well that is conservatively estimated that around 90% of Papua New Guineans depend on income from coffee, cocoa, palm oil, copra and food crops to make a living for themselves.

 “A very large percentage of this takes place in the informal sector.

 “Compare this to our mining, oil and gas sector which employs less than 50,000 workers across the entire country and your have a perspective on this paradox.”

 Prof Kavanamur told the graduands that they were skilled in the area of natural resources and environment management and had an important role to play in society.

 “In addition, the Somare-Temu Government has deliberately asked us to come up with staretegies to ensure the rapid expansion of four key economic sectors: agriculture, eco-forestry, coast fisheries and eco-tourism,” he said.

 “All these sectors fall within your area of training.

 “In order to fully realise the value of our natural resources, we need to move downstream and position ourselves further along the value chain, thereby creating more local jobs and higher value from our existing renewable resources.

 “This is the real challenge in Vision 2050, to identify and empower more-creative people within our society who will move into these production sectors and progress the transformation.”

Prime Minister emphasises need for discipline at higher leaning institutions

Captions: 1. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is given the red carpet treatment at the UNRE graduation last Friday.  2. Schoolschildren wave flags and throw flowers to welcome Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to Vudal last Friday. 3.  Graduating students of the UNRE marching to the graduation area.4. Graduands waiting to receive their certificates at the UNRE graduation last Friday. 5. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare stresses the need for discipline at the UNRE graduation.

 

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has emphasised the importance of discipline among staff, students and administration in higher learning institutions in the country.

In his keynote address at the 13^th graduation ceremony of the University of Natural Resources and Environment at Vudal in East New Britain province last Friday, he said PNG had been experiencing frequent disruptions to classes that were not addressed in a timely and convenient manner.

The UNRE has had its share of student unrest with a major disruption to classes last year.

“This is of grave concern to the Government that provides the greater part of finances for infrastructure, logistics equipment as well as subsidies and scholarships,” Sir Michael said.

“It is of equal concern to parents and guardians when their children’s learning is disrupted as a result of conflicts.

“On average, the cost of educating a student per year is K17, 000.

“As a developing nation, we cannot afford such indulgences and must take positive steps towards minimising the likelihood and antagonism between the various groups on our campuses.

“As head of the executive Government, I challenge councils and administering authorities of all tertiary institutions of education to explore and put into place appropriate and acceptable guidelines or rules that will promote, enhance and sustain harmony and orderly operations of all institutions of learning.”

Sir Michael called on the six universities and three research institutions to share resources and where possible, to conduct joint research.

“Research should influence and inform teaching at our universities,” he said.

“It should drive development and contribute to building research capacity of staff and our top students.

“Today I call on universities such as the Natural Resources and Environment University, research institutes and other institutes of higher learning to enter into constructive dialogues as you strive to meet the demands of this country, understand the current social needs and prepare courses that address future aspirations of this country.

“I believe the quality of higher education can be improved when the higher education sector is unified, works together, shares resources and has a clear vision for its future development.

“The success of the sector is critical for achieving our national objectives in improving our human capital and raising technical capacity.”

Sir Michael said higher education played a vital role in the Government’s Vision 2050 to ensure that PNG had the necessary human resource capacity to implement the plan and contribute to the social and economic development of PNG over the next 40 years,

Sir Michael congratulated graduands on their achievements and wished them strength and perseverance in their working life.

“May you strive to be the best in your profession while at the same time providing service to your country,” he said.

“Lastly, I commend all the parents, relatives and guardians who have had faith in your abilities and have been there for you.

“It is equally a celebration for them and your respective communities.”

Meanwhile, hundreds turn-up at the UNRE’s Vudal campus to get a glimpse of the ‘Father of the Nation’.

His presence added significance to the annual ceremony which for the first time was held in the beginning of the year unlike the traditional November ceremonies held previously.

Students from both of the University’s campuses - Vudal and Popondetta – received their qualifications.

Damien Toki graduated with a Masters degree in management while 13 of his post-graduate course mates received graduate certificates in management.

In the undergraduate stream, 23 students received bachelor degrees of tropical agriculture, while 89 students received diplomas in tropical agriculture.

Forty-five of these diplomats came from the University’s Popondetta campus.

Preparations for Sir Michael’s visit were not restricted to the UNRE.

 Local communities cleaned up the road From Kokopo to Vudal and students from several primary schools lined up along the road with flags to welcome him as he traveled to the UNRE campus.

Surprise birthday party for Prime Minister

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had a surprise birthday party thrown for him by the University of Natural Resources and Environment in East New Britain last Friday.

Immediately after the 13^th UNRE graduation at which Sir Michael was the keynote speaker, and the unveiling of the library extension and administration building opening – named after the Prime Minister – the UNRE surprised Sir Michael with two cakes (one for his birthday and one for his 42^nd year in politics), as well as plenty food and drinks.

It was a special occasion for Sir Michael in that he was born on April 9, 1936, in Rabaul, East New Britain province while his father was serving as a policeman.

Last Friday, he turned 74, with 2010 being his 42^nd year in politics.

Sir Michael was lost for words by the surprise and thanked all staff and students of UNRE, especially Vice Chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru, for making the day a special one for him.

Earlier, during the graduation ceremony, PNG Strategic Plan chairman chairman Prof David Kavanamur presented tabu (traditional Tolai shell money) to Sir Michael as a token of appreciation for making him chairman of Vision 2050.

In a powerful Tolai traditional ceremony, Sir Michael beat a Tolai tubuan with the tabu

Prof Kavanamur also presented a traditional Tolai headdress to the Prime Minister.

Sir Michael traveled to Tokua Airport in Kokopo on the new Falcon jet and flew out later that same day after the graduation.

Fuel prices go up from today

FUEL consumers nationwide will now dig deeper into their pockets as fuel prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene go up from today, The National reports.

Consumers will pay K3.33 per litre for petrol (from K3.16) and K2.75 per litre for diesel (from K2.53). Kerosene price

rises from K2.42 to K2.60 per litre.

Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) acting chief executive officer Elastus Geroro blamed the rise in fuel prices on an increased crude oil price, and a fall by the kina against the US dollar on the exchange rate.

High cost in transporting the products also contributed to the rise.

He said on monthly average comparison, crude oil price rose significantly last month, increasing by 6.48% compared to a 2.7% reduction in February.

Mr Geroro said as the global economy continued to show signs of recovery, crude oil prices began to rise in a region where China has a big influence on other Asia-Pacific economies.

He stressed that change in the fuel prices were determined by global energy demand and, given that crude oil is a globally traded commodity, it was expected that the demand and supply determination in the major regions around the world against the US dollar would continue to cause price changes at any time in the future.

He said with crude oil trading above US$70 per barrel for the third consecutive month, prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming months.

He urged fuel suppliers and retailers not to charge consumers above the set prices.

 

 

 

Payroll excesses

Government expenditure blown by K200 million in 2009

 

THE Government blew a larger than expected hole in its recurrent expenditure last year, and the Treasury Department is blaming the payroll for that, The National reports.

The department is conducting a review to see where it occurred and who caused it, so those responsible can be made to account and closely monitored in future.

This was revealed yesterday when Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch released the final budget outcome (FBO) for last year. 

Figures released said the recurrent expenditure last year was K4, 166.4 million, which was K213.8 million higher than the revised budget estimates.

This was due to higher expenditure, particularly under personnel emoluments costs by provincial and national departments.

Mr Pruaitch said the total expenditure on personal emoluments was higher than the revised estimate, and Treasury was reviewing the processes of monitoring and controlling expenditure incurred from the payroll.

He said they would monitor agencies that continue to overspend.

Despite this, last year’s FBO recorded a deficit of K36.3 million or 0.2% of GDP against a revised deficit of K86.0 million or 0.4% of GDP announced in this year’s budget.

This was an improvement from the high deficit of K478.5 million (2.2% of GDP) recorded for 2008.

The improved budget deficit outcome was due to higher revenue. Total revenue and grants for last year was K6, 651.3 million, which was slightly higher than the revised budget estimate by K11.7 million.

Abstracting from grants, total revenue collections last year were higher by K172.8 million compared to the revised estimate.

On the expenditure side of the budget, total expenditure and net lending last year was K6, 687.6 million, which was lower than the revised budget estimate published in this year’s budget by K37.7 million.

Total development expenditure was K2, 348.7 million. This was lower than the revised budget estimate by K247.0 million.

Mr Pruaitch also admitted that detailed expenditure on trust accounts were lacking.

“Unfortunately, a number of executing agencies did not provide expenditure reports on their trust accounts.

“A detailed report on the expenditures from trust accounts will be provided in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook report in July,” he promised.

As a result of the payroll blowout, the Government had to borrow to fund the deficit. This caused a net increase in overall debt last year.

Mr Pruaitch said the budget deficit last year resulted in total public debt increasing to K6, 944.1 million, up by K17.4 million from a debt level at the end of 2008 of K6, 962.7 million.

But strong nominal GDP growth contributed to debt as a percentage of GDP fell from 32.1% in 2008 to 31.9% last year, he said