Papua New Guinea economy must be diversified

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

Papua New Guinea must diversify its economy. 

The government must plan now to look well beyond the "minerals boom" and target critical areas of renewable resource sectors of the country’s economy. 

The way to do it is we carefully analyse future patterns of economic growth and opportunity, and adapt innovative approaches to financing, building, operations and wealth creation for our people. 

More importantly; the government must be serious about diversifying our economy and put the whole nation to work, revitalising itself and industry (private sector). 

PNG has some of the world's richest natural resources.

The country's natural beauty, culture and lifestyle could make it a great place to live, work, visit and do business.

 Yet, since independence; successive governments at all levels have mismanaged our assets and squandered many good opportunities. 

The consequences are widespread and increasing unemployment (and under-employment), very-low incomes, a high-tax economy, substantial urban migration, below - standard services, and a big national debt.

I believe one of parliament's future objectives is to commit its full resources towards key areas of national concerns aimed at achieving sustainable development.

 Thus, a bipartisan approved growth plan is needed with clear broad-based strategies specifically targeted at certain critical areas to transform PNG into a prosperous, progressive and united country. 

Future development strategies must be periodically reviewed to specifically target areas that will sustainably grow our economy, create jobs and support small businesses. 

PNG is now well overdue in reforming its political system; get its economic fundamentals right and meaningfully reward people for working hard for their country. 

Most political parties have similar policies that can be juxtaposed and refined to ensure a viable growth framework including a range of key national issues crossing many portfolio areas. 

To incorporate this, the government must work really hard to create new job opportunities and put more money into the pockets of those who need it most.

An important future outcome now is placing great emphasis on our people getting more widely - distributed benefits from the development of their natural resources.

As part of PNG’s national security strategy of creating a stable and secure country, every citizen must be fully committed to re-build the whole nation.

A new more realistic vision is needed to deal with many problems by applying rational and intelligent policies to our traditional resource industries.

The government must now have a realistic plan and a new leadership approach to bring about a major change.

This strategy for change must critically target growth in small and medium business, tourism, informational technology, fishery, forest, marine and the agriculture sector industries. 

A good development plan should be rooted in solid economic fundamentals focused on promoting small business development, better economic infrastructure, innovative and product diversification, expanding trade, sustainable resource management, a healthy environment, a highly skilled workforce, a competitive, fair and broad-based tax system, and sound fiscal management.

 The country’s growth strategy must also strengthen government structures, and cabinet decision-making processes to make our government function more efficiently for its citizens. 

PNG's national security lies in her economic, scientific and technology base, albeit limited, and does not necessarily depend on her wealth alone. 

All economic development investment must be smart investments based on thorough strategic planning. 

Such planning must further encourage private investments by opening up new markets, and providing our people with affordable education and health – to mention a few.  

The world's pace of technological development has become so rapid that if we do not keep up in our awareness or knowledge are bound to miss the boat.

 This only results in a country losing the economic war without even fighting the enemy. 

In today's global business sense, by the time we realise we are in trouble it is too late to save ourselves.  We have no choice but save ourselves in a world shaped by globalisation and the information revolution. 

The new PNG leadership approach must be aware of this double-edged global threat. There are basically two options for the future: we adapt or die (highly uncompetitive). 

The winners will be those who capitalise quickly in the changing opportunities and the challenge for PNG is to move early and innovate often.

 I envisage the future to provide us with many windows of wealth opportunities for every citizen so we have to better plan to maximise PNG's future prospects of surviving a global economic war. 

Stop fish poaching by foreigners

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

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, such activities still continues. 

An effective response action is urgently needed as time is running out for many fish stocks.  

PNG needs immediate measures to deter illegal fishing by foreigners.

What the country must adopt is an effective collective action from relevant agencies to safeguard its resources for future generations. 

Let's find some improved solutions to this. 

We can do this several ways. 

Let's start by having more surveillance crafts and set up an effective national coast guard service to carry out effective resource protection all year around. 

National maritime surveillance of our archipelagic waters out to extent of 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone can be greatly enhanced where vast distances are involved. 

As apart from pre-positioning ships in strategic locations and achieving good synergy by the use of aircrafts to augment overall surveillance coverage, including periodical home-porting of ships in key maritime provinces; having forward operations naval bases is a future solution. 

This will improve surveillance efforts dramatically in catching foreign vessels found illegally fishing. 

Naval forward bases will also mean better fuel consumption for ships and a much reduced response times with a better coverage of distances involved. 

The Defense Ministry must establish forward operations bases from strategic locations in Western, Milne Bay, 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.

 Therefore, having strategic and smaller forward bases will see better results in the arrest of foreign fishing vessels due to improved surveillance coverage. 

The government must programme into its long term development strategy the setting up of suitable forward naval operational bases within the next five years. 

A forward operation base at Bwagawaia Harbour on beautiful Misima Island in the eastern Papua region, and one in Western province mainland with perhaps another in Pomio, Wide Bay area of the East New Britain province in the New Guinea region. 

The major advantage will be for the PNGDF's maritime element (navy) to effectively project its forward presence better in response to illegal marine activities. 

When the economy improves over time then additional surveillance platforms (ships and aircrafts) and other support assets can be systematically acquired by the government. 

This is a big "SOS" call for the PNG government to ensure collective action by key agencies to safeguard the country's rich marine resources. 

If PNG fails to do this now, than it is just a matter of time before our rich marine resources will be completely fished out by foreigner fishermen.

 The reality today is that, many foreign fishing nations have already completely depleted their fish stocks in their own waters, so are now poaching in PNG's rich marine resources with much impunity.     

Islands of fun in Papua New Guinea's paradise lost

By Ilya Gridneff, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

MILNE BAY, PNG, AAP - Papua New Guinea's Culture and Tourism Minister laughs at my inquiry then politely tells me to "keep dreaming".
It was a simple question inspired by my island-hopping adventure in his home province of Milne Bay. "Who do I speak to about buying one of Milne Bay's 2000 islands?" I ask in between slurps from a fresh coconut.
Charles Abel, the member for Milne Bay's centre of Alotau, has more than a 100-year family history in this southeastern tip of PNG.
He ruefully retorts he doesn't want to see the region's standards plummet with me as a new constituent.
"Speak to the landowners, it's not a simple purchase, I am not sure you can simply buy an island," he says.
"But if you want to build a resort on one, well, it's a long process we can talk about.
"We have big plans to turn this region into a tourist hub," he says pointing out to the surrounding crystal blue sea.
Milne Bay is already a destination for cruise ships that sail around the islands stretching hundreds of kilometres north and east.
Most of the island groups' names come from an armada of early explorers from as far back as 1660 who set sail through this intricate tapestry now known as the Trobriands, Woodlark, Laughlan, Louisiade Archipelago and the D'Entrecasteau islands.
In a cluster of islands just outside Milne Bay's `China Straits,' is Kwato, about three kilometres east of what was the region's provincial centre, Samarai, first established in 1888.
 Kwato is where the tourism minister's great grandfather Charles Abel settled as one of the first white men in the province circa 1891.
Charles Abel (senior) helped build a church that proudly sits on top of the Kwato's hill and provides spectacular panoramic views of what typifies the `Pacific experience'.
Abel is famed for breaking from his London Missionary Society and championing the local people by teaching practical skills. Ever since those tumultuous early days the Abel family has been an institution throughout Milne Bay and the rest of PNG.
Nowadays when navigating on our small dingy there is an impression of lost time, of a place where not much has changed since the volcanoes left a landscape that looks like a sprinkling of the earth's last crumbs.
Turquoise sea and white sandy beaches with the occasional local paddling a traditional canoe takes up much of the vista as we dart along the water island hopping.
On Samarai the old Colonial memory of the administration lingers in buildings and decaying houses now occupied by locals and their algorithm of family networks cohabiting what was once a hive of activity.Both Kwato and Samarai are incredible spots as living histories, remnants of a past era long gone but not too far away.
All this is a simple excursion depending on how much fuel you've got or how much time you can afford to find paradise lost.
 Driftwood Resort, more an oasis than resort, is a handful of boutique bungalows sitting on Milne Bay's shore and is the perfect place to relax or use as a hub for island activities.
Serenity is at Driftwood's core and it is ideal for those who may want to rekindle something special or mend the body, mind and soul.
Friendly hotel staff organise island adventures or can arrange, for the history buffs, tours of Milne Bay's World War II legacy and the battle sites that saw Japan's first land defeat.
Their fishing tours and excursions to surrounding villages are also well worth the effort.
Driftwood's scenic jetty and quality restaurant is the place to unwind and do nothing. Just watch it all go by. Sunsets or sunrises.
And after these tough days it is recommended to visit the bar for an array of colourful cocktails.
Then there is Tawali dive resort, about an hour's drive east from Alotau, where scuba divers from around the world flock to what is considered some of the globe's most abundant and versatile coral reefs.
Milne Bay is safe, simple and well catered for those in search of a pacific paradise that has not been trampled by tourists or tour operators.
Regular flights from PNG's capital Port Moresby to Alotau mean you can bounce from one of the world's most unliveable cities straight to what is considered PNG's most peaceful province.
As another sun sets on Milne Bay the drinks have shifted from coconuts to the famous South Pacific lager, the popular brew simply known as `SP'.
I badger the tourism minister for a discount if I commit to setting up several `offices' in Milne Bay.
"Keep dreaming," Abel repeats with a chuckle.
"I am," I say.
And it is, Milne Bay is a dream.
IF YOU GO:
There are regular flights to Papua New Guinea from Australia by Air Niugini or Virgin Pacific Blue
From Port Moresby to Alotau regular flights by Air Niugini or Airlines PNG operate
Visit: www.airniugini.com.pg; www.airlinespng.com.pg.
Travel Services: Call: 675-320-2468 or email: admin@travelservices.com.pg.
Driftwood Resort, Alotau. Visit: www.driftwoodpng.com; call: 675-641-0098; 675-323-1920.
Cost: Per night: garden bungalow $A260, waterfront bungalow $A320.

Launch of new publication "Child protection systems, childhood and children in Papua New Guinea with a focus on the Eastern Highlands"

Goroka, May 6, 2010: Division for Community Development of the Eastern Highlands Province and Save the Children organised launching of a new publication “Child protection systems, childhood and children in Papua New Guinea with a focus on the Eastern Highlands”.

More than 60 people including representatives of the provincial government divisions, international and local NGOs, CBOs and FBOs, donor and United Nations agencies, community people from settlement areas, and children attended the launch. 

Save the Children commissioned a review of child protection systems, childhood and children in PNG with an attempt to begin a process of re-evaluation of the circumstances and context of childhood.

Andy West, the author of the review report emphasises that publications issued over the last decade have documented violence against women and children. Focus on gender based violence is necessary, but this focus has led to less attention to being paid to prevailing adult attitudes to children and childhood, and to violence and abuse experienced by all groups of children up to age of 18 years, including boys.  

Lukautim Pikinini Act has brought a new emphasis on the protection of children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. This requires a better and shared understanding of the context of contemporary childhood in Papua New Guinea and a renewed look at the problems facing children and the status of potential services needed for the implementation of the new Act.

The attitudes of adults towards children and the form of adult-children relationships underlie child protection problems and reactions to them, as pointed out by Andy West. Responding to the problems faced by children is of critical importance not only because of the long term physical and psychological effects and damage caused by violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, but also because children become adults and are likely to repeat such experiences against their own and other children.

The author emphasises that there is a need to look at both how boys and girls learn and how they are supported, undertake responsibilities, and take actions. It is particularly important to look at ideals and development of masculinity and the behaviors expected of men, how they learn it through boyhood, how they learn about femininity, and the roles expected from girls and women.

The study highlights that the contemporary forms of masculinity and femininity in PNG are developed and expressed in an environment of increasing and extensive social change. The outcomes of this social and economic change have altered the nature of childhood, and provide the background for the need to develop an active, comprehensive and operational child protection system.  The author provided with concrete recommendations on developing child protection systems.  

The participants of the launch warmly welcomed the findings and recommendations on developing child protection systems provided in the publication. They discussed ways how to take the recommendations forward.

The representatives of the Division for Community Development of EHP and Save the Children expressed that they will follow up to take concrete actions to realise the recommendations proposed in the publication to prevent and protect children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in the province.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Josephine Mill

Child Protection Officer

Division for Community Development

Eastern Highlands Province

jmill@savethechildren.org.pg

Phone: 72304900 and

 

Olonchimeg Dorjpurev

Child Protection Project Manager

Save the Children

olno@savethechildren.org.pg

Phone: 71501691

 

 

 

New pig feed technique a big hit

Peta Mills of AusAID and Morobe Governor Luther Wengechecking out the pig silage
Scientist Michael Dom (centre) with Highlands Pig Farmers’ Association president Moses Pala (left) and Tambul farmer Akilo Purunu

In traditional Papua New Guinea society, particularly in the Highlands, pigs are a sign of wealth, and a man with no pigs is seen as a “poor man”, a “nobody”.

Pigs are an essential commodity in feasts, bride price, funerals, compensation ceremonies, and many, many more.

Moreover, the bigger and fatter the big, the more the status of the owner, hence, pigs must be well fed rather than let around to feed on scraps and litter from the village.

In the Highlands, particularly the high-altitude areas such as Tambul in the Western Highlands and Sirunki in Enga, frosts are a common event and affect pig feed such as kaukau (sweet potatoes).

To overcome this, the National Agriculture Research institute (NARI) at Bubia outside Lae, on Wednesday this week launched its kaukau silage project at its Agricultural Innovations Show at Bubia.

The launch was quite timely, given the forecasted El Nino-induced drought in 2012, and the increasing cost of pig feed from shops.

Basically, how the system works, is that kaukau tubers, leaves and vines are ground up into pig feed and stored in airtight containers which can be stored for up to seven months.

There is no need for cooking the ground kaukau.

NARI scientist Michael Dom, who is spearheading the project, said pig farmers in the Highlands had adopted the technique with much enthusiasm.

“We have a lot of support, particularly from the Highlands Pig Farmers’ Association, which is the biggest pig farmers’ association in the country,” he said.

‘They’re very excited about the pig silage work.”

Mr Dom said pig farmers in Western Highlands, Southern Highlands and Enga provinces had taken to the silage project with much enthusiasm and they were now targeting the whole country.

Tambul pig farmer Akilo Purunu, one of the first to adopt the silage technique since 2007, said it was a very good concept.

“Tambul is an area that is prone to frost,” he said.

‘Now, with this silage technique, we can preserve food for our pigs months in advance of a frost.

“This silage technique has helped us a lot and we are very happy.”

Highlands Pig Farmers’ Association president Moses Pala also welcomed the concept.

“There are two good reasons for the ensilage technique,” he said.

“The first is that we can store food for our pigs for six months in advance,” he said.

“We also reduce our use of firewood to cook food for our pigs.”

Maladina petition a fact not lightly dismissed

From PAUL OATES

While the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and his supporters apparently skulked in their caucus meeting, the Opposition Leader and four Morobe politicians accepted the petition of 20,000 signatures requesting the withdrawal of the Mandalina Amendment.
According to Opposition Leader Morauta, Parliamentary standing orders currently prevent the tabling of this petition as the matter is currently before parliament and has been deferred for further consultations.
However, surely the issue of whether the petition is tabled or not is totally irrelevant? That fact is that the petition exists and is a very public expression of the will of many PNG people on the matter.
The large public demonstration and the petition are facts the PNG government and Parliament cannot overlook. For anyone to ignore this significant milestone in PNG democracy and political history would be very unwise.
A line has been drawn in the sand and the people who drew it are now watching.

Umiversity of Goroka staff broaden linguistic knowledge by learning Japanese

In a positive step and continuing effort for the preservation of language and culture at the University of Goroka, a class of 21 staff members participated in the first Japanese language class held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 (pictured).

The class was conducted by Mr Hidemitsu Nakata, a JICA volunteer attached to the Language and Literature department, to teach staff members conversational Japanese until the end of first semester in July of this year.

The offering of Japanese language is part of the Language and Literature department’s recognition and support for the United Nation’s International Year of the Rapprochement of Cultures.

UNESCO has stated that languages “are the best vehicles of mutual understanding and tolerance. Respect for all cultures is a key factor for ensuring peaceful coexistence, without exclusion, of societies and all of their members”.

To recognise and celebrate the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures the Language and Literature department will also host two language seminars and two workshops on campus featuring experienced linguist and international translations expert Dr Ellis Deibler, who previously assisted UOG to compile and launch the Alekano language dictionary.

The seminars will be held on campus in the main quadrangle at 4.30pm on May 13 and 27 2010 respectively. Details of the workshops will be available at a later date.

Head of the Language and Literature department Ms Anne-Marie Wanamp said the idea of teaching Japanese to staff came about as “any dialogue requires basic knowledge about the ‘other’' including his or her history, language, heritage and religion, and we would like at least acknowledge that and promote this intercultural dialogue through the teaching of Japanese, French and Alekano”.

The Language and Literature department will also teach French and Alekano languages for beginners later in the year.

For further information on the seminars or to register your participation, please contact Mr Philip Tama on telephone: 5311 893 or email tamap@uog.ac.pg or Mr Lawrence K Gerry on telephone: 5311 747 or email gerryl@uog.ac.pg

A wake-up call for Lae

The iconic Lae Biscuit hard tack, long a symbol of the city
Politicians Luther Wenge, Bart Philemon and Theo Zurenuoc…increasing pressure from people to shape up or ship out
Landowner Kamkumung villagers, who freed up their customary land, performing at the opening of the Lae Biscuit Company factory
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


By MALUM NALU

For as long as I can remember, I have been eating the famous Lae Biscuit, whose packet is adorned by the trademark muscleman and the Tok Pisin catchphrase “Bikpela na Strongpela (Big and Strong)”.
Spread with butter, and then dipped into a cup of sweet tea, Lae Biscuit hard tacks were a breakfast favorite for many a child in those far-off pre-independence and immediate post-independence years.
They were also an essential commodity on those long rainy nights for which Lae is famous.
Lae Biscuit became an icon of Lae just like the Lae Botanical Gardens, Lae Airport, Cecil Hotel, China Town, Lae Bus Service, Jumi Cabco taxis, Theatre Lae, Huon Theatre, Lae Nius, Burns Philp and many more.
In those halcyon days, things like potholes, crime, squatter settlements, homebrew, marijuana, cholera and school fights involving guns and knives – the status quo of Lae – were unheard of.
The Bumbu River, which divides the city, was clean and unpolluted and we’d swim there for hours as well as dive and swim for prawns, fish and eels.
Lae was very much an interracial town in which little white, black and Chinese boys and girls mixed around together not knowing that our idyllic paradise would be destroyed in just one generation with the influx of people from the rural areas to the squatter settlements.
Glory day’s icons like Lae Botanical Gardens, Lae Airport, Lae Bus Service, Jumi Cabco Taxis, Theatre Lae, Huon Theatre, Lae Nius, Burns Philp and many more have gone.
Potholes, crime, squatter settlements, homebrew, marijuana and school fights involving guns and knives are now the new gods.
Little white, black and Chinese boys no longer mix around together in an interracial town as zombie-like youths –fueled by marijuana and homebrew – wander the streets of Lae armed with guns and knives in search of fresh prey.
“Baby tingting” (childish) politics is the order of the day in Lae and the people have long given up on politicians and public servants.
One icon, however, has survived this blitzkrieg of Lae and that is the Lae Biscuit of old with its trademark muscleman and the Tok Pisin catchphrase “Bikpela na Strongpela”.
For me, a Lae boy who is now 42, it was a privilege to be back home on Saturday, April 17, 2010, for the opening of the new K65 million Lae Biscuit Company factory at Kamkumung.
I have been away from Lae for 12 years now, having left with my late wife Hula in 1998 for the Highlands where we spent five years, and then Port Moresby for the last seven years, apart from the occasional work-related trip or holiday.
It was a joy to touch base again with many old friends, have a beer and reminisce about the good old days, as well as discuss the developments – or rather lack of them – over the last decade and our hopes and aspirations as we work for a better future for our children.
One common thread in our discussions was that the opening of the Lae Biscuit Company factory should be a wake-up call for Morobe politicians and publics servants from their Rip Van Winkle-like reverie.
So-called service providers like PNG Power, PNG Waterboard, Telikom PNG and Lae urban local level government really need to get off their haunches.
My cousin, Peter Kesu Sayama, is exactly the same age as me and we have been through primary school, high school, national high school and then university together.
Suffice to say, we grew up in Lae with so much hope for the future, and watched it destroyed in just one generation.
He now manages Butibam Progress Association for our people of Butibam village.
“Bro, constant blackouts everyday are part of everyday happenings here,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Apart from the economic boom in property development attributed to the LNG project, we are heading backwards in all aspects!
“Infrastructure and public services are falling apart with corrupt officials involved in getting rich while the rest suffer!
“The road maintenance and resealing are half done with never-ending potholes everywhere.
“ Angau Hospital and suburban clinics are rundown with no medicine, urban migration is leading to settlements cropping up everywhere, harassment of our woman and children in public areas by hooligans is prevalent , we are having to put with hold-ups, police are under-strength and unreliable, cost of food and services is sky high.
“Phew bro, we are struggling and living thru it all...in fact, this list is endless!
“Interestingly, our politicians don't give a damn about what's happening, just talk only and no action.
“Our beloved Lahi (Lae) is infested with 'animals’ and heading towards a major catastrophe!”
The long-suffering people of Lae – long disparaged as the ‘Pothole City’ of Papua New Guinea – saw a ray of sunshine with the opening of the new K65m Lae Biscuit Company factory by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane.
Hundreds of invited guests from PNG and overseas converged on Kamkumung for the opening.
The guest list read like a who’s who of PNG business, government and politics who were there to witness the opening of PNG’s largest single factory and the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the southern hemisphere.
Excitement ran high among the Lae business community and people as they saw this as an opportunity to shrug off some of the much-maligned ‘Pothole City’ tag and for the city to regain some of its lost glory.
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.
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’.
Moreover, it is a shining example to the people of Lae, Morobe province and PNG of what can be achieved through singled-minded determination and sheer hard work, not the all-too-familiar time wasting that we are known for.
Longtime Lae Chamber of Commerce president Alan McLay had some good advice for the service providers.
“We issue this cautionary advice to the service providers - PNG Power, PNG Waterboard, Telikom PNG, and the Lae urban LLG - that whilst Lae Biscuits has shown confidence in Lae for this new development, they do, as indeed do all businesses, need good power, constant water, good communications and good roads so that they can continue to develop and produce quality yet competitive products,” he said.
“All these organisations have a responsibility to provide the services they are responsible for to a high quality standard.
“We do realise that these organisations have been working hard to upgrade their systems to reach the standards that are desired, but this has been hard to achieve because of the lack of past maintenance, and we hope that this maintenance will eventually catch up.”
It is my hope and prayer, and that of many of the mangi (boys) and meri (girls) Laes of my generation, that the opening of the Lae Biscuit Company is a loud wakeup call to everyone.
That like the phoenix, the mythical bird that rose from the ashes, will arise a new Lae which promises a better future for our children.

Morobe to fund new K1m research centre for NARI

Morobe Governor  Luther Wenge has pledged K1 million from the 2011 Morobe provincial budget for a new biotechnology centre to be built at the National Agriculture Research institute at Bubia outside Lae.

Mr Wenge said the centre would be named after NARI's current Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake, who has been with the organisation since its inception in 1996.

"This biotechnology centre is a new initiative by NARI," he said at Bubia today.

"The centre will house general technology and specialised laboratories in the areas of pest and disease management and diagnostics, pathology and entomology laboratories, applied molecular biology including tissue culture and a post-harvest and food-processing laboratory.

"The biotechnology centre will house various offices for researchers.

"In addition, it will provide offices/rooms for the Geographic information Systems (GIS) and National Agriculture Information System (NAIS)."

Mr Wenge said applications of this centre included, among others, utilisation of modern technologies for faster and more-reliable identification of potentially-damaging pest and diseases and faster development of improved crop varieties, improved conservation and utilisation of plant and animal genetic resources in the country, and improved opportunities for value addition of food crops.

"Overall, this central facility will greatly enhance NARI's research for development capacity and provide support services to the agriculture sector in the country," he said.

NARI Council Chairman Dr John Kola gave a big vote of thanks to Mr Wenge for his support over the years, starting from 1997 when he fought tooth and nail against NARI's abolition.

"Thank you for your support since the beginning," he told Mr Wenge.

"When the Government wanted to abolish NARI, you, Governor Wenge, fought against it."    

NARI drought resource centre launched

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge today (Wednesday, May 05, 2010) launched the National Agriculture Research Institute's model resource centre as Papua New Guinea prepares for the next big El Nino-induced drought in 2010

This is part of NARI's plan to prepare rural communities in PNG for frequent and prolonged El Nino-induced drought events.

The National Government has provided Public Investment Programme (PIP) funding of K2.5 million to equip a network of resource centres throughout the country – operated by government, non-government and church organisations – with the information and resources to help communities cope with recurring drought events.

The most-imminent risk to PNG posed by climate change is the increased frequency of strong El Nino events and the severe drought conditions they bring to much of the country.

Following the drought of 1997, NARI developed a series of strategies to help communities adapt their traditional food production systems to cope with the effects of drought.

These strategies have since been publicised at NARI field events and open days in various parts of the highlands and lowlands.

Notwithstanding this, most rural communities in the highlands, lowlands and islands regions still do not have good access to the necessary information and resources to cope with prolonged drought conditions.

Mr Wenge, when launching the model resource centre, said he was proud to have fought against NARI's abolition by the National Government in 1997 and had now shown its true value to everyone in PNG.

This fact was earlier acknowledged by NARI director general Dr Raghunath Ghodake and council chairman Dr John Kola.

Mr Wenge said that in 1997, after only one year in existence, the Government wanted to do away with NARI but founding council chairman Sir Alkan Tololo, founding director general Valentine Kambori and himself dissuaded the Government from this.

"Today is a very important day for NARI, especially after the Government wanted to do away with it in 1998," he said.

"With God's help, the Government listened to us.

"NARI has come a long way since then and NARI has achieved a lot of things."

Mr Wenge said he had full confidence in the NARI team to help carry PNG through the expected 2012 drought.

"I'm confident that NARI has the scientific team to carry us through the expected 2010 drought," he said.

Drought plan launched in Lae

Chief Secretary to Government Manasupe Zurenuoc today (Wednesday, May 05, 2010) launched a major drought preparedness plan at the National Agriculture Research Institute at Bubia outside Lae.

The plan, appropriately titled, "Preparing Rural Communities in PNG for Drought and Climate Change", involves NARI as Papua New Guinea prepares for the next major expected drought in 2012 after the havoc caused by the last El Nino-induced drought in 1997.

Mr Zurenuoc said the launching of the project was very timely and relevant to the lives of PNG's farming and rural communities as the effects of climate change were all too real in these areas.

He said the changes taking place in the country's rainfall patterns had been much more sudden and unexpected due to variations in the strength and frequency of El Nino events in the tropical Pacific.

"These events are triggering severe dought conditions in PNG once every 10 to 12 years," Mr Zurenuoc told a stakeholder forum at Bubia.

"There are two major concerns with these El Nino events: the associated drought conditions they bring have been getting progressively more severe and causing ever-greater food and water security problems; and because they only happen sporadically, every 10-12 years, the necessity to put contingency measures in place to help them cope with these problems."

He commended NARI for taking the initiative over the past three years and campaigning to prepare PNG for drought, and indeed another mega-drought in the near future, particularly principal scientist Dr John Bailey.

Mr Zurenuoc said the PNG Government recognised the importance of what NARI was doing and was pleased to provide funding for this initiative under its Public Investment Programme (PIP).

"This will be a long-term investment to assist NARI and its partners in equipping a network of resource centres throughout the drought-vulnerable parts of the country," he said.

"It is envisaged that these resource centres – possibly 50 in total – will be located at existing stations or bases owned and operated by various extension or outreach organisations including the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, divisions of primary industry, non-government organisations, community-based organisations, schools and church-based organisations.

"I understand that NARI will work in partnership with all of these organisations to ensure that our communities are well prepared to cope with drought events in the foreseeable future."

The model resource centre, launched by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, will be built at strategic points around the country.

"The model resource centre, on show here today with its poster displays, food-processing demonstrations and indoor technology displays, illustrates the types of information and resources that need to be made available to out rural communities," Mr Zurenuoc said.

"They have shown us how to alter the ways in which we manage and use our food and water resources in order to minimise the risks to food and water security during crisis."

Preparing Papua New Guinea for drought and climate change

From MALUM NALU in Lae

Hundreds of people are expected to converge on the National Agricultural Research Institute at Bubia outside Lae tomorrow (Wednesday, May 5) for the annual Agricultural Innovations Show for 2010 to be staged at its Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre.
The programme starts at 8.30am and continues for the whole day.
This will be the fourth year of this ‘information exchange and knowledge sharing’ event in which partner and collaborating organisations in agricultural and rural development will display and exhibit their innovations and improved technologies and interact with farmers and the general public.
Over the past four years, NARI has been spearheading a campaign to prepare Papua New Guinea for recurring periods of prolonged drought linked to changes in the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
In recognition of the urgent need to prepare PNG for such a scenario, the theme of NARI’s innovation show this year is: “Preparing PNG for Drought and Climate Change”.
As an integral component of the event, NARI is also hosting a major stakeholder forum under the banner: “Preparing PNG for Drought”.
This aim of this forum is to raise awareness on drought nationally and to debate how best to prepare rural communities for drought conditions.
NARI has invited representatives from all the major international and national aid agencies and government institutions concerned with food and agriculture, environment and water security issues in PNG.
Guests will include Acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Joseph Lelang, John Malai from PNG Red Cross, Andrew Kalai from Salvation Army, Merilyn Gairo from Adventist Development and Research Agency, Dr Siddhartha Datta from World Health Organisation as well as NARI Director General Dr Raghunath Ghodake and scientists Dr Pikah Kohun, Dr John Bailey, Dr Akkinapally Ramakrishna and Dr Workneh Ayalew
Local NGOs, churches, community-based organisations and rural farming communities have also been invited to participate in this forum.

Papua New Guinea in African tube

By JAMES WANJIK

 

When Ghana gained independence Africa celebrated. Colonialism could be removed. The celebration was short lived. Then new form of colonialism crept in. It was neocolonialism. It was colonialism by Africans against Africans.
South Africa had apartheid till 1990. Congo had no government for years. Somalia has no government with pirates running riot in Somali waters. Nigeria has civil war in the Niger delta where oil is produced and exported.
Many African countries are mineral dependent economies. They rely on mineral receipts for keeping respective national economies alive.
The resource law and policy favoured the outsiders. Land and resources were hard to get in former colonising countries.
Recent oil spill in Gulf of Mexico jostled President Obama's plan to allow oil and gas drilling in offshore of USA. No such action would be possible in Africa.
Africa is a black continent. War rages on in many black nations of Africa. Politics of oil, minerals and money power is the source, means and end of many of these wars.
Papua New Guinea is now well positioned to follow African tube way. Panguna mine led the onslaught. Ok Tedi mine destroyed the Fly. Misima closed leaders' eyes. Ramu is waking up people of Madang. Nautilus is moving people of New Britain and New Ireland. Liquefied Natural Gas will let all hell break lose in Hela.
So many leaders are working for money. It is the reason for bad leadership and corrupt governance in PNG.
PNG is vulnerable now more than ever before. Only true national professionals will tell truth and advocate truth for change. Change where PNG people become source, means and end of development.
PNG is now a nation of resource abundance. It is a land of milk and honey. No leader is leading people for people. Money and more of it has made many leaders arrogant. Arrogance leads leaders astray. Many of them are on the way to being exposed and deposed.
Any leader who is worth his or her salt will make PNG a place for all PNG people. Where leaders use money and position to dictate what, for who and where development should take place is leadership of position power play PNG must reject.
PNG needs leadership of development where all people of PNG will share in the spoils of development. This will land power playing leaders without power.
Tunnel Vision 2050 is a dangerous plot. Never have we been openly lied to as we are with Vision 2050. National Alliance Party has been systematically manipulating leaders, advisers and institutions to stay in power. More and more leaders are realising it and exposing it. No way and no more will they continue without people making a stand.
Our leaders are only opening their eyes from deep slumber. People have political power and it will be leaders who will politicise leadership for leadership of development. Sun and rain leaders will be removed and replaced with all weather leaders. Only then will PNG get out of African tube.

Partnership is important in serving the community

By BUSISI SIWAKA of DAL

 

Public and private partnership between government agencies, non-government organisations, community groups, business houses and local community is important in promoting better livelihood.

One good example is the community work carried out by the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (PNG) Inc, through its network of Couples for Christ members, in and around the Gerehu suburb of Port Moresby.

One of the partners it is working closely with is the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, which has actively promoted food self-sufficiency including rice cultivation and teaching livelihood skills.

DAL has already been given special recognition for promoting agriculture and good livelihood within the community around the Gerehu suburb, which comprises mostly of landowners of Koitabuan origin and settlers.

Alex Sanny, who has worked with the community on behalf of Gawad Kalinga, says the organisation is doing a good community service and there are positive changes having an impact on people from different ethnic backgrounds and not only Koitabu people.

Gerehu and its settlements on the fringes are regarded as unsafe but that is slowly changing, thanks to the efforts by Gawad Kalinga and its partners, he said.

Many people are beginning to show interest in the group’s activities, which include farming, youth and church activities.

Mr Sanny, a Bougainvillean married to a Koitabu woman, said there had been overwhelming support from organisations such as Super Value Stores, National Capital District Commission, City Pharmacy Ltd, PNG Power Ltd, Digicel and others. Infrastructure and facilities that have been established included houses, a pre-school, clinic and a multi-purpose hall for community activities.

He said with DAL, some livelihood projects had already been implemented including backyard gardening and floriculture.

Plans are underway for development of livestock projects in poultry and piggery.

More residents are being encouraged to venture into agriculture farming activities.

DAL’s women in agriculture development unit and food security branch, and Fresh Produce Development Agency, have been in the forefront in encouraging the residents, mainly local landowners, to grow their own vegetable gardens and produce rice for consumption.

Mr Sanny said the most-important thing was that everything was being done through the Lord’s blessings and he urged all stakeholders to maintain that Christian spirit and continue the good work.

Partnerships and freight subsidies will boost agriculture growth

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

Public private partnerships and freight subsidies will assist in promoting agricultural production, particularly the cash crop industry, according to Western province Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive and PNG Rubber Industry Board chairman Warren Dutton.

Mr Dutton made the call during the recent Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) Southern regional development forum in Popondetta.

He said without strong public private partnerships and workable freight subsidies, the production of most smallholder crops had been in continual decline.

Mr Dutton said previous governments had introduced a policy on freight subsidies for smallholder produce; however, it had not been properly implemented.

He questioned why recommendations by the National Agriculture Council and CIMC national development forum for a freight subsidy scheme were yet to be implemented.

He said that without the partnership between village growers, co-operatives, buying and exporting companies, provincial governments and the national government there would be no cash crop industries in PNG.

Without freight subsidies to provide acceptable prices, all those industries would die, and 85% of PNG’s population would be the losers.

Mr Dutton told the forum that freight subsidies could be made to work in PNG.

“It is the most cost-effective way of distributing the large revenues that are already being earned from mining and oil projects and that will be earned from the LNG project,” he said.

“Surely, now is the time to use some of the funding of the NADP and the revenues which will flow from the LNG project, to provide the freight subsidies that will stimulate our most-remote and neglected smallholders to restart and/or increase their production.”

Mr Dutton said without subsidies, production of most of PNG’s smallholder crops had been in continual decline.

Production has been in decline ever since PNG “destroyed” its plantation industry and the partnerships which the plantations had with their neighboring smallholders.

He said the Government’s policy of encouraging public private partnerships was correct because it would rebuild the relationship which used to exist between smallholders and expert agricultural investors.

Those expert investors are then responsible for providing the training, transport, and marketing for their neighboring smallholders.

Most importantly they must pay an acceptable price for the smallholder’s product.

Mr Dutton said many cash crop industries were under threat because the prices offered to the smallholders were not acceptable to them.

The low prices do not provide an acceptable return for their labour.

He told the forum that the Western province smallholder rubber industry was the only successful smallholder rubber industry because it had hardworking village growers, a good public-private partnership and freight subsidies which allowed the growers to be paid an acceptable and competitive price for their cash crops and labour.

North Fly Rubber Limited’s public-private partnership first with Ok Tedi Mining Limited, then with PNG Sustainable Development Program, and now with the Western province administration has contributed greatly to the development of a sustainable rubber industry in the province.

OTML has for the past 18 years shipped processed rubber from Kiunga to Port Moresby or Queensland, allowing rubber growers to be paid an extra 25t per kg for their cup lump rubber.

 Now it allows them to be paid an extra 43 toea.

Without this assistance it would not have been worth the growers’ while to ever tap their rubber trees.

Rugby union alive and well in Kavieng

Caption: Kavieng rugby union action between N4C and Royals at the weekend.-Picture by GEBING JETHRO

 

By GEBING JETHRO in Kavieng

 

Kavieng rugby union has been running its pre-season competition for the last two weekends and next weekend heads into its seven competition.

Eight teams are set to tussle for the sevens crown this weekend.

In-form teams include Nomads and Royals, who have retained most players from the Buluminski Marlins, semi-finalist at last year’s Black Orchid Sevens in Buka.

The rest of the teams will be out to showcase yet some hidden talents.

Teams taking part are Royals, Nomads, Redskins, Watersides, Plumbers, N4C, Snafu and Putput.

An invitation is still open to intending teams.

After the sevens, it is planned to have a shorter 15’s season.

All teams are set and a planned three-day basic clinic on rules and skills will be run tomorrow (Tuesday, May 4), Wednesday and Thursday by Samson Korong, Mack Lentruth and other key figures in the local rugby fraternity.

Organisers have seen a huge interest among Kavieng youngsters and want to get them all on board.

The next thing is to establish contact with and affiliate with the PNG Rugby Football Union.

Interim committee members running the show are Sergent Silau (Digicel 72844465) and David Lotar (Digicel 71523501).     

All teams must attend tomorrow's clinic starting 4pm at the Court House Oval.

A meeting will also be held.

Protest march reminder

To all

Be advised that the planned protest march by the Port Moresby public has been approved by the police commissioner to be staged tomorrow and is expected to be violent, as criminal elements will take advantage of the situation to engage in activities like looting, rioting, etc.

The protesters will assemble at Boroko and will march to Waigani.

Therefore, remind the kids to stay away from these areas.

All the PMVs will be off the roads and shops will also be closed for business.

Tok save tasol.

 

 

 

bemobile Cup kicks off next Sunday

By HENRY MORABANG

 

Leading mobile phone company bemobile has committed K800, 000 as naming right to support the semi-professional bemobile Cup rugby league competition for 2010.

  Marketing Officer George Trad said this would be the second year for bemobile to back the premier rugby league competition in the country.

 Under the slogan “bemobile cup 2010 best yet”, this year’s contest promises to be one of the most-exciting and competitive seasons.

 The slogan is recognition that bemobile Cup is an exhilarating competition in its own right.

 Trad said that this year would again feature some of the top local rugby league talent PNG has on offer.

 He said this was the company’s second year as the official naming rights sponsor, stamping its strong commitment and support for rugby league in the country.

 “Our financial commitment for this year is K800,000 as well as promoting the game in all media and the community whenever and wherever we have an opportunity, with road shows, store visits and events throughout the season,” Trad said.

 He acknowledged key partners in the media as very important in achieving goals through effective dialogue to promote the game to the community as the bemobile Cup season unfolded.

 “We will be looking to utilise players in the community as never before, and hope to take great strides in making the game attractive to family groups by providing more family entertainment during pre-match and halftime periods,”Trad said.

 The bemobile Cup is a tough competition and also provides a platform for bringing people together as a promotional poster shot.

 Even though the players go head-to-head on the field there is a friendship and camaraderie off the field which makes them ideal ambassadors in the community.

 The return of prodigal team Simbu Warriors back into the high-profile rugby league competition mean there is definitely something in store for fans throughout the country.

 They will bring in their own unique brand of football into the competition.

The bemobile Cup competition has retained all seven franchises from last season with the inclusion of new kids on the block Warriors and Mount Hagen Kuris.

 Teams from last year are reigning premiers Agmark Guria, Toyota Mioks, Masta Mak Rangers, Bintangor Lahanis, ATCL Bombers, Civpac NCD Vipers, SBS Muruks and Bintangor Eagles.

 The Bintangor Group of Companies has pulled the plug on Mt Hagen Eagles, with Wantok Gaming System taking over as new sponsor.

 The bemobile Cup is set to kick off next Sunday, May 9,

 Despite the legal battle within the PNG Rugby Football League, the 2010 draw will see 18 rounds of matches with one team having a bye every weekend.

 The opening clashes will kick off with a big bang in Port Moresby where sister teams Vipers play Rangers, Eagles will host Mioks in Mt Hagen, reigning champions Gurias will tackle Lahanis at the Kalabond ‘graveyard’ in Kokopo while Bombers meet Muruks in Lae.

 Warriors will have a first bye but will have the luxury of hosting their first bemobile Cup game in the second round when they host seasoned campaigners Lahanis of neighbouring Goroka at the newly-upgraded premier Dickson Oval.