From PAUL OATES
Papua New Guinea democracy recently raised its head and asked to be recognised with the public demonstrations over the Maladina Amendments in Moresby and Lae. But will this activity achieve any lasting effect?
Clearly it is the intention of PM Somare to just sit tight and let the storm pass over. He has claimed that as Parliament has already passed the Maladina Amendment, it is too late to listen to the will of the people.
Along with the 'adjournment of Parliament, the Moti Report and many other previous examples, Somare is now depending on the traditional PNG custom of noisy talkfest's and moribund inaction to continue to allow him to rule unmolested.
Is there no one who will bring the problem to a head? Will he be allowed to get away with it again?
The longer it goes without continually following up on the public sentiment expressed in the demonstrations and in signing of the petitions, the easier it will be for Somare to sweep it all under the carpet yet again.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Kerevat training for youths
John Bokosou of NARI IRC giving out some helpful hints to youth participants 
A crowd of the youths listening to Gadi Ling during the training
By JOHN BOKOSOU of NARI
National Agricultural Research Institute’s Islands regional centre at Keravat in East New Britain province conducted an agricultural training for youths last month.
The training was targeted at youths surrounding Keravat and was aimed at enabling peer-to-peer groups in agricultural development.
They learned about taro beetle management, especially fungicide applications; vegetable field nursery in sowing and management during seedling stage; and cocoa pruning including marcotting.
Over 20 participants attend this training.
They were interested in helping themselves and their peer groups.
Among the trainees were a few parents who are youth counselors.
NARI Keravat also distributed information and planting materials to them.
Gadi Ling, a NARI Keravat scientist and outreach officer, said getting information and practicing it in their own time would greatly help themselves in the long run.
“This small training will provide you to be self-sufficient in food and cash and be a good member in your community and family,” Mr Ling said.
He said NARI encouraged partnership and collaboration with other rural development institutions and churches to provide skills training to youth groups.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
What comes first, the chicken or the egg?
From PAUL OATES
What comes first, the chicken or the egg?
There is an interesting article in today's The National about Australia's aid to PNG.
The PNG Foreign Minister's is reported to have claimed that much of the Australian aid given to PNG was wasted on consultants and advisers rather than health and education.
In response, Australia's Foreign Minister has stated that Australia will conduct a review of those adviser's effectiveness with partner governments.
This review will be jointly undertaken by AusAID and partner governments.
"Australia was committed to providing 'most effective' and 'value for money' advisers", Mr Stephen Smith is reported to have said.
However before some heave a collective sigh of relief that something is finally being done to answer years of criticism and reported inaction, let's first examine the statements from both Foreign Ministers in more detail.
There is no denying that PNG's Foreign Minister has an excellent point.
Some overseas advisers and consultants are reported to have been paid fabulous amounts by AusAID.
Reports of so called 'boomerang aid' have been around for years and refer to the 'giaman' (false) process whereby Australian consultants are paid in tax free dollars by the Australian Aid program and therefore PNG does not accrue any benefit.
In the newspaper article, it is claimed that local PNG experts are not available and therefore, overseas consultants have to be recruited.
But why are local experts not available?
Could it be that they can't get past the recruitment process or haven't the managers of aid programs thought about training PNG people to actually be able to do the work involved?
Many educated PNG people must now find employment overseas as the political appointment system is reputedly severely affected by the 'wantok' (fellow language speaker) process or just plain nepotism and corruption.
The old idea that, "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys", has somehow been morphed into the notion that if you pay someone a lot of money you are bound to get good results.
Wrong!
In this case, the only results AusAID have reputedly achieved have been to clearly increase a few foreign bank accounts.
Over many years, PNG's governments are not entirely squeaky clean however, when it comes to funding health and education.
These programs are the direct responsibility of the PNG government and that responsibility can't just be shifted to Australia's overseas aid program, as the report intimates.
A recent enquiry into PNG government finances revealed horrendous discrepancies in how most government departments are managed or mismanaged as the case appears to be.
Lastly, it is reported that those being held responsible for the overseas aid programs (AusAID and partner governments), are to 'review' their own programs.
Well that's a relief.
For a moment one might thought that someone independent and other than those responsible for the problems were going to conduct the review.
Phew!
We almost might have uncovered some problems areas that neither AusAID nor their 'partner governments' might want the taxpayer to know about.
Whoops!
That would be a recipe for change.
______________
Aust to PNG: Aid review in order
By YEHIURA HRIEHWAZI in Brisbane
THE Australian government is committed to reviewing effectiveness of its aid to Papua New Guinea to get "value for money" following its complaints that a lot of the money was wasted on consultants.
A post-budget statement released by Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith on Tuesday night gave details of its aid commitments to Indonesia, Africa and the Caribbean nations.
However, it made no mention of aid support to PNG except in reference to its continuing commitment in helping reducing deforestation and carbon emission.
Smith said Australia was committed to conduct a review of advisers' effectiveness with partner-governments. While PNG is a partner and the PNG aid component was expected to be over K400 million, Smith did not make any indication of it.
PNG used to be the largest overseas aid recipient until recently when Indonesia had become the focus of Australia as its strategic development partner while PNG hummed the tune of aid reduction and self-dependency. In the 2010-11 budget handed down by the federal government on Tuesday night, Smith said Australia aid commitment to Indonesia over the next four years will be A$323 million (K804 million).
In direct response to PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal's recent outburst that much of Australian aid to PNG was "wasted" on consultants and advisers instead of the needy areas of health and education, Australia was committed to providing "most effective" and "value for money" advisors.
"In 2010-11, AusAID will undertake a review jointly with partner governments on the use of technical advisers in the aid programme.
"The review will seek to ensure each adviser is the most effective, value-for-money response to meeting agreed need and priorities," Smith said.
Reacting to Abal's criticism against the boomerang aid last month, Australia's parliamentary secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan said Australian consultants and advisers brought to PNG crucial skills that were often not available locally.
"Australia and PNG jointly decide on the areas of focus of the Australian aid program.
"The PNG government frequently requests Australia to provide technical experts to advise PNG government departments, and approves these appointments.
"These advisers bring crucial skills that often do not exist locally," spokesman for McMullan told The National via email from Canberra.
What comes first, the chicken or the egg?
There is an interesting article in today's The National about Australia's aid to PNG.
The PNG Foreign Minister's is reported to have claimed that much of the Australian aid given to PNG was wasted on consultants and advisers rather than health and education.
In response, Australia's Foreign Minister has stated that Australia will conduct a review of those adviser's effectiveness with partner governments.
This review will be jointly undertaken by AusAID and partner governments.
"Australia was committed to providing 'most effective' and 'value for money' advisers", Mr Stephen Smith is reported to have said.
However before some heave a collective sigh of relief that something is finally being done to answer years of criticism and reported inaction, let's first examine the statements from both Foreign Ministers in more detail.
There is no denying that PNG's Foreign Minister has an excellent point.
Some overseas advisers and consultants are reported to have been paid fabulous amounts by AusAID.
Reports of so called 'boomerang aid' have been around for years and refer to the 'giaman' (false) process whereby Australian consultants are paid in tax free dollars by the Australian Aid program and therefore PNG does not accrue any benefit.
In the newspaper article, it is claimed that local PNG experts are not available and therefore, overseas consultants have to be recruited.
But why are local experts not available?
Could it be that they can't get past the recruitment process or haven't the managers of aid programs thought about training PNG people to actually be able to do the work involved?
Many educated PNG people must now find employment overseas as the political appointment system is reputedly severely affected by the 'wantok' (fellow language speaker) process or just plain nepotism and corruption.
The old idea that, "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys", has somehow been morphed into the notion that if you pay someone a lot of money you are bound to get good results.
Wrong!
In this case, the only results AusAID have reputedly achieved have been to clearly increase a few foreign bank accounts.
Over many years, PNG's governments are not entirely squeaky clean however, when it comes to funding health and education.
These programs are the direct responsibility of the PNG government and that responsibility can't just be shifted to Australia's overseas aid program, as the report intimates.
A recent enquiry into PNG government finances revealed horrendous discrepancies in how most government departments are managed or mismanaged as the case appears to be.
Lastly, it is reported that those being held responsible for the overseas aid programs (AusAID and partner governments), are to 'review' their own programs.
Well that's a relief.
For a moment one might thought that someone independent and other than those responsible for the problems were going to conduct the review.
Phew!
We almost might have uncovered some problems areas that neither AusAID nor their 'partner governments' might want the taxpayer to know about.
Whoops!
That would be a recipe for change.
______________
Aust to PNG: Aid review in order
By YEHIURA HRIEHWAZI in Brisbane
THE Australian government is committed to reviewing effectiveness of its aid to Papua New Guinea to get "value for money" following its complaints that a lot of the money was wasted on consultants.
A post-budget statement released by Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith on Tuesday night gave details of its aid commitments to Indonesia, Africa and the Caribbean nations.
However, it made no mention of aid support to PNG except in reference to its continuing commitment in helping reducing deforestation and carbon emission.
Smith said Australia was committed to conduct a review of advisers' effectiveness with partner-governments. While PNG is a partner and the PNG aid component was expected to be over K400 million, Smith did not make any indication of it.
PNG used to be the largest overseas aid recipient until recently when Indonesia had become the focus of Australia as its strategic development partner while PNG hummed the tune of aid reduction and self-dependency. In the 2010-11 budget handed down by the federal government on Tuesday night, Smith said Australia aid commitment to Indonesia over the next four years will be A$323 million (K804 million).
In direct response to PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal's recent outburst that much of Australian aid to PNG was "wasted" on consultants and advisers instead of the needy areas of health and education, Australia was committed to providing "most effective" and "value for money" advisors.
"In 2010-11, AusAID will undertake a review jointly with partner governments on the use of technical advisers in the aid programme.
"The review will seek to ensure each adviser is the most effective, value-for-money response to meeting agreed need and priorities," Smith said.
Reacting to Abal's criticism against the boomerang aid last month, Australia's parliamentary secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan said Australian consultants and advisers brought to PNG crucial skills that were often not available locally.
"Australia and PNG jointly decide on the areas of focus of the Australian aid program.
"The PNG government frequently requests Australia to provide technical experts to advise PNG government departments, and approves these appointments.
"These advisers bring crucial skills that often do not exist locally," spokesman for McMullan told The National via email from Canberra.
Agriculture training for mine impact students
Hellen Komkombe, Carolyne Tambarie and Emma Apool attend to the kaukau plot during one of their practical sessions
Lihir girls Hellen Komkombe, Carolyne Tambarie and Emma Apool checking on the vegetable plot at the college
By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
A group of young people from faraway New Ireland province are making use of their time at the Highlands Agricultural College in Mount Hagen.
The 10 students from the Lihir gold mine area are studying basic agriculture farming and are pleased with their own efforts so far.
Four of them are females who are Grade Eight school leavers and six are males, of whom four are Grade 10 leavers and two are Grade Eight leavers.
With them is another female, a Grade 10 leaver who is doing her second year.
The students are thankful to their sponsor, Lihir Sustainable Development Organisation, for recognising the importance of promoting agriculture in the mine impact areas on the island and encouraging school leavers to be trained in basic agriculture farming.
The 10 students enrolled in the six-month agriculture training program in February this year.
They said that landowners in the past concentrated mainly on mine-related activities, but were now realising that mineral resources were only for the short-term and that agriculture remained as the backbone of the economy and the people’s livelihood.
With that in mind, the landowner company took the important step and sponsored the group to be trained at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock-operated agricultural college.
Although far away from their island community, the Lihir students are now used to the cold climate and have settled in well and concentrating on their certificate in agriculture farming course which covers crop production, livestock production (including piggery, poultry, small ruminants and cattle), rural life development, project management and communications.
The group will graduate next month.
The students said they were aware of the mine impact on the people’s lives and realised that such major development also had its disadvantages.
Because of the people’s concerns for their future livelihood, the landowner company placed its trust in its young people and wanted them to be trained as agriculture workers so that they could promote and create awareness on agriculture rehabilitation and expansion.
The company has its hopes pinned on the school leavers to create opportunities in agriculture farming for the mine impact communities.
The students upon their return will also look at potential crops like coffee, aquaculture and vegetable production on a bigger scale.
“As school-leavers we realise that the only way to help our people is to teach them about agriculture farming,” they said.
“We also realise that often many students think of getting office jobs or going to universities, but we must think about helping our own community at the grassroots level.
“It is our duty to help the people who have been affected by the mine development in the past couple of years to resettle and participate in meaningful agriculture activities.”
Another group of students from the Porgera gold mine impact areas in Enga province, sponsored by their MP Philip Kikala, is also studying at the college.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
NARI to establish resource centres in Abau
By
Deputy Prime Minister and Abau MP Sir Puka Temu has approved K38, 000 from his electoral funds for the establishment of a series of resource centres in the district.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) will establish the centres.
The approval was made during a special joint district planning and budget priority committee (JDPBPC) meeting for Abau district held in Kupiano on April 21.
While approving the funds, Sir Puka expressed his appreciation towards NARI’s research-for-development (R4D) initiatives in his district over the recent years.
Sir Puka also expressed concerns that soil productivity had been declining in villages in the Aroma local level government (LLG) and asked NARI scientists to develop soil improvement programmes in Aroma.
During the meeting, Clifton David Gwabu of NARI’s Southern regional centre at Laloki in Central province presented the resource centre budget to Sir Puka and JDPBPC members.
Mr Gwabu thanked Sir Puka and his committee members and assured them that the funds would be used for continued R4D work in Abau through the resource centre concept.
While updating on NARI’s past, present and future development plans in Abau, Mr Gwabu revealed to date NARI’s presence was in Merani in the Cloudy LLG and Maopa and Egalauna in Aroma LLG but now, with the funding, NARI would extend its work to Amazon Bay LLG in addition to further expansion in other parts of Aroma and Cloudy Bay LLGs.
Mr Gwabu said NARI was currently piloting an agricultural innovative project called Life Long Learning for Farmers (L3F) in Abau district, which upon its success, would be extended to the rest of Central province.
The budget was presented at the request of Isoa Damai, the business representative of Abau JDPBPC, who is also the leader of Merani farmers who are working through NARI’s resource centre network.
Mr Damai invited NARI to put a budget proposal together because since the start of NARI’s work in Abau in 2007, there was no direct funding assistance from the district.
He said collaboration and partnership was now being strengthened.
UNRE goats tagged
By VERONICA MANUK of UNRE
Goats at the
The ear tagging and numbering kit was donated by a
The kit consisted of tags, an applicator and marker pens which are used to secure permanent identification of individual goats.
Mr Kingan said the ear tags and the markers were of high quality and the inked numbers should last longer than printed numbers.
The goats are now increasing in number so that provision of such resources is crucial to daily management, routine husbandry practices, stocktaking and recording of weights and breeding success.
The current population is 40 animals: 19 are breeding females, six young females, six males selected for breeding and nine marketable males.
It is planned that the herd should reach and be maintained at 30 breeding females and six males at any one time, plus animals not yet weaned.
A suitable market weight is reached after about six months of growth.
Marketable animals are sold at K3 per kg liveweight.
Young female goats give birth for the first time at about nine months and thereafter at six to seven month intervals.
About half of the births give single kids and half give twins.
With the assistance given by Mr Kingan, the goats will be monitored and the breeding programme maintained to ensure continuous reproduction and a steady flow of animals, eventually both male and female, for sale.
While there have been many enquiries for female goats for breeding, the farm will not sell be selling any female goats as yet.
All females will be kept until the numbers reach the target for a viable herd.
Some losses due to dog attack and misadventure have occurred but these problems can be overcome.
The efforts of people like Mr Kingan are helping to create good resources for teaching, research and income generation for the University.
This contribution to the academic livestock section and the farm is greatly appreciated.
Wep Kanawi confirmed as National AIDS Council Secretariat director
National AIDS Council chairman Sir Peter Barter today (Wednesday, May 12, 2010) announced the appointment of Wep Kanawi as director of the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS).
The announcement was made following the National Executive Council’s recent decision to appoint long-serving public servant Kanawi as NACS director in its third meeting of 2010, making the appointment effective as of May 4, 2010.
Mr Kanawi has been NACS acting director since July 2009.
“I am delighted that Wep (Kanawi) has now joined us as director of NACS,” Sir Peter said.
“I would also like to thank the Government for the endorsement and the Minister for Health and HIV and AIDS Sasa Zibe for his high level support.
“Wep (Kanawi) is bringing a wealth of both academic and public service experience to the post and will continue to rebuild NACS credibility and develop strong and effective partnerships with all stakeholders.”
Before joining NACS, Mr Kanawi was formerly the provincial administrator for Manus province and the chairman of the provincial AIDS committee.
He has worked in the public service since the 1960s and has been appointed by the Government of PNG to head several focal Government Departments including the National Investment Development Authority, Department of Commerce, Department of Industrial Development, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Personnel Management.
Mr. Kanawi also graduated with a law degree from the
MrKanawi is thankful of his appointment: “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and I am honored by my appointment and I will do my best for the country and my people.”
New computer lab for University of Goroka
.JPG)
By KATE GUNN of UOG
Monday, May 10, 2010 saw the official opening of a new computer laboratory for post-graduate students at the
A total of 53 computers and 32 flat screen monitors were donated by the International Development for Computer Education (IDCE) and the Kyoto Computer Gakuin (school) in
Sixteen of these are being used for the post-graduate students’ computer laboratory at the UOG, now officially named the KCG Lab after the Kyoto Computer Gakuin who not only helped to procure the donated computers and flat screen monitors but prioritised the UOG’s request for the items.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the UOG David Avei-Hosea commented at the opening that UOG had received many benefits over the years from JICA’s support in the areas of volunteering, infrastructure, language, culture and computers.
Mr Avei-Hosea said: “Fourteen years after establishing the school of post-graduate studies the dream of computers for post-graduate students is finally taking place.”
In a formal ceremony held on campus, the KCG Lab was officially opened by Mr Takeshi Shiratsuki co-ordinator of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) programme in
Mr Shiratsuki said the occasion was a good way to acknowledge each other, make new relationships and also to develop PNG more.
Mr Shiratsuki asked those present to continue to support the JICA volunteer programme.
The new KCG computer laboratory will now help to ease the problem of access to computers and the Internet for UOG post-graduate students on campus.
Prime Minister calls people of Papua New Guinea 'longlong' and 'sadang'
From The National Editorial
Chief of all ‘longlong’ and ‘sadang’
THE people do rightly demand and they do deserve an apology from Prime Minister Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
He must also retract the public outburst he made in Parliament where he described last week’s demonstrators as “longlongs” and to members of the media as “sadang”.
He, of all people, should never call any member of the PNG public “longlong” or “sadang”.
“Longlong” in Tok Pisin means mentally retarded or depraved while “sadang” means the devil or satan.
In the final analysis, if the people be “longlong” and “sadang”, he, as prime minister of the nation, is the chief of them all.
This demonstration, for all it is worth, cannot be said to have been organised or carried out by “longlongs”.
It was peaceful.
It was people speaking their mind and assembling peacefully to do so in accordance with the constitutional provision which gives them that inherent right.
It is not language that is fitting for a prime minister to level at his own people.
For two score and four years through nine national general elections, the “longlongs” of
That tremendous achievement, for which glory and praise have been lavished upon the man, most assuredly, is the achievement of the people of
The Pangu Pati and its diehard supporters and stalwarts, and now the National Alliance party, its executives and faithful members in Parliament and outside, have done their level best for their leader who Sir Michael is. Theirs too is part of the story of the four decade milestone reached by Sir Michael.
Many
This would hardly be thanks for all the hard work and dedication given by these people to the man we call the Grand Chief.
When Australian immigrations asked Sir Michael to take off his sandals at an Australian airport, the ordinary people of PNG felt the insult deepest. They made no secret of it and spoke up in every public forum. They stood for their Chief, one who would now deign to grant them the title of “longlong”.
It is time the Chief got to know his people better. Unlike what he has told Radio
Classrooms, health centres, roads, bridges, local government council chambers, public service houses and much more are in tremendous need of maintenance and many more new ones need to be built.
Mothers and children continue to die in great numbers from very easily preventable diseases. Crime persists. There is a gun culture that now appears a norm in our society.
We must begin to wonder whatever has happened to the billions of kina generated by our resource boom in copper, silver, gold, oil, forestry, fisheries and our combined agricultural commodities over the years.
Wisely applied, these billions would surely have lifted the general population up from the pits where they now wallow to be described as “longlongs” by their own prime minister.
If the people remain ignorant and pitiful, if they remain unhealthy and uncouth and ill-mannered, and many other undesirable attributes, then much has to do with their minders – the leaders of this country.
He cannot call his own people “longlong” without it reflecting upon his own leadership.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pawpaw a'la Manus
Story and picture by ROSELYN ELLISON
Fresh pawpaws from Baon village on
Pictured is Anna Pokarup, who brought these juicy and fresh pawpaws from her village to sell at Lorengau market, when Icaught up with her.
Government incompetence
From PAUL OATES
It's official - the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed has that the Papua New Guinea government had no idea what the effects of the waste disposal arrangements from the Ramu nickel mine would be when it approved the process.
The Department of Environment and Conservation Minister reportedly stood by while Sir Puka Temu admitted to Rai Coast residents that the government was now carrying out what was reported as 'awareness on the process of deep sea tailings'. Both Ministers received a petition that called for an immediate stopwork on the waste disposal site and to fund an independent scientific study into the project. The government was given 21 days to respond before local people intended to take further action.
Had the local residents not obtained a court injunction on the mine construction work, it is now apparent that the PNG government and the Ramu NiCo would have gone ahead with the planned tailings disposal process. A process that many have very serious concerns about.
This admission by the government now begs the question: What else about this
particular mining project has not been fully investigated, prior to government approval? A similar mine in New Caledonia had significant problems reported about its waste disposal arrangements. There doesn't seem to be any other reason why the PNG couldn't have learnt from their fellow Melanesian neighbour's previous experience except one: Incompetence.
A qualified mining engineer has previously claimed that the PNG government has agreed to a vastly undervalued deal with the developers of Ramu NiCo. If this is true, then the PNG people have been sold out by their own government. Perhaps the local landowners should be insisting the PNG government now examine all aspects concerning Ramu NiCo mine in a
fully transparent manner before any further action is allowed?
______________________________ ________
In today's The National
Temu admits to poor awareness at Ramu
By JAYNE SAFIHAO
THE national government has admitted to lack of awareness and consultation on the deep sea tailing processes at the Ramu nickel-cobalt mine in Madang province.
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu said the government had failed to carry out awareness within the local impacted areas in Madang on the process of deep sea tailings.
He told villagers at Bongu, Rai Coast district, that awareness on the tailings processes should have been carried out earlier for the locals to better understand what was involved.
He was speaking when receiving a petition from the people on the activities of Ramu NiCo and what they wanted done. With him was Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan.
Sir Puka said responsible government authorities were now carrying out awareness on the process of deep sea tailings, and villagers along the impacted areas must allow officers to give help them better understand the processes involved.
Among other issues raised, the petition also called for an immediate stopwork on the waste disposal site; for the government to fund an independent scientific research to prove or disprove studies carried out by National Research Systems (NRS) prior to the one by the Mineral Policy Institute of Sydney, Australia; for the landowners to have their say included in the new research; and for the developer to find "other alternate means" of disposing wastes.
The Bongu people gave the government 21 days to respond.
The petition stated that if nothing positive was gained, they would be forced to take "appropriate measures".
Meanwhile, the locals said the government's quick action to shove scientific information on the process of the tailings plan within a very short period was inadequate and incorrect.
They stressed that the government had slept on the issue up until now, and was resorting to a quick resolution .
It's official - the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed has that the Papua New Guinea government had no idea what the effects of the waste disposal arrangements from the Ramu nickel mine would be when it approved the process.
The Department of Environment and Conservation Minister reportedly stood by while Sir Puka Temu admitted to Rai Coast residents that the government was now carrying out what was reported as 'awareness on the process of deep sea tailings'. Both Ministers received a petition that called for an immediate stopwork on the waste disposal site and to fund an independent scientific study into the project. The government was given 21 days to respond before local people intended to take further action.
Had the local residents not obtained a court injunction on the mine construction work, it is now apparent that the PNG government and the Ramu NiCo would have gone ahead with the planned tailings disposal process. A process that many have very serious concerns about.
This admission by the government now begs the question: What else about this
particular mining project has not been fully investigated, prior to government approval? A similar mine in New Caledonia had significant problems reported about its waste disposal arrangements. There doesn't seem to be any other reason why the PNG couldn't have learnt from their fellow Melanesian neighbour's previous experience except one: Incompetence.
A qualified mining engineer has previously claimed that the PNG government has agreed to a vastly undervalued deal with the developers of Ramu NiCo. If this is true, then the PNG people have been sold out by their own government. Perhaps the local landowners should be insisting the PNG government now examine all aspects concerning Ramu NiCo mine in a
fully transparent manner before any further action is allowed?
______________________________ ________
In today's The National
Temu admits to poor awareness at Ramu
By JAYNE SAFIHAO
THE national government has admitted to lack of awareness and consultation on the deep sea tailing processes at the Ramu nickel-cobalt mine in Madang province.
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu said the government had failed to carry out awareness within the local impacted areas in Madang on the process of deep sea tailings.
He told villagers at Bongu, Rai Coast district, that awareness on the tailings processes should have been carried out earlier for the locals to better understand what was involved.
He was speaking when receiving a petition from the people on the activities of Ramu NiCo and what they wanted done. With him was Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan.
Sir Puka said responsible government authorities were now carrying out awareness on the process of deep sea tailings, and villagers along the impacted areas must allow officers to give help them better understand the processes involved.
Among other issues raised, the petition also called for an immediate stopwork on the waste disposal site; for the government to fund an independent scientific research to prove or disprove studies carried out by National Research Systems (NRS) prior to the one by the Mineral Policy Institute of Sydney, Australia; for the landowners to have their say included in the new research; and for the developer to find "other alternate means" of disposing wastes.
The Bongu people gave the government 21 days to respond.
The petition stated that if nothing positive was gained, they would be forced to take "appropriate measures".
Meanwhile, the locals said the government's quick action to shove scientific information on the process of the tailings plan within a very short period was inadequate and incorrect.
They stressed that the government had slept on the issue up until now, and was resorting to a quick resolution .
Papua New Guinea honey to go on show
By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
Livestock Development Corporation and its partners are preparing to host a national field day on potential of honey bee industry.
It is anticipated that the honey bee promotion and awareness event and a seminar will be held in Goroka later this month or in June.
LDC managing director John Akipe said the field day and seminar was a follow-up to the first-ever national apiculture industry workshop held in early March which attracted a large turnout and was very successful.
He said the workshop was well attended by all stakeholders including bee farmers, producers, buyers, suppliers, government, industry and institutions and this planned field day and seminar was part of the overall process in developing and promoting the honey bee industry in
Mr Akipe said the proceedings of the workshop and the way forward plan of the apiculture programme would be presented in the seminar, whilst the field day would involve displays of honey bee farming equipment and materials, bee processing and manufacturing facilities, queen breeders, and finished products.
Selected farmers, farmer associations, relevant government agencies and private sector will be invited to participate and put up displays.
Mr Akipe said an organising committee had been established to prepare and plan for the big event.
The committee comprises representatives from LDC, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, National Agriculture Research Institute, National Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Authority, Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association, Eastern Highlands provincial administration, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Isten Hailens Beekeepers Association.
Invitations will be extended to government agencies, institutions and new farmers in other regions to attend.
It is hoped that the successful Bulolo bee farmers of Morobe province will attend and showcase their thriving honey bee programme.
Queen's Birthday Weekend in beautiful Madang!
In recent years people have been opting to fly to
The excellent facilities provided by the Madang Resort and
There is an excellent nine-hole golf course where guests become automatic members.
Tennis courts and bowling are some of the sporting activities but there is more: you can hire a game fishing boat or if you prefer a village banana boat and learn how to fish with the local experts.
Hire a car and tour the
The Madang Resort provides three restaurants that provide authentic Chinese, Western and Italian menus.
The Rakuen Japanese Restaurant is also available for the budget-minded visitors, buy fish from the fish market or snacks from one of the bars.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, live music is provided by our resident musician Bill Arua and the Melanesian String Band.
Special discounts are offered over the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
For more details on how you can visit Madang, call Michael Aukogo or Paul Talivan on (674) 422 2655, visit website www.madangresort@mtspng.com or email mrhreservations@mtspng.com
Sepik River Expedition Cruise
The Kalibobo Spirit will operate a five night/day special Sepik River Expedition Cruise departing Madang on August 9, 2010 cruising the lower and middle
Cruise will visit Murik Lakes on Lower Sepik, then continues upriver via Bien, Marienberg, Angoram, Kambaramba, Nagam River, Tambanum.
In the Middle Sepik, visit the
Accommodation available in four double, two twin, one double bunk and two single air-conditioned cabins all with ensuites.
A luxurious lounge and dining room is located on the main deck and covered decks on all three upper decks for relaxing and observation.
The ship is manned by qualified officers and crew and operates under full survey.
The Kalibobo Spirit carries several tenders, and a helicopter on selected cruises.
There is an extensive library of books and video documentaries on PNG.
Excursions are operated to major villages in the ships tenders providing an excellent opportunity to purchase valuable
This cruise also terminates at Timbunke where aircraft charters can be arranged to travel to see the Hagen Show on Aug 14 and 15.
$3500.00 per person
*includes twin/double share, all meals, accomodation, per person excludes airfares, air charters and beverages and items of a personal nature. (Mt Hagen Show extension is not included). Single supplement available. Quoted in Australian Dollars.
Melanesian Tourist Services Limited
Tel: 424 1399 Fax: 422 3543
e-mail:melanesian@mtspng.com
What is happening to our country?
By SAIBODO
What is going to happen to our country?
We really are at the crossroads…
The people aren’t going to keep taking it… the protests are going to become more-often and less-peaceful, you remember when Iambaky Okuk died…
I know you have seen the Kapris video as have I and many other people.
Be his claims legitimate or not, any other country in the world would have the implicated members of parliament suspended until investigation proves the allegations to be true, false or otherwise.
We are on the verge of becoming a
Where are our children going to go?
What are they going to do?
Congratulations to Ano Pala ?
By SAIBODO
It is with amusement I read the congratulations note to the Rigo MP in today’s paper by “Rigo Man” of
Perhaps the Honorable member will make a great Attorney General, time will tell.
My concern, however, is his achievements as Member for Rigo Open.
Whilst the Honorable Member is in
Basic services are yet to be delivered, schools are deteriorating, roads are falling apart and health centers have either no staff or no drugs or both.
One just has to take a drive to Kwikila, the electorate station and have a look at the filthy streets, overgrown grass and bushes and only an hour from
Kwikila is a disgrace; this once-beautiful town was the pride of Rigo, not anymore.
Where is the Member’s office in Kwikila?
Mr Pala, have you driven to Hula or Kalo lately?
The road from Gabone all the way to Hula is falling apart, full of massive potholes and washouts and it’s been like that for almost three years now.
You haven’t even sent a grader down the road just to do some basic maintenance in two years.
The road now has nearly one-metre deep gorges cut through it from water erosion.
It is dangerous and requires great care and skill.
What about the power lines that were supposed to come to Hula?
They have stopped just outside of Kemabolo and again that was two years ago.
Mr Pala, where are you?
It seems as if everything in Rigo simply stopped happening two years ago.
That’s when you won your seat, wasn’t it?
Congratulations for becoming the newly-appointed AG, but please Mr Pala, don’t forget about us, the people of your electorate.
Saibodo
Water disruption notice
EDA RANU wishes to advise valued consumers in Gordons, 7-Mile and Waigani Government Office that there will be disruptions to the water supply from 8am to 4pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, to enable inspection and removal of faulty valve.
EDA RANU apologises for any inconvenience caused and assures the public that every effort will be made to ensure water is restored as soon as possible.
Consumers are asked to store water during this period and for health reasons, please boil all water for consumption 12-hours after water is restored.
For further information contact our Hotline on 312 2100.
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