THE National Court last Friday threw out Simberi Gold Ltd’s (SGL) application to repossess its shipload of heavy machinery impounded by Papua New Guinea Customs, The National reports.
SGL made the urgent application before Justice Mark Sevua in Waigani, seeking leave for review against the impounding of its ship by customs (of the Internal Revenue Commission).
The ship is laden with heavy mining equipment and machinery that included trucks and mine supplies.
Sevua told the parties to first exhaust all avenues for consultation.
The court heard that the ship, berthed at Rabaul’s SimpsonHarbour wharf, was now under the possession of customs because the heavy machinery and equipment were not legally declared.
Sevua told the parties they had yet to exhaust all avenues for consultation before referring the matter to court.
He then directed SGL to do so by sorting out the required and lawful declarations and payment of the excise duties for the undeclared goods on board the impounded vessel.
“SGM can sort this out with the IRC commissioner-general Betty Palaso first,” he added.
Sevua dismissed SGL’s urgent application and proceedings against the customs.
SGL is located in New Ireland’s Tabar group of islands.
THE reopening of the Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is a good possibility under the new regime, newly-elected president John Momis said last Friday, The National reports.
“I want the mine to reopen. However, this issue will depend mostly on the outcome of consultation and consensual meetings between the landowners and the administration,” he said in his first official trip.
Momis said the landowners would be consulted and their consent sought as this was the Melanesian way of decision-making.
“Realistically, this reopening will help generate money for the people to participate in the economy,” he added.
Quoting from his inaugural speech, Momis said one of the plans was for the people to pay tax to enable the new government to develop their region and to work towards achieving full autonomy and fiscal self-reliance under the peace agreement.
“Although my plan is to eventually reopen the mine, the final say rests with the landowners,” he said, adding that the only way his people would know and understand the new changes was for more awareness to be made regarding his principal tasks outlined in his inaugural speech.
He said with the massive awareness conducted, the people would be able to understand and participate in what the government was doing and be empowered.
Momis said the need for weapons disposal, full achievement of autonomy, democracy and good governance could only be achieved through information and awareness, as many lacked proper schooling.
He also said the new government would be looking at investments, seeking credible partnerships involving credible investments and credible resource owners.
“The credible donors are also welcome to Bougainville but all will have to work together to discourage stand alone organisations.
This will enable the region to develop a sufficient capacity to become subsidiary economic activities such as mining, etc.
“Otherwise spin-offs will flow out of people’s pockets,” he said.
Momis had arrived in Port Moresby for a weekend of official activities as the newly-elected president.
Pictured are potential candidates for the Volunteer Youth Ambassadors Programme being implemented by PNG Ports Corporation Ltd to guide visiting tourists on cruise ships in Port Moresby.
PNGPCL organised a meet-and-greet where applicants were called into meet with company management and staff at the head office premises in downtown Port Moresby on Saturday, June 19 in an attempt to share, inform and understand what the programme was all about.
The event marked another milestone in the PNG Ports' history as the company embarks on running the Volunteer Youth Ambassador Programme that was launched in April this year.
PNGPCL chief executive officer Brian Riches said: "We have had an overwhelming response as you can see today and responses are still coming through.
"During this meet-and-greet session, you have each been provided with a questionnaire.
"The form is to be filled out and given to our officials."
He said the Volunteer Youth Ambassador Programme was a voluntary service and an initiative of PNG Ports to help manage the occasional cruise ships that visit Port Moresby.
In all, PNGPCL owns and operate 16 ports across PNG and the programme is ideal in that it will pave the way to expand this hospitality service to other ports thus promoting maritime tourism.
The Volunteer Youth Ambassador Program is a volunteer service and PNG Ports will provide all the necessities to ensure that PNG provides the best hospitality service for visiting tourists.
"You stand here as a proud Papua New Guinean, with a rich cultural heritage and over 850 languages spoken," Mr Riches said.
"You are in your own rights armed with diversified cultures that the countries of the world would envy you for – your traditional dances, sing-sing, arts and crafts, even the beautiful destinations around the country.
"You have it all and you should take this opportunity to showcase your heritage."
PNGPCL marketing and human resource employees will now ensure team leaders are selected to represent smaller groups and organise for the training of the volunteers very soon.
From JAMES WANJIK THE Department of Mining was smothered in 2007 for Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). The new Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management was set up in 2008 as a result of MRA. In May 2010 Parliament passed Environment (Amendment) Act to protect MRA. Now the Government will review mineral policy and mining law for MRA to regulate miners.
At core of MRA is money. Money in lustful terms with government acquiescence. Law on tax has been manipulated. No Parliamentary approval has been given to MRA to levy the miners production levy for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. It is a breach of section 209 of the Constitution. Paying attention leaders will help people. So far leaders have been blind and deaf. Voice of people have been awoken recently. PNG is witnessing new wave of nationalism. Miners will regret. Now that mineral policy and mining law will be reviewed to accommodate miners requirements the government will regret not being honest. Also the government is technically not in control of the review. Here are truths government wants hidden; 1. MRA was created by World Bank; 2. MRA was brought into operation illegally for World Bank to give second loan to PNG for review of mineral policy and mining law; 3. Nellie James was one of two officers who accompanied World Bank consultant Graeme Hancock who negotiated second loan for PNG;; 4. World Bank parked loan funds with MRA; 5. Nellie James does not tell truth about status of last review of mineral policy and mining law under first World Bank loan; 6. Role of MRA in revision of mineral policy and law has not been clarified by Nellie James; 7. Till MRA is removed people will lose land and resource rights; and 8. Tucking truth Nellie James wants leaders to think she is doing something for PNG people when she is a mole for World Bank in PNG. People must push leaders to remove MRA. That will make Nellie James and other moles to come out of hiding.
One of the two communication towers at Mt Hakuna in the Mehenave community area of Fayantina Local Level Government.Picture courtesy of HENZY YAKHAM
By HENZY YAKHAM
It is now a thing of the past for people in Henganofi district of Eastern Highlands province to travel some 30km into their provincial capital Goroka or Kainantu along the Highlands Highway to enjoy their favorite television programmes.
This follows the recent completion of installation work to erect two communication towers transmitting television signals in most parts of Henganofi district and the neighboring districts.
The towers were built at a cost of over K200,000 by local company, Highlands Cable Television and completed last month (May).
People have since been receiving EMTV signals and seeing television programmes including news and sporting events such the popular Australian National Rugby League (NRL) games on Fridays and this year’s State of Origin games.
Apart from most parts of Henganofi, the coverage areas include parts of neighbouring Okapa, Lufa, Kainantu and Ungai-Bena districts.
Member for Henganofi Ferao Orimyo said this was something totally new and important service which the people, particularly those with television sets, would not have to make the one-hour trip to Goroka just to see their favourite programmes.
Mr Orimyo said previously, many public servants and others had to travel all the way to Goroka and Kainantu to NRL games.
“The new service will enable people to receive EMTV programmes and will help educate and inform the people through news and current affairs programmes,” he said.
Mr Orimyo has also urged the people to look after such important services for the benefit of everyone.
A spokesman for Mehenave community in Fayantina Local Level Government, Pentox Sayo thanked Mr Orimyo for bring television programmes to their homes and communities.
“We don’t have to spend money and take the risks to travel to Goroka and Kainantu to watch NRL games because we can watch them right here,” Mr Sayo said.
Fukui, Japan, 19 June 2010 – In a Declaration issued today, APEC’s Energy Ministers have set down directions to advance energy security, improve energy efficiency and increase the clean energy supply in the APEC region.
New initiatives prescribed by the Energy Ministers include:
-a Collaborative Assessment of Standards and Testing (CAST) scheme to boost trade and investment in energy efficient appliances;
-a Nuclear Power Emissions Reduction Potential Study to assess the potential for nuclear power to reduce carbon emissions in interested APEC economies;
-an APEC Smart Grid Initiative to evaluate the potential of smart grids to support the integration of intermittent renewable energies and energy management approaches in buildings and industry; and
-the Low Carbon Model Town Project aimed at developing best practices to achieve low-emissions urban communities.
Additional tasks have been assigned to APEC’s Energy Working Group (EWG) including: to work with the International Energy Agency to improve the region’s oil and gas energy emergency response capacity; to contribute to initiatives that reduce energy commodity market volatility; to evaluate the potential of unconventional sources of natural gas and biofuels; and to promote the development and take-up of low-emission power sources (renewable, nuclear and fossil-fuels with carbon capture and sequestration)
Ministers have further instructed the EWG to recommend a larger energy intensity reduction target for the APEC region, given that the goal set in 2007 of a 25 percent reduction by 2030 is likely to be far surpassed.
The Declaration also reiterates APEC’s commitment to rationalising and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption.
The full text of the Fukui Declaration on Low Carbon Paths to Energy Security: Cooperative Energy Solutions for a Sustainable APEC issued at the conclusion of the Ninth Meeting of APEC Energy Ministers may be accessed at:
Fukui, Japan, 19 June 2010 – Japan has donated JPY360,000,000 (approximately USD3.9 million) to promote energy efficiency activities and low-carbon measures in APEC.
In particular the funds will be used to support a low-emission urban development initiative approved by APEC Energy Ministers at their meeting in Fukui today.
“The Low-Carbon Model Town Project aims to introduce low-carbon technology at the level of society and not that of individual products. Over the next three years, APEC will select between 10 to 20 locations and conduct feasibility study projects to transform these cities into low-carbon cities,” said the Chair of the meeting, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Masayuki Naoshima.
The fund will also complement APEC’s existing capacity building activities on energy efficiency, the development and implementation of alternative energy sources, and the promotion of trade and investment in environmental goods and services.
“I hope that this fund will accelerate the low-carbon transformation and contribute to energy security in the region,” explains Minister Naoshima.
APEC Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor welcomed the contribution saying, “APEC’s objective is to build prosperous regional economies. Activities supported by the fund will help APEC members achieve economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and create new opportunities for ‘green’ industries.”
Japan’s contribution will be distributed through APEC’s Sub-Fund on Energy Efficiency which was established in 2009 when Japan made an initial donation of JPY 120,000,000. Chinese Taipei and the United States have also contributed to the sub-fund.
The donation was made under a Memorandum of Understanding signed today by Minister Naoshima and Ambassador Muhamad Noor at the close of the 9th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting.
* (This is the second in a series of reviews on matters raised in the recently publicised (19th April 2010) Review of Australian Aid to PNG on the following site:
In the recently released review of Australian overseas aid to PNG, the list of recommendations contains the following statement:
"Recommendations for the Government of Australia:
10.10 Greater use of monitoring and evaluation, extending beyond audit, would enable AusAID to establish not only that funds have not been misused, but that they have been used effectively, and provide a stronger evidence base for policy dialogue." This statement appears to be fairly innocuous until the full import is considered. Closer examination of the Review would suggest that AusAID may be totally unable to efficiently monitor and evaluate whether aid funds are being used effectively or not. The review then throws some light on the reasons why the effective monitoring and evaluation of aid expenditure is difficult. "Reporting of Australian aid on the PNG budget is comprehensive, and the focus on recurrent spending promotes fiscal sustainability. Alignment of the Australian aid programme with PNG budget priorities is a fundamental requirement of aid effectiveness. Its achievement would ensure that greater aid funding does not lead to reduced domestic funding of development priorities, except by mutual agreement. However, although repeated attempts to forge a tight link between aid and PNG Government spending have been made, they have not been sustained. The Australia-PNG Partnership for Development is a useful initiative, one which will help promote alignment and mutual accountability. However, the performance benchmarks in the Partnership schedules for transport infrastructure and basic education are undermined by large funding gaps. A multi-year expenditure framework is needed. This would indicate how funds would be allocated to major sectors in the coming years, and would provide a basis for setting realistic sectoral performance targets. It would pull together both development and recurrent expenditures of the PNG Government, and include aid commitments from donor partners." Put simply, there appears to be no co-ordination between AusAID funding and the PNG government's method of managing and expending the PNG Budget. An indication of why co-ordination of AusAID programs and the PNG Budget is difficult seems to be contained in the following recommendation to the PNG government.
"Recommendations for the Government of Papua New Guinea:
10.8 Strengthened government leadership and coordination of the aid program by the PNG Government is critical for improved aid effectiveness. In particular, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring should avoid assuming management responsibilities for sectoral projects and programs and focus its efforts on providing strategic guidance and oversight to the aid program." The current PNG Minister for this department (Paul Tiensten) has been in the news recently with Prime Minister Somare first sacking him and then suddenly reinstating him after his department was at a loss to know if they were still operating or not. In the AusAID Annual Performance Report for 2009 at the following site: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/appr-0809-png.pdf under the heading 'Major Challenges' further facts emerged as to why AusAID has difficulty in measuring its performance under the current arrangements with the PNG government. " Overall, 2008 was a challenging year for the PNG aid program. The Flagship monitoring, evaluation and dialogue mechanism of the Development Cooperation Strategy-Performance Review and Dialogue ceased in 2008 because triggers for performance payments could not be agreed. This reduced opportunities to engage with Australia's key counterpart for aid, the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, on strategic policy and governance issues. The Decision by the department not to continue with the placement of a co-located AusAID officer also undermined the prospects for collaboration. While Australia's support for strengthening the public service made some incremental improvements in some agencies, key processes for reforming the public sector stalled in 2008. These included the development of the public sector reform plan and the work of the implementation committee of the Public Expenditure Review and Rationalisation Programme (PERR). The former has been attributed to senior-level instability in central agencies and the weakening of central structures for coordinating policy. In the case of PERR, momentum was lost when the process among donors to refocus the PERR stalled. Another important reason for the lack of reform was the anticipated benefits of the LNG project, which are expected to cause the PNG Government to be even less focused on reform in 2009. Improvements in central agency coordination and a shared government vision for reform, together with coordinated support from donors, will be critical to progressing administrative reforms and governance more broadly." All this indicates is that a co-ordinated approach to monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of AusAID programmes in PNG is clearly not possible while ever there is obfuscation and a distinct lack of accountability within PNG government operations. In summary, the 2010 Review of AusAID essentially echoes the 2009 AusAID Annual Performance Report. The conclusions drawn from both voluminous reports (2008/2009 Review 59 pages and the AusAID Review 77 pages), are that it is not possible to achieve or measure any results from nearly half a billion dollars worth of annual Australian aid given to PNG because the funds and efforts are jumbled up with PNG government programmes. These PNG government programmes basically achieve very little and either cannot or are not apparently being effectively monitored. This serious situation has been confirmed by the findings of the recent Commission of Inquiry into PNG government finances that found that almost all government departments and authorities were not able to manage their financial operations and only five were given some degree of approval by the Commissioners. There is an inescapable conclusion to be drawn from the above situation. Australia's aid money to PNG must be separated and managed independently from the PNG government machine, at least for the time being.
Mr Orimyo (left) receiving K3.8 million cheque from Sir Puka last Friday Sir Puka performing the ground breaking at Henganofi station to mark the start of construction work on the new HenganofiRuralHospital in Eastern Highlands
Words and pictures by HENZY YAKHAM
Over 60,000 people of Henganofi electorate in the Eastern Highlands province are to benefit from a new rural hospital to be built at a cost of K5 million - thanks to the local MP Ferao Orimyo who secured the money for this important health project.
The money for the Henganofi Rural Hospital was approved in early September 2008 by the National Planning Office following a submission by Mr Orimyo immediately after his election in the 2007 general election.
This funding approval was based on a K5 million sought by the current MP and not based on previous requests, submission and proposals.
Mr Orimyo thanked National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Finance Minister and former Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch, officials of both departments and Eastern Highlands-based consulting firm, Crescent Pacific Engineering for all their work in securing of the money.
Last Friday (June 11, 2010), Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu delivered a cheque of K3.2 million in Henganofi - the remainder of the money for the rural hospital.
Crescent Pacific Engineering earlier received K1.8 million in mobilisation cost.
Mr Orimyo said soon after his election in the 2007 general election he had worked hard to put together two proposals, one for a rural hospital and another for a major road rehabilitation project in my electorate which links Henganofi with neighboring Lufa and Okapa districts.
“I’m very thankful for everyone who has contributed one way or another to realising one of my impact projects. It will not only serve people of Henganofi electorate, but also others including travelers along the Highlands (Okuk) Highway,” he stressed.
Mr Orimyo said for the first time Henganofi electorate would benefit from a substantial National Government funding for the rural hospital complementing three other health centres in the electorate.
The three existing health centres are: Four Square’s Fore health centre in Fayantina, government-run Kesawake in Duantina and Swiss Mission-managed Kompri health centre.
When in operation, the new hospital services will cut down on travel time for thousands of people who travel each year seeking medical services in Goroka and Kainantu within Eastern Highlands province and even to Lae in Morobe province.
Among others, the new Henganofi rural hospital will provide infant and maternal services, a Volunteer Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS, an operating theatre as well as outpatient and inpatient ward with a 50-patient capacity ward.
“While we greatly appreciate the funding for the hospital, the road infrastructure is also an important project which will boost current economic activities and generate interest for new agriculture, transport and trading businesses among the people of Henganofi, Lufa and Okapa districts,” Mr Orimyo said.
Tella Loie of Eastern Highlands provincial DAL (centre) distributing beehives to NARI workers at Keravat, East New Britain, recently
By WADAMU PALAU of NARI
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) at Keravat in East New Britain now has honey bees buzzing the station’s length and breath for nectar from the surrounding rich floral environment.
An apicultural expert, Tella Loie, from Eastern Highlands provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), was in the province recently distributing beehives.
NARI Keravat received two beehives for multiplication, splitting and eventually distributing to farmers.
Hands on training will be conducted for bee farmers in the later phase of this new project.
Honey bees (Epis Mellifera) are used for honey production and the one in Papua New Guinea is a European breed having yield capacity of 25 – 30kg of honey per annum.
Its productivity outweighs the native Asian breed (E.Cerana), regarded as wild honey bees, which yields a mere 2 – 3kg honey annually.
The recent bee hive distribution in East New Britain province was a joint initiative of the EHP Bee Farmer’s Association, Eastern Highlands provincial DAL, national DAL, Livestock Development Corporation (LDC), National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority and the PNG Growers’ Association.
These organisations combined forces to introduce honey bees into the province.
The exercise is an alternate venture to promote to farmers whose household incomes have been affected by the deadly cocoa pod borer.
Dr John Moxon of NARI Keravat thanked the institutions for choosing Keravat to be a multiplication site and assured them of the safety and care of the bees and the hives.
He added that Keravat introduced bees in the early 1990s for crop pollination and crop yield evaluation, but lost them to the volcanic eruption in 1994.
It is anticipated that with the current reintroduction, some researchable apicultural issues will be identified and addressed to promote honey production in the province and the Islands region.
Butibam Volleyball Association will be hosting the 15th Northern Zone Volleyball League championships scheduled to happen from July 23-26.
Preparations are underway in ensuring this tournament is a success with an organising committee set up to look after the preparations and management of the tournament.
The organising committee for the tournament is headed by Peter Kesu as chairman and Wilson Bogan as tournament director.
“Venue has been confirmed with BalobTeachers College giving the green light to host all the games,” Kesu said.
“The Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium is the alternate venue should the weather is unfavourable.
“So far 10 associations consisting of 12 men’s and 14 women’s teams have confirmed participation.
“Accommodation is being organised for all teams to be accommodated close to the games venue with Butibam village hosting several teams.
“Any teams wanting information on accommodation should contact me or Bogan.
“It is vital that confirmation and registration of teams/association participating should be finalised by June 30, 2010 therefore all teams yet to confirm paticipation must do so before the closing date.
“No late registration will be accepted as draws will be finalised also by then.”
All association should pay in their registration fees of K150 per team and K300 per association by the June 30 deadline.
No teams will be allowed to take part if no payments are made.
All payments should be made direct to BVA BSP account # 1001711586 and copy of payment forward to Kesu or Bogan on fax # 4726411.
Any further information can be obtained from Kesu on 4726411 or 72522540/76847096 and Bogan on 72848663/76850165
“Appeal for any interested business houses for sponsorship or support of any kind is welcome as their generous gesture will be greatly valued by the NZVL,” Kesu said.
“In addition, their contribution will greatly appreciated by all participating in the event. “So far few local companies such as Butibam Progress, City Guest Haus, Nawae Construction and Lilu Friendships Ltd have given support.”
A major fundraising mumu luncheon has been organised for Butibam Volleyball Association tomorrow to be hosted by City Guest Haus for K50 per person.
All proceeds will go towards BVA’s preparation for the tournament.
Tickets are still on sale and the above persons can be contacted for further information.
Two New Zealand rugby union coaches will be running a rugby coaching clinic for around 30 PNG rugby union coaches next week (21-25 June), in Port Moresby.
The two coaches are Auckland Blues assistant coach Shane Howarth and Waikato Chiefs assistant coach Craig Stevenson.
“We are looking forward to our first visit to Papua New Guinea next week.
“Playing team sports is such a positive way to build character in the youth of NZ and in PNG”, the two New Zealand coaches said.
The coaching clinic is a result of a request from Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in 2009 and is funded and organised by the New Zealand Government, with the assistance of the PNG Rugby Football Union.
“We’ve heard about the Pikinini Sports programme being run by schools to build social skills as well as sporting skills. It’s a shame that the programme, which includes touch rugby - a very popular sport in New Zealand - will not be underway while we are in PNG but I think we’ll be kept rather busy training 30 provincial and club rugby coaches.”
"New Zealand is looking forward to hosting the rugby World Cup next year. Who knows, maybe we can look forward to seeing the Pukpuks at the 2015 World Cup," the two coaches said.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer this coaching clinic to the PNGRFU,” said Ms Marion Crawshaw New Zealand High Commissioner, “and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the PNGRFU and POMInternationalSchool for their assistance.”
Graham Pople in his new role as a publican at the Weigh In Hotel.-Picture by MALUM NALU Traditional bridge over a river in Laiagam.-Pictures by GRAHAM POPLE Preparing for a census in Laiagam in 1959 Getting a log for a bridge in Laiagam, then part of Western Highlands, in 1959 A typical camp site in the Highlands
By MALUM NALU
Over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, I had the privilege of browsing through the never-before-published autobiography and patrol diaries of Graham Pople, a former kiap (patrol officer) and Member of the first Papua and New Guinea House of Assembly in 1964.
Simply titled The Popleography, it gives a fascinating insight into life in the then Territory of P and NG in those far-off pre-independence days, as well as our political infancy.
It’s an honest-to-god article by a real maverick kiap, reminiscing about the hard yards and slogs, seat-of-the-pants boat and plane rides, washed down by maudlin escapades of beers, wines and spirits in those amazing colonial days.
In those early days, despite many of our people being “primitive”, at least services such as health, education and law and order flowed to them.
Pople, for those who came in late, was Member for Gumine along with a motley crew of others including legendary Sepik River crocodile hunter John Pasquarelli, John Stuntz, Ian Downs, Barry Holloway, Ron Neville, Graham Gilmore, Horrie Niall, John Guise, Paul Lapun, Lepani Watson, Mathias Toliman et al.
Now aged 75, and a citizen of PNG – who received his papers from Sir John Guise on Sept 16, 1975 - who runs the Weigh In Hotel at Konedobu in Port Moresby, Pople says he put together the document at the behest of his children.
Drop in at the Weigh In any day of the week and chances are you’ll meet Pople – as animated as his kiap days - at the bar and he’ll give you a comprehensive history lesson about PNG.
Graham Pople was born in Armidale, New South Wales, on March 14, 1935, and in 1956 came across an advertisement for cadet patrol officers to go and seek life and adventure in the “dark unknown” – PNG.
He applied, was accepted, and in March 1956, departed on a Qantas DC4 for PNG, a land which would become his home.
Pople served in exotic places such as then then-thriving Daru (from where he patrolled the whole Western district and even ventured across the border into the then Dutch New Guinea), Western Highlands (which included the now Enga and Southern Highlands provinces), and then Eastern Highlands (which included Chimbu).
ReadingThe Popleography makes one realise how far PNG has gone backwards, especially in the context of towns such as Daru, Minj, Banj and Kainantu: now shocking skeletons of their glory days.
The epitome, perhaps, is the reading of Pople’s description of Kainantu in the 1960s.
“Kainantu was a lovely little town in the early ‘60s and was thriving based many coffee plantations being established in the area and also of gold,” he recalls.
“Kainantu had been the centre of gold rushes in the early 1930s and Ted Ubank and Noel Stagg, two prospectors from that era, were still mining in the area.
“Ken Rehder also operated a small gold mine at Binamarien as an adjunct to his two small coffee plantations.
“The Summer Institute of Linguistics had their PNG headquarters at Ukarumpa, just over the hill from Kainantu – some five miles or so away – which was also where the Aiyura agricultural station was established.
“So there was a quite large, for a sub-district office, non-indigenous population in the area.
“Kainantu had its own airstrip, and the town had grown up around this feature, with the district office on the northern side and the hospital at the southern western end.
“There was a nine-hole golf course with a very well-frequented club house.
“A hotel sat on a knoll above the main township.
“This was managed by a Dutch couple who were very hospitable.
“The Salvation Army were active in the area also.
“Out on the road to Okapa they had a block of land on some 200 acres where they were growing potatoes commercially and where they held Bible classes.
“In Kainantu itself they had a small station where there were two nursing sisters who assisted in running the hospital, assisting the doctor and the medical assistant.
“It was a growing town and there were several commercial businesses in the town itself.
“Jan Boij and his brother ton had a service station, which included a trade store and they later built a butcher’s shop there.
“I think, from memory, they may also have had a small bakery operating.
“Jack Scurrah ran a store on behalf of Buntings, while Dick Miellear also had a store and associated businesses including trucking.
“Burns Philp also ran the main store for the township.
“The Government was well represented with the Native Affairs staff, medical staff, an agricultural officer, one or two education officers, a mechanic, a policeman, a labour officer, a district officer/clerk and probably some others who I have forgotten.
“But based on coffee, gold and government services, Kainantu was a bustling and growing township.
“The residents proudly called it ‘The Mile-High Gateway to the Highlands’ as its elevation was allegedly 5, 280 feet above sea level.
“On the road towards Goroka, the Lutheran Mission had quite a big station, named Raipinka, which they had established in the early 1930s and had developed since.”
In those days, the New Guinea side of the country, being a Trust Territory was constantly under the watchful eye of the United Nations and they had decided that the country should be pushed towards self-government and eventual independence.
To placate the United Nations, and to show evidence that Australia was aware of the necessity for political evolution, a common roll of voters was drawn up, listing all the people who were eligible to vote.
The country was then divided into electorates in two categories: reserved and open.
Pople at this time was senior administrative official at Gumine and was asked by the locals to represent them in parliament, and he was successfully elected.
He recalls that none of the new Members, even those in government, seemed to know what they were supposed to do or what their powers were.
“Of course, there was also the clique of ex patrol officers which stuck pretty well together and had some experience with the rank-and-file members who looked to this group for guidance,” Pople says.
“But we were all tyros, with the exception of the few that had some experience in the Legislative Assembly, and most of us thought it would prove to be a rewarding experience.
“Unfortunately, the records that I kept of newspaper clippings and other articles in which I featured during the period of my occupancy of the House of Assembly, 1964 to 1968, have been destroyed and I have nothing to which I can refer except for a very-fallible memory.”
Pople believes that self-government and independence came too early for PNG.
“My own personal view is that the declaration of self-government was early but could have been handled okay if the interval before independence could have been lengthened,” he says.
“More emphasis should have been in the 1960s and 1970s in educating more senior public servants from the national sector.
“They should have been educated at universities and similar institutions overseas to get the necessary exposure to other cultures and people from other countries in similar positions from countries faced with similar development problems.
“But this was not to be and the establishment of the University of PNG in the late 1960s then made it obligatory, from a point of pride, that all training would take place in-country and so our potential leaders, lost that opportunity of exposure to other cultures which could have made a big difference to our development.
“I know that there are many people, mainly academics, who would oppose my point of view, claiming it was more essential to develop a national identity, but these are my personal views for the information of my children.
“Despite the early declaration of independence and the paucity of training for future leaders, PNG has now been independent since 1975, and we are all aware of how the country is faring and has fared.
“But would later independence with the training I suggested have made any difference?
‘No one knows and it is impossible to tell, and so it is a useless debate.”
An oil tanker, chartered by a Singaporean company and laden with K40 million worth of suspected stolen crude oil, was detained in Bougainville by officers of the PNG Customs Service and PNG Defence Force last Thursday, The National reports.
The HMS Rabaul crew of 21 Asians was then brought to Kokopo for questioning, arriving yesterday, where the 21 Asians boarded a motorised dinghy to the Rabaul wharf beachfront and were loaded onto a waiting police truck and taken to the Kokopo police station.
Two were also arrested and charged with possessing pornographic materials.
The others were released and placed under arrest on the vessel.
POLICE in Chimbu have begun investigations into a shooting incident allegedly involving Kerowagi MP Guma Wau, The Nationalreports.
The incident happened last Sunday evening at Simgau village along the Urinigle section of the Highlands Highway.
A man from the Waugla tribe, 50-year-old John Agaundo Bongro, was shot and is now recovering at the Kundiawa GeneralHospital.
Acting provincial police commander Albert Korin yesterday confirmed police action and said they had identified 21 witnesses.
“As soon as the paperwork is ready, we will bring the MP in for questioning, which is a normal police investigation procedure.
“I am confident that police would complete the investigation by this weekend,” Korin said.
However, Wau has denied using a firearm and said he was nearly robbed of K120, 000 by youths who set up the roadblock.
The money was to pay for a road pro-ject in his electorate.
Wau said five youths, allegedly under the influence of homebrew, saw him driving up the hill towards Kundiawa with his family and four other boys.
He said one of the youths, armed with a big stone, stood in the middle of the road and blocked his vehicle.
Wau recalled: “After stopping my vehicle, a youth who lived close to my wife’s village in Waigar, about a kilometre away, and other youths came out of their hiding in some bushes, swore at me and a fight broke out with the youths in my vehicle.”
He said only stones and sticks were used, not a pistol as claimed (See related story).
Korin said police would talk to all 21 witnesses and establish who actually pulled the trigger resulting in a man being shot.
“When this is established, a formal arrest will be made.”
Korin told The National from his Kundiawa office yesterday afternoon that although tension remained high between Wau’s tribe and the Wauglas, both sides had agreed not to take the law into their own hands.
He said the villagers had cooperated with police to see justice take its course.
But, relatives of Bongro, the man hospitalised, have brushed aside the MP’s claims of a roadblock and an attempted K120, 000 robbery.
Camilus Dangma, Waugla tribal leader and the victim’s elder brother said: “There was no roadblock.
“There was only a group of boys on the roadside swearing at each other as the MP drove by.
“The MP swore back and was leaving when his wife uttered defamatory remarks which angered the bystanders.
“That caused the problem that led to Wau firing the
shots,” Dangma said.
According to reports, two sets of shots were fired, the first to disperse the crowd and the second allegedly wounded Bongro (See separate story).
Kundiawa hospital senior doctor John Tonar confirmed Bongro had sustained a gunshot wound on his leg.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Chimbu provincial administrator Joe Kunda had instructed Kerowagi district administrator Guma Kowane to impound all government vehicles and explained why three vehicles were allegedly used to transport the MP’s tribesmen to Urinigle village.
Police hope to wrap up their investigations by this weekend.
