MT Hagen police are working hard to prevent a full blown ethnic clash between the Jiwaka and Western Highlands people, The National reports.
Police are patrolling the streets in the city and bus stops where passengers bound for the Jiwaka region wait for public transport.
They are making sure people from the Jiwaka region coming into the city are not harassed by students from Western Highlands who have fled from Fr Peter (Fatima) Secondary School on Monday after a clash with the Jiwaka students.
The Minj, Banz and Kunjip bus stop was empty yesterday and only a few people were seen waiting to catch PMVs home.
Many PMV operators from Jiwaka are reportedly operating from their area to Chimbu and are refraining from coming into Mt Hagen.
The PMV operators are scared after students from Western Highlands, who ran away from Fatima secondary, had mobilised their people and tried to attack PMV operators at the bus stop and any Jiwaka people in Mt Hagen on Monday.
Highlands police divisional commander and Assistant Police Commissioner Simon Kauba said yesterday that the student unrest at Fatima only involved students from Hagen Central, Dei and Jiwaka.
Kauba said that the problem almost spread to other schools in the province but quick actions by the police and local communities prevented the problem from going out of hand.
He said the warring students had set a bad precedent and appealed to the concerned education authorities to quickly intervene and resolve the problem in Fatima.
Kauba said that it was important the school administration and education advisers carry out immediate investigation into the matter and resolve the problem once and for all.
PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, in an unprecedented move, invoked parliamentary Standing Order 140 to challenge Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat to name the three ministers whom he alleged had put a price on his head, The National reports.
Marat, who looked lost, was saved by Speaker Jeffrey Nape who told him not to answer the question.
Somare tried to raise the question again during question time but was refused by Speaker, who ruled that a minister cannot ask a question.
Somare then stood up after question time to say the integrity of Parliament had been brought into question by such allegations.
“The allegations have been backed by opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta through the media without any evidence.
“Section 140 of the parliamentary standing orders stated that questions may be put to a member, relating to any bill, motion or other public matter connected with the business of Parliament of which the member has charged.
“The allegation of a plot to kill Marat is a question of integrity, that the integrity of parliament is being question,” Somare said.
“Husat tru dispela tripela minister?
“Sapos yu go long niuspepa long tok long memba blong gavaman askim ol man long kilim yu? (Who are these three ministers? You had gone to the media of members in government asking criminals to kill you.)
Somare asked Marat to name the ministers and if he could also produce evidence for the relevant authorities to investigate.
Nape, after seeking advice from the clerk of Parliament, refused the Rabaul MP to answer the question.
“I will not allow the member to answer the question. I will ask the Rabaul MP to come to my office to discuss this issue,” he said.
Nape said he would then make a statement to Parliament.
Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, who was also trying to raise a point of order, was ruled out.
Day old broiler chicks being checked before put through research at NARI Labu A demonstration on poultry feed formulation using locally available feed resources
By JANET PANDI of NARI
The commercial livestock sector in Papua New Guinea is dominated by broiler chicken production due to a high demand for chicken meat.
Papua New Guinea presently has three distinct poultry markets - commercial frozen poultry market, informal live poultry market and the commercial table eggs market.
The commercial frozen chicken market is largely based on smallholder contract growers selling chickens back to parent companies for processing and marketing.
Broiler meat production from this industry is estimated to be about 20,000 tonnes per year.
The commercial poultry industry in PNG is self-sufficient due to government policy on import bans and high tariffs on poultry products.
Independent of this frozen chicken market is the village poultry sector, which includes smallholder broiler chicken raising, Muscovy ducks and village chickens.
This sector provides a source of income, improved nutrition and services to meet socio-cultural obligations of farmers in rural villages and peri-urban areas of the country.
There are about 55,000 smallholder farmers who produce broilers for the informal live chicken markets.
These farmers operate independently from the vertically-integrated commercial frozen chicken industry and produce approximately six million birds per year.
The cash from this enterprise is the major source of income for these farmers.
This sector alone has an annual estimated value of AUS$6.7 million and rising.
Broiler day-old chicks are moved to remote communities by road, plane or boat, sometimes supported by government and NGOs.
Prices of commercially-produced feed and day-old-chicks increase the further one goes away from the mills and the hatchery due to freight charges.
The smallholder broiler industry uses high-performance hybrid chicken strains, supplied by two commercial poultry companies: Niugini Tablebirds and Highland Products (Zenag).
They both supply the Ross 308 strain of hybrid chicken from New Zealand.
Three separately-developed commercial feeds produced by Niugini Tablebirds, the Goodman Felders Ltd (Flame) and the Trukai Industries (Trukai) are freely marketed through retail shops at different prices.
Profitability of raising broilers is primarily constrained by input costs, and feeds remain the most-important cost item of broiler production as it accounts for up to 70% of the total broiler-growing costs.
Most ingredients used in these commercial broiler feeds are imported and retail prices of these feeds are quite expensive for the average smallholder farmer.
Economic viability of poultry production is more dependent on the price of imported grains than it is on growth rates.
Research at NARI is currently targeted at utilising locally-available resources to reduce the proportion of imported ingredients so as to reduce feed costs.
Modern day husbandry practices are based on use of cereal-based feeds and profitability is dependent on access to cost-effective diets.
A project titled ‘Poultry feeding systems in PNG’ evaluated locally-available resources as potential poultry feed.
It involved the direct participation of public and private sector operators as well as NGOs to evaluate options for their inclusion in poultry rations.
The aim was to increase/maintain profitability of smallholder poultry producers in PNG through the provision of information that will enable farmers/commercial millers to use lower-cost rations using these materials.
The project also established a feed testing facility at NARI’s livestock research centre in Lae to conduct feed evaluations and the institute now has the capacity to do nutritive profiles of feed materials.
The establishment of this facility is essential for the long-term viability of smallholder production sector through the development of lower cost rations.
There are opportunities to improve profitability by using local feed materials in rations for finishing broilers.
Using these materials may lengthen the grow-out period by 5-10 days, but increase the profit margin.
Farmers have limited knowledge and information on how to formulate balanced rations using these materials.
Some of these local feed materials are traditional staple crops, agro-industrial by-products, grains, legumes and high protein sources such as fish meal, meat and bone meal.
Such local materials tested by NARI included maize, wheat, sorghum, sweet potato, sago, cassava, banana and legume leaves, various industry by-products, such as millrun, rice bran, palm kernel meal, copra meal, fish meal and pyrethrum marc.
Several of these tested materials (copra meal, pyrethrum marc, and traditional staples such as cassava, sago and sweet potato) had high feeding values and were considered to be used as concentrates.
On station experiments using these concentrates for finishing broiler chickens showed promising results and a concentrate was formulated mainly with copra meal and fish meal which was further tested by an on-farm evaluation.
This on-farm experiment assessed how well chickens grew on a diet comprising this poultry concentrate with cooked sweet potato against a commercial diet.
From these results, a concentrate feed was formulated for use with local energy sources for finishing off broiler chickens.
Three feeding strategies are available for poultry farmers to adopt and optimise profit.
These options include the utilisation of local feed ingredients in complete ration formulation, mixing with concentrate diets or by diluting commercial diets with local ingredients.
In conclusion, the smallholder broiler sector is thriving due to increasing demand for chicken meat in PNG and the ever-increasing retail prices of commercial broiler feeds poses a constant challenge.
Farmers are now exploring ways of combating this issue by looking at alternative ways of reducing input costs involved in raising broiler chickens
Goats taken into Naoro village in Kokoda by NARI early this month Naoro villagers welcome NARI officers for a agriculture training early this month By DENSLEY TAPAT of NARI
Villagers at Naoro along the famous Kokoda Trail (Track) have received much-needed training on improving their agricultural farming practices, thanks to the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). This included provision of foundation materials of food crops (seeds) and breeding flock of poultry and goats. The assistance was provided under the Sustainable Rural Livelihood Improvement Project of the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA), supported by AusAID. Under the Kokoda Initiative, a joint understanding was signed in 2008 between the Papua New Guinea and Australian Governments on the Kokoda Trail and Owen Stanley Range. Both governments made a commitment to identify potential economic benefit streams and improve livelihood projects for landowners, including tourism-related income generation activities. The Sustainable Rural Livelihood Improvement Project was intended to support micro-business opportunities in two pilot villagers - Naoro One and Two - along the Kokoda Trail. As a result, a total of 50 farmers received training on selected agriculture and livestock activities. The Naoro villagers had hands-on training on farming of food crops such as vegetables, rice, maize (corn) and mung bean, and livestock such as chicken, duck and goat using locally-available resources. The training at two Naoro villages in the central province was provided by the NARI crops team from the Southern Regional Centre, Laloki; and rice and grain and livestock teams from the Momase Regional Centre, Lae. The training went for three days with class presentations, discussions, practical demonstrations and information-sharing on improved farming systems of vegetables, rice, maize, mung bean, and poultry and goat keeping. The trainees were identified and organised by three previous business awareness and planning workshops held at Naoro villages by Kokoda Livelihood project partners (NARI, KTA and Ginigoada Foundation). They were divided into three groups and guided through the three days of separate training sessions. Poultry and goat keeping training was led by Densley Tapat, Simon Sangi and Jerry Bakui, NARI’s livestock officers. Training on rice, maize and mung bean cultivation was led by Dr Peter Gendua with assistance from Rex Kawage while John Demerua and Paul Osilis provided training on vegetables and fruit cultivation. Besides, NARI supplied nuclear livestock breeding flocks of 10 goats and 23 poultry with vegetable and fruit seeds and 10kg of rice seeds, 2kg of open-pollinated corn and 2kg of large-seeded mung beans. The team also donated a wooden rice mill (Kisser). The specialised training showed how farmers can make effective use of improved crop and livestock farming systems to enhance their livelihoods.
A bulldozer clearing and expanding section of Fayantina road in Fore community area, which has deteriorated to almost inaccessible, even by four-wheel vehicles. Picture courtesy of HENZY YAKHAM
By HENZY YAKHAM
Recent commencement of a K15 million major road upgrading work on the Fayantina road in Henganofi district, Eastern Highlands province has resuscitated the local economy with increased agricultural, farming, trading and transport business activities.
The road works started last month (May 2010) on the over 36-kilometre road from Henganofi station along the Highlands Highway and will continue to the Okapa and Lufa road junction, which connects the two neighbouring districts of the same name.
The current dry season in the area has enabled work to progress very well and work is taking place in the Fore area, halfway between Henganofi and Okapa-Lufa road junction.
With improved road conditions, the volume of traffic along this road has dramatically increased as more and more people take the opportunity to transport their coffee, fruits, vegetables and other garden produce to markets in Goroka, along the Highlands Highway and Lae, Morobe province.
Henganofi MP Ferao Orimyo undertook this road project as one of his priorities since elected in 2007 general election by providing K1 million in counterpart funding to successfully secure funding from the Asian Development Bank.
This road serves over 20, 000 people in the Fayantina Local Level Government area of Henganofi as well neighbouring Okapa, Lufa and Kainantu districts.
A similar amount is to be spent to upgrade the 30-kilometre Dayantina road, which starts near Henganofi station and ends in the Ramu Sugar area in the border region of Eastern Highlands and Madang provinces.
Mr Orimyo has urged people in his electorate to return to their coffee plots to produce more coffee and other agricultural produce to earn money.
He also urged the people, particularly young people not to waste time gambling and other unproductive activities, but grasp the opportunity to work their land and enjoy the benefits.
'Let God take control', says PNG Police Commissioner when as Chairman, headdressed the National Anti Corruption Alliance (NACA) yesterday. Public servants should not be overcome by temptation and uphold godly principles Commissioner Baki is reported as maintaining. While agreeing withCommissioner Baki that he is on the right track, I suspect it might have been some time since he read his Bible."Let me remind you of the biblical phase that goes; "Money is the root of all evil", the Commissioner said.
With respect however Commissioner, you have either been misquoted or I suspect you have misquoted the good book. The actual expression is from Timothy 1: Ch.6 Vs. 10 : 'For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.:...' Money by itself is just a medium of exchange. It's people who create the problems and break the law.
Post Courier article News Tuesday 22nd June, 2010
State agencies form anti-corruption body
By TODAGIA KELOLA
THE fight against corruption by State agencies has now been elevated to another level with the resurrection of a body set up to curb this predicament. The National Anti Corruption Alliance (NACA) set up by the Government to investigate corruption in all Government Departments in 2004 has been revived with their first board meeting yesterday. The NACA board comprises, chief executive officers of key government departments which include police, public prosecutors office, public solicitors office, PNG Law and Justice Sector, Chief Ombudsman, Dept of Treasury, Dept of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Dept of Personnel Management, IRC, Auditor General, and Department of Justice and Attorney General. PNG customs commissioner, Gary Juffa will also be included in the Board. The primary role of NACA is to collaborate, mobilise resources and fight corruption in a holistic government approach. Chairman and police commissioner Gari Baki in his opening remarks said said PNG cannot advance socially and economically unless drastic action is taken to reduce corruption and crime. He said it is important for members of NACA and other Papua New Guineans employed in positions of trust and authority to uphold godly principals in their professional careers. He said public servants must overcome temptation by allowing God to take control of their lives. "Let me remind you of the biblical phrase that goes 'money is the root of all evil'. The temptation to receive money is often greater than a person's conscience. "As individuals we can make a huge difference by saying no to corruption and bribery," Commissioner Baki said. Since the establishment of this body it has investigated two provincial governments and successfully prosecuted them and has saved the state over K2 million during its investigations in to the Southern Highlands province in 2007. With the resurrection of the Board other major allegations involving corruption will be scrutinised by the body in which investigations will be carried out with prosecution.
Governor Leo Dion (right) and other official guests DAL secretary Anton Benjamin (second from left) proudly display the CCI strategic plan with CCI chairman Peter Tokele (third from left) and CCI acting CEO Dr Eric Omuru (left).-Pictures by SOLDIER BURUKA
CCI staff based at Tavilo, ENB, prepare to sing the national anthem during the launching By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
The national and provincial Governments continue to realise and appreciate the importance of agriculture as the sector that sustains the livelihood of over 85% of the population in PNG.
It is therefore important that practical goals and objective must be in place to ensure that agriculture regains its position as the prime contributor to the national and provincial purse.
This is something that was significant many years ago and calls for greater cooperation not just to implement government agriculture policies but also to take decisive steps in actively promoting private and public partnership and investments.
This was the message delivered by East New Britain Governor Leo Dion when launching the PNG Cocoa Coconut Ltd strategic plan 2010-2019 at Tavilo last week
. The launching also coincided with the release of the new Integrated Pest and Disease Management technology.
Mr Dion stressed that the national government must continue to give priority in its future national budgets to the agriculture sector despite the current boom in minerals, gas and oil industries.
He said PNG was where it was today because of the agricultural commodities such as cocoa, coconut, coffee, rubber and oil palm industries and not the minerals which began only recently.
“I strongly believe and say that with the kind of money being picked up from the gas and oil industries it is imperative to say that the agriculture sector is assisted and further boosted and this is the reason why we need to have strategies in place like the CCI strategic plan,” Mr Dion said.
He continued that the Government had developed the export-driven economic recovery police as reflected in the MTDS 2005-2010, and further reflected under the ENB provincial economic development plan together with the growth centre strategy.
The CCI strategic plan is the starting point and lays the foundation for important happenings for the organisation and will promote transparency and accountability in the cocoa and coconut industries.
This plan will also support provincial plans and policies in place to increase productivity by rehabilitating and expanding cocoa and coconut through best management practices and high yielding varieties.
Mr Dion stressed that his government was mindful of the public-private partnership which had strengthened cooperation in the implementation of major government initiatives such as the agriculture integrated projects, spices, food production, copra and the cocoa pod borer project.
He said the provincial government would continue to work closely with CCI and relevant agencies such as Kokonas Indastri Koporesen, Cocoa Board and other stakeholders in sustaining the cocoa and coconut industries and realise the aims of the strategic plan.
CCI chairman Peter Tokele described the new CCI strategic plan as another milestone to move the cocoa and coconut industries forward into the future. The vision and expectations can only be realised if people and communities are empowered to participate as productive citizens in agriculture and other industries, instead of passive recipients of government provided services, as is the case today.
People empowerment, in particular in agriculture production and export, is dependent on the research and development and extension services provided by organizations such as CCI.
CCI acting chief executive Dr Eric Omuru said the new plan emphasised on impact at farm or people level, and a shift away from a supply-oriented approach to one that was demand-driven.
It also promotes partnerships with key stakeholders and others along the cocoa coconut value chains.
The vision of the plan is “prosperous, happy and health rural communities; dynamic, innovative and sustainable” cocoa and coconut industries, which is an ideal future for CCI and the two industries.
Dr Omuru said CCI had recognised that a lot of well-targeted work would be required to realise this future and with it meet the aspirations of the people in the rural areas.
He said, “at last we have a road map to service farmers and those along the cocoa and coconut value chain with purposefulness”.
He also commended the Australian Government initiative, Agricultural Research and Development Support Facility (ARDSF) for helping CCI in developing the strategic plan.
National Rugby League (NRL) and Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould (right) exchanging a friendly joke with Huli wigman Joseph Tongi (second left) yesterday after arriving in Port Moresby from Sydney. Standing between the two is PNG NRL Bid chairman and Sports Minister Philemon Embel with NCD Governor Powes Parkop looking on from behind. Gould is here to see how the PNG NRL Bid is progressing as well as offering advice on administrative issues with the PNG Rugby Football League.-Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU
AT least 40 students sustained injuries and classes at the Fr Peter (Fatima) Secondary School in Banz, Western Highlands, have been suspended for an indefinite period after a fight broke out among the male students, The National reports.
The fight broke out around 6am yesterday between WesternHighlands and Jiwaka students as they fought each other with stones and bush knives.
It was a continuation of a previous fight caused by the theft of a mobile phone on May 23, which forced a week-long suspension of classes.
That fight resulted in two Jiwaka students wounded and two female students from Western Highlands’ Dei district were reportedly raped.
In yesterday’s clash, many more students from both sides were wounded and sought medical treatment at the Mt Hagen General Hospital and KudjipNazareneHospital.
Mt Hagen hospital staff at the accidents and emergency unit was busy all morning treating at least 30 students for minor injuries while a Grade 12 student had a more serious knife wound in the neck.
According to reports from the school, the fight started after the bell rang at 6am for students to attend morning devotion at the school chapel.
Police and locals intervened soon after and prevented it from getting out of hand.
Banz is in North Waghi, which will become part of the proposed Jiwaka province.
Mt Hagen students claimed they were chased by the local students and fled to the Sigiri area where they caught PMV buses and travelled home.
They said that some staff houses had also been damaged.
Buses on the Minj-Waghi routes stopped operation and many commuters were stranded in Mt Hagen because there were not enough PMVs.
Fr Peter principal refused to comment when contacted yesterday afternoon.
Provincial education adviser Hans Gima blamed the May 23 fight on the lack of staff supervision.
Provincial police commander Supt Kaiglo Ambane said yesterday police quickly mobilised to ensure that the violence did not spread to other schools in the province – Kitip Secondary, Togoba High and HolyTrinityTeachers College.
He said police escorted some Western Highlands students from Fr Peter back to Mt Hagen and Jiwaka students at Kitip, Togoba and HolyTrinityTeachers College back to Jiwaka.
Ambane was grateful for the cooperation police got from the locals and teachers in diffusing a volatile situation.
He urged the Fr Peter board of management, education authority and local communities to investigate and discipline students responsible for the fights.
Ambane said such ethnic differences were affecting the education of other innocent students from other provinces as well.
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday reassured Bougainville President John Momis that the national government was committed to rebuilding and reconstructing the autonomous region, The National reports.
Landowners’ uprising, which led to the Bougainville conflict over 15 years, resulted in the destruction of many infrastructures.
Momis met with Sir Michael yesterday after arriving in the capital last Friday after he was sworn in as new Bougainville president, replacing James Tanis.
In yesterday’s meeting, both leaders agreed that several areas in the restoration process should be addressed and given special attention.
Momis was accompanied to Morauta Haus by several members of his cabinet.
Before leaving for Bougainville tomorrow, they are also expected to call on several diplomatic corps.
However, Momis, in his inauguration speech at the University of PNG at the weekend, said the people of Bouginville were frustrated about things like the transfer of few powers, the failure of national government to pay the full restoration and development grants for 2010 and the slow progress in appointment of a chief administrator to fill the gap created over three years ago.
After meeting Sir Michael yesterday, Momis paid a courtesy call on the Solomon Islands and the Australian high commissioners.
Today, he would meet with the Chinese and the Japanese ambassadors.
Momis is also expected to meet with the managing director of Rio Tinto to discuss the possibility of re-opening the Paguna mine.
However, he told reporters in Port Moresby last Friday that re-opening the mine would depend on dialogue between the landowners and leaders of Bougainville.
GULF public servants and Kerema town residents last week petitioned Governor Havila Kavo and provincial assembly members over the lack of essential government services in Kerema town, The National reports.
The petition was drawn up following the recent deaths of two public servants from Ihu who drowned during a fatal dinghy accident last week while returning from Port Moresby.
One of the deceased, Joe Hae, was employed by the Kerema GeneralHospital while Maiva Tamarua worked with the Gulf provincial tax office.
The petition pointed out that all public servants and their families regularly commute to Port Moresby because essential government and other services were not readily available in Kerema.
The petition also called for:
* The immediate upgrading of the Kerema-Malalaua road;
* The permanent appointment of a provincial disaster coordinator to oversee the operations of the provincial disaster office;
* The enforcement of the Maritime Act to ensure all boats and dinghies transporting people to and from Kerema have life jackets and other safety features including the operators not drunk and overloading passengers; and
* To restore all banking and postal services.
The petition also touched on the high cost of living in Kerema, the poor wharf and shipping services at Gulf ports by existing shipping companies, education, health, high air travel costs and the escalating law and order problems in the province.
The snakebite victim being rushed into ModilonHospital from the helicopter.-Picture courtesy of SIR PETER BARTER
By MALUM NALU
A pregnant mother of four from Igos, near Mikarew in the Bogia district of Madang was medevaced to ModilonHospital on Sunday after she was bitten by a suspected death adder.
She was in very serious condition.
Civil Aviation Authority manager Tony Duba contacted Sir Peter Barter and organised Dr John Maihua to fly with Sir Peter in the Melanesian Foundation helicopter to Igos and bring the patient back to Madang.
She is reported to be recovering but according to Dr Maihua has lost her baby.
The Melanesian Foundation is a non-profit organisation that depends on Sir Peter and his company, Melanesian Tourist Services, to largely fund a number of projects including the operating costs of the helicopter where no charge is made but hopefully, costs of fuel will be paid to recover the high costs of maintaining a helicopter.
“The Melanesian Foundation has also funded the replacement of the GaubinHospital roof on KarkarIsland,” Sir Peter said.
“The consignment of roofing is expected to arrive in Madang from Lae this week when it will be trans-shipped to Karkar so work can begin on replacement of the existing roof which was installed more than 50 years ago.
“The cost of the replacement roofing is estimated to be around K150, 000.”
The Opposition has congratulated Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather on his decision to quit the Government over the controversial amendments to the Environment Act 2000 passed recently by Parliament.
Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta said the bold decision taken by Mr Fairweather demonstrated that he was prepared to put aside his personal political interests to protect Papua New Guinea and its citizens.
Sir Mekere said Mr Fairweather’s decision to quit Government would be applauded by the vast majority of Papua New Guineans.
Last Wednesday (June 16 2010), Mr Fairweather, a member of the People’s National Congress Party, announced his resignation from the Government because he did not like the changes to the environment laws.
Mr Fairweather’s statement is telling: “It is a controversial law. Procedures were not followed in the passage of the bill. I do not want people 70 years down the line to say that their forefathers did not do the right thing by them. The changes were bulldozed through Parliament and it took away the rights of the people to seek justice in court. This is dictatorial and against every principle a democracy stands for,” Mr Fairweather said.
The amendments in effect mean that the Director of the Environment Department’s decision on Environment Permits and related issues is final and cannot be challenged or reviewed in any court or tribunal, even if companies cause environmental damage through negligence.
Commending Mr Fairweather’s stance, Sir Mekere called on all concerned leaders in the Government to seriously reconsider their support for the current leadership.
“We urge other leaders in Government who have genuine concern for the welfare and interest of PNG to withdraw their support and stand out to be counted true leaders.
“The passage of the Environment Amendment Bill is in the interest of the Ramu Nickel Mine only. It is another example of public policy making dictated by foreign interests. People of PNG will pay dearly for this,” the former prime minister stressed.
Sir Mekere said that the manner in which the Government had bulldozed these amendments through was similar to legislation on arrangements regarding the PNG LNG project that the Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare had bulldozed through Parliament.
He noted with grave concern what he described as a dangerous trend where ministers of state were being turned into marketing managers and facilitators of foreign multinational corporations and interests.
“As elected representatives of our people we are duty bound and morally obliged to do our utmost best to put our nation’s interest ahead of personal and vested interests.
“A band of National Alliance party members together with the Prime Minister have sold this country under the pretext of PNG’s economic gains. In PNG’s national interest this Government should not be allowed to continue in office.
“Just as the majority of people will support Mr Fairweather’s move, they will also agree with the comments published by Professor John Nonggorr last week. Prof Nonggorr gave very clear legal and ethical reasons why Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare should stand down. Members of Parliament should heed the views of the people and follow Hon Fairweather by withdrawing support for Somare and Company,” Sir Mekere said.
Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta has described the alleged assassination plot against former Attorney General and Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat as a most-worrying development in Papua New Guinea politics.
Sir Mekere has called on the police and all relevant state law-enforcing agencies to urgently investigate the matter.
He expressed concern that the apparent plot to kill Dr Marat was linked to Dr Marat’s statements against the Government, exposing corruption and criticising certain aspects of the multi-billion kina PNG LNG and Ramu Nickel.
“It is a very serious and frightening development if the Government or its agents are using such measures to silence critics.
“The revelation of an assassination plot against Dr Allan Marat should not be taken lightly. It is a very serious matter that demands most immediate and appropriate action by relevant state agencies.
“Why should elected leaders who speak their mind freely on issues of national importance be subject to threats?” the former prime minister asked.
“This is a serious matter. It involves life and death. Therefore it calls for immediate police action to investigate and establish the validity of the assassination plot and take immediate measures to both counter it and deal with any perpetrators,” Sir Mekere said.
“At the same time I urge leaders not to be deterred by such tactics. They should strengthen our resolve to expose the evils of the current Government, not silence us.”
Three years on and I’m still waiting…”hello, is Timothy Bonga out there?”
Now that Timothy Bonga has been recycled as MP for Nawaeb, and made chairman of the Powerful Public Accounts Committee, perhaps he can apologise to me and compensate me for the beating that I received at his hands in 2007 before the elections.
The Taiwanese government and media have also implicated Timothy Bonga and Dr Florian Gubon in the US $30 million deal from money that was supposed to come to Papua New Guinea.
Apart from that scam, the good people of Nawaeb and the rest of Papua New Guinea should know that for no apparent reason, outgoing Eda Ranu executive chairman Mr Bonga harassed, insulted, and then assaulted me at the Lamana Gold Club on Friday evening, May 4, 2007.
The incident happened as I was about to leave Lamana after a few “Happy Hour” drinks with workmates.
Mr Bonga confronted me as I was leaving – out of the blues - and accused me of working together with Lae MP and New Generation Party leader Bart Philemon to bring him down.
He made reference to the recent newspaper reports about his payout from Eda Ranu.
I denied this, saying that I was no longer working as a fulltime journalist (I was working with Small Business Development Corporation at that time), and walked out to catch a taxi, but Mr Bonga followed me outside where he punched me, pushed me to the ground, and then proceeded to kick me in full view of security guards.
I suffered a black eye, a sore face and a painful back.
This was a criminal matter, which I wanted to pursue further with police, but decided not to, lest his election chances be jeopardised.
In true Papua New Guinea style, it is only fitting that Mr Bonga compensate me, my family, and my friends, given that he has already received his big pay cheque from Eda Ranu , is now Nawaeb MP and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and has publicly confirmed benefiting from Taiwanese money.
This is the final article by PAUL OATES analysing matters raised in the recently published Review of Australian Aid to PNG
IN ITS PREFACE the Review states that its overall aim is "to consider and recommend how Australia's aid can most effectively contribute to Papua New Guinea's current, medium and long-term development priorities." In my first article, I examined claims that the PNG public sector was ineffectual and not delivering intended government services because of reasons including failures of leadership, management, strategy, knowledge, and capacity. And a bunch of other factors that suffocate good governance. I proposed that, to achieve real results, full control by Australian departments over some areas of aid expenditure might be considered on an interim basis. The second article looked at an existing AusAID performance report in the context of the recent aid review and showed why it has not been possible to initiate a results-based programme or effectively monitor the use of AusAID funds. The main problem in appraisal is the interweaving of Australian aid funds into PNG government programmes. The PNG government operations are unable to be properly monitored or assessed simply because there are no effective mechanisms to do so. Despite this, the Review remains bullish, saying: "There is a shared commitment to act." Well tally-ho, but where? It seems to me, after scrutinising and weighing these reports, that changes to the status quo are unlikely to occur in the near future. Details on the website www.dfat.gov.au/geo/png/sgp.html explain how, at the 2008 Australia-PNG ministerial forum in Madang, it was agreed that the continued placement of senior and experienced officials in the PNG public sector would help accountability and good governance. A previous Australian government programme was renamed Strongim Gavman [strengthening government]. This program was to be run from Canberra with this remit:"Our officials are focused on providing strategic and policy advice and on building capacity in the PNG public service, including through mentoring to improve the knowledge and skills of PNG staff." In other words, there was a new name but essentially no change to how the aid programme is run. Therein lies the current dilemma. The review highlights changes in the level of aid Australia gives to PNG, which has fallen in real terms since independence. It is stated:"There are signs that PNG is diversifying to other donors. 2010 PNG budget documents put Australian aid at 68% of the total. China has started to provide aid." Prime Minister Somare has publicly declared a 'Look North' policy and the PNG Opposition Leader has claimed China is bribing PNG leaders. While Australian aid has been maintained at a steady level, it remains highly fragmented. Since 1999, per capita spending by the PNG government on health and education has decreased from K140 to K40. While PNG's GDP has substantially risen, spending per capita has remained at virtually the same level as at independence. The Review states:"Education, health and infrastructure have long been important sectors for Australian aid. In the last decade, governance has become an increasingly important area. Over the period 1975 to 2002, 27% of Australia's aid went to education, 24% to infrastructure, 12% to health, and 21% to governance (AusAID, 2003). "The main change over the last decade has been in the area of governance, where the share of total aid spending almost doubled from 20% in 1999-00 to 36% in 2009-10.3 Health has increased its share of the aid programme (thanks to new HIV/AIDS spending), but education and infrastructure have both seen a significant decline." In other words, real spending on education and health (other than on HIV/AIDS) has decreased while spending on governance has increased. Yet the same review suggests that PNG governance has been steadily worsening. Clearly the switch has not had the desired effect. So what opportunities are there to change the current regime? In 2010-2011 it is estimated that official Australian aid to PNG will be $457 million. Yet under the situation revealed in the Review, this amount will virtually disappear without any real benefit to the PNG or Australian people. On the web page www.ausaid.gov.au/country/partnership.cfm under the heading 'Mutual Respect', it is stated that:"Australia and partners will also acknowledge accountability to our respective Parliaments for the impact and effective use of development assistance." Yet how can accountability to the Australian Parliament be discharged when AusAID has publicly acknowledged it is not possible to monitor the impact and effective use of aid given to PNG? It seems there will be no opportunity this year to review the current bilateral arrangements at the highest political level because the Rudd government cancelled the annual ministerial forum with PNG. The official explanation was that this was due "to limitations on ministerial travel in an election year." Hmmm. Unless AusAID can effect major changes to its PNG operations, it appears another $457 million will go the same way as the previous billions and disappear into a big black hole that is the PNG government.
With so much public criticisms directed against poor performances by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in recent times, the government must now direct the police hierarchy to implement key recommendations of a so-called police review done over some two years ago.
There appears to be no progress reports to date whether the police is in fact implementing what this review recommends among other things to drastically improve the constabulary’s overall operational performance
It is not clear what the PNG government expects of its police force other than do its traditional job of enforcing the ‘rule of law’.
It is time the government focus all its efforts to developing a professional police institution distinct from the defence force or military and be responsible for internal security.
In future, PNG must create a more dispersed, visible, accessible and service-orientated police force which will frequently interact and gently with the community; and society.
The new-look future police force‘s primary duty will be to protect citizens and property.
The government must aim to totally professionalise the whole police institution.
We must plan now to make our future police force to be:
·More effective and integrate efforts to de-politicise the police
·Strengthen it capacity ‘to enforce the law’
·Maintain public order with the minimum of physical force
·Made more accountable and law abiding, humane and closely integrated into our civil community
·Make it more politically autonomous and responsive to community needs
·Develop leadership, organisation, training systems, transportation and communications systems and appropriate equipment
·Improve its capability to conduct urban, rural, border patrol operations (with the defence force if need be), investigations of varying degree of complexity and sophistication
·Make it more politically-autonomous and responsive to community needs
·Professionally managed from the top down, is adequately trained, equipped and rewarded; and
·Other specialised functions.
This is not hard to do if we can better organise future police reforms by fully using domestic resources and further complement these initiatives through required international support in certain specialised and technical areas of police science.
An obvious resource area that the government has overlooked for many years that we should have already fully tapped into a long time ago is to fully engage former government, military and police members as well as current members of the constabulary and the community.
The remains of the dormitory that was built on high posts. Only the iron roof and metal beds and lockers did not go up in smoke.-Nationalpic by AURI EVA Involvement by cult group claim probed By WALLACE KIALA in The National
CLASSES at the Mainohana Catholic Secondary School in Central’s Bereina were suspended last Friday after a male dormitory was razed by arsonists last Wednesday night. The dormitory houses 110 Grade 9 and 10 students. The school has informed the police that more than 10 students, allegedly practising cult activities, were responsible for the arson. Some names of students have been given to police who are investigating the claim. The fire started about midnight when most of the students were asleep. “Luckily for the students, they escaped unhurt,” deputy principal Sr Antoinette Ake told The National last Friday. Ake said the students, who had lost all their personal belongings, had to sit for the Grade 10 written expression examination last Thursday. “While a handful managed to grab one or two bags and run to safety, most of them were left with only what they wore,” he said. While the situation was tense at the school from last Thursday morning to Friday, Ake said Bereina police would be patrolling the school frequently in the next few weeks. Central police criminal investigations division and forensic teams were at the school last Friday for investigations and would be working closely with the local Bereina police to nab the arsonists. Deputy principal (administration) Poni Kila said the school was suspended for two weeks before the term break (term 2) to enable the school to prepare temporary accommodation for the students. “The fire has not greatly affected the general operations of the school as help is already on its way from Australia where a team from the De La Salle brothers is coming to carry out maintenance to one or two unused buildings in the school to accommodate the students,” he said. Central education officials also inspected the school last Thursday and conducted their own investigations. The school is run by the De La Salle brothers and was established more than 60 years ago.
