THE University of Technology administration has urged students who have left the campus to return for classes starting today, The National reports.
Many of the students left the campus after violence flared again between two ethnic groups last Thursday night, which resulted in the death of a first year engineering student.
The senior executive management and heads of departments met and agreed to suspend classes last Friday and resume today while efforts were made at the weekend to bring the groups involved together to reconcile.
The university administration also quickly moved to beef up security on campus with the engagement of a police mobile squad and increasing the number of security guards by private contractor Kuima Security Services and the university’s own security staff.
Lae metropolitan commander Chief Supt Nema Mondiai also assured that more policemen would be deployed on campus should the need arise.
Acting vice-chancellor Prof Mohammed Satter and registrar Allan Sako met with the student representative council executive and leaders of student groups, especially from the Highlands provinces, last Friday and assured them that security measures were in place to ensure the safety of the students.
They told the students the mobile squad 14 from Goroka would be based on campus until the situation is back to normal.
Other measures imposed included:
* Restrictions on movement of staff, staff dependents, students and the public in and out of the campus from 10pm daily until further notice;
* Restrictions on vehicles moving in and out of the campus from 10pm daily;
* Restrictions on ethnic or regional meetings or gatherings on campus; and
* Emphasising the existence of the zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs.
Police and security staff have been directed to strictly police the measures. Any student, staff, staff dependent or member of the public who breaches the restrictions would be dealt with under the university rules and the laws.
The measures follow the killing of a first-year electrical engineering student last Thursday night on campus.
The student died after being attacked with sticks and stones and stabbed during the fight.
Another student sustained serious injuries and is in critical condition at the AngauMemorialHospital.
A third student is also recovering at Angau, where he was admitted with serious head injuries last week.
Last Thursday, the students involved in the first fight met and agreed on a truce, shook hands and reconciled. Later that evening, the fight erupted again, this time involving a larger group.
Satter, while expressing regret and dismay at the continuing violence perpetrated by a minority of the students, appealed to everyone, including the public to adhere to the restrictions so as to bring about normalcy on campus.
He urged those students that left the campus to return and allow for lectures to resume on Monday (today), adding the university had not closed.
Satter also appealed to the concerned students and student groups to stop the violence and allow the normal process of the law to take its course and for negotiations with the disputing parties for an early resolution.
He said the administration did not want the students’ studies to be disrupted any further, with just five weeks left before the final examinations.
Kutubu is known for producing Papua New Guinea’s finest crude oil which is commercialised internationally.
Early works proved that Kutubu also has the potential to produce upland rice.
The soil and the climate are just right.
The Foe, Faso and Moran women have wasted no time; they are already in business, venturing into household level rice production for family consumption.
Taking the lead is the Kutubu Foe Women’s Association.
Their initiative was boosted with the donation of two new rice milling machines by Oil Search Ltd and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.
Pictured is Piano Paul (left) from Waro village in the Faso area of Kutubu with her 25kg of NR 15 rice variety, harvested from her backyard experiment after receiving seeds from NARI.
Piano was a proud mother who was happy to show her harvests to Maria Linibi (right) of the PNG Women in Agriculture (PNGWiA) and Elizaberth Kelly of the Community Development Initiative (CDI) foundation last week.
An agriculture smallholder extension concept successfully trialled in two provinces should be expanded throughout the country.
The Smallholder Support Services Pilot Project (SSSPP) proved successful during its trial phase in the Morobe and Eastern Highlands provinces through funding support from the Asian Development Bank.
The expansion phase has again been made possible by a K3 million grant provided by the New Zealand government through its aid agency, NZAid.
It will now be expanded to the Chimbu and Central provinces.
A Smallholder Support Services Expansion Project workshop held in Lae recently was told that the concept is a good one and should be expanded to other provinces.
This extension concept has been well received and has improved agriculture extension and agriculture productivity in the Eastern Highlands and Morobe provinces.
Morobe provincial administration deputy administrator Geoving Bilong and his EHP counterpart Solomon Tato told the workshop that they were pleased with the concept which has had a positive impact in the people’s livelihood in the two provinces.
They said that with adequate funding and resources Morobe and EHP were prepared to take the lead in assisting other provinces to implement the extension concept.
They also urged that the concept be taken on board under the auspices of the National Agriculture Development Plan and similar programmes.
Bilong said that the concept can be adopted and incorporated into current extension systems as the way forward to enhance agriculture extension and delivery of agricultural services especially at the district and ward council level.
He thanked NZAID for having confidence in the PNG agriculture sector and placing emphasis on gender participation.
In Morobe more women are becoming involved in agriculture as service providers and all these have been made possible by the new extension concept.
“Many people who have gone through the SSSPP concept have improved their agricultural activities,” Bilong said.
“This is a good project that has the capacity to involve people at all levels of the community and can make a big impact in improving extension services in PNG.”
Tato said the extension concept had assisted in starting up new agricultural initiatives in areas where agriculture delivery services were not effective in the past.
He said the concept could be adopted into other agricultural programs for maximum impact in the rural communities.
Eastern Highlands agriculture advisor Bubia Muhuju said the concept had improved agriculture extension activities as well as enabling more cooperation and teamwork amongst various stakeholders especially district agriculture services.
It has led to positive impact in agriculture development in the province.
Chimbu agriculture advisor Damien Toki said his province had arranged for staff to be seconded to the SSSEP and organised its new office as well as appointing a Support Services Contract Facility steering committee.
The provincial executive council has approved funding and the project should commence operation in September.
“SSSEP concept is designed to sustain smallholder initiatives,” he said.
“As a province that is smallholder activity driven in all aspects of life, we saw this as the way out and are more than happy to participate in this programme.”
Central province’s deputy administrator Michael Uaiz stressed that awareness and advocacy was essential to progress the SSSEP and related programmes.
He said the people of Central deserved to be given a fair deal and the SSSEP provided opportunities for agriculture development to move forward.
I see in the recent Papua New Guinea news some statements about reviewing the pay scales of public servants, .... but in the future naturally. This initiative could well have very advantageous spin offs for PNG where the 'six pack' mentality has become an accepted fact to get anything done. But 'Old habits die hard'. To accept better pay and conditions, public servants must be offered a legally binding contract to sign with performance benchmarks and guarantees against any corrupt practices (to be spelt out). Failure to meet this legal contract would either lead to a reduction in pay (if due diligence and care is unsatisfactory) or dismissal (if corruption is found or continued). This type of contract is now standard practice in many public services. Contracts must be negotiated in advance with public service unions and staff associations and then advertised and discussed extensively prior to implementation. But will PS senior staff and CEO's be diligent themselves? 'Who will watch the watchers'? Will PS supervisors be prepared to act? Will the politicalisation of the PNG public service over the last decade work against any new regime? Will PNG politicians be prepared to act against those they themselves may have found sinecures for? Those who are tasked with the implementation of these contracts must themselves be above reproach. This whole concept also calls for a lot of 'WILL' power. Has too much 'WON'T power been build up over the last few decades? If those authorities (the Public Prosecutor, et al), in PNG aren't able to hold their government and its members responsible and accountable, why should the country expect any better from her public servants? The example must start from the top. ________________________________
O'Neill promises pay rise for public servants in 2011 THE Government has indicated a pay rise for public servants across the country in next year's budget. It has also assured of a more stable and consistent public service free of constant changes that suit political and parochial whims. That promise was made by Treasurer and Minister for Public Service, Peter O'Neill, when addressing a group of bureaucrats this week. He said negotiations between the Public Employees Association and the Department of Personnel Management were currently underway for a likely rise next year. In return for this commitment, O'Neill wants public servants to perform their duties with the trust, loyalty and efficiency expected of them so the Government's service delivery to the people is reliable and effective. Speaking to provincial and district treasurers at the 13th bi-annual conference in Chimbu on Monday, O'Neill said: "I care for the welfare of our public servants, so we might see a (wage) increase in the 2011 Budget." "There will be no constant changes because stability in the public service is crucial, and we will continue this (approach) during the term of this Parliament," he said. O'Neill said the PNG economy would be achieving a high growth rate of 8 % this year because of the stability in the public service, in politics and in the economy. "We have many resource projects opening up, therefore, we need the right political leadership and we need the right public service leadership. "That is why we need to make merit-based appointments, and the same should happen with political leadership." He called on the treasurers and public servants maintain their professional and personal integrity by refusing to entertain corrupt political leadership. "You are holding those positions because of trust and honesty. If political leaders do wrong, learn to say, no. Do not change budgets to suit Members (of Parliament) or contractors. "You must maintain the integrity of the office you hold and earn the trust of the people. It is the people's right to get health, education and other Government services." He also assured of the Government's commitment to continue funding of the Department of Finance's district treasuries roll-out programme next year. The programme, which was started in 2004, has now seen the establishment of fully-functional modern treasury offices, staff houses, logistical back-up and banking and postal services in 58 of the 86 district treasuries.
The bodies of the four victims of this week's plane crash in Papua New Guinea will be transported to Brisbane for autopsies, after being released by a PNG coroner.
The bodies of the three Australians and one New Zealander will be flown to Brisbane as soon as a large commercial aircraft becomes available, an Australian government source told AAP on Friday.
The New Zealander's body was expected to be repatriated home from Australia at a later date.
MisimaIsland authorities preparing to repatriate the dead
victims of the plane crash to Port
Moresby yesterday.Picture by SINEWATHA ISHMAEL
Islanders turn up in force to send
off crash victims
By STEPHANIE
ELIZAH
MISIMA Islanders were in mourning as
they turned up yesterday at Bwagaioa station to say goodbye to four expatriates
who were killed in a plane crash on Tuesday, The National reports.
Government offices, businesses and
schools on this MilneBay island were closed as islanders and
public servants paid their respect to the victims of the
crash.
The laid-back island has suddenly
become the focus of world attention 48 hours earlier when a Cessna Citation jet,
with three Australians and two New Zealanders, crashed upon landing in bad
weather.
The islanders came in droves, in
their best dress, to farewell the four people whom many of them had probably
never met.
School children led the farewell
entourage, forming a “guard of honour” from the island’s health centre morgue to
the airport where a Airlines PNG Twin Otter was waiting to take the bodies to
Port
Moresby.
The line stretched about 500m
between the morgue and the airstrip. All district administration vehicles also
lined up for the farewell.
The islanders sang traditional
hymns, some shed tears and many threw flowers on the path leading to the waiting
aircraft.
The bodies, wrapped in body-bags,
were carried by district health and administration
workers.
“We were preparing the bodies when
school children and public servants lined up to pay their last respect,”
Samarai-Murua district administrator Hayden Abraham said from
Misima.
Shortly after midday, the Twin Otter
left for Port
Moresby where the bodies will be treated and handed over
to their immediate family members.
In Port Moresby, investigators announced that the
Trans Air Citation jet’s black box had been recovered from the crash
site.
This instrument, which records
operation details of the aircraft, will help investigators better un-derstand
the cause of the crash which killed the four and injured the 25-year-old
co-pilot of the chartered aircraft.
Civil Aviation Accident
Investigation Commission chief executive officer David Inau said five
investigators had been assigned to the case.
“I have formally invited the
Australian transport safety bureau to assist with the investigations. I have
already a team of three on site working with us,” he
said.
The Australian High Commission said
those who died were Port Moresby-based Trans Air co-owner Lesley Wright, Richard
“Chris” Hart and Darren Moore. A New Zealand citizen killed was
unnamed.
Co-pilot Kelby Cheyne survived the
crash.
Commission officials and a medical
team travelled to Misima to assist with Cheyne’s medical evacuation and to
facilitate the repatriation of the remains of the deceased.
It said it was working with police
and local authorities to have the remains repatriated to Australia at the
earliest opportunity.
The high commission said consular
officers in Port Moresby and Canberra were working with
the airline company and local authorities to keep the families of those affected
by the crash informed on developments.
Officials were also in contact with
their New
Zealand
counterparts.
CIVIL Aviation Minister Benjamin Poponawa has promised a full and thorough investigation into the air crash in Misima, Milne Bay, that killed four people, The Nationalreports.
He said the Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), under its chief executive officer David Inau, would conduct a thorough and independent investigation in accordance with international civil aviation rules with the help of Australian experts.
“The AIC has invited the technical assistance of CASA PNG, the operator, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other independent agencies.
“Onsite component of the investigation will continue for several days and an airspace restriction remains over the crash site.
“It is expected that an interim factual report will be released within 28 days,” Poponawa said in a statement.
He confirmed that Darren Moore, a flying operations inspector with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was killed in the crash.
He expressed condolences to the family and friends of those killed.
Poponawa said Trans Air (PNG) had no connection to Transair (Australia).
“The links to the Transair (Australia) Lockhart river accident in 2005 and this accident cannot be ignored.
“The investigation and inquiries into the Lockhart river accident, including the Queensland coronial inquiry, did not hold Transair accountable.”
He said Trans Air (PNG) had an existing air operator certificate (AOC) since 1998, prior to the Lockhart river accident.
Darren Moore and Munchkin, his pet cuscus who lived with him in Port Moresby
By MALUM NALU
On Monday this week, a day before he died in the plane crash
on Misima, Darren Moore posted a message on my Facebook page regarding the
summary execution of a teacher in Enga province in cold blood last Friday.
“It makes you want to carry a firearm to ensure your own
safety,” he told me.
“Animals like this are really making a bad name for PNG in
the world’s eyes.”
These were the last words Moore would ever share with me and words that
I’ll always remember when I think about him.
The first time Moore came to PNG was to deliver an old C-172 for a bloke who gave him some bad information about weather and radio communications. Everyone saw the funny side of that - ultimately.
He then posted a message on his own page on Tuesday, saying:
“Woohoo.
“Back driving the jet for a few hours today.
“Audit reports can get stuffed, I'm off flying.”
I read that message and presumed that Moore, a qualified
pilot and flight operations inspector with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,
was flying some jet.
I heard about the plane crash in Misima on Tuesday, however,
had no idea that this good mate of mine was among those killed.
Villagers and curious onlookers, Australian air safety officials and CASA and
Accident Investigation Commission investigators at the scene of the crash on
MisimaIsland, MilneBay, inspecting the remains of the Cessna
Citation on Wednesday. – Picture by SINEWATA ISHMAEL
In fact, the first thing that came to mind was that Moore
would be among those investigating the crash, and that he would be giving me
some exclusive information about what really happened.
Just two weeks ago, I met Moore at the Holiday Inn, in which
he told me about last month’s air crash in Kabwum, Morobe province, which he
had just investigated and was now in the process of putting together his
accident report.
Darren Moore in the cockpit of a plane
A couple of times, he had asked me, through my Facebook
page, to go and have a “brew” with him at either the Aero Club or Airways Motel
at which he would tell me some flying yarns.
I got the shock of my life when I read on the front page of
yesterday’s The National that Moore, 44, from Leonora in Western Australia, was among those killed.
I kept on asking myself “why, why, why” when Moore was someone who could offer Papua New Guinea civil aviation so
much.
And the saddest irony is that all of those air crashes Moore has been
investigating will now not be completed, as he himself became a victim of an
air crash.
Just two weeks ago, when we met at the Holiday Inn, Moore
was telling me about the August 2008 Kokoda Trail Cessna 2006 crash that killed pilot Christopher Kaines, the August 2009
Kokoda plane crash, last month’s Kabwum plane crash in which the young Australian
pilot miraculously survived, and many others.
He was particularly concerned about the circumstances
surrounding Kaines’ crash and wanted to see justice done for the dead pilot’s
wives and children.
He was deeply concerned about the level of air safety
investigations in the country, and freely admitted that the government must
allocate more funding for this.
Moore
also raised concerns about the level of air safety in the country, saying that
we must never compromise our air safety by lowering standards, or allowing
shady operators into the business.
He has been constantly calling me since by telephone and
through Facebook about developments within PNG civil aviation.
Fellow aviation mates of Moore, known as Wiz, posted tributes on a
popular pilot website to the "rough nut" who was working with PNG's
CASA.
Moore
has been described by a grieving mate as “a truly great bloke - consummate
pilot, with lots of street smarts and common sense - also an extraordinary
party animal”.
Moore’s
Facebook page has been full of emotional comments since Wednesday when
friend Ryan Hooper confirmed: “Well I am sorry to say yes
Darren was killed in the accident.
“He was a true mate and my heart is with you Sue.”
Dave Healey: “Fly high old mate, you've touched the lives of
a great many people and will be sorely missed.
“Spread your wings wide and fly into the sun.”
Min Stokes: “This is so sad, condolences to Sue and the
family.
“Daz you were one of a kind, true blue.
“Aviation won't be the same without you and your humour,
we'll miss ya.”
Leon Garlett: “Thanks for the laughs in Leonora mate.
“You went where angels feared to go
“Condolences to Sue and family.”
Charl Du Plessis: “Hard to accept it.
“He was working on a great future for him and the family and
I find it very sad that it had to end this way.”
Eric Galliers: “Darren, your last status says it all about
your true passion mate.
“You will be missed by many and I still can’t get it into my
mind that aviation took you.
“Very sad old buddy.”
Roz Roulston: “I was just thinking about you yesterday
Darren.
“Was hoping you were safe in PNG and how many accidents
happen over there.
“I had no idea it was you.
“All my love sympathy to your family.
“I can't believe it's you. R.I.P.”
Michael Anthony: “Darren, from one sky god to another... rest
in peace mate.
“Watch over us and know we won't forget ya.”
Killed together with Moore were were passenger Chris Hart, 61, from Sydney,
and Trans Air charter co-owner and pilot Les Wright, 59, from Queensland.
The fourth victim, an employee of medivac company
International SOS, was a New Zealander.
The survivor, another New Zealander who is a permanent
resident of Australia,
arrived in Port Moresby on Wednesday afternoon
on a charter flight from MisimaIsland in PNG's MilneBay
province.
The unnamed 25-year-old co-pilot of the doomed Cessna
Citation was immediately whisked on to another plane and flown out of PNG to an
Australian hospital for medical treatment for "heavy bruising".
His amazing escape happened on Tuesday afternoon when the
Trans Air plane overshot the Misima runway while landing in heavy rain and
crashed into trees, bursting into flames.
Australian and New Zealand diplomatic staff flew
to the island on Wednesday to supervise the retrieval of the bodies and to
inspect the crash site.
They were joined by PNG air accident investigator Sid
O'Toole and other officials
Civil aviation authorities in PNG said it was still too
early to say what went wrong but guaranteed a full and complete investigation.
Trans Air, which runs a charter and medivac service in PNG,
is linked to the now defunct Australian airline Transair, which went into
liquidation after a 2005 crash at LockhartRiver in north Queensland in which 15 people died.
As apart from the traditional pension or superannuation funds in Papua New Guinea, , the government needs to make it a big part of its financial market reforms to also establish other diversified types of ‘managed funds’ with specific benefits products to cater for the overall needs of the majority of income-earners in the country.
The public needs other alternative investment choices other than just putting their hard-earned savings in the banks and only getting a pittance for it.
While most super funds have grown over the years due to membership increases, fundamentally they have not changed much since being established.
New managed funds are needed for future investments by the public and should be creatively designed so that the fund benefits also extend not only to members, but also to their spouses, children and immediate families.
The super funds in PNG so far are set up fundamentally for single purposes to generally provide for future needs.
They are a single old savings scheme to give workers some security at retirement and in their old-age.
Simply, they are life-long financial plans – an investment vehicle of member’s personal financial planning.
All in all, they provide a great advantage to the average worker who might otherwise not have the means available for a planned retirement.
The government when designing future managed funds must be careful to ensure inbuilt hedging mechanisms are in place to safeguard against two factors: inflation and increasing life-expectancy.
For the benefit of citizens, the government will need to introduce other suitable managed funds for all categories of workers and their families to enjoy new fund benefits as:
· Home savings to buy a home;
· Medical bills;
· Children’s tertiary education;
· Invest in shares; and
· Premium for personal and home insurance.
The country’s new fund’s products must also cover a wide range of financial instruments from property, insurance to stocks (shares) and unit trusts.
So upon retirement, workers have a sizeable ‘nest-egg’ to see them through in retirement years.
What’s more, it must also be made a future government policy to encourage all citizens the importance of long-term financial planning.
Hence, the future challenge now is for both the government and managed funds trustees to continue introducing innovative, yet conservative savings and investment strategies of allowing its national workforce in all categories to intelligently use their managed funds in meeting their future expectations.
Moasing Nalu with a baby whilst a nurse at Buangi hospital, Finschhafen
In loving memory of Mrs Moasing Nalu August 18, 1938 – September
2, 2009
In loving memory of Mrs Moasing Nalu, who passed away at Angau Memorial
Hospital in Lae on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at 10.15am.
Aged 72, she is survived by her children Alison, David, Malum, Lepung and Anna
Nalu as well as 14 grand children.
My mum was a committed Christian until the day she died, and worked with my
father, the late Mathias Nalu, all over the country in the colonial
pre-independence days.
THE Tourism Promotion Authority says Papua
New Guinea is currently losing millions in tourism dollars from the Japanese
market and all relevant government agencies must quickly work together to
address the problem.
PNG TPA chief executive officer Peter
Vincent said major tour operators across the country were experiencing large
booking cancellations by Japanese tourists following a Level 2 Travel Alert
issued by the Japanese government for the interest and safety of its
citizens.
The Level 2 Travel Alert prevents group
travels by Japanese tourists to PNG however individuals can travel here but “at
their own risk”.
Vincent said the Level 2 Travel Alert was
issued in August following major security breaches at the JacksonsAirport including the killing of a local
businessman and the exchange of gunfire between a disgruntled resource landowner
and police.
He said while these incidents may be
localised in nature, however, given the existing negative image perception of
PNG abroad, that in the overall scheme of things, they caused more damage than
good for PNG’s standing overseas.
He said many PNG tourism operators have
expressed their concern to the TPA that they were losing business in the
millions because of booking cancellations by Japanese agents and
tourists.
“This has now become a
government-to-government matter which needs to be addressed immediately to
safeguard our growing tourism industry and particularly our local tourism
operators,” he added.
Vincent said the Japanese Government was
adamant that it would not relax the travel alerts unless it was convinced that
the safety of its citizens was guaranteed particularly at JacksonsAirport which is the gateway to
PNG.
Vincent said while TPA was already working
with police and other relevant government agencies including Civil Aviation and
Air Niugini to address the issue, the national government needed to be more
proactive in its approach as such incidents can also impact on Air Niugini’s
second weekly flight to Tokyo and the billion kina LNG
project.
He said as a nation, our people also
seriously needed to do away with their attitude problems which gave rise to such
issues and they must take responsibility and ownership in the progress and
development of this country.
THE Tourism Promotion Authority says Papua New Guinea is currently losing millions in tourism dollars from the Japanese market and all relevant government agencies must quickly work together to address the problem.
PNG TPA chief executive officer Peter Vincent said major tour operators across the country were experiencing large booking cancellations by Japanese tourists following a Level 2 Travel Alert issued by the Japanese government for the interest and safety of its citizens.
The Level 2 Travel Alert prevents group travels by Japanese tourists to PNG however individuals can travel here but “at their own risk”.
Vincent said the Level 2 Travel Alert was issued in August following major security breaches at the JacksonsAirport including the killing of a local businessman and the exchange of gunfire between a disgruntled resource landowner and police.
He said while these incidents may be localised in nature, however, given the existing negative image perception of PNG abroad, that in the overall scheme of things, they caused more damage than good for PNG’s standing overseas.
He said many PNG tourism operators have expressed their concern to the TPA that they were losing business in the millions because of booking cancellations by Japanese agents and tourists.
“This has now become a government-to-government matter which needs to be addressed immediately to safeguard our growing tourism industry and particularly our local tourism operators,” he added.
Vincent said the Japanese Government was adamant that it would not relax the travel alerts unless it was convinced that the safety of its citizens was guaranteed particularly at JacksonsAirport which is the gateway to PNG.
Vincent said while TPA was already working with police and other relevant government agencies including Civil Aviation and Air Niugini to address the issue, the national government needed to be more proactive in its approach as such incidents can also impact on Air Niugini’s second weekly flight to Tokyo and the billion kina LNG project.
He said as a nation, our people also seriously needed to do away with their attitude problems which gave rise to such issues and they must take responsibility and ownership in the progress and development of this country.
Among 3 Aussies and Kiwi killed was
Trans Air co-owner
By STEPHANIE
ELIZAH
Villagers and curious onlookers, Australian air safety officials and CASA and
Accident Investigation Commission investigators at the scene of the crash on
MisimaIsland, MilneBay, inspecting the remains of the Cessna
Citation yesterday. – Picture by SINEWATA ISHMAEL
AMONG those killed in the plane
crash on Misima in MilneBay was Les Wright, the co-owner of Trans
Air, which ran the charter, The National reports.
Wright, 59, was from Queensland, Australia.
The others were identified as Chris
Hart, 61, from Sydney, and Darren Moore, 44, from Leonora in Western Australia, who
was a civil aviation flight operations inspector.
The name of the fourth victim, an
employee of medivac company International SOS, a New Zealander, was not
released.
The survivor, another New Zealander
who is a permanent resident of Australia, arrived in Port
Moresby yesterday afternoon on a chartered flight from MisimaIsland.
The unnamed 25-year-old co-pilot of
the doomed Cessna Citation was immediately whisked onto another plane and flown
to Australia for medical treatment for
“heavy bruising”.
Trans Air (PNG), a charter and
medivac operator, is linked to the now-defunct Australian airline Transair,
which went into liquidation after a 2005 crash at LockhartRiver in north Queensland, killing 15
people.
Investigations have begun into the
crash, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
The bodies of the four are at the
morgue at MisimaHospital and would be flown to Port Moresby
today.
Around 4pm yesterday, a chartered
Airlines PNG Twin Otter arrived in Port
Moresby with the injured co-pilot, heavily
sedated.
Local and international media were
locked out of the Trans Air hangar at the airport by security
guards.
Accident Investigation Commission
(AIC) chief executive officer David Inau confirmed “that a Cessna Citation jet
ran off the end of the runway on landing”.
Inau gave no further details, only
stating that “until all findings have been gathered and finalised, then a
formal statement will be made”.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority and
AIC investigators were accompanied by Australian officials to the crash site
yesterday.
They would try and establish the
cause
of the
accident.
Australian leaders, including prime
minister Julia Gillard and foreign affairs and trade minister Stephen Smith,
yesterday expressed sorrow at the loss of their citizens’
lives.
“On behalf of the government, I
offer my condolences to the families of the three Australians that will be
grieving the loss of a loved one today,” Gillard told reporters in
Australia
yesterday.
“I also offer our condolences to the
New
Zealand family that has lost a loved one.
“And, I wish a speedy recovery and a
return to good health to the New Zealand citizen, Australian
resident who has been injured.”
Smith said the tragedy came just
weeks after the first anniversary of the Kokoda plane crash in which nine
Australians died.
“This will be a very sad reminder to
nine Australian families,” Smith said.
“It follows on very closely from the
first anniversary of the Kokoda air crash, so this will be painful not just for
the families of the five involved but a painful reminder of the Kokoda air
crash.”
Smith confirmed that the plane was
chartered by Trans Air and one of those killed was employed by the company but
he would not say whether it was its owner Wright.
However, an industry source told
AAP: “Les Wright from Trans Air was on board and
died.”
The foreign minister said he had
spoken to the Australian acting high commissioner in PNG and was told
“everything that Australian officials can do is being done both on the ground in
Misima and Port
Moresby”.
Smith said the Australian Transport
Safety Bureau had offered assistance in any formal investigation into the cause
of the crash.
“We regrettably have a lot of
experience with plane crashes in PNG and we have in the past, and I expect on
this occasion, will work closely and successfully with PNG officials,” he
said.
A MARITIME pilot who died in the Misima plane crash has been praised as a “supreme professional” and mentor, The National reports.
Father-of-three Chris Hart was a passenger on board a Trans Air plane which slid off the runway on MisimaIsland and burst into flames on Tuesday afternoon.
The 61-year-old Sydney man was on his way to guide a ship from Misima, about 500km southeast of Port Moresby, through the Great Barrier Reef.
Two other Australians – one believed to be Trans Air owner Les Wright and the other a worker for medivac company International SOS – and a New Zealander also died.
Don Mclay, from Australian Reef Pilots, told reporters in Australia Hart was a “supreme professional” and mentor for younger boat pilots.
The former British navy submariner worked for cruise ship firm P&O, where he met his wife Hilary.
After a secondment to the Maritime Services Board in Sydney, Hart joined Howard Smith and returned to sea in the firm’s merchant shipping division.
He became a coastal pilot with Australian Reef Pilots in 1997.
Mclay said Hart took great pride in his two daughters and son.
“While his duties meant he was frequently away from home, he made sure he always had quality time with them,” Mclay said.
“We have lost a respected friend and colleague.
“We will always remember Chris’ quirky sense of humour, his passion as a chef and his insatiable love for country and western music.”
FOUR expatriates were killed in a plane crash yesterday afternoon on Misima Island in Milne Bay, The National reports.
The pilot is seriously injured and has been admitted into hospital.
Reports received yesterday said a chartered Trans-Air Ltd aircraft, with five Australians, including the pilot, en route from Port Moresby to Bwagaoia, crash-landed in nearby sago palm trees as it over-shot the runway.
Misima police chief Sgt Moses Hilibobo told The National bad weather might have caused the accident as it was raining heavily around 4pm when the crash occurred.
He said technical fault had not been ruled out as eye witnesses reported seeing flames coming out from the plane as it was attempting to land.
Hilibobo, who was among the first at the scene, including emergency health personnel from the MisimaDistrictHospital, said the aircraft had its wheels and wings ripped off when it landed.
Hilibobo said: “The passengers were badly burnt when we arrived at the scene, because the main body of the plane caught fire immediately with the passengers still trapped inside.
“The dead were taken to the morgue while the pilot was immediately treated for burns and other injuries. He was conscious when we rescued him from the swamps.
“He might have been thrown off the plane when it crashed,” Hilibobo added.
Meanwhile, Southern region police commander Chief Supt Jerry Frank said in Port Moresby last night that according to the provincial police commander’s office in Alotau, a crash investigation team would be dispatched to Misima today.
Frank said the Australians were on their way to international waters off Misima to resume duties aboard ocean liners via tugboats.
Acting director of Civil Aviation Authority Safety Wilson Segati also confirmed news of the air crash but did not give details.
Works and Transport Minister Don Polye said he was briefed about the accident and was “very sad that lives have been lost in the crash”.
“It is very distressing news.
“I am told that it is a small Cessna jet owned by Trans-Air, and was on a charter run.
“An investigation is underway and I cannot comment further until we get more details,” Polye said.
Meanwhile, Australian Reef Pilots (ARP) told AAP one of their staff members died in yesterday’s crash.
The other Australians on board were not working with ARP.
Acting chief executive officer for PNG Ports Jerome Peniasi told AAP the Australians on the plane were working with ARP near MisimaIsland.
“We are aware of the accident but we still do not have much information as communication has been difficult,” he said.
ARP chief executive officer Craig Southerwood issued a short statement yesterday evening.
“ARP is shocked and saddened by the loss of one of our marine pilots in a chartered plane crash in PNG this afternoon,” he said.
“Chairman Don McLay is visiting with the family of our deceased workmate and friend to offer them the company’s sympathy and any assistance at this terrible time.
“We are all shattered by this tragedy.”
ARP provides help for vessels navigating in difficult shipping lanes and provides emergency and temporary port pilots and marine consultancy.
According to ARP’s website, the company has been involved in marine pilotage through Queensland’s shipping channels for more than 100 years.
