Basil rejects Sir Arnold's statement

By Bulolo MP, SAM BASIL

 

The statement by the attorney general that the public should not demand swift decision making from the chief justice as to the appointment of a leadership tribunal is as offensive as it is clearly wrong.

  The chief justice, like the attorney general, is public servants and should be answerable and accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea at all times.

  Serious allegations have been made against the most-senior public servant in PNG, the prime minister. 

These allegations remain unanswered three years later. 

This is bringing the integrity of the office of prime minister into question and it is in the interests of the country as a whole that these allegations are resolved quickly, one way or another.   

  Justice delayed is justice denied.

  The public prosecutor was satisfied that the prime minister was guilty of misconduct in office, which resulted in his referral of the matter to the chief justice for the appointment of a leadership tribunal pursuant to Section 27(2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.

  When a tribunal is to be appointed to inquire in the case of alleged misconduct in office by the prime minister – a special provision applies as to the make-up of the tribunal – which is Section 27(7) (d) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, which provides that the chief justice must appoint a tribunal consisting of a chairman and two other members, all of whom must be—

(i)        Judges or former judges of the National Court; or

(ii)       Former Judges of the pre-independence Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea; or

(iii)      Judges or former judges of an equivalent court of a country that has a legal system similar to that of PNG;

  The chief justice does not have discretion as to whether or not he should appoint a tribunal under the Organic Law, once the matter is referred to him by the public prosecutor, he MUST appoint a tribunal.

  This performance of this duty cannot be delayed.

 It is not a difficult or time- consuming task as there is only a limited pool of persons from which the chief justice may appoint the tribunal.

  It is in the interests of justice that this task is performed as quickly as possible so that these allegations may be resolved so that the integrity of the office of prime minister is not further destroyed.  

  It is therefore entirely appropriate that the people demand that the tribunal be appointed within a reasonable time and that means as soon as possible in these circumstances. 

For the attorney general to suggest that the people have no rights to demand quick action, it is not only in breach of the basic principles of democracy but he is clearly playing politics and trying to delay the determination of the allegations of misconduct against the prime minister, which all of PNG has been waiting for.

 We should also remind ourselves that the attorney general and the governor of Madang Sir Arnold Amet is also a member of the National Alliance Party from which the prime minister is a leader of and delivering such statements can only bring the integrity of his office into question.

 There should be a law in the future to make the office of the attorney general be occupied by public servants only and not politicians as such.

It would be also proper for future chief justices not to enter politics because the respect they carry from this high profile office can be easily tainted when they start playing petty politics.

 

Hon Sam Basil - Opposition MP

Bulolo Open Electorate.

 

In response to –

 

Amet: CJ should not be put under pressure

 

By JOSHUA ARLO – Post Courier

 

THE CHIEF JUSTICE should never be put under pressure by public demand to appoint a leadership tribunal to look into the alleged misconduct in office by the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.  “The process is consultation. That is important given the seniority and importance of the high public office of the Prime Minister,” the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet said yesterday.  The former Chief Justice, who left the bench seven years ago to pursue a political career, was speaking to Post-Courier in an exclusive interview after the launch of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General’s first ever newsletter. He said the decision to appoint a tribunal was the sole responsibility of the Chief Justice and he must not give in to public demand as the decision needs a lot of consideration, as well as consultation with other judges before he could appoint the tribunal.  An appointment for the tribunal is pending because the Public Prosecutor made the request on the eve of court vacation. The vacation ended last Monday when the 2011 legal year resumed. Sir Michael stepped aside from office after the request was made but recently resumed office and he is expected to step aside again when a tribunal is appointed again.  Sir Arnold also raised two other issues that surrounded the issue of the appointment of a tribunal in relation to office holders which are currently being discussed. “Firstly, a misunderstanding that the Public Prosecutor requested the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal that didn’t automatically resort to suspend the Prime Minister. And secondly, it is the decision of the tribunal as to whether the Prime Minister should be suspended from office,” he said yesterday.

 

Powerful message of forgiveness

The National Editorial - Friday, February 11, 2011

AMID the gloom, doom, despair and no hope regarding the vicious circle of ethnic violence in Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea has come a breath of fresh air.
It has taken the life of former Kumul rugby league star Aquila Emil to bring this message across to the people of this country.
Emil was gunned down outside the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby last Friday with the alleged killer now in remand at Bomana jail.
In just about every town or city, even the rural areas, this would have sparked another round of ethnic violence as Emil’s people went on the warpath against relatives of the alleged killer.
There would be more people killed, more houses burned down and more lives shattered in the aftermath.
However, in Aquila’s case, his family has forgiven the alleged killer and opted to let justice take its course, to let God himself be the judge.
It is quite ironic that in life, Emil touched the nation with his rugby leagues finesse and now, after death, he continues to touch the nation with a powerful message of peace.
His grieving family told The National yesterday that they held no animosity against his alleged killer and would let God himself pass judgment.
Emil’s elder sister Margaret Worri said they were from a Christian, God-fearing family from Umbukul village on New Hanover, New Ireland, and forgave Emil’s killer.
She said this was the way their late father, a United church pastor, raised them up to be and he would have wanted it this way.
“We will forgive and let God himself be the judge,” Worri said.
“We come from a humble, Christian family and we were brought up in a loving way.
“We will maintain that.
“I know that if dad was here, he would say the same thing.
“Aquila had loved his children, for his brothers and sisters.
“He is gone but his legacy will live on.
“He did not die for nothing.
“Aquila was a peace-maker.
“He was not a violent person.”
Emil, 43, is survived by his wife Marieta and five children Jr Aquila, 23; Vavine, 20; Martha, 16; Rupa Penias, 12; and 10-year-old Tau Vaitas.
His widow remembers him as the perfect father.
“I love him so much,” she said as she fought back tears.
“He was a good father.
“He never beat up the children or argued with me.
“He always cooked for us.”
Two months this year and, already, innocent men, women and children are being needlessly affected by the wave of ethnic violence sweeping this country.
A new year, a new decade, but there seems to be no respite from this evil in a country which we like to preach of as “Christian”.
Aquila, through his violent death, has begged us to differ.
It goes without saying that had he been from one of the more-volatile areas of the country, renowned for payback killing, that would already be the order of the day.
The livewire from Umbukul electrified the Lloyd Robson oval starting in 1988 onwards for Port Moresby Brothers.
In 1993, during the World Sevens in Sydney, Port Moresby Vipers, captained by Emil, Wests’ magician Tuksy Karu at pivot and players par-excellence such as fullback Philip Boge, Mark Agi and Daroa Ben-Moide demolished highly-fancied NRL teams and shocked and entertained the rugby league world.
They proved critics wrong and made it all the way to the finals.
The same boys were part of the best-ever Kumul side that nearly caused the upset of the century when they almost beat the seemingly-invincible Australian Kangaroos in Townsville in 1991.
The Kumuls were eventually beaten 34-14, but it was the best-ever result for the Kumuls, considering it was not the usual cricket scorelines we have today.
The halves combination of No.6 Karu and No.7 Emil demolished the Australian combination of Laurie Daley and Allan Langer, while Hanuabada fullback Boge blew Michael Hancock off the paddock with a solid tackle which saw him carried out on a stretcher.
Emil’s life was taken in a moment of madness last Friday; however, the memories will never die.
And, the most-touching thing is that his wife and family have forgiven the alleged killer, saying God himself will be the judge.
At this sad moment, as the nation turns its lonely eyes to Emil, let this be a powerful message for peace in our land

 

New Zealand to build fresh food market in Port Moresby

By MALUM NALU
New Zealand is exploring the potential for a fresh produce wholesale market in Port Moresby, due to the increased demand for fresh fruit and vegetables from workers involved in the liquefied natural gas pipeline project.

New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand being taken around Goroka market by FPDA production and supply manager Robert Lutulule in Sept 2009.-Picture by MALUM NALU

New Zealand high commissioner to Papua New Guinea Marion Cranshaw said this at a traditional hangi (earth oven) picnic at the New Zealand High Commission at Waigani last Sunday to mark Waitangi Day.
“Our government is looking to shift its aid programme into areas of economic development as well,” she said.
“We are looking at how we can reform our aid programme into economic areas.
“One of our proposals is putting up a wholesale food market in Port Moresby to improve access to market in Port Moresby for fruit and vegetable sellers.
“We are also looking at how we can assist in rural agricultural development, because while Papua New Guinea may make a lot of money from the big projects, agricultural development is important for development.”
New Zealand believes there is scope to see wider social benefits from a market, particularly for women.
In the future New Zealand will look to support other market infrastructure developments in PNG.
New Zealand already provides strong support to strengthen PNG's agricultural sector.
This includes support for:
• Fresh Produce Development Agency, which links farmers and consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Bris Kanda, which focuses on building commercially productive partnerships between rural communities and service providers in Morobe province; and
• A government extension programme to help rural farmers improve their agricultural and business skills.
Cranshaw believes that commercial relationships between both countries are the future.
Aid-wise, PNG is already the second-largest beneficiary of New Zealand aid to the tune of NZ$30 million (K57m) annually, after Solomon Islands.
“I think the future for New Zealand-Papua New Guinea relationships is in commercial relationships,” she said.
“I see that Papua New Guinea is a growing economy, with the ability to purchase New Zealand goods and services and that’s what’s starting to happen.
“New Zealand is still quite relatively small in the (PNG) market but we want to grow New Zealand’s place in the market.”
Cranshaw said a New Zealand trade mission would come to PNG in April to kick-start things.
“We’ll be looking at what other trade activities will follow that,” she said,
“New Zealand’s got good expertise in energy, some areas of infrastructure, engineering, and of course, food and beverages.
“In a way, I think New Zealand can help the development of Papua New Guinea by selling some of our expertise, because in that way, Papua New Guinea has the ownership of what they’re bringing.
“My focus on commercial engagement is not because it’s to New Zealand’s advantage, but it’s a way that we can help the development of Papua New Guinea and the ownership stays with Papua New Guinea.”

Finschhafen farming goes hi-tech

BY JAMES LARAKI of NARI
FINSCHHAFEN district in Morobe province will now be able plan for its district agricultural and natural resources development guided by computer-generated database tools.

Jimmy Maro (standing) guiding participants in using the desktop GIS tool at the Finschhafen Technical School, Gagidu station

This is possible after the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) conducted a training last week for district administration staff on the use of the geographic information systems (GIS) and the global positioning systems (GPS) tools.
These are spatial tools that provide useful information which can act as guides in the planning and development processes.
The week-long training was an initiative of local MP Theodore Zurenouc, who has a close working relationship with NARI to develop agriculture in his district.
More than 18 officers from various divisions in the district administration, including staff from Zurenouc’s electoral office, participated in the training.
NARI GIS specialist Jimmy Maro said the objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of the district administration in using GIS and GPS tools in rural agricultural planning and development for the district.
Maro said the tools were designed for gathering, analysing and managing spatial information (any object identified according to its location) such as topography, soils, rainfall, land use, population and services such as markets and roads which were useful in planning, particularly agriculture and rural development.
He said the training was also able to introduce to the participants the existing national databases: mapping agriculture systems project (MASP) and the PNG resource information systems (PNGRIS).
These databases contain information about PNG’s natural resources and smallholder agricultural systems.
The training involved formal introductory sessions on how the tools work and desktop mapping of roads, rivers, areas under agriculture, and projecting population in different parts of the district.
The participants were shown how to do land use assessments, for instance modelling the impact of possible natural disasters like floods or identifying suitable land for growing certain types of food and cash crops in the district.
Participants also had hands-on experience in handling the GPS receiver to gather locations such as plantations and villages.
The information generated was mapped and an inventory was created to add to existing information of the district in the national database.
Leka Stanley, on behalf of the participants, said the training was useful as they were able to gain useful knowledge for rural planning, particularly for agriculture and natural resource development and management.
He said equipped with the new skills and knowledge, they were looking forward to better manage and plan the district development effectively.
Stanley, who is also the electoral officer of the local MP, acknowledged NARI for facilitating the training and Zurenouc for his initiative and support.

Lae urban village takes up rice farming

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

An urban village in Papua New Guinea is the last place you will expect to find people growing rice.
You expect people from such villages to be getting their rice from the supermarket or village trade store.
Pat Newton from Wagang (Sipaia) village on the outskirts of Lae has decided to grow rice for his family consumption.

NARI officers and family members of Pat Newton discussing rice growing at Wagang village

Newton, a first-timer, is possibly the first to grow rice among the six Ahi villages of Yalu, Kamkumung, Hengali, Butibam, Yanga and Wagang.
He harvested his first crop last week.
Officers from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) rice and grain project were on hand to provide technical assistance in harvesting and processing of rice.
Newton and his family were provided useful tips on growing rice and advised of the steps in harvesting and processing to get good eating quality and maximum yield from their efforts.
It all started when a family friend brought some rice seeds and encouraged Newton to try them out on his field.
The seeds were brought from OSICA Technical School in East New Britain province, which his friend’s son attended.
With the encouragement of his friend, Newton planted a reasonably-sized field with assistance from family members.
He could not believe that rice could grow so well on his land.
The good performance of his first crop has motivated Newton and he has decided to plant a new field with seeds to come from the recent harvest.

Rice growing at Wagang

Newton said he decided to grow rice as prices in the supermarkets were high and his family could not afford.
He called on his fellow Ong clansmen of Wagang and the Ahi community in general to grow their own rice as the prices of processed rice was high at the supermarkets and would continue to rise.
“We have good, fertile land capable of growing good quality rice and there is no reason why we should wander off to the city supermarkets looking for rice,” Newton said.
“We can grow rice in our backyards and gardens for our own family consumption and I encourage everyone to follow my footsteps.”
He said his family was willing to share seeds and their knowledge with others in the village and surrounding communities that were willing to grow rice.

Dangerous drift away from Papua New Guinea must be halted

By JOHN PASQUARELLI in The Australian

 

WHEN Michael Somare's reign ends, Papua New Guinea urgently needs to change course to re-establish its place in the region and forge fresh, new links with Australia.

White paternalism and colonialism have disappeared in the rear-vision mirror of history, but no less a person than Somare once courageously said PNG had possibly been granted independence too soon.

Papua-New Guineans have a grassroots faith in acknowledging people who are "straight shooters", and they are rightly suspicious of flatterers - black, white, whoever they may be - from the UN, ANU or the UPNG, or even naive MPs from Australia.

PNG at its independence in 1975 stood at the crossroads but took the wrong turn.

The opportunity to rise quickly out of the ranks of the Third World was lost when tribalism and inexperience conspired to create an environment of lawlessness, coupled with the failure of public health and education systems.

 Much of the then huge mineral and oil wealth was squandered, as was the opportunity to become one of the world's major tourist destinations.

But PNG has incredibly been granted a second chance that will require the co-operation of all concerned to reset the country's compass.

The country has huge new reserves of wealth, ranging from the Hidden Valley gold bonanza near Wau-Bulolo to the Frieda River copper and gold prospect in the Sepik District.

Exxon-Mobil is proceeding with its gas and oil pipelines, which will double PNG's GDP in 2014 when exports to Asia commence, with an expected life of 30 years.

Ok Tedi is still producing and moves are under way to reopen the huge copper and gold mine at Bougainville, which ground to a halt when the civil war erupted in 1990.

Since then, copper prices have quadrupled and gold is through the roof at $US1400 an ounce.

With proper management, plantations of exotic timbers can redress the PNG logging rorts of the past, the oceans can continue to produce, aquaculture has huge potential and tourism is still there like a sleeping giant.

Many Australians still have strong connections with PNG, but both governments have drifted apart in recent years and this dangerous separation must be halted.

It is very embarrassing that there is not one Australian federal MP who has any real, in-depth understanding of PNG apart from the odd junket.

An Australian government should set up a taskforce, taking advice from those expats who still have much to offer, before beginning negotiations with PNG, ensuring that such a venture does not end up being just another bureaucratic bludge.

The emphasis must be on Australia offering training and mentoring for future police and army officers, right through all levels of the public service, health and education, and then establishing partnerships with successful Australian companies to train young Papua New Guineans in the trades and the specialist skills required in the mining and construction industries.

Australia must extend the hand of friendship - and let's hope it is enthusiastically grasped by PNG.

BSP eyes hi-tech Eftpos payment

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

BANK South Pacific is preparing to roll out a new product that will give convenience and safety to customers, The National reports.

This will be made possible through the use of a new wireless technology

through the gadget called electronic fund transfer at point of sale (Eftpos) or “point of pay” terminal.

Already in use in some centres in the Pacific, the new concept is faster and easier to secure.

It is expected to be operational later this year.

BSP chief executive Ian Clyne yesterday said this Eftpos machine would be more advanced in that customers could pay for their shopping and also make deposits.

He said at the moment, this wireless concept was being trialed, and was  successful, in Fiji.

Now, it is here in PNG where a team of experts are working to get it connected to all BSP branches and agencies nationwide.

Clyne said a wireless Eftpos machine costs US$750 (K1,969), which BSP would be bringing specially for the rural areas through its BSP  rural programme.

The programme is community-oriented in which communities were to take ownership of , and be responsible for, the upkeep and safety of the agency whilst getting services from it.

Clyne said the focus this year would be on 90% of retail mass market customers who would be encouraged to bank with ATMs and Eftpos machines and to only visit main branches for loan applications and creation of new accounts, among many others.

He said the use of modern telecommunication advances such as cell phones would allow BSP to harness the wireless Eftpos, which was one of the many services BSP was introducing this year through retail banking.

BSP was also looking at using cell phones to make payments which would allow greater access to rural communities to basic payment and banking services.

BSP today has more than 2,900 Eftpos machines in the country and would be increasing the units to 6,000 in a few years time.

BSP Fiji would be increasing from 120 to 1,500 and BSP Solomon Islands would go from one to 100.

Clyne said the cost of all these new services and improvements would be substantial.

He stressed that this was an investment they were making in the name of service to Papua New Guinean society.

 

 

Police begin election planning

POLICE will begin planning for next year’s general election next week, acting Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations Fred Yakasa said yesterday, The National reports.

He said an election planning conference, focusing on police election requirements and budget, had been scheduled for Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, from next Wednesday through Friday.

Yakasa said careful and advance planning was vital in ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure 2012 general election.

Pre-election operations were expected to start in April with police visiting potential problem areas, gathering intelligence and conducting general election security awareness.

The police operations chief said from these, a final election security operations plan would be drafted and prepared for execution.

“The plan will include a detailed budget submission to the government for pre-election security operations and the election proper,” he said.

Yakasa said the final plan would include the mobilisation of all resources required for the elections next year.

Individual provincial police commanders were tasked to develop their own election security plans during the commissioner’s annual conference in Lae last year.

They were told to take stock of their resources including manpower, collect intelligence and conduct major pre-election operations.

“Each commander is expected to provide an assessment of what they require per division per province for a peaceful, free and fair election next year,” Yakasa said.

He stressed that all planning should be completed this year.

Yakasa also warned rogue police personnel to improve on their performance and maintain discipline.

He said the Royal PNG Constabulary had set its focus on improving discipline and the fight against crime in all four regional centres, improving security at major resource project sites, reviving and adequately resourcing the police highway patrol unit, improving community policing and police welfare issues.

“The police management is also devising plans and monitoring devises to apprise individual members of the force,” Yakasa said.

He said these measures were necessary because internal investigations had revealed that some policemen had not made any arrests in their entire career while others had not even prosecuted a case.

“Under the new monitoring system, each member will have a daily, weekly and monthly quota of arrests to make and will also be required to prosecute their cases in court.

“Disciplinary actions will be taken against those who do not perform to expected standards, including termination,” Yakasa said.

“It is time for us to earn our wages and provide the policing service the people of PNG deserve.”

 

 

Iamo condemns Deloitte's report

By JAYSON GIMA WURI and FREDDY MOU

 

THE Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) secretary Dr Wari Iamo has condemned an email circulation that was leaked out this week regarding the second report from Deloitte, an international consultancy firm, The National reports.

The report alleged that DEC had misused donor funds deposited into its biodiversity trust fund and compliance with procedures was “at a very low level”.

The report further claimed that 73% of the spending from the trust fund in 2008, the year of its audit, was for “unauthorised purposes”.

It said K223, 000 from the biodiversity trust fund, used for advances to DEC staff in 2007 and 2008, was completely unaccounted for (including K9, 000 for overseas travel).

The report also stated that no bank reconciliations for the Biodiversity Trust Fund had been done for the previous seven months and all the reconciliations for the previous year, used incorrect opening balances.

“There were no monthly reports made by DEC to the Department of Finance on any DEC trust accounts, despite it being a statutory requirement,” stated the report circulating through emails.

However, Iamo said that he commissioned the report in 2008 as a component of the institutional reform process developed through the DEC new strategic directions.

“The report was not done as a requirement of any donor or government initiative, it was an internal report.”

He said the purpose of the report was to

determine whether financial management systems within the department needed to be improved.

Iamo said he was managing the transition of the department to a statutory authority which would allow the development of competitive remuneration and the recruitment of suitably qualified persons to the finance area.

Meanwhile, Bulolo MP Sam Basil described the department as untrusted and called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to sack Minister for Environment and Conservation Benny Allan and the secretary following the report.

“The recent visit and statements made by the minister and his secretary after visiting Hidden Valley has proven to us that their position has been compromised; so if they can be branded as untrustworthy and irresponsible by a reputable accounting firm, then it is to the best interest of all Papua New Guineans that they be sacked immediately by the prime minister without delay,” Basil said.

Community-based advocacy group ACT NOW! had also called on Allan to investigate claims of financial mismanagement and misuse of trust funds as stated in the Deloitte report in his department.

“The minister needs to tell the people of Papua New Guinea what he is doing about these serious allegations,” ACT NOW! programme manager Efferey Dademo said.

“The government is calling on the international community to give billions of kina for deforestation measures, yet the evidence suggests DEC cannot be trusted with donor funds.”

Southern Highlands villagers murder policeman

Corpse dumped into Kagul River

 

By DAVID TERRY of police media

 

A YOUNG policeman was murdered and his body thrown into the fast-flowing Kagul River in Kaupena along the border of Western Highlands and Southern Highlands at about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, The National reports.

Police confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old probationary constable Isaac Mambi, from Katiloma village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was attacked by more than 50 knife-wielding tribesmen who mutilated his body and threw it into the river.

Another policeman, identified as James Wali from Kopiago, also in Southern Highlands, escaped with axe wounds. A police high-powered A2 rifle was stolen.

LNG operations officer Snr Insp Michael Tilae said four policemen and five security guards, manning the checkpoint at the Paunda power plant, were alerted by informants of bootleggers trying to smuggle liquor into Southern Highlands by crossing the river on foot.

The policemen and security guards went to investigate by trekking downstream.

When they confronted the suspects, villagers numbering more than 50 gathered around them and one threw a snake at Mambi, which startled him.

Police witnesses at the site said when he tried to brush away the snake, he was attacked and his weapon retrieved.

His colleagues fired warning shots but the assailants continued to attack Mambi with knives, before throwing his corpse into the river.

Police reinforcements went to Kaupena yesterday morning and arrested four people including the driver and crew of a vehicle suspected of smuggling the liquor.

Police investigations are continuing.

 

 

A tribute to Aquila Emil

By MALUM NALU

A couple of hours before his fatal shooting, former Kumul rugby league superstar Aquila Emil held his elder daughter, Vavine, 20, and they both wept.

A memorial banner for Aquila Emil which was made by his former rugby league team mates

Father and daughter had not been on talking terms for some time, but as God would have it, they finally made peace just before his time on earth was through.
Tomorrow never came, as Emil had his life so tragically cut short, and Vavine must now face this world without him.
Emil’s elder sister, Margaret Worri, remembers that all of last week, he had been with her.

Sister Margaret Worri

“That’s the thing that haunts me so much,” she tells me at Emil’s haus krai (house of mourning) today.
“It was more or less a reconciliation time with his children.
“On the Thursday (Feb 3) before he was killed, he drove here to our house and said he was hungry.
“He asked me about my children, and even offered to pay school fees for his nephews and nieces.
“I said my children were fine.
“He then asked me to go with him.
“He asked me to do him a favor.
“He said he had not been talking with his daughter.
“He asked me to go and talk with his daughter.”
Brother and sister drove to DHL, where the daughter Vavine worked, and after much coaxing by her aunt, the reluctant daughter agreed to talk with her father.
“They hugged and cried,” Worri recalls.
“I told her not to be hard on her dad.
“I told her to appreciate dad and thank God.”
Emil dropped off his sister at her home, where she gave him K50, and he drove off into the sunset.
“At 3am on Friday (Feb 4), they called me and told me that he was at the emergency ward,” Worri adds as tears start rolling.
“We went to the emergency ward and there was blood all over.
“I could not believe what I saw.
“Doctors and nurses were trying to resuscitate him.
“His heart was still beating, but then, he took his last breath and closed his eyes.
“I found it hard to cry.
“I touched him all over and then I broke down.
“The saddest thing is that he spent his last couple of days with me.
“He had love for his children, for his brothers and sisters.
“He is gone but his legacy will live on.
“He did not die for nothing.
“Aquila was a peace-maker.
“He was not a violent person.”
Dad is also not coming home again to Jr Aquila, 23, a student at IBS; Martha, 16, in Grade 8 at Babaka Primary School; Rupa Penias, 12, in Grade 7 at Babaka; and Tau Vaitas, 10, in Grade 5 at Babaka.
More so, his soul mate, his beautiful wife, Marieta, from Babaka village outside Port Moresby, who still cannot get over the initial shock of his killing.

Widow Marieta Emil and eldest son Jr Aquila

“I love him so much,” she says as she fights back tears.
“He was a good father.
“He never beat up the children or argued with me.
“He always cooked for us.”
Emil was born in April 1967 on the idyllic island village of Umbukul, New Hanover, New Ireland province, the fifth in a family of five boys and four girls.
Their father was a devout Christian and pastor of the United Church, who passed away last year, while the mother passed away some 20 years ago.
“Aquila was known as Temerem, a village name,” Worri remembers.
“His other nickname in the village was Gurumasi.
“Out of all my brothers, he was probably the shortest.
“He was exactly like our dad.
“I saw that dad loved him more than us.
“He had a special place in his heart for the little man.
“Aquila was a great cook.
“Aquila and I were so close; however, we were also the worst of enemies
“It happened that he gave me a black eye once over a plate of rice.”
Younger brother, Albert, says he learnt so many things such as spearing and diving for fish from Emil.
“I learned so many things from him,” he says,
“Whatever I was supposed to learn from dad, he taught me.”
Emil did Grades 1-6 at Umbul Primary School, Grades 7-10 at Utu High School in Kavieng, and in 1983 went to Malaguna Technical College in Rabaul where he studied printing.
After Malaguna, he came to Port Moresby, signed up with the PNG Defence Force and had a short stint along the PNG-Indonesia border, before returning to Port Moresby and rugby league stardom.
The livewire “little man” from New Ireland electrified the Lloyd Robson Oval starting from 1988 onwards for Port Moresby Brothers.
Those were the halcyon days of club football in PNG as the artful dodger strutted his stuff for Brothers against legendary teams such as Kone Tigers, Paga Panthers, Magani, Wests, Tarangau, Defence and the likes.
I was a fresh-faced cadet reporter out of university, at Niugini Nius with the inimitable sports team of Jack Metta and Ronald Bulum, and Emil gave us some of the greatest live shows that PNG has ever seen, that we often ran out of superlatives to describe him.
Later, after Niugini Nius closed, I teamed up with Post-Courier and The National and covered many games around the country with Emil starring for Port Moresby Vipers in the inter-city rugby league competition and also international games for the Kumuls.
In 1993, during the World Sevens in Sydney, Vipers, captained by Emil, Wests’ magician Tuksy Karu at pivot, and players par-excellence such as fullback Philip Boge, Mark Agi and Daroa Ben-Moide demolished highly-fancied NRL teams and shocked and entertained the rugby league world.
They proved all critics wrong and made it all the way to the finals.
The same boys were part of the best-ever Kumul side that nearly caused the upset of the century when they almost beat the seemingly-invincible Australian Kangaroos in Townsville in 1991.
The Kumuls were eventually beaten 34-14, but it was the best-ever result for the Kumuls, considering it was not the usual cricket scorelines we have today.
The halves combination of No. 6 Karu and No. 7 Emil demolished the Australian combination of Laurie Daley and Allan Langer, while Hanuabada fullback Philip Boge blew Michael Hancock off the paddock with a solid tackle which saw him carried out on a stretcher.
Emil’s life was taken in a moment of madness last Friday; however, the memories will never die.
And the most-touching thing is that his wife and family have forgiven the alleged killer, saying God himself will be the judge.
“We will forgive and let God himself be the judge,” Worri says.
“We come from a humble, Christian family and we were brought up in a loving way.
“We will maintain that.
“I know that if dad was here, he would say the same thing.”

Relatives displaying the memorial banner at the haus krai today

Digicel becomes major sponsor of PNG's premier rugby league tournament

The newly titled Digicel Cup tournament will provide rugby league in PNG with a major boost, following the announcement of a new partnership with PNG-NRL, which sees Digicel become title and major sponsor of the country’s premier semi-professional rugby league tournament.

The significant sponsorship investment by Digicel will include the provision of communication services to the tournament organiser and teams as well as a major marketing and promotional campaign, which will help to take the country’s favourite rugby league tournament to a new level. 

Digicel is committed to supporting the PNG-NRL’s stated ambition of growing the footprint of the tournament and bringing in new teams and new host cities across the country.

The inaugural 2011 Digicel Cup will kick-off in early May and feature 10 teams, increasing from nine in 2009, playing 18 weeks of round robin action with five exciting games each weekend to look forward to.

The major PNG-NRL sponsorship sees Digicel become one of the country’s biggest investors in rugby league. 

Digicel’s unrivaled nationwide network offers mobile coverage in all seven cities and surrounding areas that will feature in the 2011 Digicel Cup

Digicel PNG CEO, John Mangos said: “Digicel is passionate about the development of sport in PNG and rugby League is the sport of the people.

“As PNG’s leading mobile service provider, there is a natural fit for us with the country’s premier national tournament which engages with hundreds of thousands of fans right across the country.

“We look forward to working in partnership with PNG-NRL board and the participating franchise teams to support their ambition to grow this wonderful tournament further and make provide even bigger and better league action.”

Don Fox, chairman of the board of PNG-NRL, welcomed Digicel as the tournament’s new title sponsor.

“Digicel’s sponsorship is fantastic news for the tournament, for the franchise teams and for all rugby league fans across country.

“The inaugural Digicel Cup, which will see 10 teams compete for the country’s most-coveted title looks set to be even more exciting than ever. 

“Digicel will be very welcome partners on our board and we look forward to their assistance and support over the next few years.”

PNGNRL bid gets on Broncos' shorts

PAPUA New Guinea, through its PNGNRL Bid team, will fork out more than K700, 000 as a minor sponsor for Brisbane Broncos in the upcoming NRL season, The National reports.

The move had expanded PNG’s horizons and, seemingly, its chances of success by opting to go into partnership with the glamour NRL club in a deal that would see the government-backed pro-ject effectively buy advertising space on the Broncos uniform (shorts).

Newly-elected Broncos chief executive Paul White, along with the club’s development manager Marty Roven and general manager of commercial operations Terry Reader, flew into Port Moresby yesterday to finalise a shorts sponsorship deal with the PNGNRL bid team worth about A$250,000 (K700,000) a season.

The visitors were holding talks with PNGNRL Bid board members Powes Parkop (NCD governor) and Philemon Embel (Sports Minister) over the deal.

The package, when confirmed, would see the country’s NRL bid aspirations use the famous Broncos club as a springboard to better name recognition in Australia’s NRL market.

“We are using Broncos as a medium to promote the bid and, at the same time, learn from them how to promote PNG-NRL franchise in preparation for the NRL expansion exercise,” Parkop said.

“The PNGNRL Bid team needs necessary skills on how to run a franchise, and could not go past Brisbane.”

But the new development had come at a cost with the preemptive resignations of the bid’s strategic adviser Paul Broughton and general manager Beverly Broughton.

The husband-and-wife team called it quits after what they described was a “conflict of interest” situation where Paul’s concurrent position as an executive of the Gold Coast Titans franchise had placed him in direct opposition to the proposal.

Broughton claimed the deal was put together at his back and he did not favour a marketing drive for NRL inclusion over funding for player, coaching and infrastructure development.

“Once I found out that the negotiations were going on, I immediately resigned because it was a conflict of interest because of my role with the Titans,” Broughton said.

 “(The Broncos) have made a commercial decision and they are going to be paid money for doing it.

“But, I could never do it against my own club.

“(The PNG bid team) knew I did not favour that type of progress to enable them to secure a licence.”

Sources within the bid team, however, have countered Broughton’s assertions, saying he had been aware of the impending deal months in advance and was also a part of the planning process which agreed that branding would play an essential role in marketing the country’s bid.

Funding for the shorts’ deal would come from the K20 million allocated by the national government to the PNGNRL Bid team. It was meant for the team to work with partners to secure a licence for the PNG team in the world toughest rugby league competition in Australia.

The National has been informed that the deal had been signed but was yet to reach the NRL commercial and marketing division for registration. NRL director of commercial and marketing Paul Kind could not be reached for comments.

However, a sports administrator in the country has described the move by the bid team as hypocritical and shallow.

He said the bid had yet to show one tangible result for all the monies poured into the project (see back page).

He said the Broncos joining forces with the PNG bid team could harm the chances of the consortium rallying for a second club in the city.

Former Broncos backer Craig Davison was behind a bid for a second Brisbane team to enter the NRL if the incoming independent commission to run rugby league decided to expand the competition.

The PNGNRL Bid logo would make its first appearance on the Broncos’ shorts when they play their opening trial of the pre-season against Gold Coast at Wynnum on Saturday night.

The Broncos were yesterday adamant the commercial association had no connection to the bid for a rival Brisbane team headed by Davison.

“This deal has been in the pipeline for nine months but we are on our way there as we still have to finalise some details,” White said in a statement.

“It will be an exciting partnership for both parties.

“For the Broncos, it will be a formal link into the one country in the world where rugby league is the national sport. And, it will also provide a link for Papua

New Guineans and their favourite team, the Brisbane Broncos.”

The group behind a potential second Brisbane club would hold its official launch at Suncorp Stadium on Feb 21, unveiling ambassadors and sponsors.

 

 

Brand scheme key to rich New Zealand market

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

PAPUA New Guinea is among six Pacific Island nations to join in an economic venture targeting the New Zealand  market through a branding concept called “true Pacific” (TP), The National reports.

The brand was a development project of the Pacific Co-operation Foundation (PCF) and the NZ government to help Pacific economies grow by helping them export their products under this concept.

The “TP” brand would focus on fresh produce, shelf-stable foods and spa and natural beauty products that countries like PNG, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Cook Islands could export to NZ under the TP brand.

This was revealed at a TP stakeholder feedback meeting on Monday in Port Moresby hosted by PFC and Investment promotion Authority. 

The meeting aimed to gather feedback from stakeholders regarding TP quality assurance programme and to provide updates.

The Pacific quality mark has been established to help raise consumer awareness of quality products of Pacific origin.

PCF auditor Kevin Budd said the concept of supplying the NZ market began in 2008 and that the foundation was now finalising the policy before launching in June this year.

He said so far, more than 40 enterprises had indicated interest in participating in this programme and that he was optimistic that more would join before the launching.

International standards form the basis of the guidelines and specifications that had been developed within the code of practice which the enterprises would need to meet in order to be registered and use the TP quality mark.

PCF is working closely with the IPA to target PNG’s export sector.

Budd, who visited three of the participating countries, was meeting with the IPA and stakeholders to discuss how PNG could be part of this and what   needed to be done to be registered.

 

 

Revenue boost for OTML

MINING giant Ok Tedi Mining Ltd has posted its financial statements ending the fourth quarter of last year with K5.1 billion in full year sales revenue – an increase of 27% from 2009 – reflecting higher copper and gold prices, The National reports.

The financial report stated that the full year copper concentrate shipments were 9% higher than 2009 with no river constraints.

The export shipments of copper-gold concentrates were 24% higher in the fourth quarter (168,731 tonnes) than in the third quarter with 136,228 tonnes.

This result was mainly impacted by lower head grades of copper (2%) and gold (6%), and also by the 16-day industrial action taken by union workers in April that resulted in a 9% lower mill throughput.

Total gold production of 15.6 tonnes was 6% below the 2009 production rate; however, OTML remained within the top three of PNG’s gold producers.

OTML also realised for this period that the average copper price was US$3.68 (K9.65) per pound, compared to US$2.44 (K6.40) in 2009.

The report said net cash generated before dividends was up by 96% compared to the previous year, mainly due to higher metal prices and volumes shipped.

Dividends paid were K1.687 million which included K1.387 million for the benefit of PNG interests.

OTML payment of mining royalties were 40% higher than 2009, with the Fly River government and the mine area landowners each receiving K46.8 million.

The mining company had also paid out a total of K920 million in taxes last year.

The report stated that the state was finalising feedback on the detailed mine closure plan submitted in December 2009 and advised OTML that a response would be given this month.

The Inmet share buy-back is expected to be completed by the end of last month with OTML buying back Inmet’s 18% shareholding for a lump sum payment of US$335 million and cancel the shares.

Serpent ‘guards’ naked constable

Policeman Kami lost in Tari jungles for 52 hours

A policeman and a health worker watching over First Const Mathew Kami at his hospital bed in Tari, Southern Highlands, after he was found huddled up under a tree naked with a large snake at his side in thick jungles between Tari and Benaria. – Picture courtesy of police media unit

A POLICEMAN, who disappeared for 52 hours, was found naked but alive with a coiled serpent as his guardian deep in the jungles of Upele between Tari Gap and Benaria in Southern Highlands, The National reports.
The police media unit reported last night that First Const Mathew Kami was among a police contingent sent to the area in pursuit of criminals operating in the Ambua Ranges who, allegedly, raped five women and robbed travellers last Sunday.
Kami got separated in the jungle and did not rejoin his group.
He was found at around 3pm yesterday by four villagers, who carried the policeman for more than five hours in a stretcher made from tree branches and vines.
Kami was carried through thick jungle and across rapid river torrents before reaching Ambua where police were camping.
The 32-year-old policeman from Tambunum village, East Sepik, was last night reportedly exhausted and recovering at the Tari Hospital.
The bizarre twist in this tale, police pointed out, was that locals, who rescued the policeman, said they found Kami lying next to a large snake completely naked and incoherent.
They also found his weapon, a high-powered police-issued A2 rifle, by his side and had returned it to police in Tari.
When interviewd by police, the four villagers said the snake coiled itself close to where Kami was lying but slithered away when the rescuers recited a prayer.
Policemen engaged in the search and rescue operation were mystified because Upele was too far and separated by at least four fast-flowing rivers. It would take about five hours to walk between Upele and Ambua.
Police said their colleague appeared weak and delirious when he was taken to the Tari Hospital at 10 o’clock last night and was placed in intensive care.
Kami’s wife and three children were informed on Monday night and arrangements had been made for them to travel to Tari to be with him.
Medical superintendent of Tari Hospital Dr Hamiye Hewali said Kami would continue to receive fluids in drips until he regained his strength.
The doctor said blood tests would also be taken to examine the presence of any foreign substance and, depending on the outcome of the tests, appropriate medication would be prescribed for the patient.
Policemen who took Kami to the hospital said he lived on wild taro and fern leaves during his 52-hour ordeal.
Commander of Operation Paijele Haminye acting Chief Supt David Manning thanked the villagers for saving Kami’s life and said investigations would be conducted into the matter.
Locals said according to traditional beliefs, spirits guarding the forests did not accept foreigners.

Yasause denied bail, transferred to Bomana

By JACOB POK

Dr Theo Yasause...now remanded in custody at Bomana jail

FORMER executive director of the office of climate change, Dr Theo Yasause, appeared briefly before the Waigani Committal Court yesterday charged with the wilful murder of former PNG rugby league star and junior rugby league development officer, Aquila Emil, The National reports.
Yasause appeared exhausted and was taken to the court house from police custody where he had been detained the previous night after he was charged and denied bail.
Yasause, 43, from Bukinera village in East Sepik’s West Yangoru, was charged with wilful murder under section 299(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
He appeared without a lawyer before magistrate Rosi Johnson, who, after reading the charges, adjourned the matter to March 8 for further hearing, allowing Yasause to make bail applications at the National Court pending the next appearance.
Yasause had denied shooting Emil at close range outside a nightclub in NCD last Friday.
NCD-Central Assistant Commissioner of Police Fred Sheekiot said during interview, Yasause denied shooting Emil and further denied being in possession of a firearm on the morning of Friday, Feb 4.
Despite his denial, police detectives arrested and charged Yasause based on their own investigations and evidence, Sheekiot said.
“The suspect is formally arrested and charged with the wilful murder of Emil and will appear for mention in court today (yesterday),” Sheekiot said.
According to Sheekiot, police were also considering another charge against Yasause for “being in possession of an illegal firearm” once all investigations were completed.
While exiting the courtroom yesterday, the doctorate holder was caught by surprise by waiting media personnel who flashed their cameras while he tried to cover his face using his hat to avoid the cameras.
He was escorted by a police prosecutor to a waiting police vehicle and was taken away.
A police report tendered in court by prosecutor Judith Tom reconstructed the scene of the killing last Friday morning.
Emil was shot with a handgun as he got out of his car near the National AIDS Council office in front of one other person. A taxi driver transported Emil’s body to the hospital.
Emil was pronounced death on arrival at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
The murder weapon was not produced.

Dr Theo Yasause charged with murder of Aquila Emil

Sydney Morning Herald

A former chief of staff to the Papua New Guinea prime minister has been charged with murdering a PNG rugby league legend.
Dr Theo Yasause, part of the highly connected East Sepik political elite, has been charged with the wilful murder of Aquila Emil, Port Moresby Metropolitan Police Commander Joseph Tondop told AAP on Tuesday.
Emil, 44, who played for PNG's national rugby league side the Kumuls, was shot dead in his car near the Lamana night club in Port Moresby early on Friday.
Mr Tondop said Yasause was arrested after he went to the police on Monday afternoon.
"Dr Theo was arrested then charged with one count of wilful murder.
"He is expected to be in court today (Tuesday) to apply for bail and make a plea," he said.
Mr Tondop said Yasause spent the night in custody in a Port Moresby police cell.
Emil was shot with a pistol at close range about 3am local time on Friday following an argument outside the club where both Emil and Yasause had spent the evening.
PNG's Post Courier reports an argument started when their cars collided outside the club.
A woman who was with Emil witnessed the incident.
On Monday, former Newcastle Knights rugby league player, now PNG national selector, Arnold Krewanty said Emil's death was a massive loss for PNG.
"We played footy together and he was a mate and comrade and we both were working on getting a PNG side into the NRL," Mr Krewanty said.
"Aquila had a lot to offer PNG, especially helping the schoolboy rugby league in the capital.
"Rugby league won't get another like this, he gave so much back to the game," he said.
Yasause was chief of staff to Prime Minister Michael Somare in 2007 and 2008 before becoming head of PNG's office of climate change.
He was suspended from this position in 2009 after numerous scandals and allegations of corruption.

Treasurer hits back at K112million claim

FINANCE and Treasury Minister Peter O’Neill has brushed aside claims by National Planning secretary Joseph Lelang that a total of K112 million was paid out to shore up government support in the face of a vote of no-confidence against the Somare government, The National reports.

He described the comments as “misleading and irresponsible”.

Lelang, in an alleged letter to Minister Paul Tiensten last Dec 6, stated that political directives were issued to the department to honour certain government commitments in 2010.

He claimed the department was advised to find money and make necessary payments irrespective of its source.

Lelang stated that on Aug 12 last year, the department was directed by O’Neill, who was Public Service Minister and acting Treasurer, at Havana Club in the presence of Tiensten and Patrick Pruaitch, to release K51 million from the development budget to shore up coalition numbers in view of an impending vote of no-confidence expected last November.

He claimed another K33 million was raised, upon direction by Tiensten and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, for presentation at the inauguration of the proposed Hela province in Southern Highlands.

Lelang said in the letter that from political direction, a total of K28 million was paid to 14 provincial governors when, in fact, the governors were entitled to only K1 million under the provincial service improvement programme; which meant each governor was paid an extra K1 million or an extra K14 million collectively.

He also claimed that a total of K98 million was dished out on unbudgeted projects following directions from the minister for finance and treasury and the prime minister’s office.

Funds were allegedly drawn from the district service improvement programme (DSIP), business development grants (BDG) and infrastructure development grants (IDG).

O’Neill, however, said he was disappointed that a person holding a senior position in the public service would make media statements that were not based on facts, were outrageous and damaging to the government.

He said the government had done its best to fund all projects submitted by MPs, depending on the availability of funds and irrespective of which side on the floor of parliament they sit.

“The projects listed in the news story are some of the projects identified under Resi (rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure), district and provincial roads, health programmes and growth centre projects which are appropriated in the 2010 budget.

“The government did not push these projects to MPs to buy their support. That is not true.

“Many of these projects came direct from the districts and were submitted to Lelang and the Department of National Planning. But, they were sitting there because of Lelang’s long absence from office, and his inability to deal with them in a timely manner.

“It became very frustrating, and that is why he was given directions to deal with the projects.

“At no time was he told or directed to breach the Public Finance Management Act. If he did, he chose to do so on his own accord and he should be dealt with.”

O’Neill said for the projects identified, cheques were written to the appropriate district treasury accounts with instructions that normal procurement processes and public accounting requirements be followed.

He said no cheques were written to any member of parliament.

“As secretary of national planning, it is Lelang’s responsibility to identify and fund projects, monitor and ensure they are implemented.

“He has failed in his duty and is attempting to pass the buck.”

O’Neill said Lelang was stepping away from his responsibilities and making political statements, breaching his employment conditions, and using false and misleading information to attack the government.

He said an independent audit would be done on the implementation of the 2010 development budget.