National Alliance power play angers United Resources Party leader

 

SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru yesterday blasted National Alliance party members as a bunch of power-hungry players who are disrespectful of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, The National reports.

"Sir Michael, the father of the nation, is in his sick bed recovering from a complicated operation and, here, we have members of the ruling party who are highly disrespectful of him.

"They will stop at nothing to grab power and are making a play for it already. It is very un-Melanesian," Agiru said in a statement.

Agiru, founder of United Resources Party (URP), spoke out after the Post-Courier ran a front-page article yesterday, titled "NA leadership decided today" which suggested certain members of NA were pushing to take over leadership of NA while Sir Michael was on medical leave in Singapore.

He said it was Sir Michael's leadership and charisma that pulled together the coalition that had delivered the government to NA for two terms.

"These NA leaders must realise that it was Sir Michael who pulled together the coalition that has been in government for nine years.

"It is not them or their party. None of them have the magnetic pull that the grand chief possesses and is admired throughout the country for.

"That is why it is highly disrespectful of them to try to topple him while he is in his sick bed recovering," Agiru said.

"We gave the mandate to Sir Michael to lead the country, not NA. These leaders must realise this.

"The grand chief is going through the toughest challenge of his life, and the least you will expect is a tussle for power by the boys. 

"We, smaller parties in the coalition, are disappointed and are watching."

Agiru's URP is the second largest group in the coalition government after NA.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters Francis Potape said certain paragraphs in the Post-Courier report were misleading and sensationalised.

"How did acting Prime Minister Sam Abal marginalised the members and their parties?

"Abal has not made any appointments," he said.

Locals close Kutubu

 

KUTUBU landowners protesting against the state over their benefits have shut down some facilities, stalling progress on the liquefied natural gas project in Southern Highlands, The National reports.

The landowners had shut the gates to Moro Airport, Angogo Ridge, access road and Mubi valve facilities at 6am yesterday.

The landowner leaders said the central production facility (CPF) that pumps oil to the Kumul terminal in the Gulf of Papua would be shut down this morning.

Fasu landowner leaders Kossy Sosoro, Keith Puara, Peter Heno and Foe leader Hami Yawari told a joint media conference the facilities "will remain shut until the state honours its outstanding commitments under the Kutubu petroleum development agreement".

The leaders said the Kutubu project started production in 1990.

"We signed (the agreement) because we understand that we will get the MoA funds and special support grants. But, this has not been honoured by the state since 1990 with more than K5 billion outstanding in MoA and SSG commitments."

Puara, a leader from Sisiba village that owns the Agogo facility, said the people had been patient for a long time and had never damaged project facilities.

"What we are doing today is for our rights and it is a peaceful shutdown," he said.

Kossy Sosoro, who heads the Moro Airport landowners, said the government had set precedence by paying K16 million to Hides 4 landowners to allow for LNG work and "must do the same for Kutubu".

Chief landowner of the central production facility Peter Heno said: "I warn the state and Oil Search Ltd not to intimidate and harass my people because this is a peaceful protest.

"We want our money."

Oil Search Ltd late yesterday issued a statement that there were a number of threats by landowner groups to disrupt oil operations because of their frustrations with the state over a number of alleged unfulfilled commitments, including the release of memorandum of agreement (MoA) funds and the review of the petroleum development licence 2 agreement.

"Oil Search Ltd will take all necessary action to protect its people and property and continue to undertake our lawful business within our licence areas," it said.

"Oil Search has obtained an order from the National Court, restraining any trespassing on its licence areas, as all the issues raised by the landowner groups relate only to outstanding state commitments and not actions or commitments by Oil Search."

The developer said it had been working tirelessly with landowner leaders to understand their grievances and facilitate their communication with the state, "notwithstanding that all these issues are external to Oil Search".

"As a member of this community, Oil Search always welcomes constructive dialogue with project area landowners and appreciates the manner in which this is being conducted, but impacts on operations are unacceptable.

"Following threats to government to shut oil operations, crowds have gathered around the Moro Airfield, the Agogo processing facility and the Moran oilfield."

All ExxonMobil, Oil Search and contractor-owned vehicles had been grounded and field work and business activities had stopped.

O’Neill:All districts will get DSIP funds

ALL electorates in the country will receive their district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds after this parliamentary session, Treasurer and Minister for Finance Peter O'Neill said yesterday, The National reports.

O'Neill gave the assurance after the member for Finschhafen, Theo Zurenuoc, asked during question time why his electorate did not receive last year's DSIP of K2 million.

He wanted to know when the government would pay his electorate its outstanding DSIP funds.

Zurenuoc accused the government of nepotism in the distribution of the funds.

O'Neill said the National Alliance-led government had not discriminated against any member of parliament or any district.

He said all the 89 districts had received their part of the funds over the past four years and the remaining funds would be paid soon.

He said K20 million had been paid over the past four years with the balance of K4 million each owed to the districts.

O'Neill said the government was committed and, wherever a district received a shortfall, it was its responsibility to top up the funds because the government wanted vital services to reach all the people, isolated or not.

"There is no division and separation between where you sit on the floor of parliament and where I sit," he said.

He said it was the government's intention to provide services to all people throughout the nation regardless of their location or their member's political affiliation.

O'Neill said the onus was on respective open members and members of their district budget planning and priorities committee to implement and use the funds to improve the lives of the people.

Committed MPs will have Resi funds, says Marape

MEMBERS of Parliament who show initiative and commitment will be given priority in the K70 million rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure funding, Education Minister James Marape told parliament yesterday, The National reports.

Marape said the K70 million "funding allocated by the government in this year's budget is too thin to spread over all schools throughout the country".

He said submissions made by individual schools exceeded K70 million.

"The submissions are in the vicinity of K10 million a school and if we give that amount only seven schools will benefit because what we have in hand is quite small," he said.

Marape said the best way forward "is that the Education Department has to come up with criteria for major impact on the K70 million which for this year will be targeting high schools".

"To ensure we achieve maximum benefit, we have set criteria for the Education Department to use in disbursing funds."

He said members of parliament who showed initiative in using their district service improvement programme funds to fund education programmes "will have a good chance of getting Resi funds".

"These are members of parliament who are willing to spend the DSIP funds, those who show interest and partnership with their counterpart funding will be given priority."

He said the other criteria would be for districts that missed out on Resi funding in last year's budget to be considered.

 "The money is small and we will now be targeting high schools instead of spreading the money too thinly."

Marape was responding to questions without notice from Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald, who claimed he had used his DSIP funds totalling K3.5 million to build 20 teacher's houses in schools in his electorate.

Mald said with Resi funding assistance, he expected to build 50 teachers houses in his five-year term as MP.

 

IT provider urges 50% drop in rates

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

 

INTERNET rates in PNG need to be dropped by 50% from its current price to give easy and convenient access to people, managing director of Data Nets Ltd Sundar Ramamurthy said, The National reports.

Ramamurthy said this at the emerging technologies information seminar at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday with the theme "enabling emerging technologies to assist business".

He said the main challenge in accessing internet in PNG was capacity constraint and needed to have a high speed capacity for internet users.

Ramamurthy said new innovations such as the mobile broadband service like the recently launched Digicel's 3G broadband access was fantastic for the country.

He said so much excuse was put on high illiteracy as a hindrance to the expansion of internet services, "but if PNG wants to develop, we have to drop the internet price".

Ramamurthy said since the start of the company in 1993, it had grown immensely and had expanded its internet service to 30 towns in PNG apart from their main operating centres.

He added that he was also looking at expanding to other parts of the Pacific as this was one of his ambitions when he first started.

The seminar attracted some of the largest IT companies in the world such as Cisco Systems, NEC and American Power Conversion (APC) and the audience comprised of business houses, government departments, banks and NGOs.

The seminar topics were focused on giving an insight into the current and future technologies and how they were benefiting businesses in other parts of the world.

Ministers say Kapris lying

Highlights:

*Aimo: "Lord have mercy on his lying tongue"

*Pruaitch: "Flabbergasted and innocent of this saga"

*Marus: "Allow the rule of law to take its course"

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

MEMBERS of parliament named by convicted bank robber William Kapris in court have denied the accusations levelled against them, The National reports.

Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo said he forgave Kapris for the accusations and "pray that the Lord has mercy on his lying tongue".

In a personal explanation to parliament yesterday, Aimo said the Post-Courier headline was "misleading and not true".

"The court will not let itself be misled into believing a common convicted criminal," he said.

"But, that is the court's business. I stand respectful to the courts.

"As a leader, I know I am innocent. I still maintain my dignified innocence.

"I forgive this common convicted criminal, Kapris, for those false accusations and may the Lord have mercy on his lying tongue," Aimo said.

Aitape-Lumi MP and State Minister assisting the Prime Minister Patrick Pruaitch, in a follow-up personal explanation, categorically denied any involvement with the bank robber.

He said it was unbecoming of a criminal and newspapers to divert attention to seek sympathy from the courts.

Pruaitch apologised to the people of Aitape-Lumi and West Sepik for what he called "this unfortunate allegation".

"I am flabbergasted; I am totally innocent in this saga," Pruaitch said.

Earlier, acting Speaker and member for Talasea Francis Marus, in response to questions by new deputy opposition leader Sam Basil, said the matter was before the courts and he would not comment.

"We must allow the rule of law to take its course," Marus said.

Maprik MP and Commerce and Industry Minister Gabriel Kapris, angered by the same surname of the convicted criminal, said he had conducted his own investigations into his family in Kimbe, West New Britain, and found that "the name is Kapis and not Kapris".

"The convicted criminal is spelt as Kapis and not Kapris," the minister said.

Namah is leader of opposition

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE member for Vanimo-Green and PNG Party leader, Belden Namah, is the new opposition leader, The National reports.

He replaced Sir Mekere Morauta, who is Moresby Northwest MP.

Sir Mekere, a former prime minister and founder of PNG Party, declared Namah as the new opposition leader.

Member for Bulolo Sam Basil is deputy opposition leader.

Basil recently joined PNG Party after leaving People's Progress Party with Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

PNG Party comprised 11 members of parliament.

Other parties in opposition are New Generation with two MPs, People's Progress Party (3), Melanesian Liberal (2), PNG Labour Party (1) and two independents.

Sir Mekere said his decision to relinquish the leadership of the opposition "is occasioned by the changes to the make-up of the opposition and the leadership change in PNG Party".

He said he was proud to give young people the opportunity to rule.

Outgoing deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon said the time for him and Sir Mekere was over and that young, vibrant leaders should take over and lead.

"Today marks an end to the old guard and the beginning of a new guard to keep parliamentary democracy vibrant and alive to serve the interests of the 6.7 million people by keeping checks and balances on the government," he said.

"It is important to groom a young breed of leaders and to allow them to take an active role in leading."

Philemon said he had enjoyed the past four years helping Sir Mekere.

He said they would take the back stage and support their young vibrant and energetic leaders to take up the fight where they had left off.

Namah said he was challenged when the party, MPs and the parties in the opposition decided that he should lead.

He said the decision by Sir Mekere to hand over the party leadership was tough but an honourable thing to do.

He thanked the senior members of the opposition and the young leaders for having trust in his leadership.

Parliament set for 2pm restart

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PARLIAMENT resumes at 2pm today to clear a back-log of government agenda, leader of government business Paul Tiensten said yesterday., The National reports.

There will be a new-look opposition bench after Vanimo-Green MP and PNG Party leader Belden Namah was elected leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil as his deputy, taking over from Sir Mekere Morauta and Bart Philemon respectively.

Tiensten said parliament would sit for three weeks this month and three weeks each for the next three months to clear the backlog of notices.

He said new legislative amendments and bills would go before this session of parliament.

The Pomio MP and Minister for National Planning and District Development said the marathon session was to meet the 63-day per parliament calendar year requirement.

"There are legislations and bills that must be dealt with by parliament, including the outstanding women's bill to have nominated women representation, increasing the number of ministries from 28 to 31, legislations to effect the new Hela and Jiwaka provinces and amendments to the Organic Law to retain provincial governments after the elections next year."

Tiensten said there would be ministerial statements and debate on important issues of national interest.

This session will be free of any threats of a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

The law did not allow for votes of no-confidence 12 month before the issue of writs for the next general election.

The opposition was expected to touch on the K125 million Nasfund loan, the suspension of special agriculture and business lease, outstanding Taiwan deal, Singapore account and asylum issues.

Oil palm yields K5mil monthly for Oro growers

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MORE than K5 million is being paid to smallholder oil palm growers in Oro every month, a senior officer with Oil Palm Industry Corporation Popondetta revealed, The National reports.

Project manager Leo Ruki said more than 5,700 small block holders and 3,000 village smallholders receive about K1.5 million a week resulting in the increase of the cash flow in the province which has started to change the living standards of the people.

Ruki said oil palm was greatly assisting in the overall living standard of the people who needed the  government to assist by providing the necessary infrastructure.

He added oil palm in the province was a family business, where mothers and children collected loose nuts and the husbands harvested the main bunches.

Payment for their efforts are paid directly to their respective made accounts.

Ruki said the small growers were also entitled to Nasfund benefits and that was good news for growers in the province.

He said with the good turnover, more people were actively engaged in the industry and was one way the people had been kept busy.

Meanwhile, a Sohe leader Steven Kila Pat said the cash flow in the province was more than K5 million  a fortnight.

"Beside smallholder oil palm, other sources of cash flow from the province were from wages and royalties from timber operations, salaries, betelnut trade, tourism and fisheries so there could be almost K7 million cash floating in the province every  month," he said.

Former Oro governor Sylvanus Siembo, who accompanied Kila Pat for the Igora Primary School opening, said although there was so much cash in the province, government presence was absent with the lack of services.

He said infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools and other services had crumbled  after Cyclone Guba IN 2007.

Siembo said law and order also needed a boost and called on the political leaders  from the province to stay with the people and make changes so that more investors could be attracted to the province.

He said people were keen to work on their land but the government had to assist them, adding that agriculture was the way forward and the government should invest more in it. 

US firm goes in search of rare earths

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

THE mining industry is slowly moving away from traditional gold and copper mining with the onset of other mining companies looking into minerals such as nickel and cobalt (Ramu NiCo), molybdenum, rhenium (Yandera) and now rare earths by an American company called Geovic Mining Corporation, The National reports.

Rare earths are elements that are abundant in the earth's crust but because of their geochemical properties, they are typically dispersed and not often found in concentrated and economically exploitable forms, thus known as 'rare earth minerals'.

Geovic Mining Corp is one of few mining companies in the world that specialises in the exploration and extraction of these "elusive" minerals.

Speaking at the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) twilight hour session last week, Geovic founder William Bucko­vic, said that exploration of these minerals were different from gold and copper.

He said the minerals could be found anywhere but with highly specialised tools to help locate deposits.

However, it is the extraction of the minerals that is very expensive and difficult as the minerals can be found in places where it is economically impossible to extract.

Rare earths are used to produce mobile phones, jet carriers and stealth technology besides satellites, radar and sonar technology, batteries, lasers, portable X-ray machines and equipment used by military agencies.

Geovic Exploration geologist Erwin Schutfort said they came to PNG early this year in the hopes of exploring the geological terrain to see if PNG had deposits of rare earths.

So far, they had applied for and received an exploration licence for two years in Morobe.

Schutfort said the venture into non-traditional mining was a new thing for the country, as could be seen from other mines but was also to see if PNG could contribute to the global demand for these minerals.

Currently, China is the world's biggest producer of rare earths. However, the supply is slowly decreasing and Geovic is stepping in to see if PNG has the potential.

MRA managing director Kepas Wali said this was an exciting time for PNG and the mining industry because there were only a few rare earth countries in the world and this would diversify mining activities in the country.

He said if the exploration turned up positive, it should pave the way for more people to come to PNG in search of these very valuable minerals.

 

Soldiers raid and destroy gas station

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

TRUCKLOADS of fully armed soldiers from the Taurama barracks, in Port Moresby, last Saturday ransacked a service station, destroying property worth more than K5 million during a drunken brawl with civilians, The National reports.

An attempt at setting fire to the fuel station – which at the time had more than 80,000 litres of highly inflammable matter – failed.

Port Moresby police said yesterday the brawl started at East Boroko's Baret Club at around midday.

They said three PNG Defence Force soldiers had picked an argument with a member of the public and had chased him on foot towards Manu autoport service station at Korobosea.

He was caught by the three just before he reached the service station and was beaten up.

The fight spilled over to a betelnut market on the opposite side of the road when the man's relatives retaliated against the three soldiers.

Police said it was understood the three immediately returned to the barracks for reinforcements.

According to police, they were joined by 20 to 25 fully armed soldiers in battle gear riding on a Dyna truck and in a LandCruiser.

Police said as the troops arrived at the service station, they started firing their weapons, forcing people at the service station and the betelnut market to duck for cover and flee.

The soldiers then went on a rampage at the service station, smashing five fuel bowsers, looting the mini-mart and taking three days' takings of more than K108,000.

Service station operator and owner Reuben Kandiu put the estimated property damage and looted goods at more than K5 million.

He said his workers had not been involved in the fight and the destruction of his property and theft of goods and money were criminal offences.

Kandiu said the unauthorised discharge of firearms raised serious security concerns in the city.

"As a disciplined force, the incident should have been handled in an appropriate manner and reported to police," he said.

"I appeal to the PNGDF commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi and commanding officer-in-charge of Taurama to seriously address this type of behaviour as it was not the first time this has happened," he said.

Kandiu said the group of soldiers had tried to burn down the service station but luckily a worker had shut the main valve. 

"I had about 34,000 litres of petrol and 53,000 litres of diesel. If the place had been set on fire, it could have spelt disaster for the nearby business houses, homes and the hospital," he said.

The Taurama Barracks, about 5km east of the service station, is the home of the first Royal Pacific Infantry Battalion, where some of the country's finest fighting men are based.

Attempts to contact Taurama barracks were unsuccessful.

 

Abal: Invest here

Caption: Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal and Rimbunan Hijau Group executive chairman Tan Sri Sir Tiong Hiew King cutting the ribbon to officially open the Vision City Mega Mall last  Friday. Accompanying them are (from right) RH PNG managing director James Lau, Steven Rockefeller and RH PNG executive director Ivan Lu.

 

RH setting the trend with Vision City, says acting PM

 

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal has welcomed foreign investment but has called on these investors to ensure that they abide by the laws of Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

He made this call last Friday evening during the official opening of the state-of-the-art Vision City Mega Mall in NCD's Central Waigani.

The occasion coincided with the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Rimbunan Hijau Group's (RH) presence in PNG.

Abal congratulated RH's presence, saying that when PNG was going through the economic down-turn due to the world's economic recession, RH had faith in PNG and had stayed, investing and diversifying into all sectors of business venture.

He also acknowledged RH for providing employment to the people of PNG.

But most of all, RH had contributed to the economic and infrastructure development.

The Vision City Mega Mall was such an example, he added.

The acting PM described the Vision City Mega Mall as being "as good as any shopping mall in Cairns, Australia, or anywhere, for that matter".

Abal said: "Congratulation to RH for your day today; for the past 20 years of being here, congratulations, to you and all your hard working staff of RH."

The RH Group of companies executive chairman and executive director Tan Sri Sir Tiong Hiew King, who arrived in Port Moresby from Malaysia for the occasion, told guests at the official dinner marking the two occasions that the RH Group had to date provided employment for about 7,500 Papua New Guineans.

The RH Group has made significant economic contributions totalling K1.65 billion to date in the form of contributions, through and including payments of wages, salary tax, premiums and levies, royalties, export duties, corporate tax, NPF payments and infrastructure contributions.

Sir Tiong said new international hotel apartments and modern office space would also be part of Vision City but, most importantly, Vision City would provide employment and growth.

More than 5,000 people would be employed by the project, he said, adding that the mega mall would generate more than K200 million in economic activities annually.

"Vision City is a long-term investment that shows Rimbunan Hijau is committed to economic growth in PNG," Sir Tiong said.

During the unveiling of the plaque to mark the official opening, RH PNG Group managing director James Lau thanked the Sir Michael Somare-led government for providing the stability necessary to support these developments.

He particularly thanked Abal for his presence at the grand opening, saying: "This is a proud moment for PNG.

"Guided by the government of PM Sir Michael Somare, PNG has experienced strong investment and economic growth in recent years.

"Employment figures have been strong; investment from home and abroad is increasing.

"The government has provided the stability necessary to support these developments.

"Vision City represents an important milestone in our group's venture in the retail and property development industries in PNG.

"It is one of the most ambitious development projects in the South Pacific," he said, announcing that the new 18-storey international hotel, apartments and office space were being planned to be built soon.

"Once completed, Vision City is a sustainable business model that will provide employments growth," Lau said, adding it was a sign of continuing confidence in the government and RH would continue to conduct business and to deliver and to promote development and investment.

RH's involvement in PNG began with forestry for which it was a leader in the country; and later ventured into agriculture (oil palm), retail, property development, media and agriculture.

It is also involved in transport infrastructure such as roads and bridges.                                                                                

Old and new come together in Vision City Mega Mall grand opening

Caption: Fireworks light up Vision City Mega Mall at last Friday's grand opening

 

PEOPLE at the Vision City Mega Mall on the opening day on Friday may be excused for thinking they had entered a time warp.

 Outside in the car park they were greeted by the Ovia Group singsing troupe from Hisiu dancing with kundu drums and grass skirts.

Inside, were the colourfully-attired and painted Huli dancers of the Southern Highlands.

Then the visitors stood, many with dropped jaw, to find the mall's three-storey atrium darkened space lit up to pounding techno music and the eyeball- splitting spectacle of laser beams slicing through the air to list the range of business and services provided by the Rimbunan Hijau PNG.

They range from forestery, shipping, airline, computer, supermarket and the newspaper business.

Pay-week shoppers already crowding the mall in the afternoon were joined by more throngs wanting to be part of this milestone in Port Moresby's growth, the opening of a retail presence with floor space the area of four football fields, dwarfing many of the present shopping spots.

This, in the words of one of the people there, is "a city in itself", self-sufficient, with shops, a medical centre, supermarket, ATMs, phone service centres, pharmacy and restaurants.

And at long last, there will be a cinema, taking us across time again to a fond Port Moresby memory, of the Wards Cinema and Skyline Drive-in movie place of the 1960s, which closed when public safety became an issue.

This shiny new mega mall will be even more complete over the next decade, when Vision City adds on a hotel and residential apartments.

All this on ground previously a dusty wasteland, a stone's throw from Parliament and down the road from the abandoned infamous "pineapple building".

We have a ways to go, however.

Consider the big splotch of red betelnut spit spotted in the corner of the pristine main ground floor walkway last Friday night. 

Sympathy to the team of cleaners.

Someone at least has yet to be accustomed to the civic conscious "new age".

Papua New Guinea is “place to be” for investors

Caption:Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal unveils a plaque to commemorate the opening of Vision City Mega Mall as RH Executive Director Tan Sri Datuk Tiong Hiew King (right) and RH PNG Managing Director James Lau look on.-Picture by AURI EVA

 

By MALUM NALU

 

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal says Papua New Guinea has made a complete turnaround from previous years and is now "the place to be" for investors.

Abal said this when addressing guests at a dinner last night to celebrate the opening of Vision City Mega Mall as well as the 20^th anniversary of Rimbunan Hijau.

He had earlier unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the iconic Vision City Mega Mall owned by RH.

"Many things are happening in the country, thanks to the LNG," he said.

"We (government) have always been pro-investor and I think that will stay.

"We are looking at a turnaround of the country.

"We have grown from a minus 2% growth rate to 7-8% growth rate now.

"Good things are in store and Papua New Guinea is the place to be."

Abal said RH, unlike many other companies, didn't run away from the country.

"RH put trust in this country at a time when many others didn't," he said.

"PNG was not a good investment place but they stayed."

"I want to congratulate you (RH) and welcome investors in general."

Abal said PNG was blessed which resources which must be exploited for the benefit of the people.

"It's a blessing that PNG has all the resources it has," he said,

"It's important that these resources are exploited for the benefit of the people.

Opposition against Abal's actions

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal's decision for a Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL) and subsequent suspension of logging permits under such leases has come under scathing attack from the Opposition.

Leader of PNG Party, Belden Namah is leading the onslaught with more stiff opposition expected from the stakeholders throughout Papua New Guinea.

Namah said under SABL, private funds were invested to establish important sustainable agriculture and forestry projects providing employment and business opportunities for thousands of people in rural parts of the country, where the national government has failed miserably.

"Land owners have power to obtain SABL to develop resources in their customary land in the absence of government initiated agriculture projects," he said.

"Land owners and private investors have taken the initiative to invest their resources in agriculture projects with private sector investors because the government has failed in the agriculture sector.

"An indicative of this is the miserable failure of the Government's controversial National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP).

"Mr Abal has no power whatsoever to stop or suspend agriculture projects operating under SABL.

"Stakeholders must not listen to the current government.

"Unless there are specific court orders, businesses should continue as usual.

"National Government does not have the right.

"Landowners have the absolute right over the use of their land."

Namah warned the government to consider seriously the effects of such bad decisions on the livelihood of hundreds of thousands people and its ramifications.

As well, he said the government was sending wrong signals to the private sector and businesses that had made enormous sacrifices and contributions to PNG's agriculture industry.

"Agriculture has always been the livelihood of Papua New Guineans," Namah said.

"No Government or Prime Minister will stop that.

"I strongly discourage landowners through Lands Department not to sell any customary land to foreigners.

"We should encourage partnership with foreign investors instead."

Papua New Guinea a ‘star performer’ with 7.1% GDP growth

 

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

PAPUA New Guinea has been identified in a United Nation-sponsored survey to be the star performer among the Pacific Islands' economies with a 7.1% GDP growth last year, compared to 5.5% in 2009, The National reports.

The report titled "Asia-Pacific economies face fresh challenges to sustaining dynamic growth of 2010" , which was launched yesterday, was conducted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

It stated that PNG was one of three economies in the Asia-Pacific region to record improved GDP growth performance, with most of the other islands virtually stagnating.

UN resident coordinator Dr Bertrand Desmoulins, who presented the report to the Bank of PNG's acting governor Benny Popoitai, highlighted other results of the survey, including challenges the region would face this year.

With 8.8% growth last year, the economies of Asia-Pacific recovered strongly from the global financial crisis in 2008-09 but challenges facing them now include the return of the food and fuel price crises, sluggish recovery in the advanced economies and a deluge of short term capital flows leading to volatility in capital markets, asset bubbles and appreciating exchange rates.

The report stated that PNG's strong economic growth was a result of good higher commodity prices from strong demands of oil, gold, copper, coffee, cocoa and palm oil, and also from the LNG project.

It, however, warned of the high inflation rates that would occur.

Desmoulins said while overall, there was deceleration in inflation in some major Pacific Islands' developing economies, PNG recorded the highest inflation rate in this region at 6% last year.

The report further revealed that PNG was expected to lead the growth of the Pacific Islands' economies of 2.4% with an 8% growth this year, boosted by rising commodity prices and growth in domestic demand coupled with acceleration in investment in the LNG and several mining projects.

However, the resource boom needed to be well managed so that rapid economic expansion does not translate into continuously high inflation.

Desmoulins stated that the government was encouraged to translate the funds from the resource boom into social benefits, especially for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups.

The report identified that the ever-present challenge for the Pacific Island developing economies, including PNG, was to diversify their economies, having been seen now as the growth driver and anchor of stability of the global economy.

‘Inmates were forced out’

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

THE 90 escapees who were "forced to escape under the gun-barrel" from the Bui-Iebi prison in Mendi, Southern Highlands, by an armed gang in the early hours of Wednesday morning were believed to be heading in two separate directions, Correctional Services Commissioner Richard Sikani said, The National reports.

He said one group, allegedly led by Paul Rambo, a local from upper Mendi and the inmate who stole a police vehicle, was heading towards upper Mendi and further towards Tari, Koroba, Margarima and Kutubu in the Hela region.

He said the other group was led by Peter Hena from Pangia, who was jailed for murder, and was heading towards the eastern end of Mendi, aiming for Kagua, Pangia and Mt Hagen.

Sikani said the group led by Rambo were suspected to be keeping all the arms and ammunition that had been stolen from the CS armoury in Bui-Iebi.

A source from Bui-Iebi jail said the CS jail commander, Felix Namane, and PPC Teddy Tei went on-air on radio at 7pm on Wednesday to appeal to the people of Mendi and Southern Highlands not to harbour these criminals and to report them to police.

Supt Tei gave a seven-day ultimatum to the gang to return all the stolen weapons and for the escapees to voluntarily surrender to police and CS officers.

Sikani said no escapees had been recaptured except the one who was picked up by his men and police near Kiburu Lodge Junction in Mendi.

He said no arms had been recovered thus far and he appealed to the community leaders to help recover the weapons.

He said around 60 men were engaged in the recapture operation, with 15 men from the local CS command and 40 officers from the Mendi riot police.

A source said Highway Patrol 17 of Kaupena, in Ialibu, had been notified of the escape and were monitoring the highway along Western Highlands-Southern Highlands border at Kaupena.

The source said the escapees were dangerous criminals and included men who were serving time for robbery and rape.

One of them was jailed for attempting to set fire to a company's helicopter.  

Price war on rice begins

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

DESPITE 19 brands of rice being available locally, the price of this staple has not fallen, the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission said, The National reports.

It said, instead, rice prices had risen in most urban and semi-urban households, which, in most cases, was rice supplied by Trukai Industries Ltd, the main distributor and miller.

An ICCC report stated that the declaration of Trukai's Roots Rice to be price-monitored was because that brand "is traditionally consumed by low to middle income earners and is currently the leading brand in the market".

"Any price changes would lead to price increases on other rice brands."

The report said the setup of other companies had not led to a fall in prices of the Trukai brand.

It said prices had increased to match the price imposed by Trukai.

ICCC commissioner and chief executive officer Dr Billy Manoka told the Ekonomics Society forum that the increasing competition in the rice market had not translated into falling retail prices for consumers in recent years.

He said the ICCC "is maintaining a vigilant eye for collusion among wholesalers and importers".

He said the ICCC moved away from direct price control to factory gate price monitoring of rice, flour and sugar in the mid-2000s as there was some sort of competition.

"However, competition does not appear to be working as we view that retail prices have continued to increase over recent years not withstanding falling factory gate prices for some of these products".

"The commission has commenced monitoring the wholesale and retail prices of all brands apart from the factory gate prices of the products that are milled in PNG," he said.

An online survey into 32 consumers' buying power revealed that despite being expensive, Trukai has always been the trusted brand for them (12/32) and they kept on buying it, preferring its taste and quality.

Nine respondents preferred the Trukai Jasmine rice because it is cheaper than the other Trukai brands and tasted better, offering a healthier choice to Roots Rice (8/32) while three chose to buy Brown Rice and other rice brands.

Showtime tomorrow as NARI celebrates 14th birthday

Caption: School children being shown analytical services provided by NARI at last year's innovation show.

 

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

 

The PNG National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) turned 14 years old on Monday.

Fourteen years on, NARI has been in the forefront, promoting and undertaking agricultural research for sustainable development.

The institute has made dedicated contribution to innovative agricultural development in the country through scientific research, knowledge creation and information exchange.

During this short period, the institute has been recognised nationally and internationally as the leading research organisation of high development relevance to Papua New Guinea.

To commemorate its 14^th anniversary, the institute is hosting an 'Agricultural Innovations Show' at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre, 10 Mile – Bubia, outside Lae, tomorrow.

Director-General Dr Raghunath Ghodake said the event was organised around the theme "Investing in Innovative Agriculture for Prosperity".

Dr Gohdake said the theme reaffirmed NARI's view that progress through innovative agricultural development was essential if PNG was to realise Vision 2050 and become a wealthy and prosperous nation.

"The nation has the need, great potential and vast opportunity to prosper through innovative agriculture, and hence the focus on investing in innovative agriculture," he said.

"The theme is in line with NARI's efforts in encouraging consistent investment in agriculture, particularly in research, to develop technologies and innovations which are crucial agents in innovative agriculture and rural development.

"With the economy projected to grow at 8.5 % and the LNG and other related projects coming on stream, PNG has a more favourable environment and opportunities now than ever before for all stakeholders to make positive contribution to innovative agricultural development in general, and to research, science and technology, in particular."

Since its inception in 2007, the agricultural innovations show has become a popular annual event to recognise and value the importance of innovations in agricultural development, and create and promote awareness on the significant role of research, science and technology in innovative agricultural and rural development.

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Paru Aihi will be the chief guest while the guest of honour will be Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.

On the occasion of the 14^th anniversary, Dr Ghodake acknowledged the invaluable support from the government of PNG, AusAID, European Union, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (AVIAR) and key collaborators and partners locally and abroad.

European Union project workshop at NARI

Caption: Participants of the workshop at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre – Bubia, outside Lae.

 

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

 

An inception workshop is underway this week at the National Agricultural Research Institute headquarters in Lae to develop and plan activities of a mega project to be implemented in three Western Pacific countries.

The European Union (EU) -supported project "Generation and adaptation of improved agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change-imposed risks to food production within vulnerable smallholder farming communities in Western Pacific countries" is implemented by NARI in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Solomon Islands, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Vanuatu and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) of Austria.

Action coordinator Dr Workneh Ayalew said the inception workshop indicated the start of the implementation phase of the project after it was officially launched in Port Moresby in March this year.

Dr Workneh said the objectives of the inception workshop were to: apprise participants of the planned project activities; canvas opinions of key stakeholders on the major activities and on selection of suitable target communities; and affirm list of activities to be undertaken during year one of the project.

Dr Worknew, who is also in charge of the livestock component of the project, said the workshop was expected to create common understanding among key stakeholders on the objectives, major activities and expected results of the project, and administrative arrangements.

"It also expected to collate background and baseline information about target communities and related actions," he added.

The project, which comes under the EU science and technology programme, is to mitigate climate change risks associated to food security and livelihoods for vulnerable smallholder farming communities in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

It is aimed at improving food production capacity of smallholder farming communities in the three countries, where climate change-induced problems are becoming significant threats to agricultural production and productivity.

The main focus of this project is to identify appropriate types of water technologies and alternative crops/crop varieties and livestock/livestock feeding systems to help sustain and improve food production under drought, excess precipitation and saline soil conditions.

The project, to be implemented over a five-year period, will cover 11 vulnerable sites in the three countries, covering about 100 households per site.

This will eventually lead to about 2.4 million smallholder crop-livestock mixed farmers.

More than 20 participants comprising representatives from the Delegation of EU to PNG, NARI, MAL, DARD, Boku, World Vision Pacific development group and community representatives are in attendance.

Similar workshops are planned to be held in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this month to start the implementation phase of the project in these countries.

Importance of training in food safety standards

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

Papua New Guinea needs to strengthen its efforts in promoting food safety standards and improving its level of compliance to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Like other developing countries, PNG is facing increased challenges due to globalisation and a competitive international environment and must work with relevant international bodies that govern international safety standards.

This was the message given to participants attending a training program on the quality management system auditors and basic tools for food safety.

The training is the first of its kind and has attracted participants from various organisations from the private and government sectors.

In a speech delivered on behalf of Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the director for science and technology branch, Ian Onaga, said as PNG geared up for trade liberalisation, it needed to adjust to cope and respond proactively to challenges of globalisation and follow suitable trade protocols.

Onaga said PNG must work together with relevant organisations to strengthen the multicultural trading system that must ensure fairness and equity.

The setting up of internationally recognised food safety systems is a sure way of ensuring fairness and equity in trade, in addition to securing better recognition.

PNG is a member of various international agencies and has an obligation to undertake the necessary steps for monitoring and ensuring compliance for the safety of its people.

"It is very important to strengthen PNG's capacity to be more competent in the field of quality and safety. For safeguarding on the long term environment and health of consumers, government must develop a participatory approach to compliance."

Onaga said the training would help to ensure that PNG could benefit within the importing and exporting channels, and boost the capability to access and control the possible risks to the environment and human health situations.

Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide safety food and ascertain quality of food.

The training, which will run from May 2-13, has been made possible under the K11 million EU-funded project "Trade Related Assistance" (EU-TRAP) to PNG, supervised by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and implemented by the Trade Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Under component 2, the two-week training is being facilitated and managed by the newly set- up Agrofood Safety and Codex PNG Unit within DAL.

This unit, located in the science and technology branch, has been one of the main beneficiaries of the EU-TRAP assistance since 2009.

Ian Erskine, an international certified trainer and facilitator from ACI Global company, based in Australia who has vast knowledge, skills and experience in the field of quality management systems auditing and food safety aspects of the entire food chain, has been engaged to conduct the training in PNG.

Most of the participants are in one way or another responsible for addressing the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance issues in the country in an attempt to promote trade facilitation and protect the health of consumers.

EU-TRAP management and DAL hope that after this intensive training, PNG will benefit tremendously once the trainees apply their new knowledge and skills to promote SPS compliance issues.

Weekly coffee market report for Papua New Guinea

Please lick to enlarge

Greens leader vows to probe undersea mining

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, said he will push for an Australian senate inquiry into the impact of the world's first undersea mining operated by Nautilus Minerals for its Solwara 1 project in the Bismarck Sea, The National reports.

Brown had just left Port Moresby after attending PNG Greens Party launch in Madang, where he met with Environment Minister Benny Allan and representatives of the PNG Greens party.

Brown told Radio Australia upon his return home early this week that he was worried about the environmental impact of the Solwara 1 gold and copper project on PNG's north coast, the world's first deep sea mine.

Brown said the project was using new robot technologies to mine the sea floor.

"This is something that's going to, if it works there, and Singaporean vessels are currently involved in experimenting with that, extend to oceans elsewhere around the world and of course, the dumping from the process metals there is going to be left on the sea floor as well.

"It's a very, very worrying direction for mining to be taking," he said.

The deep sea mining project is set to begin production in 2013 following the official contract signing between the company and the state's nominee, Petromin Holdings, in March to finalise details to start work.

The project is said to set the benchmark as the world's first deep sea mining project with capital investment of about US$387 million, which is almost K1 billion in the 20 years of its lifespan.

Nautilus' exploration results have shown that there are high grade mineralised copper deposits 1,600m below sea level and extending to a maximum depth of 52m below the seafloor.

The exploration and drilling results show that the site is expected to produce around 800,000 tonnes of copper and up to 200,000 ounces of gold a year.

It is speculated that the project begins a new factor in the mining industry with the start of the first deep sea mining project.

Petromin, who owns 30% of the project will be meeting the costs on its own strengths while Nautilus, as the operator will put up 70%.

 

Chan: Free press means democracy

 

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

MEDIA freedom comes with great responsibility to be honest and fair in reports and to call attention when democracy is failing, Sir Julius Chan says, The National reports.

Speaking at Media Freedom Day celebrations in Port Moresby yesterday, the New Ireland governor challenged a gathering of media practitioners, partners and University of Papua New Guinea journalism students to use the free press to preserve democracy.

"For democracy to continue to flourish, we must promote freedom of the press," Sir Julius said.

"You must use that power to constantly insist that the government and its institutions, particularly the people's parliament that abysmally fails in its constitutional responsibilities, must fulfil its obligation to operate in open, transparent and accountable ways."

Sir Julius said the power of a free press "is to create and sustain democracy, freedom, respect and the God-given right to dignity for all human beings".

"But, on the other hand, it is an equally great responsibility. With your voice, there is the possibility of abuse of power.

"You must never become a tool of special interests or a particular political party or ideology.

"You must avoid slander, rumour, and unsubstantiated accusations and ensure the protection of the rights of people," he said.

Sir Julius said the twin challenges of power and responsibility of a free press had not led to the abuse of its power as the media had tried to act responsibly in serving the people.

He said since independence, the country had experienced and adhered to forms of democracy, progress and development that "did not actually achieve the substance of change in moving the country forward".

"This is where the free press needs to step in to make people aware of the failures and help in doing a better job.

"Let me say, at the onset, that I have taken some responsibility. I have been in positions of power. I have led this country. I have been several times finance minister and I freely acknowledge that on my watch, as on the watch of others who have led this country, our people have not really moved forward.

"This is not idle rhetoric. We need to open our eyes and the press, above all others, has the power to open our eyes. And, if we open our eyes, what do we see?" he asked.