Passam riot

National high school to close for an indefinite period

 

By GABRIEL FITO

 

A GROUP of Grade 12 students at Passam National High School went on a rampage setting fire to three buildings and looting school property, police said, The National reports.

The school in East Sepik faces closure after the administration block and ration store were destroyed early yesterday morning.

Fire to the female students' dormitory was put out by staff and other students.

Wewak police said last night 10 suspects were in police custody and would be questioned over the fire and looting.

Sources said the school would close for an indefinite period after losing all its records and valuables in the fire.

The burning down of the two buildings brings to seven the total number of buildings destroyed by arsonists since 2000.

Wewak police responded hours later after receiving a distress call from Passam late Saturday night and arrested the 10 suspects, all Grade 12 students, who were believed to be among 20 others who went on a rampage earlier in the night, breaking into offices, looting computers and other valuables and attempting to set fire to the dormitory.

Eyewitnesses said that the suspects, armed with the deadly wire catapult, scared off staff and students before continuing to destroy school property until after midday when they set the two buildings on fire.

They said they watched helplessly as the buildings went up in flames while the armed suspects prevented anyone from salvaging any item.

Eyewitnesses said the suspects took advantage on the unavailability of police to ensure everything was burnt to ground before they fled into the bushes.

The angry landowners mobilised with police to track down the suspects yesterday while the staff recalled all students to the school hall for a head count to see who was missing.

School principal Theresa Dingu declined to comment, saying officers at the Department of Education would release information on the incident.

However, sources said the suspects were students who were either suspended or reprimanded by the school on disciplinary issues.

Former governing council chairman, Leo Kabilo confirmed that some of the students, who were now in custody, faced the council last year and were reprimanded for indecent behaviour.

Sources said the school was waiting for instructions from Port Moresby.

Deputy landowner chairman John Sambukoi condemned the burning down of the buildings, saying it was not related to the land compensation issue that the landowners were negotiating with the government.

Digicel Cup Round 7 Results

Mioks 14 bt Isapea 10

Lahanis 36 bt Tigers 6

Muruks 12 v Warriors 12

Vipers 20 by Eagles 12

Gurias 28 bt Wigmen 18

 

Question without notice by Sir Mekere Morauta on the Independent Public Business Corporation

Mr. Speaker, I direct my question to the Minister for State Enterprises.

 

Minister,

 

It is usual in the conduct of public finance that taxes due and payable to the state are initially received into Consolidated Revenue by the Treasury or Finance Department.  The expenditure requirements of government departments and agencies to implement approved government programs are then allocated through the annual budgetary processes.  This is the model practised widely throughout the world.

 

The principal reason for this practice is to allow governments to ensure that fiscal policy is in harmony with monetary policy, together promoting a sustainable macroeconomic framework and stability. By allowing other agencies to independently collect revenue and expend, the government weakens the sharpness of fiscal policy.  In addition, the government loses control over the revenue and expenditure of agencies. 

 

The Somare Government has departed from this widely accepted model and developed a uniquely NA variation where Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC), under your personal control, receives dividends payable to the state for the government’s shares in commercial enterprises such as the Bank of South Pacific, Oil Search, Be Mobile, Telikom, Air Niugini, PNG Power, PNG Ports, etc.

 

People’s money, public money, due and payable to the state, in hundreds of millions of Kina have been paid to and received by IPBC in the last few years.  

 

My questions are:

 

1. What public finance management justification can you give to explain the Somare Government’s variation to the accepted model?

 

2. A small portion of the money received by IPBC has been passed on to the Treasury.  Can you outline the dividend policy agreed between Treasury and IPBC in determining how much of this money should flow to Consolidated Revenue?

 

For example, on 14^th July last year you were both the Treasurer and the Minister for State Enterprises.  You could hardly present a cheque publicly to yourself, so the Prime Minister stood in for you as Treasurer to receive a cheque for K36.5 million from you as Minister for State Enterprises, as dividend from IPBC to the state.

 

Five days earlier, on 9^th July 2010, IPBC was paid a dividend of K42.8 million for its shares in the Bank of South Pacific.

 

3. What reason can you give for only 85% of the 2010 BSP dividend being passed on to Treasury?

 

4. Can you tell us what IPBC has done with the remaining K6.34 million received from BSP?

 

5. Who vets the expenditure of the monies kept by IPBC?

 

6. Can you tell us what the total dividends paid to IPBC have been in the past 3 years, detailed by enterprise?

 

7. Can you tell the people of Papua New Guinea what the expenditure of IPBC has been in the past 3 years?

 

On handing over the cheque to your father last July, you said that the sum of money reflected how well state enterprises were performing under your stewardship.  You neglected to tell the public that ALL of the money you handed over came from one source, the Bank of South Pacific.  I can assure the nation that it is not you, Minister, who can take credit for BSP’s profitability.

 

My final question is this:

 

8. Why is it that the model that has been adopted for IPBC is unique to IPBC?  Why does the Department of Mining for example not receive and retain the taxes and dividends from OTML, Barrick Gold or Lihir Gold Limited, decide itself what it wants to spend, and decide itself if it will hand over any remaining funds to Treasury?  What is so special about IPBC that it should determine its own expenditure and how much of the revenue it receives it will pass on to the rightful owners of that revenue, the people of Papua New Guinea?

 

The questions I ask are of great importance, given that IPBC will receive over 12 billion kina of people’s dividend income from the LNG project.  Under your model, IPBC will have sole control over this money, without being subject to government budgetary processes.

 

Mekere Morauta KCMG MP

Member for Moresby North-West

Cop: Organised crime suspected

Non-Papua New Guineans involved in killing, says Yakasa

 

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

THE shooting to death of a Malaysian businessman in Port Moresby on Wednesday afternoon has the hallmarks of a syndicate-type killing, police operations chief Fred Yakasa said yesterday, The National reports.

Condemning the killing of Wong Tee Tee, the general manager of Tango Trading, Yakasa said police had every reason to believe the shooting was well-planned and premeditated.

"We have reasons to believe the killing was planned and organised by non-Papua New Guineans," he said.

"We have reasons to believe that this is an assassination due to the manner in which the shooting was carried out.

 "It is similar in nature to the attempted murder of another Asian businessman and owner of J-Mart (Jason Tan) last year," he said.

"We don't know who the suspects are and the motive behind the shooting but we (police) will get to the bottom of this," Yakasa said.

Yakasa, who was one of the first persons to arrive at the scene of the shooting, said yesterday the killing "is similar in method to the Jason Tan attempted killing and is a new trend".

He said nothing was taken from Wong or removed from his vehicle when he died, saying his killers only aimed to take his life. 

Yakasa said Wong was shot between 3pm and 4pm on the Poreporena Freeway as he was driving from Hohola in his 4x4 Hilux Surf.

The first shots were fired at Wong while he was in the tunnel.

Yakasa said unidentified gunmen in a sedan (registration CAH 036) followed Wong and fired at him several times at close range with a bullet hitting his lung and causing his death.

Yakasa said Wong had lived and worked in PNG for more than 20 years and was well known to the Asian business community.

Police are now appealing to the public around the Hohola area and the city who may have any information about the killing to help them in their investigations.

Meanwhile, president of the Chinese Association in PNG Ni Cragnolini yesterday condemned the murder of Wong.

Cragnolini described Wong as a respectable business identity in PNG and did not deserve to be a victim of such heinous crimes.

She said: "Wong was a well known Chinese businessman and was well respected by many in the PNG Chinese community.

"This is such sad news for all those who knew him and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

"Any killing like this is a shock to all.  It brings bad publicity to the country and causes unnecessary unrest."

Cragnolini went on to condemn the brutal and senseless slaying and called on the police to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice.

In conclusion, Cragnolini called for peace and calm in the community. 

"Let the police do their job, be calm and let his family and friends grieve as they lay him to rest," she said.

Also, following questions from media personnel yesterday, Yakasa said: "We have reasons to believe the killing to have been planned and organised by non-Papua New Guineans.

"It is similar in nature to the attempted murder of another Asian businessman and owner of J-Mart but, in that incident, two Asians were involved and caught.

"One of them had been in the country for only a week and both did not speak English or Tok Pisin.

"I assume that there is some level of organised crime syndicate at play somewhere.

"We do not have the evidence to prove this at this point in time but I am confident we will in the near future," he said.

Yakasa said illegal guns were a major concern to police.

"While police have implemented a number of the recommendations within the PNG Guns Control Report, it still requires the endorsement and support of parliament."

Four get loans from PNGWiB

THREE Papua New Guinean women entrepreneurs and one professional woman yesterday received more than K72,000 in sustainable loans from the PNG Women in Business (PNGWiB), The National reports.

Small business owners Rebecca Haibu and Josephine Paul Ambaen from New Life Group each applied for and successfully received K1,000 while Josephine Chapiu was loaned K700.

These three women were the first grassroots women entrepreneurs to receive loans.

The loan is to assist the women with enough cash for their business.

The fourth, owner and managing director of Human Resource Business Solutions Linda Paru, was the first professional entrepreneur to receive a loan of K70,000 from PNGWiB.

PNG WiB president Janet Sape said the women had savings with the PNGWiB so they were eligible to apply for loans to further their businesses and support themselves and their families.

Sape said the payouts should be seen as an opening not just for grassroots women but also for professional women to come and apply for financial support.

She said PNGWiB, believed that women could do better and wanted them to have easy access to these funds as it was difficult to obtain loans from commercial banks.

Sape added that the financial training for women in Morobe was proving successful as many women now knew how to apply for loans.

She said these women were mostly illiterate, thus the training helped them understand how to plan and save their money.

The PNGWiB has so far loaned K107,400 to grassroots women in six months.

Parliament adjourns

PARLIAMENT was forced to adjourn on the second day of this session due to lack of quorum, The National reports.

Speaker Jeffery Nape, who walked into the chambers after the bells had rang for an hour starting at 10am, asked the clerk to count the numbers and suspended parliament to this morning.

The session time starts at 10 o'clock every morning but, as in the past, it normally starts an hour late.

Leader of government business Paul Tiensten has appealed to members of parliament to turn up and deal with important government business.

Tiensten made the call yesterday after parliament was adjourned.

Only 35 MPs turned up, two short of the 37 MPs required for a quorum for the session to go ahead.

The adjournment yesterday was not new as the last session failed to muster quorums for debate.

"It is unfortunate that the government had the numbers while most MPs were still doing other businesses outside the chambers when it was adjourned," Tiensten said.

The Pomio MP, who turned up straight after parliament adjourned, said that he was out of the chambers sorting out district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds with

the Office of Rural Development officers.

Tiensten said the ORD officers turned up at parliament when the session was to start at 10am.

"There are important ministerial statements and bills to go through this session of parliament and I call on all MPs to be present."

Bills that needed parliament support included enabling legislations for the Hela and Jiwaka provinces, the Women's Bill and electoral boundaries.

"Members of parliament are paid to represent their people and we should all make an effort to attend all sittings of parliament," Tiensten said.

 

 

Church head warns elders to stay silent

By PISAI GUMAR

 

THE Evangelical Lutheran church of Papua New Guinea head bishop Rev Giegere Wenge has warned elders not to make any comments regarding the dealings of laymen involved in making changes to Investment Promotion Authority records, The National reports.

He said it was a court matter and would be dealt with by the judiciary.

He said church elders should not go to the media as they would be in contempt.

"No press conferences or telephone interviews will be held to say or reveal anything to the press until such time we decide to," he said.

He also said that other matters regarding developments of the church can only be released by the church council.

Wenge issued the warning at the ELC-PNG council meeting yesterday after The National cited court files in 0S441 of 2010 which stated that Lutheran laymen had made changes to church business without the approval of the council.

Named in the files were church secretary Albert Tokave, finance secretary James Pena, German financial adviser Lothar Stock, Jabem district representatives Ben Woo and Titi Solomon for their part in the church's trust company, ELCPNG Nominees, and business arm Kambang Holdings.

They are being accused of misleading the church council while operating as board members of ELC­PNG Nominees "without lawful authority".

Article 13 of the nominees by-laws restricts all laymen, except district presidents, from being members of the trust company's board, the court files stated.

The news report stating the court files had shaken the church council with several district presidents from the Highlands saying the media had no right to interfere in church affairs.

But many Lutherans across the nation called The National saying that "truth and righteousness must prevail in the affairs of the church".

Yesterday a pastor who called tried to make comments supporting the five-laymen but he was told that his comments could not be reported and he may have to file an affidavit as the case was before the court.

Abal’s son in police custody

PORT Moresby detectives were last evening questioning the adopted son of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal at Boroko police station over the murder of an unidentified woman at the Abal residence grounds, The National reports.

Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie said detectives, acting on intelligence information, picked up Theo Abal yesterday morning at the Ponderosa Hotel in Port Moresby.

Police have named him as the prime suspect after he went into hiding following the discovery of the body.

While overseas media, including Radio Australia, were telling their audiences last night that Theo Abal was charged with wilful murder, Wagambie said he had not been informed.

He was also unable to confirm reports that the victim's throat had been slit and that the murder weapon – a knife – had been recovered by police.

The dead woman's identity also remained unknown.

Her body is at the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue and police called on relatives of missing women to come forward to identify her.

The arrest, and subsequent actions by police, related to the discovery of a woman's body on Monday morning inside the Abal residence grounds in Konedobu.

On the night, guards at the residence told police they had seen a man walk in hand-in-hand with a woman through the gate.

Later, they said they heard a woman scream.

Following the discovery of the body, the acting prime minister called the police commissioner and reported that there was a body inside his yard.

He told the commissioner, and later parliament, that he and his family would assist police in their investigations and anybody found responsible would face the full brunt of the law.

The opposition yesterday called on the acting prime minister to step down while investigations into the case was under way.

 

 

A new prime minister and a grand coalition

By REG RENAGI

 

Next week, Parliament resumes again for a further three weeks of more feisty debates on issues of national importance (we hope). 

 

Parliament was to sit for a marathon six-weeks session but the Speaker (and his deputy) decided our parliamentarians needed a fortnight recess. 

 

Our elected representatives seem to have an easy life. 

 

No wonder they feel over-pampered (and quite spoilt) at our expense. 

 

However, unfortunately their assessed output towards the overall net development outcomes since 2002 to the present time leaves a lot to be desired. 

 

So the public considers this half-year break to be quite excessive. 

 

But the media reported that the Speaker advised all and sundry that an adjournment at this stage was necessary for urgent repairs and maintenance work to be done to the parliament. 

 

Several millions to the order of some K20 million was also reportedly even set aside for this purpose. 

 

The opposition voiced its extreme disappointment but the media deduced that it was the usual standard procedure of the Speaker to shield the government from votes of no-confidence motions being moved against it. 

 

 This should not come as a great surprise to the opposition as it has been the usual delaying tactic used by the same man presiding over proceedings on the floor of parliament since 2002. 

 

But what’s very disappointing about this six-month break ordered by the Speaker was that there was no real physical evidence of any structural improvements in parliament to justify the long recess by MPs.

   

Notwithstanding, the two-week break should do them some good. 

 

After resting their minds properly, catching up on some outstanding projects back in their electorates, or more importantly; think hard about what issues they are going to seriously address that is affecting everyone.

 

When parliament resumes again, there will be many outstanding issues carried over from last year to be properly debated on the floor of parliament. 

 

It is hoped that all these issues will be seriously addressed by all MPs regardless of which side of the parliament they sit, and all decisions made will also be in PNG’s national interest.

 

While not pre-empting anything here, nevertheless; the people’s government must now critically address in this particular session of parliament the all-important issue of PNG’s leadership. 

 

The country has not had a proper leader for over two months that must be immediately corrected.

 

This is a matter that is now so crucially important at this very moment that our people and country cannot be denied a fit and competent leadership to be captain of our state-ship before the year’s end for obvious reasons. 

 

PNG must have a competent leadership that will give confidence to its people and all democratic institutions. 

 

I again foresee our able Parliamentary Opposition Party Leader, Belden Namah and his intrepid deputy, Sam Basil to bring the matter up again in the ‘House’ next Tuesday, for Acting PM, Sam Abal to evoke the provision of section 142, sub-section 5 (c) of the constitution. 

 

 The government must appoint a competent medical panel to accurately assess our PM’s true medical condition and determine whether he is 100% fit in all respects to be able to carry out the duties of his high office.

 

I hope the Speaker does not try to pull the same silly stunt as last time or he risk incurring the wrath of the Opposition, and may risk warranting a possible a vote of no-confidence being moved against the ‘chair’ itself.

 

With the prevailing health condition of our PM now and the current state of what is happening in government, the political environment in PNG is not good for the country’s leader to return to, and resume duties of his high office in a ‘business-as-usual’ fashion.

 

Hence, if the medical situation does warrant it and supported by a special medical panel’s recommendations, then the process of electing a new PM can then be taken by parliament on the floor – but must be done now and without delay.  

 

With due respect to parliament, it is now time for it to make a bold decision to have a competent and honest government to rule PNG from this point onwards. 

 

 For some time now, PNG is badly lacking here and must now have a visionary, transformational and honest government. 

 

As I wrote last week, the only way out of this leadership crisis PNG is in now is to immediately invite the Parliamentary Opposition party MPs and form a ‘government of national unity’. 

 

The Opposition is quiet unique at this stage because it has many quality MPs, including two former PMs that their presence is very much needed in a reformed government in 2011.

 

Some government MPs have had bad reports of being involved in serious allegations of bad leadership actions. 

 

These MPs must be immediately investigated with necessary corrective action taken against them. 

 

The government has so far not done anything to address these very serious allegations, thus, this cannot be allowed to continue hanging over their head for obvious reasons.

 

With a new,  fit and healthy PM elected by parliament and a revitalised ‘grand coalition’ in a ‘Government of National Unity’, PNG will be progressively transformed into a much better and stronger position than now to go into the elections next year. 

 

The end result for the people of PNG in 2011 will be a properly functioning parliament and government that will diligently serve our people better in a more highly responsive, and responsible manner than before.

 

I hope and pray that Acting PM, Sam Abal and Opposition Leader, Belden Namah start talking of bringing back stability and credibility into the government in 2011. 

 

The people will then look towards next year’s elections with confidence and hope for a better future.

 

Finally, I join my fellow Papua New Guineans and pray that PM Somare makes a speedy recovery and returns back safely to PNG with his family.

 

May God bless our Grand Chief.

SMEs get boost in new agreement

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

THE International Financial Council (IFC), the World Bank, and the Papua New Guinea government yesterday signed an agreement to establish a financial programme that will help improve access to credit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), The National reports.

The collaborative effort was aimed at assisting SMEs, the primary drivers for job creation, poverty reduction and econo­mic growth in PNG, which do not have much access to getting loans to expand their businesses.

World Bank country mana­ger Laura Bailey explained that the programme, which will take months to set up, concentrated on SMEs as they were a little known sector.

Currently, there are  financial institutions providing finance for the micro-level businesses.   

The programme, valued at K150 million, will also help mitigate the default risk that participating banks face by guaranteeing 50% of loans for SMEs.

Bailey said though Bank South Pacific, Papua New Guinea’s largest bank, was the programme’s first partner and it was hoped that when the programme was fully functioning, other banks would come on board.

IFC principal country officer Julia Brickell said SMEs were engines of job creation and growth, thus smaller enterprises made a special contribution, helping to diversify and strengthen local economies.

“They can create significant income opportunities for their workers, generate new tax re­venues for government services and given the right conditions, can grow into large thriving firms,” she said.

Department of Commerce and Industry secretary Stephan Mera, on behalf of the minister, said the department was aware of the role SMEs played  in wealth creation envisaged in Vision 2050.

“In doing so, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the government, we would like to express our sincere thanks to the World Bank and its subsidiaries, IFC and International Development Association for the support in developing this project,” he said.

Mera also said the risk sharing facility was not a grant by the government or the World Bank but a means to finance businesses through all partners to put into place delivery mechanism before the launching expected at the end of the year.

“Papua New Guineans must now stand up, take ownership of this programme and ensure that the mindset and attitudes of the SMEs are transformed into a systematic approach to conducting their individual business,” he said.

Abal's relative a prime suspect

Guard sees woman and man enter acting PM’s yard

 

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

THE prime suspect in the death of a woman at the Konedobu home of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal is still on the run, The National reports.

Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie yesterday said police had appealed to the man, believed to be Abal’s close relative, to turn himself in and help investigators with a possible murder inquiry.

In parliament yesterday, Abal also assured MPs that police had taken control of the investigation and he and his family would cooperate to ensure the law took its course.

Police have named the prime suspect but The National will not publish the name until he is charged.

Wagambie said that according to witnesses, the relative was the last person seen with the woman when  they entered the D’Albertis Street residence, hand in hand,between 5am and 5.30am on Monday.

A security guard, Willie Bola, had opened the gate for them and, some time later, found the woman’s body in the banana garden and immediately called Abal, he said.

Police did not disclose the woman’s identity, the motive behind the killing, her relationship with the man and what weapon was used.

Wagambie said details would be released after investigations were completed.

“NCD police, under the command of metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop, immediately cordoned off the area and commenced investigations.”

Wagambie said: “A police forensic team collected evidence and witnesses, including people living within the acting prime minister’s residence, were interviewed.”

At the time of the killing, Abal was not in residence, the home being occupied by other close family members and relatives.

A shocked Abal had condemned the killing and had extended his full cooperation to police in their investigation.

During question time yesterday, he assured the nation that everything was under control and police had taken charge of the investigation.

“This is now a police matter and I would appreciate that you do not use it for political connotation and cheap political point scoring,” Abal said in reply to questions from Bulolo MP Sam Basil on the discovery of the body.

“It has been hard for me but I have to ensure truth and justice prevail.”

Nautilus shelves plans to sell shares

NAUTILUS Minerals, which plans to mine copper from the ocean floor in its  Solwara-1 project in the Bismarck Sea, said last Friday that it had shelved plans to raise C$150 million in an equity offering due to adverse market conditions, The National reports

Reuters news last Friday said the Toronto-listed company said it made the decision despite a positive response from investors when it

was marketing the proposed offering.

Nautilus announced the offering on May 24.

It said at the time it would use the proceeds to develop its Solwara-1 project, off the coast of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean.

 The offering was to be conducted by a syndicate of underwriters led by TD Securities and Credit Suisse.

Some of the cash from the offering had also been earmarked to fund the production support vessel required at Solwara-1.

“While it is disappointing to withdraw the capital raising, we did not believe shareholders would be best served by issuing stock in the current market conditions,” chief executive steve Rogers said in a statement.

“We have a strong cash position and a range of alternative options available to access capital in the future,” Rogers said.

“Nautilus continues to advance its first project at Solwara-1.”

Nautilus is expected to release its first-quarter financial results early next week.

 The company said it had a cash balance of about US$140 million as of March 31, and no debt.

Shares of Nautilus jumped 16% to C$2.62 in early trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange last Friday.

 

 

Somare visits barred

New ministers and reshuffle expected today

 

VISITS to Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in a Singapore hospital is being restricted by the Somare family, The National reports.

That was the stance of the Somare family who said that the prime minister’s health was more important and did not wish for the PM to be placed in any stressful situation, the PM’s protocol sources said last night.

Sir Michael is still in intensive care at the Raffles Hospital where he underwent a valve replacement and two open heart operations.

He was said to have overcome a complication he experienced with his lungs.

“He is stable, but he will not be able to receive visitors,” the source said.

The family had asked that no visits be entertained and Lady Veronica was said to be personally in charge of Sir Michael’s health and issues such as who gets to see the Grand Chief.

The family position came to light following reports that sacked duo, Don Polye and William Duma, might have flown to Singapore to visit the ailing prime minister.

The visit had touched off some raw nerves in government with one ministerial aide describing the visit as “distasteful, inconsiderate and childish”.

“Do they realise that their visit, in light of their decommissioning by the acting prime minister, could be stressful to the prime minister?

“The prime minister is a heart patient. The last thing Sir Michael needs now is stress or high blood pressure.

“Even if their visit is well meaning, their visit will still trigger some stress in the prime minister.

“This is distasteful, inconsiderate and childish and the two men owe Sir Michael and his family an apology.”

The source claimed that before his decommissioning, Duma and Petromin managing director Joshua Kalinoe had tried to visit Sir Michael to discuss some oil and gas tenement issues and were refused.

The news last night was that nobody from government had visited the Grand Chief over the Queen’s birthday weekend and no one was likely.

Lady Veronica had been very concerned about Sir Michael’s health for some time.

In a rare moment, she was said to have told Sir Michael in front of government officers a few weeks before he left for his operation in Singapore to quit the job completely in light of the gravity of his medical condition.

An officer of the PM’s office said Lady Veronica was said to have told Sir Michael words to the effect: “Em inap nau, papa. Larim ol yangpela mekim wok (This is as far as we go. Let the younger politicians carry on the work).”

Meanwhile, acting Prime Minister Sam Abal is expected to announced new ministers for foreign affairs, trade and immigration and petroleum and energy today.

Together, with the new names, a reshuffle would also be announced with at least one more minister to be decommissioned. The minister was said to be facing criminal proceedings in court.

Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare left his father in Singapore and was last night in Cairns en route to Port Moresby.

Somare will face a leadership tribunal on July 4.

Whether or not he is stood aside as minister will be decided by the tribunal when it meets, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia said last week.

Female body found inside yard of acting prime minister

THE body of a woman was found inside the private premises of acting Prime Minister Sam Abal at Konedobu, NCD, early yesterday morning, The National reports.

While admitting to the discovery, Abal said he had personally called Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie informing him of the incident.

Police have removed the body to the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue and immediate murder investigation into the cause of death and persons involved was underway.

The motive of the killing was not known, but murder had not been ruled out.

Police are also trying to establish the ethnic origin of the deceased.

“The alleged murder took place within the perimeters of my private home,” Abal said in a media statement last night.

“I have directed for normal police process of investigation in establishing the facts surrounding the murder to take place at once.

“I, including my family members, will fully cooperate with police in this investigation. We will not interfere in this case.

“If any of my family members are involved, they will face the full brunt of the law and will not be treated differently as anyone else in similar situations.

“All family members living with me are immediate suspects and are subject to investigation and questioning by police,” the acting prime minister said.

Abal said: “Anyone found to be involved will face the full consequences of the law.

“They will be charged with murder in the same way as another other person in society who has no regard for the value of human life and dignity of a person.

“I will fully cooperate with police during the course of investigations,” Abal said.

 

 

Lutheran laymen cited in bad deal

By PISAI GUMAR

 

DISTRICT bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran church of PNG say that laymen officials have breached the church’s constitution, company laws and, in the process, are in contempt of court in making business decisions, The National reports.

These laymen had also misled the church council for more than six months into believing that certain business-related changes had not been made.

However, the alleged changes had been effected at the Investment Promotion Authority, affidavits filed in the National Court in Lae stated.

The affidavits by the bishops, who are known as presidents, were obtained by The National.

They show that the laymen – church secretary Albert Tokave, finance secretary James Pena, German adviser Lothar Stock and the Jabem church district representatives Titi Solomon and Australian Chinese Ben Woo – were involved in making changes to the IPA records of the church’s trust company ELC-PNG Nominees Ltd last Aug 2 and Aug 13.

These laymen were not a lawful authority to hold a meeting and make changes to ELC-PNG Nominees Ltd or the church’s business arm, Kambang Holdings, the affidavits said.

“This was fraudulently done and backdated to June 17,” the affidavits stated.

The presidents said when the names of the laymen were nominated last June, there was a dispute and the matter was deferred to the November session of the church council.

The presidents explained that all shareholders’ meetings were governed by processes described under section 102 while appointments were under section 134 of the Companies Act 1997 and schedule 1 of the constitutions of both ELC-PNG Nominees Ltd and Kambang Holdings.

The process would entail a minute from the church council to the trust company (Nominees) for it to act.

There was no minute of the shareholders’ meeting of June 17 for Nominees Ltd and for Kambang Holdings on Sept 21 last year – the days when decisions were made to make the changes, the affidavits said.

The presidents said the five laymen were also in breach of schedule 4 section 4 in which they held meetings and made decisions when they did not have the required quorum of six, thereby, also contravening section 108 of the Companies Act.

“Therefore, Nominees Ltd does not have a company board,” the affidavits stated.

The affidavits noted several other discrepancies:

*Pena holding five senior positions as finance secretary, director as well as company secretary of ELC-PNG Nominees Ltd and director and also surrogate secretary of Kambang Holdings;

*Tokave, according to the church constitution, should be the public officer, or the proxy, and could not be a member of ELC-PNG Nominees board;

*Stock, the German, could not be holding any substantive post because he was in an acting capacity as treasurer, and that diplomatic protocol between Lutheran churches overseas (including Germany) do not allow expatriates from taking any roles and responsibilities other than that which they were brought to PNG for;

*Woo, the Australian Chinese Lae-based businessman, not being a council member; and

*Solomon, not being nominated in the council and yet appearing on the IPA registry.

94 bag awards from queen

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

NINETY-FOUR people have been recognised for distinguished services to the community in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list.

Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio announced the names of recipients yesterday, The National reports.

Noel Levi was awarded a knight bachelor for service to the public administration in his former roles as a minister of state, senior public servant and diplomat and secretary-general of the Pacific Forum and to John Ralston Wild for service to commerce, particularly in air transport and tourism and for community and humanitarian endeavours.

The order of Saint Michael and Saint George (civil division) was given to Andrew Kumbakor for service to the community as a member of the national parliament and minister of state and Erna Kathleen Pita for service to the community and the advancement of women’s status and welfare.

The order of the British empire (civil division) was awarded to Gari Baki, Peter Humphrey, Charles Lepani, Mathew Tjoeng while Dr Umadevi Ambihaiphar, Ni Cragnolini, Neville Henry Howcroft, Richard Maru, Rev Father Patrick McIndoe, Ricky Moke Mitio, Steven Mokis, Susan Ranjanayagam, Frederick Sheekiot, Dr Robin Sios, Akuila Tubal and John Wauwia were awarded OBEs.

Those who received MBEs were Orly Alvarez, Ian Andrew Chow, Igo Daure, Chief Insp Cathy Dobb, Robert Ian Howden, Guwi Kambi, Alphonse Krau, Anthony Kundila, Kay Wakerley Liddle, Aravapo Lohia, Moses Makis, David Kym Mitchell, Kandaso Napi, Simon Passinggan, Gerald Philip, Graham Pople, Wayne Leslie Satchell, Wan Sete, Lahui Tau, Sebulon Tovaira, Alois Chris Valuka, Russel Waibauru, John Warbat and Rev Dondoli Wawe.

Imperial service order awards were given to Tommy Nahuet and David Naon, while British empire medals were presented to Michael Sigiho Buka, Dominic Bre, Nancy Dabada, Peter Du, John Hinalu, Mavis Holland, Clare Ivia, Juliana Jiki, Alois Rokoa Kanakana, Avosa Kave, Peter Nere Kupo, Timothy Laemeta, Timothy Meria Lapeya, Ding Mathew, Rev Mondopa Mini, Joseph Muna, Giyame Mashleen Nagwi, Yaku Nolepo, Joseph Panu Arimax Magabe Peyape, Bothen Pusembo, Paias Puwa, Michael Sau, Yori Sauna, Araga Dikana Sere, Gitene Somole, Elijah Taksir, Joyce Talibe, Imbi Tanda, Janet Diribu Telabe, Kee Tine, Walter Unam, Richard Waera and Edward Yaliui.

Sir Michael announced that Brig-Gen Francis Agwi was the recipient of the order of the British empire (military) CBE award while Col Joseph Fabila was awarded OBE and a MBE went to Commander Michael David, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Kumun and Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Augustine Daniels.

Sir Michael announced Chief Warrant Officers Dick Roy, Steven Narimonda Jonah Pomeleu, Francis Tule and Michael Taram Valuka as recipients of the British empire medal (military) medal.

Australia’s first WW1 battle was not in Gallipoli, but Papua New Guinea

By MALUM NALU

Most Australians know about the horrors of Gallipoli in 1915 and commemorate Anzac Day annually on April 25.

Bitapaka War Cemetery where Australians from WW1 and WW11 are buried

However, very few people know and acknowledge the fact that Australia’s first battle against Germany was seven months before Gallipoli, in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea,
Who has heard about the 1914 capture of German New Guinea?
Alternatively, the battle between the German Pacific fleet raider, SMS Emden, shelled by HMAS Sydney on September 11, 1914 and beached as a total loss?
Few people also know that Australia’s first submarine AE 1, on patrol near the Duke of York Islands, some 20 miles from Herbertshohe (Kokopo), was lost with its crew of 35 on November 14, 1914, and has never been since then.
Various theories exist but it seems likely that the navigator, who was using captured German charts, may have misunderstood them and hit a reef.
Now, former Rabaul-based policeman, Maxwell Russell Hayes, is pushing for this battle to be given the full recognition it deserves before its 100th anniversary of Gallipoli in 2014.

Maxwell Hayes...fighting for recognition of this fogotten battle

Hayes joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1950 for six years, including service in Korea.
He was appointed as a direct entry to commissioned rank to the Royal PNG Constabulary in 1959, and his first posting was to the New Britain island town of Rabaul in the volcanic Gazelle Peninsula.
Hayes became interested in the rich history of that area as it concerns Australia.
After 15 years in the constabulary, he was retrenched at the rank of chief inspector at the time of PNG independence in 1975.
As PNG was then not covered by the Australian section of International Police Association, Hayes joined the British section on July 6, 1964, transferring to the Australian section on February 23, 1976.
In researching the history of RPNGC, he made three return trips to PNG.
“Despite this being Australia’s first battle in WW1, Australian government commemoration is non-existent and there are surprisingly few memorials,” Hayes says.
“At the Royal Australian Navy base, HMAS Cerberus, there is a memorial in tiles naming those who perished in this battle.
“In Sydney, high on the sandstone wall near the Opera House at Circular Quay is a small plaque erected in 1964 denoting the sailing of the fleet on August 19, 1914.
“For many years, Northcote RSLClub (Victoria) has recognised that one of the first two killed was a Northcote citizen.
“On December 16, 2001, it commissioned a large mounted bronze plaque commemorating this battle with images of William Williams and Brian Pockley.
“Each year, on September 11, a small group meets to commemorate Australia’s first six killed in battle with the loss of submarine AE 1 and its crew in WW1.
“At Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, wreaths are laid by two grand nephews of Pockley and Williams within the shrine and at the ‘Rabaul’ tree.
“The 100th anniversary of this small but important battle will be in three years.
“It is hopes that the Australian government might see fit to recognise Australia’s first battle as a sovereign nation.
“Locating, and hopefully recovering our lost and forgotten coral-encrusted steel coffin, AE 1, with its 35 crew still entombed would be a significant gesture.
“The post-humous award, in what should have been Australia’s first WW1 Victoria Cross to Captain Pockley for the meritorious deed, which cost him his life, would be more appropriate.
“With the exception of Moffat, those Australians killed in the battle were buried in various locations before being interred at Rabaul in 1919.
“There, those graves suffered considerable damage during the bombardment of Rabaul during the Japanese occupation.
“Finally, the graves were returned to the Bitapaka War Cemetery in 1950, very close to where they fell in 1950.”
With the outbreak of WW1, Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, and knew that a large and hostile German naval fleet was active in the Pacific Ocean.
Britain feared that a newly-constructed wireless station at Bitapaka near Rabaul in German New Guinea would be of immense assistance to that fleet.
By cable on August 5, 1914, Britain requested Australia to capture and destroy that wireless station.
In the early nationalistic fervour of doing battle with Germany, a force of 1, 116 New South Wales army volunteers with 451 naval reservists was quickly enlisted and uniformed.
This force embarked on the HMAT Berrima from Man O’ War steps at Circular Quay, Sydney, on August 19, 1914.
“The force became known as the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force,” Hayes says.
“The accompanying flotilla of almost the entire Royal Australian Navy, including our first submarines AE 1 and AE 2 (sunk in the Darndanelles and recently discovered in situ in 1998), steamed north.
“It stayed a few days at Palm Island and two weeks at Port Moresby for further training.
“This was the first-ever Australian force as such to leave our shores, and the first commanded by Australian officers.
“Earlier foreign wars such as the Maori Wars, the Boxer Rebellion and the Boer War were comprised of colonial (state) forces before the Federation in 1901.
“Early on the morning of September 11, 1914, our fleet entered Rabaul’s magnificent deep volcanic Simpsonhafen (Simpson) Harbour.
“Earlier troops and naval reservists landed some 20 miles away at Herbertshohe (late Kokopo) and the stone Kabakaul jetty.
“This was thought to be the nearest access to where the wireless station was probably located.
“In fact, it was located some five miles inland and directions to the inland track were obtained from a Chinese trader.
“Shortly after dawn, the attacking force (comprising mainly of naval reservists, with some army medical personnel) started to make it way along a narrow track through the thick jungle.
“The track was mainly impenetrable on both sides.
“The force came under the first volley of fire from a numerically-superior German force of reservists, backed by native troops, firing from positions in high trees.”
To cut a long story short, killed were Australian Army Medical Corps Captain Brian Golden Antil Pockley, 24, of Sydney; Able Seaman William George Vincent Williams, RANR number 294, 28, of Northcote, Victoria; Able Seaman John E Walker, RANR number 121; Lieutenant Commander Charles B Elwell of Wentworthville, New South Wales; and Able Seaman Henry W Street, RANR number 419.
The party continued to advance along the track to capture the wireless station.
German deaths were estimated to be one reservist and about 30 native troops.
On the same day, having received information the seat of government had been moved inland to Toma, HMAS Encounter shelled the position.
German acting Governor, Dr E Haber, then sought a truce, until officially surrendering three days later.

Lest we forget!

Nautilus granted mining lease for Solwara-1

FOR the first time, a major step forward in the development of seabed mining is now in place with the granting of the mining lease to Nautilus Minerals for the development of the Solwara-1 project in the Bismarck Sea between New Ireland and New Britain, The National reports.

The mine operation, located 30km from the coast of New Ireland and at a depth of 1,600m, is expected to begin by the end of 2013 with the mining of “high grade” seafloor massive sulphide deposits that contain copper, gold, silver, zinc and lead.

While the project is unique as the world’s first seabed mine, the lease arrangements themselves are a reflection of the evolving legislative and regulatory process in PNG since the 1970s.

“This will enable us to avoid past experiences from the Ok Tedi and Bougainville mines,” senior technical assessment engineer with the Mineral Resources Authority Lyndah Brown-Kola said.

Brown-Kola was part of a team of government officials from PNG at­tending the deep sea mineral project workshop organised in Fiji by SOPAC, a division of the South Pacific Secretariat of the Pacific Community. 

The team presented to the delegates the legislative and regulatory pro­cess in PNG that led to the granting of the seabed mineral mining lease.

Brown-Kola said the current legislative and regulatory review process was adequate to ensure that environmental, operational and financial concerns are addressed.

“We operate in conjunction with the Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-Hazards Management, which has responsibility of setting all mining policies. It is part of the mining ministerial portfolio.”

She said the government had been looking at the Solwara-1 project since 1997 and granted Nautilus the first offshore mineral exploration licence in 2008.

“We have been working with Nautilus for 14 years. It was only in this year we granted the company a mining licence.”

This followed two years of deliberations over their application.

 

 

Mix reactions over sackings

Highlands bloc rallies behind Duma and Polye

 

REACTIONS continue to be mixed on the sackings early this week of government ministers Don Polye and William Duma, The National reports.

As acting Prime Minister Sam Abal stuck by his decision to sack Polye as Foreign Affairs Minister and Duma as Petroleum and Energy Minister for the sake of solidarity, the country’s trade unions yesterday threw their support behind him, saying that national interest was paramount to Enga politics.

“Abal must stand firm and resolute in the face of adversity,” PNG Trade Union Congress general secretary John Paska said.

Another unlikely supporter was Morobe Governor Luther Wenge who said every political party in government should support Abal until incumbent Sir Michael Somare recovers from his heart operation in Singapore.

In Enga, deputy leader of the NA branch Chris Kandenge said Wednesday’s special meeting of the branch to expel Abal was

illegal, as it was convened by certain executives with self-interest.

Branch executive Yali Kaki said several party leaders in the province were underestimating Abal’s leadership qualities and should be voted out of office.

Their support for Abal’s action, however, was outweighed by support for the two sacked leaders from cabinet – Polye being the highlands bloc head of the ruling National Alliance and Duma being the parliamentary leader of United Resource Party, the second biggest party in the coalition.

The support, as expected, came from the highlands region where:

*In Western Highlands, Duma supporters held a peaceful demonstration, marching to Mt Hagen Queen’s Park to air their frustrations about the sackings; and

*In Eastern Highlands, two NA leaders warned that NA may lose its popularity in the region if Polye and Duma were not reinstated.

Reaction from the opposition parties and the business community remained subdued.

 

 

Hagen people protest sacking of ministers

By JAMES APA GUMUNO

 

NATIONAL Alliance and United Resource Party supporters in Western Highlands yesterday staged a peaceful protest march in Mt Hagen city over the sacking of two senior government ministers, The National reports.

The protesters gathered at Kimininga and marched to Queen’s Park where they were addressed by a number of speakers from the highlands region.

They demanded acting Prime Minister Sam Abal travel to Mt Hagen next week and tell them the truth behind the sacking of Don Polye and William Duma from the foreign affairs and immigration and petroleum and energy ministerial portfolios respectively.

Many speakers praised the two leaders’ performance at the national and international arena and did not deserve to be dumped in such a manner.

They said Abal’s claim the two men had not been performing and were trying to destabilise the government were very shallow.

Speaker Wan Kewa, from Kagamuga village in Hagen Central, said after the 2007 general election, Polye and Duma, as party leaders, brought with them enough MPs to help NA form government.

He said because of their contributions, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare justly rewarded them with two senior ministries.

URP, of which Duma is the leader, boasts the second biggest political party in government.

Kewa said it would only be proper if the acting prime minister paid a visit next week “and tell us the truth”.

He also warned that any procrastination by the executive government would only inflame the situation further.

Protester Robin Aipi, from Muyan village in Enga’s Kandep district, called on Abal to tell the people what he had done for the country and his electorate.

He said Polye and Duma deserved praise because they had done a lot for the multi-billion-kina LNG project and for roadworks in the country.

Aipi said the country needed people like Polye and Duma to move forward.

Another protester from Jiwaka region, Pawa Wai, asked: “How can an acting prime minister sack two ministers who have shown true leadership at the national and international level?”

Wai said for the good of the country and its people, Polye and Duma “must be reinstated”.

Many Engans did not travel to Mt Hagen yesterday following news of the protest.

Gamar Iki, from the Enga provincial government media unit, confirmed many Engans decided against travelling to Mt Hagen yesterday.      

World Bank agrees to fund major roads

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

THE national government and the World Bank have signed a US$43 million agreement to fund the rehabilitation of selected national and provincial roads in the country, The National reports.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in Port Moresby by World Bank country manager Laura Baily and Finance Minister Peter O’Neill.

It followed a previous agreement signed by both parties in 2002, which lapsed in 2009.

Papua New Guinea would provide US$10 million as counterpart funding.

The five-year project, ending in 2016, will be coordinated by the Department of Works under its second phase of road maintenance and rehabilitation project (RMRP II).

Baily said the signing was a “financial and legal document” that would see the PNG government and the World Bank work hand-in-hand to ensure important infrastructure services were delivered to the people.

Ten provinces will be covered under the programme – Central, Gulf, Western, East and West New Britain, Manus, Oro, Morobe, Madang and Milne Bay.

“In many parts of PNG, roads are more than just tarmacs,” Baily said.

“It is not just an investment in roads but an investment in the future and people of PNG,” she said.

Baily said the project was a sign of the ongoing commitment the World Bank had for the people of PNG.

O’Neill said infrastructure development was a key component of the government’s development strategies.

He said, in line with the MTDS, the government had since 2009 increased its funding allocations to rehabilitate roads and bridges.

“Roads give vital access for our people, and present them with the chance to utilise the public services the government provides, therefore, enhancing their involvement in economic growth,” he said.

Work will start on the Hiritano Highway in Central and the Kerema-Malalaua Highway in Gulf.