SPSN linking civil society with government

PORT MORESBY: Eight people have been appointed to two key decision-making bodies within the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen Programme.

The representatives come from a wide range of civil society and private sector roles.

Some will join the existing national government representatives on SPSN’s peak governance body, the Joint Governing Council (JGC), while others will be the first members of SPSN’s newly established National Grants Committee (NGC).

The newly-appointed civil society representatives for JGC are former Coffee Industries Council CEO Mr Ricky Mitio ML from Eastern Highlands, Ms Rachael Pokesy from Port Moresby, Mrs Cathy Rumints from Hagen and Mr Bonnie Keoka from Lae.

Members appointed to the NGC are Naomi Yupae from Eastern Highlands, Loa George Kevau from Port Moresby, Wasi Koni from Wewak, and Brian Paiferi from Bulolo.

SPSN programme director, Peter Aitsi congratulated the appointees, saying their wealth of experience in development and governance was crucial to SPSN and PNG.

“These individuals come from diverse backgrounds and will provide SPSN a strong community based perspective to ensure the programme continues to improve service delivery outcomes to bring about meaningful change to the lives of the rural majority,” he said.

“The appointment of civil society representatives will complement the existing expertise provided to the programme by its current national government members.

“Together,  this committee will ensure SPSN is well placed to bring together civil society, government and key stakeholders through offering resources and support, including grants, capacity building, networking opportunities and research.”

The members of the JGC will be led by National Planning and Monitoring Acting Secretary, Ruby Zarriga, as chair, with other representatives including Mollie Willie, deputy Secretary for Department for Community Development, Simon Kunai, director for local level government division at the Department for Provincial and Local Government Affairs, and Kath Taplin, acting counsellor governance, AusAID Port Moresby.

The JGC plays a crucial role in strategically guiding SPSN towards its goal of encouraging government to connect with civil society and other development partners to meet PNG communities’ needs.

This includes ensuring the programme is in line with PNG government’s priorities such as improved health and education outcomes, as well as working as much as possible within PNG government's own systems.

The NGC is the highest funding decision-making body in the SPSN structure, and will ensure that grants and other forms of funding support are provided to credible organisations to deliver real results to communities living in all provinces around PNG. 

The NGC’s first task will be to select 35 organisations for grant funding from over 250 expressions of interest that were submitted this year for SPSN’s medium and large grants programme. 

Programme Background:

 

SPSN is an Australian Government-funded initiative in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea that will contribute results to the government’s priority areas.

Its goal is to enable civil society with the state and others, to better meet the needs and priorities of men, women and children in communities across PNG.

SPSN supports improved good governance for service delivery that reaches the local level in PNG, including health, HIV, education, gender, and disability.

It provides civil society, government at all levels, and other key stakeholders with a range of support and resources, including grants, capacity building, networking opportunities and research.

Liquor smugglers raze cop's vehicle

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

ALCOHOL smugglers overpowered a team of Margarima policemen on Sunday and set a new police vehicle on fire  in the Hela region, Southern Highlands, The National reports.
Highlands divisional police commander and assistant police commissioner Simon Kauba yesterday said police had been following a tip-off when they stopped a vehicle transporting cartons of alcohol.
But he said the smugglers turned around, pushed the new police 10-seater Landcruiser into a drain and set it on fire.
He said the attack took place near the border of Margarima and Nipa on Sunday afternoon.
He said about 20 people on the vehicle overpowered the seven policemen and attacked them before running away with the cartons of beer.
Kauba said the police vehicle, which was only a few months old, was destroyed in the fire.
He said he had yet to get a full report from the Hela new provincial police commander.
Kauba said community leaders from Margarima surrendered three of the suspects to police yesterday.
He said police went into the area yesterday and talked to the leaders. He expected those still at large to be handed over to police too.
He appealed to the leaders to work closely with police in their district to maintain order.
Kauba said this was a bad sign for the ExxonMobil, the developer of the natural liquefied gas project, in the Hela region.
He said the Southern Highlands provincial government had banned alcohol in the province last year and the ban was still in place.
He said he could not understand why the locals attacked the officers and set their vehicle on fire when they were only carrying out their duty.
Kauba said the alcohol smugglers did not have any respect for law and order.

 

Corpse of expat found

 A partially-burned corpse of a white male was discovered yesterday afternoon at Napanapa outside Port Moresby, The National reports.
The body is believed to be that of an expa­triate who police said was reported missing last Saturday.
Calls made to NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop last night were directed to his voicemail, but police sources said foul play had not been ruled out.
Police said security guards of a company had gone to check on a bushfire near the Napanapa project area and came across the body about 10m from the main road.
Police were called in and took the body to the PMGH morgue.
They said while the corpse’s identifiable features fitted the missing person’s description, a post-mortem would be conducted to confirm his identity.
Police said the person, reportedly missing, was the general manager of a catering company in Port Moresby.

 

Ahi census stalled

 CENSUS operations in the Ahi local level government area of Lae have been stalled since last week because the interviewers are holding onto census pads, The National reports.
This means the population between Bumbu compound to Poahom area bordering Situm, in Nawaeb district, have not been accounted for yet.
Disgruntled census officials spoke out over the weekend, saying they had been protesting for two weeks and had since held on to all 300 pads containing the forms for 65 respondents. 
The interviewers said there were around 360 officers covering the area who had yet to be given their advance payment of K40 a day for the seven-day counting exercise.
They claimed there was no training manual but they were expected by authorities to collect high quality data.
The officials said they were instead asked to accept a meal allowance of K105 for the seven-day period of the census.
The prolonged rainy period since last month also did not help interviewers who have been visiting the Ahi local level government office at Malahang for their payments.
The group of interviewers did not want to be named out of fear of being targeted individually by the authorities. 
Ahi census coordinator Kissu Lucas could not be reached for comments

 

Two die, houses razed after clash at Sogeri

 TWO men are dead, several families are homeless and one person is in a critical condition at the Port Moresby General Hospital after an argument resulted in the killing and burning down of homes during the early hours of Saturday morning at the Owers Corner, outside Port Moresby, The National reports.
Sogeri police station commander Stanley Baroro said a weekend getaway for some Southern Highlanders at Owers Corner with a group of Goilala settlers living there turned sour after an argument resulted in the fight between the two groups. 
Baroro said from reports received the group was getting high on drugs while drinking alcohol.
Baroro said since the Southern Highlanders were visitors there, they were outnumbered and fled but were chased and attacked by the Goilalas, resulting in one of them being killed.
He said the body of the deceased was then mutilated and left on the roadside.
The matter was reported to police but before any action could be taken, relatives of the deceased, who learned of the killing, mobilised in two 25-seater buses, searched the the city for any Goilalas and abducted two innocent men from the Manu Autoport Market, bound them and headed for Owers Corner.
Police said the relatives then converged on the settlement and burnt down several houses. 
While the Southern Highlanders were busy burning and destroying property, the duo decided to make a run. 
One was cornered and chopped to death with petrol thrown over him before he was set alight while the other was chopped, suffering multiple deep wounds.
He is in a critical condition in hospital.
Baroro, who condemned the killings, said the senseless barbaric acts were symbolic of those in the Stone Age and that while policemen were trying to uphold justice by conducting investigations, the Southern Highlanders decided to use their own tactics.
“We are in the 21st century, modern PNG. We cannot allow people to payback at will using jungle justice,” he said. 
“I am appealing for both sides not to do any more harm, to respect each other and the law and to cooperate with police.”
Four Goilalas were questioned in relation to the deaths.

 

Kase is acting health secretary

 HEAD of the AusAID-funded capacity building service centre and former deputy secretary in charge of policy and administration with the Department of Health, Pascoe Kase is the acting secretary for Health, The National reports.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe officially announced the appointment yesterday in the presence of senior health executives, management and staff and development partners at Aopi Building’s conference room.
“I welcome the decision of the government to appoint Kase in an acting capacity,” he said. 
“I have confidence in him that he will provide able leadership during this time when we have many exciting developments taking place in the department,” Zibe said.
“He is no stranger to this role. In his previous capacity as deputy secretary, he been acting secretary for health on a number of occasions and possesses good working knowledge of the operations of the department.”
Kase said: “It is good to be back after a while.”
He thanked the government for having confidence in him, saying it was a privilege and a honour.
“While I am looking forward to working with the rest the team, I know it is not an easy job. 
“There are many challenges that we still need to overcome and there are achievements and progress that we can work on to ensure that they become a scheme of success,” Kase said.
Zibe said Kase would remain in the position for six months while the government looked for a permanent replacement

 

Pundari lauds work by MMJV

 THE national government is impressed with Morobe Mining Joint Venture company for setting the benchmark in waste management and environmental standards, The National reports.
Minister for Mining John Pundari said in the history of mining in PNG, the operator of the Harmony gold mine in Morobe was the first to have well-established and controlled waste management and environment practices which others should follow.
“This is a challenge to other mines in the country and that is the only way to do business in the country. 
“This is the kind of changes we want to experience in the industry as well as other extraction industries in PNG,” Pundari said.
He claimed other mining operations in the country did not have such an impressive waste management standard.
Meanwhile, Ramu nickel and cobalt mining operations in Madang were being delayed pending a National Court ruling.
Pundari said mining operations had ceased for some time while the Yandera mine, also in Madang, was awaiting the outcome of the court case.
Other mines, including Ok Tedi, had completed their independent studies and were operating.
Pundari said his department would be reviewing all Mining Act policies.

 

Petroleum minister rejects 'guinea pig' operations

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE government will not accept petroleum companies which have no proven records to operate in the country, The National reports.

Petroleum and Energy Minister Francis Potape said, after the ministerial review forum held at the Institute of Public Administration last Friday, he would also ban companies wanting to use technology not internationally-proven and accepted.

“PNG is not a guinea pig where technology can be tested,” he said.

“We will not allow technology that has not been accepted and that has not been internationally practised and approved.

“Any companies that want to develop petroleum projects in the country must also use and apply technology that is proven and satisfied internationally because PNG government will not entertain companies testing new technologies here.”

He said if companies such as InterOil wanted to test a floating LNG facility, then they should go elsewhere because such technology had never been practised anywhere in the world.

Potape, who has a master’s degree in engineering, said such technology would not be tested in PNG.

He said the proposed Antelope LNG project was questionable as they did not have a proven track record in the petroleum industry.

However, he said if the company wanted to operate a gas project, they should look for other partners with experience in the industry with a record of operating world-class projects.

“If InterOil wants to develop the Antelope project, it has to look for a world class partner to operate so that it can develop both the upstream and midstream facilities here in the country,” he said.

“This also applies to new and interested companies that want to develop petroleum projects in the country.”

Potape said he had spoken to the directors of InterOil in Singapore last week and informed them of the government’s expectations.

Polye throws down gauntlet

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

THE National Alliance party leadership has been further thrown into confusion with a row over who is the rightful highlands deputy party leader, The National reports.
Kandep MP Don Polye said he remained in that position. 
But, last week, the party's parliamentarians elected Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to the position in Polye's absence.
Polye said the position would be contested at the party's highlands caucus in Goroka on Thursday. 
Polye had also challenged party members, who wanted to contest the National Alliance highlands' deputy leader position, to do so at the Goroka meeting. 
"Therefore, I remain deputy leader NA highlands and I call on all leaders from the region to turn up for the meeting,'' he said.
"I call on Abal to come to the meeting and contest the leadership."
Polye maintained he was elected to that position through the normal democratic process and no one, including Abal, could take the lea­dership away from him unless through the party caucus meeting in Goroka.
Polye said he would respect the decision of that meeting on who should hold that position.
"Leadership cannot be sold or bought but is something that is earned," he said.
"Every time when I am out, he (Abal) tries to take away my leadership at the cabinet level and calls for meetings to get me out. 
"But we have to follow the constitution of the party," he said. 
"I welcome such ac­tions through the normal democratic process of election that is through the secret ballot.
"It is a sad day to use threats to wrestle power from me.
"We've got to practise and encourage the norms and laws in place. 
"We cannot use un-constitutional and unethical processes to obtain leadership because it is a public thing."
Abal was last week suspended by the party for two months. 
But, on the same day he received his suspension letter, Abal was elected deputy leader of National Alliance by the highlands 
parliamentarians at a meeting in Port Moresby.
Polye pointed out that under section 10 of the party constitution, he should have been the one to call the meeting in the presence of the party executives – which was not done.
He said last week's meeting was not recognised because many procedures, as outlined in the party constitution, had not been followed.
He said he, as the duly elected leader, should have been given a 30-day notice to call a meeting.
"If not followed, then the members can call for election," he said.
Polye said the meeting this week would be conducted properly with all minutes taken and proper processes followed in accordance with the constitution.
"Until then, I am still the party deputy leader of National Alliance highlands and supported by the party executives," he said.

The reality of the angels; medals presented to Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

By JOHN FOWKE

The legend of the "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels"; forgotten founders of a free PNG.
It is well that we reflect on the recent presentation of medals to 34 of the
last of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels by Australia.
The "Angels" and the RPC members and the PIB members plus the New Guinea Constabulary members and others who came over the border into Allied territory to serve their country are all of similar status as returned
servicemen/ war veterans everywhere in countries aligned with the Allies
against the Axis forces of Germany and Japan.
They had records-of-service, many suffered wounds and serious illness, and many lost their lives.
 At long last a few are being paid the honour and respect they richly deserve.
But the accolades come from another land, not from within their own nation.
These men, those few who survive, and their compatriots now long-gone, are
not given very much thought or regard outside their immediate families, in
the land they fought to save.
The land which became Papua New Guinea- a land free and independent and proud to stand among the democratic nations of the world.
The freedom and the independence now enjoyed by PNG would never have come about if the Allies, including the native-born conscripts and combatants, had not resisted Japan.
The rather silly, even demeaning imagery of the "faithful, simple, black Fuzzie Wuzzies", created in a poem published in the Australian Womens Weekly in 1943 is largely responsible for the myth that these men gave service and gave their lives for the Australians.
An image which conceals the reality.
An image which ignores the fact that these native-born men were fighting for the freedom and the future of the land of  many tribes which would one day become Papua New Guinea.
That few of the ordinary populace understood this at the time makes no difference.
It is the truth.
Today's  PNG youth and their parents have been led to believe that the war fought in their land was one between outsiders, having no relevance to the village people who were simply pushed about and suffered consequent privations for no reason of any validity to themselves
In fact,  the native-born war-veterans are the true pioneers of the PNG nation, the true heroes, the preservers of freedom and the rule of their own society within their own land.
Forget about all the young men in  long white socks and nylon shirts who sat up late in the 'sixties, planning their journey upon the developing pathway for independence from Australia.
The majority saw the pathway as one firstly for their own benefit.
 For their own rise to privileged "Blakmasta" status, status which coalesced into today's largely selfish and under-achieving political class; the ruling elite with little heart for the people.
Few, if any at all ,of this generation of self-promoting "lidaman" have shown signs of incipient heroism, of a level of honesty,generosity and idealism which might have lifted the nation out of the deep, dark, smelly drain in which it walks today, onto a sunny, happy road which the old war-veterans had every right to expect.
Lets see some real respect and real regard expressed with humility by today's generations for the truth of the contribution to the nation of the Fuzzy Wuzzies.
 Let's teach the truth in the schools as a measure towards the one-ness which is lacking in this nation of many tribes; let's have parades and services in every district centre on "the day" each year.
Respect for forefathers is embedded deep within the PNG psyche.
 Let's focus this talent of ours upon the  memory of the old veterans, and for our own sake.
We who have benefited from their service and their sacrifice.

First-ever Chinese performance delights Goroka

Caption: Acrobats from the Guangdong Art Troupe performing an eye-opening routine on the night at the University of Goroka.-Picture by KATE GUNN

 

By KATE GUNN of University of Goroka

 

On the evening of Sunday, July 24, a troupe of 32 performing artists from the Guangdong province of the People’s Republic of China delighted audiences at the University of Goroka for the first time ever.

 

A dazzling performance for UOG was held at the Mark Solon Auditorium to a full capacity crowd, which was amazed at the levels of talent, physical strength, agility and professionalism displayed by all performers on the night. 

 

The performance was composed of several short but visually-stunning acts of traditional Chinese dances, performances of traditional musical instruments, acrobatic and gymnastic routines, and martial arts demonstrations. 

 

All acts were very entertaining with special attention given to costumes, lighting, and music to form a show that was extremely well executed and enjoyable to watch.

 

The performance was given by the Guangdong Art Troupe as part of their Ode to Friendship Tour of Pacific Island countries including Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

 

The performance was initially meant to be a one-night only show for Port Moresby residents, however,  due to the positive relationship formed with Guangdong Foreign Construction Company, Guangdong Constructions PNG and the University of Goroka, the Guangdong Art Troupe made a special trip to Goroka to perform for staff, students and friends of the UOG.

Seminar: Deep Sea Marine Biodiversity in PNG

Findings of a collaborative research between UPNG and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, which proves that the deep-sea of PNG has a high biodiversity of mega faunal communities including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, cold water corals and other marine animals, contrary to claims that there is not much biodiversity at great depths.

 

Deep-water biodiversity will be discussed in view of mining activity, bio-prospecting and carbon storage.

 

Title: Deep Sea Biodiversity of PNG as revealed by the BioPapua Cruise 2010

Presenter: Dr. Ralph Mana, Biology Sciences, UPNG

Date: Tuesday 26 July 2011

Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Venue: Science Lecture Theatre

 

Google+ throws challenge at Facebook in social network war

By MALUM NALU

Three years ago, in May 2008, EMTV featured Facebook on its popular Sunday night news programme, 60 Minutes, introducing thousands of Papua New Guineans to this website that is taking the world by storm.

But now, Facebook’s reign on the throne may be coming undone, thanks to Google’s new kid on the block social networking site Google+, which can currently only be accessed by invite.

Back in May 1988, more than 60 million people were on Facebook around the world, and by the end of that year it was 200 million.

The New York Times had declared it Google's biggest attempt to rival the social network Facebook, which had over 750 million users in 2011.

In May 2008, very few Papua New Guineans were on Facebook, unlike today when there are thousands of people with their own pages, with the very-easy accessibility to Internet these days and the wide variety of mobile devices.

I remember when I first joined in 2008; there were only a handful of Papua New Guineans, mainly students studying overseas.

All you have to do is set up a profile page about yourself.

From there you can swap news and photos with friends, track down old acquaintances, and even play long-distance Scrabble.

It can be a very useful tool, or an addictive time-waster.

Either way, Facebook has created an Internet revolution.

 It's now a multi-billion dollar business, the creation of one very young, very geeky computer whiz-kid, 26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg.

Local IT expert, Charlie Gilichibi of Nasfund, estimates that as of July 19, there were more than 41,000 PNG users of Facebook with the number growing every day.

“To get 1,500 to 2,000 Papua New Guineans going to Facebook every two weeks is truly an astounding phenomenon,” he says.

“At, this rate one can extrapolate that by 2015, we will have 100,000 Papua New Guineans on online social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

“Truly exciting times for PNG and let’s keep the momentum going playing our part in developing the ICT ecosystem in our country.”

But now, the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have hit back at Zuckerberg with their own social networking site Google+.

Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written Google Plus, sometimes abbreviated as G+) is a social networking service operated by Google Inc.

The service launched on June 28, 2011 in an invite-only "field testing" phase.

 The following day, existing users were allowed to invite friends, who are above 18 years of age, to the service to create their own accounts.

This was suspended the next day due to an "insane demand" for accounts.

Last weekend, a friend in Australia, David Fellows, invited me to test-drive Google+ and I was hooked after all the lack of privacy, swearing, and gossip, bastardised English, false names and sophomoric effusions of young Papua New Guineans on Facebook.

Google+ integrates social services such as Google Profiles and Google Buzz, and introduces new services Circles, Hangouts, Sparks, and Huddles.

 Google+ will also be available as a desktop application and as a mobile application, but only on Android and iOS operating systems.

On July 14, 2011, Google announced that Google+ had reached 10 million users just two weeks after it was launched in a "limited" trial phase.

 After less than a day of being live, the Google+ iPhone app has the number one free spot in the Apple app store.

 After three weeks in operation, it has already reached 20 million users.

·         "Circles" enables users to organise contacts into groups for sharing, across various Google products and services. Although other users can view a list of people in a user's collection of circles, they cannot view the names of those circles. The privacy settings also allow users to hide the users in their circles as well as who have them in their circle. Organisation is done through a drag-and-drop interface. This system replaces the typical friends’ list function used by sites such as Facebook;

 

·          "Hangouts" are places used to facilitate group video chat (with a maximum of 10 people participating in a single Hangout at any point in time). However, anyone on the web could potentially join the "Hangout" if they happen to possess the unique URL of the Hangout;

 

·          "Huddle" is a feature available to Android, iPhone, and SMS devices for communicating through instant messaging within circles;

 

·         "Instant Upload" is specific to Android mobile devices; it stores photos or video in a private album for sharing later;

 

·         "Sparks" is a front-end to Google Search, enabling users to identify topics they might be interested in sharing with others; "featured interests" sparks are also available, based on topics others globally are finding interesting.Sparks helps to keep users posted on the latest updates on the topics of their interest;

 

·         In the "Stream," users see updates from those in their circles. The input box allows users to enter a status update or use icons to upload and share photo and videos. The Stream can be filtered to show only posts from specific Circles;

 

·          Google+ has a "+1" button to allow people to recommend items;

 

·         Unlike Twitter and Facebook, there is not yet an application programming interface that enables software developers to interact with Google+ programmatically;

 

·         Additionally, Google+ presents the different icons in a graphical or pictorial manner instead of the more commonplace text written icon names;

 

·         Similar to other Google applications, Google+ provides integration with other Google applications like Gmail, Calendar, Documents, etc; and

 

·          A "Data Liberation" option provides the ability to download one's content from Google+.

 

“Google+ lets you arrange your friends into groups,” comments local IT expert Gilichibi.

“Like one doesn't want others to see their conversation between family members, their social friends etc.

“Facebook is an open platter without much privacy for your different circle of friends.

“Google+ is still project in progress and has only given access to 10 million test users.

“Already, there are raging reviews about Google+ and it seems very likely to push Facebook to cling to every one of its users as those users mean a lot to Facebook's advertising dollars which run into the billions.”

Abal: NEC to peruse report

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare is recovering well and even had a conversation with his doctor last week, The National reports.
This was disclosed by Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal after talking to Prof Isi Kevau who last week returned from visiting Sir Michael at his hospital in Singapore.
Kevau’s report will be tabled before the national executive council tomorrow.
Abal confirmed that Cabinet would “decide through the report submitted by Kevau on Sir Michaels’s health”.
He said the council had advised Kevau to travel to Singapore to assess the condition of the prime minister.
He returned with his report last week. Abal said the report had already been presented to Chief Secretary Margaret Elias.
The NEC will discuss it before it is submitted to Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
He said from what Kevau told him Sir Michael was recovering well and even had a conversation with him.
However, he said the recovery process was going to be very slow because of Sir Michael’s age.
“The nation has to be informed that the prime minister is doing well,” Abal said. 
“I’m happy that he is recovering but his recovery will be slow.”
Former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu had earlier said the law required that the head of state, acting on advice, should request the PNG Medical Board to appoint two medical practitioners to examine the prime minister and to provide him with full details of the examination and an opinion on his ability to physically and mentally carry out his duties.
He said the head of state should then decide if the prime minister was unfit to carry out his job for more than three months before advising the speaker to present it in parliament.

 

Late-comers at ministerial forum angers acting prime minister

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal was not at all impressed with the lateness of his ministers who kept him waiting for up to two hours before the ministerial forum at Waigani, NCD, last Friday, The National reports.
The forum, scheduled to start at 8am, began at 11am, with Abal reminding his cabinet ministers to be aware of timing.
Abal waited at his office for all the ministers and departmental heads to arrive.
Only Education Minister James Marape, National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, Public Service Minister Moses Maladina, Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo, Tourism Minister Guma Wau, Transport Minister Benjamin Poponawa and Communication Minister Patrick Tammur turned up on time while three others turned up when Abal was making his statement.
“It should not be Enga time, Sepik time, Pacific time or PNG time, it must be standard time,” Abal said.
He said the difference between developed and developing countries was timing.
“One of the reasons is we do not respect time and come on time. I hope Papua New Guinea does things on time.”
He said this during a meeting between ministers and departmental heads, which was the mid-year review of implementation of core projects by each ministry and department.
“We are here to check what we have achieved in the past six months. 
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must respect time. It is almost one year before the next election and the next parliament.”
Abal said the government had been in office for the past two terms and “it must tell the people what it has achieved during that time”.
“Elections are coming up and we must go out and confidently tell our people what we have achieved,” he said.
Abal said although the country was at the crossroads, it was doing well.
“I know elections are around the corner but it is important that we maintain leadership in all sectors.
“We must not relent. The government must show to the people that we are performing and we have the ability to do it.”
Minister assisting the Prime Minister Charles Abel said Abal’s message to ministers and departmental heads was “we need to pull up our socks”.

 

MP: Review on for 70 licences

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

MORE than 70 suspicious petroleum licences have been issued over the past three years and all of them will now be reviewed, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Francis Potape revealed last week, The National reports.
He said some people owned more than one licence and most of the licences were issued for projects in the Western, Gulf and Southern Highlands.
He said the manner in which the licences had been issued was suspicious and his department “will look into and review all licences”.
He said this during the ministerial review forum at the Institute of Public Administration in Port Moresby last Friday.
Potape said many licences were issued to people and organisations that were not involved in the petroleum industry and the licence holders had not started any explorations.
He said each licensee was required to submit quarterly reports and annual reports but, in the past three years, no reports had been submitted to the department.
“I am appealing to people and firms with questionable licence holders to come forward and meet with my department,” he said.
Potape said the industry was concerned at the manner in which these licences were issued.
He said he “will get to the bottom of it to clean the mess”.
“In the petroleum industry, licensing is really important but these have been sold unnecessarily to firms and people. 
“The industry is really rotten and we have to clean the rot in the department to restore investor credibility and confidence,” he said.
Potape said many of them were “farm-in”the licence and making millions of kina.
He said although “farm-in” or trading of licences was not illegal, “the manner in which the licenses were issued is suspicious”.
“The integrity of this nation has to be maintained and should not be sold. Licences are important elements of conducting any business and should not be given away,” he said

 

Police: Force will be used

By DULCIE OREKE and JUNIOR UKAHA

 

POLICE will not hesitate to use whatever force is necessary to enforce law and order, National Capital District metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop has said, The National reports.

In the wake of an incident last Friday, where police shot dead three armed men and wounded two others, Tondop said there was an increase in criminal activities in Port Moresby, making it unsafe for residents and visitors.

Tondop said it was time the police and law-abiding citizens said "enough is enough".

He urged criminals to lay down their arms and take stock of their lives, adding that there were many worthwhile activities they should engage themselves in.

Five men, armed with two semi-automatic pistols, fired at police when they were intercepted at the Courts roundabout in Gordon, NCD, by members of the Armed Robbery Unit.

Tondop said the chase began after an Asian businessman was held up and robbed at Hanuabada around 1pm.

He said the armed men were in a stolen car when they were spotted on Waigani Drive.

Tondop said the exchange of gunfire began when police officers signalled the driver of the stolen car to stop but he ignored the warning.

Police gave chase and, after about 30 minutes of exchanging fire, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed it into a flower bed in the middle of the road.

Police found weapons including homemade guns in the car. 

The three men were believed to be from Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Central.

Tondop said the criminals belonged to a group known to police as the "A Team" and had been wanted for a string of illegal activities.

He said two of the men had escaped while in custody at the Boroko police station in relation to robbery offences while one was believed to be the driver of the late Wong Tee Tee's killer. 

He said police were in the process of coming up with a response team targeting hotspots based on intelligence.

A doctor at the Port Moresby General Hospital accident and emergency ward, who did not want to be named, confirmed that the hospital had two injured men.

"Yes, they were hit by bullets," he said. "We will do what we can to help."

Police said the armed men had been travelling in a stolen vehicle, a grey Honda CRV, bearing the registration BDA 417, when a police team intercepted them and gave chase along Kennedy Road around 1pm.

The shootout ended at the busy Waigani Drive next to the Kone Tigers oval when police shot the driver.

Police said the driver, of highlands' origin, lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and hit a concrete flower bed in the middle of the freeway.

The driver tried to escape but was shot and died on the spot.

A second gang member, believed to be from Morobe, was hit and died in the vehicle.

The third man, believed to be from Central, died from bullet wounds to his chest.

Two others who tried to flee the scene were shot and arrested by police.

A senior police officer at the scene said the two guns and a large quantity of ammunition found in the car were evidence that the men had been planning a major robbery when they were intercepted. 

He told the crowd at the scene that criminals would face the same fate.

"This is to teach a lesson to you all," he said.

"If you want to steal, you will die like this."

A man, who was taking pictures of the scene using his mobile phone, was assaulted and his phone taken away by police.

He was ordered to "give the phone, shut up and drive on".

Provincial politicians call acting prime minister to fast track entitlements

By MALUM NALU

Former provincial politicians affected by provincial government reforms in 1995 have called on acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to fast track their payments.

The provincial politicians, who are fast losing their patience at constantly being given the cold shoulder by the Department of Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government, produced court and Cabinet documents approving K30 million to be paid to them

They said there was a court order in place from May, June and December 2010, however, a stay order instituted last January by the State through Peter Kuman Lawyers and Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government Secretary, Manasupe Zurenuoc, was proving to be a real stumbling block.

“This stay order by Provincial Affairs Secretary is an obstacle to the State,” they said in a letter to Abal dated July 11.

“As recipients of the said money, we feel that our basic rights are being denied by those in authority who are supposed to execute government directives.

“We are now wondering as to whose job it is to fast track this matter and settle this stay order before the court.

“We appeal to your good office to instruct the Office of Attorney General and the Secretary, Department of Provincial Affairs through Peter Kuman Lawyers, to immediately appear before the court and explain reasons of the stay order so that the high court can make decision as to how best this matter can be settled once and for all.”

Former Rabaul mayor Michael Konjib and former West Sepik assembly speaker John Wootong said their colleagues around the country were ageing and dying while waiting in vain for their entitlements.

“National Executive Council has made its decision,” Konjib said.

“However, despite the first decision being made by the NEC in 2007, we have received nothing yet.

“The secretary (Zurenuoc) says the K30m is still with him.”

Wootong said: “All we want is for our money to be paid immediately.

“Our colleagues out in the provinces are ageing and dying.

“We want the Prime Minister to intervene.”

Australia visit affirms a strong defence relationship

Caption: Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, inspects a ceremonial guard of honour as part of a visit to PNGDF's Goldie River Training Depot.

 

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon. David Feeney, travelled to Papua New Guinea (PNG) from July 21-24, on a visit reflecting PNG and Australia’s strong and enduring defence and security relationship.

Senator Feeney met with PNG Government and Defence leaders to discuss Australia’s defence cooperation with the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF).

The programme with PNG is Australia’s largest with any country and has a budget allocation of $10.5 million (around PNGK25 million) for the 2011 financial year.

“Australia and PNG have a longstanding close friendship which is reflected in the co-operation between our two countries on a range of defence matters, from strategic planning to joint exercises.

“We will continue to build on our defence activities together in the spirit of mateship which has been a hallmark of our relationship since the shared sacrifices during World War II,” Senator Feeney said.

Australia works with the PNGDF on a range of activities including infrastructure development, maritime and border security.

The PNGDF and the Australian Defence Force conduct training and exercises together, including Exercise WANTOK WARRIOR which includes infantry, engineering, rotary wing and logistic elements.

Senator Feeney discussed defence co-operation and PNG’s Medium Term Development Plan with the Minister for Defence, Bob Dadae and the Minister for National Planning and Rural Development, Paul Tiensten.  During discussions with Brigadier General Francis Agwi and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Lucy Bogari, Senator Feeney expressed Australia’s continued commitment to support PNG’s efforts to commence international peacekeeping.

Senator Feeney also met with senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Department, Defence, Finance, Treasury and Police, including Treasury Secretary Tosali to discuss co-operation on potential innovative funding and development models. 

Senator Feeney laid a wreath during PNG’s Remembrance Day Memorial Service at Ela Beach on Saturday and presented commemorative medallions to 13 “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” and their families during a ceremony at Bomana War Cemetery on Sunday.

“The strength and compassion of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saved many Australian lives during World War II. The Angels represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship,” he said.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels honored in Papua New Guinea

Caption: Medallion recipients (front row) with dignitaries (back row) including Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented the medallions.

 

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels contribution to supporting Australians in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War, has been honoured today at a ceremony in Port Moresby.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, was represented at the ceremony, held at the Bomana War Cemetery, byParliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented commemorative medallions to 13 recipients.

Senator Feeney said these medallions are just one way to show our gratitude to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

“We are forever indebted to the kindness and the invaluable assistance they provided to Australians during the Second World War.

“Many Australians survived the Kokoda campaign due to the strength and compassion of these brave people. Greater casualties and loss of life among the troops would have occurred if not for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,” he said.

Senator Feeney paid tribute to all Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saying they represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship.

Affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, an estimated 50,000 Papuan and New Guinean civilians supported Australia in the Second World War by carrying supplies, building bases, airfields and other wartime infrastructure, and evacuating the sick and the wounded from fighting zones.

They also helped Australians soldiers trek through the jungles of the Owen Stanley Ranges, including the infamous Kokoda Track.

More than 600 Australians were killed and over 1, 000 wounded during the Kokoda campaign.

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is pleased that 34 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels have been presented with the Commemorative Medallion since it was first announced in 2009.

“I would encourage other Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and their widows to consider applying for a medallion to recognise the individual contribution they, or their loved one has made to our country’s servicemen.

“It is important to ensure all surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, and the widows of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels are honoured with a commemorative medallion,” Mr Snowdon said.

For more information on medallion nominations contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 02 6289 6136 or visit www.dva.gov.au

Resting in peace at Bomana War Cemetery

Captions: Pictures show the grave of Philip Gunns and me at the grave of Philip Gunns on ANZAC Day this year

 

By MALUM NALU

 

Yesterday being Remembrance Day reminded me of an emotional experience I had at the Bomana War Cemetery outside Port Moresby on ANZAC Day this year.

Last November, I received an email from Australian Philip Gunns, wondering if I could put him in contact with someone who could take a picture of his uncle Leslie Charlie Gunns’ grave site at Bomana.

“I found your email when I was looking up some information about Bomana War Cemetery, where my uncle is buried,” he told me.

“My uncle was killed there in 1942.

“He was only 19 years old.

“My dad (81) and his sister (90) have never seen his grave site (grave C7.E.16) Bomana War Cemetery.

“I was wondering if you could put me in contact with someone you may be able to take a photo of the grave site for me.”

I offered to take a picture next time I was at Bomana, however, didn’t have a chance to travel up there until the ANZAC Day Dawn Service on April 25.

After the service, I enlisted the help of my elder brother David and my nieces and nephews to look for Leslie Gunns’ grave, which wasn’t that difficult.

NX89514 Private LC Gunns, of the 2/33 Infantry Battalion, was killed on October 12, 1942, aged 19, according to his epitaph.

Phil Gunns was a much-relieved man after I saw his uncle’s grave.

“Regarding Les, he was only 19 when he was killed, believed to be one shot from a sniper in a tree and killed instantly,” he said.

“He was a bit of an action man and stood up for himself, played junior rugby union for local club Eastwood in Sydney,  also had a few amateur boxing fights and was looking to turn pro when he returned from the war.

“He was so keen to join the war that he ran away from home at 16 and went to Queensland and put his age up to 18 and joined the army.

“His mum and dad asked the Salvation Army to help find him, which they did, and when the army found out he was discharged.

“When he was able to join his elder brother returned from the Middle East and claimed him to join the same outfit.

“His elder brother was the man behind him when he was killed.

“He was killed on the Kokoda Track near a place called Myola, where he was first buried before he was repatriated to Bomana

“That’s all I really know as he was killed 14 years before I was born.

“Hope this helps you.

“Once again thank you for the photos.

“They will greatly appreciated.”

World-famous Goroka Show on again

Caption: A colourful singsing group during the 2010 Goroka Show at the National Sports Institute.-Picture courtesy of GOROKA SHOW COMMITTEE

By MALUM NALU

The 54th Goroka Show – with the theme ‘Unity’ - will be staged over independence weekend on September 16, 17 and 18.

This was confirmed at the launch of PNG’s longest-running cultural festival, which was first staged back in 1957, at a function attended by sponsors and potential sponsors in Goroka last Wednesday night,

Traditional major sponsors such as SP Brewery and Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) were represented while National Gaming Control Board, while not present, indicated its continued support this year.

 Bank South Pacific came good with K20, 000, presentation of which was made by Goroka branch manager, Reuben Elijah.

Also joining the bandwagon was Lae Biscuit Company with K5, 000;  PNG Japan Ltd with K5,000; while Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd committed 25,000 sachets of sugar (equivalent to 50 cartons) for the singsing groups.

Organising committee chairman, Gideon Samuel, acknowledged the presence and support of sponsors, and appealed to Eastern Highlands provincial government to give more support to the event.

“Other shows in the country receive adequate financial backing from their host provincial governments to the tune of more than K100, 000 to host their shows,” he said.

“Having said that, it is not my intention to discredit the provincial government but to point out that it is really impossible to host a show of the calibre of Goroka Show with K20, 000 or K10, 000 at this point in time, taking into consideration the higher cost of goods and services.

“Goroka Show, as we all know, is a historic event,” he said.

“Goroka Show first started as the Highlands Show and was first staged in 1957 under the colonial administration to unite the various warring tribes of the region, take stock of the progress of development and to introduce the concept of economic development to a people suddenly in confrontation with civilisation and the material world.

“In fact,  to this very day,  I remain convinced that Goroka Show played its part in the dissemination of information on coffee cultivation to the indigenous people because the very people who were instrumental in promoting coffee were also involved in the planning and staging of the Goroka Show in the early years.

“Goroka Show was also responsible for the exposure of the famous Asaro Mudman, which has gone on to become the cultural icon of Eastern Highlands. “

Samuel commended Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for raising the profile of the show since 2005, through the website www.gorokashow.com , at its own costs

“Today I receive queries from all over the globe on information regarding show dates, accommodation and many more,” he said.

“Just a while ago, I receive an email from a former resident who told me that she was on the inaugural organising committee, and that she is intending to come again for this year’s event.

“Last year, we had a record of 800-plus tourists and that is attributed to the ongoing internet marketing through our website, courtesy of Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

First national mining safety week to be in 2012

The First National Mining Safety Week shall be celebrated in March-April 2012 all across the entire mining industry in Papua New Guinea.

As per decision taken by the National Apex Mining Safety Council last year, Barrick Porgera Joint Venture will be hosting this event which was announced at the second meeting of the National Mining Emergency Response Forum in Port Moresby on Wednesday July 20, 2011.

The mining industry in PNG,  under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Mines,  organised the First National Mining Emergency Response Challenge at Lae in March 2011,  which received an excellent response and support from all stake holders and was hailed as a resounding success.  

Transforming the event into a bigger and wider game, next year would witness staging of the First National Mining Safety Week in which all mines would conduct various safety promotional activities at their respective sites during the Safety Week period,  which would lead up to staging of the Mining Emergency Response Challenge in Port Moresby as a concluding ceremony.    

The concept,  initiated to develop closer partnerships and interaction amongst the different industry players and to provide avenue for participants to learn and exchange skills and ideas,  is believed to generate more interest and bigger participation next year.

The main purpose of these celebrations is to educate and remind people of the importance of safety at their work places.

Speaking at the Forum meeting, PNG’s Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Mohan Singh,  thanked Barrick PJV for taking up the challenge and said he had confidence in them to make the 2012 event a grand success.

Nautilus: We are abiding by laws

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

THE proposed Solwara1 ocean floor mining by Nautilus Minerals Ltd in the Bismarck Sea has complied with environment and mining laws of Papua New Guinea, the company’s PNG country manager Mel Togolo says, The National reports.

He also told the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum Environment Seminar on Wednesday that an important aspect of the project was its smaller physical footprint compared with land-based mining.

Solwara1 will commercially explore for seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits, which are high grades of copper, gold, zinc and silver, in deep sea mining off the coasts of New Ireland and East New Britain provinces.

Togolo said some advantages of deep sea mining, a world first in PNG, was the use of reusable infrastructure and technology like offshore diamond drilling, dredging, onshore mining and pumps systems of oil and gas fields.

“The advantage of being out at sea is that there will be limited social disturbance, and there are no human presence at the depth of 1,600m, which is how far down the mine is located,” he said.

Togolo said worker safety would be protected because most of the work would be done by robots and machines programmed to work at such depths, which are too cold and deep for humans, which are all controlled on board a command ship.

“We will have minimal waste as what comes out goes back into the sea, and we will have minimal overburden because there is no land for us to get rid off before getting to the ore deposits,” he said.

Togolo said during his presentation that Nautilus Minerals had been given government approval in the form of a permit to explore and a permit to operate a mine after satisfying procedures outlined in the Environment Act 2000 and Mining Act 1992.

He said these permits were presented in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Togolo said the project has also applied for and received approval from the relevant communities or those who are closer to the project.

He said preliminary awareness programmes included transparent and inclusive stakeholder engagement and workshops involving communities, world-renowned experts, government and non-governmental organisation.

Given that production was set to start in 2013, Nautilus Minerals was seeking acceptance or social licence to disaggregate seafloor material, transport the material to a ship and transport to a market.

Togolo mentioned that the coastal communities were most concerned about environmental issues such as the protection of the marine environment with emphasis on tuna, reefs, whales, sharks and turtles.

In response, Nautilus Minerals said that with the extraction taking place below the level the tuna population, their feeding and breeding grounds would not be affected.

However, Togolo said the only impact on surface waters would be the presence of the vessels and supporting vessels and riser pipes which will transport the ore from the seafloor up to the vessel.