NARI hosts rice stakeholders' workshop

ByJOSEPHINE YAGA of NARI

Rice development efforts in Papua New Guinea have received on- and -off attention in recent years. Attempts have been uncoordinated and therefore lack organised information, co-ordination, well-researched policy and strategy for rice development in PNG.

 Participants listen attentively to NARI director general Dr Ragunath Ghodake’s opening remarks

Different departments, institutions and organisations work in isolation of each other and lake proper and coordinated partnership and collaboration.
There is a need to get realistic and well-shared understanding of various constrains, opportunities and arising issues in rice research and development so that this issues can be address.
To identity the constrains and potential rice development opportunities, a two-day rice stakeholder workshop was hosted this week by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) at its Momase Regional Centre in Lae, engaging key players in the area of rice research, policy and development to share their experiences, achievements and understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
The workshop was designed to meet the following objectives:
• To assess and understand rice research and development programmes and activities implemented and undertaken by different stakeholders, including progressive rice farmers;

• To identify and prioritise their different constrains and opportunities and emanating issues in rice research and development in PNG;

• To review and decide on key aspects to be covered by rice production survey and development implementation plan; and

• To explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration between stakeholder and agree on modalities of collaboration for rice research and development..

The participants included representatives from the national and provincial agriculture, Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement ( OISCA), Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC), Community Development Initiative-Kutubu, Japan International Cooperation Agency, ROC Taiwan, PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNGWiADF), Territory Packaging, National Voluntary Service (NVS) – Erap, NARI and rice farmers.

Rice stakeholders during the rice stakeholders’ workshop host by NARI at the NARI Momase Regional Centre in Bubia, Morobe.

The two-day workshop started on Tuesday and ended yesterday.

Cabinet makes changes to MVIL board

Minister for Public Enterprises, Sir Mekere Morauta, said National Executive Council had endorsed changes to the board of Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd ( MVIL).
The new members are Mr Bonny Igime, Mr Steven Pim, Ms Veronica Waieng, Dr Bangi Kumdim and Mr John Tuka.
In announcing the appointments, Sir Mekere stressed that no Public Enterprise chairman would be an executive chairman.
“Reports that executive chairmen have been appointed are wrong," he said.
“These new appointments are part of the O’Neill-Namah Government’s reforms of IPBC and its Public Enterprises, and I look forward to working with them.
“One of the new board’s first jobs will be to recover about K96 million missing from MVIL.”
Sir Mekere said the money was the proceeds of the sale of 530,105,100 shares in Bank South Pacific which were owned by MVIL.
The sale, to an Australian company called Nominees Niugini Limited, is now the subject of a police investigation.
MVIL sold the shares when under the control of the former Minister for Public Enterprises, Arthur Somare, and the former IPBC management.
Proper processes had not been followed, and the sale is in breach of Section 45B of the IPBC Act and Section 110 of the Companies Act.
The sale was not approved by the IPBC board, as required, and there was no shareholders’ resolution approving the sale, as required.
The new IPBC board has instructed MVIL to rescind the sale contract, called an Equity Monetisation Contract Agreement. IPBC has begun legal proceedings against MVIL and Nominees Niugini.
The money is being held in an account owned by a company called Woodlawn Capital, at the Commonwealth Bank in Lismore, New South Wales.
Sir Mekere today called on the former managing director of MVIL, Dr John Mua, to help recover the money.
“Dr Mua would save the nation a lot of money by assisting us in the recovery of the K96 million and its return to IPBC.
“For the nation to recover the money through court proceedings would be expensive and time-consuming. I would like Dr Mua to help us avoid this.”

Sir Mekere Morauta answers questions on National Petroleum Company

Minister for Public Enterprises, Sir Mekere Morauta, said today the O’Neill-Namah Government’s decision to restructure the National Petroleum Company (NPCP) had been made in the national interest.
“A number of questions have been asked about NEC’s decision, and I am happy to respond to them,” he said.
“The first thing to say is that there has been no change of ownership of the shares in the LNG project belonging to the State and to the landowners.
“They remain held in trust within IPBC by NPCP (formerly Kroton) on behalf of the State and the landowners.
“All that has been changed is the management structure of NPCP/Kroton, to make it simpler, more efficient and ultimately cheaper for the State and landowners.
“That will clearly benefit both the State and landowners.”

Questions to the Minister for State Enterprise :

1. Why has he decided to have a Shell Company when it needs to function like a Joint Venture Partner in what is the largest investment that PNG has ever made?

The purpose of IPBC, including NPCP/Kroton, is only to hold state assets. It is not an operating company. All it does is distribute the dividends from the equity – to the State and to the landowners.

If the landowners want to enter into a joint venture they can do so through Petromin, or MRDC or a private company.

2. How will the shell company manage cash calls, monitor the Project progress, do the analysis of various legal, commercial and technical complexities of the Project during the construction and into production phases of the Project?

IPBC will employ the best technical team to manage cash calls, monitor the project and analyse the legal, commercial and technical complexities. The technical team will continue to attend joint-venture meetings, along with expert DPE staff. Cash calls are currently paid by IPBC and this will continue.

3. Are we just going to be watching and accepting what foreign companies tell us on the various aspects of the projects or we will develop our own skills in oil and gas?

As above. Also, it is not the best use of human resources to have expert staff spread across NPCP/Kroton, Petromin, DPE and MRDC.

4. What happens to the Landowners 25.75% equity in the Kroton equity?

Nothing happens to the landowners’ equity. It remains with the NPCP/Kroton shell company.

Under this decision, we have cut out the middle-man between IPBC and landowners. Landowners will not have huge fees deducted from their dividends by NPCP/Kroton.

For example, for next year NPCP/Kroton has demanded a budget of K75 million. Landowners would have had to pay their share of this.

5. Why has IBPC or the State Enterprise Minister not consulted us Landowners? It makes us wonder whether there was wider consultation amongst the other Ministers and whether it was endorsed by the Prime Minister?

The decision was necessary under the planned legislation for the Sovereign Wealth Fund. The SWF NEC submission was jointly sponsored by the Prime Minister, along with myself and the Treasurer. The Prime Minister approved the decision to restructure NPCP/Kroton. All other Cabinet Ministers were consulted on the decision at NEC.

6. Was this decision done in consultation with the other State agencies like DPE, the developer of the LNG Project etc ?

The submission was jointly sponsored by the Minister for Public Enterprises and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy. Treasury was also consulted. DPE has been consulted about taking over NPCP’s community affairs staff. The decision to restructure NPCP/Kroton will also help reduce the industry confusion surrounding the creation and operations and responsibilities of NPCP/Kroton, Petromin and the proposed Petroleum Resources Authority. This makes things simpler, more efficient and less expensive for everyone.

7. In light of national interests, we wonder who IPBC and Sir Mekere’s advisers are. Certainly this decision as reported by the Minister for State Enterprises does not look into the big picture in terms of PNG’s national interest.

I am advised by IPBC, Government departments and institutions and independent consultants. I consult the Prime Minister and other Ministers. I always act in the national interest and in this case in the interest of landowners. Consolidating the vehicles used for PNG participation in resource projects means that we can use PNG skills and financial resources more efficiently to get a better deal for all Papua New Guineans. That is what the national interest is all about.

8. Why is the current draft Organic law on Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) silent on a nominated or designated state entity as the vehicle for managing the state’s interests in PNG LNG Project? Are the current media statements by Sir Mekere and IPBC deliberating endorsing the demise of NPCP (Kroton)? Notwithstanding the current SWF draft legislation, we landowners are interested to know the link between the nominated state entity, the development funds and our share of Kroton equity.

The Organic Law is about the management of revenue. It is not about the management of equity. The nominated entity under the IPBC Act and the LNG Project Loan Agreement is NPCP/Kroton. The loan Agreement is a binding legal agreement signed by the former Somare Government and may not be changed. The equity and the landowners’ equity remain exactly where it has always been, and managed by the people it has always been managed by. NPCP/Kroton has been restructured because it was wasting state money and landowner money by duplicating activities that could be carried out by others, for example DPE and Petromin.


Mekere Morauta KCMG MP


Minister for Public Enterprises

Bart Philemon in Parliament today on the 22 reserved seats for women

Mr. Speaker.

1.0 Introduction & Setting the context

Let me be very clear. I DO NOT have any problems at all about Women in political leadership. In fact, there are many very capable women who can provide better political leadership than man. So I am NOT in this debate to argue whether a male or a female can lead better.

I stand today as a National Leader. And I make my remarks consistent with my role as a former Treasurer for four years and as an Opposition spokesman on Budget and Finances for four years.

Mr. Speaker.

I think this is the most consequential act of law making since our independence and this will now go down in our political history books.

We have now legislated to allow women to enter Parliament as legislators without going through the normal electoral process.

Mr. Speaker.

I personally have no problem in giving fair representation to our women population. They are important partners to work along with in pursuing our development goals as enshrined in our constitution.

Because of women, we are all here today. Women are an inseparable part of community life and our family life. They share our lives as mothers, wives, daughters, nieces and friends.

Mr. Speaker.

I consider women as a most important part of the society, for me it is the sign of modesty and respect in the society.

There are women who make the fate of societies. They are the reason of the success of every successful man, because they are the one who gives the moral support and listen to their son, brother, husband and father when no one listen and support them. So they don’t deserve to be looked as a thing of time pass or a tissue paper whose fate is to get used and thrown away.

Mr Speaker.

My issue on debating this bill is about the right use of public money in our nation – at this crucial time.

We must, as responsible leaders, act responsibly to ensure that the priority needs of Papua New Guinea and the 6.7 million people are addressed.

I want to ask this Parliament to lay aside in your mind the potentially emotive equality in gender debate. And I want you to focus on the facts and figures together with the issues I must raise.

I want to highlight the cost of governance and measure this against this bill to add 22 reserved seats for women which in total would add at 24 seats to this National Parliament Chamber with the two regional seats for Hela and Jiwaka Provinces.

2.0 The Parliament & Cabinet as envisioned by CPC fathers


Mr Speaker.

Let me remind this honourable House what our constitutional founding fathers said about our role. In chapter 3, clause 4 of the CPC Report while addressing the reasoning behind The LEADERSHIP CODE, our constitutional founding fathers envisioned, and I quote:

In his public office, a leader’s first responsibility is to the people he or she represents or on whose behalf he is working. This responsibility must override self interest. A leader’s first loyalty must be to his office, not to himself. Such priority of loyalties might in fact mean some personal loss of opportunity or benefit, but this personal and official responsibility of a leader is assumed when he takes office, and it continues throughout his entire tenure of office. END OF QUOTE.

Mr Speaker.

If we, as elected leaders by virtue of this Constitution, are to be faithful to our mandate, we must take note of the thoughts of these founding fathers on leadership and decision-making.

The Constitution and subordinate legislations as they framed allowed for 109 MPs and a maximum of 27 Cabinet Ministers.

Because of the early Bougainville secession movement, the Provincial Government system was introduced. Then we added 12 Vice Ministries.

We have now added five additional ministries to bring this to 33 ministries altogether.

SO now we have the following:

• 33 Cabinet Ministries

• 12 Permanent Secretaries or Vice Ministers

• 19 Permanent Parliamentary Committees

• 14 Parliamentary Referral Committees

Mr Speaker, add all the costs of the provincial government system, the district administrations and all the Government Departments and statutory bodies, our country has a very high public sector bill.

3.0 Huge Cost of Public Sector

Wages alone account for over K2.55 billion for some 77,000 public servants, 109 MPs and 584 political staff.

Year after year since I became a Member for Parliament – particularly since I had anything to do with PNG’s finances, I have raised concern about this public sector bills.

With the five new additional Cabinet Ministries introduced, figures from the SRC Determinations, indicate that some K21,492,781 is needed annually to cover the salary, allowances and staff salaries of the Executive Council Members alone. An additional K3 million needed to be found to pay for the additional 5 new ministries.

Mr Speaker.

I see no justification for the increase in Cabinet Ministries. I see no justification for the 12 Vice Ministers. Were all Ministers (before the additional five) overloaded with work? Instead of the usual eight hours a day, were the Ministers working 12 hours to 16 hours per day?

In truth, there was been no research to determine this. And then 12 Vice Ministers were added. What actually do these 12 Honourable Members do for the extra perks and privileges? The public hardly hear or see them at work. This floor has yet to hear a vice ministerial statement, or even a ministerial statement that acknowledges vice ministers’ contribution on the floor of Parliament.

If a leader’s first responsibility and loyalty is to the people and to the office, would any leader at all in clear conscience voted for the additional five Cabinet positions? Would a Prime Minister, from that perspective, allowed for 12 Vice Ministers to be appointed? The answer should be a resounding NO. But instead, in PNG, it has been YES.

Mr. Speaker.

And now we want to add two more regional seats and 22 more reserved seats for women to this Parliament!

4.0 Report of the Public Sector Rightsizing Working Group


Mr Speaker.

In September 2004, the National Executive Council chaired by then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in NEC Decision 143/2004 approved the establishment of the Public Sector Rightsizing Working Group. Their job was to provide the NEC with an appropriate policy, strategy and plan of action for an overall review and restructuring of government administration to achieve the government’s fiscal objectives for a reduction and rationalization of budget expenditure.

The report of this Public Sector Working Group was concluded in September 2006 and handed over to the Prime Minister shortly after.

This Rightsizing Report done by academics and hands-on experts. This report, on issues directly related to cost of governance, highlights the following:

(And this is a direct quotation) There are 27 Ministries at the moment in PNG, one Minister for about every 190,000 people. This is much higher than in other developing countries. The world average is around 16. National Parliament Ministers in PNG typically receive an annual salary of around K80, 000 (representing a total base salary cost to National Parliament of K2 million). This cost is compounded by the excessive level of support provided to this largest number of ministers. There are over 500 ministerial support staff servicing 27 Ministers – over 10 staff on average per Minister. For example, direct ministerial support services received K13 million in 2005. Involvement by the backbench in the process of government is limited; committee processes are not used effectively.

Mr Speaker.

The report examined the types of introduced reforms into Cabinet and examined PNG’s peculiarity, and recommended that there be: (And I QUOTE)

a reduction in the number of Ministers to between 15 and 20 (with departments grouped into portfolios). ADB reported the world average to be 16. Developing nations in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific had considerable variation. PNG’s current 27 Cabinet Ministers is large in comparison with many developing countries. (END OF QUOTE).

The report, done by PNG’s own sons, recommended:

A number of vice ministers in charge of various portfolio agencies with an overall Portfolio Minister

Reducing 24 departments to 18 portfolio departments.

In short, this report compiled by experts in various fields recommended re-organisation to reduce costs - not additional new ministries. We want to reduce the cost of governance – and increase the delivery of goods and services.

5.0 Analysising cost of governance and delivery of goods and services

Mr. Speaker.

I ask myself: will the additional seats increase the delivery of goods and services?

The same report highlights how savings in cutting down of number of ministries and number of Government Departments would have savings as follows:

For every K3 million, the State can:

• Engage 198 more policemen to address the law and order problems per year

• Educate 10,200 pre school students for a year

• Purchase medical supplies for vaccines for 10,200 young children per year

• Re-seal (single coat) 30 kilometres of road per year

Will 22 reserved seats for women increase delivery of goods and services?

Let me now focus specifically on this bill to allow for 22 reserved seats for women.

Mr Speaker, it is estimated that each seat will cost taxpayers about K500, 000 so we are talking about K11 million addition to the cost of governance.

Papua New Guinea is no where near to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. These goals and our human development indicators show that:

1. Up to five women die daily while giving birth;

2. Up to 15,000 out of every 100,000 children born will die as infants or within the first five years of their young life. Half of those will be female infants or children;

3. PNG is still struggling to balance gender equality in enrolments and retentions.

4. HIV/AIDS continues to create havoc especially among our young people – half of whom are female and who are the most vulnerable.

Mr Speaker.

This the only report which recommends cutting cost of governance. The 22 reserved seats for women will no doubt raise the scale a little in gender equality.

But I am faced with this mathematics: With just K9 million out of the K11 million for the proposed additional reserved seats for women, the State can:

• Engage 594 more policemen to address the law and order problems per year which will keep our womenfolk and girls safer

• Educate 30,600 pre school students for a year which will educate 15,300 female pupils

• Purchase medical supplies for vaccines for 30,600 young children per year which will save the life of 15,300 female children from early death and give them a chance at life.

• Re-seal (single coat) 90 kilometres of road per year allowing access for travellers of which 50 per cent are likely to be females.

6.0 Conclusion

Mr Speaker.

This bill boils down to this question:

Does gender equality in political leadership addresses the current development priority needs of Papua New Guinea?

In other words, does the cost of having 22 reserved seats in parliament addresses poverty eradication, better education, improved health, add more infrastructure, roll out more utilities to the majority of our 6.7 million people.

The answer, Mr Speaker, is NOBODY CAN TELL US. NOBODY KNOWS.

Faced with an obscure attempt to address our development woes by allowing for gender equality in political leadership, and faced with immediate human development indicators that ought to highlight immediate funding priorities, Mr Speaker, I have decided, consistent with my stance on reducing the cost of governance and public sector, NOT to support this bill.

I therefore do not support this bill because it adds to the cost of governance without showing it will improve delivery of goods and services to the masses.

Thank you.

BART PHILEMON

Women's bill passed

Parliament has just passed the bill for reserved seats for women - the Womens Equality and Participation Bill - by 72 votes to 2.

Western Province Governor Bob Danaya and Lae MP Bart Philemon opposed it

‘Crime rates to increase if PNG fails to share wealth’

THE World Bank has warned of increases in crime rates if there is continued failure in addressing the inequality in distribution of the nation’s economic wealth, The National reports.
“Progress against the modified Millennium Development Goals adopted by the PNG government is generally off track.
“Crime rates may well rise further, exacerbating a major operational cost for businesses, if there is continued failure to address mounting inequality, limited opportunities for low-skilled workers, and poor provision of security and other public services,” the bank said about PNG in its economic update titled: Navigating Turbulance, Sustaining Growth. It was released in Singapore yesterday.
It said the O’Neill government had formulated “ambitious plans to tackle these issues.”
“Now, before revenues from new natural resource projects start to flow, is the time to deve­lop the systems and lay the groundwork for the improvements in governance needed to achieve those goals,” it said.
It wanted that although PNG was headed for its eighth consecutive year of growth with GDP likely to hit 10%, there were risks that the government should be aware of.
High inflation is the obvious one. There is still continuing uncertainty on the global financial front which could reverse the high commodity prices that PNG enjoys today.
If this happens, resource projects could be put on the back burner.
“Concerns are growing around both external and domestic developments. The deteriorating and more uncertain global outlook creates risks that the prices of PNG’s exports may retreat significantly from recent levels.
“A reversal in commodity prices may reduce the likelihood of potential future resource projects reaching final approval,” the bank warned.
“PNG’s economic outlook remains strong, though not without risks. The central driver is the stream of new investments in the country’s productive capacity.
“Residential property constraints in the main urban areas, and the associated very high rental rates, are also being addressed with a large increase in the supply of new housing units and hotel rooms expected to enter the market from Q4 2011 and through 2012.
“Efforts are also being made to improve the efficiency with which business and government operate, although PNG’s ranking in the 2012 Doing Business survey declined by four positions to 101 out of 183 economies as other countries reform efforts moved ahead of PNG’s.
“The government is also investing in measures to strength its public financial management systems, but the current management of the various financial accounts has not helped remove excess liquidity from the financial system,” the bank said

Mola: Pregnant mothers prefer church hospitals

By SALLY TIWARI

SOME pregnant mothers prefer going to church-run hospitals to deliver their babies than public hospitals, Prof Glen Mola said, The National reports.
Mola, the owner of the Paradise Private hospital blames this on the ill-treatment of the mothers by public health officers.
He told a Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care Needs Assessment workshop recently that there was a decline in the number of supervised births in public hospitals from 60% in the 1970s to 36% last year.
“Health workers in public hospitals are not welcoming and friendly.
“They scold and scream and insult the mothers who are in pain to give birth.
“This kind of approach often drives the mothers away.”
He said this was because many health workers work without supervision causing them to develop unfriendly habits.
Mola said this was also a contributing factor to high maternal mortality rate in PNG apart from the lack of skilled birth attendants and access to proper services.
He said an example was the rural St Michaels Hospital run by the Catholic mission in the Dengoglu area in Chimbu.
Mola said the patients preferred to go there because the health staff were friendly.
He said it was time to re-introduce supervision and teamwork back into the public health system to improve the attitude of health staff.

Madang businesswoman Catherine Mal and family guilty of murder

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

Madang businesswoman Catherine Mal, her son and his two cousins have been found guilty of murder, marking the end of a two-year court case, The National reports.
There was no show of remorse when the decision was handed down yesterday before a packed courtroom by judge David Cannings.
He said based on written and pictorial evidences, and oral evidence of Wetei Gumari, six state witnesses and one independent witness, he found enough reason to convict the four.
The defence’s  argument that the Sakel fa­mily stood to gain land if the mother and son were put away thereby all aligned to the Sakel family would have motives to lie, was seen as a valid submission.
“The court must be cautious in a case such as this where diametrically different versions of events are given by different groups of witnesses, in identifying what interests each group has in the outcome of the case,’’ Cannings said.
“Certainly it would be in the interest of the Sakel family, in terms of their land dispute to see the Mal family disadvantaged by having the influence of their leader, Catherine, lessened or neutralised by seeing her serve a prison sentence.”
He also stressed that the accused also had motives to lie and that would be to avoid conviction.
 Cannings found that on Feb 28, 2009, an argument which started at the 4-Mile market between male members of the two families ended up in a fight at the junction leading to Yagaum and 10-Mile.
The court found that during the fight, a Daga Nanas was killed after being hit on the back of the head by Emmanuel Ong (Catherine’s son) and again on the side of his jaw with a three cornered iron rod.
Keith Mal was the one who pushed a knife into the Nanas’ mouth and twisted it, cutting the tongue, gums and causing a number of teeth to fall out.
Keith is yet to be found for questioning.
The court found that Seth Mal shot Nanas in the eyebrow with a slingshot at close range, Onen Mal hit him in the stomach with a shade tree branch causing blood to come out of his mouth and nose and Catherine who urged on her group of relatives by shouting “kill him”.
Medical evidence in court show that Nanas died as a result of “compound fractures of the mandible and maxilla causing asphyxiation”.
The four members of the Mal family were hugging and crying with family members and friends yesterday afternoon after being told that they would go to Beon.
They will be sentenced on Dec 5

Baby’s corpse found among rubbish

Story by ZACHERY PER

A new-born baby was wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped at a rubbish dump in Goroka town, The National reports.

Residents of Rotary Park looking at the dead baby wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped among a pile of rubbish

The baby had its umbilical chord clipped with diapers wrappers from the hospital, suggesting to police that the mother must have deliberately killed the baby and dumped it among the garbage.
A senior medical officer at the Goroka hospital confirmed that the baby must have been left at the dump for over two days.
The hospital will assist police in identifying mo­thers who gave birth during the weekend up to Monday afternoon.
Mothers who lived around Rotary Park expressed shock that the mother must have dumped the baby at the rubbish dump in the night during heavy rain

Women disappointed at all the politics

The public gallery of parliament was awash in the national colours yesterday as women in their black, red and yellow meri blouses virtually took over the entire gallery, anticipating parliament to introduce the bill on the 22 reserved seats.
To their bitter disappointment, parliament did nothing of the kind and, instead, was reduced to a shouting mad house when Speaker Jeffery Nape decided to unilaterally sack Pomio MP Paul Tiensten.
 The women, who had arrived at Parliament House in busloads, were disappointed with one declaring on the steps of parliament: “This is the very reason why women are needed in this house. Women will bring back self-respect, dignity and common sense.”
Disappointed too were the people of Hela and Jiwaka, who had anticipated the electoral boundaries commission report would be tabled yesterday.
Both bill and report are on the notice paper and are expected to be tabled in this session

MPs shout down each other in chamber

PARLIAMENT witnessed another rowdy and aggressive session yesterday when members started shouting down each other when the speaker “disqualified” Paul Tiensten as member for Pomio, The National reports.
As parliament met for the November Budget session at 2.55pm, Speaker Jeffery Nape announced that Tiensten was no longer an MP because he had missed three consecutive parliament sittings – Aug 9, Sept 6 and Sept 20.
“Under section 104(2)(d) of the Constitution, I declare the seat of Pomio vacant,” he said.
Nape then called on the sergeant-at-arms to remove Tiensten, saying he was no longer the Pomio MP.
The decision angered non-government members who starting calling names and described the move as “cheap politics”.
Government backbenchers joined in the verbal abuse against the opposition.
Tiensten, who took the back seat of the middle bench, with a clenched fist responded in Tok Pisin: “Yupela kam rausim mi (you come and remove me) but no one, not even the sergeant-at-arms, attempted to eject him from the chamber.
Former attorney-general Sir Arnold Amet made a point of order that the speaker’s decision was a serious breach of the Constitution and that he had misapplied section 104(2)(d) to remove Tiensten.
He said a similar matter, relating to the ouster of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as East, Sepik MP, was still before the court and that Nape could be in contempt.
However, the speaker said Tiensten was not the East Sepik regional MP but the Pomio MP and the cases were separate, not part of the current proceeding by the East Sepik government.
“Tiensten is not the member for ESP regional. He is the member for Pomio and this is not your court house, sit down,” Nape told Sir Arnold, amid an uproar in the chamber.
When Tiensten refused to budge, Nape suspended parliament for 30 minutes until informed that the member had left the chamber. However, Tiensten walked back into the chamber, surprising Nape who immediately declared: “Under section 16 of the standing orders, I adjourn parliament to tomorrow 10am (today)”. He then walked out.
Sir Arnold called a media conference after the adjournment, saying that the anti-government bloc would take the matter to court today. He said they would be arguing that the issue of qualification and disqualification of members of parliament was the prerogative of the court and not the speaker or parliament.
Sir Arnold said they would file an urgent application to stop Tiensten from being disqualified and would also apply through the court to have Nape arrested for contempt.
The public gallery, which was filled with women in PNG colours, who came to show their support for the women’s 22 reserve seat proposed law, walked away annoyed.

Tiensten: I only missed two sittings

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

POMIO MP Paul Tiensten insists he has only missed two sessions of parliament – on Aug 6 and Sept 20 – and calls it mischievous his suspension by Speaker Jeffery Nape, The National reports.
“My calculation is very clear. I only missed the Aug 6 and Sept 20 sessions of parliament,” he said after the House was adjourned to today.
Tiensten jokingly said his head was very clear – even if he was in “the Cayman Islands or Middle East” as reported by a media organisation.
“This is the third sitting of parliament which I know that if I miss will result in such a situation but I was in parliament,” he said.
Tiensten said the assertion by Nape that he had missed the Aug 9 meeting was mischievous because Aug 9 was the continuation of the Aug 2 meeting of parliament.
Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru came out in defence of Tiensten and Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare over Nape’s rulings, saying section 104 of the Constitution did not give the speaker the powers to disqualify any member of parliament.

Speaker declares Pomio seat vacant

By JEFFREY ELAPA

SPEAKER Jeffery Nape has disqualified Pomio MP Paul Tiensten for missing three consecutive sittings of Parliament, The National reports.
In a drama played out in front of a packed public gallery in the country’s house of representatives yesterday, Nape told Tiensten that he had missed the sittings on Aug 9, Sept 6 and Sept 20. He was disqualified under section 104 (2) (d) of the Constitution.
Tiensten, taken by surprise along with his political colleagues by the decision, was also obviously disappointed and decided to defy the order to leave the parliamentary chambers.
He remained in his seat despite an order by Nape to the sergeant-at-arms to remove the MP.
Tiensten, the former minister for national planning and monitoring, plans to challenge Nape’s decision in court shortly.
He is the second MP to be disqualified by Nape in the past two months. The first was Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the founding father of the nation and one of the longest serving parliamentarians in the Commonwealth.
Tiensten went to Australia after the government-appointed Task Force Sweep wanted him for questioning over the payment of a K10 million subsidy to Rabaul businessman Eremas Wartoto to fund his airline Travel Air.
However, he returned to the country last week and was immediately arrested and charged.
He is on a K5,000 bail.
Tiensten denied he had missed three sittings.
“As far as I call recall I have only missed two – on Sept 6 and Sept 20. If the speaker was talking about the Aug 9 sitting, then it is the continuation of the Aug 2 sitting which I attended,” he said.
His colleagues in the opposition benches described Nape’s decision as “cheap politics”, saying what Nape did was in serious breach of the Constitution and the Standing Orders.
Former attorney-general Sir Arnold Amet said the matter was absolutely prejudicial as a related matter was pending in the Supreme Court.
It was the Supreme Court interpretation of the Constitution on the legality of the election of Peter O’Neill as prime minister and the disqualification of Sir Michael Somare by Nape.
He said the matter could not be interpreted and applied even by the speaker or parliament.
Sir Arnold also said Tiensten was not given a fair hearing on why he was “absent”.
In the packed public gallery, women who had come to hear the introduction of the Bill to reserve 25 seats for them in the House went away disappointed after the short sitting dealt with other matters including Tiensten’s disqualification.
Also in the gallery were people from Jiwaka and Hela who had come to witness the tabling of the bill to declare them separate provinces.

House in chaos

SPEAKER Jeffery Nape stole the show yet again yesterday when the National Parliament resumed for its last session of the year, The National reports.

Tiensten...will challenge in court his sacking and apply to have Speaker Jeffrey Nape "charged with contempt and jailed".-Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

It was total pandemonium on the floor from the moment he walked into the chamber.
Not only did he arrive one hour late to preside over the scheduled 2pm session, but he took another unprecedented albeit unilateral step to “sack” Pomio MP Paul Tiensten as a member of parliament.
That was when all hell broke loose.
Nape was late for the opening after being picked up from Australia, where he was holidaying, by the Falcon jet.
His first business on the notice paper was to announce the “sacking” of Tiensten, using the same constitutional provision he had used three months earlier to remove Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as the East Sepik regional member.
Nape then ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove the MP.
Tiensten, however, stood his ground and challenged the speaker to remove him from his seat.
No one took up the challenge, forcing Nape to adjourn parliament until the ringing of the bells.
As the speaker was retiring to his office, Tiensten followed him but what transpired in there was not immediately known.
Following the ringing of the bells, Nape returned to the chamber and the chair, and so too did Tiensten to his seat.
Shortly before 4pm, a disappointed speaker adjourned parliament to 10am today and walked out of the chamber.
Parliament adjourned an hour after it started – a setback for the O’Neill-Namah government which is already one week behind the tabling of its first national budget.
Also left unattended and frustrated yesterday were the women’s lobby group ­­­ho­ping for an indication on when their reserved seats proposed law would be introduced for the first reading, and the proponents of the law for separate Jiwaka and Hela provinces in time for the general election next year

Sam Basil reflects on the ‘oppressive’ 9 years under National Alliance

National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil today called on Papua New Guineans not to be quick to forget nine years of oppressive, manipulative and back-stabbing regime under National Alliance.

 Basil said that the people must not allow National Alliance Party to think they are suffering from memory loss or amnesia on their antics while in power.

 "Their nine-year reign was an oppressive, manipulative and back-stabbing time for MPs aligned with them.

 "It is common knowledge – and well-documented in press publications and broadcasts, parliamentary Hansard and court files just how twisted and evasive their regime was," Basil said.

 "Start with the Julian Moti case in which directions from the Prime Minister's Office resulted in breaking multi-laws – domestic as well as international."

 "Look at the way NA swept under the carpet allegations of PNG Cabinet Ministers' involvement in the Taiwan diplomatic scandal in which money changed hands.

 "Look at how they kept manipulating the Speaker to gag debate on pertinent issues in Parliament and their bulldozing of then Attorney General and Justice Minister Dr Allan Marat to sign off on a legal and highly technical heads of agreement on gas – a new industry and venture in PNG.

 "Millions of kina has been paid out to appease landowners in the gas wells and economic corridor without following proper procedures.

 "Note also the way NA MPs tried to delay facing Leadership Tribunals through the courts only to find that their delays had no substance and the then Prime Minister was found guilty of misconduct in office."

Basil said that with that kind of track-record in governance, what sort of regime can PNG expect if they are returned to power.

 "Look at the way they have been panting for power since they were thrown out: instead of forming an effective opposition and keeping the O'Neill-Namah Government accountable and transparent, they are going around calling themselves Ministers still," Basil said.

 "I feel sorry for those who might want to re-join NA after breaking ranks with them to join us to oust them from power. You may be courted now but you will be mercilessly and drastically struck down if they secure power."

 Reiterating his earlier comments, Basil said: "MPs and political parties  who joined wih Peoples National Congress and PNG Party to form the O'Neill-Namah Government are not blind and deaf.

 "They know and are mindful of the reasons they broke ranks with an NA-led regime. No great transformation has changed any of the key NA players behind the mooted change. 

 "They are the same and the same fate awaits any naïve enough to empower them.

 "The gap has been created for the new generation of leaders to take this country forward.  One or two steps back will only allow the old guards to repeat their old ways of doing things.

 "If Sam Abal cannot be the Opposition Leader then I call on the likes of  Francis Potape,  Isaac Joseph,  James Marape, Fidelis Semoso or other young and vibrant leaders from the Opposition to take control just like what we did when we were in the opposition.

 "The world doesn't end with the old guard. We young, vibrant and visionary leaders must prove our worth and rise up whether in Opposition or in Government. We owe it to our voters back home to perform to the best of our ability."

Basil decries neglect of Opposition

National Planning and Monitoring Minister Hon Sam Basil today called on Wabag MP and former acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to take the reins of the Opposition immediately.

 "If Mr Abal does not assume the chair as Leader of Opposition, I am challenging the young MPs to take up the challenge and assume the positions instead of leaving a unhealthy vacuum in the highest democratic institution of the nation," Basil said,  reiterating his call from yesterday.

 Basil's call follows a chaotic disarray among ousted former Government Ministers and MPs today when Speaker Jeffery Nape ousted Pomio MP Paul Tiensten as a parliamentarian.

 The lack of coordinated approach by the ousted MPs who were in Government previously was evident as they looked for direction and leadership.

 "These MPs are neglecting their duty to ensure that we have a vibrant democracy in which the Government-of-the-day is daily held accountable for decisions that are made," Basil said.

 "The neglect in duty while Pomio MP Paul Tiensten was evading the strong arm of the law without any leadership guidance is the reason why he missed three Parliament sessions which resulted in his disqualification as a Member of Parliament."

 Basil said: "We, young MPs who were in the Opposition for four years, were served well by our veteran MPs in New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan, Moresby Northwest MP and (now) State Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta and Lae MP Bart Philemon who is now Public Service Minister.

 "They provided stability of leadership and groomed us to know our duty as Members of the nation's supreme law-making body of Papua New Guinea – the Parliament or Legislature.

 "It is now time for MPs in their third or second term of Parliament and are in the Opposition to wake up, snap out of their hangover of power and positions and perform their routine and necessary duties as legislators.

 "Abal is a seasoned MP. Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare saw fit to give him the acting Prime Ministership on a golden platter. Now it is up to him to show Papua New Guinea the credentials that Sir Michael saw.

 "As I said yesterday the world doesn't end with the old guard. We young, vibrant and visionary leaders must prove our worth and rise up whether in Opposition or in Government. We owe it to our voters back home to perform to the best of our ability."

Tiensten disqualified from Parliament

Controversial Pomio MP Paul Tiensten has been disqualified by Speaker Jeffrey Nape after he missed three consecutive seatings of the Papua New Guinea Parliament: Aug 9, Sept 6, Sept 20 and Sept 21.

Marshalls forcefully removed Tiensten after he refused to leave his chair.

 Madang Governor, Sir Arnold Amet,  said that was a misintepretation of the Constitution, however, Parliament has been adjourned to 10am tomorrow.

Group out to feed the poor

DENNIS Perry is helping the poorest of the poor in Papua New Guinea – people who are living on rubbish, The National reports.

Perry...to help people who live on rubbish

The co-founder of Operation Food For Life has devoted the past 12 years to providing food and clothing to thousands of men, women and children living in appalling conditions on the outskirts of Port Moresby.
“If there is a hell on earth, I think I have found it,” Perry said.
“It is heartbreaking to witness people living in such horrific conditions 24 hours a day.”
The Cherrybrook resident said Operation Food For Life – an Australian registered charity – was made up entirely of volunteers who feed about 30,000 people a year.
“In the main we go where no other agencies go,” he said.
“(The response is) one of relief, one of joy, one of appreciation, because what they are surviving on is just leftovers from the garbage dump.”
The charity recently partnered with the World Health Organisation and Pacific Adventist University to begin an immunisation programme for those living on the dump who are at high risk of diseases such as malaria and cholera.
“We are there to make a difference,” Perry said.
“It’s all about giving the people hope by simple acts of compassion.” – Hornsby Advocate

‘Invest in clean water’

PAPUA New Guinea needs to invest in options that will prevent people from getting sick, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Jamie Maxtone-Graham says, The National reports.
He made the statement at the International Water Association development congress and exhibition in Malaysia in recognition of the importance of preventing sicknesses through the use of clean water.
Maxtone-Graham is accompanied by a team of technical experts and is eager to learn about international best practice examples of sustainable water and sanitation policies and management.
They will use the opportunity to form a policy document on water and sanitation management.
Maxtone-Graham said conventional medicines and the use of pharmaceutical medicines could alleviate only 40% of the world’s health problems and “if PNG invests in sanitation, clean water, education and proper hygiene, 35% of the population can be protected”.
“It is about economics and making smart choices,” he said.
“I want to be innovative and learn about the options available in order to make an educated choice.”
He said prevention was more profitable than treatment and water and good sanitation were the basis of preventive medicine.
“We are fortunate our water supplies have not reached the polluted levels of industrialised countries so we need to look at policies and legislation to protect these precious resources,” he said.
The conference brings water professionals from developing countries to address water and sanitation issues with a specific focus on solutions.
It is aimed at linking people from different regions and organisations with different approaches to water and sanitary service delivery in low and middle income countries.

Senior public servant slapped with four more charges in relation to Tiensten and Wartoto

By JACOB POK

A SENIOR civil servant facing misappropriation charges has been further slapped with four similar charges relating to the awarding of K10 million to Travel Air Ltd in March, The National reports.
William Sent, the suspended first assistant secretary of the infrastructure and economic division of the National Planning and Monitoring Department, was again charged yesterday with one count each of abuse of office, official corruption, misappropriation and conspiracy to defraud.
It brings to six the total charges against him.
The arrest was carried out by members of the Investigation Task-Force Sweep tasked by the government to investigated allegations of corruption in the National Planning and Monitoring department.
It is alleged that Sent had used his position in the department to assess and approve for payment a proposal by Travel Air, a business owned and operated by Kokopo businessman Eremas Wartoto.
He allegedly conspired with the then acting department secretary, Ruby Zarriga, then national planning and monitoring minister Paul Tiensten and Wartoto to facilitate the payment.
It was further alleged that he did so knowing that it would redirect funds earmarked in the 2011 development budget as airfreight subsidies for the benefit of rural communities in PNG that are serviced only by existing third level airlines and that he did so knowing well that the proposal was defective.
Sent was arrested on a court warrant on Saturday afternoon as he was about to board a flight to Mt Hagen and detained until a court bail could be organised for him.
He is expected to appear in court for mention today.
Task Force Sweep chairman, Sam Koim said the criminal process had commenced and Sent remained innocent until proven otherwise in court.

East New Britain urged to address sex crimes

A COMMUNITY leader has described East New Britain as a “sick society” with the prevalence of sexual crimes against minors and incest cases, The National reports.
He called on all East New Britain leaders, including Governor Leo Dion, to start clamping down on sexual crimes.
The community leader claimed to be a relative of a victim who was raped and sexually assaulted by a 60-year-old man who has since been sentenced by the Kokopo National Court to 21 years in jail.
He asked that his name be withheld to protect the identity of the victim.
He said leaders of East New Britain had been very quiet about the increasing number of incest and sexual crimes.
“East New Britain is a sick society where sexual crimes, including incest, have been allowed to go out of hand,” he said.
He said police should fast-track complaints against leaders which had been gathering dust in police offices. He said leaders seemed to be above the law.
“There is one law for everyone and leaders are not above the law,” the leader from Taubar said.

‘Cannibal’ appears in court as pre-trial date set for Dec 12

A MAN who killed his nine-day-old adopted baby by eating it alive made a brief appearance in the Waigani National Court to obtain his trial date, The National reports.
Rex Timoku Paijawi yesterday appeared in court neatly dressed in a pair of long, black trousers, a sky-blue long sleeved shirt, with a tie and shoes.
Paijawi could hardly be recognised as the hand-cuffed person with the ‘deathly look’ when he first appeared at the Waigani Committal Court in May.
Paijawi, 35, from Purani Village, Hela, is charged with wilful murder after allegedly biting off the infant’s head on Feb 3 at the Wanbin settlement in Tabubil, Western.
Police had alleged witchcraft, cannibalism and insanity against him.
However, yesterday he appeared a different man, apparently due to psychiatric help.
When the judge called him, he responded by standing up and saying “yes your honour” on what the court had put to him.
He seemed to have a clear conscience.
He was seen talking to other people on remand in court and seemed to smile at them.
Yesterday, the state lawyer told the court that pre-trial statements of the matter were not ready because reports from the psychiatric hospital had yet to be obtained.
The court was told that the report had been requested for and would be made available soon.
Justice Panuel Mogish set the next hearing date for Dec 12.

High court runs short of judges

By SAMUEL RAITANO

THE Supreme Court in Waigani has been short of judges this month, according to Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, The National reports.
He said five judges, including himself, had taken the month to work on the decision of the East Sepik provincial executive Supreme Court special reference to be delivered on Dec 9.
Eight other judges were out of the province on duty.
Waigani has been left with only four judges.
Sir Salamo, who chose to help litigants in court yesterday, said some judges should be available after Dec 9 and 12.
It is understood that after the Dec 9 ruling on the East Sepik reference, the same five-man bench will hear the contempt case against Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat on Dec 12.
Yesterday, most cases listed before Sir Salamo were adjourned to dates after Dec 12.
Sir Salamo said given the number of Supreme Court cases and requirements that some cases would need more than one judge to preside over, some matters were likely to be heard next year.
Meanwhile, about 70 new lawyers will be admitted to the bar on Friday.
They are graduates from the University of Papua New Guinea who have acquired practising certificates from the Legal Training Institute.
An attempt to confirm the number of the new lawyers with LTI director Pauline Mogish was unsuccessful.
LTI yesterday confirmed preparations were under way for Friday’s admission to the bar.

UN: Violence against women, girls rife at Gordon market

By SHIRLYN BELDEN

THE United Nations in Papua New Guinea has reported that violence against women and girls is rife in Gordon market, National Capital District, The National reports.
A scope study conducted in December last year found that women, girls and children “do not have the safety and enjoyment of the market space”.
The report was revealed by UN Women yesterday at a workshop on ‘Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls’ programme in Port Moresby. 
Sixteen groups from the UN Women agency conducted interviews with market users and found that there were high levels of violence experienced by women and girls, transactional sex including minors, women and girls were the most vulnerable to violence and sexual violence, high level of extortion, the market being a violence risk area because of the lack of maintenance and planning, fear and anxiety was prevalent among all users, no trust in police and other city and market authorities, wantok system was rife for the gain of safety, lack of social cohesion, no social responsibility and ownership and lack of amenities.
UN Women is working closely with the National Capital District Commission, the Royal PNG Constabulary, NCD Governor Powes Parkop and other relevant authorities, NGOs, community leaders and donors to address these problems in the market.  
The UN Women suggested ways to counter the problems and they include: Revise the market management structure, increase citizen’s responsibilities, establishment of market management monitoring units, establishment of proper referral mechanisms, new revenue collection system, community engagement and more police patrols in the market.
The research survey was part of the global Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls programme which aims to:

• Reduce sexual harassment and sexual violence against women and girls in public places;
• Enable women and girls to move freely and safely and increase their ability to exercise such rights to enjoy such spaces;
• Increase access, freedom of movement and citizen’s responsibilities to keep public spaces safe and clean; and
• Increase social cohesion to prevent and reduce all forms of violence in market places.

In this programme, the UN Women will work effectively at the grassroots level to seek ways to help reduce violence on women and girls and the community.
PNG is the first country in the Pacific to adopt the Safe Cities programme, which was launched in India last Nov 25.

Extension concept helps women farmers

The contracting out of agricultural support services has had a positive impact in helping women farmers.

This extension approach, now known as the Smallholder Support Services Expansion Project, has supported many women farmers in the provinces.

President of the PNG Women in Agricultural Development Foundation, Maria Linibi, highlighted the success of the project at the International Conference on Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services held in Nairobi, Kenya, last week.

Linibi was one of the keynote speakers and presented her paper 'Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services: Mobilising Women Farmers and Making a Difference to Food and Livelihoods' to over 400 delegates from all over the world.

The SSSEP was first piloted in the Eastern Highlands and Morobe provinces by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and one of its objectives was to address the constraints faced by the women farmers in accessing and receiving agricultural services and extension support.

Linibi said that the concept had spread to other provinces and the PNGWIADF has taken it on board to assist women in disadvantaged rural areas. 

She said donor agencies and non-government organizstions have provided support to PNGWIADF in facilitating support services to women farmers.

PNGWIADF is a voice for the women and advocates for more participation of women in agricultural development.

It encourages women from all fields to share their knowledge and skills to support other women. 

The foundation assists the womenin implementing their agricultural activitiesaimed at improving livelihoods, income generation, improving food security, addressing non-employment of youths and women and gender and HIV/AIDS.

“We are helping women or empowering women by building their capacity, training them, linking them to funding sources, developing their business skills, and facilitating knowledge sharing and learning.," Linibi said.

"Capacity building is conducted with the support ofs everal national and international research and development organisations.”

The agricultural extension services are ineffective, considering that about 85% of the population isd ependent on agriculture for their livelihood in the rural areas of the country.

However, the introduction of the pilot project to test a new approach which focused on contracting out of support services has created many new opportunities, and PNGWIAB is one farmer group that is utilising the methodology to help the women.

Linibi said as a result,  increasing numbers of women smallholder farmers have received some form of support in a range of activities including food security, livestock, nutrition, food processing, floriculture, animal husbandry, basic bookkeeping, credit and others. 

Women farmers have also organised themselves into groups under the PNGWIAF umbrella and can have access to and network with national, regional and international partners.

“Local service providers in the form of expert farmers are readily available and have demonstrated competence in training other local farmers in improved production practices,” Linibi said.

She said a database for women farmers had also been created,  linking women to policy, research,donor partners and other stakeholders.

Linibi told the conference that the extension concept had worked well in PNG and suggested that other countries should try this system.