Tribal clash puts Black Cat Trail operations on hold

By PISAI GUMAR in The National

 

ETHNIC fighting between Biangais and Watuts two weeks ago are believed to have delayed the operations of a British volunteer team that has come to PNG to set up tour facilities in Morobe province.

Trekforce Worldwide has been in the province for the past two months to set up equipment along the World War II Black Cat Trail from Salamaua to Wau.

The volunteers – four women and seven men, who are based at Komiatam village, Salamaua, Huon Gulf – are involved in educating gateway villagers along the trail on ways to improve hospitality standards.

They have also been assisting the community in projects funded by the Morobe Tourism Bureau.

However, the conflict between Biangais and Watuts was said to have put Trek Force’s plans on hold.

Projects that have been postponed include the installations of a radio base at Kamiatam and contact points along the track in accordance with the development plan launched at Lae International Hotel in March last year.

Three of the volunteers left for Britain last Friday.

The others will remain in the province for about two months to teach in community schools in the district, including Salamaua High School.

During their time here, the volunteers completed a community project – a bio eco-friendly bathroom – for Komiatam village.

The semi-modern facility, containing a shower room, washing place and toilet, was launched last week.

K128 million jet for Papua New Guinea government! You got to be longlong, Somare!

By IAN TAUKURO

 

Interesting news on the front page of the Post-Courier, don't you think!???

The government is buying itself a sleek new corporate jet for a paltry K130 million! Yes, first they give themselves hefty allowances increases and now they see fit to get themselves a jet. What the hell is going on at Waigani!?

What about fixing up the schools, the hospitals, the roads or helping with the housing situation for us battlers? If appropriated properly, K130 million can go a long way and benefit a lot of people in real tangible ways - for instance, a classroom for kids who have to be taught under a tree, or more medicines for doctors/nurses to prescribe, or better roads that people can use to get to or from markets or subsidies on housing materials so people can build houses for themselves.

But, no, the government prefers that the people's money be spent on one of the most expensive items of all: a jet that only 109 people can use.

I cannot believe how out of touch the government is with what is going on in our country. It simply defies belief!

As you all know not all airports in our country can handle a jet. So if the MP's want to visit a remote part of their electorate(yes, every MP will find some excuse to joy ride on the new jet!), they'll most probably take the jet to the nearest jet airport  and then hop on a third level airline (propeller type) or helicopter to get to the remote village. In other words, it's going to cost more for their travel (fuel, plane/helicopter hire, pilot's salaries, etc.) Guess who will foot the bill?

The reasoning behind this particular government decision is also a bit of an insult to the older folk of our nation! They say the PM, who will use the jet more than others, needs a more comfortable ride because he's getting old and suffering from long periods of high altitude travel.

Screw him! What about the millions of old people in the country who suffer from long periods of WALKING because there isn't a vehicle nearby because the nearest road is unusable!!!!!!

It is plain to see that the pollies only want the jet for the image that it will give them. And to the MP's, we taxpayers, who are funding the purchase of the jet, can just go to hell!

 

Ian

Statement for World Health Day 2009

WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan talks to nurses during her visit in November 2008 to the earthquake-affected areas in China’s Shichuan province

BY MARGARET CHAN-Director General of theWHO

WHEN an emergency of disaster occurs, most lives are lost or saved, in the immediate aftermath of the event.
People count on hospitals and health facilities to respond, swiftly and efficiently, as the lifeline for survival and the backbone of support.
The tragedy of a major emergency or disaster is compounded when health facilities fail. When a hospital collapses or its functions are disrupted, lives that depend on emergency care can be lost.
Interruptions in routine services can also be deadly.
In large emergencies, such as those caused by earthquakes or floods, some countries have lost as much as 50% of their hospital capacity, right at the time when life saving services were most acutely needed.
Apart from causing increased suffering and loss of life, the failure of health facilities during an emergency can provoke a public outcry, especially when shoddy construction or violations of building codes are thought to be at fault.
To commemorate World Health Day this year, WHO is advocating a series of best practices that can be implemented in any resource setting to make hospitals safe during emergencies.
Apart from safe sting and resilient construction, good planning and carrying out emergency exercises in advance can help maintain critical functions.
Proven measures range from early warning systems to a simple hospital safety assessment, from protecting equipment and supplies to preparing staff to manage mass casualties and infection control measurers.
Different types of emergencies bring typical patterns of injuries, such as crush injuries in earthquakes and hypothermia in floods, with corresponding needs for training and supplies.
These needs can be anticipated in advance, and surge capacity can be tailored to manage them.
It is smart to think and plan ahead.
Worldwide, the number of emergencies and disasters is rising.
This trend is certain to continue as urbanisation crowds people together on unsafe sites and climate change brings more frequent and more severe extreme whether events.
We need to anticipate a growing number of areas that will become disaster prone.
Abundant experience demonstrates the tremendous pay off, also at the political level, when hospitals remain standing and functioning as beacons of security and solidity in the midst of disaster and despair.
We must never forget: hospitals and health facilities represent a significant investment. Keeping them safe in emergencies protects that investment, while also protecting the health and safety of people-our foremost concern.

World Health Day 2009: ‘Save Lives. Make Hospitals Safe In Emergencies’

WORLD Health Day 2009 focuses on the resilience and safety of health facilities and the health workers who treat those affected by emergencies.
Events around the world will highlight successes, advocate for safe facility design and construction, and build momentum for widespread emergency preparedness.
World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies.
Health centers and staff are critical lifelines for vulnerable people in disasters- treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people’s health needs.
They are cornerstones for primary health care in communities-meeting everyday needs, such as safe child birth services, immunisations and chronic disease care that must continue in emergencies.
Often, already-fragile health systems are unable to keep functioning through a disaster, with immediate and future public health consequences.
This year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and international partners are underscoring the importance of investing in health infrastructure that can withstand hazards and serve people in immediate need.
They are also urging health facilities to implement systems to respond to internal emergencies, such as fires and ensure the continuity of care.

Ian Thompson responds to The Melanesian Way

By IAN THOMPSON

 

What John Fowke has to say about the Melanesian Way is 100% correct, and is thoroughly understood by every Melanesian citizen of PNG.

What is very unusual is to see this obvious truth expressed publicly.

Expatriates from earlier times understand this "problem" very well, but because the subject is never mentioned by Melanesians in the presence of an outsider, very few recently-arrived foreigners have a clue as to the underlying reason why PNG is completely unable to govern itself.

They blame individuals rather than a way of life, and don't understand that they can't fix things using Western methods.

They get angry and frustrated and eventually either accept the situation or pack up and leave.

I knew Michael Somare before independence, and listened to his ambitions and his fears.

 He knew that he could never govern this country using the constitution forced on him by the UN and the Australian Government.

That's why he invented the "Melanesian way".

 I think he somehow believed that this would work.

He knew that it was his only hope.

There was nothing else.

For the reasons that John just expounded, the Melanesian Way would never be of any use in managing anything outside of a clan group.

It has done a wonderful job making Michael and his family enormously rich.

That's what the Melanesian Way is supposed to do.

The same system is also supposed to disadvantage your enemies in any way possible.

 It has done this too.

But don't blame Michael.

 He is just doing what his parents told him was his sacred duty.

 If you prosecute Michael and make him give back his Millions (Billions???) the next guy would do exactly the same thing.

Every Melanesian knows this, which is the reason why he can get away with the most blatant acts of mal-administration.

One finger pointing is three fingers back to you, so who can accuse?

You press guys do a fantastic job exposing the corruption that you know is preventing your country from progressing.

It breaks my heart to see how hard you try, and what little reward you get for it.

The ordinary PNG citizen simply coudn't care less.

They see Government money not as "theirs" but some kind of free handout that falls from the sky, and they see the corrupt politicians and public servants (plus their scum bag lawyers) as lucky people doing exactly what they would do themselves.

 Just look at the useless and mainly-silent Opposition parties.

Half a million here and there is enough to keep them quiet. (Teil blong pik em inap lon ol).

The number of PNG citizens who would actually put their country before themselves or their clan is so few that after nearly 50 years living there I honestly can't think of a single example.

Probably a few young educated people try, but they can't achieve much, and what are they really thinking anyway? Many pretend, but it's mainly bullshit for the consumption of ignorant foreigners.

I think PNG will be like the British, who never seem to get it right, but they "muddle along" and somehow survive.

Your wantok system is the best thing going for you, and anyone who would destroy that for some foreign and unproven system would have to be crazy.

I wish you a long and happy life living comfortably within the wantok system.

Take pride in your ancestors, who did a very good job of surviving as a race for many thousands of years, and have handed down a rich and vibrant culture to the wonderment of the whole world.

 

 

I love you all.

 

Regards,

 

Ian

Dreamers and their dreams

By JOHN FOWKE

 

Dear Ian,

 

I hope you won’t mind my using your email contact to get in touch direct.

Malum forwarded both your recent emails generated by my article Melanesian Way etc.

 I think we met briefly many years ago somewhere in Hagen or the Wahgi; I have an impression of a short, energetic and enthusiastic person.

 We are both dreamers in our own ways, both as pro-PNG thinkers who speak from realistic, up-to-date experience; and also dreamers, perhaps, from a cynic's point of view, in regard to the small likelihood of anything we express being taken to heart by large numbers of PNG'ians or, importantly, Australians.

I've been trying to get into the heads of AusAid and DFAT for a decade-and-a-half, with absolutely no success, despite the fact that an academic spy at ANU tells me that at DFAT they are absolutely desperate to come up with a new, more effective list of policies for Oz's ongoing assistance to PNG.

This has been commanded by King Kev for presentation in June 09!

 Long ol planti ol kiaps belong bipo mi les olgeta, except for a few such as yourself and my old friends Graham Pople, Chris Warrilow, Tony Pryke and Bill McGrath, and those few such as Rick Giddings, Ben Probert etc who stayed on for long in Government jobs in the belief that sacrificing a bit of dignity and tangling with the turmoil was far more worthwhile than fleeing with the "handshake," thus becoming something between a taxi-driver or a tax-accountant.

Maybe wives had a lot to do with it.

 The voices of these people, today, must be seen as irrelevant, no matter that they think they all deserve medals, for fuck's sake!

 We forget that one of the drivers of the mass exodus of Aussie public servants pre- and after independence was race prejudice and peer-pressure at the after-work, or social-club level.

They couldn't see themselves working on an equal footing, or worse, as subordinates to PNG'ians.

We were well rid of them, despite the chaos which has followed in the public service. PNG has had no post-independence racial problems to speak of, until the corrupt relaxation of the migration, logging and business laws for those who pay their way became widespread.

 Aside from the occasional uproar from academics (foreign) and PNG political circles there is a deep well of positive feeling towards Australia in PNG, as you say.

And whilst this is due to the quite wide adoption of Oz cultural and attitudinal characteristics and through sport, it is the ongoing presence of Aussies like yourself and others like myself-(Kiwi turncoat) - and our PNG'ian friends of like-mind, and our efforts to be a friendly, sociable, and an accessible source of all sorts of information, that Oz still keeps a foothold in minds and imaginations throughout PNG.

A bank of information and an emotional connection which is very much to the benefit of both countries and their future together as close neighbours.

 Please don’t imagine that I decry the Melanesian Way of Subsistance, by any means.

 My article is the first polite, and thus publishable, opinion piece, to bring out into the open the fact that PNG is held back through a cultural bias which makes it ok to lie to non-blood-relatives, to steal from non-blood-relatives and to do a lot of talking without getting to the point and ultimately to suspend or cover up what is being contended.

 These characteristics are described, euphemistically, today as “wantok sistem bilong mipela" but although this assertion is partly correct, as you and I know there’s a great deal more to the wantok system than the lies and cover-ups and nepotistic appointments which paralyse the progress of the nation at present.

The task is to filter out the elements which are spoiling PNG's efforts to engage successfully with modernity and build a healthy, vigorous and proud nation.

 Whilst all PNG'ians are entitled to bristle and even to roar loudly at these assertions by a foreigner, I have believed for many years that it all needs to be said out loud.

In fact it was said, in a more-wordy and detailed way, long ago, in a series of three linked articles which were published, either in The National or Post-Courier, I forget which, under the by-line of the current Governor General.

The GG had a weekly comment/column at the time.

He had picked the articles up from others who had received them from me by email and he published it as..."the opinions of a concerned expatriate resident etc etc..."

The articles were originally intended to catch the attention of AusAid and to encourage them to provide proper preparation and orientation for both staff and contractors/consultants entering PNG.

I worked for 11 years for Coffee Industry Corporation, and one of the tasks which I was finally able to do (with generous help from the European Union) was to turn its research and extension divisions, by far the most-expensive and inefficient parts, from a living, breathing, totally-useless model of Department of Agriculture Stock and Fisheries from the'fifties, as reconstituted by well-meaning pre-independence Aussie ex-didimen.

Men who were totally out of date in their thinking, to a small, potentially cost-effective single entity with about 90 staff,  from one which had previously used almost 500 persons plus housing, vehicles etc in similar generous ratio.

 Nothing very effective ever comes of all these efforts- but like you, I believe in PNG - in a sense I am in sympathy with the late Rev Percy Chatterton of the London Missionary Society,  whose book of reminiscences was entitled ‘Day That I Have Loved’.

 Luckily I was blessed with a wife who felt the same way.

 I continue to hold out hope and in one way or another try to influence events, so that PNG will not descend into the chaos of such world-record-holders for state corruption and poverty as Haiti under Papa Doc and Zimbabwe under Uncle Bob Mugabe.

I don’t think its going to happen, but the road to recovery is in the shadows right now.

 

Cheers,

 

John

 

Phase out public servants?

By YAKAM KELO

 

It’s very disturbing to learn that Health Department can’t utilise some K200 million overseas funding to carry out its health programmes and activities earmarked for a certain period of time.

Can somebody tell us what on earth is really wrong with the department?

In my view this simply means that the officers there can’t simply implement to expedite these funds.

This would mean a weak workforce who are no longer competent, can’t create, lack energy, knowledge and skills and are phasing out in the current global workforce.

The technology today require new brains with innovation, who can read and understands donor work programmes and guidelines,  and the software that enables these funds to be drawn down to meet the department’s programmes and activities.

Let’s not blame the ministers or the politicians. The public servants are the ones who have been entrusted with the responsibilities to implements to ensure services are delivered.

If this is a problem in some of our departments today, a major overhauling and revamping of staff is required at all cost.

Fellows, we are no longer in the days of pen and paper work. It’s a computer world, modern technology, skilled and qualified workforce.

Some views to share among you, the concerned Papua New Guineans.

 

 

Thoughs on Papua New Guinea/Australia relations

By PAUL OATES

 

Dear Malum,

 

John Fowke and I have emailed each other recently on some of the issues he raises here. I agree with some of the points John raises but I disagree with others.

I too have gone through one frustrating attempt after another to try and get some rational change in DFAT and AusAid policies but all to no avail. All you get is a 'snow job' that the Minister of the day just signs off on. The problem is that when a public bureaucracy is set up to manage a funding program, that very bureaucracy becomes irrevocably entangled in ensuring the status quo continues in order to preserve their own existence. On the northern side of the Torres Strait, there is an equally obvious reason why the status quo has become officially entrenched. The only way to break the 'Gordian Knot' is a political decision. The problem is, politicians are good at getting elected and manoeuvring but are mostly inexperienced in any manner of objective, public service management.

I have spent nearly 40 years in public administration and management positions. These positions were traditionally different to business management positions. Business has by its very nature, an objective of profit to ensure it continues and hopefully expands. Public Service management must be responsible and accountable to the public through the government of the day. The two have unfortunately become hopelessly entangled as successive governments sought to find solutions to convincing the public that they were able to cope with the complexities of a modern world. Who is there now who can untangle the current situation?

The problem with overseas aid is it tends to foster a notion of helpless inadequacy with the recipients and a feeling of disconnected altruism with the donor country voters. Most donors have no idea what the real situation might be and mostly don't care unless it affects them personally.

In a quote attributed to Albert Einstein, "The true definition of insanity is to keep doing that which doesn't work."

Tingting bilong mi emi olsem wankain long Jon long dispela samting tasol. Husat inap long stretim displela aswa a?

Some of us weren't particularly accepted when we practiced our views about equality and fairness when we worked in PNG. Afterall, there is only one race, the human one. Anyone who thinks otherwise should be ignored. I believe that the problems some of us encountered at the hands of some of our own fellow countrymen are well put behind us and should have no place in today's debate.

I didn't get a golden handshake and had to return to Australia to start again with all of my recognisable skills and abilities that were developed and honed in PNG, being ignored and often denigrated. That was the challenge. To succeed despite the system.

John clearly feels the frustration of inaction. We all do at times. However, to say as John has that, "The voices of these people, today, must be seen as irrelevant, no matter  that they think they all deserve medals, for fuck's sake!" is something else.  I find this view both disappointing and misleading. I have expressed this belief to John previously.

The real issue is one of credibility. Some of us would like to achieve something positive and different to that which hasn't worked for the last 30 years. If our commitment and interest in helping PNG/Australian relations and PNG in general can be strengthened through the process of government recognition, this must surely be a positive result. Both our counties have a shared history and are next door neighbours. We need each other in an ever more unstable world.

I don't wish to denigrate John's passion or sincerity. I respect them. I just suggest he may be a trifle narrow in the issues he promotes in his dissertation below.

 

Happy to discuss further.

 

kind regards,

 

Paul

 

Papua New Guinea, the future

By IAN THOMPSON

Malum,
 
Just had a thought that I did not want you to be distressed at the wise words of worn out kiaps (patrol officers). Some of them are pretty silly.
 John Fowkes is repeating the words I heard from my first District Commissioner (Tom Ellis) in 1963. He said that the people of PNG had to get rid of their old customs and embrace the ways of the 20th Century Western societies.
 As a young man out in the bush building a new patrol post and living with villagers in a totally traditional environment, I thought this was a ridiculous thing to say. PNG was clearly dependent on subsistence living, and therefore traditional ways MUST be retained. What was it going to be replaced with? Did everyone have a paid job?
 What would happen in PNG today if people lost their living and cultural skills? They would starve, and their lives would be without meaning. I think John is perhaps just talking about public servants and politicians. I hope so anyway.
 PNG citizens have proven beyond doubt that as individuals they can do anything any other race of people can do. For example PNG pilots are check and training captains in major international airlines. There are PNG academics in Australian universities. PNG operators are managing oil field production facilities (one mistake and many people die). I go to a PNG doctor because he is good at his job.
 What you CAN'T DO is cooperate with each other for a common good. There is no concept of a common purpose outside the clan.
 There is too much "yu husat?” Western society relies on layers of bosses and workers. PNG men are too proud and independent to listen to another PNG. I don't see that changing. Just because PNG workers were willing to take instructions from foreigners (who are seen as independent, impartial people) the Australians thought that they would accept a power structure comprising other PNG citizens.  Unfortunately that concept is strongly resisted even 30 years after independence. "Yu man, mi tu man".
 Obviously educated PNG citizens want something beyond subsistence. Village life is boring for them. They crave a rich well-organised society and access to all the good things that wealthy nations enjoy. The land and the resources are there in abundance. How can they get things moving away from this corruption that is rewarding so few leaving the rest in poverty?
 You need to contract out your Government to foreign companies who have the skills to provide every service you need from tax collection to running the public service. I really mean everything, with the possible exception of foreign affairs. It includes the judiciary, police, army, public works, health, education and indeed every service that Government provides.
 There is nothing wrong with the skills and work ethic of your public officials that can't be fixed very quickly by having to report to a boss who knows the meaning of duty, and will sack anyone who wants to play up.
 The company I work for is a 100% PNG-owned company. The owner employs a very small number of expatriates (about 12, with only about seven on duty at one time.) The boss doesn't tell us what to do, just points the way ahead and lets us get on with the job. These foreigners manage up to 1, 000 PNG executives and workers, and this company is world-class in performance. Our PNG workers are as efficient as anyone, anywhere. We expats respect our boss, and do everything we can to make him rich because it's our duty. Run the country like that and you can be a first world country very quickly.
 It's like making bread. You just need a tiny bit of yeast and lots of flour to make real bread. Without yeast you get flour balls. Right now PNG is flour balls. You need bread if you want to stand tall in international society.
 Tell the self-serving politicians to get out of the way and contract everything to skilled international companies with competent, disciplined management. They can then pay themselves a million kina a year and go take holidays in Hong Kong if they wish. There will be plenty of money to pay them, and many billions left over for the ordinary people who now have nothing.
 As you can see I am a dreamer. But I believe in my dreams.
 
Bai nau
 
Ian Thompson
 
 
 
 

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Death of Lady Hilan Los

Just letting you all know that Lady Hilan Los passed away on Sunday afternoon.
Haus Krai (house of mourning) is about three houses down from Lahara Service Station, Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea has lost one of its fighters for human rights.

Papua New Guinea has over the last couple of weeks lost former Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi, and then senior National and Supreme Court judge Timothy Hinchliffe.

Today at the farm

Captions: 1. Suvista Richard 2. Native honeybees 3. “I’m looking at you, lorikeet!” 4. Buffalo flies

 

By PAUL OATES, a kiap (patrol officer)  in PNG from 1969-1975, who served in outflung rural areas of Morobe district like Pindiu, Kabwum, Aseki, Wau, Sialum and Finschhafen before being transferred to Port Moresby. He and his wife now run a small property in rural South Eastern Queensland where they breed stud Droughtmaster cattle and grow cabinet timber trees for the future.

 

Our young bull Suvista Richard is coming along and we hope he may do well in the local Show.

The lorikeets won't leave the flowering gum alone and obviously reckon I've grown it just for them.

 The rain has brought out the  buffalo flies again however we've have 21 mm so we can't complain too much  as its still warm enough for the grass to grow. 

With some ground moisture, we are going to try and plant some trees this weekend.

With more rain expected next week, they hopefully will take.

The mouse population in the region has exploded due to the poor rains in February.

All the young mice weren’t drowned in their holes and are now everywhere in plague proportions.

I saw a Butcher bird catch one in the barn a few days ago and fly up in an Ironbark to eat it.

I've gone through $70 worth of ratbait so far and will have to buy more in the next few days.

All this food around has brought out the snakes that are trying to put away some condition before they go into hibernation.

Driving to choir a few days ago we had a huge Eastern Brown slither across the road in front of us.

 He had to be over six foot long,  over two inches thick and a chocolate brown in colour as opposed to the  usual ones we see around here that are more often an olive green to light  shiney fawn.

He saw us coming and turned around as quick as lightning.

 I nearly trod on a small four footer last week next to the cow yards near the vegetable garden.

It was so well camouflaged that I couldn't see it in the grass until it moved.

 

Rural electrification for Bulolo

Bulolo District Road Maintenance Programme Vehicles transporting 9m power poles for its rural electrification programme.
“The rural electrification program plans to light up 500 homes by the end of 2009,” said Bulolo MP Sam Basil.
“In two weeks time, about 50 homes including Mumeng Primary School and Old Mumeng Station who will see, for the first time, lights into their homes.
“The PNG Power partnership programme has proven successful for the Bulolo district.”
Mr Basil has commended the PNGPL chief executive officer Tony Koiri for his effort in making this possible.
“Any partnership program as such must be well understood by both parties in order to achieve full benefits complementing each other, otherwise, things won't work the way expected,” he said.

Vanilla for Bulolo

Shown in the photo is Simon Koneleus of Witipos village in Mumeng, Morobe province, getting ready to distribute 5, 000 vanilla cuts for the Bulolo District.
The other photo shows farmers Tuk Tuky and Paul Kama with their vanilla cuttings.
The vanilla cuts were sourced from Situm Growers Association for K5, 000 by Bulolo MP Sam Basil for his farmers.
The delivery was taken care of by the Bulolo District Road Maintenance Programme Vehicles.
Mr Basil believes vanilla prices may bounce back in a few years time and his people must be well placed to enjoy the high prices when it happens.
About 10,000 vanilla cuts were distributed three years ago and the farmers are now asking for a vanilla specialist to be made available to show them how to pollinate and treat the vanilla beans.

Bulolo may have Air Niugini flights

Bulolo Airport in Morobe province may soon have regular Air Niugini flights.

This follows a visit to the airport last Friday by staff from Air Niugini, PNG Forest Products, Kerema MP Pitom Bombom and Bulolo MP Sam Basil to check on and discuss the possibility of regular Air Niugini flights.

Bulolo Airport last year started in taking regular Airlines PNG Dash 8 flights, mainly to serve the mining workforce at Hidden Valley and Wafi.

Picture here are the Air Niugini quality auditor Ms Relsy Pondros, staff from Air Niugini and PNG Forest Products, as well as Mr Bombom and Mr Basil at Bulolo Airport last Friday.

 

 

Sponsors line up for South Pacific Export Papua New Guinea Golf Open

This year’s South Pacific Export PNG Golf Open will to date be the biggest international golf event in the South Pacific Region, with over 60 professional golfers confirmed for this year, as compared to last year’s 48.

The event is slated for April 30-May 3 at the Port Moresby Golf Club and has already attracted K185, 000 in sponsorship

SP Brewery general manager Stan Joyce announced this during a sponsors’ night at the Brewkettle in Port Moresby last Friday night.

SP Brewery will be supported by other sponsors including Kina Securities, Steamships Shipping, Brian Bell, Digicel, Daltron, Crowne Plaza, Airlines PNG, C & M Engineering, Pacific MMI, Bank South Pacific, InterOil, March Ltd, PNG Power, Post PNG, Moore Printing, Budget, Coca-Cola, Golf World, PNG Motors, DHL, Insurance Partners/Remington, UMW Niugini, Boroko Motors, ProClean, Guard Dog, Ela Medical Centre, Rydges, BNG Trading, Hertz, Mirupasi Lawyers, Media Partners, Graffiti Signs, Big Rooster and Happy Gardener.

“As the naming rights sponsor, we are excited to be involved with the tournament again and would like to acknowledge the work and commitment which the organisers have put into staging such a massive event,” Joyce said.

“But the organisers cannot do this alone and South Pacific Export Lager, in partnership with all sponsors already on board, all chip in to make the event what it is today.”

Papua New Guinea Golf Association president Stanley Walker said apart from SP Brewery as naming rights sponsor, the tournament had attracted a good number of excellent supporting sponsors at various levels.

“A few holes are left should anyone here not taken up the offer of sponsorship,” he said.

“Not only have you, the sponsors, shown a great interest this year, the professional golfers have similarly responded to the increase prize money of A$100, 000 and also to the standard of organisation of this national open with nominations in excess of 75 received by the PGA for the 60 playing positions available.”

Last month, the PNG Open was one of the four finalists in the Queensland Golf Industry Awards, and finished second to Royal Pines Golf Club.

“Media coverage will be even greater this year, indeed, the organising committee is in discussion with Southern Cross Television Channel Seven, out of Darwin, and we trust that this works out, potentially giving you sponsors even greater coverage,” Walker said.

“As in the past, the presentation to the winner in the professional event will take place on the veryge of the 18^th Green.

“The trophy will be presented by Stan Joyce from SP Brewery adjacent to their hospitality area, with more formal presentation, including the amateur division winners, in the clubhouse later in the evening.”

Over 190 golfers in total, including the defending champion Joshua Carmichael and last year’s runner-up Chris Taylor, are expected to participate.Past winners Troy Kennedy and Chris Downes will also be participating with a host of the region’s top seeded players including Brad Burns, Eddie Barr from Queensland, Heath Reed from Victoria and Richard Gallichan from New South Wales.For only the second time in 15 years, the event will also field two Fijian players, Makesh Chand and Krishna Singh, in the biggest event of the PNG golf calendar.

 

 

Kumalu bursts its banks.again

Caption: A Zenag Chick truck crosses the notorious Kumalu River as stranded people look on. 2. A backhoe works on diverting the cause of the river.

The notorious Kumalu River in Bulolo, Morobe province, again burst its banks last Saturday, causing havoc to traffic in and out of Bulolo.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil, who took these pictures, said he had presented a proposed by-pass plan from Buang Bridge through to Baiune to avoid the Kumalu and other wash-out areas.
“The proposal is estimated to be about K27m but was over looked by the Planning Department last year,” he said.
“With the development of Hidden Valley and Wafi (mines) and not forgetting PNG Forest Products and Menyamya Electorate which also uses this road access, I am hopeful that the Planning Minister and the Mining Minister will understand the economic situation and include the Kumalu by-pass road programme in the 2010 public investment programme (PIP) funding.”

Bart raps Somare's Unitech optimisim

Deputy Opposition Leader Bart Philemon has described Public Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare’s speech during the University of Technology’s 41st graduation on Friday, March 27, as “total nonsense and irresponsible”.

 In his speech, the minister assured the 819 graduates that they had a brighter future in terms of employment opportunities, however, the Opposition is now asking what gurantee they had for employment when the unemployement rate was very high.

“Arthur Somare is trying to portray a good image for the government by telling the graduates that it will be easy for them to find employment once they leave the university,” Mr Philemon said.

“This is a political gimmick by the minister in trying to lure support for a government that is gradually loosing support and confidence by the people.

“How can he proclaim that the future looks brighter for them when there are already thousands out there who can not find employment?

“This is not only university graduates we are talking about here.

“There are others who have left our education system and still waiting out there for employment opportunities.

“The minister’s got to be kidding.

“The minister did not tell the graduates how he was going to absorb them into the work force sector or how he is planning to do it.

“Or was he contextualising his speech in anticipation of the LNG gas project in assuring the graduates that they all will have a job when the gas project kicks off?”

Mr Philemon said employment would depend on the graduates’ field of expertise and how many the developers interested to employ.

“The Minister cannot depend on the statistics from the Central Bank to say that the employment rate will increase in the future.

“How can he make such bold predictions when the world economic is going into recession?

“We already have problems with our economic which affecting are business.

“Few companies have winded up and others are scaling down employees.

“So what is the future for these 819 graduates?

“You look at the law and order statistics to appreciate the level of crime being committed daily through out the country.

“These are work of people who can not find employment and turning to crime for survival.

“And these are not ordinary villagers or illiterate people committing these crimes, but educated Papua New Guineans.  

“Since this government came in to power in 2002, the employment rate has not shown much improvement in the major industries operating in the country.

“Take a close look at the September 2008 issue of the Quarterly Economic Bulletin from the Central Bank for the figures given on employment classified by major industries.

“From 2002 – 2008 the percentage of people employed by these major industries showed little increase in some of the years in the period or no improvement at all in the others.   

“So how did Arthur Somare put up a brave face by telling the graduates that they have a brighter future, when the figure he substantiates to assure the graduates tells a different story?

“This is a total lie to the graduates and the people of this country.

“The comments in his speech are very cheap beyond anyone’s comprehension for a senior state minister to give false hope to the graduates who are our future leaders, the public who where to witness the graduation and the people of this country.

“The comments are a bad taste in itself when considering the economic crisis the country is in at the moment.”

Mr Philemon said infrastructure was bad and getting worse by the day, with health and education not performing to expectation, being worse off now since pre-independence days:

•           People are still dying from easily preventable and treatable diseases;

•           7,300 babies under one-year die each year (20 per day);

•           10,200 babies under five years die each year (28 per day);

•           220,000 babies less than five years have no proper nutrition;

•           3,700 mothers die every year (10 mothers dying per day);

•           Half of all children in PNG are not immunised; 

•           60% of mothers are not properly supervised when giving birth; 

•           70% of people living in PNG have no access to safe drinking water;

•           HIV/AIDS has spread rapidly throughout PNG over the last 10 years;  

•           Over 14,000 confirmed HIV/AIDS cases; and

•           Estimates of HIV/AIDS cases putting infection rate at 1-2% of population.

“Arthur Somare, how do you see a brighter future for citizens of this beautiful country when you have the above staggering figures that amount to genocide, which is happening right under your nose?” Mr Philemon posed.

“Or how do you improve the education sector when:

•           55% of people in the country are illiterate;

•           50% of school aged children are not in school;

•           High drop out/low retention rate; 

•           Lagging behind in teachers training;

•           School infrastructure is in dire need of rehabilitation; and

•           The list goes on.

“We have problems with law and order, dysfunctional government bodies and institutions infested with corruption and these things are happening under your government’s stewardship and you have no solution for them.

“The Minister must retract what he said and apologise to the graduates and the people of this country or save face and do the honorable thing by resigning as Minister.

 

Aiyura National High School pictures

Aiyura National High School pictures taken by my cousin, Peter Kesu, who travelled there last weekend.

They should bring back fond memories for all ex students of Aiyura.

Enjoy !

Greetings to all ex Aiyura National High School students from Mom and Dad Kunert

By DANIEL and NANCY KUNERT

 

Hi All!

 

Just recently we have started hearing more frequently from former ex-Aiyurans and have started to build up a database of email addresses for such former students.  We would like to expand this database and need your help in this matter.

 If you would be so kind, please do the following for us:

 1.  If you have not recently sent us an email, please reply to this one so that we will know it is a valid address for you.  Please also let us know the name you now use and the one that we knew you by at Aiyura, if your name has changed.  There are a couple of email addresses for which we have no clue as to whom they belong! 

 

2.  Take a look at the 45 or so email addresses we have so far see To: field above] and let us know of any other email addresses you might have of ex-Aiyurans, students or staff.  You could just send us a list of those addresses or simply forward this email to them with a copy to us.  If some of these addresses have changed or are incorrect, please let us know that as well.

 

3.  As time permits we would like to put together a more comprehensive listing of former students and staff including, in addition to name and email address, mailing address, telephone number, spouse and children [if any],  occupation, employer, etc. You can tell we have started to enter into our retirement years and have a little more time to do such projects compared to when we were both still working full time.  We shall both turn 70 next year.  If anyone is already working on such a list, please let us know.

 

4.  We shall try to reply to as many emails from all of you as possible, but it will probably eventually become more than we can keep up with.  After all, our nine years at Aiyura, 1978 to 1986, did see approximately 2000 students come and go as well as numerous teachers and other staff members.  We also had almost as many students during our 16 years in the Enga Province prior to our time at Aiyura.  So we might try and handle that with replies to the group as a whole.

 

For those of you who haven't seen a recent photo of the two of us, I am attaching one to this email [just to prove we are still alive!].

 

Blessings,

Mom and Dad Kunert

1092 W Kawailani St

Hilo, HI 96720-3281

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

 

Kaikai lait (A Papua New Guinea joke)

           

Three little boys were discussing their fathers' profession.The first boy's father was a Telikom employee so he said, "Daddy blong mi tok na ol man save ring long telephone na yusim email, nogat bai nogat ya!"

Then the second boy, whose was a PNG Power employee said,"Daddy blong mi tok na ol man gat power long lukim TV, harim music na yusim washing machine. Nogat bai nogat ya!"

The third boy, whose father was unemployed sat quietly and thought.

The two others began teasing. "Ooosssh! Yu tok ya. Daddy blong yu save mekim wanem!"

He suddenly smiled and said, "Daddy blong mi save kaikai lait!"

The other twos argued and said, “Hey, yu longlong o!! Nogat man save kaikai lait!"

But he insisted and said," Honest, mi no giaman. Daddy blong mi save kaikai light ya! Aste mi silip na mi harim daddy tokim mummy: Putim off lait na mi kaikai pastaim."