Friday, August 07, 2009
InterOil announces June quarter profit
InterOil Corporation has announced a $US9.4-million operating profit for the quarter ending 30th. June 2009.
Chief Financial Officer Collin Visaggio says the result is “most encouraging” given the state of the world economy.
“Commodity prices eased during the period and this has had a negative effect on businesses such as ours.
“So to post a profit against this background is particularly satisfying”, he said.
“On this basis we are confident of a strong and vibrant future for all segments of our business.”
The company’s debt-to-capital ratio underwent a dramatic improvement during the quarter.
“It now stands at a very healthy 13%, compared to 43% in the same quarter of 2008”, Mr Visaggio said.
“This gives us a great base to work from and will help ensure our strength, particularly in these difficult economic times.”
InterOil’s midstream refining business segment posted a $US9.6-million profit for the period on a refinery throughput of 21,574 barrels per day (average).
The midstream liquefaction segment had a $US1.8-million loss which was InterOil’s share of expenses incurred in the PNG LNG joint venture project.
“These expenses are a necessary investment in the future of not only our company but also of the entire nation”, Mr Visaggio said.
Downstream (distribution) returned a $US1.7-million profit on a total sales volume of refined product of 140-million litres.
The downstream profit was about half that for the June quarter 2008 and reflected the worldwide decline in commodity prices.
For further information please contact
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 311 2796
Email: slaumaea@digicelpacific.blackberry.com
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Fuel prices fall for August
Retail fuel prices have fallen throughout
Gasoline and kerosene is more than five percent cheaper than it was last month and diesel is down four percent.
InterOil President Bill Jasper said the lower domestic prices reflect an easing in demand internationally.
“Again we see how local fuel prices are determined by the global market,” he said.
“This month there are two main factors at work.
“Firstly there has been an easing of demand in the
“Further, oil production and delivery from the rich Nigerian oil fields in
International crude oil prices have fluctuated during the month from around $US63 a barrel in the first half of the month to around $US72 of recent days.
“The fluctuations are between ten and fifteen percent over relatively short periods.
“This indicates the international marketplace is in a state of flux as the world begins showing signs that we may be emerging from the global financial crisis”, Mr. Jasper said.
“The price of crude oil and refined fuels has been on a wild rollercoaster ride for the past year.
“Just 12 months ago crude was selling for almost $US150 a barrel, it then collapsed in line with a slump in international demand.”
The reduction in domestic fuel prices this month comes despite an increase in crude oil prices.
Mr Jasper said that all refined fuels are currently “very affordable” by historic and international standards.
“And that, in these trying economic times, is positive and welcome news”.
For further information contact
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 311 2796
Email: slaumaea@digicelpacific.blackberry.com
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Kanua lashes out at NADP, DAL
THE National Government’s National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) has come under fire at a development forum in Parliament today.
A number of speakers at the Consultative Implementation Monitoring Committee (CIMC) forum questioned where the funds for NADP in the last two years were and what the programme had achieved.
Former Department of Agriculture and Livestock Mathew Wela Kanua fired a broadside at the NADP as well as the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, which he formerly headed, saying that it should be abolished.
In a no-holds barred comment at the CIMC forum, Mr Kanua said it was the overwhelming feeling of the agriculture sector that it was getting nowhere, despite the massive K1 billion to be poured into the NADP over the next 10 years at K100 million annually.
Mr Kanua, who was outspoken in his fight against corruption at DAL during his tenure as secretary, also bluntly told the forum that the DAL should be abolished as it was unproductive.
“It is worrying and it is sad that we are getting nowhere,” Mr Kanua said.
“It seems to be an overwhelming concern from the agriculture sector that we are getting nowhere.
“What are we going to show for the K1 billion?
“What are we going to have in 10 years time to show for it?”
Mr Kanua, who is now employed by PNG Sustainable Development Program, said this money should be spent in partnership with the private sector to grow agriculture in PNG.
“That was the reason why we created the National Agriculture Development Plan,” he said.
“When I left the department, I said that it should be closed, because it was completely incapable.”
Australia-PNG Business Council president and Trukai Industries managing director Phil Franklin, who spoke at the forum, also spoke of PNG farmers not feeling the impact of the NADP.
“Farmers in PNG are like farmers anywhere in the world,” he said.
“They want to have money in their back pocket.”
He said the NADP was a very good concept which would combine government and private partners in developing the agriculture sector, but people are now wondering that had become of it.
Papua New Guinea coffee industry not stagnant
Coffee Industry Corporation chief executive officer Ricky Mitio says the industry in Papua New Guinea is “not stagnant and moving sideways”.
He said this after a presentation by PNG agriculture expert Dr Mike Bourke, who said in his presentation to the National Development Forum today that prospects for coffee in PNG were “poor to average”.
“We acknowledge that there is no growth in production trends,” Mr Mitio said.
“CIC’s strategic plan is to address the dilemma of growth stagnation by introducing high value specialty coffee as the way forward because of high returns on this specialty and organic coffee exports.
“Specialty coffee makes up 5-6% of the global market right now.
“The specialty market is just growing and PNG has to get on this bandwagon.” Picture above shows high quality PNG coffee products
Papua New Guinea agriculture must be a mixed bag
Agriculture in Papua New Guinea has a bright future, however, the agricultural mix will be different.
PNG agriculture also needs to be supported by high class research and development and it is important to build on current and past successes and to learn from the past.
An expert on PNG agriculture, Dr Mike Bourke (pictured) of the Australian National University, made these assessments at the National Development Forum at Parliament today while speaking on ‘Agriculture developments in PNG and future prospects’.
He said major tree crops such as coffee, cocoa and copra were facing assorted problems and PNG should diversify alternatives major crops.
For instance, in East New Britain, where the cocoa pod borer has affected production, Dr Bourke said ENB could diversify into alternatives such as balsa, galip nut, nutmeg, teak, vanilla, pepper, kava, cardamom and turmeric.
Best prospects for domestic markets are root crops, banana, fruit, edible nuts and vegetables; snack foods such as peanuts, cassava chips, banana chips, cooked galip and cooked karuka nut; betelnut and pepper; fish and livestock.
Best prospects for export markets are oil palm, hardwoods (teak, kwila, New Guinea walnut, Calophyllum, rosewood, ton); fast-growing timbers such as balsa; flowers, especially indigenous orchids; spices, as indigenous oils; and edible nuts such as galup, karuka, pao and talis.
Dr Bourke listed poor to average export prospects as coffee (high global supply), cocoa (cocoa pod borer), vanilla (quality), tea (only one company in PNG), rubber (dependent on price of oil) and copra (low prices and has to be exported as copra oil).
Very poor prospects included grains for domestic market including rice, wheat, maize and sorghum; pulses such as soyabean and green gram; robusta coffee, pyrethrum, fresh food exports and canned food for domestic market.
Dr Bourke later said: “The prospects for coffee are only moderately good.
“The reason has to do with the high supply on the world market, especially from Vietnam and Brazil.
“The concern here is that there are very few alternatives to coffee in the Highlands.
“Coffee needs to be supported but we need to be realistic about the prices.
“The cocoa industry has grown quite steadily, particularly on East New Britain and Bouganville,
“These two provinces produce 75% of PNG’s of PNG’s export and 8 or 9% from East Sepik and Madang.
“Production was around 50, 000 tonnes last year.
“The big issue with cocoa is cocoa pod borer.
“The insect is present in East New Britain, East Sepik and Madang, not on Bouganville yet as far as we know.
“This is having a social impact, for example, people can’t afford to pay school fees for their children.
“When it comes to Bouganville, it’s going to have a big effect as well.
“As for copra, prices are very poor.
“The world market for copra itself is very low.
“The market is now for copra oil.
“For example, in Europe, they do not import copra now, they import copra oil.
“The market for copra is okay, but only just okay.
“You can only make money from copra if you are near a buying point, for example, Buka, Taboi, Namatanai, Duke of York and Madang.
“But for remote locations, for example Tabar Island, if there’s no buying point you can’t make money.”
Economies sitting on untapped potential, says UN Under-Secretary-General
While women have emerged as what she calls the flexible labour force par excellence, “their entry into the workplace has also coincided with trends towards outsourcing and subcontracting; relegating women’s jobs to the informal sector without any job security or benefits. The inherent risks of this positioning are now becoming apparent as the economic crisis unfolds.”
According to estimates from the International Labour Organisation, an additional 9 million women in the region will become unemployed in 2009, bringing the total number of unemployed women to an approximate 38 million this year.
And while there are signs of early economic recovery, she says, experience shows that real wages take an average of three years to recover and employment growth does not return to pre-crisis levels for several years after that. In developing economies – and in spite of the robust gains of recent years – important gains made over the last ten years could effectively be undone.
Still, the news is not all bad, insists Heyzer, who believes the crisis can be used as an opportunity, deeming the APEC region “the epicentre of economic growth.”
According to ESCAP research, she says, “our [APEC] region loses between USD 42 and 47 billion dollars a year by restricting women’s access to employment” and “up to USD 17 billion dollars a year are lost in the region due to gender gaps in education.”
For most economies in the Asia-Pacific, women are an untapped resource and, conversely, represent potential for economic recovery and growth.
This, she says, can be achieved through gender sensitive fiscal stimulus packages; promotion of intra-regional trade; improved access of girls and women to education and training; increased corporate social responsibility and commitment to equitable pay.
Read Dr. Heyzer’s entire speech at:
http://www.apec.org/apec/news___media/speeches/050809_wln_heyzer.html
For more information, contact:
Carolyn Williams at cdw@apec.org or at (65) 9617 7316
Anita Douglas at ad@apec.org or at (65) 9172 6427
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Waigani way gone mad
By James Wanjik
LAST week PNG leaders made lot of noise. They showed their leadership to the people.
The Opposition with support of protestant Government MPs moved a motion that never was to remove the Government. Their reasons were quite powerful but not very.
It was the Speaker who was the tactician. The Leader of Government Business moved a motion to adjourn Parliament to 10 November 2009 without written and presented reasons.
The Speaker without querying reasons called for vote on voices and after giving to the Government was forced to call a division.
Now we hear Parliament would not have met the required 63 days sitting in 2008 – 2009.
No leader objected to the motion to adjourn Parliament by raising Point of Order to alert the Speaker. Raising point of order would have seen no trust motion against the Speaker. Leaders were all caught powerless.
Truth is very few leaders are genuine. Many are called but few are chosen.
PNG people regret seeing their independence movement leader being a mystical god. It will wreak havoc in government rank and file.
Putting mystical god above one and true God PNG waited 42 years to create revolt in Parliament. It made Waigani way go mad.
Please leaders wake up and move for better PNG. PNG where people will move people for people.
Aid failing in its objectives
East Timor and P a pua New Guinea getting worse despie $500m in Australian aid
Mark Dodd | August 03, 2009
Article from: The Australian
AUSTRALIA'S aid tsar has called for new approach to the Pacific, revealing conditions in East Timor and Papua New Guinea are worsening despite $500 million in assistance.
Pacific states, including East Timor, are “seriously off track” to achieve ambitious Millenium Development Goals by 2015, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan said today.
The warning follows the release of a second annual report, Tracking Development and Governance in the Pacific, compiled by the Government's official aid arm, AusAID.
The report recommends a new approach to Pacific aid to ensure development assistance is more efficiently targeted.
“In 2000, world leaders agreed on 2015 as the timeframe for achieving the MDGs. The world is past the half-way mark,” the report says.
“However, achieving all MDGs across the Pacific region by the deadline is unlikely.”
It found at least 2.7 million people in the region are living in poverty, about 400,000 children are not enrolled in primary school and 64 out of every 1000 children die before the age of five years.
Adding to the tale of woe, at least 80,000 adults have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and the infection rate is growing by more than 40 per cent a year.
Two of the worst affected countries are East Timor and Papua New Guinea which, despite receiving $117 million and $414 million in aid respectively, are experiencing worsening poverty.
On a visit to Australia last month East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta complained that a decade of UN presence in his country had delivered little in terms of improved standards of living.
“The Pacific region is seriously off track to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, “ Mr McMullan said.
“The people of the Pacific, expect us all, donors and Pacific Island governments alike, to do much better.”
Launching the report at the Lowy Institute, he said, governments needed better plans, budget frameworks and financial systems that prioritise resources to MDGs.
The Pacific's problems have been exacerbated by the global recession, which has resulted in lower economic growth across the region combined with population increases, the report says.
Relative to the size of their economies and populations, Pacific countries receive some of the largest official development aid (ODA) amounts in the world.
A prayer against the "River God"
Our Father, who art in Heaven, please help Papua New Guinea, we do not want a "River God" - "Sukindimi" in the local dialect - to take your place. Amen
Australia's help key to Pacific's survival
As leaders gather in
With the livelihoods in the Pacific at risk from climate change, WWF is urging the Australian Government to work with its nearest neighbours and help develop and finance a survival masterplan for the worst affected island states.
WWF’s work in the Coral Triangle has shown that countries such as Timor Leste,
The Coral Triangle, just one per cent of the planet’s surface, includes 30 per cent of the world’s coral reefs, 76 per cent of its reef building coral species and more than 35 per cent of its coral reef fish species as well as vital spawning grounds for other economically important fish such as tuna.
“Millions of people risk losing their homes and livelihoods unless drastic steps are taken to protect this region’s rich marine and coastal resources” said Mr Richard Leck, Climate Strategy Leader, WWF Coral Triangle.
“Climate change is happening now and the effects are already being felt across the region,” said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne.
“Unless we want to push our neighbours closer and closer to the brink,
“It is not enough to simply talk about cooperation. Our Pacific neighbours need an ally who will work hard to create a strong deal that will see developed countries make an aggregate reduction in emissions of at least 40 per cent by 2020.”
Also critical to a strong deal will be a commitment by developed countries to provide annual financial commitments of around US$160 billion to help developing countries with mitigation and adaptation. The Pacific Leaders Forum provides the Australian Government with a perfect opportunity to reveal what it is willing to contribute.
Many countries in the region are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Penina Moce, from
“We have begun to notice that the fish and shellfish we used to be able to gather so easily are getting harder to find. We used to catch enough fish in the shallows. But now we have to go further out.
There also used to be colourful, live coral from the edge of the beach out to the reef. But now everything has gone white” said Ms Moce.
“Only strong and effective global and regional action can help protect us from the effects of climate change,” said Mr Bourne.
"The Australian Government must provide a platform for our Pacific neighbours to have their voices and concerns heard at
For more testimonies and information on WWF’s Climate Witness program, please visit: http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/problems/people_at_risk/personal_stories/
-----------------
Note:
• The Coral Triangle is the most diverse marine region on the planet, matched in its importance to life on Earth only by the Amazon rainforest and the
• The Coral Triangle also directly sustains the lives of more than 120 million people and contains key spawning and nursery grounds for tuna, while healthy reef and coastal systems underpin a growing tourism sector. WWF is working with other NGOs, multilateral agencies and governments around the world to support conservation efforts in the Coral Triangle for the benefit of all.
• The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food is a new six-nation initiative to secure the future of marine resources in the region. See www.cti-secretariat.net for more information.
• For information on Coral Triangle go to: www.panda.org/coraltriangle
For further information:
Richard Leck, Climate Strategy Leader, WWF Coral Triangle Programme Tel. +61 7 3211 2521 Email: rleck@wwf.org.au
Lida Pet Soede, Leader, WWF Coral Triangle Programme Tel. +62 812 381 8742 Email: lpet@wallacea.wwf.or.id
Paolo P. Mangahas, Communications Manager, Tel: +60 3 7803 3772 Email: pmangahas@ywwf.org.my
Monday, August 03, 2009
The little house in the valley
Real estate is set to boom in the great Wahgi Valley of the new Jiwaka province between now and 2012 when it gains full provincial status.
While agriculture will, naturally, be the economic backbone, real estate is another, given the large tracts of fertile land all over the valley.
One man having his eyes set on real estate in Jiwaka is Peter Irai, owner of a neat little house in the valley, at Kurumul Tea, nestled between north and south Wahgi under perennial springtime climate.
It’s less than 100m from the main Highlands Highland, next to Marban Coffe Plantation, Kudjip market and very close to Jiwaka’s urban centres of Minj and Banz.
All kinds of comfort in the valley.
The medium-covenant house has four bedrooms, a concrete floor, kitchen, shower and flush toilet.
Water flows into the house through an electric pump.
Bedding, tables, chairs and kitchen facilities are provided.
Then there’s a television set to provide icing to the cake.
There is also an external haus kuk (kitchen) with electricity provided.
“The property is situated in a peaceful community where the landlord and community at large care for the welfare, safety and enjoyable living of our tenants, which has always been the case here,” Mr Irai says.
Previous tenants have been the Evangelical Brotherhood Church (EBC) and Digne Trading.
The Coffee Industry Corporation is now leasing the house for its extension officers who are out on patrol in the vast Wahgi Valley.
The shame of Hohola
rubbish dump.
But no, this is Hohola, just along the busy Poreporena Freeway in the heart
of the city.
Rubbish is strewn everywhere, some of which is burning, giving off odors
which are unbecoming of a civilised society and the so-called capital of
Papua New Guinea.
Rubbish, rubbish everywhere and not a place to dump.
All these were happening just today at the relatively-new National Housing
Corporation units at Hohola, home to many senior public servants and their
families.
It is certainly a disgrace to whoever is to blame, whether it is the NHC,
the tenants or the National Capital District Commission for not cleaning up
the mess.
Not to mention the health hazard it poses to tenants as well as their
neighbours at Hohola
Let the fun begin!
facilities for children, a basketball court and a netball court was opened
by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop last Saturday.
More on Papua New Guinea's great Sepik River god
Read what US-based Papua New Guinean blogger David Ketepa Ulg has to say about
Short and sweet
From BERNARD OBERLEUTER in Brisbane, Australia
English first - (for the local media) then Tokpisin for the pictures and story to go to PNG.
English first - (for the local media) then Tokpisin for the pictures and story to go to PNG.
I'm working on a draft story and will send it to you later.
Dictator Somare ignores PNG Constitution
(Diktetor Somare)
PNG Parliament suspended by Somare
(Somare tok Maski Palamen)
PNG Government corrupt
(Bulsit Gavaman bilong Somare)
PNG Democracy for sale - going price 2m
(Somare baim paua - usim moni bilong yumi)
It was suggested that we use a heading like:
Somare Pamuks PNG Constitution
Somare Prostitutes PNG Constitution
Can somebody, anybody give us some background on the slush fund handout saga and recently the gravy train to bolster numbers to parliament recess until November 2009?
We need to investigate where the funds are coming from and are they tied to rural projects or for the individual politicians.
These were some of the topics discussed last night amongst some like-minded expatriate PNG'S in Australia.
Dictator Somare ignores PNG Constitution
(Diktetor Somare)
PNG Parliament suspended by Somare
(Somare tok Maski Palamen)
PNG Government corrupt
(Bulsit Gavaman bilong Somare)
PNG Democracy for sale - going price 2m
(Somare baim paua - usim moni bilong yumi)
It was suggested that we use a heading like:
Somare Pamuks PNG Constitution
Somare Prostitutes PNG Constitution
Can somebody, anybody give us some background on the slush fund handout saga and recently the gravy train to bolster numbers to parliament recess until November 2009?
We need to investigate where the funds are coming from and are they tied to rural projects or for the individual politicians.
These were some of the topics discussed last night amongst some like-minded expatriate PNG'S in Australia.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Somare says he is a "Sepik River god"
Addressing his
“Tasol yu save pinis, Sukundi ia, planim n stap.Pasin bilong politics I olsem, ol arapela ting ol I nap mekim senis, orait noken wari long dispela tingting bilong ol. Gavman bilong yu bai stap 2012 na bai igo ken long narapela taim I kam (You already know, Sukindimi, already there and will stay. Do no worry about those who want to change government. The government will remain up to 2012 and beyond).”
Sir Michael took the time to update his people on the status quo of his government’s performance, including last week’s notice by the opposition to sponsor a vote of no-confidence in his government.
The notice was delivered to the Speaker, who later on adjourned parliament to November.
Parliament was in uproar last Thursday when government sabotaged the opposition’s attempt to move a vote of no-confidence against it.
Sir Michael said his government has made significant contributions to advance the country over the last two terms and would continue to do so up to 2012 and beyond.
NASFUND's vision takes shape
In early 2007, NASFUND boldly announced that it would be the catalyst for the commencement of a new precinct at Harbour City, 2km from the central business district.
At the time there was growing evidence of frustration from city dwellers that the town was becoming more difficult to move around in.
The road ways were becoming congested and buses commuting workers to and from town were adding to the traffic woes.
Similarly the town was looking tired with no new construction since completion of the Deloitte Tower in June 1999.
NASFUND was presented with a dilemma: build in the CBD with the current mishmash of style and congestion problems or start a fresh on a new landscape.
The choice if successfully implemented would change the focal point of Port Moresby for decades to come.
NASFUND’s vision was based on the successful water side precincts of Melbourne’s Docklands and Yarra River arts precinct, known as Southbank.
As Joint CEO Rod Mitchell explains: “We wanted something that changed the perception of Port Moresby from being rather ‘hum drum’ to an emerging city with smart 21st century architecture.
“We wanted the latest in architectural design; we wanted clean lines and water frontage, effectively turning the town to face its greatest asset, the Harbour.
“The other dramatic statement is the first impression that visitors will get when they travel from the airport down the Poreporena highway into town.
“It’s the ‘wow factor’ when they drive over the hill and see the Harbour, yacht club and smart buildings hugging the waterway.”
NASFUND was also acutely aware in making the statement at Harbour City that it would pass the time test.
“It was important that the project created a standard that even in 50 years time, would be remarked on as a quality development,” Mr Mitchell said.
“Some have argued that the buildings should be taller.
“We rejected that view.
“This development is about scale, it’s about fitting in with the landscape.”
In just over two years that vision is proudly taking shape with the recent NASFUND-owned, ANZ building completed and two further buildings due to be completed over the next nine months.
The initial construction over the three sites will cost NASFUND approximately K115 million with a luxury 20 unit residential development to come on line in December and a 5, 400 square metre office complex to be completed in March 2010.
Both constructions are fully pre let or under offer.
A close associate and fellow property developer, East New Britain Supermarkets Ltd, will soon be constructing a mix use commercial and residential development in the same precinct.
East New Britain Supermarkets Ltd also the own the current SVS Andersons Building in Harbour City which will undergo a refurbishment to meet the new standard that is being demanded.
With these developments occurring and with the LNG Project across Fairfax directly facing the developments esplanade, Harbour City is set to become the new hub of business and banking in the down town area in the not too distant future.
The ANZ Haus has become perhaps the most interesting and most talked about building in the country.
Strikingly different from the 1970-80’s style architecture that dominates the skyline, this building is truly international, reflecting the increasingly globalised community of which PNG is reaching out to.
ANZ Haus covers three floors with a total gross floor area of K4, 875 and with 77 car parks.
Adjoining the Royal Papua Yacht Club, ANZ Haus compliments the design rather than dominating the landscape.
The new head office set back from the street without security fencing gives a very relaxed Melanesian feel that is often so at odds with the outsiders view of Port Moresby of high fencing and barb wire.
And this is what Harbour City is and will be about.
Taking back our streets and building a new city with not only a modern feel but with modern attitude.
Ironically the modern feel still gravitates around the traditional with the commercial building named Ravalian Haus and the apartment s named ‘Sol Wara’.
Discussions have been held with Curtain Brothers on changing the name of the street facing the new buildings to add to the PNG flavor.
The NASFUND developments could not have taken shape without three important ingredients tied by shared meaning and commitment:
• The first was the decision by ANZ that they not only wanted to relocate but they wanted NASFUND as their partners in development. Much of this foresight rests with the outgoing Managing Director of ANZ, Mr. Gary Tunstall, who drove the ANZ side of the project;
• Curtain Brothers who shared the dream with NASFUND of building a new, modern city on the edge of the old with a commitment to a quality outcome; and
• The builders, Fletcher Morobe and the Brisbane architects Cottee Parker, who implicitly understood what NASFUND and Curtain brothers wanted from the development and delivered a first class project.
As the two other developments near completion, NASFUND along with joint venture partners are casting their eyes on the end site of Harbour City.
Located next to the current 20 unit complex under construction, is a plan for approximately a further 50 apartments taking shape with Curtain Brothers.
NASFUND says that this construction, still in the development phase will be different in style, with apartment balconies shaped like the front of boats facing the marina.
The new development is aptly named “The Edge” – where land meets water.
“The idea at Harbour City is to create a portfolio of investment buildings that will be the signature of what NASFUND stands for - quality and modernism with a respect for tradition,” Mr Mitchell says.
Island Meri
Visit the blog of
Great reading about the adventures of a
Friday, July 31, 2009
Remote Sepik villages prepare for annual Sepik Crocodile Festival, August 11-12, Ambunti, East Sepik province (please click on images to enlarge)
The central role of the crocodile in the lives of the people of the
Dancers and traditional performers from communities across the region will meet in Ambunti for two days of celebrations. The festival aims to protect the crocodiles and their habitat.
Background:
Communities are also spreading the message that they must start working now to keep the
The Sepik Crocodile Festival, to be held on August 11-12 in Ambunti, is an opportunity to link culture with conservation.
This year’s event theme “Kirapim wok bilong turis wantaim bus, wara na pasin tumbuna bilong
The mighty
Through a partnership programme with community-based organisations such as the Sepik Wetland Management Initiative and Help Resources - the Worldwide Fund for Nature, the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation and local-level governments are working with local clans and villages to build a secure future for the
The unique cultures of the
As part of its support for the festival, WWF will highlight the importance of freshwater biodiversity. It is important to protect and restore freshwater and forest ecosystems to meet future challenges from climate change and to ensure people have access to safe water and food sources.
WWF's work in the
WWF has been working in PNG since 1995. It focuses on linking community action, science and effective policy to ensure the protection and sustainable use of forests, freshwater and marine resources across the
For further information, contact:
Communications Officer
Tel: + 675 320 0149
Email: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg
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