Malum Nalu

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The pain of the Kokoda tragedy

I’m sitting down here trying to work, but tears are streaming down my eyes, as the tragedy of the Kokoda crash unfolds, as I read the personal stories of some of those in the crash.

My thoughts and prayers go out to families of those in the crash.

And I pray, that from the sad remains of the crash, may emerge a closer relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea, just like from World War 11.

We have so much in common.

Malum

Article on Papua New Guinea leadership

Born to be free of anxiety and fear

By James Wanjik

God is life. God is truth. God is way. Those are the truth of God. In truth no mortal can claim to possess truth. Truth is a word steeped in the power of Word of God. No person can tamper with truth for it is immortal.

When Bal thought he was invincible God showed him how naive he was. When Nebuchadnezzar thought he was immortal God pushed him down and out. There are many instances in the Holy Bible especially in the Old Testament about the activism of God.

No superstition, sorcery, or witchcraft equates with Word of God. This truth will set our people free from their fear and anxiety.

Politics of PNG is steeped in fear and anxiety. So are our leaders and their advisers. Living in fear, leaders lead in fear. Living in anxiety, leaders only want power of position. Power politics has its root in fear and anxiety.

True leader is Jesus Christ. He overcame fear and anxiety. When the spirit of death tormented him Jesus Christ waited on God Father. Leaders of PNG can break free from their bondage of fear and anxiety. Leaders will find the way if they have the will. Will to be free of fear and anxiety.

More and more people are making same observations about our leaders. The common thread is leaders are selfish. Selfishness is another characteristic of the spirit of death.

Again Jesus Christ shows the best example yet of selflessness. No person can claim to be selfless exactly in the same way as Jesus Christ. But we can aspire to be selfless if we have the will. This is the power of free will and choice.

Power of free will and choice is a gift from God. Only the God of Life is free to give freely. To those this privilege has been given much is expected.

Time of lame excuse of leaders is not there anymore. It would not be taken at face value. People are increasingly restless. Such people will move without much analysis of circumstance or situation.

Playing on emotions is very unbecoming of leaders. Lot of emotive statements were made by leaders in the last week of this month. No worthy leader would want anarchy and mayhem. That would be unfortunate.

Anarchy and mayhem is the way of the spirit of death. So is where PNG is heading right now.

New way of development thinking is required to turn PNG back to journey of life. People must be reason and passion of leadership. God showed us the way by giving us Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was sent to show us the way to God Father in Him and through Him. That is the truth.

No new ideas are taken to be important by the present national leadership on both divides of National Parliament. Taking time to discern this would demonstrate leaders’ vision. Again leaders are fearful of upsetting the usual. Usual way is the way of fear and anxiety. It is the way of spirit of death.

Leaders are to lead without fear or favour. Truth is any leader who is in fear will be anxious. Fear and anxiety are terrible twins the spirit of death use to torment and imprison a mortal from being free.

We are born to be free. Freedom from fear and anxiety. Only thing is us. We have the free will to choose to be free or remain in bondage of fear and anxiety.

To God be all glory and praise.

.............

9 August 2009

For feedback contact: jameswanjik@hotmail.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nine Aussies on missing Airlines PNG plane

AAP

SEVEN Victorians and two Queenslanders setting off to walk the Kokoda Track are among 13 people aboard a plane feared to have crashed in rugged terrain in Papua New Guinea.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said there were fears for those aboard Airlines of Papua New Guinea flight CG4684 travelling from Port Moresby to Kokoda today.
"We hold grave concerns for their safety and wellbeing," Mr Smith said.
Authorities believe they may have located a crash site and Australia is deploying a contingent of military assets to help with search efforts when they resume, weather permitting, at first light tomorrow.
Eight Australians were part of a Melbourne-based No Roads Expeditions tour group and another was an Australian tour guide.
Their families are being offered assistance by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"This of course is an agonising time for these families," Mr Smith said.
There was also one Japanese national and three Papua New Guineans on board the plane.
The two crew members aboard are believed to be PNG pilots Jenny Moala and Royden Soauka.
An aviation industry insider said the missing plane had aborted its first landing attempt.
"We've heard she pulled out of the first attempt and a plane behind her landed, then she has done a loop and gone missing," they said.
The aircraft has an emergency locator beacon but no signal has been received.
Authorities were searching the Owen Stanley Ranges north of Port Moresby this evening but called it off after it got dark. They believe they might have narrowed the search area to a possible crash site.
"We hope, weather permitting, that a substantially-enhanced search and rescue effort can commence tomorrow morning," Mr Smith said.
Search and rescue efforts today - involving two helicopters and a twin-engine aircraft - were being hampered by bad weather, low visibility and very rugged terrain along the Kokoda Track.
"One of the helicopters has landed in a village which is thought to be near the vicinity of a possible crash site," Mr Smith said.
"I say a possible crash site because PNG authorities, PNG Airlines and Australian officials are relying on information relayed by villagers on the ground."
Mr Smith said Australia was working "single-mindedly" to help with locating the plane and those on board.
Late today, Mr Smith, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Defence Minister John Faulkner and Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston met to discuss Australian efforts shortly after being informed the aircraft was missing.
Mr Rudd then spoke to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to offer assistance, which was accepted.
"Steps were taken to arrange the deployment of those assets," Mr Smith said.
HMAS Success, with a helicopter on board, is being diverted from near Torres Strait and will arrive off the PNG coast by first light tomorrow.
A Caribou aeroplane, currently in Port Moresby, will also be available to help. A C1-30 aircraft with medical facilities will depart overnight and be ready to assist.
"It will have on board a fully-equipped ground party with search and recovery assets," Mr Smith said.
Two Blackhawk helicopters will be deployed via a C-17 aircraft. The Australian Maritime Search and Rescue authority also deployed aircraft which left today.
The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has established a consular crisis centre and was liaising with authorities.
People concerned about the welfare of family or friends are advised to contact DFAT's consular emergency centre on 02 6261 3305.

New international hotel for Kokopo

Picture of new hotel from the Golf Course.-Picture courtesy of NAMBAWAN SUPER

Picture of new hotel with the original steps of Queen Emma’s residence which has been retained and developed as a tourist attraction. - Picture courtesy of NAMBAWAN SUPER

The historic site of Queen Emma’s residence at Ralum near Kokopo in East New Britain will soon become an impressive three-storey hotel called Gazelle International.

Construction work started early this year on the multi-million kina hotel which is jointly owned by the largest superannuation fund Nambawan Super Ltd which has majority shareholding, plus Airways Hotel and East New Britain provincial government.
The owners of the new development have taken into account the invaluable historical significance of the hotel site and have modeled the design of the hotel to reflect as much as possible Queen Emma’s original house.

This included renovating the original steps of the Queen Emma residence as a drawcard and a major tourist attraction.

The steps are still located on the hotel property leading towards the golf course.
The hotel will comprise a reception, lobby shop, coffee lounge, restaurant, bar and poker machines all on the ground floor, while a total of 52 rooms make up the two upper floors.
Other amenities will include a resort pool, and a separate conference building which will seat up to about 150 persons.

In recent years, an influx of people have been attracted to Kokopo for conferences and a real need for good facilities have been unavailable to cater for their needs.
The builders for the hotel are Lamana Development Limited while the architect is Peter Kubli of Cairns.

According to the builders, the Gazelle International Hotel is designed to cater for a mix of customers, international tourists as well as conference people and weekenders.
All rooms will have spectacular views over-looking the blue waters of Blanche Bay and looking up to the green hills of Kokopo.
Building material for the hotel is mostly from PNG and via PNG suppliers.

Specialised equipment and furnishings are imported from various countries.
The hotel which is expected to be completed early 2010, will bring about greater employment opportunities creating jobs for around 60 people, and will also contribute to boosting the province’s economy through the development of tourism.
The hotel project managers agree: “Kokopo is a significant economic centre in Papua New Guinea plus it has an enormous untapped tourism potential.

"Rabaul, before the volcanic eruptions was held in high esteem as the most beautiful town in the country.

"We believe Kokopo will continue to expand, and with its unique mix of natural wonders, will attract people to visit this beautiful part of the world”.
Managing director of Nambawan Super Leon Buskens said the new hotel investment should not be seen as competing with existing accommodation facilities but rather complementing them as the hotel is pitched at another segment of the market.

The larger conference room facility compared to the accommodation will mean sharing of rooms within the Kokopo market
Mr Buskens said: “We are looking also at spreading our investments outside of Port Moresby and Lae where the investment returns are sustainable.

"The principle of partnership is one of long-term strategic value with the Lamana/Airways group which means that we are tapping into a proven and quality local brand with international standards, while the provincial government business arms bring local content and business alignment with provincial governments.

"Already one such model is operating in Alotau, in the Alotau International Hotel.

"Likewise, the Fund is also looking at the other centres to create a local hotel chain with international quality standards”.
He added that the partnership provided much needed training and development of local people as well as expertise in international hotel management services through the Airways/Lamana group.

Conversely, the involvement of provincial governments provides local representation and content.
Mr Buskens thanked the East New Britain provincial government for adopting a business friendly approach in enabling the international hotel venture to become a reality.

mv Siddy to serve Sepik River people

Moim villagers pay a visit on mv Siddy at along the Sepik River

mv Siddy prepared to berth at Moim village along the Sepik River

A NEW cargo and passenger barge called mv Siddy is certain to boost transportation along the mighty Sepik River.
The ship was launched last week at Timbunke purposely to serve the Sepik River people under the Community Water Transport Programme (CWTP).
The CWTP supports implementing the sector reform programme with the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), which is in line with the recent government Medium Term Development Strategy (MTDS) and National Transport Development Programme (NTDP).
It is mandated to provide viable and effective maritime transport services to selected remote and disadvantaged communities in the coastal and river based areas of PNG.
It also will establish a trust fund that will provide a source of finance to subsidise transport costs to selected remote and disadvantaged communities, restore small water transport infrastructure, improve small craft safety, and induce the ability of the affected communities to take full advantage of the benefits of transport provided.
About a month ago, the ship was christened mv Siddy by Lutheran Shipping on Siassi Island in memory of one of the company’s pioneer local captains, who died while on duty in the wheel-house some years back.
The ship was purchased by Lutheran Shipping in Pusan City, SouthKorea.
Four expert navigators from Luship travelled to Korea to bring her into PNG waters.
Captain Emmanuel Akau, of Manus and East Sepik parentage, said the ship under the programme of the CWTP would be making 13 stops along the Sepik River for two weeks.
mv Siddy stretches around 50 metres in length and is fully equipped with modern navigational aids including radar, depth sonar sound system, radio communications, inflated life rafts and jackets.
The ship also has two spacious air-conditioned cabins for 13 crew and 200 passengers (upper and lower decks).
According to chief engineer, William Robui, the ship was installed with a 570-horsepower Yanmar diesel-operated engine as well a Daewoo generator set capable of producing 137.5 KVA or 110 KW of electricity on board.
Both the skipper Mr Akau and the chief engineer Mr Robui were very helpful in hosting a team of journalists who boarded the ship at Angoram.
Mr Robui helped by providing electricity from a stand-by portable generator set to help journalists to charge batteries for their mobile telephones and laptops.
Many of the people, especially villagers along the Sepik River, expressed appreciation at having the ship providing transport for their produce such as cocoa, sago, fish and other agricultural produce.
Angoram MP and Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare, who officiated at the launch of the ship for its travel along the Sepik at Timbunke, said the CWTP was funded by the Asian Development Bank and co-funded by OPEC Fund for International Development and the PNG National Government.

Shipping freight subsidies help rural Western province rubber growers

Rubber growers line up to sell their produce at Kapikam village in Lake Murray, Western province.-Picture by NORTH FLY RUBBER LTD

North Fly Rubber Ltd, the only successful smallholder rubber project in the country, is an example of what could be achieved through shipping freight subsidies.
NFRL currently produces the highest quality PNGCR10 (rubber) in PNG and exports to markets throughout Europe and Australia.
Since 1995, NFRL has exported over 9, 442 tonnes of smallholders’ processed rubber to overseas markets, earning foreign exchange of K28.6 million and providing income of over K13.1m to the smallholder shareholders of the company.
In 1992, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd agreed to provide K100, 000 in loan capital as well as provide subsidised (free) shipment of containers of PNGCR10 rubber to Port Moresby or an international port for on-shipment to international buyers.
This has proved to be a win-win situation for all parties, particularly the rubber growers of Western province.
Papua New Guinea Rubber Board chairman Warren Dutton, citing the success story of NFRL, has called for National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) funds to be spent on freight subsidies to move rubber and other commodities to markets.
Mr Dutton, who is also chairman of NFRL and a former politician, told the National Development Forum in Port Moresby last week that only then could more money be put into the pockets of rural people as well as prop up PNG’s agricultural exports.
“The shipment of three or four containers of PNGCR10 rubber among a backload of over 100 empty containers cost OTML virtually nothing,” Mr Dutton said,
“In 1992, it allowed the rubber growers to be paid an extra 25t per kg for their cup lump.
“In 2008, it allowed for an extra 43t per kg.
“Without freight subsidies, there could be no rubber industry in the Western province.
“Without subsidies, there could be so much less agricultural production by the farmers in the major countries of the G8 and G20.
“Without subsidies, the production of most of the smallholder crops in PNG has been in continual decline.
“Production has been in decline ever since PNG destroyed its plantation industry and the partnerships which the plantations have with their neighbouring smallholders.”
Mr Dutton said other reasons for NFRL being a success story was because of hard working village rubber growers, and a public private partnership (PPP).
The PPP was originally between NFRL, which the rubber growers own and Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, but this has since grown to take on PNG Sustainable Development Program and the Fly River provincial government.
Mr Dutton emphasised that the government’s policy of encouraging PPPs was “correct” because it would help rebuild the relationship which used to exist between smallholders and expert agricultural; investors.
“These expert agricultural investors are then responsible for providing the training, the transport, and the marketing for their neighbouring smallholders,” he said.
“Most importantly, they must pay an acceptable price for the smallholders’ products.”

My Soul Mate

Twinkle in my eye,

Heart skips a beat,

I Smile from within

My Laughter echoes

The joy I have since we crossed paths.

I see you in my sleep

Even when I am very awake.

The very thought of you

Makes me smile all over.

I anxiously await you,

For our quality time however brief

Attaches an ounce, I so very much

am yearning for.

Our conversations,

A window to my soul

And yet a very down trodden glimpse

Of my inner being.

I have in you;

My shoulder to cry on

Warmth for shelter,

A reason to smile.

You don’t need to say or do more

You are my soul mate.

Pictures of my children playing at the new Gerehu Stage Two Recreational Park in Port Moresby

Monday, August 10, 2009

50 years shining over beautiful Madang

THE Madang landmark and icon– the Coastwatchers’ Memorial Lighthouse at Kalibobo Point – will be 50 years next Saturday, Aug 15.
The lighthouse was built in 1958 and completed in 1959 to recognise the invaluable contribution of the coast watchers who were spread all along the coastline and islands of Papua New Guinea during World War 11.
Armed with only tele-radios, the coast watchers took great risks to keep a look out for the Japanese forces, and reported them to the Allies, who then attacked the invaders.
Karkar planter and former parliamentarian Sir John Middleton said yesterday the coast watchers had a great impact on the war effort and deserved to be remembered.
The group was founded by an Australian naval officer named Eric Feldt, who later wrote a book about the role of the coast watchers during the war.
Apart from their many achievements in Papua New Guinea, it was the coast watchers who alerted American forces in the Solomons about a build-up of Japanese forces preparing for an attack on the Solomon Islands.
It is not known if authorities in Madang have organised any ceremony to commemorate the anniversary.
Prominent Madang resident Sir Peter Barter said the anniversary was a significant event for Madang and it would be regrettable if it was not commemorated.
ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day commemoration celebrations are now held at the light house memorial and Sir Peter said both events have attracted thousands of people.
The Australian Government built the light house and last year paid for the repainting of it.
The Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse was dedicated in 1959 to the mostly Australian and British soldiers and civilian volunteers who served as coast watchers during WW11.
Many of these brave men radioed the positions of Japanese ships to the Allies from Japanese-held territory such as one of the many islands surrounding New Guinea.

Papia New Guinea coffee urged to shift focus from production to marketing

Tiri Kuimbakul…shift from coffee production to marketing

Ripe red coffee cherries in the Highlands. – Picture by CIC

PNG made coffee products..among the best in the world but must be aggressively marketed.-Picture by CIC

Prominent economist and author Tiri Kuimbakul has called on the Papua New Guinea coffee industry to shift its focus from production to marketing.
Mr Kuimbakul, a former industry affairs general manager with the Coffee Industry Corporation and now a private consultant, said the industry had placed too much emphasis on research and extension over the last 20 years with no increase in production.
Figures show that production has stagnated over the past 20 years at one million bags, despite the fact that the industry has invested millions of kina into research and extension.
He made these comments after a presentation by PNG agriculture expert, Dr Mike Burke of the Australian National University, who said at last week’s National Development Forum that growers were getting better return for fresh vegetables such as kaukau.
“My view is that for the industry to move forward, there needs to be a shift in focus and emphasis from production to marketing, in particular, overseas promotion of PNG coffee,” Mr Kuimbakul said.
“What is important to the growers is the price.
“If they receive good prices for their coffee, they will continue to produce.
“If they feel that the prices that they’re getting for their coffee is not sufficient, they will simply neglect their coffee gardens, and even uproot their trees to plant food crops.
“From Dr Mike Bourke’s presentation, he showed that the returns to labour from coffee production are lower than fresh produce, in particular, kaukau.
“What the growers are faced with now is shortage of land due to population pressures, so they have to decide between coffee and other crops.
“Generally, food crops offer better prices than coffee.
“That’s why growers are responding by allocating more land and labour to producing these other crops and neglecting coffee.”
“So if we’re going to move the industry forward, coffee has to give better prices to growers.”
Mr Kuimbakul’s suggestion is that PNG coffee be aggressively marketed on the world stage.
“The only way that growers can receive better prices on a sustainable basis is for the industry to sell PNG coffee to international markets at better prices,” he said.
“We can get better prices only if we promote PNG coffee.
“PNG coffee is among the best in the world, but most consumers are not really aware of what PNG can offer.
“Other producing countries like Kenya, Columbia and Jamaica attract the best prices in the world because they have spent millions on promotion.
“This is why consumers perceive their coffee as of high quality, so they pay very high prices.
“I have tasted coffee from these countries, and PNG coffee is even better, but we get lousy prices because our coffee is no well-known.
“Basically, what I’m saying is that we shift from production to marketing.
“We’ve got to go out and tell the world what PNG has to offer, focusing on emerging markets like Japan, South Korea and China.
“Let’s create a demand for our coffee.
“When demand increases, prices will rise and growers will respond by increasing production.
“We want to increase production, but not by doing what we’ve been doing all this time.
“Let’s change the strategy, give growers better prices, and they will give us better coffee.

Papua New Guinea capable of producing world-class products

Micky Puritau of Paradise Spices shows some of the company’s products at the National Development Forum

Paradise Spices products on display at the National Development Forum

Papua New Guinea is more than capable of producing world-class finished products that meet international requirements, according to leading 100% nationally-owned vanilla and spice producer Micky Puritau.
Mr Puritau, managing director of Paradise Spices, said this in a heartening and widely-applauded presentation to the National Development Forum in Parliament last Friday.
Paradise Spices is a family run company that has been involved in the agriculture
sector in PNG since 1987 and exporting vanilla beans for 10 years.
The company this year received $170,000 funding from AusAID which will enable Paradise Spices to establish a solvent extraction facility at its Port Moresby site to produce pure vanilla extract, vanilla oleoresin (a naturally occurring mixture of resin
and essential oil) and other spices.
The facility would be the first of its kind in PNG and it would create a larger and more-reliable market for the farmers.
Part of the plan for the project is to gain international quality standard certification.
Once achieved, it is expected that this will lead to greater export opportunities.
“As a producer and exporter of finished products, Paradise Spices is constantly faced with new challenges and decisions each year after participating in trade shows around the world,” Mr Puritau told an appreciative audience.
“When we see products that can easily be made in PNG, we are challenged with questions like ‘why can’t we do this in our own country?’, ‘is it too difficult for Papua New Guineas to make these products?’; ‘do we grow the raw materials in PNG and is the supply consistent?’
“Quite often, the answer is quite simple and resulting from these challenges, Paradise Spices is now producing gold award products which are now being used as food ingredients to make gourmet products in Australia and Japan.
“From our experience, we believe many other Papua New Guineans can replicate what we are doing.
“The challenge for this nation is that we cannot continue to export raw materials which are susceptible to the oscillations of world market prices, generation after generation.
“We must change our mentality into one of growing, producing and exporting of finished products into countries like India and China.”
Mr Puritau said immense opportunities abounded in the global markets for PNG-made products.
“Many consumers from countries around the world such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, USA and Europe are seeking to buy organically-grown products and PNG is one country in the world than can supply these products,” he said.
“However, PNG producers must work towards obtaining quality standards certification from recognised certifying bodies already existing in order to satisfy the demand for quality products from these countries.
“We can no longer take these things for granted as we move into global trading and competition.
“Initially, the national government through its medium term development strategy (MTDS) 2005-2010, will need to provide support to existing producers and traders and improving their capacity to obtain quality standards certification.
“A database of local manufacturers needs to be established in order to provide direct and focused assistance.
“By increasing the number of certified producers over a 10-20 year period, this will result in increased volume pf trade and exports, thus, creating jobs locally and drawing in foreign currency which would contribute to a positive balance of payments never before seen in PNG.”

Sunday, August 09, 2009

National Agriculture Development Plan doomed to failure, says former agriculture boss

Former Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Mathew’Wela Kanua (pictured) says the massive National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) is doomed to failure because its initial recommendations are not being adhered to and will also have a drastic effect on the agriculture sector in Papua New Guinea.
He said this as this year’s NADP allocation of K100 million has been just about finished with no proper accountability and much of it going to dubious projects and individuals.
The government plans to inject a massive K1 billion, K100m a year for the next 10 years, to prop up agriculture in the country but this has backfired with many questions now being asked about the NADP.
Mr Kanua, one of the architects of the NADP during his tenure as DAL Secretary from 2002-2006, said after last week’s National Development Forum that the NADP was never intended to replace government public investment programme (PIP) funding.
He said this was a “recipe for disaster” and the biggest loser would be the agriculture sector.
“The NADP was not intended to replace the development budget of agriculture,” Mr Kanua said.
“NADP was created to be an investment fund for agriculture.
“What has actually happened is that NADP has replaced the PIP for agriculture and made the sector worse off than it was.
“For instance, the agriculture development budget used to average about K75-K85m annually.
“NADP has subsumed all the K85m with no extra funding for investment, so the sector is worse off than it was.
“The NADP was supposed to mobilise customary land and identify potential for large projects, using the model of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, with the government partnering with the private sector to develop one to two large projects in less-developed provinces every year.
“Over the tenure of the NADP, with private sector investment as well, the benefits would be tenfold.
“To do this, you need to set the NADP as appropriate legislation and corporatise the DAL, build up its capacity to deliver the NADP.
“It’s sad none of this is happening.
“And it’s also sad that all recommendations to improve it are mere recipes for disaster.
“It’s very heartening that the Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc has noted this.”
Mr Kanua said the only solution to making the NADP work was to go back to its original design.
He said various recommendations including streamlining of various layers of bureaucracy to improve the management and disbursement of NADAP funds would not
“I took care of the NADP planning process for six years under (former DAL Secretary) Utula Samana,” Mr Kanua said.
“When I left (as Secretary in 2006), I left a draft NADP, which was not the NADP that was intended.
“I left my hard notes to the incoming Secretary Anton Benjamin.
“I also wrote a letter to (then DAL) Minister Sasa Zibe, giving him a copy of the way forward.
“When John Hickey came in, I wrote another letter.
“I still have a copy.
“What everybody has to realise is that the NADP has been through three years of rigorous consultation provided by the economic sector ministers, headed by Bart Philemon.
“The plan is very simple: provide economic solutions to the myriad of social and cultural problems including mobilisation of land to grow the agricultural economy.

'Unproductive' public servants under the spotlight

Acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc (left) with PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation president Maria Linibi, one of the staunchest critics of “unproductive” public servants

The ‘unproductive’ public servants of Waigani came under the spotlight again at the National Development Forum at Parliament last Friday.
This led to Acting Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, who was visibly disappointed at the lack of attendance by senior and rank-and-file public servants, vowing to change the mindset of the huge and inefficient Waigani bureaucracy.
Mr Zurenuoc bluntly said when closing the forum that the entire public service needed a complete overhaul to make it click.
Ironically, that same day, the no-nonsense former Morobe Administrator had in the media likened Waigani public servants to “headless chooks” who wander aimlessly around Port Moresby without care or knowledge about what was happening in the provinces.
Concern was also raised at the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council forum about the lack of interest shown by politicians in this very important public meeting.
Speaker after speaker – some of whom had paid for their own travel from other parts of the country - raised the same concern at the lack of interest shown by public servants, particularly from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, given that the forum focused on “Opening up opportunities for agriculture and rural development”.
Many wanted answers about the massive National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), for which the government has injected K100 million into agriculture this year – money that has already been used up without proper accountability.
Like DAL, there was little if any attendance by the entire public service including key departments like National Planning and Monitoring, Treasury, Commerce and Industry and its line agencies, Lands and many more.
“I note with alarm your concern about people who are not here, not particularly politicians, but public servants,” Mr Zurenuoc said.
“This will continue to happen unless we change the mindset of public servants at Waigani.”
He admitted that the much talked about NADP was not working as indicated at the three-day forum.
“We know for a fact that the NADP is not working,” Mr Zurenuoc said.
“With the NADP, there is a serious problem,
“Let’s talk about NADP and making it work.”
Mr Zurenuoc said public –private partnership (PPP) was the only way to move the stagnant public service forward.
“That’s the direction that the government must go now,” he said.

Rubber freight subsidies an example for other agricultural commodities

Rubber buying at Kapikam Village, Lake Murray district.-Picture by NFRL

The final product from North Fly Rubber Ltd ready for export.-Picture by NFRL

Papua New Guinea Rubber Board chairman Warren Dutton last Thursday called for National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) funds to be spent on freight subsidies to move rubber and other commodities forward.
Mr Dutton, who is also chairman of North Fly Rubber Ltd (NFRL) and a former politician, told the National Development Forum in Port Moresby that only then could more money be put into the pockets of rural people as well as prop up PNG’s agricultural exports.
He cited the example of NFRL, the only successful smallholder rubber project in the country, as one of what could be achieved through freight subsidies.
NFRL currently produces the highest quality PNGCR10 (rubber) in PNG and exports to markets throughout Europe and Australia.
Since 1995, NFR has exported over 9, 442 tonnes of smallholders’ processed rubber to overseas markets, earning foreign exchange of K28.6 million and providing income of over K13.1m to the smallholder shareholders of the company
Mr Dutton said other reasons for NFRL being a success story was because of hard working village rubber growers, and a public private partnership (PPP).
The PPP was originally between NFRL which the rubber growers own and Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, but this has since grown to take on PNG Sustainable Development Program and the Fly River provincial government.
In 1992, OTML agreed to provide K100, 000 in loan capital as well as provide subsidised (free) shipment of containers of PNGCR10 rubber to Port Moresby or an international port for on-shipment to international buyers.
“The shipment of three or four containers of PNGCR10 rubber among a backload of over 100 empty containers cost OTML virtually nothing,” Mr Dutton said,
“In 1992, it allowed the rubber growers to be paid an extra 25t per kg for their cup lump.
“In 2008, it allowed for an extra 43t per kg.
“Without freight subsidies, there could be no rubber industry in the Western province.
“Without subsidies, there could be so much less agricultural production by the farmers in the major countries of the G8 and G20.
“Without subsidies, the production of most of the smallholder crops in PNG has been in continual decline.
“Production has been in decline ever since PNG destroyed its plantation industry and the partnerships which the plantations have with their neighbouring smallholders.”
Mr Dutton emphasised that the government’s policy of encouraging PPPs was “correct” because it would help rebuild the relationship which used to exist between smallholders and expert agricultural; investors.
“These expert agricultural investors are then responsible for providing the training, the transport, and the marketing for their neighbouring smallholders,” he said.
“Most importantly, they must pay an acceptable price for the smallholders’ products.”

Bombshell! Department of Agriculture and Livestock 'incapable' of running agriculture in PNG

Vice Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Jimmy Simitab admitted at the National Development Forum in Port Moresby last Thursday that the Department of Agriculture and Livestock is no longer capable of running agriculture in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Simitab dropped the bombshell in his presentation to the forum, which focuses on ‘Opening up opportunities for agriculture and rural development’.

He made a frank admission that DAL was incapable of running the much talked about National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP) and all overriding functions should be taken over by the National Agriculture Council.

The minister recommended the establishment of the NAC as the apex body in agriculture be given high consideration by the forum and the Consultative Implementation Monitoring Council.

Mr Simitab said one of the most-important recommendations of the Public Sector Review and Monitoring Unit (PMRSU) in 2005 was an overhaul of the DAL; however, this had not been implemented over the last five years.

“The findings of this review remain unimplemented, hitherto, the sad state of affairs in DAL over the last five years,” he said.

Mr Simitab said it was perceived that the NAC, once legislated, would recognise existing commodity and statutory bodies, with overriding powers to maintain and sustain the NADP.

“In fact, the National government, in approving and adopting the NADP in March 2007, had directed that a further institutional and legislative reform be undertaken to improve the management of the sector with NADP,” he said.

“Given the state of reforms that have occurred in agriculture to this point, it is obvious that DAL is neither a capable nor an appropriate ‘lead agency’ without an entity such as NAC as its apex body.

“The suggestion that NAC be chaired by the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, with membership of no more than 10 people appointed by the Head of State on advice, has great merits, on a number of fronts.

“First, it will act independently of all agencies of the sector, and has links to DAL only for policy and technical guidance.

“Secondly, it will establish its own sub-sectoral liaison mechanisms to capture development resource requirements of each sub-sector as well as from each district, for budget purposes and for monitoring and evaluation.

“Thirdly, the entity shall provide a one-stop-shop for investors, and coordination of donor support for agriculture.

“Finally, it shall provide an effective mechanism for the policy coordination of the sector, and the management of annual fiscal support for agriculture through NADP.”

Mr Simitab said the concept of an ‘agricultural council’ being an apex body for the sector was not a foreign concept as it had already been practiced in several emerging Asian economies, including Taiwan and South Korea.

Happy birthday to me!

It's my birthday today and my four children Keith (2), Moasing (4, the only girl), Gedi (7) and Jr Malum (8) threw a party for me at home last night (pictured).
Great fun for all of us, with lots to eat and drink, albeit bittersweet, as their Mum, my dear wife Hula, wasn't around to celebrate with us.
We all love and miss her so much.
We have all, however, come to accept that she will no longer be with us,and we have to live for the future and not dwell in the past.
Thank you to all those wonderful people from around Papua New Guine and the world who have sent their birthday wishes to me.

Malum