By SIR PETER BARTER
These are a few pictures taken from helicopter afternoon 40 miles out to sea approaching Madang.
We dropped a bucket of beer, fruit, sandwiches newspapers, various emails exhanged and a map of Madang showing her where she will be escorted to the
Higher res pictures were sent to media this afternoon.
Roz looks very excited; we spoke on the radio and is looking forward to her arrival in Madang.
By MALUM NALU
British woman adventurer Roz Savage is expected to arrive in Madang at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday) after an epic rowing voyage across the Pacific from
This (Wednesday) afternoon, Sir Peter Barter flew in his helicopter to meet Savage, who is expected to arrive in Madang tomorrow afternoon to a warm welcome by school children, a flotilla of canoes and other boats marking the end of her historic epic voyage across the Pacific.
Sir Peter's helicopter lowered a bucket containing a mobile telephone, several cans of beer, fresh fruit, sandwiches, newspapers and information about Madang.
She is expected to be given a welcome fit for a heroine from people of the resort town of
“Roz Savage is expected to arrive around 2pm in Madang, and escorted into the Madang Resort Marina by hundreds of children dressed in traditional dress,” Sir Peter said tonight.
“It is also expected that many banana boats and fishing vessels including the Kalibobo Spirit will provide a warm welcome to the intrepid lone sailor after months at sea by herself.”
Savage was the first person in 2005 to row across the Atlantic Ocean from
She then rowed from
“This quite an amazing voyage as no one before has rowed solo across the Atlantic and now the
“Her main message about her voyage is to raise awareness of climate change, which of course is important in PNG, where so many islands and coastal regions are being threatened with rising water.”
By SENIORL ANZU of NARI
The loss of value in marketable sweet potato or kaukau in mainland PNG happens at all points of the supply chain from farms in the Highlands to markets in Lae and
A stakeholder workshop on ‘Towards Better Kaukau Supply Chain in PNG’, which started at NARI Headquarters in Lae today, was told that such losses happened due to damages during handling and transportation.
A survey participant, Ronald Pam (pictured), told the stakeholders that some of the obvious damages were skinning, broken root and rotten tubers.
“Lots of damages occur at loading and unloading,” he said.
“Major impacts lead to lots of broken root.
“This then result in lots of rotten tubers that can not be sold (soft rot) at the markets.”
Such damages affect the value of kaukau when they appear at the market place.
The survey identified that causes included rough handling, different packaging methods, and transportation-related problems derived from handling and high humidity.
Pam, who works for FPDA, said damage starts on-farm from rough handling and this built up further down the chain.
He said according to the survey, the number of broken roots increased through transportation - due to loading and unloading.
In introducing the workshop, Prof Barbara Chambers of the
Prof Chambers said the meeting was to inform stakeholders about recent research outcomes on the present scenario of kaukau supply chain from
She said the farmers, transporters, researchers and other industry players were expected to discuss issues relating to adding value and post-harvest management of kaukau.
Specific information required through the consultation are on the level of village training, research/product development, training needs and resources, additional research needs and new interventions on kaukau marketing efficiency, post-harvest management and value addition.
“To get the produce to
“While kaukau temperature is normally 20-30C, temperatures can be as high as 37C+ in containers, and these have a large impact on shelf life.
“We now know where the damage is occurring and what is causing it.”
He suggested to workshop participants to identify strategies to minimise the problems, and specifically to look at options for reducing damage in on-farm handling, packing bags, packaging types, curing (to make the kaukau tougher and more resilient), and reducing delays in transit – getting the product there in time.
The workshop was part of a major research project undertaken by PNG and Australian organisations to find avenues that can reduce post-harvest losses and improve quality out-turn of kaukau; thus helping farmers increase their household incomes.
The study, which commenced in 2008, is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
It primarily emerged after the need for research on post-farmgate marketing/post-harvest of sweet potato in
The local collaborating organisations include NARI, FPDA and a Mt Hagen- based NGO - Rural Women’s Development Initiative - while the Australian counterparts are the
East new Britain farmers participating in a training session on pig feeding systems at NARI Keravat
CARE staff unloading emergency non food items (NFIs) at Marawaka during the dysentery epidemic in Wonenara sub-district in October 2009
Grade 3 students from 
Field officer, Joycelyn Sapura, conducts a household survey in Simogu, EHP, March 2010
CARE has worked in
Most recently CARE, in partnership with the Eastern Highlands provincial division of health, supported the people of Wonenara when the dysentery epidemic crossed from Menyamya, Morobe, into the
Since the establishment of CARE’s Headquarters in Goroka in 2006, CARE has worked to support remote and disadvantaged areas with improved agricultural practices, water supply, education, HIV prevention and care, disaster risk management, capacity building and working to address gender based violence and providing women with increased opportunities to generate income.
CARE’s work focuses on some of the remotest communities in parts of the Obura-Wonenara district of Eastern Highlands province.
CARE also has a programme office in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB).
The Komuniti Tingim AIDS programme has been operating on
In 2010 the programmes focus shifted to young people, in particular young women, in acknowledgement of the challenges faced by youth in a post-conflict environment.
The programme will also expand to Tinputz with a possible further expansion to Central and
A knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) study is almost complete.
This is the first study of its kind in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, gathering information specifically about young people.
The results will inform CARE’s programme over the next three years and will be shared with government and other partners.
In the
A baseline study was conducted earlier this year in Marawaka, Andakombe, Simogu and Wonenara.
Secondary information has been gathering since the second half of 2009.
The first phase of the field component of the baseline pilot took place in February 2010 and focused on Aiyura and Bioka areas of Obura Wonenara District.
Methodology and outcomes of the pilot fed into the second phase, the field study in target communities.
During field work the ICDP team conducted household surveys, focus groups and government services surveys.
The household survey has collected information around themes such as: household assets, health, nutrition, HIV and AIDS, water and sanitation, and livelihoods.
In addition focus group discussions were held covering areas such as services, experience with and response to disasters, gender, disability, law and order, leadership, and challenges communities are facing.
Of particular value will be information that identifies the situation of women and girls. The debrief of field staff indicates that maternal and infant mortality are likely to be higher than the provincial average, women’s literacy is likely to be lower, the age that girls are taken out of school is likely to be very low and women’s role in decision making is severely compromised as a result.
In terms of CARE’s central focus on women’s empowerment this evidence will be extremely useful for CARE’s advocacy work.
The results are now being analysed and a final report is due by the end of June.
The report will be shared with the communities, government and a full range of partners.
Many of these communities are keen to establish small coffee-growing businesses to increase household income, assist with school fees and medical expenses and other social benefits for families and communities.
CARE will work in partnership with government, National Agriculture Research Institute, Coffee Industry Corporation and other partners to assist these remote communities to improve their livelihoods.
THE matter concerning a K15.5 million payout granted to Madang businessman Peter Yama by the National Court in mid-April is before the courts again, The National reports.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General secretary Dr Lawrence Kalinoe has applied for a Supreme Court reference on the matter.
Kalinoe, acting for the state through lawyer Peter Donigi, is seeking to establish the validity of the payout and whether due legal processes were followed.
The reference application is seeking answers from as far back as Nov 28, 2002, when a deed of settlement was reached between Yama and the solicitor-general, and leading up to a
The state is arguing that the deed of settlement did not follow the basic principles of governance, highlighting parts 2, 3 and 6 of the Constitution dealing with the national legal system.
The State had also applied for a stay on the execution of the April 14 National Court decision.
The reference application was filed last month.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and justices Gibbs Salika and Bernard Sakora yesterday morning heard, and granted, an application by Yama seeking to be included in the special reference proceedings.
The matter was adjourned to next Monday for Yama’s lawyer, Ben Lomai, to submit a notice of objection to competency of the special reference sought by Kalinoe.
ONE person is dead and many others seriously wounded in a fight in Madang between the local Bogia people and villagers from volcano-stricken
“The situation could get out of hand,” Madang police commander Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr said yesterday, adding that both sides were heavily armed.
Wagambie said depending on assessment reports today, he might recommend for Bogia to be declared “a fighting zone” because he did not have the manpower.
Ongoing tensions between Bogia landowners and islanders, who had been in care centres on the mainland since the Manam eruption in 2000, had been simmering for several years over land rights for gardening, hunting and building of permanent homes.
The latest clash took place last Saturday between islanders at the Asarumba care centre and locals near the
It erupted after six people attempted to knife a village councillor, who escaped and ran into a nearby trade store but, as fighting raged, an islander from the Sinbene area was killed and many others severely wounded, a local councillor said.
Wagambie said according to reports received, the warring factions possessed high-powered weapons and explosive devises, adding that “nine bomb blasts” were heard at the height of the confrontation last weekend, NBC national radio quoted him last night as saying.
“There is a build-up of arms on both sides and the situation could flare up,” he said.
However, while the situation was tense, police mobile squads 13 and 14 members from Lae and other local officers were on the ground to ensure the situation did not spill further.
Governor Sir Arnold Amet, who had been kept abreast of developments, said yesterday the Madang government could not do much because the care centres were under national government control.
However, his government was committed to ensuring that the welfare of the people was catered for.
Sir Arnold said it was in everybody’s interest to now discuss the future of Manam islanders at the three Bogia care centres.
He said given adequate funding from Waigani, his government would take the lead in finding a lasting solution to the islanders’ dilemma.
A village councillor at one of the care centres said clashes like last Friday’s would not have occurred if the government had permanently resettled them within the six months, as promised, after they were displaced by the volcanic eruption.
He said the islanders could not go back to the island because it was unsafe.
“The government must do something now as many clashes have erupted because we have been neglected for too long.”
More than 15,000 islanders had settled at the care centres at Bom, Asarumba and Posdem in Bogia for the past 10 years, waiting for the government’s promise to permanently resettle them elsewhere.
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Dr Deibler explaining a point to the audience at the seminar
NARI council chairman Dr John Kola (left) and general manager of ShineSun PNG Ltd Ken Cheng after signing the agreement on jatropha development in PNG. Looking on are representatives of NARI, Sunshine PNG and DAL
By UDAI PAL of NARI
National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has entered into an agreement with Taiwanese investor ShineSun (PNG) Ltd for research and training on jatropha.
The key to the future of bio-fuel is finding inexpensive feed stocks that can be grown by farmers on marginal agricultural land and jatropha is one of many plants that hold a great deal of promise.
Jatropha proves to be a promising bio-fuel plantation and could emerge as a major alternative to diesel.
A memorandum of agreement was signed recently in
The signing ceremony was witnessed by NARI director general Dr Raghunath Ghodake, a representative of the Taiwanese ambassador, staff members of ShineSun, Department of Agriculture and Livestock and NARI’s southern regional centre based at Laloki outside
The purposes of the agreement are to:
· Conduct and promote research on jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and provide training and planting materials to farmers who will become outgrowers of Jatropha in PNG;
· Share land and facilities at NARI Laloki for conducting research and promoting development of jatropa farming;
· Share knowledge and expertise of NARI and ShineSun on jathropa research and development;
· Implement the above basic objectives so as to help develop jatropha as an alternative cash crop for both smallholders and commercial plantations in Papua New Guinea and to help integrate jatropa cultivation in farming systems for sustainability; and
· Effectively pursue jatropha research and training to facilitate national jatropha technical steering committee for the development of jatropha biofuel project in PNG.
Jatropha oil displacing conventional fossil fuel makes the project fully eligible as recipient of carbon credits.
Jatropha qualifies to be a better alternative for bio-fuel than other food/oil crops such as corn, sorghum, cassava, soybeans or rapeseed as the use of these may lead to risk of global food scarcity and price rise.
Jatropha is an underutilised, oil-bearing crop.
It produces a seed that can be processed into non-polluting bio-diesel that, if well exploited, can provide opportunities for good returns and rural development.
Jatropha can also be used as a living fence to keep out livestock, control soil erosion and improve water infiltration.
The waste products from jatropha bio-diesel production can be used as a fertiliser for producing bio-gas, and the jatropha seedcake can potentially be used as livestock feed.
In addition to growing on degraded and marginal lands, this crop has special appeal, in that it grows under drought conditions and animals do not graze on it.
Issued by the APEC Secretariat
Recommendation 1: ABAC recommends that Leaders should re-commit to achieving free and open trade within the APEC region. Taking account of the fundamental changes in APEC’s economic and social structures over the last sixteen years, and the fact that we are now in the era of the post-industrialized knowledge-based economy, ABAC recommends that a new vision is needed, building on the Bogor Goals to reflect the changing nature of modern Asia Pacific regional supply chains and value chains. This vision should seek to liberalize flows of goods, services, investment, technology, e-commerce and people; and have a strong emphasis on balanced and inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Recommendation 2: ABAC recommends that Leaders agree that a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is an aspirational but achievable vehicle for delivering free and open trade and investment within the region. ABAC is seeking from Ministers greater detail on the modalities and processes towards an FTAAP to enable active involvement by the business community.
Recommendation 3: ABAC recommends that Leaders recognize the importance of existing and progressing regional trade arrangements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6 and CEPEA as potential pathways to delivering an FTAAP. As these existing arrangements evolve, they should draw on previously developed APEC model FTA chapters covering goods, services and investment and other new business requirements to guide their progress. ABAC further requests that Leaders of economies engaged in evolving regional arrangements direct their officials to share knowledge and substance about their respective negotiations in a timely and transparent fashion, while respecting the negotiating sensitivity of some issues.
Recommendation 4: ABAC recommends that as a new vision for APEC is developed, the business community is closely engaged so that policy makers draw on business leaders’ expertise in identifying practical initiatives and proposing workable solutions. ABAC recommends that the links between the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and ABAC processes be better defined and integrated.
Recommendation 5: ABAC recommends that as part of achieving the Bogor Goals or a new vision, Leaders direct the APEC Secretariat to develop an annual set of ‘Regional Integration Metrics’ to monitor each economy’s progress towards greater regional economic integration and inclusive growth. Such indicators are essential for benchmarking performance and creating accountability from Leaders. ABAC recommends the creation of a one page “Regional Integration Dashboard” for each economy showing the level and change in various indicators of liberalization, including but not limited to, the flows of goods, services, investment, technology and people.
In fact, a key component of ABAC’s 2010 agenda is an assessment of APEC members’ achievement of the Bogor Goals* from the business perspective. Last week, in a letter to Trade Ministers, ABAC members explained that:
“ABAC’s own review clearly identifies that many member economies have become considerably more open since 1994. Industrialized economies have made significant steps towards becoming more free and open, a trend apparent among developing economies as well.”
While the global economy has evolved considerably since 1994, ABAC cites a need to increase efforts toward deeper regional economic integration…
“More needs to be done to achieve the goal of free and open trade and investment in the APEC region. This needs to encompass trade in goods, services, investment, ideas and the movement of people…. Trade and investment facilitation are also essential tools to enhance economic growth.”
ABAC includes representatives from the business communities in each of APEC’s 21 member economies. These representatives are appointed by APEC Leaders as a source of insight to the priorities and concerns of the business sector.
APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) are to meet in
*In 1994 in
For more information, contact: media@apec.org
SCIENTISTS and lawyers say that the amendment passed last Friday in Parliament will strip Papua New Guineans of their right to their land, The National reports.
It would also leave the companies or developers immune to law suits for compensation, “even if they were negligent or at fault”.
The landowners, particularly of the
“This is the worst piece of legislation on human rights that I have ever seen,” PNG Institute of Biological Research scientist Banak Gamui said.
“They have stripped the landowners of common law and customary law rights that they have had for over 10,000 years.”
He said developers could not be sued for compensation.
“The action for negligence is gone.
“Reason? The developer was just doing what it had planned to do but a blow out happened.
“It does not matter if it’s its fault ... so long as the company was carrying out the activity it was authorised under the permit to do – it escapes all liability for environmental damage.”
Even when there are provisions for compensation provisions, he said: “Any compensation would be signed up and paid before the mining, gas, oil operation starts, provided the company predicts there will be any damage.
“If the company predicts none, not only will it pay no compensation at the beginning under a compensation agreement – but if damage occurs – negligently, intentionally or unintentionally – the company will not have to pay a toea.
“If it creates more damage than predicted at the beginning, there is no recourse.”
Lawyers said if the bill was not certified, it could go back to Parliament and be changed under section 113 of the Constitution.
The landowners of the
They will not be able to sue the developer CMCC of Ramu Nico over the dumping of waste into their sea.
They said the government made changes to sections of the Environment Act 2000 “to prevent landowners and concerned Papua New Guineans from “interfering’ with developing project like the Ramu nickel mine and LNG in the
The landowners had petitioned the Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu and Environment Minister Benny Allan in Bongu village on April 10.
The petition deadline was yesterday.
“But the government has seen fit to insult landowners by changing the law!” landowner George Ireng said.
“This is an insult to the people of
“Personally, I am angered by the government’s actions.
“The change is a serious attack on our ability as landowners and Papua New Guineans to speak out against problems created by the actions of government and developers.”
THE Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch from office, The National reports.
The high court made the decision yesterday, saying Pruaitch is suspended on full pay pending his substantive appeal against his referral by the Ombudsman Commission to the leadership tribunal.
The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court consisted of justices Nicholas Kirriwom, Les Gavera-Nanu and Catherine Davani.
They ruled that with Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia’s convening of the tribunal on Feb 3, this had immediately effected section 28 of the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of leadership (OLDLR).
Section 28 gives effect to the suspension of a leader who has been referred for prosecution before a leadership tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office.
The tribunal sat in February but did not commence hearing because of the restraining order obtained by Pruaitch. The tribunal comprises Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, principal magistrate Peter Toliken and senior magistrate Nerrie Eliakim.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that as soon as the tribunal was convened, the suspension of the leader immediately came into effect. And, for the leader to go to the courts, to turn his situation around was “an abuse of process”.
“The office belongs to the people of
“Once the allegations were made against a leader, that leader’s integrity is called into question,” Kirriwom, who read out the decision, said.
“The suspension of the leader is automatic and he must vacate office immediately to preserve his good name,” he added.
The court’s decision was made following submissions on grounds of law from both parties between March and April.
The court also overruled an appeal against a decision by
In a directional hearing yesterday afternoon, the chief justice ruled that the substantive appeal be heard on June 30. He also directed parties to file their written submissions at least five days before the hearing date.
Pruiatch was referred to the tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office following investigations by the Ombudsman Commission.
The allegations included double-dipping into support vehicle allowances, double-dipping into operational cost allowances for support vehicles, improper receipts of public funds for fuel costs for private vehicles, double-dipping into entertainment allowances and misappropriation of 2003 district support grants.
Art award winning painting by Elly Gendua
School students at the Variety Matinee at Raun Raun Theatre
Ms PNG Coffee Festival 2010 being congratulated by Bougainville president James Tanis
Judges at the PNG Coffee Festival Ball
Art award runner-up painting by Michael Kenny
Ms PNG Coffee Festival runner-up Scholar Mitio with her dad, former Coffee Industry Corporation CEO, Ricky Mitio
Ladies having a great night at the PNG Coffee Festival Ball
Guests mingling at the PNG Coffee Festival BallFrom PAUL OATES
If there are sufficient checks and balances in the
why haven't they prevented to current situation?
Therein lies the nub of the problem.
The inability of those who have a system being prepared to actually use it.
The list of examples continues to grow.
Every time a major scandal is allowed to go unchecked it knocks another support out from underneath the so called 'people's house'.
The credibility of the PNG Parliament has been eroded into it now merely being a rubber stamp for the Somare/Temu government to use when it wants.
It is clear now the office of the Governor General is a politically-appointed figurehead only and is beholden to the government of the day through the Speaker.
The majority of the Haus Tambaran is clearly either unable to understand what they are voting for or hopelessly compromised.
The Opposition appears 'eggbound' and can't seem to obtain any 'rubber on the road'.
The PNG court system has been reduced to being deluged by vexatious
litigation.
The Police Commissioner is clearly not prepared to risk his position.
The Chief Ombudsman either will not or cannot (though under funding), do anything.
The Public Prosecutor appears unwilling to start proceedings.
The Tax Office apparently won't bring charges against those who haven't submitted their tax returns for years.
The list goes on and on.
The PNGDF has now been reduced to the size of an ill-equipped school cadet corps but managed by a collection of highly paid, senior officers who apparently owe their appointments to political whim and not organisational necessity.
One wonders if this has been done intentionally or through a complete lack of understanding the military rank structure.
The PNG people are being conned by experts that have been allowed to develop their 'modus operandi' over many years.
If the situation cannot be resolved by peaceful and Constitutional means, it gives rise to speculation what other means might be used if the PNG people ever become organised and
united.
Meanwhile, PNG's nearest neighbours sit on their hands or put their metaphoric heads in the sands.
The time will come when many people will say, "Why didn't someone do something before this debacle got totally out of control?"
But by then it will be too late.
