Singapore, 3 June 2010 – APEC Trade Ministers are set to review members’ progress in achieving regional free trade goals; and will receive an update on global trade negotiations from the World Trade Organisation’s Director-General, Mr Pascal Lamy.
The meeting of Asia-Pacific Trade Ministers will be held in Sapporo, Japan on 5-6 June and will conclude with a press conference on 6 June.
In 1994 APEC set the ‘Bogor Goals’ of free and open trade and investment by 2010 for industrialised members and by 2020 for developing members. Trade Ministers will now discuss members’ progress based on an interim assessment report which combines input from: member economies, the APEC Business Advisory Council and relevant international organisations.
Existing figures show that substantial progress has already been made. Average tariffs in APEC member economies are now more than 60 percent lower than when APEC was established in 1989.
Mr Lamy will brief Trade Ministers on progress in the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations and on the WTO’s efforts to monitor and counter protectionism. APEC Trade Ministers will then discuss how to give impetus to the DDA and maintain APEC’s standstill against protectionism.
Trade Ministers will also focus on APEC’s key agenda items for 2010. They will consider ways to accelerate regional economic integration, including possible pathways to a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. In addition, the Ministers will review APEC’s work to formulate a new Growth Strategy for the region that achieves more balanced growth, attains greater inclusiveness in societies, better sustains the environment, and raises growth potential through innovation.
The meeting of Trade Ministers will be preceded by meetings of APEC Senior Officials and working level groups from May 24 to June 4.
Personnel from a security firm in Port Moresby standing guard at the Jackson Airport domestic entrance soon after a passenger was shot and bled to death yesterday as he was about to board for New Ireland, on his way to Simberi to buy gold. Suspects made off with the victim’s bag allegedly containing more than K500,000. Two suspects have been arrested as police investigations continue.-Nationapic by AURI EVA in The National
Passenger shot dead, K500,000 stolen in daylight robbery
A PASSENGER bled to death at Port Moresby’s Jackson Airport domestic terminal yesterday morning after he was shot in the waist and robbed of more than half a million kina, The National reports. Witnesses said the passenger, believed to be gold buyer, lay wounded in a pool of blood inside the domestic terminal second security check area for a long time before an ambulance arrived to rush him to the hospital. “Why call the ambulance? Where were the airport medical centre staff who should have attended to his wounds on the spot and then rush him to hospital?” an irate regular traveller said at the scene. Jackson Airport managers, National Airports Corporation, released a brief media statement about the killing but did not say how firearms were smuggled through the outside security check-point. The metal detector there should have picked up the gun, or guns, then. According to police, the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at Port Moresby General Hospital. The hospital confirmed that the man died from heavy loss of blood. Relatives of the dead man, believed to be from the Highlands, went to the hospital during the day and removed the body. This is the first major armed robbery of a passenger inside PNG’s largest airport where a victim has been shot and killed. NCD police chief of operations Supt Andy Bawa said yesterday two people, who had driven the gold buyer to the airport, have been arrested and are being questioned. Police are still hunting for two more, one of whom who may have pulled the trigger. Bawa said the Port Moresby-based gold-buying employee was carrying K530,000 in cash and was due to fly to the gold-mining island of Simberi in New Ireland when he was attacked, probably by two people who had escorted him to the airport. He was shot in the waist as he struggled with his assailants who were trying to snatch his travelling bags. “We have not yet recovered the money but my men are out in full force to capture the suspects,” he said. Bawa appealed to intending passengers and members of the public, who were at the scene of the crime, to come forward with information. National Airports Corp managing director Joseph Kintau confirmed in a statement that “a man was shot by criminals and died on the way to the hospital”. “It is understood the criminals were after bags containing significant amounts of money and, in the struggle, they shot the man.” Kintau said it was now a police matter and investigations had started. “Extra security measures are being taken and the public airport premises will be subject to additional checks and screening.” According to several witnesses, five armed men were seen rushing from the scene of the shooting. Everything happened so fast that it was hard to tell what really happened, but two men appeared to grab bags from the man and fled through the exit sliding doors to a waiting white Nissan Sunny motor vehicle which sped off.
PRISON escapee William Nanua Kapris yesterday pleaded guilty to robbing cash and gold bars from the Metal Refining Operations (MRO), and named three politicians as having benefited from the proceeds of this crime, The National reports.
He named the three politicians as recently suspended Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch, Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Francis Marus.
Stolen from the MRO on Feb 14, 2007, were cash totalling K78, 000 and gold bars worth K2, 060,115.56.
Kapris claimed that the leaders used what he stole to buy properties along Orchards Street in Singapore in 2007.
He said the three MPs and a Malaysian businessman in Port Moresby, William Lee, had assured him not to worry about the MRO robbery proceeds in a restaurant in Gordon which they claimed they also owned.
Kapris pleaded guilty to the charge of armed robbery, but told the court there were no violence involved because insiders were involved.
He also told the court about his childhood background and upbringing in Kimbe, his initial jailing (for 15 years) in November 1997 for armed robbery in Kimbe, his transfer to Bomana, how he escaped and met his wife.
He said the MRO robbery was organised by a Alphonse Silas, or Alfie. Others he named as being involved included a Tom Gabi, who he said was a smelter; a Fiona Augerea, MRO’s marketing and sales representative; another MRO driver named Eocio; MRO security guard Joseph Tau and Jackson Sandy, who later drove the MRO bus with the loot from the robbery to a place in Waigani.
He said from the K78, 000 cash, 10 of them each got K7, 500.
He said Alfie and Lee took care of the sales of the gold bars.
In April 2007, Kapris flew to Lae and stayed there for four month.
He said he rang to complain about why he did not get anything from the sales and proceeds of the stolen MRO gold bars.
Then, in August 2007, Lee arranged for him to fly to Singapore for a month, returning on Sept 10.
He said while he was in Singapore, he was shown some properties bought from the use of the gold stolen from MRO.
He also questioned why others heavily involved in the MRO robbery, such as Alfie, remained free.
The hearing on the matter continues today.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Gari Baki said last night police would investigate all the allegations made in court yesterday by Kapris.
Baki said police would leave no stone unturned in their investigations.
He said the claims were made before and were not new.
SUSPECTED bank robber William Kapris said he had escaped from prison on Feb 8, 2008, and on Jan 12 this year because his family was not allowed to visit him and was not allowed access to medical attention and legal aid, The National reports.
Kapris had pleaded guilty to both charges of escaping from lawful custody and was yesterday at the Waigani National Court for his submissions on penalty to be presented to the judiciary.
He was represented by private counsel David Dotaona who, while making submissions on sentence, also made references to Kapris’ remorse and plea for forgiveness.
Dotaona also offered that his client had revealed that during the Jan 12 escape, the opportunity to do so presented itself during a mass breakout at the Bomana facility.
He said in the days after the escape, Kapris had decided against going into hiding and could have surrendered to police had he not been recaptured at the Afford Lodge at Gordon.
Presiding judge Justice Panuel Mogish took into account Kapris’ earlier concerns of why fellow escapee and BSP robbery suspect, Oliver Ben Gawi, was charged under the Summary Offences Act while he (Kapris) was charged under the Criminal Code Act.
Gawi appeared before a district court hearing and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, when the maximum penalty for such crimes was five years.
However, lawyer acting for the state Nicholas Miviri clarified that Gawi was charged under the Summary Offences Act because he was on remand when he escaped while Kapris was serving a sentence at the time he dashed to freedom.
Miviri also submitted that the prisoner had defied his convictions and the law by escaping while serving 15 years for rape and attempted murder.
He said Kapris had escaped, not once but, twice; an obvious display of deterrence.
FORMER Papua New Guinea ambassador to China John Momis is confident of becoming president of Bougainville, The National reports.
As of last night, Momis was leading incumbent President James Tanis by a comfortable margin.
When The National went to press, Momis polled 25,134 votes to Tanis’ 13,875 votes, a difference of over 11,000.
The five other candidates were not polling well enough to pose any threat to the two.
He told Radio New Zealand that baring any foul play, he would win because he had wide support.
Momis said once elected, he would get straight to work to ensure Bougainville moved away from dependency on aid, and ensure weapons disposal was completed quickly.
“I have a two-pronged approach to reconstruct the economy of Bougainville. One is to find ways and means of enabling the people to raise income for themselves and their families.
“We must not be made to be dependent on the government.
“The other approach will be to find ways and means of enabling the government to go into big projects which would involve joint venture businesses with good credible foreign partners, to generate revenue for the government.”
He said his government would use the increased revenue to provide badly needed services like education, health and infrastructure.
“Bougainville is rich with natural resources in many, many areas. That is something that we must do. We can’t be forever dependent on handouts,” he said.
He said the Tanis government had failed to tackle the problem of weapon disposal in a meaningful way, and that would be one of his first priorities.
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 Marina.
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.
Roz Savage 47.5 nautical miles south east of Madang today.-Picture courtesy of SIR PETER BARTER
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 Kiribati, something that has never been done before.
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 Madang
“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 Great Britain to the United States.
She then rowed from Los Angeles to Hawaii and is now approaching Madang from Kiribati.
“This quite an amazing voyage as no one before has rowed solo across the Atlantic and now the Pacific Ocean and it will be a historic day for Madang and PNG when she finally arrives,” Sir Peter said
“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.”
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 Port Moresby, according to a survey by National Agriculture Research Institute and the Fresh Produce Development Agency.
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 University of Canberra, who facilitated the two-day workshop, said the event was to sensitise discussions on the supply chain of kaukau, with reference to value adding and post-harvest of kaukau.
Prof Chambers said the meeting was to inform stakeholders about recent research outcomes on the present scenario of kaukau supply chain from Highlands to coastal markets and gauge their views on improving the situation.
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 Port Moresby, there are a lot of delays in between transits that add more problems,”Pam said.
“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 PNG was identified to complement other current ACIAR projects which focus on the supply side.
The local collaborating organisations include NARI, FPDA and a Mt Hagen- based NGO - Rural Women’s Development Initiative - while the Australian counterparts are the University of Canberra and New South Wales Department of Primary Industry. Their representatives plus others from agro-businesses, NGOs, and semi-commercial farmers attended the meeting. The workshop will conclude tomorrow.
East new Britain farmers participating in a training session on pig feeding systems at NARI Keravat BY WANDAMU PALAU and SENIORL ANZU of NARI
Agriculture stakeholders in the New Guinea Islands region had hands-on training on feed development for smallholder livestock using locally available resources and research information. The training, at National Agriculture Research Institute Keravat in East New Britain, was provided by the NARI livestock team from Lae from May 18-19. Over 50 farmers, teachers, trainers, research and extension officers attended. The two days of class presentations, discussions, information material sharing and practical demonstrations enhanced the attendants’ knowledge for further dissemination to other members of their communities. Livestock research leader Dr Workneh Ayalew said the training was on improved poultry and pig feeding systems. The poultry training was led by Janet Pandi of NARI Tambul with assistance from other members of the livestock team. Similarly, the training on pig feeding systems was led by Michael Dom of NARI Labu, assisted by other members of the team. Most of the trainees came from around Kerevat while provincial agriculture staff from Manus and West New Britain also attended. Other participants were from the University of Natural Resources and Environment and the Organisation for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) with more representation from secondary schools like Utmei, Malabunga, George Brown and Warangoi. Dr Ayalew said the general discussion after the training brought out specific needs for further training as well as some researchable issues. Dr Workneh said provincial agriculture officers from Manus and WNB provinces expressed the need for similar trainings in their provinces and were advised in get in touch with NARI-Kerevat or Labu to follow this up further. Training coordinator Gadi Ling of NARI Keravat said all provincial divisions of primary industry in New Guinea Islands were invited for this vital feed formulation training. This is because the common regional problem that hampers livestock productivity is the expensive and intermittent availability of commercial feeds for piggery or poultry. The specialised training showed how farmers can make effective use of the local feed resources to enhance livestock production. Ling said that the training also aimed at showing NARI’s research on addressing livestock productivity and related feed issues. The provincial network can then facilitate similar training to the wider community in the region. The launching of NARI’s concentrate feed for broiler finisher feed chickens was very well received and appreciated by the participants.
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 KahuleVillage, ARB, with their own messages for World AIDS Day December 2009 Field officer, Joycelyn Sapura, conducts a household survey in Simogu, EHP, March 2010
CARE has worked in Papua New Guinea since 1989, in response to emergencies including the El Nino drought and frost in 1997, the Aitape tsunami in 1998, the ManamIsland volcanic eruption in 2004 and floods in OroProvince in 2007.
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 Eastern Highlands.
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 BukaIsland since August 2008.
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 Southern Bougainville in future years.
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 Eastern Highlands, CARE is embarking on a new programme known as the integrated community development programme (ICDP) which focuses on governance.
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 Nationalreports.
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 National Court order on April 14 for the money to be paid.
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 ManamIsland, The National reports.
“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 MalalaSecondary School market.
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.
Dr Deibler explaining a point to the audience at the seminar By KATE GUNN of UOG
On Thursday, May 27, 2010 the University of Goroka (UOG) Language and Literature Department hosted its second seminar on language translation work entitled “Problems in Translation”. The seminar was conducted as part of the department’s celebration of and participation in the United Nation’s proclamation on the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. Guest presenter of the seminar was again Dr Ellis Deibler, international professional translator with 20 years experience in Papua New Guinea and the Alekano and Yaweyuha languages. The seminar, aimed at staff, students and members of the community with interests in documenting and preserving their own languages, was well received by a large number of participants who enjoyed an animated and informative presentation from Dr Deibler. A six-member team from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) also attended the seminar. Dr Deibler presented to participants the many problems encountered when translating the meaning of text from one language to another. These included: the audience; the two-step process of translation; grammar; order of phrases and clauses; pronouns; genitives and other figures of speech. Dr Deibler will conduct a workshop on translation at the UOG on June 30.
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 Port Moresby by Dr John Kola, council chairman of NARI and Ken Yuan Chieu Cheng, general manager of ShineSun.
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 Port Moresby.
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.
Sapporo, Japan, 1 June 2010 – As Trade Ministers from across APEC prepare for their annual meeting later this week, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has delivered a set of five recommendations, with the intent that they be taken to APEC Leaders. These are:
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 Sapporo, Japan, 5 – 6 June.
*In 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia, APEC Leaders committed to the goals of free and open trade and investment in the region by 2010 for industrialized members and by 2020 for developing members.
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 RaiCoast district in Madang, are claiming they had been hard done by the government.
“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 RaiCoast are the first to feel the impact of the law.
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 Southern Highlands”.
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 RaiCoast and all Papua New Guineans who are landowners,” he said.
“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 Papua New Guinea and, therefore, for the leader to continue to remain in office when he had been referred is a mockery of the Constitution.
“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 National Court judge Justice Ere Kariko. It also extended an interim stay order obtained from Justice Mark Sevua on Feb 19 pending disposition of the substantive appeal currently before the court.
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.
Happy 3rd Birthday to my third son, Keith 'Baby' Nalu, who turns three years old today, Tuesday, June 1, 2010.
That is sadly without Mum, Hula, who left us so tragically in Easter 2008. I love you son, and God Bless You as Your prepare to take your place in this wide, wide world. Love from Dad, as well as big brothers Malum Nalu Jr, Gedi, and sister Moasing, plus family and friends in Daru, Lae, Goroka, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the world. The world is your stage son!
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