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Children picking up rubbish to load on to a small truck being driven by Sir Peter Barter.-Pictures courtesy of SIR PETER BARTER
Madang Resort Hotel staffer Sibona Mahi and children cleaning up Madang on World Environment Day
By MALUM NALU
Spurred on by environmentalist/rower Roz Savage’s visit, downtown Madang was cleaned up over World Environment Day on Saturday by children of Madang Resort Hotel staff.
Hotel owner Sir Peter Barter and staffer Sibona Mani, together with the children, collected several bags, filling several truckloads and emptying rubbish that was overflowing onto the roads.
Sir Peter said this was not exactly a new task carried out by the children, as it was done many times during the year.
“Despite these attempts to keep clean, the Madang urban council makes no attempt to thank the children, nor does it appear to be making any real attempt to clean the town or repair the roads,” he said.
“Perhaps we should all refuse to pay land rates.
“This may make them aware of the total disgust rate payers have in the performance of a council that is rarely seen, makes little or no attempt to tell the tax/rate payers how the money is spent to improve the image of the town.”
British ocean rower and environmental campaigner Roz Savage was feted like royalty when she arrived in Madang last Friday after an epic 47-day rowing voyage from Tarawa in Kiribati.
Savage made landfall at 8am last Friday, completing her three-stage trip and becoming the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.
She was met by flotilla of more than 100 traditional canoes, adorned in PNG style and PNG flags.
More than 5, 000 men, women and children, many in traditional dress – in one of the biggest events in Madang in recent times -lined the entrance of Dallman Passage and Kalibobo Village waving to Savage she moved slowly into the dock at the Madang Resort.
On arrival she was met by customs, immigration, and quarantine and officially cleared and then welcomed by the Governor Sir Arnold Amet.
Literally hundreds of people shook hands with Savage, most of whom had pictures taken with her.
“The welcome was spectacular,” she said today (Sunday).
“I really had no expectations at all and I can’t believe how many people were there.
“It was fantastic and I really enjoyed being escorted by the canoes.”
Sir Peter Barter welcomed her, explained the purpose of her visit and Savage then spoke, saying she chose Madang on the advice of famous French oceanographer Jean-Michel Costeau, who visited Madang in the 1980s with his father, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Savage spoke of the million of strokes and how she had crossed an ocean.
She went on to tell the people that they too could make a contribution by many people doing small things to look after the environment.
She told the crowd that during her stay over four weeks she would visit schools, meet students and talk to them about protecting the planet.
Numerous people presented bilum bags, yabob pots and other gifts as an appreciation and the formal welcome was done by children from MilneBay and students of KrangketIsland.
Savage said she was overwhelmed by the red carpet welcome and was really enjoying the natural beauty of Madang.
“I want to get to know Madang a little bit,” she said.
“I went diving yesterday (Saturday) and Madang has some of the most-beautiful diving in the world.
“I’d like to say thank you to everybody.
“Walking around town, it’s been really good, with everyone wanting to shake hands with me and take pictures.”
Savage set off in her 23-foot boat from Tarawa, Kiribati, in mid-April on the final leg of her Pacific voyage.
In total, she spent about 250 days alone at sea, rowing more than 8,000 miles and taking an estimated 2.5 million oar strokes along the way.
Savage traveled from San Francisco to Hawaii in 2008, then on to Tarawa last year, before finally arriving in Madang.
“My Pacific row has been to raise awareness on climate change and to say that we will have to do our part,” she said.
“Every action counts.”
Savage said that after taking a well-deserved break in Madang, she would be moving down to Perth, Western Australia, for the Indian Ocean stretch of her epic voyage from Perth to Mauritius in Africa.
In what appears to be an open and shut case of massive fraud, an article on the following website details how the Papua New Guinea government has paid out millions of kina in what the Finance Commission of Inquiry specifies in their report are fraudulent payments. http://pngexposed.wordpress.com/ Tom Rangip and Pacific Paradise Foods unlawfully paid K14.85 million If the investigation has already been completed and the factual evidence is already available, why hasn't the PNG police service taken immediate action to bring this matter to court? The money that has been reportedly stolen from the state could have built new accommodation for those hard working policemen and their families who are reportedly living in sub standard accommodation around the country. Why hasn't the Public Prosecutor taken immediate action on this report and the many other findings from the high level Inquiry? The money that has reportedly been stolen from the government could have paid for more staff for the Public Prosecutor to take legal action against those who are financially bleeding PNG dry. So if the PNG authorities cannot act on what appears to be a clear cut illegal activity, perhaps they themselves should be investigated by the PNG Ombudsman Commission to determine why this is so? Perhaps the Chief Ombudsman should issue a public statement to the effect that any public authority who is not clearly and energetically carrying out the activities it has been set up to do will be required to publically state "Why not?" The Ombudsman Commission could well have used the reported K15m in fraudulent payments to investigate further malpractice and malfeance. Maybe the Ombudsman's review should also look at the Solicitor General and any PNG government audit body who have apparently been paid to a job they appear to be unable to carry out. In business, if you can't perform what you set out to do, your business goes bankrupt and you lose everything. In PNG however, if you are in a government authority that doesn't do what it is paid to do, you continue to get paid. In many people's eyes, that situation could be another glaring case of fraud.
Crunch time ... Masta Mak Rangers centre Robert Nandie (left) and winger Ham Tee tackling ACTL Lae Bombers Bal Kaupa during the bemobile Cup in Port Moresby last Sunday. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA
Players unhappy with coach but unbeaten Engans remain focused By ZACHERY PER
TOYOTA Enga Mioks are unfazed by the controversy surrounding their coach Gabriel Kiluwa and the players when the Engans take on Bintangor Goroka Lahanis at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in round five of the bemobile Cup tomorrow, The National reports. The Lahanis are also bracing for a tough encounter as they also have their own in-house issues following the sudden resignation of deputy board chairman Himony Lapiso on Monday. Lapiso resigned from the Lahanis Board following public criticisms. The Mioks board is understood to have resolved their internal feud following the call to remove Kiluwa passing on information to the board without the players’ consent. Kiluwa maintained that he was appointed by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas and was subjected to Ipatas’ decision regarding his tenure with the Mioks. In response, Mioks players made it clear that their three wins and their current second placing on the bemobile Cup ladder was done without Kiluwa’s tactical input. Instead captain James Meninga and vice-captains David Loko and Mose Lam claimed that the true architect of the Mioks’ successes so far was team manager Timothy Lepa. They said this trend was unlikely to change when they play the Lahanis this on Sunday. Incidently, the Mioks have yet to win in Goroka since re-entering last year and are keen to continue their strong form with a win at NSI. Lepa explained that despite the situation in the Mioks camp, the players are all geared up and prepared for their clash with the Lahanis. Former Lahanis try scoring wizard and centre Garnet Auwo, who has scored in all the Mioks three games so far, has also vowed to avenged his sacking from Lahanis this season. Mioks scooped Auwo following his sacking along several other Lahanis players at the end of last season. The Mioks are benefiting from the former representative winger. Auwo will be ably supported by freakish ball runner and fellow Goroka Nowek Royals player Pasu Peter Avani. The likely Mioks line-up for Sunday features a solid forward pack in the likes of props Esau Siune and Timothy Clement, backrowers James Gend, Loko, Wanpis James and rake Leon Cletus. The bench should see Jonah Mackay, Anderson Tewi, Diki Aiyo and Young Pamus. Skipper Meninga has been shifted back to his traditional fullback position to cater for young Joel Punas who slots into the five-eighth. Halfback Lam, Auwo, Avani, Junior Bal Kawa, Jefery Maino, Jason Tali and Ben Jomino appear to have a slight edge over the ir opposites in theLahanis outfit. The host have the weight, height and speed advantage in the likes of skipper Nigel Hukula, England based player Nicko Slain, John Milba and Glen Nami, however, the forwards fire power of late has been lacking unless they improve this Sunday the Lahanis 2010 campaign could take fatal blow. For the Goroka franchise the recall of electrifying scrumhalf Casey Frank should add some class to the backline, however, newcomers like Jerry Akepa, Adex Wera, Ismael Awute, Thompson Tete, Joseph Peter, Jasper Philip, Wally Laua and Spiro Mikaive must withstand the expected Mioks aggression and be disciplined enough to stick to the game plan of coach Peter Danga.
Empowered…Jeris Kundin, Tan Maki and Anna Karapi hard at work at the PNG Garment and Textile Development Institute From left are Jeris Kundin, Tan Maki and Anna Karapi while at back are SBDC women in development officer Maria Kalap and business development manager Nathan Timo Anna Karapi, Tan Maki, SBDC women in development officer Maria Kalap and Jeris Kundin
By MALUM NALU
BY now, a country like Papua New Guinea should have a thriving clothing industry, however, this is not the case and we continue to import clothes from overseas as well as rely on expatriate tailors.
We are also being inundated by an avalanche of second-hand clothes.
This status quo, however, may soon become a thing of the past with the intensive training received by three women from rural areas of the country.
It comes at a time when there is more support being given to women through such organisations as PNG Women in Business, and when the first PNG Women in Business Expo was staged in Lae earlier this year.
The three women, two from Jiwaka area of Western Highlands province and one from Eastern Highland province, were brought to Port Moresby by the Small Business Development Corporation for the express purpose of furthering their clothes-making skills at the PNG Garment and Textile Development Institute.
The SBDC, for the record, is also the major supporter of PNG Women in Business.
From the beginning of February to the end of May this year, the three women have been undergoing intensive training at the institute, which the SBDC hopes will reap handsome rewards by them going back home and training more women.
The SBDC paid for their travel, training and daily living costs in Port Moresby, and to put the icing on the cake, paid for two industrial sewing machines worth K3, 100 each which they will take home with them to teach more women.
Having lunch with them at a Port Moresby restaurant last Friday, their enthusiasm was infectious, as they spoke of their ambitious plans to empower their fellow womenfolk.
Take the case of Tan Maki, a sewing trainer at Kuling Star Vocation Centre in Minj, who has only been educated to only Grade Five level.
“I am very happy at receiving this training,” she says.
“I have learned everything there is to know about making clothes over the four months.
“We have learned many things such as how to make school uniforms, long trousers and shirts for men, as well as six-pocket trousers.”
Anna Karapi, from Isametoka village in Goroka, is an informal sector businesswoman who is already making clothes.
“I sell clothes and sell them at Goroka Market, everything from meri blouses for all occasions to skirts and tops,” she says.
“I sell at Goroka Market and in town to working-class ladies.
“Over the 16 weeks, I have learned many new things and am now more advanced in sewing, especially in things like designing, pattern making and then construction of garments.
“When I go back, I will be able to attend to all orders.
“I’m a church group leader as well and teach many Adventist ladies.
“With these new skills, I will be able to help them even more and it’s not only my church members I am talking about, but other denominations as well.
“I will also be able to help mothers in rural areas.
“Apart from that, I will also be running my small business.
“I’ve already got big plans to expand.
“I will teach my son how to design and cut, and the wife will be trained how to construct the garment.
“What I have learned will not be wasted, and I say this because there is no tailoring company in Goroka.”
Jeris Kundin, like Maki, is a sewing trainer at Kuling Star Vocational Centre in Minj.
“I have been teaching vocational students for a long time about sewing,” she says.
“When I go back, I will teach the women how to make long trousers for their husbands.
“We have many students learning about sewing at Kuling Star.
“We will be able to attend to whatever orders placed such as six-pocket trousers, industrial wear, corporate uniforms and industrial wear.
“We will be able to sew everything from children’s wear to men’s wear to women’s wear.”
SBDC business development manager, Nathan Timo, explains it’s all about empowering women from rural areas.
“A lot of women are getting into sewing and tailoring, and this particular project is all about empowering women in rural areas to improve livelihood, create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty,” he says.
“We are empowering women in rural areas so that they can help other women.
“SBDC brought them here and paid for their return airfares, lodging, course fees and a small living allowance.
“SBDC is also providing them two industrial machines.”
Karapi wants Papua New Guineans to support their cause by stopping from buying second-hand clothes, and for the government to give more support to the country’s clothing industry.
“For four years, I’ve stopped from buying second-hand clothes,” she says.
“Second-hand clothes are making women so lazy.
“This training we have received is very good.
“The government must support our clothing industry.”
It's a big worry The US President has just sent the clean up bill for the current disastrous oil spill to BP. Apparently it's BP's responsibility to pay even though they were given permission to drill in US waters. So if, as is likely, given the results of the Papua New Guinea government's own environmental impact study and similar examples elsewhere (e.g New Caledonia), there is an environmental disaster from the Ramu nickel mine pumping millions of tons of toxic waste into the pristine sea off Madang, who would be held responsible? Who could be sued by those who may end up poisoned and hungry when their marine food stocks are destroyed? Who could wind up being responsible if the overland tailings pipe ruptures and spills toxic waste over farming ground and people's crops? Clearly the owners of the Ramu mine would say that they were operating under the approved permit issued by the PNG government. Clearly the PNG government would also say that they were not to blame as they were relying on their own appointed and responsible representative not to issue an approved permit unless there was no likelihood of there being any disaster. So who would end up holding the parcel? Who might end up being held personally liable and sued by the mine's owners, the government and his own people for being directly responsible for untold misery and potential deaths in his own country. It's all rather a big Wari .. err. ..worry for any person who may have issued an ill considered permit.
In the news today is a report that the US President has sent an account to BP for the clean up of their recent oil spill disaster.
So what happens if this sort of thing occurs in Papua New Guinea? Considering that there is a US involvement in the LNG project, would the US be guilty of having one law for themselves in their own country but concerning a foreign company and another for their own operations in another country? Where is the equity in this debate? If there is an environmental disaster over the poisonous tailings from the Ramu mine being pumped out into the ocean, clearly the mine's owners will not be held to account under the recently passed legislation because they met the requirements of the government permit they were given. This is a classic example of when responsibility is in the eye of the beholder. Is the US government to blame for letting BP drill in their own waters without suitable safety provisions? Clearly the US President doesn't think so. So where does that leave the PNG government if there is an environmental disaster from the Ramu mine's waste being pumped into the sea? Would the person who issued the permit without the necessary checks and safety provisions then be able to be personally sued by those who were disadvantaged or affected? The PNG government has now effectively abrogated the mining company's responsibility should there be a disaster. A disaster that has apparently already been predicted in the government's own environmental impact survey on the project. Issuing future permits under these provisions may not be a very healthy occupation. ________________________________________ White House to send BP bill over oil spill From correspondents in Washington From: AFP June 04, 2010 10:12AM
THE White House has slapped BP with a $US69 million ($82 million) bill and demanded prompt payment for the first installment of government expenses incurred in the effort to halt the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Officials today also said they would keep billing the British energy giant for all associated costs from America's biggest-ever environmental disaster, under a US law requiring oil firms to pay for cleanups. "The Obama administration today sent a preliminary bill for $US69.09 million to BP and other responsible parties for response and recovery operations relating to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill," the US Government said. "The administration will continue to bill BP regularly for all associated costs," the statement, issued by the oil spill incident centre said. "The administration expects prompt payment and will take additional steps as necessary to ensure that BP and other responsible parties, not American taxpayers, pay all of the costs associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill." The White House said BP was given until July 1 to pay the full $US69 million ($82 million). The total includes $US29 million ($34.46 million) for federal agencies to support operation of ships, aircraft and boats, and for environmental monitoring and related costs; $US29 million ($34.46 million) for National Guard expenditures; $US7 million ($8.32 million) for costs incurred by states for monitoring, oil removal and other expenses; and $US4 million ($4.75 million) for Defence Department support. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the total accounts for 75 per cent of the incurred costs to date. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted after the Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, made oil giants liable for cleanup costs resulting from spills and is being used by the administration to hold BP's feet to the fire. Mr Obama has also vowed to hold BP responsible if it is found that the company broke any laws before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in Apri l.
Roz Savage arrived in Madang this morning at 0800.
She was met by flotilla of more than 100 traditional canoes, bilased in PNG style and PNG Flags.
More than 5000 men, women and children, many in traditional dress lines the entrance of Dallman Passage and Kalibobo Village waving to Roz as she moved slowly into the dock at the Madang Resort.
On arrival she was met by customs, immigration, and quarantine and officially cleared and then welcomed by the Governor Sir Arnold Amet.
Literally hundred of people shook hands with Roz most of whom had pictures taken.
Sir Peter welcomed her, explained the purpose of her visit and Roz then spoke saying she chose Madang on the advise from Jean Michel Cousteau who visited Madang in the 80's with his Father, Jaucque Coustoeu the famous family known for their underwater research and filming, both of whom spent several months at the Madang Resort with their famous vessels making a film.
Roz spoke of the million of strokes and together she had crossed an ocean, she went on to tell the people that they too could make a contribution by many people doing small things to look after the environment.
She told the crowd that during her stay over four weeks she would visit schools, meet the students and talk to them about protecting the planet, our only planet!
Numerous people presented bilum bags, yabob pots and other gifts as an appreciation and the formal welcome was done by children from MilneBay and students of KrangketIsland.
Just what PNG needs in the bush. I wonder if they can be introduced ASAP?. I read somewhere that any country that has something like 22% ownership of mobile phones will never become a dictatorship due to good and fast communications. ______________________ (in today's on line news) Nokia unveils pedal-powered phones a.. From correspondents in Helsinki b.. From: AAP c.. June 03, 2010 6:12PM THE world's top mobile phone maker Nokia today released details of four new cheap phone models and a battery charger powered by the energy generated from riding a bicycle. The charger, which can be fitted into any Nokia phone with a 2mm charger jack, uses a dynamo to generate electricity from the movement of the wheels, Nokia said in a statement. "Bicycles are the most widespread means of transport in many markets around the world, so this is just one more benefit to be gained from an activity people are already doing," Alex Lambeek, Vice President at Nokia, said in the statement. The price of the charger kit, which also includes a holder for securing the phone to the bicycle, will vary according to market, but in countries like Kenya, where the product was introduced today, it would be around 15 euros ($22), a Nokia spokesman said. To begin charging, a cyclist needs to travel around 6km/h, and while charging times will vary depending on battery model, a 10-minute journey at 10km/h produces around 28 minutes of talk time or 37 hours of standby time, the spokesman said. The faster you ride, the more battery life you generate.The charger is set to become available through selected retailers and the company's online store before the end of the year, Nokia said. The four new phones it also introduced in Kenya today target developing markets, a key growth area for the Finnish company, and also contain features designed for the needs of people in countries where access to electricity is limited, such as a six-week battery standby time.
It will be one of Rita Savage’s proudest moments when daughter Roz rows into Madang tomorrow (Friday).
“I am proud of what she is achieving, but still have sleepless nights when she is having problems at sea,” she said.
When Roz Savage first talked about rowing across the Atlantic in 2005, her mother Rita thought it was just a wild idea that would soon go away.
“Then she stated that she did not want to be part of the Atlantic Rowing Race, but would do it on her own,” Rita told me from London today (Thursday).
“I was totally dismayed.
“But that idea did not work out, the race organisers would not allow her to buy the boat unless she joined the race.
“So she was committed.
“Leading up to the race, she invited me to spend a month with her to help with work on the boat.
“During that time we became a team, working together to help her to succeed and that is the way it has remained since.
“There have been bad moments: as the race went on she was totally reliant on me for support, there was no one else, a couple of people who had promised to help had let her down.
“Then her satellite phone failed about three weeks before she reached the end in Antigua. “Fortunately the race website showed the position of all boats, and hers was moving in the right direction, so that was a relief.”
Rita recalls that there have been many anxious moments for her as a mother.
“In 2007 her boat capsized three times in 24 hours off the coast of California, and she was taken off by helicopter.
“In 2008, on the way to Hawaii, her water maker failed and she was running out of drinking water which caused great anxiety until she met up with a craft that could give her enough to finish the voyage.”
A group of seven New Zealanders will be visiting local Papua New Guinea land and resource owners to share their experiences in turning land based resources into thriving businesses.
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) of New Zealand is leading the delegation and has set up meetings in Port Moresby and Madang with representatives from the PNG forestry and fishery sectors as well as other community groups to discuss how natural resources are utilised for maximum economic benefit.
According to a statement from the New Zealand High Commission, the group would be in Port Moresby June 7 – 8 and then in Madang June 9-12 before returning to New Zealand June 13.
Maori groups are significant stakeholders in New Zealand’s primary sectors through their various land interests and treaty settlements.
Many Maori-owned enterprises dealing in primary resources have been successful in leveraging their interests for the groups’ benefit.
But success hasn’t come overnight and serious lessons have been learnt in the process of creating successful enterprises.
The PCF has selected five Maori experts to travel to PNG with them.
All have significant experience in developing primary resources and developing the capacity of their hapu (clan) to manage their growing enterprise.
Meg Poutasi, chief executive of PCF commented: “I hope this delegation to Papua New Guinea is just the beginning of better and more-engaged dialogue between New Zealand Maori and Papua New Guinea land and resource owners.
“We have very similar issues and I think engagement will result in longer term partnerships beneficial to both groups.
“Our delegation is going to gain a better understanding of the issues concerning PNG fisheries and forestry and in turn, I hope, we will be able to offer some insights into the lessons New Zealand learnt while turning primary industries into viable businesses.
‘I am very much looking forward to hearing the outcomes from this visit and discovering how PCF can broker future relationships.”
British woman adventurer Roz Savage has deferred her arrival in Madang to 8am tomorrow (Friday) because of headwinds on Wednesday night which slowed down her progress.
Savage was initially expected to arrive in Madang at 2pm today (Thursday) after an epic rowing voyage across the Pacific from Kiribati, however, was dampened by the headwinds.
Her new expected time of arrival was 6pm today, however, after consultation with Sir Peter Barter of Melanesian Tourist Services, decided to defer to tomorrow.
This was mainly because a warm welcome by hundreds of Madang school children, a flotilla of canoes, banana boats and fishing boats was planned for daylight hours today.
“We have spoken with Roz Savage and it has been agreed that she enter Madang around 0800 on Friday,” Sir Peter said.
“She could have arrived around 1900 on Thursday, but it would be dark and it would be a shame for her not to get a welcome in daylight.
“So she will potter around outside and hopefully we can arrange the kids to paddle out around 0700 and escort her back to Madang.”
Savage wrote in her blog (http://rozsavage.com/blog/) and Twitter sites on Wednesday night that the lively wind which had pushed her through the VitiazStrait had died down as she neared Madang.
“A slight hitch there is that the conditions here have really calmed down,” she said.
“The winds and the currents have died away since yesterday, so far from having to drag my oars metaphorically to delay my arrival until Thursday afternoon; I am now actually having to row through the night in order to get there in time!
“But from what I’ve seen of the Madang Resort (through brochures airdropped by Sir Peter), it is going to well worth the extra effort.”
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.
