WHP teachers slam OBE concept

By YVONNE HAIP

Teachers in Western Highlands are planning to go on strike to get rid of the outcome based education (OBE) system, The National reports.

The teachers have given a 20-days notice to Education authorities and Minister James Marape to publicly debate the system, which has drawn widespread criticism in recent times.

The 20-day notice expired last Friday with no response.

The teachers, through their organisation Teachers Rights Movement group, signed a petition and held a public rally in Mt Hagen last month, challenging Marape to a public debate.

The teachers argue that OBE was not in the best interest of teachers and students.

They said as implementers of the system, they were concerned about the students and were willing to engage in a public debate with authorities so that solutions could be discussed.

They now plan to hold a sit in protest or would not return to classes until education authorities meet with them.

The teachers said they had deferred their strike to next week due to the Grade 8 examinations being conducted this week.

Teachers from the elementary, primary, high, secondary, and technical schools have all shown interest in the public debate.

Spokesperson, Nius Rom, who teaches Grades 11 and 12 history at Mt Hagen Park Secondary School, said the public forum would discuss factors brought on by OBE.

He said these included class size where teachers taught more than 30 students in a class, lack of student material, failure in the education delivery system, teachers work conditions, and the purpose of the teachers union.

He said teachers would be “exercising their freedom of expression to professionally call for changes for the betterment of the future generation”.

He said the teachers would take a firm stand on the matter and were willing to “put their jobs on the line” as it was for a worthy cause.

“We are now on the crossroads, that is whether to make changes and improve the failing education system or ignore these calls,” Rom said.

“We cannot pretend that nothing is wrong and start to jump up and down later after the whole education system has collapsed,” he added.

Rom also said that from the classroom perspective, the reform system which began in 1995, had failed to achieve its intended purpose of quality relevant education over the past 15 years and would continue if not addressed.

The teachers said they had carried out their research and would produce facts and figures during the debate.

We’re with you

Visiting US secretary of state reaffirms ties

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton addressing women in parliament flanked by Papua New Guineans dressed in their different traditional costumes representing all provinces of the country. Leading them, and on Clinton’s left, is diplomat and foreign affairs senior official Lucy Bogari, adorned in her Northern tapa colours.  – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed the United States of America’s commitment to assist Papua New Guinea avoid the “resource curse” by building institutional capacity to govern revenue from its natural resource extraction, The National reports.

She said that PNG, with its vast natural resources, would become a strong regional leader but must have strong commitment to governance, accountability and transparency.

“The United States stands ready to assist translate Papua New Guinea’s natural resources into a vibrant developing nation,” Clinton said.

She told a joint media conference after her meeting with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on bilateral issues.

“A lot of countries with such excitement like what is happening here have not done it.

“As Papua New Guinea begins to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources, the US state department hopes to assist the PNG government, especially the department of Petroleum and Energy, as well as tax and finance agencies, to maximise value and efficiency of oil and gas production and revenue flows.”

She said the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) would seek to bolster institutional capacities related to governance, revenue management and technical capability.

Clinton said she was very excited to visit PNG after her husband, former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to promote his Clinton Foundation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She said her planned visit in January was cancelled due to the earthquake in Haiti that forced her to turn back from Honolulu, Hawaii.

“It is well known that the journey from Washington DC to Port Moresby is a long one. But I left to come see you in January and I am only arriving now. So, thank you for your patience, I am thrilled to be here today.”

She said the government and people of PNG were trusted partners today, and had been for more than 60 years and that was why she saw the visit as a privilege and a priority.

Clinton said the partnership was serious and wide-ranging and soon new grounds would be broken for a new and larger embassy in Port Moresby.

She arrived in Port Moresby at 5pm and left about 11pm for the New Zealand-Australia leg of the regional visit.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said they had a wonderful dialogue on a number of issues including climate change, women empowerment, human smuggling and trafficking, gender development and US assistance.

We're with you

Visiting US secretary of state reaffirms ties

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed the United States of America’s commitment to assist Papua New Guinea avoid the “resource curse” by building institutional capacity to govern revenue from its natural resource extraction, The National reports.

She said that PNG, with its vast natural resources, would become a strong regional leader but must have strong commitment to governance, accountability and transparency.

“The United States stands ready to assist translate Papua New Guinea’s natural resources into a vibrant developing nation,” Clinton said.

She told a joint media conference after her meeting with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on bilateral issues.

“A lot of countries with such excitement like what is happening here have not done it.

“As Papua New Guinea begins to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources, the US state department hopes to assist the PNG government, especially the department of Petroleum and Energy, as well as tax and finance agencies, to maximise value and efficiency of oil and gas production and revenue flows.”

She said the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) would seek to bolster institutional capacities related to governance, revenue management and technical capability.

Clinton said she was very excited to visit PNG after her husband, former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to promote his Clinton Foundation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She said her planned visit in January was cancelled due to the earthquake in Haiti that forced her to turn back from Honolulu, Hawaii.

“It is well known that the journey from Washington DC to Port Moresby is a long one. But I left to come see you in January and I am only arriving now. So, thank you for your patience, I am thrilled to be here today.”

She said the government and people of PNG were trusted partners today, and had been for more than 60 years and that was why she saw the visit as a privilege and a priority.

Clinton said the partnership was serious and wide-ranging and soon new grounds would be broken for a new and larger embassy in Port Moresby.

She arrived in Port Moresby at 5pm and left about 11pm for the New Zealand-Australia leg of the regional visit.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said they had a wonderful dialogue on a number of issues including climate change, women empowerment, human smuggling and trafficking, gender development and US assistance.

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Four Nations a good learning curve for Papua New Guinea

By REG RENAGI

 

The Four Nations rugby league tournament is all but over for Papua New Guinea. 

But it’s still a good learning curve for PNG’s pride: the ‘Kumuls’. 

The Kumuls must from here on drastically lift up their game standards if PNG expects to do far better than at present in future international league competition.

With a 42 – 0 beating by the Aussie Kangaroos in their first match of the tournament, and last weekend’s canning by the New Zealand Kiwis with a record breaking 76 – 12 score, the Kumuls have no other choice but must beat the ‘Poms’ this weekend. 

After the Kumuls’ loss to the Kiwis, PNG captain Paul Aiton said: "We're very disappointed. We just missed something that makes us PNG." 

But whatever it is, that ‘elusive something’ better be found quickly if PNG don’t want to end up as “wooden - spooners” against an expected spirited English side.

Like PNG, the Poms lost their last two tough encounters with the Aussies and Kiwis and are expecting a very physical battle in ‘a do or die’ match, with their respective country’s pride riding on their big shoulders.   

However, coach and former Hull KR star in England, Stanley Gene is more upbeat about the Kumul’s chances in the next match. 

Stanley should know very well how the English side’s main tactics are going to be, so there is some slight chance there if our Kumuls can come up with a very good game plan. 

PNG fans also share some of Stanley’s recent sentiments in the media, but know full well that they also harbour a secret fear of losing again.  This will be too painful even for this writer to admit. 

But fingers crossed, we all are quietly confident for PNG to beat England in a tight finish.  But even if we did lose this game, let’s hope the Kumuls try to keep the final score low and as close to our opponents, after the savage mauling by two of the strongest teams in this four nation competition. 

So with just a few days to go before playing this weekend, many upset fans in recent days are now calling for the sacking of the entire management team, including coach; Gene. 

I don’t blame them.  Die-hard fans in league-crazy PNG are understandably upset over the last two straight losses.

These are still early days. But after the tournament we must do a good ‘post-mortem’ and no doubt critics here and abroad will have their say.  This will be good for the code.

PNG league management must find out what we did wrong, and what we can do now to either avoid; or minimise similar mistakes in future.  

The four nation rugby league competition provides many good lessons for the PNG Kumuls and its management; and those who administer the code back home.

The two-year tournament will be a regular international meet.  It’s an important opportunity where PNG’s rugby league reputation and credibility will always be tested for the world to see. 

Here is what we must do from here on:   Firstly, regardless of our loss this time, PNG must now plan better for the future. 

This is important if we are to fare a little better than in the previous two weekends playing against league’s two best teams in the Southern Hemisphere.

Secondly, the Kumuls management must now treat all future international matches as an occasion not to be missed. 

Thirdly, PNG will not only be pitted against some of the best teams from strong rugby league playing nations, but learn valuable lessons required to improve future Kumuls performance standards. 

Fourthly, the Kumul management team must also closely observe and cleverly use new game tricks against countries like Australia, New Zealand and England. 

This may be one good way to see some big improvements in the Kumuls’ overall match-performance to be potential “giant killers” in future. 

So with the exception of the Poms, the ‘Kangaroos’ and ‘Kiwis’ can one day be beaten like any other team.

This will only happen if the Kumuls can work out both the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents well before playing them.

PNG league strategic planners must work hard to capitalise on them and in particular develop special tactics for playing each of the other three countries, with their own distinct styles of play. 

The Kumuls management has no real excuses here.  Rugby League has been played in PNG for some half century.

PNG league administration by now should develop a good capacity, and depth of managing and playing the code at somewhat similar levels as Australia, NZ and England.

The Admirals’ money is on the Kumuls.  Go Kumuls! 

 

Encouraging special and inclusive education

The University of Goroka last Friday opened its first special and inclusive play area for students with special educational needs at Okiufa Primary School in Eastern Highlands province.

The facilities were officially opened by the acting vice chancellor of UOG Dr Sam Najike.

 “This is a special occasion as we are embarking on something crucial for integral, holistic education in PNG,” he said.

"We must create opportunities for these special groups of children.”

Chair of the PNG Disabled Persons Association, Ipul Powaseu, thanked UOG staff for recognising that inclusivity was important.

 “Children with disabilities still have the right to go to school,” she said.

 Powaseu also encouraged all present to fight for those with disabilities and to help children with disabilities to go to school.

The cutting of the ribbon to formally open the special and inclusive play area was performed by Dr Najike, dean of the faculty of education Dr Kapa Kelep-Malpo and Powaseu.

Head of the special and inclusive education strand at UOG, Donna Mailil, said: “The real point of the project was to help the school to develop an environment for effective learning so schools can continue to further develop inclusive education.”

The project undertaken by UOG focused on students majoring in special and inclusive education working to better implement the policy of inclusive education in 6 schools around Goroka, and to promote and support inclusive learning and teaching.

 The inclusive play environment opened at Okiufa Primary School was designed to assist children with special educational needs to equally participate in all activities whilst attending school. 

 

Update on the oilfields

Grades 3 and 4 children of Ted Diro Primary School in Port Moresby getting straight into The Oilfield books donated by Oil Search Ltd. Similar donations have been made to other schools in the city, The National reports.
The books give an insight on the petroleum industry in Papua New Guinea. – Picture courtesy of Oil Search

Landowners' initiative needed to win LNG contracts

RESOURCE landowners must take the initiative instead of waiting for government to help them participate in the country’s resource development projects, The National reports.

Chhairman of the Hides Gas Resources Ltd (HGRL), the licenced-based landowner company in petroleum development licence 1 (PDL1) area of Hides in Southern Highlands province, Willy Wandiya said this to landowners.

Citing their  struggles to get a contract in the K40 billion LNG project, he said it was time landowners looked beyond PNG government.

Recently, HGRL signed a deal with an international human resource company Brunel International to supply LNG project with its labour and human resource needs.

“The more we rely on the government, the more our chances are of missing out on lucrative business opportunities,” Wandiya said.

“The government does not have the money … it is incapacitated,” he said.

Wandiya said  the government did  not have the capacity and the technical know-how for such project like the PNG LNG.

“The government is only there to facilitate,” he said, adding that the   government   is financially inadequate to finance its own equity share in the gas project.

“The government will also have to borrow to finance its equity share in the project.”

Because of this, Wandiya has urged landowners to have foresight.

“We must look beyond the early works, beyond the first LNG shipment, the first royalties, the first spin-off benefits to see ourselves after the project and what our children and grandchildren would say about how we handled their future,” he said.

 

Ban phone lottery

 ‘Means of bringing gambling right into the homes of Papua New Guineans’

 

By ALISON ANIS

 

THE national government has come under pressure to stop the recently launched mobile phone lottery, and to audit the books of regulator National Gaming Control Board, The National reports.

Since the newest way of gambling, using the mobile phone, was launched two weeks ago, there had been widespread debate about how this would be regulated, and whether minors were being exposed in the same way as they were to the illegal horserace machines.

Women and church groups were adding to the growing voice to stop this gambling and its threat to children.

President of the National Council of Women (NCW) Scholar Kakas and the president of the Catholic Bishop Conference (CBC) in PNG and the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, yesterday spoke out against mobile phone lottery.

They said the claim that this form of gambling would “make millionaires out of everyone in a transparent and accountable way” was nonsense.

They said the lottery concept, supervised by the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and played using Digicel PNG network, would bring more poverty in families and communities.

PNG is the first country in the South Pacific to launch mobile lottery even ahead of its developed neighbours, Australia and New Zealand.

“This is dangerous nonsense.

“Even our developed neighbours, Australia and New Zealand, do not permit mobile phone lotteries because they are so hard to regulate,” Panfilo said in statement.

He said gambling, through mobile phone networks, had opened up gates for simple and poor people in the villages to spend their money on gambling.

“There will be less money for food and other necessities and more family problems as the punters would be tempted to spend their earnings in pursuit of a hopeless dream,” he added.

Kakas, in support, said: “There is definitely no way that the lottery would make millionaires out of everybody in a transparent and accountable way.

“This is all a big lie because there will be no control or proper monitoring in place of people gambling on phone.

“We have enough problems with pokies and horse-racing and are sure to experience more problems with the introduction of mobile lottery.

“How will we know if our children below the age of 18 are not involved?” Kakas asked.

She said the voice prompt on customer service number (150), which says: “Elders will have to control this” was not an effective regulatory method.

Panfilo argued there was no way to keep track of the age of those playing.

“This means that a child who wins will not get his prize

unless they lie and give their phone to an older person.

“From what we know of the youth of PNG, students and children will spend their own and their parents’ money on gambling.

“Employers who provide mobile phone credits to their employees will face the same problems,” Panfilo said.

According to media reports, 10% of the profits raised through mobile phone gambling would go towards developing youth and sports programmes in the communities. 

“Similar promises in the past were not fulfilled.

“As far as we know, NGCB has never presented a financial report to parliament as required under its relevant act. We simply do not know where the money goes to,” a Catholic Bishop’s Conference media statement said yesterday.

“On Saturday, we might see a few poor people win a lot of money and rise out of poverty, at least, temporarily.

“Everyone else who participates will be worse off and there will be an increase in the number of people addicted to gambling.”

The Catholic bishops also called on the public to send the mobile phone company a message: “To leave their phones at home for a day.”

They warned that if the scheme continues, the churches of PNG may organise something more drastic.

About a fortnight ago, Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham called on Digicel PNG to abandon its

plan to introduce lotto on its network.

He said the last thing this country needed was easy access to affordable gambling avenue.

 

 

Opposition highlights policies

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

A GOVERNMENT led by Abau MP Sir Puka Temu will invest heavily in education, The National reports.

Sir Puka said yesterday the opposition was confident of moving a successful vote of no-confidence against the government when parliament resumes in two weeks, and he felt the need to go ahead and outline some of the opposition’s major policies as an alternative government.

He said they would focus on the education sector to address the needs of more than 50% of school-age children in the country who had missed out on basic education every year.

“A government that invests in its human resource is a good government and, therefore, PNG must invest in its human resource to compete in the region and on the international arena,” he said.

Sir Puka said another key policy would be to revive the public service machinery for the good of the nation.

He said those who had not performed would go and allow for competent and committed officers to serve the people through the implementation of effective policies and a change in attitudes and work commitments.

He said transparency and accountability among all public office holders would be a major focus of the alternate government to effect public service functions and processes and allow for services to trickle down to the people.

“We will also make sure that financial management procedures are resurrected to ensure all public funds are channelled in a transparent and accountable manner,” Sir Puka said.

He said the alternate government would make sure that the functions and roles of the Ombudsman Commission were reviewed to give it greater powers and autonomy in dealing with corrupt leadership.

 

 

Hillary Clinton arrives in Port Moresby today

UNITED States secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton will arrive in Port Moresby today, The National reports.

Clinton is expected at about 4pm for a four-hour visit before leaving for New Zealand and Australia concluding her Asia-Pacific tour.

Details of her visit had been withheld by the US embassy for security reasons.

However, it was understood that the visit would focus on US assistance to PNG and discussing climate change and women issues.

During her meeting with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Clinton will discuss the energy governance and capacity initiative (EGCI), the US embassy said in a media statement yesterday.

EGCI is a US department of state-led global effort to provide a range of valuable technical support to governments of selected countries that are on the verge of becoming the world’s next generation of oil and gas producers.

“As Papua New Guinea begins to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources, the US state department hopes to assist the PNG government, especially the Department of Petroleum and Energy as well as tax and finance agencies, to maximise value and efficiency of oil and gas production and revenue flows,” the statement added.

It said EGCI would seek to bolster institutional capacities related to governance, revenue management and technical capability.

“EGCI will provide Papua New Guinea with access to top US government talent with unmatched global expertise on issues related to petroleum geology, upstream licensing, exploration and production operations, revenue management, sector regulation, policy reform and implementation and energy sector finance and tax structure.

“EGCI also builds both high-level and working contacts to offer unbiased, sound advice and guidance as well as lasting relationships that can further long-term institutional stability and sound sector governance,” the embassy said.  

After her arrival, the US secretary of state would pay a courtesy call on Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane at Government House and partake in a mangrove planting exercise at Idubada.

Climate change was also a key component of Clinton’s visit and she would hold talks on the issue with Sir Michael at Parliament House this evening.

She would also meet prominent PNG women leaders where issues on gender equality and nominated women representation in parliament would be discussed.

Lands Department accused of “corruption, negligence” in Western province

By MALUM NALU

Western province chamber of commerce and industry says Lands secretary Pepi Kimas may have been negligent when he issued leases over 1.25 million hectares of customary land in the North Fly district  on Sept 23 this year.

A landowners’ meeting, the subject of an AAP report published in The National last Friday, was told that there was prime facie evidence that Kimas and/or his responsible officers had acted “at best negligently and possibly corruptly” when he issued the three leases.

“Firstly, the lease over the 632,538 ha. In the Nomad District was issued by the secretary in the name of Tosigiba Investment Ltd,” chamber acting president Warren Dutton said yesterday (Tuesday, November 02, 2010).

“The chairman of the Tosigiba Timber Group Ltd, which was incorporated 1996, and which has 79 of its 82 issued shares held by integrated land groups (ILGs) which represent the customary landowners of much but definitely all of the land included within the lease boundaries, told the meeting that he had no knowledge of or connection with Tosigiba Investment Ltd, in whose name the lease over his people’s land had been issued.

“Secondly, the chairman and others from the Nomad area told the meeting that they had negotiated with the proposed developer to give them (timber) rights over a corridor 5km either side of the road alignment, which the developer agreed to construct in consideration for those rights.”

Dutton said the area over which they had agreed to give these rights would be approximately 100,000ha; however, Kimas had issued a special agricultural and business lease for 99 years over all the land owned by all of the members of all the 79 ILGs.

He said this included all of the land of all of all of the other villages living in the Nomad district who were not party to the negotiations for the road alignment.

“Not one village house, nor one sago tree is excluded from this lease,” Dutton said.

“The lease is also issued over the top of long-existing leases for mission purposes.

“How can the secretary of Lands be so credulous as to believe that any Papua New Guinean Villager would or could be prepared to cede absolutely all of his land to the State for 99 years?

“Surely he, or his responsible officers, should have referred back to the Kiunga and Nomad district lands officers for confirmation that all the villagers really did agree to give away absolutely all of their land.

“By not doing so, surely he has acted, at least, negligently in the performance of his statutory duties.”

Touched by a Kokoda angel

By MALUM NALU

The heartbreaking loss of an expectant young Kokoda woman in 2008 turns into a blessing for all of Kokoda on the inaugural Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day to be held there tomorrow.

The Kokoda ambulance at St John’s Ambulance yard at Rainbow in Port Moresby.-Picture by JEFF KEOUGH

Indilah Sakiki, from Waju village in Kokoda, died of cerebral malaria on July 22, 2008 and because of the transport difficulties in getting her to hospital.

Her death so touched Australian Jeff Keough, a good mate and former workmate of her husband Daniel Sakiki, that he started an organisation called Kokoda Angels to raise funds for an ambulance in memory of Indilah Sakiki for the people of Kokoda.

For the last two years, he has been single-handedly approaching people and organisations in Australia to help the people of Kokoda, the start of the famous Kokoda Track which saved Australia during World War 11.

Such has been the response that Keough has been able to bring a fully-kitted Toyota Landcruiser ambulance, the first of its kind in the country, into Port Moresby.

He was planning to fly into it into Kokoda today by helicopter, in time for Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day celebrations, however, a last-minute change of plans means the ambulance will be shipped into Popondetta on Nov 9 and then driven to Kokoda.

“Kokoda Angels started when my friend’s wife died of malaria seven months into her pregnancy,” Keough, who is married to a Papua New Guinean woman, told me.

“Because there was no vehicle in that area, I started a charity to raise support and get an ambulance vehicle and medical assistance.

“It’s been two years now since it was started.

“The vehicle has been here in Port Moresby, at St John’s Ambulance, for three months now, where we’ve been preparing it for Kokoda as well as trying to organise transport.”

Front view of the Kokoda ambulance

Keough said the ambulance would not have been possible without the help of Sandvik Mining (which donated the vehicle), Penrite, Kumho Tyres, Alltrac 4WD, Century Batteries, Roof Rack City, Terrain Tamer, Speedy Wheels, Variety Masters, Consort Shipping, SBS Electrical, St John’s Ambulance and South Australian premier Mike Rann.

“It will be used to support the 15 aids posts in ward 10, Kokoda,” he said.

“We’re working together with Kokoda Foundation, who have helped with supply of medical kits and we’ll be helping to transport patients.

“The truck is a mining service vehicle so it’s extra heavy-duty, has lock-up cabinets and we’ve put beds and canopy at the back for patients.

“It’s been fitted with a bulbar and winch, radio, spot lights and siren.”

Keough is no newcomer to PNG, having assisted PNG as a volunteer and aid worker during the 1994 volcanic eruptions in Rabaul, 1999 El Nino-induced drought, 1998 Aitape tsunami, 2007 Northern province cyclone and many others.

He asked people who were willing to assist Kokoda Angels to contact him on mobile 73368478 or visit its website http://www.kokodaangels.com.

‘Pink Ladies’ of Lae raise K11, 000 for cancer ward

By MALUM NALU

Lae Golf Club lady members last Saturday hosted a 'Pink Walk' to raise funds for the cancer ward at Angau Hospital.

The ‘Pink Ladies’ and children of Lae Golf Club after their fundraising walk which netted K11,000 for Angau Hospital’s cancer ward last Saturday.-Pictures by PETER BOYD

 With entry fees and business houses wholeheartedly supporting the event a total of K11, 000 was raised.

 Club captain Peter Boyd said a total 45 children and 30 adults – all dressed in pink – walked the course on a fine and sunny Lae day.

 “After the walk, a senior nurse from the cancer ward, Sr Doreen Pepi,  explained the symptoms and causes of cancer and stressed the importance of early detection,” he said.

 “Several of the ladies on the walk had faced cancer previously.

 “These ladies talked through there own experiences of battling this disease and it was an extremely moving to listen to these brave women.

 “The walk will become an annual event.”

 The walk was outstanding in that it was organised by an all-national women crew from the Lae Golf Club.

National Capital District receives Kingal

 Hundreds of Christians, tribesmen and women and curious members of the public turned up at the Jackson Airport yesterday afternoon to receive the remains of the late evangelist, Pastor Joseph Kingal, The National reports.

The casket was accompanied from Lae by the late pastor’s wife Susan and their children, friends and relatives and members of the Joseph Kingal Ministry. Kingal was killed in a vehicle accident at Zumim Bridge in Morobe. 

Today’s funeral service will be held at 1pm at the Assemblies of God Conner Stone church in Gordon.-Nationalpics by EKAR KEAPU

Rambi removed

Change in cabinet hits highlands MPs

THE Highlands faction of the National Alliance party suffered a blow yesterday when Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare “demoted” Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi, The National reports.

The prime minister called a meeting of cabinet ministers and announced he was removing Rambi as internal security minister. He moved Rambi to labour and industrial relations and switched Mark Maipakai to internal security.

The move created a murmur among MPs from the highlands region.

Sources told The National last night that Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, who is deputy leader NA in charge of highlands region, was not consulted about the move.

A number of cabinet ministers contacted last night confirmed the change.

“It is the prerogative of the prime minister to make changes in cabinet,” a minister said when contacted last night.

The changes were unclear but sources said the police force would also see major changes to its hierarchy.

The move would trigger political ripples in the lead-up to the parliament sitting in two weeks, in which Speaker Jeffery Nape was certain to allow a notice on a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister on the floor of parliament.

There were concerns among government circles last night that such an action could provide the opening the opposition needed to talk to factions within government to give credibility to its move to oust the government.

Only last week, Rambi and Police Commissioner Gari Baki brought a submission to cabinet to secure K10 million to urgently fund police operations for the security of the PNG LNG project.

It was said the urgent submission was necessary because of threats by investors and companies involved in the LNG project to pull out due to law and order issues.

It was not clear if this would be followed through by Maipakai.

Rambi is the MP for Mul-Baiyer in the Western Highlands.

Together with Governor Tom Olga and Polye, they form the core of the strong presence of the National Alliance in the highlands region.

But, Rambi had, in the past, been accused of conflicts of interest where his hire car company had benefited financially from the presence and operations of police in the highlands region.

Rambi had maintained that he never used his position to benefit his vehicle hire company.

Prime Minister slams bid for super hospital

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has slammed the proposed new K500 million super hospital being pushed by Health Minister Sasa Zibe, The National reports.

The hospital has the backing of Zibe and Planning Minister Paul Tiensten.

But the prime minister had directed that no more public funds be used to pay for the Pacific Medical Centre project.

He directed Zibe to redirect any funds committed to improving the provision of current public health services.

The proposed hospital had become political and a topic of debate among respected figures in the medical fraternity.

It was suggested in a paid newspaper advertisement last Friday that the prime minister had met and spoke to former US president Bill Clinton about the project in New York last year and both men were keen to see it get off the ground.

But, Sir Michael said in an Oct 20, 2010, letter to Zibe that he was not convinced about the usefulness of the project.

“The irony of the whole issue is that the national government cannot even maintain, at a respectable and physical level, the current hospitals and health facilities,” the prime minister stated in the letter.

“This is compounded by the fact that the national government cannot effectively deliver basic health services, let alone guarantee the supply of basic drugs to the public.

“And, yet, we want to build a new 300-bed international hospital?”

The prime minister said referral hospitals, provincial hospitals, district health centres and medical posts were currently in shameful dilapidated states.

“Basic drugs cannot be assured and delivered to these hospitals and health institutions and, yet, the national government wants to spend millions of kina on this project that has questionable value to our general populace.

“I am not convinced of the usefulness of this Pacific Medical Centre project at this stage.”

He said his office had gone through the submission and had found that the accompanying documents were “sugar coated” with the intention to deceive cabinet members to support the project.

He said many local and US/global partners, mentioned in the accompanying documentation as supporting the project, had since disclaimed their interests.

Villagers shut airport

THE Tari Airport was yesterday shut down by villagers who are demanding K17 million in compensation for the land the airstrip is on, The National reports.

The villagers took over the airfield yesterday and issued demands for the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines and companies involved in the PNG LNG project not to use the airstrip.

Planes flying into the airstrip were diverted elsewhere.

A Twin-Otter belonging to Airlines PNG landed with some goods for the LNG project site.

A Tari town resident said villagers entered the airstrip and told the pilot of the aircraft that he was not to return again.

Passengers with tickets for an Air Niugini flight to Port Moresby were asked to go to Mt Hagen or Mendi to rebook.

An upgrade of the airport funded by the Southern Highlands government has also been halted.

Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye last night expressed concern about the forced closure of the airstrip.

“Such behaviour of the villagers is always a concern for the government.

“Closing the airstrip will not solve any problems.

“If they have a compensation claim, they should bring it through the proper channel.

“If it is genuine, it will be given due attention.

“The government will always try to address land issues through the proper channel and the villagers and their leaders must recognise this,” he said.

Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru was not available for comments last night.

Education Minister James Marape, who is Tari MP, said there could be no claim to the land where the “old” airport was.

Marape said landowners could claim compensation for the land to be taken up for the airport expansion.

“The old airport land has already been purchased, whatever the purchase price was in the past,” he added.

“No one can claim for this. For the land to be acquired for the airport expansion, we will discuss land acquisition with landowners.

“Evaluation and surveying for this and Tari town development is underway by a surveying firm. No one should close the airstrip.

“It’s been operating for 58 years and people should respect it.

“I’m speaking both as an MP and landowner of the town,” Marape said.