Ban sex education, lawyers meet told

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

SEX education should be banned from schools, government chief specialist on lifestyle diseases Dr Thomas Vinit said, The National reports.

He said it should not be taught at primary and secondary schools “until the students are fully matured”.

 “Condom should not be promoted but let only as option for those who wish to take a risk for it is not 100% safe,” Vinit, who is the technical adviser in lifestyle diseases at the Health Department, made these known last Wednesday at the Constitutional and Law Review Commission (CLRC) conference in Alotau.

He also called on churches to speak out on their moral teaching on sex and marriage to promote abstinence and chastity, or being faithful in marriage; to promote good role models as saints and our Blessed Peter Torot instead of models who promote sexual promiscuity and beauty shows; all cultural values that promote abstinence and being faithful such as high bride price for virginity must be strengthen and encouraged and others that promote promiscuity and polygamy must be exposed and outlawed.

Vinit said adultery laws should be tougher to deter multiple sexual partners claiming that adultery was the main route of HIV/AIDS transmission.

He added that it had increasingly become PNG’s main instigator of criminal offences, describing the rise in the HIV/AIDS epidemic as frightening and no longer a health issue but an economic and a development issue which required a multi-sectoral approach.

Vinit told the conference that his focus was on adultery, “especially the Adultery Act to have it reviewed”.

He said this would lead to definite decreases in sexual transmitted diseases (STI).

“There will be decrease in the prevalence in HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and deaths related to adultery,” Vinit said, adding that the degree in incidents in tribal fights as a result of adulterous behaviour would no longer be; or that there would be better control of such behaviour.

He said also that the social and economic gains would better with there being less family break-ups “and I am sure you know of a lot of family break-ups”.

Vinit said children would be happier in a good and loving family home or environments where there were less adulterous parents.

“There will be a lot of money saved if there were less adulterous affairs.

“There will be decrease in tribal tensions and decrease in criminal activities; as those are effects of adultery and family break-ups.

“And spiritual benefits will increase as there will not be any family break-ups and, ultimately, family values in that love (in a family) is cherished.”  

He expressed concerns about media reports on a daily basis reflecting how “people now have not a care in life at all; they just can go and kill somebody”.

“And this is because the family values are not now being seen as very important.

“And it is in the family that love starts growing. And you can see that in families where there is love and caring, they will not enter into rascalism and even murder.”

Prime Minister must step aside: Namah

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has called on Prime Minister (PM) Sir Michael Somare to voluntarily step aside from official duties following last Tuesday’s (30th November2010) Supreme Court dismissal of an appeal by Sir Michael to prevent the Ombudsman Commission (OC) from investigating him.

Namah said Sir Michael should stop employing deliberate delay tactics to frustrate the constitutionally mandated tasks of the OC to delay his referral process by endlessly seeking relief in courts.

He said: “Sir Michael’s indifference with the law and OC leaves a lot to be desired of the founding father, who was an architect of the very constitution he helped drafted and adopted at independence.

“He should simply swallow his pride, stop being arrogant and humble himself.

“ In the public interest, he must voluntarily relinquish his position by stepping aside as prime minister to allow for his referral process to proceed without further unnecessary delays.

“If the PM has nothing to hide, he should allow his referral process to proceed unimpeded.

“ He should defend himself in the tribunal hearing like other leaders who have been referred in the past.

“He is no different to other elected leaders who have been referred for misconduct in office.

“Is the PM telling the nation that he is above the law?

“Is he telling us that he should not be prosecuted if he breaks and laws?

“Why can’t he respect the very laws he helped crafted?

“Why shouldn’t he be prosecuted and dealt with appropriately like others leaders who have been charged under the Leadership Code?” Namah asked.

The OC alleges that Sir Michael failed to lodge annual returns for the periods 1994/5, 1995/96 and 1996/7, his lodgement returns for the periods 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 20003/04 and incomplete statements for periods 1992/93, 1993/94,1997/98, 1999/2000, 2000.01, 20001/02 and 20002/03.

The OC referred Sir Michael to the Public Prosecutor to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a Leadership Tribunal to deal with the allegations, but Sir Michael went to court seeking orders to stop the OC from investigating him.

On June 24 2008, National Court Judge, Justice Derek Hartshorn rejected an application by Sir Michael for a temporary injunction to stop the OC from investigating him.

When rejecting Sir Michael’s temporary injunction, Judge Hartshorn ruled that it was not in the interest of the justice of the general public that lawful authorities should be prevented from performing their legal and constitutional duties.

Sir Michael had gone to court asking the court to grant him certain declarations and a permanent injunction preventing the OC from continuing its investigations.

However, Judge Hartshorn stated that Sir Michael did not have a strong case to stop the OC from continuing its investigations.

Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of the Leadership require every person who is subject to the Leadership Code to furnish the OC every year details of assets, income and other required information.

On Nov 19, 2010, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek told a media conference in Port Moresby that Sir Michael was referred to office of the public prosecutor after his court challenge failed to stop the referral.

Manek highlighted that he was not aware of any court order preventing the public prosecutor from appointing a tribunal.

Namah said since the Supreme Court had upheld that National Court decision, the Public Prosecutor was duty bound to move swiftly to perform his constitutionally mandated duty to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal to deal with Sir Michael.

“This is a case of national importance involving the chief executive of this nation.

“It therefore demands for the Public Prosecutor to act in a timely manner in the public interest,” he stressed.

Fix corruption at Vulupindi House: Namah

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has called on Prime Minister (PM) Sir Michael Somare to act decisively in dealing with corruption in the Treasury and National Planning departments.

Namah said it was common knowledge that corruption was rife in Treasury and National Planning offices, but Sir Michael continues to pretend that all is well.

He said Sir Michael had conveniently shut his mouth and chooses to remain deaf and blind.

“When will he act to fix the problem and protect MPs from paying huge sums of money in commission to get money that is legally belongs to their electorate released?

“Why should members pay public servants who are already paid by the taxpayers to get project funds?” Namah asked.

He noted with grave concern that Treasury and National Planning offices have become houses of conmen and organised thieves robbing million of public funds that could well fund important development projects throughout the country.

“This has to stop.

“The PM must act swiftly to stop such corruptive and fraudulent acts.

“Enough is enough.

“Immediate action is needed to save the Treasury and Planning offices from becoming an institutionalised corruption houses, “Namah stressed.

He also challenged Sir Michael why he had not acted to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance and Treasury as required under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

“The nation is anxiously waiting for the PM to act and implement the recommendations of the inquiry, which among others revealed of over K500 million missing without trace.

“This is despite the PM promising to act swiftly on the inquiry recommendations to investigate and prosecute those involved in stealing public funds.

“To date, nothing had been forthcoming from the PM.

What a pleasant surprise.

Sir Michael’s inaction simply sends one message to the general public.

He condones the existence of rampant corruption in Treasury and Planning offices.” Namah stressed.

As well, Namah said National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten should stop passing the buck by blaming MPs for paying commissions, and take remedial actions to deal with civil servants and middlemen who are collaborating to rob the state and taxpayers.

On Tuesday (30th November), Telefomin MP Peter Iwei claimed that he paid K10, 000 to a staff of National Planning department to have a cheque of K12.4 million for electoral project released; only to find out that it was a bogus cheque.

Namah said this was a serious case of fraud that warranted swift and most appropriate action to deal with those involved, including criminal charges.

“The public demands immediate and decisive government action and not buck passing and lame excuses from Mr Tiensten.

“The situation demands most immediate and decisive action.

“It is incumbent on the minister to stop talk and institute remedial measures to address the issue of corruption in that office.

“The minister has a duty to take appropriate action and inform the nation what measures he has instituted to rid corruption in the department he is responsible for,” Namah concluded.

 

Basil slams MPs' pay rise

By GABRIEL LAHOC

 

Bulolo MP Sam Basil is against the budgeted pay rise for Members of Parliament, announcing to his district that he “didn’t get into parliament to get a pay rise, but to bring development and services down to the people”.

Mr Basil said this on Monday during the launch of the EMTV and Australian Network signals into Lekluk village in Mumeng Local Level Government area.

He described as “ridiculous” the decision of the Somare government, seeing it as another luxury item on the Government’s wish list.

The Government passed the 2011 national budget last week and gave a massive 52% salary increase, which Mr Basil argued should have been spent on other important government sectors which will have a direct impact on the people and communities.

“We the MPs are getting an extra K80,000 while the Prime Minister is getting another K100,000, which I believe is not the people’s wish,” said Mr Basil.

He also announced that for all future bills and acts presented in parliament to be enacted and amended, he would firstly consult the people through mass opinion polls in the local level governments and vote accordingly in Parliament.

Several leaders speaking on behalf of the Leklu community, which has a population of more than 2000 people, openly challenged him to continue to bring community impacted projects and give to the people all that is rightfully theirs.

Bougainville Copper Ltd shares soar

BOUGAINVILLE Copper Ltd’s share price has soared as talks to unite the landowners of the mine site under a single umbrella company proceeded, The National reports.

If successful, the talks will streamline negotiations for the reopening of the mine in Bougainville.

According to Australian security exchange last Friday, the share price of the Rio Tinto-controlled company rose 4.08%, and on Monday 4.58%.

The shares had  doubled in price since August and tripled since May, even though the mine had not operated for 21 years, the ASX stated.

The new president of the Autonomous Bou-gainville Government John Momis, told the media last week that discussions between landowners were going well.

“I am satisfied we are doing OK … we need to get the mine reopened … it will kick start developments in Bougainville,” Momis said.

The copper mine, at Panguna, provided about 20 % of government revenue during the 1970s and 1980s.

It closed in 1989 as the island disintegrated into civil war, in part due to disagreements about the mine’s impact and the way royalties were shared. Rio Tinto owns 53.58% of the company.

The PNG government has a 19.06 % stake, and the other 27.36% is held by public shareholders.

“With copper reserves estimated at almost three  million tonnes and gold production in the range of 400,000 ounces per annum, Panguna is one of the world’s largest potential producers of both metals,” BCL, as quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald this week, said.

“It is expected that the Bougainville copper agreement renegotiation will be actively pursued towards the end of 2010.”

The company said market values for both copper and gold were higher than at the time of mine’s closure.

 

 

Tiensten: Scam ring in Waigani

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE nation’s top planners admitted yesterday that there is a highly organised syndicate operating with the bureaucracy who preys on recipients of government cheques, The National reports.

They included public servants, bank workers and police personnel who may have milked the state of millions of kina over the years.

Members of the syndicate, mostly women public servants, take “cuts” of K10,000 to K30,000 to facilitate quick payment of these cheques at commercial banks.

National Plannning Minister Paul Tiensten and his departmental secretary Joseph Lelang said this at a media conference, adding weight to what had been suspected by the public for some time.

“This syndicate has done a lot of damage to individuals and organisations,” Tiensten said.

He and Lelang called a media conference after The National ran a front-page story yesterday about an MP claiming that he had paid K10,000 to a staff of the department to have a cheque of K12.4 million released, only to find out that it was a bogus cheque.

Tiensten was angry that Telefomin MP Peter Iwei could allow himself to be conned.

Tiensten called on the Ombudsman Commission to investigate Iwei for facilitating official corruption in depositing K10,000 into a Westpac account for the immediate release of funds.

“This is a very irresponsible leader who, earlier, had misplaced K1 million of DSIP funding for the people of Telefomin in a taxi.

“The people of Telefomin should be given a fair treatment by their member.

“Parliament recently increased MPs’ salaries and he should buy himself a car instead of running around in a taxi with cheques.”

Teinsten said the cheque issued was bogus, and was never raised by the department.

He said there was a scam in operation outside of Vulupindi House, not within his department as people claimed, although there were “several rotten officers” in National Planning who were also involved in supplying information to facilitate the fraud.

Tiensten said they were producing copies of fake cheque, claiming that they were from the department and asking people for commission for up to K30,000.

He said the syndicate was using electronic copies of cheques remittances in their computers and printing them out and were conning people, pretending to be him or his secretary, and asking for commissions for the release of fake departmental cheques.

Tiensten said the recent case of Iwei depositing K10,000 into the account of a woman was not an isolated case.

He said he was aware of other similar cases.

“This syndicate is an evil existing in our society. Look at the links, the police is involved as well as the banks are involved,” he said.

He said on two different occasions, some people were caught and locked up at the Boroko police cell but they were released on unknown grounds without even turning up in court.

He said a woman was caught with money in the New Erima Primary School scam but she was set free by police.

In another incident, a woman was arrested for the diocese of Bereina case involving K20,000, but she was also set free.

He said several incidents were known and referred to police but the suspects were running around free.

“I appeal to the new police commissioner to investigate these cases,” he said.

Teinsten said things were made even more difficult when callers could not be identified because there was no control over the issue of mobile phone sim cards where people would buy them without registration.

 

 

Anti-graft group queries Iwei's modus operandi

ATTEMPTS by a member of parliament to expose fraud and graft at the Department of National Planning have backfired with the authorities now questioning the motives and methods used in dealing with public funds, The National reports.

In a front-page story yesterday, The National reported that Telefomin MP Peter Iwei had used personal funds to induce finance officers at the Vulupindi Haus to release a cheque for K12.4 million.

After paying K10, 000 into a private Westpac bank account and being provided a Department of National Planning and Monitoring remittance advice, Iwei later found out that the K12.4 million cheque was worthless.

Global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International (TIPNG) yesterday said in a statement that the use of personal funds to claim government funds was questionable and created a lot of suspicion.

“Additionally, the attempted use by the MP of a consultancy company to manage K12.4 million in development funds further compounds suspicion around the use of public funds,” TIPNG stated.

“If most of PNG’s development expenditure is spent in this way, then grassroots people can be assured that all government development plans will go nowhere fast.”

It also called on the government to take a greater holistic approach towards demonstrating its willingness and commitment in seriously combating corruption.

TIPNG said it was alarming that Iwei had, days earlier, saw fit to personally take carriage of a cheque for K1 million of electoral funds without due diligence and care, losing it in a taxi on his way home from parliament.

“The assertion by the same MP that he was not aware of the existence of the infamous Vulupindi syndicate is ludicrous, given that much publicity has been made on this issue over the past months.”

However, TIPNG did acknowledge efforts by the Telefomin MP to bring the issue to light in the media.

“Furthermore TIPNG would like to call on Iwei to initiate the relevant measures to bring this matter to the attention of concerned agencies such as the police fraud squad to institute legal proceedings.

“TIPNG now calls on all key stakeholders, in particular the police fraud and anti-corruption squad and the departments of Finance and Treasury and National Planning, to take a more proactive role in addressing the issues at hand.

“These institutions should be playing a role that is perceived to be dynamic, efficient, well-resourced and result-driven to enhance public confidence in the capacity of government to tackle corruption from the top down.

“Instead, it appears that from the top down, there is little, if any, will to tackle systemic corruption that plagues PNG public expenditure today,” TIPNG stated.

 

 

Prime Minister: Case still before court

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare said yesterday that the court challenge on his referral by the Ombudsman Commission remains on foot in the National and Supreme Court, The National reports.

He said what was dismissed by the Supreme Court was an interlocutory appeal regarding a summons to produce his lawyers had asked for to adduce certain documents from the Ombudsman Commission.

He was disappointed with the front page article of the Post-Courier headlined “PM appeal annulled” yesterday.

“The truth is that my real substantive case is still pending in the National Court and the dismissal of this completely separate interlocutory appeal does not affect my substantive case,” Sir Michael said in a statement issued yesterday.

“The Post-Courier reporter had full knowledge of this as explained by my lawyers, PKA. The reporter still went ahead in today’s paper (yesterday) to tell a half truth and continued on to draw his own misleading conclusion.

“PKA informed me this morning that the reporter’s reaction to his explanation that the dismissal bears no consequence to the substantive case against me was basically it did not matter as ‘this is the prime minister’ and he had a paper to sell.

“My lawyer informed me that he also warned the reporter not to mislead the public but the reporter had his mind set on the sale of the paper.

“This callous behaviour is deplorable.

“Whether it is the prime minister or any other citizen of this country, the media should not be allowed to manipulate information at the expense of others for their market share.”

“I condemn the actions of the Post-Courier in the strongest possible manner.

“We have to be mindful of the consequences of tolerating such unethical behaviour. Our complacency allows indecency to creep into our daily life as a nation,” Sir Michael said.

The prime minister’s challenge remains on foot in the National Court, while his lawyers have also filed a Supreme Court reference to clarify certain issues that were raised.

While these proceedings are pending, the Public Prosecutor is restrained from making any referral.

The Prime Minister’s referral by the Ombudsman Commission relates to his annual returns.

The commission alleges that he has filed them late, or that what he has filed were misleading.

Row over internet domain name

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) has questioned a move by a Chinese industrial group to acquire “Bougainville copper” as their internet keyword, The National reports.

Alex Sturm, ESBC president in a statement yesterday, questioned what China’s real intentions on Bougainville are after an email dated Nov 19 requested ESBC verification on the proposed internet keyword.

The email read: “This is a Network Service Co which is the domain name registration center in Hong Kong, China.

“On Nov.16, 2010, we received an application from MEIHUA Group requesting ‘bougainville-copper’ as their internet keyword and China (CN) domain names.

“But after checking, we find this name is in conflict with your company’s name or trademark. In order to deal with this issue better, it’s necessary to send this email to you and confirm with your company whether this company is your distributor or business partner in China. If you did not authorise, please let us know within seven working days, so that we will handle this issue better.”

Sturm had asked why a giant Chinese industrial group was so  interested in acquiring the name of “Bougainville copper” for their own purpose.

“Why are they contacting the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper and not our company itself or even better, Rio Tinto?

“What are the true intentions of this MEIHUA Group?

 “The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper had asked these questions to Linda Wang of Hong Kong China Technology Ltd, a domain provider, but did not get any response until now,” he said.

A search on the internet showed that MEIHUA Group is engaged in door manufacturing and in the production of monosodium glutamate, a flavour enhancer, using materials from corn.

 

 

Worthless cheque!

MP pays K10,000 for K12.4m bogus cheque

 

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MEMBER for Telefomin Peter Iwei followed instructions and paid K10,000 into an account at a bank in Port Moresby, so that an official at the Department of National Planning will release a cheque for K12.4 million, The National reports.

Iwei was told he had until 4.06pm on Nov 19 to pay the money into the account, or the K12.4 million deal would be off.

Iwei identified by name the person who instructed him to pay the K10,000.

He said he really wanted the money for his projects, so he got his wife to pay K10,000 of their own money into this account on Nov 19.

Iwei produced the butt of the deposit slip, which showed the K10,000 being deposited into a Westpac bank account number 600099061. The bearer of that account was a Susan Boga.

Iwei said on Nov 29, he received a fax from the official at the Department of National Planning.

The fax was a Department of National Planning and Monitoring remittance advice, dated Nov 25. It said a cheque number 901973 for K12.4 million was raised in favour of Tatoo Pacific Consultants, a firm that the MP had retained for projects in his electorate.

Of the K12.4 million, K2.4 million was for Telefomin market rehabilitation while K10 million would be for the Telefomin hospital project.

Iwei and his consultant went to the bank, with the photocopied remittance advice, and were told that the cheque was worthless.

He was told that the cheque was bogus, or fake.

He immediately informed National Planning secretary Joseph Lelang to look into this.

“A highly organised syndicate is operating within the Department of National Planning, collecting commission in thousands of kina in return for the release of government development grants.

“This is corruption, and something has to be done quickly.

“There is a lot of leak and stealing in Waigani, and people in the villages are suffering,” he said.

Lelang told The National yesterday a major corruption ring might be operating from Vulupindi House.

“I believe it might involve some of my staff,” he admitted when pressed if people close to him were involved.

Lelang said he had received 10 other complaints regarding a person in the department demanding payment into this account at Westpac before cheques could be delivered to MPs.

“I have written to police to take action on this. I do not know what has happened to date.”

He said it appeared the same person was demanding K30,000 from a company doing a project in Madang before a cheque of K5 million could be released.

A previous complaint from the board of a school in Erima prompted Lelang to call in police, resulting in the arrest of at least three people, two of them employees at Vulupindi House.

This is not the first time Iwei has had issue with public funds at his disposal.

On Monday, he picked up a K1 million cheque for his electorate but lost it in a taxi.

He had still not recovered the cheque.

Iwei had asked the Finance Department to put a stop on the cheque.

 

 

Governor General election ruling set for next Friday

By ELLEN TIAMU

 

THE Supreme Court will hand down its decision next Friday on whether there were constitutional breaches in the election of the governor-general by parliament this year, The National reports.

It heard arguments on Monday and Tuesday from the sponsor of the motion, Morobe provincial government, through its lawyer Alfred Manase and government lawyers.

The issue was whether there were constitutional breaches regarding the re-election of Sir Paulias Matane as the governor-general and, whether, parliament Speaker Jeffrey Nape had breached the constitution when he declared Sir Paulias as duly-elected to serve a second term in June.

Manase said in his argument that the matter was a serious constitutional breach and the Supreme Court should use its inherent powers to declare the re-election of the governor-general void avinitcio and, so, null and void.

He said section 87(5) only gave parliament the power to give the incumbent, Sir Paulias, the authority to re-contest if he had mustered the required 73-vote majority.

Following that, he, along with other candidates, were required to go through a secret ballot. However, that did not happen and Sir Paulias was declared governor-general.

Morobe was also arguing that, by law, the speaker automatically assumed the position of acting governor-general as soon as the incumbent’s term was up, but, that did not happen on May 26 when Sir Paulias’s term of office expired.

Only under circumstances that render the speaker unfit or unable to take up the post, then the chief justice was next in line and, if he cannot, then the attorney-general, the court was told.

Instead, they said, Nape continued as speaker and the following month, on June 25, presided over the election process which, according to Morobe, was unconstitutional.

The five-judge Supreme Court bench reserved its determination to next Friday due to the nature and seriousness of the matter.

 

Pilot on sex charges sues for A$45 million

AUSTRALIAN federal police (AFP) officers concealed evidence and submitted false documents in the prosecution of an Australian pilot on child sex charges, resulting in his wrongful conviction, the man’s lawyers claim.

Fred Martens, who spent 940 days in a Queensland prison after being convicted of the rape of a 14-year-old Papua New Guinea girl in Port Moresby, is suing the federal government for A$45 million, according to AAP.

The 61-year-old was the first to be charged under sex-tourism laws which target Australians who commit sex crimes in Pacific island nations.

However, Queensland’s court of appeal last year quashed the conviction after Marten’s family obtained flight records which proved he was not in Port Moresby on the dates the girl alleged the offence occurred.

In a statement of claim lodged in the Queensland supreme court in Cairns on Monday, Marten’s legal team allege a team of officers from the AFP’s transnational crime unit based in Port Moresby “maliciously prosecuted” their client.

The claim alleges the officer who arrested Martens, Tania Stokes, swore an affidavit claiming department of immigration records proved Martens was in Papua New Guinea on two occasions the girl claimed to have flown with him.

She also submitted a typed record of travel between Australia and PNG by Martens which supported the claim.

The girl claimed she had flown with Martens twice in 2001, in April and September, and that he sexually assaulted her on the second occasion.

However, official immigration records obtained by his legal team under a freedom of information request showed he was in Australia on the first occasion while PNG civil aviation records showed he could not have been with the girl on the September dates.

Martens alleged the prosecution was organised by his ex-wife Raina Martens, with whom he was locked in a bitter custody battle, and the statement of claim alleged she arranged interviews between the girl and police.

The A$45 million damage claim related to the collapse or loss of a number of PNG business ventures owned by Martens as a result of his prosecution and incarceration, including the country’s Royal Flying Doctor Service.

It also said he suffered severe emotional, physical and psychological damage as a result of his prosecution and conviction, including the loss of his daughter Stephanie, who died of malaria in PNG while Martens was awaiting trial.

He believed he would have been able to save her had he not been stranded in Australia with his funds frozen and his passport confiscated.

The federal government will have 28 days to respond to the claim. – AAP

Haircut on Christmas

Bobby Yangom has not had a haircut in all his adult life, The National reports.
This Christmas, the 35-year-old from Yamap in Bulolo district, Morobe, will rid himself of the 135cm bundles of locks that weigh about 1.2kg. He has been growing them since 1990.
He says he dreads the day he will cut them but it is something he has set his mind on doing. – Picture by CHRIS DONALD

Nasfund expands asset base to K2.1 billion

THE National Superannuation Fund Ltd (Nasfund) has expanded its asset base to K2.1 billion, up 19%, during the 12-month period to October this year, The National reports.

Annualised since 1999, Nasfund has grown at an average 29.4% per annum over the 11 years to October making it the fastest-growing superannuation group in the country.

This was disclosed in a brief report in Nasfund’s newsletter for the last quarter of the year released by joint executive officer Ian Tarutia.

Joint-chief executive officer Rod Mitchell told The National the growth was mainly attributed to large increase in memberships and other investments.

He said active contributing Nasfund members were now 138,241, with more than 1,906 employers contributing to the funds.

Tarutia, in his Christmas message, said Nasfund disposed of non-core properties according to board resolution.

He said this investment and risk management strategy recognised that the portfolio required a rebalancing in favour of relatively new construction in the portfolio.

On the new property development, the Edge 63 luxury apartment development is taking shape with the building now coming out of the ground at Harbour City.

“We aim to complete this building by December 2011,” Tarutia said

 

 

MP loses K1million in taxi

By ALISON ANIS

 

MEMBER for Telefomin Peter Iwei has appealed for the return of a misplaced K1 million cheque for his electorate in West Sepik, The National reports.

Iwei told The National yesterday that the cheque, handed to him on Monday for his electorate under the district services improvement programme (DSIP), was misplaced on his way home and he suspected a cab driver for holding onto it.

Iwei said the cheque was written to the Telefomin district treasury operating trust account and was intended for the joint district planning and budget priorities committee to determine the projects to be funded. But, he carelessly left it behind in a taxi, and now wanted it returned.

He explained that on Monday afternoon, between 4pm and 6pm, he got into a white taxi that was parked at a driveway in front of parliament and asked the driver to take him to his house.

“The cheque was in a white envelope that I, accidentally, placed on the dashboard in front of me. I forgot to pick it up when I got out of the taxi,” Iwei said.

He said he knew the identity of the cab driver but did not know where he resided and was appealing to him, or anyone who picked it up, to return it to him.

 “This K1 million DSIP cheque belongs to the people of Telefomin.

“I want it returned to my office immediately so I am appealing to the driver, or whoever took it, to return it to me.”

Iwei said he had written to the Department of the Finance and Treasury to put a stop on the cheque.

“Treasury has received my letter and will advise the bank on this, so they can also stop any transaction from taking place,” he said.

Iwei was one of a number of MPs who were met at one of parliament’s conference rooms by Finance Department officials who had gone there to pay them the K1 million in DSIP funds.

It was unclear why Finance Department officials had decided to bring the cheques physically to parliament to pay the MPs when they could have easily transferred the funds electronically to the district accounts and simply advise the MPs that the funds were safely in the bank.

 

PNG LNG training facility opens doors

A NEW vocational training facility was opened yesterday at the Port Moresby Technical College (PomTech) by Esso Highlands Ltd, operator of the multi-billion-kina liquefied natural gas project, The National reports.

The Port Moresby construction training facility represented an investment of K150 million to train up to 1,000 Papua New Guineans a year for employment with the project during its four-year construction phase.

Managing director of Esso Highlands Peter Graham said the training facility was an important milestone for the LNG project.

“The men and women who are trained here will play a vital role in the construction of the LNG plant and associated marine facilities,” he said.

Graham added that their training would be certified to international industry standards and the skills they acquired would enable them to compete for employment opportunities beyond the construction period of the project.

Minister for Higher Education Michael Ogio said Esso Highlands and its LNG partners had shown confidence in the nation.

He said the training facility, and the expertise developed, would create long-term value for PNG and its skilled workforce. 

He said upon completion of the project in 2014, the training facility would be given to the PNG government to become part of PomTech.

Ogio also announced the government’s allocation of K15 million to rehabilitate existing PomTech facilities.

Skills Tech Australia will coordinate the construction training facility.

 

 

Concerns over Daru water conditions

THE PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) is concerned with the water and sanitation conditions in Daru Island, Western, The National reports.

In 2006, the PNGSDP approved its support, funded a feasibility study and committed K26 million as well as offering technical expertise to the PNG Waterboard (PNGWB) to rebuild the Daru water supply and sewerage system given the serious health risks being faced on the island due to the inadequacy of these services.

Last year, PNGSDP seriously concerned about the severe health hazards and the ongoing delay to the re-construction increased its commitment towards the rehabilitation of the entire town water and sewerage system to K52 million by offering PNGWB a K26 million grant as well as low-cost loan of K26 million.

It acknowledged that the Daru water supply and sewerage system, which services the town, is owned and operated by the PNGWB, and the PNGSDP continued to regularly approach the PNGWB to partner with it to improve the facility as a matter of urgency.

“With the presence of cholera now in Daru, it is absolutely urgent that we partner to rebuild the Daru water supply and sewerage system to ensure the health of the people on the island is not further put at risk,” PNGSDP chief executive officer David Sode said in a statement.

“We are again requesting the PNG Waterboard to act urgently to rebuild the Daru water supply and sanitation system, utilising funding and technical assistance offered by PNGSDP, for the future health of the people of Daru,” he said.

However, the World Health Organisation representative in Daru, Geoffrey Clark, told visiting media representatives two weeks ago that the town’s water supply was not the source of the cholera which had claimed more than 30 lives since it was first reported on the island on Nov 11.

He also said the disease was under control and the islanders were responding well to the awareness campaigns that had been carried out.

PNGSDP is currently working with key partners including the WHO, Western cholera emergency response team, provincial administration, Health Department and AusAID, providing logistical support as requested for the cholera outbreak response initiative.

Meanwhile, PNGWB managing director Patrick Amini said they were in the business of providing clean and safe water.

“In this connection, it advises that its ongoing water treatment and surveillance operations, ensures safe drinking water to all its customers, including residents of Daru Island.

 “We have taken measures including increasing the chlorine dosage levels, daily surveillance of our piped systems, regular tests and checks on our water supply system to ensure that the water remains safe for human consumption,” he said.

Santarina brings cheer

South African girl Megan Potgieter, 11, dressing up a Christmas tree at the Tembari Children Care (TCC) centre last Saturday.
Later, she played Little Santa to children by distributing toy car models for the boys, Barbie-like dolls for the girls and chocolates, candies and canned drinks for everybody.
Megan, her parents Andre and Sharon, brother Francois (right) and South African compatriots Elaine Blignaut and Marina Furstenberg made a visit to the centre to bring early Yuletide cheer to the 114 Tembari children, with some help from friends in Port Moresby.
Megan attends primary school at Lydenburg in South Africa.
Potgieter said they made their Christmas presentation early as they were flying to South Africa soon for the Christmas holidays.
Tembari is an orphanage day-care centre at the ATS Oro settlement at 7-Mile outside Port Moresby. – Nationalpic by ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

PNGRFL divided

Northern and Islands zone affiliates hold AGM in defiance of deferral

 

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has yet another court battle looming after affiliates from the Islands and Northern zone held the originally proposed annual general meeting in Lae on Sunday, The National reports.

 This was in apparent defiance of an earlier edict by PNGRFL interim committee chairman John Numapo and chief operating officer Joe Tokam, who deferred the Nov 28 AGM to Jan 30.

But the Islands zone affiliates led by East New Britain rugby league president David Carroll said they were only following a court order in assembling for the meeting.

The gathering duly elected Bryan Kramer as the only nominee for the position of chairman present.

This was chaired by Momase police regional legal officer Chief Insp Richard Sarendou.

However, Sunday’s event have been roundly criticised by PNGRFL committee members – and nominees for the chairmanship – John Numapo and Gary Juffa.

Numapo described what transpired in Lae as an illegal gathering and that it did not represent the majority of affiliates around the country.

“The meeting was not legal. Most leagues around the country have not yet completed their affiliation requirements so how can we have a quorum for an AGM?”

He said the majority of leagues in the highlands were still in the process of affiliating and that was why he and Tokam had called for an adjournment of the AGM to January.

Numapo claimed the deferral was constitutional saying as interim committee chairman he had the power to defer the AGM or if the affiliates gathered did not form a quorum, which is 50% plus one of affiliated leagues. 

“Competitions have just wound down in most places and we need to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the AGM,” Numapo said.

However, the Islands and Northern bloc countered by saying all its leagues had followed a court order dating from July which was agreed to by disputing factions of the PNGRFL power struggle.

“We are merely following a court order that directs that the AGM be held no later than Nov 30 and if the others want to dispute that, then let them take it to court,” Carroll said.

He added that if the majority of affiliates in the Islands and Northern zones could fulfil their requirements, then why was it that the Highlands and Southern were lagging behind?

But Numapo has already questioned how many leagues are actually affiliated saying the number was four which he said was a true representation of the leagues in PNG.

He further called for the deferral to be respected and for all interested nominees along with leagues to attend the AGM next year.

Meanwhile, the resolution reached at Sunday’s meeting is currently before a judge (named) who is expected to rule on the original date which was adhered to as per the court order.

 

 

Bougainville mine 'to reopen next year'

BCL shareholders laud breakthrough with landowners

 

THE European shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) have welcomed the breakthrough achieved by the Panguna landowners’ conference in Buka regarding the re-opening of the Panguna mine, The National reports.

This historical decision was reached on Sunday when landowners agreed to re-open the mine towards the end of next year.

ESBC president Axel Sturm said they were very satisfied with this outcome.

“This gives Bougainville the chance to recover financially from all suffering in the last 20 years.

“I am very grateful to the Minister of Bougainville Affairs Fidelis Semoso that he finally pushed things cogently forward by organising this conference.

“We are also glad that the Autonomous Bougainville Government assisted in this important undertaking,” he said.

Sturm said he appreciated Semoso’s courage to face this sensitive issue “without any fear or prejudice”.

“Next year would bring giant investment to the island and many people who are jobless now would soon find work,” Sturm said.

“This makes me very happy especially for the young generation on Bougainville who would benefit from the decisions on this historic weekend,” he said.