Inability to account is a big issue

By JAMES WANJIK

 

 Papua New Guinea leaders, both elected and appointed, have accountability problem.

 Sovereignty of PNG is at risk.

Politicians and bureaucrats are lost and confused.

 They run our country but they operate as raskols.

 They keep telling us to wait till 2050 to be wealthy.

 Making money and cargo their priority, leaders work for big businesses with deep pockets.

It is no coincidence leaders do not want to account.

 Look at Somare’s case.

He has gone to court to nullify an investigation by the Ombudsman Commission.

 Though leaders are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, no leader has paid attention to the role of the Ombudsman Commission.

 Is it a Public Prosecutor?

No.

 So, why is it that, it is the Ombudsman Commission that has taken on the leaders, even after it has referred its findings to the Public Prosecutor?

 In recent times, the courts have taken the fray.

They have played politics on the bench.

 Time and again we read in the print media about judges making observations about politicians.

It shows bias.

 Many leaders are gutless to take on the judges.

 Judges are lawyers with high ethical and moral code of conduct but are they now?

 PNG had a very good start at Independence in 1975.

 Only a mere 35 years on our courts have become a place for leaders playing politics.

 Supreme Court is worse.

 Making laws under the guise of interpreting them have been the biggest blunder.

 A very good example is Patrick Pruaitch’s case.

A judge of the Supreme Court made it his business to raise an issue that was not an issue before the lower court or even the Leadership Tribunal.

He took it upon himself to make law on the bench.

That is, other leaders, whose Leadership Tribunals have been appointed prior, are still in office, performing leadership duties, while Patrick Pruaitch had been ordered by the Supreme Court to refrain from performing official duties.

 Which law did Patrick Pruaitch breach to be treated differently from other leaders?

 Why have not the Ombudsman Commission and the Supreme Court been consistent and fair?

 Leaders are not accountable.

 Bureaucrats are not accountable.

And if judges are going to follow suit, then we, the people, must wake up and demand, all our leaders, both elected and appointed, to account.

 May God bless PNG.

 

 

James Wanjik

Port Moresby

 08^th December 2010

 

K5 per photoshoot

Just for K5 per villager, visitors or tourists can take pictures of the remains of a light Cessna 210 that now adorns the shores of Lelegwagwa village in Milne Bay. The aircraft crash-landed about 50m off the shores of Lelegwagwa in late September and was towed ashore by the villagers who decided to make some money from the wreck.
Five Australians escaped the Sept 26 accident unhurt.
The villagers have even put up a notice about the K5-per-caretaker fee at the roadside. – Nationalpic by JULIA DAIA BORE

Prime minister referred to leadership tribunal

Abal to be acting PM if Sir Michael steps aside

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare will be referred to a leadership tribunal for breaching the Leadership Code, effectively requiring him to step aside as head of government, The National reports.

Acting Public Prosecutor Jim Wala Tamate said yesterday he had served notice on Sir Michael about his intention to request the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia to appoint a leadership tribunal to hear Ombudsman Commission charges that the prime minister had failed to submit his annual returns since 1996.

The announcement came 24 hours after a snap reshuffle with the National Alliance cabinet seats in the government in which Sir Michael elevated Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal to be the new deputy prime minister in place of Don Polye, meaning Abal will be acting prime minister, should Sir Michael steps aside.

Tamate confirmed late yesterday that a letter was served on Sir Michael, the regional member for East Sepik, and his lawyer Kerenga Kua yesterday morning.

“The letter was a notice to the prime minister advising him that, in three days time, a request will be made to the chief justice to appoint a leadership tribunal.”

However, sources said the letter was not served on the prime minister in person but left at the gates of his Mirigini House residence at Waigani.

Sir Michael was referred by the Ombudsman Commission in 2008 after finding that he had failed to submit his annual returns dating back to 1996.

However, the prime minister appealed to the National Court but, last week, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

The dismissal did not affect a Supreme Court reference that is still pending, or Sir Michael’s position as a leader, allowing him to still pursue the substantive matter.

The prime minister is likely to be suspended as per the Supreme Court decision on the case of former treasurer and finance minister Patrick Pruaitch if a tribunal was established.

Sir Michael is understood to have briefed his cabinet ministers and NA party executives yesterday afternoon.

The National understood that his snap reshuffle of NA ministers on Tuesday was to cater for a worse-case scenario, in which he preferred Abal to be in charge of government, rather than fellow Engan Polye.

Although there was no official confirmation last night from the government, sources claimed the changes would be effected by the prime minister before the end of the week.

The NA changes were Sir Arnold Amet as attorney-general and justice minister; Ano Pala – Agriculture and Livestock; Mark Maipakai – Labour and Industrial Relations; and Puri Ruing – Internal Security.

Axed from cabinet were Sani Rambi and John Hickey.

 

 

Lost K1 million found

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE K1 million cheque belonging to the Telefomin people in West Sepik, which was lost in a taxi in Port Moresby, has been found, The National reports.

Telefomin MP Peter Iwei had allegedly left the cheque in a cab on his way home from parliament last month.

He said the cheque was returned to his parliament office following widespread publicity and public appeal.

Iwei said he had so far received K16 million in district support improvement programme (DSIP) funds from the national government.

However, he said due to the remoteness of his isolated and disadvantaged district, more funds were needed for his people to really participate in the country’s development.

He said over the years, Telefomin had been neglected with only a handful of people having access to vital services, usually accessed by flying in and out of the district.

Iwei said Sepiks had produced the country’s prime minister for a number of years but there was little to show for it.

Consequently, he said the people of Telefomin had sought vital health and education services elsewhere such as going to Tabubil in Western or crossing over the border into Indonesia.

Telefomin has a population of about 40,000 people who share a common border with Indonesia.

Iwei said his recent action to pay K10, 000 into a private bank account was necessitated by the government’s lack of interest in seriously addressing and developing least developed areas in the country.

 

 

Polye insists that he is still deputy prime minister

By JEFFREY ELAPA 

 

NATIONAL Alliance deputy leader Don Polye claims he is still deputy prime minister, brushing aside media speculations that he was demoted in a snap reshuffle among the NA ranks of cabinet on Tuesday, The National reports.

NA national secretary Joyce Grant added weight when she went on radio last night to deny that there was a reshuffle, saying Polye was still deputy prime minister and also transport and works minister.

Polye told The National yesterday that he had not received instruments from Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, who was holidaying in Rabaul, East New Britain, to effect the change.

Government House officials, who were in Rabaul to witness Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet sworn in as attorney-general and justice minister, said Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had verbally confirmed Abal as the new deputy prime minister, replacing Polye.

This confirmed that although the instruments for the change in the deputy prime minister and other cabinet ministers had not been signed by Sir Paulias, the prime minister indicated that he would sign instruments for the reshuffle by the end of this week.

This had been confirmed independently by a third source.

Polye, who had to cut short his electorate duties to return to Port Moresby, said he was addressed as “deputy prime minister” when he met with Sir Michael yesterday morning.

“I believe I am still the deputy prime minister and deputy party leader,” he added.

However, sources said Sir Michael was just being diplomatic until the instruments for the changes were signed for gazettal.

According to political observers, the prime minister’s move came at a time when a notice was issued to him by the public prosecutor advising him of his referral to a leadership tribunal within three days.

Abal could not be reached for comments as he had returned to Sydney for today’s closing of a three-day mining and petroleum conference.

A reshuffle with Abal taking over as deputy prime minister

Abal takes over as deputy PM

 

By JEFFREY ELAPA and ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PRIME Minister Sir Michael has made a snap cabinet reshuffle, replacing his deputy Don Polye and decommissioning two other ministers.

The changes, within portfolios held by his National Alliance party, were made yesterday and widely reported by the national radio, although there had been no official confirmation from the prime minister’s office.

New faces in cabinet were Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet and United Resources Party stalwart Puri Ruing (Dei MP).

The reshuffle came hours after Sir Michael gave a keynote address at the mining and petroleum conference in Sydney, Australia, cancelled his onward trip to Cancun, Mexico, for the UN climate change conference and returned to Port Moresby with Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, whom he had elevated as the new deputy prime minister.

It followed a minor reshuffle last month in which Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill was appointed Finance and Treasury Minister and brought back Esa’ala MP Moses Maladina as public service minister.

According to sources last night, confirming the radio reports, the reshuffle affected Polye, who is now foreign affairs minister; Ano Pala, who is agriculture and livestock minister; and Mark Maipakai, who is now industrial relations minister.

Dropped from cabinet were Bogia MP John Hickey, who lost his agriculture and livestock portfolio and Mul-Baiyer MP Sani Rambi, who lost his internal security ministry.

New ministers Sir Arnold takes charge of justice and attorney-general while Ruing takes over internal security.

While the changes had all been done within National Alliance, the URP was the only coalition partner allocated an extra ministry.

Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, who was on holiday in his village, signed the instruments yesterday to effect the reshuffle.

Polye, when contacted in his Kandep electorate yesterday, said he was not aware of the reshuffle.

He declined to comment further.

The prime minister’s media liaison officer, Betha Somare, said she was unable to reach Sir Michael from Sydney yesterday and, therefore, could not comment on the reshuffle.

The NA was meeting in Port Moresby yesterday but no details were available.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister’s office and NA had denied reports of an impending reshuffle.

NA spokesperson Joyce Grant said: “That is the prerogative of the prime minister to reshuffle the cabinet.

“The prime minister has been talking of reshuffling cabinet for a long time now and, when that happens, it happens.”

Meanwhile, government sources said on Monday that a special NEC meeting had appointed Paul Tiensten as acting governor-general while Sir Paulias was on holiday.

It was understood that the instruments to effect the appointment were yet to be made official.

 

 

Oil Search and Papua New Guinea's 20-year partnership

PAPUA New Guinea has, for more than 20 years, been enjoying substantial benefits from the Oil Search Ltd, whose fundamental benefits structure is progressive by world standards, The National reports.

Speaking at the 11th mining and petroleum conference in Sydney on Monday, OSL managing director Peter Botten told participants that the resource business in PNG had never been healthier in terms of major project development.

He said, however, the true potential of resource wealth would not be reached without appropriate management of the huge benefit streams that would come from new developments.

Botten said since 1992, the PNG government, provincial and local level governments, landowners (cash or non-cash or indirect payments) had received a total of K11.931 billion, with the government as the main recipient of the oil industry with K8.796 billion to date.

The oil industry has a record investment in petroleum exploration and development, led by the PNG LNG, other projects and continued investment in oil.

There is potential for significant development which will only reach potential if projects operate in a stable environment, have good management and governance of benefit streams which are essential for project stability and have the need to see benefits away from resources areas.

Botten explained that primary benefit streams were mandated by the Oil and Gas Act (1996) and other legislation, while others were more discretionary and were managed through negotiation by the operator with the stakeholders.

There is, however, a need for transparency and understanding of the benefits streams in order for it to work.

This includes MoA funds distributions, which required greater governance, if they are to deliver fair outcomes.

Botten said what had worked in the benefit streams included the Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) payments of equity dividend and royalties in the fields.

Mandated apportionment of benefits to various stakeholders had worked, with a percentage given to community infrastructure and future generations.

Botten said it was more important than ever to manage benefits in a rigorous and transparent way.

He said recent steps by the government regarding establishment of independent sovereign wealth funds for receipts from PNG LNG was a new major positive initiative.

These first steps were encouraging and needed a full understanding by all stakeholders, he said.

 

 

Pundari explores plan to build gold refinery

By PATRICK TALU in Sydney

 

MINING Minister John Pundari says he wants to see Papua New Guinea build and own an onshore gold refinery to refine gold produced by its various mines, The National reports.

He told mining investors at the mining and petroleum conference in Sydney that it was time for a big gold refinery because current mining activities warranted it.

Pundari told the conference he was looking at the prospects of preparing necessary legislation for the National Executive Council to pave way for the refinery to be constructed.

“For far too long, the government and people of Papua

New Guinea did not know the real values of gold bars produced and how many ounces are taken out of PNG and refined offshore,” he told The National.

“I want to provide the leadership in supporting the establishment of an internationally accredited gold refinery operation in PNG, through public-private partnership, to process all gold mined in PNG.

“I believe that we are mere custodians of the collective wealth of our nation,” Pundari said.

He reaffirmed Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s earlier address that the government

had committed itself to a complete review and overhaul of the mineral policy legislation to ensure the interest of all stakeholders, including the people, within the resources sector were protected and that optimal benefit were  gained from the extraction of PNG’s mineral resources.

Pundari said he also wanted to provide leadership by creating a level playing field for all players within the mining sector and deliver a robust strategic plan to bring onstream advanced and prospective projects as soon as possible.

He reiterated that he would encourage state-owned entities, such as Petromin, to exercise greater state equity option in the new mines coming on stream and to be involved more in new explorations.

The three-day mining conference will end today.

 

 

5,000 on road to recovery in Hagen

By YVONNE HAIP

 

AFTER waiting for more than 20 years to receive much needed government services, the people of Tengtenga village in Mt Hagen have taken the lead by initiating development themselves, The National reports.

Last Saturday, the whole community was busy gathering rocks from the nearby Walter River to be used for gravel filling on a 3km feeder road that the Kentka people had constructed using spades and bush knives.

The road would benefit more than 5,000 people and village leaders, students, women, men, youths, and children all part took in the activity because they believe that better roads would allow for development to be felt at the community level.

They have also built a bridge, elementary classrooms, and an additional building for the Tengtenga sub-health centre to cater for the increasing number of patients.

Through the combined efforts of the local community, traditional assets such as coffee trees were uprooted and land was freed up to make way for development at a total cost of over K40, 000.

This is also in line with the government’s development goals where people should take ownership of developmental changes through practising self reliance.

Community leader Wani Atep expressed concern that even though the village was situated near Mt Hagen, basic services had not reached the area while existing ones had never been maintained during the past 20 years.

He said seeing that the people could not wait for the government to deliver at their doorsteps, they had gone ahead to provide services for themselves.

Not only that, Atep added that they would continue to initiate other developments in their area.

Youths from the area challenged other communities to do the same and become agents of change in order to benefit from much needed government services.

Ethnic groups take up arms

By ANGELINE KARIUS and JEFFREY ELAPA

TWO Highlands groups clashed violently over the weekend in a predominantly Papuan settlement in Moresby South, The National reports.

Police said yesterday that the ethnic clash between Engans and Eastern Highlanders at the Horse Camp settlement at Sabama, in NCD, led to four people being hospitalised with gun shot wounds while at least 10 homes were razed.

Resident and Boroko police communications officer Chief Sgt Hohoves Kora (left), Joyce Bay councillor Joe Vali and Badili police station commander Bill Warake talking to media personnel and residents at Sabama yesterday

Acting police superintendent of operations Jim Namora and the coordinator of the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) accident and emergency unit Dr Sam Yockopua confirmed the casualties.

Many families were affected and office workers had to stay away from work yesterday in fear of being attacked or their homes being burnt down.

Namora said what started as a fight between the two Highlands group spread when settlers from other parts of the country took sides, based on which side of the settlement they resided in.

Horse Camp had been an exclusive settlement of coast people from Gulf and Western since the 1960s until Highlanders started buying blocks from the early settlers in the past 20 years.

Police said yesterday that the weekend clash carried over from an earlier fight between the two groups early last month during which a youth was knifed in the leg after being accused of stealing from an Engan man.

Police turned up in numbers yesterday at the settlement to keep the tense situation under control, adding that both sides were well armed.

They fear one group may pre-empt an all-out fight by a sneak raid during the night.

An Eastern Highlands community leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the latest clash erupted on Sunday after compensation negotiations to settle the previous clashes between the two groups failed.

Residents told the media yesterday that they heard several gun shots during Sunday night which police said they were investigating to determine that nobody was shot and wounded.

Of the buildings torched, according to police, was a trade store owned by a former Enga provincial assembly member Michael Magal.

Two Westerners were wounded by stray bullets fired by police to defuse what was a volatile situation.

PMGH’s Yockopua confirmed admitting two people with gun wounds, adding that another two had spear wounds while a fifth person was treated for wounds sustained when he was hit by a vehicle during the confrontation.

He said that the identities of the four people were still unknown but they would be kept under tight security as further treatment venues were sought because of the seriousness of their injuries.

Engan leader and spokesman Luke Yom claimed the Engan were frustrated over the continuous stealing by youths from the area and the fight was the result of that frustration.

Police said last night that the tension was still high and that anything could happen because, they believed, both groups were armed with bush knives, sticks, rocks and bows and arrows.

Papua New Guinea urged to speed up gas development or lose buyers

PAPUA New Guinea must accelerate development of its natural gas projects and lock in customers or risk losing out to other nations pushing coal seam and shale gas ventures, an oil and gas expert said, The National reports,

Independent researcher and the chairman of FACTS Global Energy, Dr Fereidun Fesharaki, gave the warning at the 11th PNG mining and petroleum investment conference in Sydney yesterday.

The US$15billion PNG LNG project under development by ExxonMobil, and partners Santos, Oil Search Ltd and the PNG government is on track to deliver its first shipment of LNG in 2014.

Fesharaki said PNG must act quickly to secure Asian markets or face competition from the cheaper Qatari LNG currently being sold to the US. “You have to be aware that this threat is there, so you have to act to shore up your customers,’’ he said.

“It is not possible to compete with Qatari LNG on economics … the only way to compete is to tie up the market.’’

Fesharaki said LNG production in Qatar cost about a quarter of that in PNG.

The Australian government has provided concessional loans of US$500 million to support development of the PNG LNG project, which is viewed as critical to the social and economic development of PNG.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said in his opening address that Australian companies had already won contracts worth twice as much as the finance provided by the Australian government.

“My government is anticipating that LNG revenues will propel the economy to new heights and significantly improve our social indicators, which for too long have remained stagnant,’’ Sir Michael said.

PNG was expecting growth of 7.1% this year and 8% next year, he said.

But exporting gas from the remote Southern Highlands and Western was not without its challenges, according to ExxonMobil upstream project manager for the PNG LNG project Decie Autin.

Autin said a 700km pipeline, including 450km of sub-sea pipeline, would be required to transport the gas to an LNG facility near Port Moresby for shipment.

She explained that the pipeline must also traverse low lying topography, deep gorges and steep terrain that were subject to landslides and significant environmental areas, making it a complex undertaking.

An export terminal would operate 24 hours a day at the LNG processing site near Port Moresby, loading an LNG tanker for export every two to three days, she said.

Sir Michael said the government would continue to focus on providing a stable political environment and transparent mining regime to encourage further development.

 

 

New petroleum firm to be set up, says Prime Minister

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare announced yesterday that a new national petroleum company will be established to manage the state’s interest in the oil and gas industry, The National reports.

He made the announcement at the 11th PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment conference at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia.

Sir Michael did not give details of the new petroleum company but said his government would review, rationalise and reform the state’s mining and petroleum interest participation that would form the basis for the new petroleum company.

Treasurer Peter O’Neill later reaffirmed Sir Michael’s announcement at a press conference.

He said the government had undertaken the initiative to park the state’s interest in a single entity.

The announcement was among new initiatives that the government had undertaken to make PNG’s investment environment conducive for investors and tap into the revenues generated by the vast petroleum industry in the country. 

Delivering his keynote address, Sir Michael told investors that his government had made the investment environment conducive by providing the necessary policy legislation for investors.

He said in early 2003, his government passed legislation to make investment in the country’s resources sector more attractive. In that year alone, spending of mineral exploration doubled in value to around K60 million well before the China factor caused an upsurge in commodity prices.

“My government will ensure Papua New Guinea’s competitive edge will be strengthened and maintained,” the prime minister said.

“To do this, the government, with consultative input from the industry, will immediately pursue a key number of initiatives.

“The government will continue to provide a stable environment in the form of political and policy stability and remain committed to a petroleum and mining regime where rules are widely known, fair and transparent and understandable.

“The government will ensure licence holders do not sit on licences but fast track development on our resources and review, rationalise and reform the department of petroleum and energy.”

Sir Michael said part of the review would involve setting up a petroleum resources authority with similar roles and functions as the Mineral Resources Authority.

The prime minister said the policy reviews were in line with the government’s Vision 2050 and its development strategic plan.

He admitted that the economy looked gloomy before his government took office but things had changed over the past eight years, resulting in an unprecedented consistent economic growth.

He said under his government’s tenure, the most notable achievement was the delivery of the K45 billion PNG liquefied natural gas project.

He was optimistic that revenue from the LNG project would transform the nation’s economy and improve the living standards of its people.

“Revenues from LNG, as I have explained, will underwrite many of our social and economic programmes over the next three decades.”

The prime minister urged potential investors to make Papua New Guinea their next investment destination.

 

 

More colleges and varsities needed, says administrator

By ZACHERY PER

 

THERE is a great demand for tertiary education as more and more students pass out from the school system, a high school graduation ceremony outside Goroka, Eastern Highlands, was told last week, The National reports.

Acting Eastern Highlands provincial administrator John Gimisive said lack of spaces at tertiary institutions was pressing the government to build more higher educational institutions to cater for the increasing number of graduates.

Gimisive was speaking at the graduation of Rintebe High School in upper Bena, Unggai-Bena district, last week.

He also raised concern that while the number of students leaving high schools and secondary schools were increasing, there were not enough tertiary institutions to complement this increase.

He told students, teachers, parents and guardians and guests at the graduation ceremony last Tuesday that students had to work hard to secure placing in PNG’s tertiary institutions.

“We have more primary and secondary schools under the reformed system with more child enrolments, but the tertiary level is not expanding.

“My concern is that there are not enough spaces at the universities and colleges for large numbers of students passing out from secondary and national high schools every year,” Gimisive said.

He said spaces were limited and students in secondary and high schools were competing for these spaces.

Gimisive said students studying overseas and others attending private and church-run agency schools, and those from other Pacific Island nations, also fight for the limited places at tertiary institutions.

However, he encouraged the graduating students not to feel let down if they did not get a university or college placing.

He said there were other avenues for leavers to further their education.

Expert technical advisory panel to review the Watut River System

Following representations to the Hidden Valley Joint Venture by the Member of Parliament for Bulolo Mr Sam Basil who raised landowner community concerns, an expert technical advisory panel will review sediment and pollution issues affecting the Watut River.

The panel will complement the existing regulatory processes and scrutiny of mining operations conducted by the PNG Government.

It will likely include international specialists with best practice experience relevant to the PNG natural environment

In recent discussions with Mr Basil it was agreed that terms of reference and membership of the expert technical advisory panel would be determined with a view to finalising details at a meeting in January.

Regulators will be key participants in this meeting and in ongoing discussions.

It is envisaged the expert technical advisory panel will be briefed on both historic and current studies and will visit the mine site.

The Joint Venture has provided Mr Basil with a briefing on the environmental management and monitoring of sediment run-off from the mine along with background information and a number of studies.

The Joint Venturers said that the expert technical advisory panel would be a vehicle for the constructive resolution of sediment related issues in a transparent and cooperative forum.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of multi stakeholder panels to consider the broader future development of Morobe Province.

 

Background

The Hidden Valley Mine is operated by the Hidden Valley Mine Joint Venture (HVJV) a 50:50 Joint venture between Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest Mining of Australia.

The Hidden Valley Mine is located near Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province.

 It was officially opened in September 2010.

The Hidden Valley Mine has a workforce of more than 2,000 people: 95 per cent are PNG nationals and 50 per cent come from the local communities.

It is important to note that the Hidden Valley Mine has an engineered tailings storage facility and no mine processing residue, or tailings, is discharged into the river.

The mine related sediment in the river that has caused community concern was run-off from mine overburden and construction activities.

 The mine transitioned from construction to operation in October this year.

Mine sediment run-off is now significantly lower due to mitigation measures.

These measures included ceasing of side casting of waste rock and overburden in September 2009, ongoing revegetation of exposed slopes and erosion control, and the storage of waste rock in engineered waste rock facilities.

Hidden Valley Mine has a demonstrated record of working with local communities.

The Hidden Valley Joint Venture has been making voluntary compensation payments to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from the mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain.

A sustainable development program is bringing education support, agricultural skills, health programmes and community facilities such as sanitation and water supplies, school classrooms, community halls and aid posts.

These programs were developed in partnership with the local and provincial government and are aligned with their development programmes.

 

Media inquiries contact:

Hidden Valley Joint Venture

David Wissink

Ph: (675) 472 1703 ext 243

Mobile: (675) 7100 2406

Fax: (675) 472 1705

Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com

 

Hon. Sam Basil, MP

Member of Parliament for Bulolo

Email: vipersco@yahoo.com.au

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698071613

 

The importance of research, science and technology

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

The roles of research, science and technology are important for overall prosperity of any developing economy.

In agriculture, it is accepted that research, science and technology make positive inputs to agricultural development and eventually contribute to overall economic growth.

This happens when improved agricultural technologies and new innovations and knowledge generated through scientific research and innovative development are used in innovative ways by the farming and rural communities.

Papua New Guinea’s economic growth and social advancement remains in natural resource (renewable) sectors, including agriculture.

This sector is the mainstay of PNG where the majority of the population (85%) sustains their livelihoods.

Agriculture is the sector that must be targeted, irrespective of very exciting developments in other sectors at this present time.

The core contributions of agriculture are in the areas of food security, cash income generation, increasing gainful employment, reducing poverty and rural development - which would help realise broadbased economic growth.

That is where the government’s medium to long-term focus is for the future.

PNG agriculture also has potential for long term prosperity.

 This is through people empowerment and wealth creation, as singled out in the PNG Vision 2050.

Agricultural research and improved technologies are seen to be the most-critical catalytic agents in promoting the agriculture sector, economic growth and sustainable rural development.

PNG has distinct comparative and competitive advantage in developing its agriculture sector given the ample natural resources.

Basic opportunities in the agriculture sector lie in PNG’s rich resources and the potential to achieve substantial productivity gains through science-based agricultural technology and transfer of knowledge to communities.

Many of the potentials can be realised through increased productivity and diversified and expanded production.

They can be achieved through improved agricultural technologies and new knowledge created from science-based research which must be used by the farming and rural communities.

Technologies cannot be limited to one condition.

They can be borrowed from other countries.

Actors in the sector make assessments and adapt them to local conditions and circumstances.

Technologies can also be developed through innovations.

This is done through applied research, which requires scientific and systematic methods and processes.

Scientific research explores for truth and emphasises clarity of thinking using systematic processes.

Technology development translates research outputs into practical application for farmers and rural communities to use.

This is where institutions of research and technology development, higher education and training, and quality assurance come in.

They play a vital role in such an innovation system.

A number of institutions, universities and the private sector are incorporating science and technology in their research and development efforts.

 These are in the areas of crop improvement such as breeding, and biotechnology, crop diversification, pest and disease control such as management of the potato late blight infestation, and value addition.

 Over the years, the use of science and technology has helped developed various technologies that are appropriate for local conditions.

Examples of technological innovations involving National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) include the development of plant-derived pesticides using locally-available resources, chemical control for taro beetle, hybrid taro varieties, crop propagation technique of marcotting, and the development of low-cost livestock feed using locally-available feed resources such as sweet potato and cassava.

 These and many others further need to be taken on further into our development contexts. They can contribute to increase productivity and empower growth and advancement.  

Globally, science and technology processes have been positively influenced by improvements in information and communication technologies, in human skills and in institutional development.

Challenges of modernisation are at our doors, and we need to accept them in all aspects and move to close the gap with the developed world.

For such to happen, knowledge and intellectual capacity is required.

Knowledge is created through research, science and technology development.

This knowledge, when adopted, helps in solving or alleviating constraints to development.

 It, as well, enables new opportunities for development to be explored.

Results from many empirical studies world wide have suggested a 30% or greater return on investments in agricultural research.

 Many developed nations invest at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) in this area. 

The simple reason is that this investment gives a good return.

PNG has huge agricultural potential.

Thus the same can be anticipated.

Some effective integration of the potential of the “national innovation system,” is required to harness this potential.

This also requires input by responsible actors so that scientific research, improved technologies and knowledge are incorporated in the existing systems and practices so as to create a knowledge-based economy.

Thus the need for and potential of agricultural development and the capacities and potentials of research, science and technology should be harnessed through relevant innovation systems.

Science and technology are critical for improved agricultural production and productivity. The use of research, science and technology at NARI stands to benefit PNG livestock farmers with the development of low cost livestock feed using locally-available feed resources such as sweet potato

Milne Bay butterfly habitats unspoiled says British scientist

There are plenty of healthy habitats for butterflies and other creatures on Milne Bay povince’s Calvados Chain of Islands which are largely unspoiled, says a British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist. John Tennent, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum in London, said his research had identified several species not previously recorded from Milne Bay as well as a significant number of butterfly species and subspecies not known to science.

British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist John Tennent

He has just returned from several weeks touring Milne Bay’s eastern Louisiades islands and is on his way back to England to stat the real work of sorting, identifying and publishing.
“Small dots on the map do not do the islands justice.
"The rugged islands of some of the Calvados Chain are stunning and there is a lot of healthy habitat out there which, because of the difficult terrain, has remained largely untouched,” he said.
“The data obtained during this research will be of critical value to researchers in other disciplines including biogeographers.
“The final results will include a comprehensive book on the 250 or so butterflies of Milne Bay Province islands.”
British High Commissioner to PNG, Jackie Barson, said the publishing of a book on Milne Bay’s butterflies would be an asset to the province and add to the growing data which confirms PNG as a mega biodiversity hotspot.
“I congratulate Mr Tennent on completing his research in the islands of Milne Bay.
“While this has undoubtedly been challenging, collaboration with other organizations such as Conservation International and the PNG Binatang Research Centre has helped make his work a lot easier,” she added.
Mr Tennent has been in Milne Bay Province since April 2010 carrying out a survey of the islands’ butterflies and has visited 76islands in the Province, and recorded butterflies on 74 of them.
He expects to spend most of his time in the coming year working on the specimens and the data collected during his time here, before returning to Milne Bay to tidy up loose ends early in 2012.
On many islands he has worked closely with the staff of Conservation International, an organisation for which he has nothing but praise.
He has also provided assistance in identifying butterflies to the PNG Binatang Research Centre in Madang.

OTML soon-to-be 100% PNG-owned

MINING giant Ok Tedi Mining Ltd will soon become 100% nationally-owned following the exit of shareholder Inmet Mining Corp next year, The National reports.

OTML managing director Alan Breens said this was a result of an agreement between the companies in which OTML would repurchase the previously announced 5% net smelter royalty (NSR) that Inmet was to receive from OTML.

The NSR is a fee which is a specific percentage of the revenue generated by a mine by selling its product, minus production expenses.

After seeking approval from the OTML board, Canadian company Inmet will now receive at closing the cash payment of US$335 million in lieu of its entitlements under the NSR arrangement.

Under the prior arrangement for the NSR, Inmet would have exchanged its 18% equity interest to OTML and at closing for that transaction, would have received a cash payment equal to 18% of OTML’s working capital and a 5% net smelter royalty on revenues of product produced from the Ok Tedi mine thereafter.

The NSR would have applied during Ok Tedi’s current mine life.

Breens said the closing of the NSR repurchase was expected to take place on or before Jan 31 next year.

He said OTML would then become 100% PNG-owned, with the state owning 36.6% and PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) owning 63.4%.

 

 

Beon guards refuse to escort Kapris

Warders want payment

 

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

 

DISGRUNTLED prison officers at Beon Jail in Madang are refusing to provide armed escort to Papua New Guinea’s most infamous prisoner William Kapris Nanua, when he appears this week in the Madang National Court in relation to a Bank South Pacific armed robbery charge, The National reports.

The Correctional Services officers started their sit-in protest last Wednesday after word got out that the 11-strong CS contingent from Port Moresby, which had arrived three days earlier to provide extra security during the trial, had been paid ahead of them.

They told their bosses during a near-confrontation at Beon that they would not provide the armed escort for Kapris and his alleged accomplices unless they were assured of payment this week.

The good news, according to a senior officer yesterday, was that CS Commissioner Richard Sikani had given an undertaking that these officers would be paid this week.

Escorted by armed guard or not, Kapris and his co-accused are due to appear today before Justice David Cannings to enter a no-case submission. It is understood that a decision is expected by the end of the week.

Kapris, a convicted rapist and habitual prison escapee, had been charged with a serious of bank robberies, including the BSP Madang branch in which more than K2 million was stolen on July 25, 2008.

Last Wednesday, tempers flared which nearly turned into a fist fight between the warders and their bosses over outstanding administrative issues regarding delayed overtime and operation allowances for guarding Kapris and his co-accused.

 

 

Polye condemns reports over court challenge

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

DEPUTY Prime Minister Don Polye has urged the public not to be manipulated and brainwashed by naïve political tactics employed by individuals and groups who are hell-bent on tarnishing the good name of the national government, The National reports.

Commenting on last week’s Post-Courier reports alleging that the prime minister had lost his court appeal challenging his referral to the public prosecutor, Polye said: “I challenge those individuals and groups, including the opposition, to think about how they can contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation instead of engaging in counter-productive bickering over

trivial matters, which, most likely, is for purposes of advancing their political interests other than anything else.”

The deputy prime minister said the matter relating to the referral of the prime minister was being addressed by the judicial system and it was wrong for groups and individuals to capitalise on the issue for their political gain or otherwise.

Polye, who is Works and Transport Minister, also called on young politicians not to be misled by the so-called veteran politicians who had little to show in terms of their contributions to the development of this country.

“I further call on the youths to be vigilant and ensure they do not become influenced by the cheap politicking that is, unfortunately, becoming an all-too-common practice that unpopular and weak leaders resort to demean other leaders,” Polye said.

He said there were more rewarding matters that journalists should give emphasis to allow for the public to reflect on and discuss rather than wasting time on exaggerating an issue that was still before the courts.

Polye said while freedom of expression and information were the cornerstone of PNG’s thriving democracy, it was unfortunate that some citizens tended to abuse their purposes for ill-conceived motives.