First-ever Chinese performance delights Goroka

Caption: Acrobats from the Guangdong Art Troupe performing an eye-opening routine on the night at the University of Goroka.-Picture by KATE GUNN

 

By KATE GUNN of University of Goroka

 

On the evening of Sunday, July 24, a troupe of 32 performing artists from the Guangdong province of the People’s Republic of China delighted audiences at the University of Goroka for the first time ever.

 

A dazzling performance for UOG was held at the Mark Solon Auditorium to a full capacity crowd, which was amazed at the levels of talent, physical strength, agility and professionalism displayed by all performers on the night. 

 

The performance was composed of several short but visually-stunning acts of traditional Chinese dances, performances of traditional musical instruments, acrobatic and gymnastic routines, and martial arts demonstrations. 

 

All acts were very entertaining with special attention given to costumes, lighting, and music to form a show that was extremely well executed and enjoyable to watch.

 

The performance was given by the Guangdong Art Troupe as part of their Ode to Friendship Tour of Pacific Island countries including Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

 

The performance was initially meant to be a one-night only show for Port Moresby residents, however,  due to the positive relationship formed with Guangdong Foreign Construction Company, Guangdong Constructions PNG and the University of Goroka, the Guangdong Art Troupe made a special trip to Goroka to perform for staff, students and friends of the UOG.

Seminar: Deep Sea Marine Biodiversity in PNG

Findings of a collaborative research between UPNG and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, which proves that the deep-sea of PNG has a high biodiversity of mega faunal communities including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, cold water corals and other marine animals, contrary to claims that there is not much biodiversity at great depths.

 

Deep-water biodiversity will be discussed in view of mining activity, bio-prospecting and carbon storage.

 

Title: Deep Sea Biodiversity of PNG as revealed by the BioPapua Cruise 2010

Presenter: Dr. Ralph Mana, Biology Sciences, UPNG

Date: Tuesday 26 July 2011

Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Venue: Science Lecture Theatre

 

Google+ throws challenge at Facebook in social network war

By MALUM NALU

Three years ago, in May 2008, EMTV featured Facebook on its popular Sunday night news programme, 60 Minutes, introducing thousands of Papua New Guineans to this website that is taking the world by storm.

But now, Facebook’s reign on the throne may be coming undone, thanks to Google’s new kid on the block social networking site Google+, which can currently only be accessed by invite.

Back in May 1988, more than 60 million people were on Facebook around the world, and by the end of that year it was 200 million.

The New York Times had declared it Google's biggest attempt to rival the social network Facebook, which had over 750 million users in 2011.

In May 2008, very few Papua New Guineans were on Facebook, unlike today when there are thousands of people with their own pages, with the very-easy accessibility to Internet these days and the wide variety of mobile devices.

I remember when I first joined in 2008; there were only a handful of Papua New Guineans, mainly students studying overseas.

All you have to do is set up a profile page about yourself.

From there you can swap news and photos with friends, track down old acquaintances, and even play long-distance Scrabble.

It can be a very useful tool, or an addictive time-waster.

Either way, Facebook has created an Internet revolution.

 It's now a multi-billion dollar business, the creation of one very young, very geeky computer whiz-kid, 26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg.

Local IT expert, Charlie Gilichibi of Nasfund, estimates that as of July 19, there were more than 41,000 PNG users of Facebook with the number growing every day.

“To get 1,500 to 2,000 Papua New Guineans going to Facebook every two weeks is truly an astounding phenomenon,” he says.

“At, this rate one can extrapolate that by 2015, we will have 100,000 Papua New Guineans on online social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

“Truly exciting times for PNG and let’s keep the momentum going playing our part in developing the ICT ecosystem in our country.”

But now, the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have hit back at Zuckerberg with their own social networking site Google+.

Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written Google Plus, sometimes abbreviated as G+) is a social networking service operated by Google Inc.

The service launched on June 28, 2011 in an invite-only "field testing" phase.

 The following day, existing users were allowed to invite friends, who are above 18 years of age, to the service to create their own accounts.

This was suspended the next day due to an "insane demand" for accounts.

Last weekend, a friend in Australia, David Fellows, invited me to test-drive Google+ and I was hooked after all the lack of privacy, swearing, and gossip, bastardised English, false names and sophomoric effusions of young Papua New Guineans on Facebook.

Google+ integrates social services such as Google Profiles and Google Buzz, and introduces new services Circles, Hangouts, Sparks, and Huddles.

 Google+ will also be available as a desktop application and as a mobile application, but only on Android and iOS operating systems.

On July 14, 2011, Google announced that Google+ had reached 10 million users just two weeks after it was launched in a "limited" trial phase.

 After less than a day of being live, the Google+ iPhone app has the number one free spot in the Apple app store.

 After three weeks in operation, it has already reached 20 million users.

·         "Circles" enables users to organise contacts into groups for sharing, across various Google products and services. Although other users can view a list of people in a user's collection of circles, they cannot view the names of those circles. The privacy settings also allow users to hide the users in their circles as well as who have them in their circle. Organisation is done through a drag-and-drop interface. This system replaces the typical friends’ list function used by sites such as Facebook;

 

·          "Hangouts" are places used to facilitate group video chat (with a maximum of 10 people participating in a single Hangout at any point in time). However, anyone on the web could potentially join the "Hangout" if they happen to possess the unique URL of the Hangout;

 

·          "Huddle" is a feature available to Android, iPhone, and SMS devices for communicating through instant messaging within circles;

 

·         "Instant Upload" is specific to Android mobile devices; it stores photos or video in a private album for sharing later;

 

·         "Sparks" is a front-end to Google Search, enabling users to identify topics they might be interested in sharing with others; "featured interests" sparks are also available, based on topics others globally are finding interesting.Sparks helps to keep users posted on the latest updates on the topics of their interest;

 

·         In the "Stream," users see updates from those in their circles. The input box allows users to enter a status update or use icons to upload and share photo and videos. The Stream can be filtered to show only posts from specific Circles;

 

·          Google+ has a "+1" button to allow people to recommend items;

 

·         Unlike Twitter and Facebook, there is not yet an application programming interface that enables software developers to interact with Google+ programmatically;

 

·         Additionally, Google+ presents the different icons in a graphical or pictorial manner instead of the more commonplace text written icon names;

 

·         Similar to other Google applications, Google+ provides integration with other Google applications like Gmail, Calendar, Documents, etc; and

 

·          A "Data Liberation" option provides the ability to download one's content from Google+.

 

“Google+ lets you arrange your friends into groups,” comments local IT expert Gilichibi.

“Like one doesn't want others to see their conversation between family members, their social friends etc.

“Facebook is an open platter without much privacy for your different circle of friends.

“Google+ is still project in progress and has only given access to 10 million test users.

“Already, there are raging reviews about Google+ and it seems very likely to push Facebook to cling to every one of its users as those users mean a lot to Facebook's advertising dollars which run into the billions.”

Abal: NEC to peruse report

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare is recovering well and even had a conversation with his doctor last week, The National reports.
This was disclosed by Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal after talking to Prof Isi Kevau who last week returned from visiting Sir Michael at his hospital in Singapore.
Kevau’s report will be tabled before the national executive council tomorrow.
Abal confirmed that Cabinet would “decide through the report submitted by Kevau on Sir Michaels’s health”.
He said the council had advised Kevau to travel to Singapore to assess the condition of the prime minister.
He returned with his report last week. Abal said the report had already been presented to Chief Secretary Margaret Elias.
The NEC will discuss it before it is submitted to Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
He said from what Kevau told him Sir Michael was recovering well and even had a conversation with him.
However, he said the recovery process was going to be very slow because of Sir Michael’s age.
“The nation has to be informed that the prime minister is doing well,” Abal said. 
“I’m happy that he is recovering but his recovery will be slow.”
Former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu had earlier said the law required that the head of state, acting on advice, should request the PNG Medical Board to appoint two medical practitioners to examine the prime minister and to provide him with full details of the examination and an opinion on his ability to physically and mentally carry out his duties.
He said the head of state should then decide if the prime minister was unfit to carry out his job for more than three months before advising the speaker to present it in parliament.

 

Late-comers at ministerial forum angers acting prime minister

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal was not at all impressed with the lateness of his ministers who kept him waiting for up to two hours before the ministerial forum at Waigani, NCD, last Friday, The National reports.
The forum, scheduled to start at 8am, began at 11am, with Abal reminding his cabinet ministers to be aware of timing.
Abal waited at his office for all the ministers and departmental heads to arrive.
Only Education Minister James Marape, National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, Public Service Minister Moses Maladina, Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo, Tourism Minister Guma Wau, Transport Minister Benjamin Poponawa and Communication Minister Patrick Tammur turned up on time while three others turned up when Abal was making his statement.
“It should not be Enga time, Sepik time, Pacific time or PNG time, it must be standard time,” Abal said.
He said the difference between developed and developing countries was timing.
“One of the reasons is we do not respect time and come on time. I hope Papua New Guinea does things on time.”
He said this during a meeting between ministers and departmental heads, which was the mid-year review of implementation of core projects by each ministry and department.
“We are here to check what we have achieved in the past six months. 
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must respect time. It is almost one year before the next election and the next parliament.”
Abal said the government had been in office for the past two terms and “it must tell the people what it has achieved during that time”.
“Elections are coming up and we must go out and confidently tell our people what we have achieved,” he said.
Abal said although the country was at the crossroads, it was doing well.
“I know elections are around the corner but it is important that we maintain leadership in all sectors.
“We must not relent. The government must show to the people that we are performing and we have the ability to do it.”
Minister assisting the Prime Minister Charles Abel said Abal’s message to ministers and departmental heads was “we need to pull up our socks”.

 

MP: Review on for 70 licences

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

MORE than 70 suspicious petroleum licences have been issued over the past three years and all of them will now be reviewed, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Francis Potape revealed last week, The National reports.
He said some people owned more than one licence and most of the licences were issued for projects in the Western, Gulf and Southern Highlands.
He said the manner in which the licences had been issued was suspicious and his department “will look into and review all licences”.
He said this during the ministerial review forum at the Institute of Public Administration in Port Moresby last Friday.
Potape said many licences were issued to people and organisations that were not involved in the petroleum industry and the licence holders had not started any explorations.
He said each licensee was required to submit quarterly reports and annual reports but, in the past three years, no reports had been submitted to the department.
“I am appealing to people and firms with questionable licence holders to come forward and meet with my department,” he said.
Potape said the industry was concerned at the manner in which these licences were issued.
He said he “will get to the bottom of it to clean the mess”.
“In the petroleum industry, licensing is really important but these have been sold unnecessarily to firms and people. 
“The industry is really rotten and we have to clean the rot in the department to restore investor credibility and confidence,” he said.
Potape said many of them were “farm-in”the licence and making millions of kina.
He said although “farm-in” or trading of licences was not illegal, “the manner in which the licenses were issued is suspicious”.
“The integrity of this nation has to be maintained and should not be sold. Licences are important elements of conducting any business and should not be given away,” he said

 

Police: Force will be used

By DULCIE OREKE and JUNIOR UKAHA

 

POLICE will not hesitate to use whatever force is necessary to enforce law and order, National Capital District metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop has said, The National reports.

In the wake of an incident last Friday, where police shot dead three armed men and wounded two others, Tondop said there was an increase in criminal activities in Port Moresby, making it unsafe for residents and visitors.

Tondop said it was time the police and law-abiding citizens said "enough is enough".

He urged criminals to lay down their arms and take stock of their lives, adding that there were many worthwhile activities they should engage themselves in.

Five men, armed with two semi-automatic pistols, fired at police when they were intercepted at the Courts roundabout in Gordon, NCD, by members of the Armed Robbery Unit.

Tondop said the chase began after an Asian businessman was held up and robbed at Hanuabada around 1pm.

He said the armed men were in a stolen car when they were spotted on Waigani Drive.

Tondop said the exchange of gunfire began when police officers signalled the driver of the stolen car to stop but he ignored the warning.

Police gave chase and, after about 30 minutes of exchanging fire, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed it into a flower bed in the middle of the road.

Police found weapons including homemade guns in the car. 

The three men were believed to be from Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Central.

Tondop said the criminals belonged to a group known to police as the "A Team" and had been wanted for a string of illegal activities.

He said two of the men had escaped while in custody at the Boroko police station in relation to robbery offences while one was believed to be the driver of the late Wong Tee Tee's killer. 

He said police were in the process of coming up with a response team targeting hotspots based on intelligence.

A doctor at the Port Moresby General Hospital accident and emergency ward, who did not want to be named, confirmed that the hospital had two injured men.

"Yes, they were hit by bullets," he said. "We will do what we can to help."

Police said the armed men had been travelling in a stolen vehicle, a grey Honda CRV, bearing the registration BDA 417, when a police team intercepted them and gave chase along Kennedy Road around 1pm.

The shootout ended at the busy Waigani Drive next to the Kone Tigers oval when police shot the driver.

Police said the driver, of highlands' origin, lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and hit a concrete flower bed in the middle of the freeway.

The driver tried to escape but was shot and died on the spot.

A second gang member, believed to be from Morobe, was hit and died in the vehicle.

The third man, believed to be from Central, died from bullet wounds to his chest.

Two others who tried to flee the scene were shot and arrested by police.

A senior police officer at the scene said the two guns and a large quantity of ammunition found in the car were evidence that the men had been planning a major robbery when they were intercepted. 

He told the crowd at the scene that criminals would face the same fate.

"This is to teach a lesson to you all," he said.

"If you want to steal, you will die like this."

A man, who was taking pictures of the scene using his mobile phone, was assaulted and his phone taken away by police.

He was ordered to "give the phone, shut up and drive on".

Provincial politicians call acting prime minister to fast track entitlements

By MALUM NALU

Former provincial politicians affected by provincial government reforms in 1995 have called on acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to fast track their payments.

The provincial politicians, who are fast losing their patience at constantly being given the cold shoulder by the Department of Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government, produced court and Cabinet documents approving K30 million to be paid to them

They said there was a court order in place from May, June and December 2010, however, a stay order instituted last January by the State through Peter Kuman Lawyers and Provincial Affairs and Local Level Government Secretary, Manasupe Zurenuoc, was proving to be a real stumbling block.

“This stay order by Provincial Affairs Secretary is an obstacle to the State,” they said in a letter to Abal dated July 11.

“As recipients of the said money, we feel that our basic rights are being denied by those in authority who are supposed to execute government directives.

“We are now wondering as to whose job it is to fast track this matter and settle this stay order before the court.

“We appeal to your good office to instruct the Office of Attorney General and the Secretary, Department of Provincial Affairs through Peter Kuman Lawyers, to immediately appear before the court and explain reasons of the stay order so that the high court can make decision as to how best this matter can be settled once and for all.”

Former Rabaul mayor Michael Konjib and former West Sepik assembly speaker John Wootong said their colleagues around the country were ageing and dying while waiting in vain for their entitlements.

“National Executive Council has made its decision,” Konjib said.

“However, despite the first decision being made by the NEC in 2007, we have received nothing yet.

“The secretary (Zurenuoc) says the K30m is still with him.”

Wootong said: “All we want is for our money to be paid immediately.

“Our colleagues out in the provinces are ageing and dying.

“We want the Prime Minister to intervene.”

Australia visit affirms a strong defence relationship

Caption: Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, inspects a ceremonial guard of honour as part of a visit to PNGDF's Goldie River Training Depot.

 

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon. David Feeney, travelled to Papua New Guinea (PNG) from July 21-24, on a visit reflecting PNG and Australia’s strong and enduring defence and security relationship.

Senator Feeney met with PNG Government and Defence leaders to discuss Australia’s defence cooperation with the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF).

The programme with PNG is Australia’s largest with any country and has a budget allocation of $10.5 million (around PNGK25 million) for the 2011 financial year.

“Australia and PNG have a longstanding close friendship which is reflected in the co-operation between our two countries on a range of defence matters, from strategic planning to joint exercises.

“We will continue to build on our defence activities together in the spirit of mateship which has been a hallmark of our relationship since the shared sacrifices during World War II,” Senator Feeney said.

Australia works with the PNGDF on a range of activities including infrastructure development, maritime and border security.

The PNGDF and the Australian Defence Force conduct training and exercises together, including Exercise WANTOK WARRIOR which includes infantry, engineering, rotary wing and logistic elements.

Senator Feeney discussed defence co-operation and PNG’s Medium Term Development Plan with the Minister for Defence, Bob Dadae and the Minister for National Planning and Rural Development, Paul Tiensten.  During discussions with Brigadier General Francis Agwi and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Lucy Bogari, Senator Feeney expressed Australia’s continued commitment to support PNG’s efforts to commence international peacekeeping.

Senator Feeney also met with senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Department, Defence, Finance, Treasury and Police, including Treasury Secretary Tosali to discuss co-operation on potential innovative funding and development models. 

Senator Feeney laid a wreath during PNG’s Remembrance Day Memorial Service at Ela Beach on Saturday and presented commemorative medallions to 13 “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” and their families during a ceremony at Bomana War Cemetery on Sunday.

“The strength and compassion of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saved many Australian lives during World War II. The Angels represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship,” he said.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels honored in Papua New Guinea

Caption: Medallion recipients (front row) with dignitaries (back row) including Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented the medallions.

 

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels contribution to supporting Australians in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War, has been honoured today at a ceremony in Port Moresby.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, was represented at the ceremony, held at the Bomana War Cemetery, byParliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented commemorative medallions to 13 recipients.

Senator Feeney said these medallions are just one way to show our gratitude to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

“We are forever indebted to the kindness and the invaluable assistance they provided to Australians during the Second World War.

“Many Australians survived the Kokoda campaign due to the strength and compassion of these brave people. Greater casualties and loss of life among the troops would have occurred if not for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,” he said.

Senator Feeney paid tribute to all Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saying they represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship.

Affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, an estimated 50,000 Papuan and New Guinean civilians supported Australia in the Second World War by carrying supplies, building bases, airfields and other wartime infrastructure, and evacuating the sick and the wounded from fighting zones.

They also helped Australians soldiers trek through the jungles of the Owen Stanley Ranges, including the infamous Kokoda Track.

More than 600 Australians were killed and over 1, 000 wounded during the Kokoda campaign.

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is pleased that 34 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels have been presented with the Commemorative Medallion since it was first announced in 2009.

“I would encourage other Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and their widows to consider applying for a medallion to recognise the individual contribution they, or their loved one has made to our country’s servicemen.

“It is important to ensure all surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, and the widows of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels are honoured with a commemorative medallion,” Mr Snowdon said.

For more information on medallion nominations contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 02 6289 6136 or visit www.dva.gov.au

Resting in peace at Bomana War Cemetery

Captions: Pictures show the grave of Philip Gunns and me at the grave of Philip Gunns on ANZAC Day this year

 

By MALUM NALU

 

Yesterday being Remembrance Day reminded me of an emotional experience I had at the Bomana War Cemetery outside Port Moresby on ANZAC Day this year.

Last November, I received an email from Australian Philip Gunns, wondering if I could put him in contact with someone who could take a picture of his uncle Leslie Charlie Gunns’ grave site at Bomana.

“I found your email when I was looking up some information about Bomana War Cemetery, where my uncle is buried,” he told me.

“My uncle was killed there in 1942.

“He was only 19 years old.

“My dad (81) and his sister (90) have never seen his grave site (grave C7.E.16) Bomana War Cemetery.

“I was wondering if you could put me in contact with someone you may be able to take a photo of the grave site for me.”

I offered to take a picture next time I was at Bomana, however, didn’t have a chance to travel up there until the ANZAC Day Dawn Service on April 25.

After the service, I enlisted the help of my elder brother David and my nieces and nephews to look for Leslie Gunns’ grave, which wasn’t that difficult.

NX89514 Private LC Gunns, of the 2/33 Infantry Battalion, was killed on October 12, 1942, aged 19, according to his epitaph.

Phil Gunns was a much-relieved man after I saw his uncle’s grave.

“Regarding Les, he was only 19 when he was killed, believed to be one shot from a sniper in a tree and killed instantly,” he said.

“He was a bit of an action man and stood up for himself, played junior rugby union for local club Eastwood in Sydney,  also had a few amateur boxing fights and was looking to turn pro when he returned from the war.

“He was so keen to join the war that he ran away from home at 16 and went to Queensland and put his age up to 18 and joined the army.

“His mum and dad asked the Salvation Army to help find him, which they did, and when the army found out he was discharged.

“When he was able to join his elder brother returned from the Middle East and claimed him to join the same outfit.

“His elder brother was the man behind him when he was killed.

“He was killed on the Kokoda Track near a place called Myola, where he was first buried before he was repatriated to Bomana

“That’s all I really know as he was killed 14 years before I was born.

“Hope this helps you.

“Once again thank you for the photos.

“They will greatly appreciated.”

World-famous Goroka Show on again

Caption: A colourful singsing group during the 2010 Goroka Show at the National Sports Institute.-Picture courtesy of GOROKA SHOW COMMITTEE

By MALUM NALU

The 54th Goroka Show – with the theme ‘Unity’ - will be staged over independence weekend on September 16, 17 and 18.

This was confirmed at the launch of PNG’s longest-running cultural festival, which was first staged back in 1957, at a function attended by sponsors and potential sponsors in Goroka last Wednesday night,

Traditional major sponsors such as SP Brewery and Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) were represented while National Gaming Control Board, while not present, indicated its continued support this year.

 Bank South Pacific came good with K20, 000, presentation of which was made by Goroka branch manager, Reuben Elijah.

Also joining the bandwagon was Lae Biscuit Company with K5, 000;  PNG Japan Ltd with K5,000; while Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd committed 25,000 sachets of sugar (equivalent to 50 cartons) for the singsing groups.

Organising committee chairman, Gideon Samuel, acknowledged the presence and support of sponsors, and appealed to Eastern Highlands provincial government to give more support to the event.

“Other shows in the country receive adequate financial backing from their host provincial governments to the tune of more than K100, 000 to host their shows,” he said.

“Having said that, it is not my intention to discredit the provincial government but to point out that it is really impossible to host a show of the calibre of Goroka Show with K20, 000 or K10, 000 at this point in time, taking into consideration the higher cost of goods and services.

“Goroka Show, as we all know, is a historic event,” he said.

“Goroka Show first started as the Highlands Show and was first staged in 1957 under the colonial administration to unite the various warring tribes of the region, take stock of the progress of development and to introduce the concept of economic development to a people suddenly in confrontation with civilisation and the material world.

“In fact,  to this very day,  I remain convinced that Goroka Show played its part in the dissemination of information on coffee cultivation to the indigenous people because the very people who were instrumental in promoting coffee were also involved in the planning and staging of the Goroka Show in the early years.

“Goroka Show was also responsible for the exposure of the famous Asaro Mudman, which has gone on to become the cultural icon of Eastern Highlands. “

Samuel commended Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for raising the profile of the show since 2005, through the website www.gorokashow.com , at its own costs

“Today I receive queries from all over the globe on information regarding show dates, accommodation and many more,” he said.

“Just a while ago, I receive an email from a former resident who told me that she was on the inaugural organising committee, and that she is intending to come again for this year’s event.

“Last year, we had a record of 800-plus tourists and that is attributed to the ongoing internet marketing through our website, courtesy of Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

First national mining safety week to be in 2012

The First National Mining Safety Week shall be celebrated in March-April 2012 all across the entire mining industry in Papua New Guinea.

As per decision taken by the National Apex Mining Safety Council last year, Barrick Porgera Joint Venture will be hosting this event which was announced at the second meeting of the National Mining Emergency Response Forum in Port Moresby on Wednesday July 20, 2011.

The mining industry in PNG,  under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Mines,  organised the First National Mining Emergency Response Challenge at Lae in March 2011,  which received an excellent response and support from all stake holders and was hailed as a resounding success.  

Transforming the event into a bigger and wider game, next year would witness staging of the First National Mining Safety Week in which all mines would conduct various safety promotional activities at their respective sites during the Safety Week period,  which would lead up to staging of the Mining Emergency Response Challenge in Port Moresby as a concluding ceremony.    

The concept,  initiated to develop closer partnerships and interaction amongst the different industry players and to provide avenue for participants to learn and exchange skills and ideas,  is believed to generate more interest and bigger participation next year.

The main purpose of these celebrations is to educate and remind people of the importance of safety at their work places.

Speaking at the Forum meeting, PNG’s Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Mohan Singh,  thanked Barrick PJV for taking up the challenge and said he had confidence in them to make the 2012 event a grand success.

Nautilus: We are abiding by laws

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

THE proposed Solwara1 ocean floor mining by Nautilus Minerals Ltd in the Bismarck Sea has complied with environment and mining laws of Papua New Guinea, the company’s PNG country manager Mel Togolo says, The National reports.

He also told the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum Environment Seminar on Wednesday that an important aspect of the project was its smaller physical footprint compared with land-based mining.

Solwara1 will commercially explore for seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits, which are high grades of copper, gold, zinc and silver, in deep sea mining off the coasts of New Ireland and East New Britain provinces.

Togolo said some advantages of deep sea mining, a world first in PNG, was the use of reusable infrastructure and technology like offshore diamond drilling, dredging, onshore mining and pumps systems of oil and gas fields.

“The advantage of being out at sea is that there will be limited social disturbance, and there are no human presence at the depth of 1,600m, which is how far down the mine is located,” he said.

Togolo said worker safety would be protected because most of the work would be done by robots and machines programmed to work at such depths, which are too cold and deep for humans, which are all controlled on board a command ship.

“We will have minimal waste as what comes out goes back into the sea, and we will have minimal overburden because there is no land for us to get rid off before getting to the ore deposits,” he said.

Togolo said during his presentation that Nautilus Minerals had been given government approval in the form of a permit to explore and a permit to operate a mine after satisfying procedures outlined in the Environment Act 2000 and Mining Act 1992.

He said these permits were presented in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Togolo said the project has also applied for and received approval from the relevant communities or those who are closer to the project.

He said preliminary awareness programmes included transparent and inclusive stakeholder engagement and workshops involving communities, world-renowned experts, government and non-governmental organisation.

Given that production was set to start in 2013, Nautilus Minerals was seeking acceptance or social licence to disaggregate seafloor material, transport the material to a ship and transport to a market.

Togolo mentioned that the coastal communities were most concerned about environmental issues such as the protection of the marine environment with emphasis on tuna, reefs, whales, sharks and turtles.

In response, Nautilus Minerals said that with the extraction taking place below the level the tuna population, their feeding and breeding grounds would not be affected.

However, Togolo said the only impact on surface waters would be the presence of the vessels and supporting vessels and riser pipes which will transport the ore from the seafloor up to the vessel.

NA party members on collision course

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

EXECUTIVES of the ruling National Alliance party and its parliamentarians are on a collision course over the suspension of acting prime minister from the party, The National reports..

But Abal has reassured the people and party supporters that the National Alliance “is solid”.

He will also put up his hand up for the post of prime minister when it becomes available.

The party’s national executive committee had decided on Monday to suspend Wabag MP Abal for two weeks for “wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the party”.

In that regard, the parliamentarians said the national executives had more powers than them, the elected members of parliament.

The NA highlands MPs yesterday closed ranks around Abal who they elected as the region’s new deputy leader claiming their decision was within the confines of the party constitution.

Abal said the national executive should, like other political parties, handle issues internally before going to the media.

“They have done a disservice by going to the press. At the moment they have served documents which I said is not legal,” he said.

“Legal advice is that it is debatable whether an unelected representative can presumably suspend an elected member of parliament and purportedly take down the acting prime minister.”

Abal promised to unite the party and “cut out stuff like this that try to weaken and break up the party”.

Abal said Wednesday night’s decision was reached after much deli­beration.

He commended the leaders from the region for supporting Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s appointment of him as deputy and acting prime minister.

“The time for elections is next year and the National Alliance, being the biggest party, needs to take steps to consolidate and move forward,” Abal said.

“It is not an easy decision and I thank the former leader, Don Polye, for his leadership thus far.

“It is about time we renewed the face of the party and propose to the people that we have re-strategised and prepare ourselves to lead the country.”

Abal said the country had been unstable with governments lasting 18 months, but the National Alliance-led government had brought stability and restored investor confidence.

Abal was flanked by Education Minister James Marape (Tari-Pori); Labour Minister Sani Rambi (Mul-Baiyer); Tom Olga (Western Highlands Governor); Yawa Silupa (Lufa); Benjamin Mul (North Waghi); Miki Kaeok (Wapenamanda) and Lands Minister Lucas Dekena.

The media conference was attended by Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet (Momase) and Charles Abel (southern).

They were the first to congratulate Abal on his election.

NA still split

But highlands, southern and Momase blocs prefer Abal

 

THE governing National Alliance is still split on who should succeed ailing Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare as party leader, The National reports.

It is now the party’s parliamentary wing pitched against the NA national executive as the leadership tussle entered its second day with no compromise in sight.

However, yesterday, NA’s parliamentary wing renewed undivided support for Wabag MP Sam Abal who has been acting prime minister since March.

The NA highlands MPs closed ranks around Abal to recognise him as their new leader while support also came from the other two regions, Momase and southern.

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Sir Arnold Amet, representing Momase NA, congratulated his Highlands colleagues for electing Abal while southern’s representative, Minister assisting the Prime Minister Charles Abel, said it was happy that NA highlands had consolidated.

 

NA party members on collision course

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

EXECUTIVES of the ruling National Alliance party and its parliamentarians are on a collision course over the suspension of acting prime minister from the party, The National reports.

But Abal has reassured the people and party supporters that the National Alliance “is solid”.

He will also put up his hand up for the post of prime minister when it becomes available.

The party’s national executive committee had decided on Monday to suspend Wabag MP Abal for two weeks for “wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the party”.

In that regard, the parliamentarians said the national executives had more powers than them, the elected members of parliament.

The NA highlands MPs yesterday closed ranks around Abal who they elected as the region’s new deputy leader claiming their decision was within the confines of the party constitution.

Abal said the national executive should, like other political parties, handle issues internally before going to the media.

“They have done a disservice by going to the press. At the moment they have served documents which I said is not legal,” he said.

“Legal advice is that it is debatable whether an unelected representative can presumably suspend an elected member of parliament and purportedly take down the acting prime minister.”

Abal promised to unite the party and “cut out stuff like this that try to weaken and break up the party”.

Abal said Wednesday night’s decision was reached after much deli­beration.

He commended the leaders from the region for supporting Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s appointment of him as deputy and acting prime minister.

“The time for elections is next year and the National Alliance, being the biggest party, needs to take steps to consolidate and move forward,” Abal said.

“It is not an easy decision and I thank the former leader, Don Polye, for his leadership thus far.

“It is about time we renewed the face of the party and propose to the people that we have re-strategised and prepare ourselves to lead the country.”

Abal said the country had been unstable with governments lasting 18 months, but the National Alliance-led government had brought stability and restored investor confidence.

Abal was flanked by Education Minister James Marape (Tari-Pori); Labour Minister Sani Rambi (Mul-Baiyer); Tom Olga (Western Highlands Governor); Yawa Silupa (Lufa); Benjamin Mul (North Waghi); Miki Kaeok (Wapenamanda) and Lands Minister Lucas Dekena.

The media conference was attended by Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet (Momase) and Charles Abel (southern).

They were the first to congratulate Abal on his election.

Murder suspect's transfer baffles warders

By JASON POK

 

PRISON authorities want police to explain how a murder suspect in their custody was not in his cell at the Boroko police station on Wednesday night, The National reports.

Bomana prison commander Michael Mondia said Theo Yasause, who is facing charges in relation to the death of a former PNG Kumuls player early this year, was brought from the prison, where the court had ordered he be kept in custody, by police officers on Wednesday.

Yasause is the former boss of the office of climate change.

Mondia said Yasause was taken out of Bomana prison by Boroko-based police officers on Wednesday for further investigation into his murder charge.

He said the officers were from the criminal investigation division in Boroko.

Mondia, however, sent some of his officers later to check on Yasause at the police station and discovered that he was not in his cell.

He said his men saw Yasause’s car pull out of the station as they were driving into the Boroko police station.

He said his officers could not find him in the cell but later saw Yasause “fast asleep” in one of the offices at the Boroko station.

He said his officers believed that Yasause had returned from somewhere with the police officers.

Several attempts last night to get comments from police in Boroko were unsuccessful.

Banks asked to join war against fraud

By FRANK SENGE KOLMA

 

PAYMENTS for infrastructure, compensation, feasibility studies and out of court settlements have been identified as the conduits by which the most fraud is committed against the state, The National reports.

And these types of payments will now be queued by banks as high-risk and be put through the most stringent due diligence procedures before being cleared.

Those who regularly bring these kinds of payments to banks will be placed on a high risk watch list and the information be shared be between banks, the fraud squad and relevant stakeholders.

These are part of due diligence guideline issued by the Police Fraud Squad's financial intelligence unit under the proceeds of crime act in relation to government payments.

Payments above a certain threshold will incur the attention of banks which will then apply the due diligence guideline. No threshold figure is mentioned in the guideline.

Compensation payments by the state to various parties have come under the special attention.

"Fraudulent payments obtained through the compensation payment process have become so frequent that they do not generate the level of suspicion that they deserve," the guideline states.

"It is evident that in recent times many claims have been paid in contravention of the statutory process, allowing illegitimate and improper claims and excess payments and excessive payouts to be legitimised."

The guideline states that the finance secretary, the attorney-general and the solicitor-general can only settle claims against the state and can only be drawn from legal sources and cannot be drawn from trust accounts or from votes other than the court order appropriation.

Votes that had attracted frequent abuses in the past include c207 miscellaneous, 460 account No. 2 and the 410 cash adjustment account, the guideline states.

When suspicious payments are detected the decision to accept a government cheque or payment must be made by at least two people in the bank.

"The signatures of the two must be recorded on the customer's file along with the acknowledgment that they agree with the assessment and a brief statement as to why," the guideline states.

"The decision must state whether the payment complies with the Public Finances Management Act or not.

"Cash dealers shall not clear any government cheque or payment above the threshold until these processes have been completed and a decision recorded about the legitimacy of the payment.

"This guideline applies to all payments of money from the public purse including trust accounts and all levels of government."

Companies that have a "long history of exemplary conduct in provision of goods and services to the government" will be placed on a low-risk list and clearance processes will be less stringent.

It is uncertain at this point whether or not the guideline is binding upon all cash dealers or whether or not banks have agreed to perform the due diligence asked of them.

Opposition backs calls for inquiry

THE opposition wants a commission of inquiry to look into how some government ministers have been setting up business entities using public funds, The National reports.

This included Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal who, they claimed, set up the K5.6 million Wabag District Rural Holdings Ltd, gave K10 million to Eremas Wartoto to start airline company Travel Air and diverted LNG revenue into the Independent Public Business Corporation.

Opposition leader Belden Namah, Moresby Northwest MP Sir Mekere Morauta, Namatanai MP Byron Chan, Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat and Gazelle MP Malakai Tabar said at a media conference an inquiry should look into such dealings.

Namah claimed Abal had deposited K5.6 million of public funds in the new company's account of which he is the main signatory.

He said it was an example of misuse of public funds.

Namah and his colleagues said Abal should support his "year of implementation" policy by setting up the commission to look into his own dealings with Wabag Holdings, Wartoto and the K1.9 billion of development budget paid out in three months.

Sir Mekere claimed these were examples of ways used by ministers to divert public funds into their pockets.

"It is naked and it is stupid." Sir Mekere said.

He said opposition sources in the IPBC and National Planning had found out that more than K10 million was allegedly given to Wartoto by the government.

"The whole nation was told by the treasurer in his budget speech that Air Niugini had been allocated K30 million for re-fleeting.  Has this money been given to Air Niugini?" he asked.

Sir Mekere said it would be wrong if the money was allocated elsewhere. 

"Air Niugini struggles everyday with domestic services because it does not have enough aircraft," he said.

"What is the delay in giving Air Niugini the money it was allocated in the budget?"