Australian firm denies foul play in MVIL’s NSW account

AUSTRALIAN-based financial services provider, Woodlawn Capital Pty Ltd, is disappointed with suggestions that they had acted inappropriately in managing the Motor Vehicles Insurance Ltd (MVIL) funds, The National reports.
It was responding to a statement issued by Minister of Public Enterprises Sir Mekere Morauta on Nov 23 and reported in The National on Nov 24.
Sir Mekere’s statement claimed that funds held in a trust account  by Woodlawn Capital on behalf of MVIL was illegal and its placement in such an account had no proper approvals.
The statement yesterday supposedly released on behalf of both Woodlawn Capital and MVIL was later announced through an e-mail as representing the views of Woodlawn Capital alone.
Sir Mekere said yesterday in a statement that, as far as he was informed, the statement by the companies did not represent the views of MVIL.
“Stop trying to confuse the issue and just bring the money back,” Sir Mekere said.
The company’s statement read: “Statements made by both the Ministry of Public Enterprises and the media report by The National that money has gone missing are completely false, as is any implication that Woodlawn Capital has acted inappropriately or illegally in its dealings with the funds under management it holds under the terms of its investment management agreement with MVIL.
“The directors of Woodlawn Capital Pty Ltd are disappointed by the lack of professionalism and due diligence of the parties who have made these accusations.”
The statement said Woodlawn Capital was an Australian-based financial services company, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and was a holder of an Australian Financial Services licence.
Woodlawn Capital is also regulated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre to comply with anti-money laundering legislation.
MVIL had engaged the company to provide investment management services under a commercial arms-length agreement in 2009.
 The agreement was signed by the MVIL executive management and the board of directors.
 “Any suggestion funds are ‘missing’, ‘siphoned off’ or ‘owned by Woodlawn Capital’ or any other third party is incorrect,” the statement said.
“Investment funds are currently, and have always been, held in a trust account on behalf of and for the benefit of MVIL.
“Woodlawn Capital has at all stages met all reporting requirements both in Australia and to its clients. MVIL is provided with regular reports in relation to the funds under management and MVIL have been issued with independent verification of the funds under management.”
Sir Mekere said MVIL had confirmed to him that it had not authorised the statement released by Woodlawn Capital, purportedly on MVIL’s behalf.

K500 million in state funds misused, claims opposition

lBy ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE national government has blown out about K500 million within three months in unbudgeted funds which will have serious deficit implications, it has been revealed, The National reports.
The figure was released by the opposition in a confidential report which included a print-out of a list of expenditure and payments totalling K439,935,647.07.
But the government yesterday described as “hogwash and misleading” the claim by the opposition that there had been significant expenditure outside the budget in three months (details on page 2).
The report claimed that the handling of the funds was unlawful and expended with non-compliance of the Public Finance Management Act and Appropriation Act.
Some frontline MPs in government were also named as receiving between K5 million and K16 million. A law firm got K18 million.
The report was made in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling on Dec 9.
It pointed out corrective actions to ensure prudent financial management were maintained by the Department of Finance.
The report said: “The payments are made from accounts receivable notional cash book (consolidated revenue) and used by the current management to draw cheques from unbudgeted claims directed by the minister for finance or acting secretary at their discretion.
“These payments are expenditures incurred not from the lawful budget appropriation, none from any lawfully established trust accounts.
“The gross misuse and misapplying of public funds and drawing from consolidated revenue fund will have serious budget deficit implications and, subsequently, result in a negative cash position and a bank overdraft balance as at the end of the 2011 fiscal year.”
It stated that the 2011 supplementary budget of K600 million had been deposited into various established supplementary trust accounts.
“This will immediately draw down the current Waigani public accounts balance into overdraft balance. The implication will be that government cheques can be dishonoured immediately.
“It will be of serious concern when cheques are dishonoured. The public and private sector will lose confidence in the government for mismanagement of public funds and will reflect negatively on the current government.”
In a media conference, Madang Regional MP Sir Arnold Amet and Wabag MP Sam Abal challenged Sir Mekere Morauta, Bart Philemon and Sir Puka Temu who have been preaching about transparency and good governance to tell everyone whether they knew of what was happening.
The conference was also attended by parliamentarians Sani Rambi, Philip Kikala, Francis Potape and Tony Aimo. They gave copies of the report with expenditure details to the media.
Abal said they had evidence to prove that the treasurer had used his powers to approve 210 project funds totalling almost K500 million which, he said, was gross mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds and the PFMA.
He said the highlands region received the bulk with K168 million, Momase got K99 million, Islands region received K98 million and Southern K63 million.
Of the amount, all but four provinces and 24 open electorates completely missed out.
Abal said more interestingly, the frontline of the purported government benefited with Speaker Jeffery Nape receiving K15 million, Don Polye K12 million, Belden Namah K16 million, Peter O’Neill K14 million, East New Britain provincial government K10 million, Sir Puka K5 million, Dr Bob Danaya K6 million and Young and Williams Lawyers K18 million.
Sir Arnold said the 2012 budget, yet to be handed down, should be a balanced budget but the people now knew that this government, since it took office, had been plundering Finance and Treasury.
“These are excessive hand-outs to individual members of parliament and ministers to keep their support. The 2012 budget will run into a deficit once it is handed down.”

SIR MEKERE: Woodlawn Capital statement a fabrication

Minister for Public Enterprises, Sir Mekere Morauta, said Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd had confirmed to him that it had not authorised the statement released by Woodlawn Capital today, purportedly on MVIL’s behalf.

“The statement is a fabrication,” he said.

“MVIL confirmed to me that it had not approved its release.

“It also omits one central fact: the transaction was illegal because MVIL did not obtain any of the approvals it was required by law to get before proceeding.

“Stop trying to confuse the issue and just bring the money back.”

Towards improved information and knowledge management in agriculture

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

Group photo of the workshop participants at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi

 

LAST week experts from the Pacific region on information and communication, agricultural extension, and information management gathered in Nadi, Fiji, for a workshop on information and knowledge management (IKM) for agricultural development.

The workshop ‘moving beyond strategy to improve information and knowledge management for agricultural development in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs)’ was to consider new dimensions in IKM and how they could benefit the pacific region.

It was aimed at assisting the PICTs in making efficient and effective use of information resources, as today’s agricultural innovations are becoming increasingly market-linked and as such will require new approaches and tools.

The forum also explored new technologies and opportunities to disseminate timely, accurate and up-to-date information on agricultural production, pest management and marketing to farmers and communities, supplementing existing agricultural extension strategies and networks. 

The workshop was part of an effort by regional and international organizations including Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Global Fund Agricultural Research (GFAR), Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) to assist PICTs on effective IKM to meet current and emerging challenges in agricultural development.

These organisations are focusing on the need to implement effective IKM and information and communication (ICM) strategies to address the challenges facing the agriculture sector. 

It is part of their efforts to assist PICTs to develop strategies relevant for the development stage of member countries, depending on their respective needs and constraints. 

It enabled participants to put together ideas and share their experiences on IKM of their respective organisations and countries to devise the way forward collective for agricultural development.

Such forums are essential for us to discuss and offer recommendations on how we can improve our IKM efforts to meet current and emerging challenges to agricultural development through partnerships locally, regionally and with the global community.

It was very timely, given the many challenges that the agriculture sector faces, especially those concerning food security and livelihoods, and impact of climate change induced stresses.

The workshop was a step towards promoting greater involvement and participation of organisations and institutions in the global movement with the coherence in information for agriculture research for development (CIARD) and to promote openness in information and communication management (ICM) models.

New knowledge based on innovative ideas and research is crucial for agricultural and rural development.

But, we should also note that for these innovations to have any impact at the community level, they need to be communicated effectively. 

Many efforts are being made on this front and the use of new tools and systems of information and communication technology (ICT) are becoming essential in the development process.

While ICT is a useful tool, it is also a challenge in the pPcific region. 

The small farm sizes, scattered nature and remoteness of farms, infrastructure, adapting to climate, and loss of biodiversity add further challenges.

International partners such as FAO, GFAR, APAARI and CTA are also aware that inappropriate policies and weak institutional capacity in the public and private sector is limiting the use of ICT tools for effective dissemination of agricultural innovations to the farming community.

Investment of in information and communication is also overlooked in the pacific countries, while ICT tools can facilitate delivery of information to rural communities. With lack of investment and other constraints, information providers in the region are having difficulty in understanding the needs of users and their relevance, type of information required by different user groups, the format required and appropriate ICT tool to use for maximum impact and desired outcome.

It is for these reasons that the workshop has tried to identify appropriate solutions to these constraints. 

We have to be a little more innovative and take steps to mix traditional approaches with modern tools, doing what we can within our means. 

International partners are willing to work with us in promoting and sharing experiences of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region on good practices on agriculture supported by ICT tools.

Mobile telephone has been a huge success in PNG since 2005 when new mobile phone company, Digicel was officially launched to compete with state-owned bemobile.

This success is also benefiting the farming communities through the mobile market information for fresh produce growers from Fresh Produce Development Agency in partnership with Digicel, a pilot project supported by AusAID.

This and many other innovative initiatives using mobile phone technologies and other emerging tools should be explored. 

The workshop was in a way trying to facilitate stronger partnership and share our experience with organisations within the region and globally in the area of information and communication for development.

We hope that such forums will be a means for improved awareness on new dimensions in IKM for agricultural research for development and strengthened information sharing and networking. 

The partnerships established regionally and international will go a long way in improving IKM in the region and contribute effectively towards agricultural development.

Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation prepares for World AIDS Day with the aim of “Getting to Zero”

By Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation

With this year’s World AIDS Day theme “Getting to Zero, Zero new HIV infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero related AIDS deaths,” the Pacific region will be joining international communities to commemorate and promote the message of getting to zero with major events and activities in respective countries.

 UNAIDS has decided that for December 1,  2011,  right up until 2015 it’s envisioned that different regions and groups will each year choose one or all of the zeros that best addresses their situation.

 Preparations for the World AIDS Day (WAD) in the region have commenced and the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation (PIAF) together with its partners will be commemorating the day in Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands on the December 1. 

 Some of the Pacific Island countries have focused on one of the three zeros as their main theme in which they plan to carryout awareness raising activities for this year while others have integrated the overall theme in their activities and PIAF together with its partners have committed their support.

 PIAF has joined in the preparations in the Cook Islands with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to create awareness on Volunteer Confidentiality Counseling and Testing (VCCT) through the local media.

 PIAF’s positive community programme coordinator, Temo Sasau, says there are a lot of planned lead up events to December 1 and PIAF will link up with its trained AIDS Ambassadors in respective countries in the region.

 Sasau said Fiji had focused on “Zero Discrimination” as its main theme for this year, and most of the activities wiould heavily promote zero discrimination in all forms against PLHIV and those affected by HIV and AIDS. 

He is also expected in Tonga to participate with WAD activities which have already commenced with the 16 Days of Human Rights Activism. 

 Moreover, from the 10 goals set by UNAIDS on this year’s WAD theme, PIAF continues to strengthen the Regional HIV Response through its legal programme by fast tracking respective legislative responses in the region. 

 2011 has been a year that PIAF has partnered with respective governments and national AIDS councils in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and Kiribati to have policies and legislations on HIV enacted.

 The programme has taken a legal and rights-based approach that acknowledges the central role of PLHIV based on the notion that positive people are the most-effective tool in HIV prevention; the legal response is one of the most effective responses to HIV; and the evidence based human rights approach to HIV is the most effective response to HIV.

 The legal programme sets out national and regional legal obligations, and marks out the path to getting to zero by having legislations in place which oblige leaders to respond better to HIV.

United Nations Human Rights welcomes reserved seats for women in Papua New Guinea Parliament

The introduction of historic new laws that aim to give women a greater say in the Papua New Guinea Parliament was today welcomed by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Pacific. 

Changes to PNG's constitution should allow for the creation of 22 reserved seats for women in the country’s 109 seat legislature.

 Matilda Bogner, regional representative of OHCHR’s Pacific office, said:“In a country where women are severely underrepresented at the national political decision making level and where they are widely discriminated against in many facets of life, dedicated seats in parliament for women are a step in the right direction for women's political participation. 

"A stronger voice for women in parliament is vital for progressing gender equality in PNG. "Moving from having only one woman in Parliament to having a guarantee of 22 women represented will be crucial in shifting attitudes and should help to strengthen women's voices in national policies and legislation.”

 “This is a historic development, which – quite appropriately – comes during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence that commenced today. 

"Gender-based violence is an important issue facing Papua New Guinea. 

"It is hoped that more women in Parliament will help to speed up the urgently needed progress on this issue.”

 The PNG parliament currently has one female MP and has had four in its 36-year history. 

The country’s election laws needed to be amended to create the 22 seats, one for each province, which can only be contested by women. 

The amendment required the support of two -thirds of Parliament. 

Media reported that the amendment, which was supported by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, was passed by 72 votes to two, with several members abstaining and some absent.

 “UN OHCHR looks forward to seeing these seats in place before the upcoming general election in 2012.

"It is crucial for the women of Papua New Guinea to have their representation in the national Parliament set up before the next elections, as any delay would again deny these women their political voice at the national level,” said Ms Bogner.

K191 million deal signed to fix bridges

PAPUA New Guinea and the Asian Development Bank have signed a deal for a US$90 million (K191.48 million) loan to help the country rehabilitate 20-30 narrow, modular bridges on five national roads or replace them with permanent two-lane bridges, The National reports.
Some of the bridges due for replacement will be reassembled on rural roads to connect communities to urban centres.
The loan signing ceremony took place at the PNG Embassy in Manila, Philippines.
PNG Ambassador Christian Vihruri signed the loan deal on behalf of the government.
Later, the loan agreement was signed by Bindu Lohani, vice-president, knowledge management and sustainable development, on behalf of the bank, which is in Manila.
“Replacing temporary steel bridges with wider, permanent bridges will help people and goods move from place to place much faster and at a lower cost with fewer worries about poor weather conditions,” Hasan Masood, the project leader in ADB’s Pacific department, said.
The bulk of PNG’s population live in rural areas and the island nation’s rugged geography and scattered settlements mean the road network on the mainland is not fully connected.
The government has recognised lack of transport infrastructure as a major obstacle to PNG’s social and economic development.
The project will finance road safety campaigns in rural areas along the five priority roads.
Activities will include training for school children and communities, complemented by media campaigns which will address the personal safety concerns of women and children.
Road safety is a major issue in PNG with higher fatality rates in rural areas.
Pedestrians account for most of these fatalities.
The project is the first phase of a more comprehensive bridge replacement programme and covers five of the 16 priority national roads identified by the government in its national transport development plan

Police arrest rape suspects

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism student

POLICE have charged a bus driver, a crew and a woman over the gang-rape of a nurse in Porgera last week, The National reports.
The three have also been charged with conspiring to steal more than K36,000.
Enga provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari said police at Porgera arrested and charged the three people and were looking for others involved in the crime.
He said the driver of the bus, the crew and a female companion who allegedly conspired to carry out the action were refused bail and were in custody at the
Paiam police station.
Police detectives from Por­gera and Wabag started investigation yesterday.
“They have been charged in relation to the alleged offence and robbery of more than K36,000,” he said.
Lakari said in the meantime, Porgera and Wabag police were hunting for the rest of the suspects.
He said police would soon arrest those on the run

Adjournment of budget is wrong, says Sir Arnold

THE adjournment of parliament to Dec 6 is government’s attempt to frustrate the budget in the face of a Supreme Court ruling on its legitimacy, The National reports.
Former attorney-general and Madang MP Sir Arnold Amet said it had been announced earlier that the budget would be handed down on Nov 22, but this was later deferred to Nov 29 and now Dec 6.
“We do not know the reason but we challenge them to tell the nation that they will hand down the budget on Dec 6.
“The budget is the most important policy statement of any government to tell its citizens, development partners and business houses its money plan.”
Sir Arnold said Dec 6, was pertinent to Dec 9, on which the Supreme Court would deliver its decision on the legitimacy of the current government.
He said the ruling would be handed down by the Supreme Court on Friday and the government was attempting “to frustrate the budget in fear that on the 9th they will be kicked out.
“With its numerical strength, they are fearful of the ruling going against them. They want to corrupt the legislature. They are running scared trying all sorts of tricks.
“They cannot hold the nation to ransom,” Sir Arnold said.
“I challenge you to bring down the budget. Why the delay? It’s corrupt politics.
“They are playing around with the people’s budget. If they pass the budget they are fearful that we will take back the budget,” he said.

‘Say no to violence against women’

By SHIRLYN BELDEN

AN assembly of advocates took to the streets of Port Moresby last Friday to support the campaign on the eradication of violence against women in Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

Say no to violence...Staff from the Internal Revenue Commission were among those who took to the streets of Port Moresby last Friday to oppose all forms of violence against women and girls. The walk started at 7am from the Jack Pidik Park at 5-Mile to the Sir John Guise Stadium at Gordon.-Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Business houses, civil groups, government bodies, school children, church groups and individuals joined the world in a march to mark the International Day for the elimination of violence against women which fell on Nov 25.
The walk was not only to commemorate the day but to highlight the message of eliminating all forms of violence threatening the livelihood of women and girls and to draw support from men in fighting gender-based violence.
Among those who walked were the British High Commissioner Jackie Barson and her team, Australian High Commission representatives, United Nations officers and members of the diplomatic corp.
The procession started at 7am and was led by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary band from the Jack Pidik Park at 5-Mile in Port Moresby to the Sir John Guise Stadium in Waigani.
The Marianville Girls High school and the Women’s Ministries of the Seventh-Day Adventist church were the groups from the school and church sectors which joined the walk.
Minister for Community Development Andrew Mald urged public and private organisations, civil groups and the general public to be real partners in addressing gender-based violence.
“We gather here to show our commitment and support to eradicate all forms of violence against women and children,’’ he said.
“If we continue to adequately address this issue in a holistic approach, we can reach the majority and create an enabling environment for women and children.”

Survey shows 218 killed in violence

By SALLY POKITON
UPNG journalism student

TRIBAL violence in two highlands provinces resulted in the deaths of 218 people between May and October this year, according to a survey, The National reports.
The figures were revealed at a seminar conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross at the University of Papua New Guinea last Thursday.
The survey was conducted in Bena, Eastern Highlands, plus Kagua and South-Koroba in the Southern Highlands.
It showed that in terms of humanitarian consequences, 15,700 people were affected of which 3,500 lived in Bena, 10,300 in Kagua and 1,900 in South-Koroba.
The tribal violence containment project survey was carried out by the ICRC from May to October in 12 villages in the three districts.
It was to protect and assist the victims of tribal violence.
Field delegate Arnaud de Coupigny said fights broke out because someone was killed, land rows, election disputes and thefts of pigs.
In most cases murder was related to sorcery and election killings.
He said in Kagua and South-Koroba, 188 orphans have been left behind after 91 adults were killed while 7000 houses were destroyed.
Wesley Spinder, the ICRC field officer based in the Southern Highlands, said from the surveys he carried out at Pureni in Tari and at Kagua in Mendi, people were affected by the loss of homes, food, water and sanitation, medical treatment and accessibility to other services during tribal fights.
Spinder said the survey was conducted to find out the type of humanitarian crisis people faced and if they knew about international human rights law.

‘Hubby cop beat me up’

AN eight-month pregnant wife of a police officer claims that he assaulted her after she found out that he was having an extra-marital affair, The National reports.
As people nationwide were observing “White Ribbon Day” last Friday, and reflecting on its significance in fighting violence against women, the 26-year-old woman visited The National to show the injuries she had sustained from the beating she received from her policeman husband.
The woman sported a broken right arm and she wore a cap to hide a 2cm cut on her head where she was hit with a piece of timber.
The woman, who is expecting twins, said this was the third time she had been beaten by her husband since their marriage last year.
She said she reported her second beating to police when her husband used a knife and cut her on the right side of an eye above the eye-brow, but no action had been taken against him.
“He would drink, womanise and then come home and beat me up, blaming me for little things such as not washing his uniforms or cooking,” she said.
The woman claimed her husband, a probationary constable, attached with the police commissioner’s chief-of-staff, was having an affair with another woman at a policeman’s home at 9-Mile.
She said she caught them red-handed last Monday when she was on her way to work.
She said she reacted by attacking the woman but she was held back by another policeman, and her husband pulled the timber from her hand and started beating her.
“By the time it was over, I was covered with blood.
“Their boss came and they jumped into the vehicle with him and drove away.
“They never bothered to take me to a hospital,” she said.
The woman said she was still covered in blood when she went to the 6-Mile police station around 8am to lodge a complaint. She was told by the duty officer that her attack was “serious assault”.
Police internal affairs unit director Supt Tony Duwang said he was not aware of the assault case but would follow it up.
“It is quite serious. I will make sure the matter is investigated and the officer implicated dealt with,” he said.
The victim said after laying her complaint, she went back to her family home at Bomana and asked her parents to help her seek medical treatment.
But they refused saying that “your husband has injured you so he should take you to the hospital and pay for your medical bills, not us”.
She said she could not stand the abuse any longer and had come out publicly about it.
She urged other women suffering in silence from continuous harassment and beatings from their spouses to tell the public.
The woman is the third wife of a policeman to go public about her ordeal.
The first was Joy Wartovo, the wife of Const Simon Bernard, and the second was Artkeria Painap, the wife of Chief Insp Christopher Tamari.
Duwang had said police would lay criminal charges against Bernard as soon as he was caught and that Tamari would face disciplinary and criminal charges as soon as his files were ready.