Where is Governor Parkop coming from?

From PAUL OATES

Central Provence Governor Parkop has offered to be a 'peace broker' between those opposing the Malandina Amendment changes and Malandina. In this he has exhibited an example in the finest traditional manner of a PNG leader offering to sit down and talk a problem through. In this, he is to be commended.

What this offer unfortunately does however, is to cloud the 'central' issue to the extent it may be overlooked in an apparent public attempt to create harmony and prevent discord.

Also, can one assume that Governor Parkop, as a member of Parliament, originally voted for the amendment in the first place, since there were no dissenting votes? So could this be a veiled attempt to divert a show of solidarity against this legislation? If the planned protests do not go ahead, who will know what level of resistance there is against this Bill? Who can say there was any real attempt to stop this initiative from going forward? What is Governor Parkop's stated view on what he supports and what he doesn't? If there are to be no public demonstrations because it might disturb the flower beds, is this the new basis for preventing any future public gatherings?

There definitely needs to be a halt to the proposed Bill. But the Bill first needs to be withdrawn and then everyone take a step backwards. Proper, orderly and public debate can then take place by both the PNG government, the Opposition and all interested bodies before any changes are made to the PNG people's last line of defence against corruption and malfeance, there own Constitution.

___________________

from today's The National
Parkop volunteers to broker NGO meeting with Maladina

NCD Governor Powes Parkop has volunteered to organise a meeting between NGOs and Esa'ala MP Moses Maladina to discuss the proposed changes to "weaken" Ombudsman Commission powers.
Mr Parkop said yesterday he was playing the middleman because did not want to see the planned protest march led by NGO group, Community Coalition Against Corruption, go ahead.
He quashed suggestions that he was on a panel that was going to defend the proposed amendments suggested by Mr Maladina, who is the chairman of the select committee on the Ombudsman Commission.
"I have arranged for civil societies and non-governmental organisations to meet with Mr Maladina come to a solution.
"If they do not settle their differences here, then there is always room to continue their dialogue for the best way forward," Mr Parkop said.
He said that he did not want Port Moresby residents to march or protest on the streets because a lot of money had been spent on Port Moresby's beautification "and we all know that people have the tendency to destroy things," he said.
Mr Parkop said the meeting would also allow for rational debates to be carried out without emotions and yelling and shouting.
"The proposed amendments all have merits and must be scrutinised properly. Some of them, I agree, should be changed and some I don't.
"The public need to know that, basically, more power will be given to the Ombudsman Commission than it had before".
"One such proposed amendment is for heads of departments to be closely scrutinised like Members of Parliament under the Leadership Code.
"This was opposed by the OC because they felt that they would now be doing the job of the Department of Personnel Management.
"This and the others all needed to be debated properly so that everyone understands what will happen next."
In the first voting of the proposed amendments, a majority of the MPs had voted for it only to see the public respond negatively.
It has been given a three-month period in which all public opinion be gathered for consideration and presentation for voting again in the next Parliament sitting after the three months.
"I appeal to the public not to stage protest marches. If nothing is resolved after today, and if their will be a petition for a next meeting, then I am willing to facilitate this again," Mr Parkop said.

Greenwashing the palm oil industry

 Hi all,

Follow the link below and read about an article on Rountable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) published in Reportage Enviro.

It features what’s happening in the Northern Province of Papua New Guinea: http://www.reportage-enviro.com/2010/02/wwf-accused-of-greenwashing-palm-oil-production/

 

 

Relationship between the University of Goroka and Japan

By RUSSELL DEKA HARADA

ICT Manager

University of Goroka

 

 

 Since the University of Goroka (UOG) was established in 1997, it has had 17 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteers, which included eight juniors and nine senior volunteers.

They have especially been involved in the ICT department, several technical fields of the Science Faculty and teaching Japanese language.

 I was the first person to attach to UOG to set up the Library Automation System at the old library and this was the first point to set up the campus-wide computer networks (UOGNET) at UOG.

During my volunteer period from 1997 to 1999, the people of Goroka including UOG staff and students looked after me very well and I didn’t feel I had left my home country Japan.

 My mother in Japan passed away in May 1999 and the Iufi-iufa village people asked me to make her tomb at the village in her memory because she wanted to travel to Goroka before she died.

 My father and I travelled to Goroka with her ashes to make her tomb and this was first time my father visited Goroka.

 Japanese Government assisted with a lot of technical/ non-technical assistance through JICA to UOG after my volunteer period expired.

For example, they donated over K10 million worth of education improvement equipment including computers, science lab equipment, library bookshelves, etc, in 2005.

 Since JICA started sending Japanese language teacher to UOG, there have been so many students and staff who  could get into basic Japanese conversations like Kon-nichiwa (hello),  Arigato (thank you) and  Sayonara (see you).

 In October 2000, one of my best rugby friends in Goroka passed away in the bush on the border of Eastern Highlands and Gulf provinces.

 Iufi-iufa village people and I hired a light aircraft and speed boat at Purari River, dug up his body from the ground and brought it back to Goroka.

His family was very pleased and named me Russell after him.

After my volunteer period expired, I thought of ways to repay the village people and the people of Goroka for their kindness.

 Since 2001, my family in Japan has invited some young village people to study life in Japan.

We have already invited three boys, including Paul David Barora, a younger brother of the late Russell to study Japanese culture from 2002-2005.

After he completed his studies in Japan, he joined a tourist company (PNG-Japan) in Port Moresby and became a tour guide.

He can speak Japanese very fluently.

 In May 2006, I married a Papua New Guinea woman of Gulf and Morobe parentage and we now have two boys, including an adopted 18-year-old boy.

 Last year, we lost our three-month-old son to and unknown illness and we buried him next to my mother and late Russell’s tomb.

 Since December 2007, I have been working at UOG as an ICT manager to develop the ICT facilities at UOG.

 I have many connections with the people of Japan and last year we received 53 sets of used computers from Kyoto Computer Gakuin (KCG) School in Japan and set them up for student uses.

One of our new computer laboratories for post-graduate students is called KCG Lab.

The UOG is the only government institution for tertiary education in PNG, so I believe from the starting point here, we can provide a better education for future generations.

I am deeply concerned about education in PNG, which is why I became a board member of North Goroka Primary School and Iufi-iufa Primary School.

 Many Japanese friends have donated learning material include school textbooks, dictionaries, sports equipment and computers.

 During World War II, many Japanese troops died in this beautiful country, PNG.

We cannot forget this sad contact between PNG and Japan, but we are looking forward to see a bright future for both countries.

 I have already applied to become a citizen of PNG and I am awaiting response from the government.

 My future dream is to set up a technical high school in Goroka and to invite Japanese technical people to come and teach Papua New Guineans.

 I really want to become a bridge person between two countries at grassroots level.

Arigato (thank you).

Stopping the rot

From Tony Flynn

 

You may wish to look back through at viable nation states of the various sizes throughout history.

They all had some form of farm tenure that allowed the farmers to support the entire society, and the leaders recognised this in the way they ran the state.

The farmers may have been treated badly but they were the underpinning of the state.

 Papua New Guinea is built from the top as an artificial democracy; the farm system is still the result of thousands of years of isolation.

 Sustainable farming is built on a permanent and stable farming system.

From this base we may develop a stable government.

 In PNG most of our politicians are joined at the hip in their greed for aid money and the money from external exploiters of PNG resources.

 My point is that, until there is a big change in the farming system away from shifting agriculture, the whole country is based upon exploitation.

Developers exploit the minerals, fisheries and forests.

The PNG farmers exploit the soil; they exhaust the soil and move on to a fresh area.

This is the situation that has to change before our society changes.

A week is a long time ...

From PAUL OATES

A week is a long time in politics as they say.
Isn't amazing that Sir Mek is now reported as saying that the PNG Opposition was confused about the Malandina Amendment and didn't understand what was involved when they voted for the Amendment 83 - 0. This was due to the government rushing through the Bill he claimed? So now it is argued that the change to Section 12 of the Constitution allows further changes to the PNG Constitution but Sir Mek says no one said anything about that change when it happened.
Well blow me down. Could it be that no one understood previously, what they were voting for?
So to paraphrase a line from the film "Witness for the Prosecution" ;  - 'If they didn't know then and they didn't know now, are they and have they always been unable to understand and properly vote on what's actually being proposed?'
Finally, I wonder what Sir Peter (emi no lus) highlighted in the Sepik Highway Trust Funds report in the article below? I also wonder who was in charge of the Trust Fund?
______________

articles below from the National

Speakers agree on withdrawal and more debate, consultation

By THOMAS HUKAHU

VARIOUS speakers agreed yesterday that the proposed amendment to the Leadership Code that would weaken the powers of the Ombudsman Commission be withdrawn until proper debate and consultation were conducted.
At a National Research Institute seminar, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek, chairman of Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) Peter Aitsi and Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta spoke in opposition to the changes.
Sir Mekere said despite the general feeling that the amendment was wrong, laws in general should be changed if they were going to benefit the public.
"Laws are not set in stone," Sir Mekere told the academics, students and workers and
staff from the Ombudsman Commission (OC) office.
"Laws should, at times, be reviewed and changed as long as those changes protect and promote public good,'' he said.
Lawyer Peter Donigi said in 2006, a change was made to section 12 of the Constitution which allowed Members of Parliament to alter parts of the Constitution.
He said in 2006, nobody said anything regarding that change.
Mr Donigi also pointed out that Parliament had the power to alter, but not amend.
He explained by using an illustration: "A house built can be altered by adding additional rooms, but the basic framework on which the house stands must not be changed.'
Former parliamentarian Sir Pita Lus urged the OC and TI-PNG to work effectively.
He also told public servants to do their jobs properly.
"Yupela gat knowledge tasol nogat wisdom (you have knowledge but no wisdom).
"Nau ol hevi i kamap, na kantri bai go we nau? (now we have corruption, where is the country heading?)"
While calling on the OC to perform its role, Sir Pita also produced a copy of the report on the Sepik Highway Trust Funds as an example of the kind of work that the OC needs to attend to.

Morauta calls for review

By ALISON ANIS

OPPOSITION leader Sir Mekere Morauta has strongly opposed the widely-criticised Ombudsman Commission proposed amendment.
He called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to withdraw the bill and set up an advisory group to assess the people's views on the amendment.
"Given the strong stand taken by the public and the difficulty in dissecting the proposed amendment to argue and support some, but not all of them, the Prime Minister should withdraw the bill on the first day of the next sitting," Sir Mekere told a public seminar at the National Research Institute yesterday.
"He should immediately set up an advisory group to assess the views being expressed by interest groups and the public."
Sir Mekere said the group must be wider than the Maladina parliamentary committee and could have Esa'ala MP Moses Maladina as its chairman.
Other committee members could be Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek, reputable constitutional lawyers and representatives from the PNG Council of Churches and the Community Coalition Against Corruption.
"Leaving it entirely to the parliamentary committee to review the amendment is like asking the inmates of Bomana to withdraw the bill on the first day of the next sitting," Sir Mekere said.
He said secretariat services to the committee should be provided by the constitutional development committee and the group's terms of reference should be confined to the amendment.
They should also report to the PM in three months, the Opposition leader said.
"Members of Parliament cannot ignore the opposition that is being mounted by
our constituents to the bill.
"We have to recognise these views and deal with them."
A panel of speakers including Sir Mekere, Mr Manek and Transparency International PNG chairman Peter Aitsi were invited to give their views on the proposed amendment to the Leadership Code and whether it was necessary or dangerous for PNG leaders.
Sir Mekere said he was among those who voted in favour of the proposed amendment when the Government, without any proper debate or briefing, tabled it on March 9.
However, since then, he has rescinded his stand after studying the proposal.
"I do not support the amendment after being made aware of the wider legal, political and ethical issues surrounding the proposed bill," he said.
Sir Mekere said the Opposition voted in support of the amendment in the last sitting because of lack of information and knowledge.
"The Government provided no detailed explanations and, true to its form, ambushed Members with the vote," Sir Mekere said, accusing the Government of treating Parliament like a rubber stamp without providing or allowing proper briefing and debate on the issue.
He also levelled the same attack on the Attorney-General, the constitutional development committee, Maladina committee and Ombudsman Commission (OC), saying they had left everyone stranded because of no accurate public information and clear explanation.
He said the Opposition had sought a meeting with the OC to help develop a position before the next sitting of Parliament.
Prominent lawyer Peter Donigi told yesterday's seminar that the Government could use the law to its advantage and pass the amendment next week. He said there were no specific provisions under the Constitution barring it from doing so.

PNG's last hope threatened, says Transparency International

THE Ombudsman Commission is the people's only hope for a better and transparent Papua New Guinea, chairman of Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) Peter Aitsi has said.
Mr Aitsi, who is also the co-chairman of the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CACC), said the people they spoke to during their awareness on the proposed amendment to the Ombudsman Commission (OC) law and its implications on governance have expressed great concern and deep anger.
"Most stated that the OC was their last hope.
"They have lost confidence and faith in police; and the Public Accounts Committee was seen as a 'toothless tiger'," Mr Aitsi said.
He said their lack of faith was justified given many recommendations and referrals from the various commissions of inquiries that remained unresolved to date.
According to Mr Aitsi, the public response was overwhelming and many spoken to were "sick and tired" of countless empty promises by the Government.
"They equated the lack of services directly to corruption and, thus, wonder why the Government and Members of Parliament were hell-bent on weakening the powers of the OC in the face of growing misuse and theft of public monies," he said.
Mr Aitsi said PNG faced the threat of descending further into regionalised groups serving narrow economic and ethnic self-interests or be split into regional groupings captured by megalomaniacs who dispensed "goods and favours" selectively to maintain their powerbase if its citizens failed to
abide, uphold and enforce the laws emanating from the Constitution without fear or favour.
"Moses Maladina (Esa'ala MP), in my view has not respected the process undertaken by the constitutional planning committee (CPC) of 1974 and has been contemptuous of the important role accorded to the OC by the committee," Mr Aitsi said.

Stopping the rot

From PAUL OATES

"Ask not what your country can do for you; rather ask what you can do for your country." John F Kennedy, US President

To someone who regularly peruses the Papua New Guinea media and internet blogs, there seems a constant steam of queries as to why 'someone' doesn't do 'something' about the situation in PNG?

So perhaps the question should be posed: 'why is it that those who want something done aren't prepared to do something themselves?'

At Independence, PNG had a system of government imposed on it that was never designed to cope with today's massive amounts of corruption and malfeance at all levels of government. In 1975, the present situation was inconceivable. The structure of government checks and balances was therefore set up with a totally different mind set. Clearly the current PNG regulatory bodies are unable to grapple with the size and nature of the problem otherwise it would not have been allowed to develop into what it is today.

If it is possible to generalise, human nature seems to follow a pattern of malaise or languishing under deteriorating conditions until a total collapse requires a drastic response. This systemic inertia is common throughout every human society and is usually summed up in the claim: 'Someone should do something about it!'

Unfortunately, most people will not contemplate doing anything precipitative until it affects them personally to the point where they cannot possibly continue to put up with what is affecting them. Unfortunately, this often where the problem has gone past where it can be fixed without a total and drastic, last resort solution.

The traditional PNG culture of group discussion and social cohesion that was so effective in a village based society seems to now be exacerbating rather than helping the current impasse. Without a culture of individual leadership and decisive action, talk sometimes becomes the ultimate point past which many people are not prepared to go.

So is this quirk of human nature about to condemn PNG to a period of total collapse and social dysfunction?

There is an old saying: 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going!'

Isn't it about time that a new generation of PNG 'tough', who have had enough of the current farce in PNG government, start to get going? The time is fast approaching, if it hasn't already arrived, when no one will be able to stop the coming implosion and its inevitable results .

Farmers meet in Manus

By ROSELYN ELLISON

 More than 20 local farmers in Manus (pictured) have attended a week-long, low-cost local feed-making training.

The training was held at the Chauka Conference room in Lorengau last week.                     

The aim of the training was to utilise local resources to produce stock feed as currently commercial stockfeed is very expensive.

Alex Botu, who facilitated during the training, said: “We have a lot of potential resources but it is just that farmers are lacking the technical knowledge on how to prepare them.”

Promoting chicken farming in Manus

Words and picture by ROSELYN ELLISON

 

Dorcas Popan is very busy feeding her six-weeks-old chickens at Ward Two in Lorengau, Manus province, when I catch up with her.

Ms Popan said chicken meat was in very high demand in Manus.

"I can also see that it is a good business,” she says.

Ms Popan is selling her chickens for K30 each

'Women must blame themselves for lack of development'

Caption: PNG Women farmers formulating their own strategic plan in Lae recently

 

 By JOSEPHINE YAGA of NARI

 

Issues hampering the development of Papua New Guinea women rest within themselves, according to food technologist Dr Jane Ravusiro.

 She said women cried for equality and respect from male counterparts, and yet, they lacked co-operation, respect and most importantly the determination to support and push women issues to another level.

 “Gossiping about and discouraging ourselves is prevalent,” Dr Ravusiro said.

 Dr Ravusiro, a food technologist with the PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute, highlighted this during the PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation roundtable talk at Bubia in Lae recently.

 ‘To empower the 90% of PNG women in rural areas, we need good teamwork with positive attitudes with respect for each others’ opinions,” she said.

“Only than will women’s voices become strong and men will realise that rural women are a great force with a voice contributing to the development of this country.

 “Let us not blame men for our weaknesses.

 “We should appreciate their support since most men are not as bad as many women would think.

 “Most men are understandable and respectful and without them we would miss this forum.”

 Dr Ravusiro was speaking to about 23 registered groups and 12 associate members of PNGWiADF, covering 13 provinces and representing 3,000 women networks, who participated in the forum.

 The women shared a strong commitment to make a difference in their agricultural practices and wellbeing through knowledge sharing and information exchange, training and practical support.

With the theme ‘Recognising Women’s Agricultural Innovations through Dialogue’, the forum was an initiative of the PNGWiADF to gain recognition of its role as the voice of women in agriculture.

 The objective of the forum was for PNGWiADF to bring rural women’s voice to the attention of key stakeholders, donor partners and line government agencies which participated and collectively develop a strategic plan for women in agriculture.

 The strategic plan was drafted by members representing various registered groups and it echoed and complemented other plans such as NARI ‘s Strategic Plan 2006-2015, National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), Medium Term Development  Strategy 2005-2010 (MTDS) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

 The success of achievements of PNGWiADF has been through effective partnerships and relationships it has established through building trust with its partners within the country and internationally.

 Networks were developed and relationships established with ACIAR, Crawford Fund, Australian Women In Agriculture, Minister for Queensland Primary Industries, Forest and Regional Australia Tim Mulherin, Parliamentary Secretary for International Aid Bob McMullan, Community of South Pacific, Commonwealth of Learning – Canada, US Embassy in PNG, NZ Aid, AusAid, NARI, National Department of Agriculture and Livestock, and the private and the public sector in PNG.

 President of PNGWiADF, Maria Linibi said, the relationship and trust of these organisations and individuals has enabled the organisation to set the foundation for a new era in the development outcomes for the rural majority.

 

Agricultural courses on offer at HAC

Caption:  Certificate in agriculture farming graduates listen to guest speakers during their graduation last December

 

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

Highlands Agricultural College (HAC) in Mount Hagen is offering agribusiness management training courses for the general public.

The college, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), has invited people working in agriculture and livestock industries and others to apply.

The agribusiness management course was formerly known as the plantation management training programme (PMTP).

The objective of the programme, reintroduced at the college three years ago, is to produce skilled graduates for the plantation sector and train field supervisors, cadet managers and graduates for family estates.

HAC acting principal Philip Senat said the college played an important role in conducting training for the agricultural sector workforce.

He said the demand for such agricultural training was high due to the growing agriculture sector and its importance as the backbone of the country’s economy.

 He said training of agricultural workers was an important activity being carried out by DAL through the college.

The college has in recent years introduced short to medium-term training programmes on specific agricultural topics besides the post-certificate diploma (PCD) in tropical agriculture.

This is to enable more agricultural workers and school leavers to be trained or refresh their knowledge and skills in agriculture.

 Mr Senat said this year, in addition to the pcd programme and certificate in agriculture farming,  the college was also offering the agribusiness management course and participants would receive certificates in operational skills and management skills.

 The courses are for plantation field supervisors, didiman store workers, assistant farm workers, co-operative farmers, and self-employed farmers.

 These applicants must have minimum qualification of Grade 10.

A certificate in management skills course (year two) is also available for those graduates who have successfully completed the operational skills course with PMTP under agribusiness management programme.

Course participants will be required to pay tuition fees and other fees, set by the college.

Boarders for the management skills course will pay a total of K1, 750 while day students will pay K1, 110.

 Operational skills participant boarders will pay K1, 550 and day students will pay K910.

The courses will commence on Aug 30.

Mr Senat said that unfortunately the college could only enroll a limited number of students during the year.

This is due mainly to limited accommodation facilities.

He urged interested people to contact the college on 76982419, 5202381, 5202384, or 76982417.

Positive impact by Chinese experts at agriculture college

Captions: 1. From left are  HAC farm manager Logan Pyapowa, upland rice expert Zhang Baozin, vegetable expert Chen Guangxu and Xin Zongbao inspecting some rice varieties on trial.2. Farm manager Logan Pyapowa points out something while having discussions with the Chinese experts. Team Leader Xin Zongbao is on the left.

 

 

The presence of a Chinese technical cooperation team at the Highlands Agricultural College has been a boost to staff and students.

The team of specialists arrived in the country late last year and has been providing technical support to the farmer training programme conducted by the college and other related activities.

The team’s objective is to address food security issues through training programmes and use of appropriate technology.

So far its technical co-operation assistance has benefited both the college students and trainees and farmers.

Team leader Xin Zongbao said his team of six specialists brought with them farming equipment including tractor, rice threshers, milling machines and huller.

They planted four different varieties of rice from China on trial basis and will be multiplying the rice seeds and after harvesting and milling, will get the people to taste the rice.

He said the trial plots looked promising at this stage and further evaluation would be carried out to select the most-suitable variety in terms of production, taste, fewer pest and disease and consumer preference.

The team is also working on a number of vegetable trials.

HAC, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, is appreciative of the collaborative work being carried out with the Chinese team.

Farm director Logan Pyapowa said the Chinese had been working closely with staff and students and as a result there were positive changes in the college.

“We are learning a lot from the Chinese specialists, especially on having positive attitudes towards our work,” he said.

“They are very hard working they will continue working until the task is completed, spending long hours in the field.

“We really appreciate working with the Chinese team.

“We are also learning other things such as maintenance of farming equipment.

“I do not regret working side-by-side and learning from the Chinese.”

Mr Zongbao said he believed that there was a lot of potential for rice production especially upland rice in the Highlands region.

He is confident that the current rice trials at the college will prove successful and suitable varieties can be distributed to farmers for transplanting.

NARI to show resource centre

Caption: A model resource centre being built at Bubia near Lae for the 2010 agricultural innovations show next Wednesday

 

Story and picture by JOSEPHINE YAGA of NARI

 

Community-based resource centre, a concept promoted by National Agriculture Research Institute as a ‘one stop centre’ for information exchange and knowledge sharing at village level, will be showcased at Bubia near Lae next Wednesday (May 5 2010).

This will be a highlight of the 2010 Agricultural Innovations Show organised by NARI at its headquarters at Bubia.

Chairman of show organising committee Dr John Bailey said a model resource centre would be on display fully equipped with information and resources that would be made available to some 50 centres throughout the drought vulnerable regions of PNG under a new project.

Farmers and development partners are invited to see the centre and hear from NARI about the concept which can support extension and information dissemination in rural PNG.

NARI is promoting the concept to facilitate information exchange and technology transfer in rural areas in which farmers can have access to new and improved technologies and innovations, which can help them improve their farming practices and thereby enhancing their food security, increased income earning opportunities and improved welfare.

The rationale is to bridge the gap between farmers, communities and researchers, and help empower farmers and their communities with improved skills, techniques, materials and knowledge for decision-making.

The model centre is being developed as part of NARI’s national drought preparedness project funded by the Government.

The project is titled ‘Preparing rural communities for frequent and prolonged El Niño-induced drought events’, and will be launched during the show.

During the show, the model resource centre will be fully contented with demonstrations and information on drought coping strategies both indoor and outdoor. Indoor exhibits will be on food processing, preservation and storage.

Outdoor show will have food drying, water sourcing, irrigation and integrated farming.

Although this will be done for agricultural development and disaster management, the idea is that the centre can also be used for health, education, law and order, and other issues of significance to community development.

The resource centre concept is a new initiative and innovative approach being proposed by NARI in order to find alternative, cost-effective and efficient ways of reaching and linking people to address the core challenges of information exchange, technology adaptation and transfer, and innovation by farmers.

 

FW: NARI to show resource centre

Caption: A model resource centre being built at Bubia near Lae for the 2010 agricultural innovations show next Wednesday

 

Story and picture by JOSEPHINE YAGA of NARI

 

Community-based resource centre, a concept promoted by National Agriculture Research Institute as a ‘one stop centre’ for information exchange and knowledge sharing at village level, will be showcased at Bubia near Lae next Wednesday (May 5 2010).

This will be a highlight of the 2010 Agricultural Innovations Show organised by NARI at its headquarters at Bubia.

Chairman of show organising committee Dr John Bailey said a model resource centre would be on display fully equipped with information and resources that would be made available to some 50 centres throughout the drought vulnerable regions of PNG under a new project.

Farmers and development partners are invited to see the centre and hear from NARI about the concept which can support extension and information dissemination in rural PNG.

NARI is promoting the concept to facilitate information exchange and technology transfer in rural areas in which farmers can have access to new and improved technologies and innovations, which can help them improve their farming practices and thereby enhancing their food security, increased income earning opportunities and improved welfare.

The rationale is to bridge the gap between farmers, communities and researchers, and help empower farmers and their communities with improved skills, techniques, materials and knowledge for decision-making.

The model centre is being developed as part of NARI’s national drought preparedness project funded by the Government.

The project is titled ‘Preparing rural communities for frequent and prolonged El Niño-induced drought events’, and will be launched during the show.

During the show, the model resource centre will be fully contented with demonstrations and information on drought coping strategies both indoor and outdoor. Indoor exhibits will be on food processing, preservation and storage.

Outdoor show will have food drying, water sourcing, irrigation and integrated farming.

Although this will be done for agricultural development and disaster management, the idea is that the centre can also be used for health, education, law and order, and other issues of significance to community development.

The resource centre concept is a new initiative and innovative approach being proposed by NARI in order to find alternative, cost-effective and efficient ways of reaching and linking people to address the core challenges of information exchange, technology adaptation and transfer, and innovation by farmers.

 

Northern needs K500 million for infrastructure restoration

By SOLDIER BURUKA of Department of Agriculture and Livestock

Northern province needs about K500 million to rebuild infrastructure facilities including bridges and culverts that were destroyed during the 2007 Cyclone Guba.

Member for Ijivitari and Vice-Minister for Education, David Arore, called on the Government to provide major funding for rehabilitation and restoration of basic infrastructure and communication services and to return the province to normalcy.

He said the Northern population of 135,000 had contributed to the overall development of the country and deserved better treatment from the Government.

He said up to K500 million was needed to be spent on repairing and building permanent infrastructure facilities and services in the cyclone-devastated province.

In formally opening the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) Southern Regional Development Forum in Popondetta last week, Mr Arore urged the participants to take note of the people’s concerns and raise the matter with appropriate authorities.

Amidst loud applause from the public who watched the formal opening, Mr Arore said people’s everyday livelihood was affected due to inaccessible roads, damaged bridges and culverts, inadequate communication, limited air transport services, high cost of transport and other constraints.

 He said farmers were finding it difficult to transport their agricultural produce to markets, small businesses were collapsing and essential government services were not reaching the people.

He called on the authorities to ensure that permanent infrastructure was put in place and “not half baked” or temporary facilities which needed repairs and regular maintenance.

“Oro people have served this country in many ways and deserved better treatment from the government.

“We want development to come into this province.”

Mr Arore proposed that a road be built to connect Popondetta through Safia and Kokoda to Kupiano in the Central province in light of the LNG and economic growth predicted in the near future.

He said Oro was blessed with many natural resources but it lacked adequate infrastructure facilities to move the province forward.

 The delegates attending the forum were taken on a tour of the damaged bridges and culverts along the Kokoda Highway and towards Oro Bay.

CIMC executive officer Ms Marjorie Andrew, in her opening remarks at the start of the session, said the forum was to discuss a range of important transport and communication issues facing the Southern Region provinces of Oro, Milne Bay, Central, Gulf and Western.

She said the theme “access to adequate transport and communication infrastructure and services: the vital links in the development chain”   was appropriate and timely. 

Ms Andrew said the transport sector was said to be the forgotten link in the development chain.

“It has provided the backbone for the social and economic development of Papua New Guinea,” she said.

“The importance of transport is often only recognised when it doesn’t perform or when disaster occurs.

“Investment in the country’s road networks, ports and airports is necessary for facilitating growth in the economy.

“Increases in freight and passenger movements have provided the platform for rapid growth in other economies – which have resulted in real increases in wealth and living standards.

“Despite the fact that there have been huge budget appropriations for transport, there is a need for significantly more investment over the next few decades in PNG.

“Adequate transport and communication is essential for the well being of everything in the development chain. 

“We cannot have law and order without it, we cannot have social services delivered without it, and farmers and businesses could not get their produce to markets to sell.

“As the transport system deteriorates in PNG, not being adequately maintained and unable to take the increased demand, we do feel the effects of a failing infrastructure. 

“Poor quality rural road networks, closed airstrips, and crumbling wharves, are indeed a weak platform for development.”

Ms Andrew said she was sorry to see the many bridges that had been washed away along the Kokoda Highway and even more disappointed that little had been done to repair and replace these bridges along a designated national road that has the Northern Province Restoration Authority set up to fix it. 

“Just imagine the impact that has had on the social and economic life of Sohe District and even the province.

“In order for PNG to compete in world trade, we must have adequate infrastructure in place to enable our businesses to compete.”

Ms Andrew said the large increase in global trade and services that was forecast would require new transport corridors, efficient handling and logistics services, and increased mobility of labour, goods and services, as well as reduced time and costs.

“PNG is now feeling that the current transport infrastructure cannot take the LNG projects, let alone increases in international trade,” she said.

“We are facing a serious dilemma here, and need to give political and financial priority to transport and communication infrastructure and services.” 

For you

By MICHELLE EVOA

 

Stars in the dark night sky

That we sat out under plotted.

Your eyes sparked

Gentle brush of your hand

Made me quiver

Our shoulders rubbed.

Warmth of your company

So overwhelming,

How I wished the

Night wouldn’t end.

 

I’m sitting beside you,

Listening to you talk

This is the closest

We have ever been.

We’re so at ease

This one meeting, was beyond us

 

I stole a glance

Your eyes shot right through me

You are so firm,

And yet so elegantly dark

And mysterious by nature.

I struck a chord,

What we feel is mutual.

 

That kiss you planted

As we talked

Melted my guard

And left me breathless

Without a doubt, you were

The stronger, collected one,

Always distant, somewhat lurking

That charisma of you

As if underlying

Always drew me to you.

 

I looked again at the stars

In the dark night sky

To how they had plotted now;

When you pulled me to you

As if to tell me

My Dark Knight

Was really, always here

So close, and yet

So longingly far.