China inks deal to build 4 LNG ships

EXXONMOBIL, operator of the PNG Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, and Mitsui & Co Ltd have signed a contract with China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) signed to build four LNG ships to ship China’s import of gas from Papua New Guinea and Australia, The National reports.

The contract was signed last Saturday without revealing the contract value. It is said to be China’s first overseas order for such an advanced carrier to ship LNG out of Papua New Guineas and Australia.

The Texas-based company said in an email that was later reported in Bloomberg online news that Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co, Ltd, a subsidiary of CSSC, will build the ships for Mitsui, a Japanese shipping giant.

ExxonMobil said the ships are scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2016.

“ExxonMobil was quoted saying: “The fleet will be used for shipping China’s imports of liquefied natural gas from Australia and Papua New Guinea.”

In 2009, ExxonMobil contracted with China’s major oil and gas producer PetroChina and refiner Sinopec to transport exports about 425 tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year.

A liquefied natural gas carrier is a tanker ship designed for transporting liquefied gas at a temperature of minus 163 degrees Celsius, and marks an important part in the LNG supply chain.

Only a handful of nations, such as the US, Japan and the South Korea have the ability to build such ships.

Hudong-Zhonghua is China’s only LNG ship builder.

Its first ship was delivered in April 2008. It has completed five vessels, with one still under-construction.

The company did not disclose the price of the vessels.

Tan Yajun, general manager of CSSC said the company would strive to deliver the ship with high quality craftsmanship and on schedule.

 

Media and the Queensland floods

By JOHN PASQUARELLI

 

Sitting in my comfortable lounge chair in Central Victoria,  I can no longer watch or listen to the flood news - I feel like a voyeur who gains morbid pleasure from the terrible stories repeated over and over again. 

The sight of the TV journos running the same interviews,  the same shocking scenes of destruction is truly sickening. 

I suppose many of these brain-dead talking heads  can see themselves walking away with a Walkley later in the year.

One wonders if there are any level-headed decent radio and TV bosses left who could ensure a proper level of  professionalism – seems not.

Disasters have to be reported but not like this and the reporting of the Queensland floods is a crudely-regurgitated version of the murderous Victorian bushfires. 

To date, no politician has dared to challenge the media maggots and of course there  are journos out there who know how to behave but sadly they are in the  minority. 

I liked the Mayor of Ipswich who said that he would use looters as flood markers and warned that the community would take matters into their own hands – comments sure to set the PC brigade foaming off at the mouth. 

When will a crushed victim asked by a journo – 'how do you feel?' ,  answer with 'like this' and deliver a right hook!

Manam islanders partly to blame: kukurai

By MALUM NALU

 

Displaced Manam islanders in Madang province are partly to blame for the massive

social problems that have befallen them, according to Bogia kukurai (chief) Luimack Johnson.

Johnson, who is chairman and director of landowners from Nubia and Sisimagum villages, said this at the weekend after reports about the ongoing plight of Manam islanders at care centres in Bogia.

He said landowners on the mainland had been very generous is allowing the displaced islanders to make gardens, fish in their sea and build schools for their children at the care centres.

“In return, some landowners’ children, girls and women get harassed by the displaced Manam islanders,” Johnson, who holds power-of-attorney over Potsdam, Nubia and other customary land around the area, said.

“They make gardens further into other traditional land and get aggressive when it’s pointed out to them politely.

“Some of them tend to think that they have some kind of special government powers and are law unto themselves which enables them to do whatever they want, even illegal activities like homebrew, selling black market beer, creating social problems, defacing our sacred places, chopping down coconuts trees, harvesting our coconuts for copra and other undesirable activities.

“This sort of attitude/ other associated matters may have attributed to the clashes and recent killings in the care centres.”

Johnson said he had remained silent and kept his people calm for as long as possible so as not to encourage violence in settling land matters at Nubia and Potsdam plantations, but now felt compelled to speak for his people.

“My people need to paticipate in economic activities too,” he said.

“They need better water supply, rural power system, better transport system, better infrastructure like health clinics, women and youth resource centres, downstream processing of our coconuts and other products.

“I kindly request the two plantation titles be transferred back immediately to the genuine landowners as per the National Executive Council Decision No. 22/2007.

“It is common traditional knowledge who owns land where Potsdam Plantation is situated.

“I suggest that younger generation consult their older folk for accurate stories as to where their traditional borders/ land marks are rather then making spurious outrageous claims.

“I encourage those making these spurious outrageous claims to come to a scheduled meeting supervised by a neutral party like the customary lands board to sort the ownership issue out in a lawful, civilised manner.”

 

New governor general's election by parliament seems another political joke!

Last Friday’s midday news bulletin just told Papua New Guineans what its dysfunctional Parliament did that morning in its first new year business.

The media in the preceeding 48 hours had mooted the government’s first choice nominee of a current sitting MP to be the next governor-general for PNG. 

So it was not surprising for all to learn by noon that parliament had elected the government’s first choice for GG in a secret ballot, the country’s new representative for the Queen of Papua New Guinea.

Yes, it’s official now. 

PNG has a new vice-regal amidst still very-controversial circumstances.

The new vice-regal is current Member for North Bougainville and Minister for higher Education, Michael Ogio.

Government and parliament started off a very rowdy 2011 session at 10am last Friday after the morning’s prayer session to start the year’s parliament proceedings.

After the snap election of a still unsuitable GG, there will not be any parliamentary business for a few months more until May 2011.

The people’s assembly has gone into forced hibernation at the people of PNG’s expense.

Parliament will rise at 2pm Tuesday, May 10, 2011.

It must equally be very frustrating for both parliamentary opposition and member for Moresby-South and minister for community development, Dame Carol Kidu

The government has once again used its great numbers as in its two previous house sessions to quash any chances of planned votes of no-confidence against the prime minister and or government.

The government’s actions using parliament has also again totally ignored Dame Kidu’s long-awaited private member’s bill on the issue of: 22 reserved seats for women in parliament.

This much-delayed issue has again been put on the backburner of government business in parliament.

The only serious agenda at hand now, in as far as the acting speaker Maru was concerned, was the election of a new GG by parliament as the first business of 2011.

What a great shame, the PNG parliament has turned out to welcome the new year. 

It is a sure sign of more funny business to come in the remaining life of this parliament, and the government of Michael Somare leading up to the 2012 national elections.

Acting speaker, Francis Maru’s overall actions have so far being very disappointing for he is again displaying similar mistakes as his boss, Jeffrey Nape - who is still on an MP missing in action list for several weeks now.

What a bunch of clowns PNG politicians and the people’s house has become during PM Somare’s watch.

The public can again expect more legal challenges looming over the horizon for the government when parliament next rises.

The tragedy of Manam islanders...refugees in their own country

By MALUM NALU

Refugees in their own land...a recent scene from a Manam displaced persons camp in Bogia, Madang province.-Picture courtesy of NATIONAL DISASTER SERVICE

As if to ensure that problems continued into the new year 2011, Manam Island in Madang province began a series of eruptions on Christmas Day and activities continued up until Dec 30, when larger eruptions occurred, resulting in some panic by people that have returned to Manam Island.
It goes without saying that Manam had a spectacular, natural fireworks display to mark the arrival of the new year.
It is, however, a paradox that the pyrotechnics does not bode well for the islanders, more like a harbinger of more problems to come in 2011.
At Dugalava on the island, a spokesman for the people told the provincial disaster office and former politician and businessman Sir Peter Barter that more than 1, 000 people needed to be evacuated and similar stories emerged from other villages right around the island.
Sir Peter released funds to purchase petrol and diesel and the provincial disaster office drove the fuel to Bogia overnight so that evacuations could take place at day break if necessary.
That’s because both the provincial and national governments had zilch to help the affected Manam people.
“Clearly they were frightened, many demanding to be relocated to the mainland,” Sir Peter said.
The irony is that if they came to the mainland, more problems, maybe even death, awaited them at the hands of frustrated Bogia villagers on the mainland.
Several Manam islanders have been killed and hundreds left homeless as tensions flared up between Bogia landowners and them.
The Manams fled their island home after a volcanic eruption in 2004 and have been house in care centres at Bogia, on the mainland, ever since.
Their presence, however, has angered local villagers.
Last year, a fight between two high school students escalated into a brawl in which one man was stabbed to death.
Reports say a mob of 500 people then set upon a care centre, burning 160 homes, killing animals and destroying food gardens.
In 2009, six Bogia men were arrested after a Manam woman was bashed and her three-year old daughter beheaded.
It is the tragic and shameful truth about the plight of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Manam, who have become refugees in their own province and country, loathed by fellow Madangs and neglected by both provincial and national governments.

Uncertain future...Manam Island children.-Picture courtesy of National Disaster Service

Around 14,000 islanders have been living in three care centres in Bogia since November 2004, after a devastating volcano eruption forced them to leave their homes on the island, which lies 30km off the mainland.
They, however, are no longer welcome.
Manam islanders displaced by the recent volcanic eruptions over the festive period may find it hard to be resettled.
This is because landowners on Bogia - on the mainland where three care centres for displaced Manam islanders totalling about 14, 000 are - do not want any more refugees on their land.
Only about 3,000 people remain back on the volcanic island.
The three care centres are at the site of three former plantations which are Potsdam, Mangem and Asuramba.
Potsdam landowner, Raymond Brossueau, told me last Friday that the three plantations had been purchased by a former Bogia MP, Tim Ward, and sold to the state to be converted into care centres for displaced Manam islanders without the consent of the traditional landowners.
Sir Peter Barter, when contacted, confirmed the plight of the Manam islanders and added that it was a “national disgrace” which would be heard by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, in May this year as the government continued to turn a blind eye to it.
 Sir Peter also confirmed the animosity of the mainland people towards the islanders because of their land and suggested that the government, which had failed miserably to consult them first before allowing their land to be used as care centres, compensate them properly for this.
Brossueau said there had been major eruptions in 1997, 2004 and over the festive period but unlike 1997, when Manam islanders only stayed for a short time, they had settled at Bogia permanently since 2004.
“In terms of the Manam settlement, the governments knows the land belongs to the people and needs to be given back,” Brossueau said.
“This is particularly in relation to the Potsdam care centre.
“Manam islanders have been there since 2004.
“The government told us that after five years, they would be resettled elsewhere.
“Since then, nothing has happened.
“We landowners have exhausted our land resources to cater for them, with has come with costs in terms of denial of business, social problems, loss of vernacular, ethnic problems and no services because the government regards everyone in the area, including us landowners, as disaster-affected people.”
There have been massive social problems, including fighting and murders, since 2004 at the three care centres as tensions flared between landowners and Manam islanders.
In one of the most-horrific cases, a Manam islander was chopped into pieces and his body parts placed in a bucket, while several of the islanders’ houses have been burned.
Many such incidents have gone unreported by the media since 2004.
“The main impact of dysfunction started in 2004 after they came in,” Brossueau said.
“We know there is ample land available to help these people, but not at these care centres.
“The state says they will give back the land as soon as they find an alternate site to resettle the Manams.
“All these arrangements expired in 2009, and to us, we consider them as illegally settling on our land.
“This year, with all these issues outstanding, the state needs to address the landownership and transfer all the land titles back to the landowners.”
Sir Peter, who has helped the Manam people for 45 years through seven volcanic eruptions, said the whole sad saga would never have happened not it not been for a litany of inept politicians and ineffective public servants.
 “I’m disgusted, absolutely disgusted,” he said.
“I strongly believe that the Manam people have been abused by the government.
“The whole thing is absolutely disgraceful.
“There are problems all over the place.
“It’s a breach of human rights.
 “Very soon, the United Nations Human Rights Commission will bring it up in Geneva.
“It’s aggravated by people who will not help.
“I suggest that the prime minister (Sir Michael Somare) go and sit down with the Manam islanders and the landowners.
“It’s a story which should never have been necessary to tell.
“It should have been resolved six years ago.”
There is, however, a silver lining to the dark clouds hovering over Manam Island and its people.
The Manam issue is going global and PNG authorities will be questioned about the ill treatment of the islanders by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, in May this year.
A well-placed government source told me that PNG authorities, including the Department of National Planning, would have a lot of explaining as to why they did not fund the Manam resettlement exercise for 2011.
Apparently, Manams will be left to fend for themselves for the seventh year in 2011, despite K15 million approved by the national executive council to help them.
This, according to the source, is because the approval of the K15m by NEC seemed to have gone unheeded by national planning and monitoring.
“How long will the Manam people be allowed to suffer because of some bad policy and budget decisions?” he said.
“Obviously, one would say that not too many consulations had been carried out by department of national planning and monitoring on the Manam resettlement issues, because the medium term development plan (MTDP) clearly reflects the issues relevant to Manam, and yet, it is not at all in the 2011 development budget.”
Meanwhile, the long-suffering Manam islanders continue to wait, and wait...and wait.

Appeal planned against governor general vote

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

A NOTICE of appeal will be filed at the National Court this morning restraining parliament from convening and have the nomination period of the governor-general extended by another 14 days.

Parliament was scheduled to meet at 10am today, The National reports.

Appellant Ronald Rimbao, who had publicly announced his intention to contest the GG’s post, would use section 5(4) of the Organic Law on the nomination of the governor-general to stop parliament from meeting until his appeal was heard in a court of law.

Rimbao is arguing that he was not provided a nomination form, to seek endorsement from at least 15 members of parliament to qualify for the race, although his lawyers had written to the clerk of parliament on Dec 31 last year.

In a letter to clerk of parliament Don Pandan on Wednesday, Rimbao said he would also seek to have his nomination form of May 28, 2010, accepted and included among the nominated list for the position of governor-general in this sitting.

However, in his reply the same day, Pandan said he had no powers to get parliament “to meet today or tomorrow” to reverse its meeting schedule.

“The acting speaker’s statement announcing details of the nomination and deadlines cannot be reversed. It was made in parliament and can only be reversed in parliament,” Pandan explained in his letter to Rimbao.

“The only other body that has these powers is the courts.”

The clerk of parliament also pointed out that the entire process of nomination that took place in May and June last year could not be relied on or used.

“The entire process starts again, and did so on Tuesday, Jan 11, at 3.30pm in the chamber with the acting speaker’s statement,” Pandan said in his reply.

This meeting of parliament, which started on Monday, was specifically to nominate and vote in a new governor-general following a Supreme Court order on Dec 10 last year.

It did so after ruling that the election of Sir Paulias Matane as the vice-regal was unconstitutional.

Copies of Rimbao’s letter to Pandan were also delivered to the speaker and solicitor-general.

 

 

University of Goroka management reinstated

THE top management team at the University of Goroka in Eastern Highlands has been reinstated, The National reports.

The management voluntarily stepped aside nine months ago following a student boycott early last year.

An independent investigation committee was formed to probe allegation of academic, administrative and financial mismanagement.

After reviewing the committee’s report, the university council found no evidence relating to the claims and reinstated Vice-Chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi, associate professor Michael Mel (pro vice-chancellor academic) and Dr James Yoko (pro vice-chancellor administration) to their posts on Jan 1.

They were also issued strict performance guidelines.

UoG Chancellor Benais Sabumei announced the decision this week in a statement to all UOG stakeholders.

“The issues raised by the investigation committee did not constitute financial fraud, misuse or mismanagement by the sidelined management that required reviewing or cancelling their contracts.

“In recalling the top management, and in line with the committee’s recommendation, the council will enforce a higher standard of performance criteria and appraisals on the management team; so that their respective performances are under constant review by the council,” Sabumei said.

“The past culture of UoG strikes, boycotts and sit-ins must end and stakeholders must understand and adhere to established, proper legal processes under the UOG statues, laws and other processes to achieve our individual and collective aspirations. 

“The council also seeks cooperation and understanding from all stakeholders in ensuring our university meets the expectations of the government and the citizens of PNG.”

 

 

Abal vows to equip PTB

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE acting prime minister has given the revived plant and transport board (PTB) his full backing and wants it fully operational to seal all 9,000km of national roads in Papua New Guinea by this year, The National reports.

Assuring 20 provincial works managers to revive PTB following a request they made at recent a consultative meeting, Sam Abal, who is also works minister, said he would honour their request and build the capacity of PTB.

However, he set the road-sealing timeframe for this year.

“The national government will fund and upgrade PTB and build its capacity in all provincial works divisions,” Abal told the managers and senior Department of Works staff.

“You are at the forefront and the government will equip and build your capacity through revitalising the PTB so that the rural majority can access services through a decent road network.

“People are dying due to lack of road link. It is our priority to connect them with services.

“I am with you and we will build the capacity in terms of manpower, equipment and other resources required to revive PTB,” Abal said.

The acting prime minister said he had written to Treasurer Peter O’Neill to make funds available to revamp PTB nationwide.

During the consultation yesterday in Port Moresby, the works managers also briefed the acting prime minister about their strengths, weaknesses and their areas of need.

Emphasising the need to revive the PTB, most provincial managers said they were capable of sealing the 9,000km of roads if they had the financial capacity to do so.

 

 

McGregor cops put up blockade

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

THE alleged removal of a police vehicle used by director for Special Services Division (SSD) David Manning has infuriated members of the division who set up a blockade to possible security threats within its divisional headquarters at McGregor barracks outside Port Moresby, The National reports.

In the light of SSD’s refusal to hand over a number of weapons to the task force. 

According to a senior sgt major who requested anonymity, a retrenched police senior inspector and two former SSD members tailed director Manning’s five door Toyota Landcruiser vehicle from Bomana Police College into the barracks.

He said Manning’s driver, also a policeman, was held at gunpoint after parking in front of the headquarters car park at around 9pm and 10pm.

He said the driver was asked to give up the keys to the vehicle but refused.

“He was punched by both suspended colleagues on both sides of his ears and kicked when he fell onto the bitumen.

“The senior inspector then removed the keys and drove away in the Landcruiser including two weapons which were in the vehicle,” he said.

He said the driver then called the officer who claims a blockade was set up until daybreak the next day. 

It is understood that the senior inspector involved flew with the contingent that left for Vanimo, West Sepik, to conduct border patrol operations yesterday.

“To our understanding this is a hold-up that took place here.

“We want to know who gave the directives and issued orders to retrieve the vehicle in the middle of the night.

Asked if there was a mutiny looming in the division, he added “we are intact”.

“There is no mutiny and there is no stand-off but only frustration over the alleged incident.

“The public and investors can be assured that there are no such claims as mutiny in the division.

“We are here to serve the RPNGC Commissioner of the day,” he said.   

SSD director is currently on sick leave for an indefinite period.

The National was told that the vehicle was later located at Police Headquarters in Konedobu.

The keys and weapons were handed over to NCD Met Supt Joseph Tondop.

NCD Met Supt could not be reached for comments regarding the blockade and related matters.

 

 

Report: Salt solutions low

By ELIZABETH MIAE

 

ORAL rehydration salts (ORS) are badly needed in large quantities for distribution to all established ORS points in Western including the new ones that would be set up, The National reports.

This is one of the main points highlighted in a situation report by the province’s cholera response committee on Monday.

The report stated that there was an excessive amount of Hartmann’s solution (IV fluids) and that they (committee) did not need any more.

“In fact, a lot of Hartmanns will need to be sent back to Port Moresby for re-supply elsewhere,” the report said.

Last month about 6.5tonnes (374 boxes) of IV fluids were flown by the PNG Defence Force Casa aircraft from Port Moresby to Daru.

According to Health Department surveillance officer Berry Ropa, the supplies were made available by the department upon an assessment report by the response committee.

Even Governor Dr Bob Danaya said the fluids were “most important” as it saved people’s lives however the latest situation report stated the opposite.

The report stated that IEC materials (posters) were needed inside and outside of the hotspot areas.

“Utensils for boiling water (we propose 10l pots) are needed in the Bamu/Gama/Turama River areas. The task force will be purchasing 1,600 of these to distribute along with water containers.

“This estimate is based on the at risk population of this area of approximately 14,000 people with an average family size of eight.”

The committee also pointed out that more water containers were needed in all hot spot areas while another 10,000 collapsible narrow neck 10L water containers for distribution.

“Until appropriate safe water supplies are established in the river communities of this province, storage of boiled water is the choice option that will reinforce the public health and risk communication messages of boiling water and using/storing it for use.”

The deaths are 330 with no new cases reported since Dec 24 while the number of cases was 3, 564 as of last Thursday.

 

Breaking news on election of governor general

Michael Ogio now governor general with 64 votes, Pato Kakarya 22 and informal votes 8

Coffee

By JEFFREY MANE FEBI

Blossom! blossom! in June. Crowds
They stand to proclaim their renewals
And invite bees onto many a pearly stage
Then yellow their limbs with their jewels
As bees in hype and dance engage

Some begin to bow under jovial load
As green gold replaces many a pearly stage
This transformation, bees, send to hive
With gentle persuasion to kindly disengage
Then they, a day of colour prepare to revive

Then masses upon masses, more beautiful
Load grey brown branches and between
Weary green leaves paint them shiny red,
O red! pleasant red! signal to convene
Hurry! please hurry! Or they’ll shed!

Papua New Guinea talent hits the world stage

By MALUM NALU
Papua New Guinea talent hits the world stage next month with the world premiere of Dschunglkind (Jungle Child), a German-made movie, which was shot in the jungles of Malaysia last year and features a large PNG cast of over 80 people.

Poster of the movie with Papua New Guinean McPolly Koima, who plays the chief of the Fayu, hugging young Sabine Kuegler (played by Stella Kunkat)

The US$25 million film will have its world premiere in Berlin on Feb 17 and will then be distributed throughout the world, including PNG, by Universal Pictures with English sub-titles added.
Trailers of the movies are available on YouTube and are also being widely-circulated on social networking sites such as Facebook by proud Papua New Guineans.
German film production company, UFA Cinema Germany, conducted auditions throughout PNG for actors and actresses and then brought them to Malaysia for three months last year to do the filming.
The film, based on a bestselling German book of the same name, tells the story of Sabine Kuegler and her missionary parents and how they go to live in a remote jungle area of West Papua, Indonesia, among the recently-discovered Fayu, a tribe untouched by modern civilisation.
It is her remarkable true story of a childhood lived out in the jungle, and the struggle to conform to European society that followed.
Dschunglkin, first published in 2005, is the story of how an exotic, touching, and unique childhood leads into the drama of a woman who longs to revisit her ‘homeland’ with the Fayu.
Group leaders David Taem and Calextus Simeon, who led the large troupe of PNG actors – men, women and children – to Malaysia last year, said today that it was an achievement that the whole country should be proud of.

David Taem (left) and Calextus Simeon show a trailer of Dschunglkind (Jungle Child), today.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Only a handful such as Markham Galut, McPolly Koima, Brown Sinbebe, Chris Urio and David Kaumara were experienced actors while the majority were novices.
An emotional Taem, who led the recruitment drive in 2009, said Jungle Child would show PNG talent on the world stage, as well as dispel what many “Doubting Thomases” said two years ago.
“To see this come to reality after three years of lobbying for UFA Cinema to shoot the movie inPNG, and use our actors, is a dream come true for me,” he said.
“There were many ‘Doubting Thomases’ who we have now proven wrong.
“We Papua New Guineans have some brilliant actors.
“This picture will be distributed by Universal Pictures and should set the foundation for PNG.
“It should contribute significantly towards the development of the film industry in PNG.”
Simeon, an established PNG filmmaker who helped the German team in production of the movie, said Jungle Child was a milestone for the film industry in this country and augered well for the future.
“For the first time, in terms of the PNG film industry on the international scene, you see Papua New Guineans right from the beginning to the end,” he said.
“They play a crucial part in the movie.
“The main story is there, but you see the sub-plots, which are based on the characters that evolve as the story unfolds.
“The most-amazing and heartwarming thing was the performance of the children, who really set a benchmark.
“I see it as a sacrifice for the next generation.
“It’s all about setting the scene for the next generation.”

MRA launches online shop for its publications

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

MINING investors, government departments and mining stakeholders can now buy any Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) publications through its newly-launched online shop, The National reports.

Launched yesterday, the online shop uses a secure electronic payment gateway, the ANZ eGate, or an eCommerce facility technology that allowed MRA to securely accept and process online customer payments by credit card and provided customers the option of paying in their preferred currency.

The items in the online shop included geological maps, geophysical and geochemistry data and other internal publications.

MRA acting managing director Philip Samar said the partnership between MRA and ANZ hoped to expand on this facility to include online payments for service, administrative and other statutory fees such as tenement application fees and licences.

Samar said the range of merchandise would also cover MRA T-shirts and umbrellas, as well as technical publications.

According to MRA technicians, the ecommerce facility was designed to allow potential clients to buy anything they wanted from the online shop in the comfort of their offices or homes worldwide.

Clients would need to login, fill in the required details, order their item and pay for it with a Master or Visa card.

Processed through ANZ, this was a safe and secure way to make purchases as it would only be the card holder and their bank who knows their numbers and passwords.

With six currencies available, including the Japanese yen, clients would need to pay a K75 flat rate on top of the item before receiving their order in 64 days.

MRA is meeting with DHL to arrange for a faster and efficient delivery system.

ANZ’s relationship manager public sector Kingsley Anakapu explained that although this type of technology was relatively new in PNG, MRA became the second organisation to sign up after Datec last year.

He said this showed how the business environment was growing in PNG.

The address for the online shop is www.mra-shop.com .

 

 

 

 

 

 

State urged to settle K4.4m compensation

By ELIZABETH VUVU

 

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has demanded that the provincial administration and parties at Waigani conclude a longstanding land settlement claim of K4.4 million for the Tigak landowners of Kavieng town, The National reports.

He directed provincial administrator Simeon Malai to liaise with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning and accelerate process to settle the matter.

Sir Julius said in a statement that the Kavieng landowners had adhered to the spirit of cooperation under the memorandum of agreement signed between the parties last year, but lack of commitment by the national government had frustrated the people.

“It seems that issues affecting New Ireland get no priority attention by the national government, and that is unwarranted.”

The governor met with landowner representatives last Friday and was briefed on the matter.

Sir Julius said he was disappointed that the Department of Lands and Physical Planning had failed to honour the government’s commitments to the villagers of Omo, Bagail, Mongol, Kulangit and Papliang.

“They have been fighting a longstanding land compensation claim dating back to the colonial era.”

Records showed that the early administration had promised to acquire the Kavieng town land which was later given legal title and valued at K 4.41 million in 1988 by the Kavieng District Court.

 

 

 

 

 

Locals switch off Telikom station

By ZACHERY PER

 

VITAL telecommunication transmitters at Mt Otto repeater station in Eastern Highlands were shut down yesterday by landowners frustrated over outstanding compensation issues, The National reports.

More than 50 men from the Sehayuha clan of Kotuni village that owns portion of land where Telikom, bemobile and Digicel went to the site and switched off all the facilities.

Director of Goroka Security Services John Siga, also a member of Sehayuha clan, said they had internal disagreement over the chairmanship of the local association and the non-payment for the use of land prompted them to shut down the facilities.

Siga said the three main telecommunication service providers were using the facility to make a lot of money while the landowners’ demands remained outstanding.

 “We are now waiting for management of the three communication companies to come to the site to address the demands before communication is restored,” Siga said.

He said his guards and policemen at the site could not do much as they were overpowered by the frustrated locals.

“We hope to sort the issue out as soon as possible as communication services are very important,” Siga said.

The communication services were switched off at 11am yesterday which was deemed an illegal move contravening Telecommunication Act as leading and tampering with public facilities.

Eastern Highlands police commander Chief Supt Augustine Wampe deployed a unit of Goroka-based mobile squad 14 to provide security for properties and employees at the site.

The deployment came into effect on Tuesday when threats were issued for destruction to communications facilities at Mt Otto by landowners.

He said police were now providing heavy security surveillance at the site, adding they would use the full force of the law if any landowners try to get out of hand.

Wampe said communication services were important and there were other avenues available to bring about grievances before taking the law into their own hands.

“Ring leaders will be dealt with severely should the situation get out of hand,” he warned.

Communications through mobile phones and Telikom landlines as well as electronic bank data transfers were cut off.

The three huge communication towers at Mt Otto serve the Highlands and Momase region.

 

 

Trio charged with aiding ship escape

By ELIZABETH VUVU

 

EAST New Britain police have arrested two senior male officers from a shipping agent and a senior female customs officer with aiding in the illegal departure of vessel UBT Fjord, which was alleged to have stolen crude oil worth K14.5 million from Autonomous Region of Bougainville, The National reports.

ENB police commander Supt Sylvester Kalaut said Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) manager Davis Tumari from Tufi along with his officer Jack Puipui from Matupit were charged with aiding the Captain of the ship, Ye Wi Aung.

Since both men were also held liable for stealing, they were charged under Section 7 of the Criminal Act. Both were arrested and are still in police custody.

A senior exports officer with Customs in Kokopo, Pirita ToBung, was also arrested and charged with aiding as she had signed and stamped the documents provided by ISS and thus giving it lawful authority.

She is out on K2, 000 bail and will appear before the Kokopo district court for mention today (Thursday).

Kalaut said Ubt Fjord’s company in Singapore had emailed ISS requesting for 55 metric tonnes of fuel oil for the vessel.

ISS filled in the forms and took to Customs to sign which was later given to Islands Petroleum depot in Rabaul to give this amount of fuel.

On Dec 22 last year this fuel was given to the crew on the ship. The ship then reportedly sneaked out of the Simpson Harbour last Saturday.

Kalaut said due to the vessel leaving the country’s shores, the State had been permanently deprived of the use of the crude oil as State property.

He said the two officers from ISS had not even informed authorities formally when this fuel was given to the crew on the vessel.

It is understood, the National Fisheries Authority had alerted fishing vessels out in at sea to look out for the vessel.

 

 

Gulf steps up cholera fight

By ALISON ANIS

 

A 12-year-old girl is among six people from Gulf admitted with cholera at the Kerema Hospital, The National reports.

Senior community health officer at the hospital’s main outpatient, accidents and death section, Farapo Kauoi, said the girl and five adults were admitted last week after the hospital discharged more than 40 people treated for cholera since New Year.

Kauoi, who has served as health officer in the province for 33 years, said they had treated more than 100 patients since the first outbreak reports in Gulf last October.

“There had been no deaths at the hospital since the first case was detected and I would like to commend the medical team and hard working staff of the hospital for their effort under very stressful conditions in treating and monitoring patients,” Kauoi said.

“We fear that more people will come after this so we are stepping up our efforts on awareness and other preventative measures especially in hot spot areas in the province,” Kauoi said.   

Kauoi said people from neighbouring villages of Opau, including Silo, Mewaripi across Kerema Bay, Lapari, Siviri, Karaita, Marua, Wamai, Uamai and Kerema town were affected.

“Our first case was detected at Uamai village on Sept 7. Since then and up until Dec 31, we’ve admitted 62 patients. We have also received one child below five years of age and were able to maintain the young patient’s condition,” he said.

Kauoi said they had to convert the hospital’s outpatient area into cholera care centre as more patients came in.

“We have divided the outpatient into three cubicles and it is very risky situation right now because we are mixing people with cholera with those that are not affected.”

“We have been putting patients on the floor and some along corridors because of the small space.”

Kauoi also said the provincial government, and the health division had turned a blind eye on the situation and called on them to set up a cholera care centre at once to cater for expected increases of cholera patients from riverside communities.

 

 

Sir Pato and Ogio qualify

Critics say it’s a plot

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE deadline for nominations for the governor-general’s post lapsed at 4pm yesterday with only two candidates confirmed, The National reports.

It was understood that government candidate Michael Ogio and Sir Pato Kakaraya were the only nominees who would go through the secret ballot tomorrow.

Parliament would resume at 10am.

The nominations would go through thorough screening today to ensure all requirements were met before tomorrow’s elimination process.

Ogio is the current member for North Bougainville and is also higher education minister. He would automatically quit his job as MP and minister if he is successful. The win would also mean Ogio losing his parliamentary leadership of PDM.

Critics said the move was a ploy to destabilise the National Alliance-led government as the governor-general would become a “rubber stamp”.

They said Ogio’s only active duty, if he wins, would be to invite the leader of the party, which wins most seats, to form government after the 2012 general elections.

Sir Pato is a pioneer politician who was voted into office in 1972.

He is also a respected Lutheran church leader.

Sir Pato was one of the first highlands MP with Sir Tei Abal to support Sir Michael Somare gain independence for PNG.

As a strong Pangu man, he also supported Paias Wingti become the first highlands prime minister.

Sir Pato was raised by the Lutheran missionaries in Siassi, and had gained the support of Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.

Sir Pato was the first environment and conservation minister and also held the works and public utilities and home affairs portfolios during his time as a politician.

Sir Pato had been contesting the GG’s post since 2002.

 

 

Agriculture college has key role to play in development

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

HAC acting principal Philip Senat congratulates Wesley Mapa of West New Britain province for being the dux of the 2010 certificate in agriculture class. Mapa came top in management studies, crops and soils, livestock and rural engineering

The Highlands Agricultural College will continue to play an important role in enhancing human resource capacity for the agriculture sector.
However, the college, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Mt Hagen, needs adequate funding to support infrastructure development and institutional strengthening programmes.
DAL’s director for agriculture education and training, Cecilia Kagena, made the remarks during the college’s 37th graduation recently.
A total of 89 students graduated with post-certificate diplomas in tropical agriculture and certificates in agriculture farming.
Kagena, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the DAL secretary and ministry, said the college, which had produced over 2,000 post-certificate diploma graduates and over 1,500 participants on numerous specialised short training courses, had a special place in the history of agriculture development.
“The college will continue to play a key role in teaching and training both the farmers and the training of trainers who will assist others to improve their living standards, reduce poverty and hunger,” she said.
“Provision of appropriate training will increase the farmer’s capacity to realise their potential to develop their own solutions to emerging and unique challenges they face.
“With the national government’s emphasis in its PNG vision 2050 and the medium-term development programme on human resource capacity development, the college has a huge role to play in enhancing the human resource capacity for the sector.
“Everyone must be mindful that despite the mineral and petroleum boom, the agriculture sector remains the backbone of the country for years to come.”
Kagena said whilst the government had come up with policies and strategies to promote agriculture development, there was inadequate funding made available to support institutional strengthening programs and the college has suffered as a result.
She urged relevant agencies including national planning and monitoring department to give priority to the agriculture budget “if we are to be seen as implementers of the vision 2050 pillar on human capital development and wealth creation”.
Despite inadequate funding for the college operations, Kagena commended the college management and staff for their achievements leading to the successful graduation.
She commended the staff for their tireless efforts in conducting three training programmes run concurrently during the year.
Staff were also informed that there would be more opportunities for staff training programmes in 2011 to enhance their teaching skills.
Kagena told the graduating students that getting formal jobs was not everything and urged them to utilise their knowledge and skills to become farmers themselves.
“Obtaining a certificate is a great personal achievement and a start to a new chapter in your professional career in agriculture,” she said.
“However, I am extremely confident that with the certificate in your hand today, it would make your a more attractive candidate for a job, or as a community leader or as an entrepreneur anywhere in the agriculture sector.
“Be reminded that while we have the LNG project going crazy in recruiting young graduates, do not be sidetracked, however, be mindful also that as farmers we also have the opportunity and a duty to feed the people and be self-sustaining.”

Fight against an invasive alien weed

By JOSEPHINE YAGA of NARI

Mikania project leader Annastasia Kawi conducting laboratory studies on rust fungus, Puccinia spegazzini, in the NARI post-entry quarantine (PEQ) constant temperature room at NARI Kerevat, East New Britain

An alien is any species that is found out of its historically normal range.
Often the species will not survive as may not adapt to its new locale due to the locale having slightly different temperatures, seasonal variation, humidity, wind, predators, pests or diseases.
However, in a minority of cases, a plant will be able to survive.
Even more rarely, perhaps in 10% of cases, an alien will thrive in its new location better than in its original location.
This is often because of the absence of a predator or pest that would normally keep the species in check, and because of a biological trait that predisposes it to fast colonisation, such as a fast growth rate and the production of many seeds.
When this happens, the species can spread quickly to become very common and dominant in its new habitat, and is known as ‘invasive’.
A regional workshop on bio control heard that in the Pacific, 300–500 plant species could be regarded as invaders, with about 150 species classified as aggressive.
Mikania micrantha is one such aggressive and invasive weed species.
Often called “mile-a-minute weed”, it can grow as fast as one metre per month.
Mikania is a very destructive invasive weed which spreads far and wide and smothers other plants.
It is found in 17 Pacific Island countries and territories including Papua New Guinea.
Mile-a-minute is thought to have arrived in the Pacific islands in the early 1900s as contaminants of various imported products and is suspected to be a relatively new addition to the flora of PNG.
It has spread rapidly in most islands and coastal plains of mainland New Guinea.
Mikania has been suppressing forest regeneration or has changed the ecology of areas.
Analysis from a socio-economic survey conducted on Mikania indicated that 80% of the respondents in 15 lowland provinces consider mikania as a problematic weed.
Approximately 44% of farmers of subsistence mixed cropping control M. micrantha at least once a fortnight and implies that a lot of their time is spent on clearing this weed from their land.
The fight against mile-a-minute as an invasive weed in the Pacific’s agricultural sector and food security areas has been picking up in the past years with the release in Fiji and PNG of a pathogen rust fungus, to control mikania.
The rust fungus, scientifically known as Puccinia spegazzini, was imported to Fiji by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the ministry of agriculture as part of their Mikania bio-control project.
The Fiji government gave the permission to import Puccinia following host specificity testing conducted on behalf of Fiji and PNG by the world-renowned Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau International (CABI), based in England.
Some plants, important to PNG and Fiji, were tested by CABI Europe-UK during the whole of 2006 against this rust fungus to make sure it did not attack any of our useful plants or native flora in the Pacific.
Host specificity testing confirmed that the rust fungus was host-specific and restricted to mikania only.
This biological control agent would help reduce unnecessary weeding costs such as labour and herbicide.
Preliminary results from Laboratory studies and field monitoring observations conducted at National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) Kerevat suggests that mikania growth can be suppressed or reduced when the rust fungus is present on the bio-mass.
In November2008, the rust fungus was imported into PNG as part of an Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR)-funded project to control the Mikania weed.
CABI Europe-UK infected mikania plants grown from stock plants obtained from PNG early in November 2008.
Later that month, the plants were hand-carried to PNG NARI Kerevat by SPC project coordinator Warea Orapa.
Upon arrival, the UK-infected plants were transplanted into sterilised soil with water and placed in an inoculation chamber in the NARI post entry quarantine (PEQ) constant temperature room.
This rust fungus is the first of its kind to be introduced in PNG.
At NARI Kerevat, the rust is maintained and mass propagated for field distribution and monitoring.
Inoculation procedures and culturing, impact assessment, field release and monitoring of the rust are work undertaken to assess the progress of the rust and prevent contamination or pest outbreak.
The monitoring activities were jointly conducted by Mikania project staff from PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute (PNGCCI), PNG Oil Palm Research Association (PNGOPRA) and NARI who are major collaborators of the ACIAR project in PNG.

Field release on rust fungus to the Oil Palm Research Association (OPRA) staff at Hoskins in 2009

The rust fungus controls mikania by developing many swollen lumps on leaves, stems and petioles forming copper-colored lumps on the surface of the dead plant parts.
High infection densities of these will reduce the ability of the weed to grow and become aggressive and death can be possible in conditions favourable to the fungus.
During the preliminary field release and monitoring strategy observation done in early 2009 at NARI Kerevat, infected plants were placed in amongst mikania-growing under cocoa and monitored for establishment.
Pustules were observed on mikania growing around the infected plants after three weeks.
Field release techniques used in different microhabitats, found that irrespective of the number of pustules, size of infected pots and time of releases, the rust establishes more easily on young growth stages of mikania compared to mature dense infestations.
Mikania project leader, Annastasia Kawi said: “The results of the average number of leaves infected and average number of pustules present on young mikania three weeks after field release suggests that the rust, when released in conducive environmental conditions, can survive.”
She added that the rust fungus had been released in 46 sites in East New Britain since January 2009 and monitoring of sites was conducted to confirm host specificity of the rust in natural environment.
At NARI Kerevat, the rust had been found growing on mikania near many different plant species and to date no inoculation has been observed on cultivated or wild species of any plant other than mikania.
Mikania has been recorded to be present in 1,052 sites in 15 provinces (excluding Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highlands province) in PNG.
The bio-control control agent (rust fungus) has been released in 454 sites in those 15 provinces to date.
A total of 80 sites have established in eight provinces and natural spread has been monitored up to 37km after one year.
Since the rust fungus was field established in 2009 in East New Britain and other provinces, monitoring of field establishment have been an important activity of the project.
It is observed that initial establishment is conducive in total or partial shade and near waterways, hence, once established it does well in wetter and cooler environment.
Kawi cautioned farmers to be observant of the biological control agent as it was environmental-friendly, acted as an alternate control option and sustainable in rural farming communities.
More information on the mikania weed can be obtained from NARI Islands regional centre in Keravat on 983 9145/9200.

No-confidence vote bid ruined

Election of Governor General to take precedence
By ISAAC NICHOLAS and JEFFREY ELAPA

Members of the public rushing up the steps to get inside parliament and secure seats at the public gallery when parliament resumed for its emergency session yesterday afternoon. Many had rushed in thinking that parliament was about to vote on the new governor-general. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

THE proposed vote of no-confidence by the opposition against Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his government will not take place, The National reports.
The opposition yesterday failed to deliver a motion on the proposed vote to the office of the acting Speaker, Francis Marus, despite an assurance by senior opposition member Sir Puka Temu.
As such, Marus declared that he would not entertain any other business except that of the election of a new governor-general.
Parliament resumed yesterday afternoon and called for nominations for the position of governor-general.
Soon after, the government caucus met and penned 47 signatures on the nomination form for North Bougainville MP and Higher Education Minister Michael Ogio to contest as its candidate.
Parliament was recalled following a Supreme Court ruling last month declaring the reappointment of Sir Paulias Matane as unconstitutional.
During that period, from Dec 10 last year, the opposition had publicly made known its intention to try and push through a vote of no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Acting parliament Speaker Francis Marus had fixed Friday at 10am as the time and day for the secret ballot to be conducted.
The clerk’s office was swamped with more than 15 candidates rushing to obtain the nomination forms to be filled and handed in by 4pm today after complying with all the requirements.
Candidates vying for the position had swamped the corridors of parliament after nominations opened as they dashed from one MP’s office to another looking for signatures.
They were required to collect 15 signatures to make them eligible to contest the vice-regal’s chair.
Their first stop was at the clerk’s office for the nomination forms before dashing off in search of MPs. One MP could only back one candidate, with six possible nominees expected by the offices of the clerk and acting speaker of parliament.
Among those sighted were Ronald Rimbao, Sir Pato Kakaraya, Sir Makena Geno, Sir Matiabe Yuwi, Sir Barry Holloway, Kagul Korowa and women candidates Enny Moatz and Winnie Kiap.
Marus said the election of the vice-regal would take precedence over all other businesses in compliance with the court order.
He said this was an emergency situation, under section 88(4) of the constitution, and the only business would be to vote in a new GG.
The government yesterday muscled up its numerical strength of more than 67 members for a quorum to start the session, with opposition members slowly walking in as the acting speaker made his nomination statement.
Leader of government business Paul Tiensten said last night that the election of the governor-general would take precedence.
He admitted that the government did not have any other business to deal with until May when parliament next meets.
“The recall of parliament is restricted only for the GG’s election.”
He urged that the process of nomination be completed between now and Friday and not subjected to legal challenges in future.
“Our job is to ensure the process goes smoothly and is not derailed again.
“The government needs to show solidarity and maturity by resolving to have one candidate in on Friday.”