Kasieng's suspension is illegal, says lawyer

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

Counsel representing suspended West Sepik provincial police commander, Sakawar Kasieng, has notified deputy police commissioner Fred Yakasa that the suspension notice served on his client was illegal, The National reports.

In a four-page letter delivered to Yakasa on Wednesday, counsel Peter Sam told the deputy police commissioner that there were no grounds for the suspension of Kasieng as all the accusations against his client were fallacious.

“I have studied the contents of the purported suspension notice, dated Jan 24, 2011, and wish to advice you that the suspension of Chief Insp Sakawar Kasieng from his position as PPC of West Sepik is null and void and has no effect in law or equity,” Sam said.

He instructed Yakasa to immediately reinstate Kasieng to his former position or risk having a lawsuit filed against him and the state.

“Accordingly, I wish to formally advise you that unless you reinstate Kasieng to his position, he will have no other option but to take immediate appropriate legal action against you without any further notice,” he said.

Sam also said that his client was denied natural justice when the charges were first laid against him as he was not accorded any chance to explain himself to the police hierarchy.   

Kasieng was suspended by Yakasa last week for disciplinary offences which included:

• Releasing statements to the media which were damaging to the constabulary;
• Illegally authorising the closure of the West Sepik police station; and
• Closure of police station tantamount to discrediting the constabulary’s management.

Sam said that Kasieng did not make degrading comments in the media as there were no specific quotes that could support the claim and that he (Kasieng) was only fighting for the rights of his officer who was assaulted by members of operation Sunset Merona.

He added that the accusations that his client had shut West Sepik police station was false because the station remained open during the said date and that there was no discredit to the constabulary as the members of the public were not affected of policing services.

 

 

New system stalls government operations

THE Government’s agenda for the early implementation of this year’s K9.3 billion budget has been stalled for a whole month, Waigani sources have said, The National reports.

That is because of the sudden introduction of a new, but largely untested, whole-of-government planning, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting system, and known as the integrated financial management system (IFMS), to replace the PNG government accounting system (PGAS).

The switch-over has affected opening of government accounts for the new year, and it is not known when the matter will be sorted out.

The government had announced at the end of last year, at the time Sam Abal was acting prime minister, that as this year was “the year of implementation” it wanted to get into action from the first week. He met with departmental heads on Jan 7 and made clear the government’s intentions and for these chief bureaucrats to get into action.

Sources said, however, this had not been possible for the past three weeks because the introduction of IFMS, however credible the package, has delayed the release of warrants by Treasury Department to other government departments and agencies in order for cheque payments for goods and services to be made on time.

They said the issuance of warrants is an activity that is supposed to be done at the beginning of every month according to every department’s and agency’s expenditure estimates and drawn from their annual budgetary allocations.

IFMS is a project administered by the Department of Finance and funded jointly by the government and donor agencies.

The National could not reach either the Department of Finance or IFMS authorities for comment yesterday.

Abal, the man who gave the directives for the early implementation of government programmes earlier this month is no doubt disappointed at the delay.

According to Abal’s press office, a month’s delay puts back work on a lot of well intended activities and programmes and adds unnecessary pressures on the government, ministers, politicians and bureaucrats.

At the same time providers of goods and services also cannot wait around while the government system tries to get itself organised. Time is money for them and that should be understood by government.

 

 

How green is Port Moresby

By MALUM NALU
Port Moresby’s looking so lush, green and verdant after all that rain over Christmas and New Year and is going to be like that for at least the next three months.

Lush, green vegetables

Vegetable gardens are sprouting up all over the city and its perimeters and markets are chock-a-block with green leafy vegetables, complemented by fresh fish and other seafood, wallaby, deer and bandicoot.
Last Saturday, I wandered through the popular Rainbow Market at Gerehu, marveling at the potpourri of vegetables and seafood on offer.

Fresh fish from the seas around Port Moresby to complement the vegetables

Food, glorious food, everywhere!
The next day, my elder son Jr and I took a refreshing early morning walk from Gerehu to Waigani, enjoying the greenery of vegetable gardens along the route, the industriousness of the many green thumbs, and of course the roadside market at Waigani.

A Central Province villager sells pineapples, watermelon, sugar cane, bananas  and coconuts at a roadside market at Waigani

“How green is Port Moresby,” I tell Jr.
“If only it could like this all year-round!”
All forms of gardening are rewarding and satisfying.
But vegetable gardening, largely because the gardener can be in charge of the whole operation from seed collection to consumption, is possibly the most-rewarding.
In addition, well-grown home-produced vegetables cannot be matched for flavour and nutritional value.
And with care, considerable savings – especially in a city like Port Moresby – in the family’s food budget are possible.

Corn, kaukau and other vegetables

Port Moresby, unlike a place like Goroka – where you can grow all types of succulent, mouth watering vegetables – has an arid year round climate.
This is apart from a brief respite during the December to March period, when the rain comes down in buckets and vegetables – especially corn – abounds all over the capital city.
This creates queues at many gardening shops in Port Moresby, such as major agricultural supplier Brian Bell.
As early as 7am, a long line of people gather in front of the Brian Bell Plaza at Boroko and buy their supplies of corn seeds.
I know this only too well, as for the last couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to buy corn seeds at Brian Bell Boroko and Gordon, but alas, stocks were zilch because of the high demand.
During this period, corn gardens can be seen all over the city, including precarious hillsides.
Apart from corn, there are so many other vegetables you can grow including tomatoes, cucumber, beans, silver beet, pak choi (Chinese cabbage), cabbage, chillies, as well as local favorites such as aibika, aupa, peanuts, cassava and bananas.



Woman sorting out her cassava

 Regular watering (well, you don’t really need to, given the frequent rain) and home-made compost and mulch, and after about two months, you start to reap the fruits of your harvest: tubs of corn, tomatoes, cucumber silver beet, pak choi, chillies and other garden-fresh produce.
You can make a killing if you go to market; otherwise, this is strictly for family consumption.
Suffice to say, it can greatly reduce your food budget.
For your children, it can be a great way to teach them about gardening and agriculture, especially in an urban environment like Port Moresby.
For those who spend most of their time in the office, backyard gardening is a great way to relax after work as well as at weekends talking to your vegetables.
Try it: you’ll really reap what you sow!
According to authors Michael Bourke and Bryant in the highly-acclaimed 2010 publication Food and Agriculture in Papua New Guinea, “agriculture is the most-important activity carried out by the vast majority of Papua New Guineans”.
“For most people, agriculture fills their lives, physically, culturally, economically, socially and nutritionally.
“Yet agriculture is the most-undervalued and misunderstood part of PNG life.
“The reasons for this are partly because mineral and oil exports make PNG comparatively wealthy for a developing country; partly because agriculture is practiced in the countryside, away from towns, and is therefore largely ‘invisible’ to urban people and international visitors; and partly because agriculture is viewed as not being ‘modern’.”
Contrary to what many people think, the majority of fresh produce in Port Moresby is supplied by local sources, and does not come from the Highlands
This includes that from the many hillside gardens popping up everywhere, settlements and surrounding areas such as Laloki, Bomana and Sogeri.
The Fresh Produce Development Agency’s 2009 Feeding Port Moresby Study shows that Port Moresby supplies most of its fresh produce.
Other key findings were:
• The volume of fresh produce being supplied from the Highlands into Port Moresby appeared to be decreasing while supplies from Central Province and NCD are increasing;

• Increasing amounts of fresh produce marketed into Port Moresby were handled through middlemen, rather than by grower-vendors themselves and their wantok networks. However, some farmers still preferred to sell their produce themselves at the open market;

• The annual volume of fresh produce imported into Port Moresby in 2007 was estimated to be just under 7, 500 tonnes, comprising 2,500 tonnes from international air and sea arrivals; 3, 500 tonnes from domestic sea arrivals; and 1, 430 tonnes from domestic air arrivals;

• Fresh produce production in the peri-urban areas was approximately 8, 500 tonnes during the dry season from the six surveyed settlement areas, which translated into a total production of 50,000 tonnes per year from all settlements;

• Most fresh produce was sourced from Central province and the NCD and very little was sourced from overseas or the Highlands. The total supply of fresh produce to Port Moresby was estimated at 57, 780 tonnes, with 7, 430 tonnes (15%) coming from overseas and rest of PNG, and 50, 350 tonnes (85%) from peri-urban production;

• Annual demand for fresh produce in Port Moresby was estimated to be around 140, 500 tonnes;

• Shortfalls between estimated demand and supplies were significant in volume and likely to come from Central province and home gardens;

• Facilities in the six open markets in Port Moresby are of poor quality, with common complaints from the vendors being lack of shade; poor water and sanitation facilitation facilities; and the need for benches to better look after their produce during wet days;

• Temperate vegetables continue to be supplied from the Highlands, however, green leafy vegetables and perishable fruit vegetables were supplied from NCD. Hardier crops such as sweet potato, banana, taro and yams come from Central province;

• Buyers and re-sellers stated that graded products (even if only by appearance) sell better;

• Buyers tended to buy on short notice and formal supply arrangements were rare. Buyers prefer carton packaging for leafy vegetables and bags for sweet potato and potato, with some limit on size/weight; and

• Imported produce were only relied upon by retailers but not to wholesalers or hotels and restaurants except in the case of some fruit produce.

“The increase in peri-urban production has vastly improved Port Moresby’s capacity to feed itself,” according to the study.
“There are several reasons for the increase.
“Firstly, there is emigration of more-experienced and innovative farmers, especially from the Highlands, into Port Moresby.
“Secondly, horticultural techniques have vastly improved and the use of fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides has allowed huge increases in productivity.
“Finally, in recent years, weak PNG currency, which increases the price of imports, has also increased the demand for cheaper, locally-grown food and has helped to spur local production.
“Peri-urban producers have several advantages over their Highlands and rural counterparts in supplying the Port Moresby market.
“Firstly, peri-urban producers tend to be better informed and better linked to the market than farmers in the rural and more-remote areas.
“Seeds and other farm inputs are cheaper, fresher, of higher quality and more-accessible.
“Peri-urban producers are better equipped, as the cash flow from off-farm incomes enables purchase of agro-chemicals and better equipment.
“Proximity to the market and the city enables farmers to spot and respond to price signals.
“However, there are concerns over land tenure and food safety associated with the use of contaminated water and soil for food production.”
Happy gardening folks!

Esso: Wealth from gas plan

But economic windfall comes with a host of problems like STD, social conflicts

 

The PNG LNG project will bring a windfall of economic benefits to the economy alongside a host of social problems like sexually transmitted diseases and social conflicts between the locals and outside job seekers, The National reports.

This was gleaned from the latest report covering the first three quarters of last year issued by Esso Highlands Ltd, operator of the project and subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corp.

However, EHL is certain the economic benefits would outweigh the feared social problems that the gas economy would spawn.

In its report, EHL said has repeated an already known fact that the gas project is scheduled to deliver starting 2014.

EHL said during this time, the country’s gross domestic product is forecast to double an average of K18.2 billion as a long-term benefit.

The reports said as the GDP doubles, the opportunity exists for the national and provincial governments to use it to address associated impacts that will most likely result such as a demand for improved health and education systems, infrastructure, and the provision of appropriate judicial and law enforcement systems.

However, the report has warned that although there would be significant economic benefits, there would also be social issues that could arise that would need to be managed.

For instance, it cited problems like sexually transmitted diseases, migrations to work and illegal settlements and the potential social conflict between local populations and employment seekers.

The report said a key component of the project is an effective, ongoing communications programme involving the operator, national and provincial governments, local communities, landowners, NGOs and other interested stakeholders.

The aim is to ensure there is an understanding of the project, its implications and how issues will be addressed.

The report said the economic impacts of an LNG development in PNG would reach well beyond the direct investment in country and the tax and equity returns to the state.

During the project life, tax revenue is expected to total around K67 billion, with royalty payments estimated to total K5.3 billion.

This is split as follows: local landowners - 50%; provincial government-33%; local government -10% and the State - 7%.

EHL said the project’s direct benefits could be derived from:

* Revenue, which from a case study assumption, direct cash to the PNG government and landowners is estimated to be over US$32 billion in the 30-year project life;

* Employment, which once operational, should have approximately 1, 250 full time positions to be filled by nationals; and

* Business opportunities for landowner companies who can supply various support services such as camp maintenance, local personnel transportation, vehicle hire, catering and minor civil works.

The true potential of the project lies in its ability to influence economic performance indirectly such as:

* The spending by project participants, employees, landowners and others;

* The investment in assets for infrastructure, education and health; opportunities for local businesses;

* Indirect macroeconomic impacts on GDP, consumption, employment and doubling of foreign currency exchanges; and

* All of these contributing to the upward pressure on the kina.

 

 

 

Teachers reminded

By DULCIE OREKE

 

TEACHERS have been reminded to resume duties on Monday, Jan 31, The National reports.

Acting secretary for education Dr Joseph Pagelio said teachers were required by law to complete the resumption of duty summary sheet (RoDSS) on the first day that they resume duty at the school.

“This activity is important because it will confirm that the teacher posted to that school by the national education board (NEB) or provincial education board (PEB) and had actually taken up the duty on the appointed position,” Pagelio said in a statement yesterday.

He said, filling the RoDSS would also determine continuity of the teacher’s salary payments for the year.

Pagelio said principals, head teachers, managers and senior teachers present on the first day of school must check to ensure all entries on RoDSS were completed properly and signed by all teachers.

He said RoDSS must then be forwarded to the provincial education office for teachers in provincial institutions and respective assistant secretaries at Fincorp Haus for teachers in the national institutions for the forms to be submitted to payroll and related services branch within the time-frame.

Pagelio warned that teachers whose RoDSS are not received at Waigani on Feb 28 “will receive their last pay on pay number 5 on March 11”.

He said teachers whose RoDSS are not received at Waigani by Feb 28 would be suspended from the payroll on pay number 6 on March 25.

The secretary urged all officers involved in the resumption exercise to ensure all the necessary forms are completed, checked thoroughly and lodged to the respective offices on the dates stated for the school year to start smoothly.

Pagelio has urged new student intakes for technical, business and polytechnic institutions this year to contact their respective institutions by phone or otherwise before travelling to the college.

Pagelio said students must obtain relevant information about the school fee component prior to their travels on Monday, Feb 7.

He said under the higher education category assistance scheme (HECAS) guidelines, students who have been awarded HECAS at these institutions must pay 75% component of the fees.

 

 

Search continues for missing expat

By ZACHERY PER

 

POLICE detectives and homicide squads in Chimbu were deployed to the remote Nondri-Amia area of Gumine district to search for a missing European expatriate, The National reports.

The European of Belgium origin, identified only Tony, at this stage was kidnapped by members of Gorekulame sub-clan of Sa tribe last Wednesday and his whereabout is not known, according to police.

Chimbu police commander Chief Insp John Kale deployed the special squad to the area to assist Gumine district police.

He said the pregnant wife of the expatriate was allegedly abducted by more than 10 attackers who repeatedly raped her for at least two days before she was rescued by members of Toma and Barama sub-clans of Sa tribe of Nondri-Amia area.

Kale said two suspects were arrested and are remanded at Kundiawa police cell; they were picked-up by Gumine police at Dirima station when they came out to sell a pig.

He said police would thoroughly investigate to confirm the allegations of rape and ascertain reports of the murder of the expatriate.

“Upon police investigation and confirmation it will determine whether the European man is still alive or dead, he could have escaped or was taken into hiding by other people.It is not yet known at this stage of his whereabouts.

“We expect to make more arrests soon,” Kale said.

He said the pregnant wife, who was recovering at Nondri Health Centre, was brought into Gumine district station and to Kundiawa yesterday afternoon.

She will be admitted at the Kundiawa General Hospital to recover.

Kale went into Gumine yesterday afternoon to be with the investigation team.

Early reports from Gumine stated that expatriate was kidnapped at Kegama village and taken to Morokul village at around 10am last Wednesday.

He was tied to a post inside a house before his kidnappers took his pregnant wife, of mixed Jiwaka and Manus parentage, to a nearby bush where more than 10 men raped her.

The attackers later took the husband (Tony) into a bush where he still remained missing.

The wife was then taken into captivity where they allegedly continued to rape her until the next day.

Gumine district administration assisted police with logistics to look for the missing man.

 

 

 

Agiru: I didn't make any commitments

ONE politician accused by Hides 4 landowner leaders of making commitments which the government cannot meet, yesterday threw out the accusations against him as “absolute lies” and without basis, The National reports.

Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru challenged the leaders to name the specific instances when he had made any commitments to them.

On Tuesday, Erick Ayule, chairman of Girira Hides 4 Joint Venture, the umbrella company

of Hides 4 PDL 7, claimed that Agiru had promised landowner chiefs from PDL7 K1 million each at the Kokopo umbrella benefits sharing agreement meeting and at the license based benefits sharing agreement meetings.

The governor angrily reputed this yesterday and said he never made commitments which his own government had not budgeted for nor obligation to pay.

Agiru said: “I have never made any commitments to any body relating to the LNG and certainly nothing in the amounts spoken off.

“I do not make commitments that I cannot deliver.

“In fact, I have been angry with ministers who have made commitments in the millions of kina without the money being budgeted for.”

He said a payment of K2 million had been paid to chiefs of Hiwa and Tuguba of PDL1 (Kutubu) after the LBBSA talks on their assertion that they had protected the licence area.

“That was paid by Waigani to the chiefs, not I,” Agiru said.

“I defend my people’s right to everything that is rightly owed to them and which has not been coming to them but I will not ask for another toea more or give them anything just because they ask for it.

“That would not be right.

“They ought to know by now that I do not hand out money or make commitments I can not deliver.”

Agiru said government ought to appoint only one person now to be the person responsible for LNG so that landowners as well as the operator and joint venture partners knew who to approach with any issue pertaining to the project.

He said presently there were too many ministers involved in the project and that it would be very easy for anyone to be confused, particularly landowners.

 

City-based landowners converge on prime minister's office

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MORE than 200 frustrated landowners from the liquefied natural gas project areas in Southern Highlands yesterday marched to the prime minister’s Morauta Haus office to petition the government over their outstanding claims, The National reports.

The claims were related to outstanding LNG business development grants, memorandum of agreement funds and ministerial commitments.

The petition also touched on business spin-off benefits, environmental issues, equities, social mapping and land demarcation and relocation issues.

Earlier, the petitioners had gathered at the Unagi oval at Gordon, hoping that someone would turn up to receive their list of demands.

At Morauta Haus, they had hoped to meet with chief secretary to government Manasupe Zurenuoc.

However, Zurenuoc’s executive officer Kelly Kalit, executive director policy and coordination Avei Puka and executive corporate director Michael Nunulrea met the landowners and advised them that the chief secretary was not available and would meet with them tomorrow.

Meanwhile, chief landowner Philip Undialu said from Hides, through a text mobile phone message, that Hides 4 would remain shut for 11 days while petitions from the Wita clans of Hides PDL1 and Kobalu camp were addressed.

He warned that a negative feedback would mean an end to the project.

Reports from Tari said several other landowner groups were meeting at the Ambua Lodge.

No details were available.

Cabinet met yesterday to discuss the LNG landowners’ issue.

A group of Koiari landowners in Central also joined the LNG landowners, petitioning the government to pay them for the use of their water for hydro electricity and general consumption in NCD.

They said, for 60 years, they had waited patiently.

The Koiari landowners would also present their petition to Zurenuoc tomorrow.

 

 

Owners of gas will also suffer

Government vows to find money and settle promises

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

LANDOWNERS are punishing themselves as well as ExxonMobil and the state through unnecessary stop-work and delay on the PNG liquefied natural gas project, National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten said last night, The National reports.

He said the landowners were eroding the value of their own shares by their actions.

“They are punishing themselves further with delay in dividends and royalties,” Tiensten said after emerging from a protracted cabinet meeting where, it was understood, the stopwork at Hides 4 was the main agenda for discussion.

Also yesterday:

* Landowner representatives in Port Moresby marched to Morauta House to petition the government over delays in memorandum of agreement funds, business development grants and unfulfilled ministerial commitments;

* Gobe petroleum development licence (PDL) 4 landowners in Southern Highlands yesterday threatened to shut down the LNG production facility over alleged misuse of their K8.2 million seed capital funds; and

* Government team leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye presented his report on his trip to Hides 4 to the government.

Tiensten said the national government would deliver project related grants to improve the lives of Southern Highlands and not cash handouts.

“We must change the cash hand-out mentality in Southern Highlands. We want people to have a sustainable life long after the gas is gone,” Tiensten said.

Tiensten also urged landowners to allow the project to proceed as further delays would directly cost the state, which has a 19.4% stake including landowners (7%), a lot.

“We must all be responsible because such actions will erode the net value of the project and that will be an additional cost to the state including the landowners and joint venture partners.

“Do not think you are punishing the state and ExxonMobil; landowners too will suffer.

“You are eroding the value of your shares by your actions.”

He said some of the commitments made at the UBSA and LBBSA were not captured in this year’s budget; however, money would be sourced from the current basket to meet these commitments.

“We will be going up to the field to deliver various commitments in this year’s budget after all government processes is completed.”

 

 

Economic development through agriculture in Finschhafen

By SENIORL ANZU
Economic development in Finschhafen, Morobe province, remains a priority for the district for improved livelihood of the rural communities.
The Finschhafen electoral revealed that considerable input was already made in agricultural development in the last few years and would continue in 2011 to develop the rural sector.
Finschhafen’s present district development priorities are roads and transport rehabilitation, economic improvement, and integrated community development programme.
Finschhafen MP Theodore Zurenuoc’s first secretary Stanley Leka said the electoral office had put emphasis on selected commodities such as coffee, cocoa, rice and poultry.

Finschhafen MP Theodore Zurenuoc cutting the ribbon to officially open a new rice mill shed at Kangaruo in Finschhafen, Morobe province, last month

These were targeted at women and youth, under the economic improvement priority.
These initiatives have been supported using Zurenuoc’s discretionary funds.
Leka said with coffee, the focus was on promoting improved production and quality.
He said the electoral office had since 2009 distributed 205 coffee machines to coffee farmers. This was facilitated through an exchange programme in which coffee machines were exchanged for coffee bags.
The coffee bags were then sold and the income was used to subsidise the purchase of more coffee machines, which were then distributed to other parts of Finschhafen.
Leka said 100 coffee machines were given to the Kote local level government (LLG) and in return got 55 bags, which were then sold, and money earned was used in purchasing another 55 machines marked for coffee-growing areas in the Yabim/Mape LLG.
Farmers from Hube LLG got 50 machines and in 2011, the Brum/Kuat LLG will get another 50 machines.
Leka said the coffee machines were given only to identified groups.
He said training of trainers’ courses would be conducted for representatives from each group on improved practices and technologies of coffee production and basic bookkeeping.
The electoral office is also aiming at promoting co-operatives in the district.
In cocoa, Leka said they had worked with interested farmers in establishing central cocoa nurseries in villages through a concept called ‘central community cocoa nursery’.
“The electoral office provides seeds which are sown in nurseries for distribution to farmers, depending on how many seedlings each farmer wants,” he said.
“The district has so far established 23 community cocoa nurseries and distributed 100, 000 seedlings to farmers, especially in the Kote and Yabim/Mape areas, and plans are in place for more nurseries in cocoa-growing areas.
“More farmers have shown interest and another request of 600, 000 seedlings from 40 villages will be attended to in 2011.”
Leka also said they had purchased two rice-milling machines and plan to get some more for the district.
The electoral office has also established a mini rice central marketing facility in Gagidu, which will be a point for buying, milling and selling of rice farmed in Finschhafen.
Although rice was introduced in Finschhafen for many years, an estimated 80% of farmers have been cultivating it mostly for their own consumption.
With the new initiative, farmers will be encouraged to go into commercialisation.
Leka said the village poultry initiative was aimed at addressing nutritional needs of village households and would target rural women.
In 2011, three villages will be piloted.
His team is setting model farms in strategic locations as demonstration blocks and to stock up seeds and planting materials for distribution to farmers.
This will be undertaken also as a drought-preparedness initiative.
The ICDP initiative revolves around human development in terms of changing mindset and attitude so as to make self-evaluation, identify one’s potential and contribute meaningfully to daily sustenance and community development.
The district is presently focusing on programmes in disabilities, music for development, pikinini sport (soccer and basketball), ex-convicts, beautification and historical sites, spiritual development, women in agriculture and culture and tourism – all to come into effect in 2011.

Produce simple extension material for farmers: Minister

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

Workshop facilitators Prof Anthony Youdeowei (left) and Mohammed Umar (right, black hat) with some of the participants and farmers displaying copies of extension materials at Kamba village

Agricultural officers have been urged to produce extension materials and information that is simple and easily understood by the farmers.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Ano Pala said that due to the importance of agriculture as the backbone of the economy, there would always be a big demand for simple technical information relevant to the needs of the farmers.
Pala made the call when closing a sub-regional training course on production of agricultural extension material held in Madang recently.
The workshop was funded by Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Institute for Research and Extension Training in Agriculture (IRETA), with support from the Papua New Guinea government, and included participants from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and PNG.
Pala said there would always be more demand for agricultural information and extension material, despite PNG experiencing a minerals boom which would not last forever.
He said agricultural officers must be trained with knowledge and skills to continue producing appropriate and simple extension materials in the form of booklets, posters, pamphlets, and others to pass onto farmers.
“In the Pacific region, a strong demand exists for simple technical information relevant to the agriculture sector,” Pala said.
“The information is often available in forms that are not directly useful to extension agents.
“These forms include research reports, technical bulletins, etc.
“Extension materials become more relevant and useful if they can be restructured, rewritten and simplified, according to the needs of different target groups.”
Pala said he was pleased that participants from the three Melanesian courtiers were able to share their experiences and work together to produce extension material relevant for farmers to use in the region.
“Agriculture is the key sector in the region and it is worthwhile for agriculture officers to participate in such training programmes and exchange ideas,” he said,
“Farmers have the power and freedom of choice and when good simple information is provided, they can make good, judicious decisions to adopt technologies to improve production and productivity, resulting in increased profitability.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that our people have access to good information, technology and other resources so that they can be empowered to participate meaningfully in the market economy and contribute to meaningful agriculture development.”
Pala thanked CTA and IRETA for their support in facilitating the workshop in PNG.

Time running out for government

By SIR BARRY HOLLOWAY

After the controversy over the election of Governor General and suggestions of a vote of no-confidence, Executive Government must reflect and appraise how to start to get the nation back on course again.

Numerous press reports and diversions continue to tempest the waters on where the nation is heading.

Land owner disputes within the LNG project, horrific crimes and even the belief in sorcery taking hold again, is creating an environment of uncertainty for the future of Papua New Guinea and its children.

It is time for Executive Government to appraise the situation and firmly hold the helm of this ailing Ship of State called Papua New Guinea and steer it through some very rough waters to the nearest port of repair.

It all begins with the credibility of our National Parliament, the hub of our democracy.  This paper addresses issues that must be urgently addressed if we are to maintain a democratic state. 

This follows on to some clear direction to the delivery arm of government – almost in the doldrums.  Based on the performance of the public service over the last two decades this should be a key area that the Executive Government must address without further delay.

We can only hope that the recent meetings in Crowne Plaza between the Acting Prime Minister and the senior public servants from Waigani and the provinces will get the public service moving with the right attitude and embracing the urgency to implement many excellent government programs and project.

First we must address the critical question of where we must begin!

Parliament has been adjourned to 10^th May and the substantive Speaker is the Acting Governor General while the appointed person has to wait in limbo for nearly four months. The Speaker already has been judged by a Supreme Court ruling determining he was unconstitutional in his actions causing the invalid appointment of the former Governor General. What could happen now, with him being Acting Governor General for such an extended period?

If things go wrong concerning any Speaker it is evident that some legislative housekeeping is necessary. There are no provisions in Standing Orders of National Parliament supported by a Constitutional Law to remove him/her in the same way as can be done with a Governor General or a Prime Minister. There cannot be a successful vote of no confidence in a Speaker and if he/she wishes to continue to hold that position, outside of any court action, the Parliament can do nothing about it.

Over the last eight years the close relationship between the Parliament and the Executive Government has not served the interests of the Nation well and sadly this flows on to many ordinary citizens who suffer as a consequence. The public perception of Parliament is low because it is not getting down to its legislative business. This must change.

There are many other legislative issues that must be addressed urgently prior to the next elections in 2012 to reassure the people that we are not heading for a constitutional mess. Time is shortening to a period critical to correct these matters to avoid these dire legal consequences.

The women’s Bill, the Constitutional Amendment (Equality and Participation) 2010, is now before Parliament to enable women to be elected to 22 reserved provincial seats in 2012. 

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Legislation is required to meet to fine-tune this Bill to re-define provincial electorates for Governors and to include reserved seats for women.

Unless this action is taken soon, both the women’s and Governor’s seats are in jeopardy!

Globally, we could be seen as a backward country with half the population having no female representation in Parliament at all? With their menfolk at large there are many tireless women who work for a pittance to bind the communities of over 85% of the population together with their contributions to elementary schools, improving nutrition and disease prevention, not to underestimate their leadership of youth groups in the villages.

There are alternate reforms to replace Governors and a move to strengthen District level representation both politically and administratively. Currently at most district stations there is very little presence of the public sector administration as they have all migrated to provincial headquarters. Direct funding by MPs for district project are adhoc and remain outside of planned programmes. Local government once a dynamic force in the delivery mechanism has been marginalised.

Does the government intend to have the Constitution redefined to have those proposed seats available together with a provision in the Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections, to enable elections for these seats to take place?

Governors now hold their positions in a constitutional predicament. For the 2012 elections the constitutionality of their electorates and their election could be challenged if this is not fixed soon.

What of the new provinces for Hela and Jiwaka?  The four resulting new provinces to date have not been gazetted by the Minister for Inter-Government Relations under the Organic Law on Provincial Boundaries (Amendment) Law 2010 to enable the establishment of their provinces in 2012. If and when they are, they obviously want to elect a Governor like other provinces.

As well as the issue of women’s representation, are Governors and potential candidates for this position aware that this seat may not be available for year 2012 election?

The Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections is a constitutional law, which states we should have between 110-120 Open Electorates in the 2012 lections. We were already in breach of the same constitutional law last elections, which by default or intent has not been challenged before the last election. It is now too late for the electoral Boundaries Commission to develop a report and recommendations and have them accepted by Parliament. To rescue a potential constitutional crisis, that Organic Law should be amended to provide a new range of 89-120 Open Electorates. If nothing is done about this we are exposing the Electoral Commission to a legal quandary.

Corrective legislation is also necessary in regard to obtaining a balanced and equitable sharing of political power. Local-level Government Councillors, through a set of circumstances, have a reduced term of office of just over 3 years. Their required full term of five years cannot be made concurrent with the term of Parliamentarians as required, unless appropriate changes are made to the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments to give then five year terms at elections held separately to those of the National Parliament as recommended by previous electoral observation teams.

There is growing dissent among them while they hover in this uncertainty. Councillors feel left out of the big picture by the policy makers marginalising their role in a purportedly decentralised system of government.

A Legislative Working Group has been established by Cabinet (decisions 91/2010 and 182/2010), which discusses and works consistently on these and other issues and those of future reform. There are many leaders in the public sector who resent the understanding, and practical experience these people have to contribute and are tardy in their communications with them. Departments responsible fail to coordinate with other agencies and are inadequate in openly debating solutions to solve these problems openly, mainly because they do not know how to manage them.  Among this faction in some departments there is also an attitude problem. They resent and will not listen to those with proven experience and are not honest and straightforward in advising the Executive Government.

I am Deputy Chairman of this group (the Chairman, a Professor of Law at the UPNG, is overseas as I write) and have over 57 years experience in district administration, local government including 19 years in parliament and time in the hard world of the private sector. Others in the group have similar experience as well as being unmatched as being technically competent on these issues.

I have never experienced such dysfunction and lack of coordination in the public sector. There is a mind-set problem among certain ‘gatekeepers’ who inhibit the work and thinking of our younger enthusiastic public service recruits.

These people do not lack intelligence and they pray to God, as many of us do, but there is an element of ineptness among them, which they cover up with meetings, workshops, and meaningless junkets exploiting their travelling allowance without achieving any results to better the lives of our people.

Public Servants should be paid more, but first, let us get the right people with a ‘can do’ spirit for the job.

The issues mentioned above are not the highways, clinics and schools we should urgently build and maintain or the administrators, medical people and teachers we should budget as priority for future development, but are about establishing integrity in our key institutions, so we can begin to plan and implement these essential capacity building programmes.

As a result, Ministers and other Parliamentarians have a difficult job. It is traditional that one arm of government will blame another. Our leaders getting back to basics to establish a solid base for good governance can help to solve this.

Events in other countries demonstrate the dangers of unstable national governments imposed by Prime Ministers and Presidents.  The National Government must not only learn from Haiti and Baby Doc, Tunisia and Ben Ali, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe but more importantly take the necessary steps now to avoid falling into the same mess as these countries have.

Under the Constitution, Parliament can move a vote of no confidence up until early August this year. Let us get more focus, be positive, and get Parliament moving again on real issues, sooner than later. Set aside our differences before our stormy waters develop in a devastating cyclone.

I believe that the most critical issue the Somare Government must address is the performance of the public service and especially that of the heads of government departments and agencies.  In my next article, I will share some of my recent experiences and offer some suggestions on options for the way forward.

 

Barry Holloway, CSM, KBE

Deputy Chairman

Legislative Working Group

 

Nexus between Bougainville crisis and National Alliance Party crisis: Panguna Mine

By JAMES WANJIK

BOUGAINVILLE Copper Agreement (BCA) was entered into between Australian Government and Rio Tinto Zinc subsidiary Conzinc Rio Australia in 1969.

Many Bougainville leaders and people objected but the United Nations had wanted transfer of government rule to Port Moresby.

A major economic project was needed to underpin a new nation’s economy. So was born the Panguna mine.
In 1974, only two years after mine production, Michael Somare led a team of young nationalist leaders in John Kaputin, John Momis and others to renegotiate the BCA.
Then after further 14 years new generation leaders from Panguna mine led a revolt on Bougainville.
It took 10 years of war for Bougainville leaders to make a stand.
A special regime for Bougainville was agreed to in 2001.
The significance of this Agreement was that Bougainville Government would be responsible for mines on Bougainville.
However, in 2005 National Alliance government enacted the Mineral Resources Authority Act 2005 that in essence took back the power the government of Bougainville had.
Now Autonomous Bougainville Government is lost and confused.
Somare and Momis are now on either side of the mining power divide on Bougainville.
In time PNG will come to know Somare well.
At independence he led Pangu Pati to national fame.
In the last 10 years of his political career he gathered a group of leaders who formed an alliance.
An alliance is not an entity at law.
 It is a group of individuals coming together to share common interest.
In 2002 the National Alliance Party was born.
 It was not out of necessity.
Rather it was out of convenience.
Pangu Pati had young leaders who resisted Somare leading it again.
He formed National Alliance Party and destabilised Pangu Pati.
Now he has destabilised the National Alliance Party.
By appointing Sam Abal who is not a deputy leader of National Alliance Party as the deputy Prime Minister, Somare has clearly rejected the deputy leaders of his party.
Somare’s leadership is painted with leadership of lust for power.
Power play politics Somare used as his way of neutralising and ejecting leaders with potential Prime Minister material.
PNG is proud to have St Michael the Archangel as its Patron Saint.
He led an army of angels to defeat Lucifer in heaven.
Now he will see PNG being free of political power play and denial of development for all.
God bless PNG.

Global Fund statement on abuse of funds in some countries, including Papua New Guinea

Following a recent media report of misuse of Global Fund grants, the Global Fund is issuing the following statement:

The Global Fund has zero tolerance for corruption and actively seeks to uncover any evidence of misuse of its funds. It deploys some of the most rigorous procedures to detect fraud and fight corruption of any organisation financing development.
The vast majority of funds disbursed by the Global Fund is untainted by corruption and is delivering dramatic results in the fight against the three diseases AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
“Transparency is a guiding principle behind the work of the Global Fund and we expect to be held to the highest standards of accountability,” said Prof. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
The news report that has caused concerns refers to well-known incidents that have been reported by the Global Fund and acted on last year. There are no new revelations in yesterday’s media reports.
In its report last year, the Global Fund’s Inspector General listed grave misuse of funds in four of the 145 countries which receive grants from the Global Fund. As a result immediate steps were taken in Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania and Zambia, to recover misappropriated funds and to prevent future misuse of grant money.
In total, the Global Fund is demanding the recovery of US $34 million unaccounted for in these and other countries out of a total disbursement of US $13 billion.
“The distinguishing feature of the Global Fund is that it is very open when it uncovers corruption. That is its comparative advantage,” said John Parsons, Inspector General of the Global Fund.
The Global Fund is working with the relevant authorities to ensure that those committing fraud are brought to justice. Criminal proceedings are already underway in Mali, Mauritania and Zambia.
The Global Fund has suspended relevant grants in Mali and Zambia and terminated another grant in Mali. Special safeguards have been imposed on continuing grants in Djibouti, Mauritania and Mali, meaning that they are subject to particularly close scrutiny and restrictions on cash transfers. These safeguards are also in force in Cote d’Ivoire and Papua New Guinea.
The Global Fund Secretariat and the Office of the Inspector General are identifying areas of its portfolio that could be at greater risk of misuse and are strengthening efforts to prevent fraud. Among other measures, the Global Fund Secretariat is devoting additional specialist staff to monitor higher risk countries and improve the capacity of Local Fund Agents, who are responsible for grant oversight in countries, to detect potential fraud.
At its most recent meeting in December, the Global Fund’s Board of Directors, representing donor nations, recipient countries, civil society, UN and partner organisations, reviewed the progress made in detecting and preventing corruption and supported the actions taken to date by the Inspector General and the Secretariat.
The Global Fund will continue to closely monitor all the grants in its portfolio and respond decisively and urgently to any instances of corruption.

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The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organisations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.
Since its creation in 2002, The Global Fund has become the dominant financier of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US$ 21.7 billion. To date, programs supported by The Global Fund have saved 6.5 million lives through providing AIDS treatment for 3 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 7.7 million people and the distribution of 160 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria.

###

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Hurst – Communications Office: + 41 58 791 16 72 Mobile: + 41 79 561 68 07 E-mail: andrew.hurst@theglobalfund.org

Information on the work of the Global Fund is available at www.theglobalfund.org

###

Follow the Global Fund on Twitter: http://twitter.com/globalfundnews

Join the Global Fund on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/theglobalfund

Lies, damned lies, and Papua New Guinea statistics.

From A Correspondent based upon a recent report from the Australian National University

Papua New Guinea scarecely reports a single statistical indicator accurately.

This leads to nonsense in PNG's entries in the Human Development Report (HDR) and a blank against many of the research topics Australian National University scholars pursue.

PNG's figures for life expectancy in the UN's Human Development Register are false; made up by PNG's statisticians.

The only calculations of life expectancy in PNG from nationally-collected data are those of the demographer Martin Bakker: 49.6 years and 54.2 years in the 1980 and 2000 censuses respectively.

With the HIV-AIDS epidemic taking hold in PNG in the last decade, life expectancy might be going down again: we really have no idea.

The 'decline' of the maternal mortality ratio (deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes/100,000 live births) is another example of "Dr Giaman" at work.

The HDRs claim a remarkable fall in PNG, from 900 to 250 over the 20 years.

But with no death registration in PNG, where have the figures come from?

They are also made up.

Glen Mola of the Port Moresby General Hospital, PNG's expert in these matters, currently accepts a figure of between 700 and 900, for an appalling lifetime risk for women of dying from pregnancy of 1 in 20.

PNG has gone nowhere.

If PNG had the health profile of Fiji – by no means an HDR saint – something like 8000 excess deaths among under fives and 1000 excess deaths of mothers would be saved each year in PNG, and with Fiji's homicide rate, perhaps another 1000 murder victims, each year.

These are big numbers – 350,000 avoidable fatalities since Independence, more than the population of Vanuatu, or Oro and New Ireland provinces combined.

With the apparent abandonment of a national census as the basis for electoral administration, government planning and budgeting, and general statistical monitoring of the progress of the nation we remain in total ignorance of the material and human developmental status of our nation.

Who cares, or who should care, if a national government will not?

Drink driving lands senior cop in court

By ZACHERY PER

 

A senior policeman based in Kundiawa, Chimbu will appear before the Kundiawa District Court to answer charges of drink driving causing accidents at two separate locations in Kundiawa last weekend, The National reports.

Chimbu provincial police commander Chief Insp John Kale said yesterday that the officer drove a private vehicle while under the influence of liquor on Saturday.

He said he allegedly bumped a Suzuki vehicle at Wara Market and as he was heading towards Gumine road he bumped into a PMV - a Dyna truck at Mirane village south of Kundiawa town.

“The officer is suspended for 21 days, arrested and charged. He will appear before the Kundiawa District Court to answer his charges this week,” Kale said.

In another incident, rider of a motor bike is recovering at the Kundiawa General Hospital after colliding with a Toyota LandCruiser last Saturday.

Kale said the vehicle was on its way to Southern Highlands when the motor bike rider, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, ran to the vehicle.

“The biker is in serious condition, recovering at the hospital,” he said.

Kale appealed to motorists to avoid drink driving because most of the accidents were caused by drink driving.

He said law-abiding officers like the police involved either on-duty or off-duty would be dealt with accordingly.

Meanwhile, a new vehicle ran off the road at Prinorkwa hill towards Wara Simbu near Kundiawa town.

The new Toyota LandCruiser hire vehicle was from Goroka. It is not known whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol and no casualties were reported from the accident.

 

 

Drink driving lands senior cop in court

By ZACHERY PER

 

A senior policeman based in Kundiawa, Chimbu will appear before the Kundiawa District Court to answer charges of drink driving causing accidents at two separate locations in Kundiawa last weekend, The National reports.

Chimbu provincial police commander Chief Insp John Kale said yesterday that the officer drove a private vehicle while under the influence of liquor on Saturday.

He said he allegedly bumped a Suzuki vehicle at Wara Market and as he was heading towards Gumine road he bumped into a PMV - a Dyna truck at Mirane village south of Kundiwa town.

“The officer is suspended for 21 days, arrested and charged. He will appear before the Kundiawa District Court to answer his charges this week,” Kale said.

In another incident, rider of a motor bike is recovering at the Kundiawa General Hospital after colliding with a Toyota LandCruiser last Saturday.

Kale said the vehicle was on its way to Southern Highlands when the motor bike rider, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, ran to the vehicle.

“The biker is in serious condition, recovering at the hospital,” he said.

Kale appealed to motorists to avoid drink driving because most of the accidents were caused by drink driving.

He said law-abiding officers like the police involved either on-duty or off-duty would be dealt with accordingly.

Meanwhile, a new vehicle ran off the road at Prinorkwa hill towards Wara Simbu near Kundiawa town.

The new Toyota LandCruiser hire vehicle was from Goroka. It is not known whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol and no casualties were reported from the accident.