People's power is latest tool

“Enough is enough”

Letter to the editor in The National Monday, Feb 14, 2011

To those who have been following the recent uprising in Egypt and other parts of the Middle-East, I believe many would agree with me that these events marked the dawn of a new era in the 21st century’s socio-political life – people’s power.

Egypt’s uprising against the ruling regime was inspired by a lone act of a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire after his stalls were raided by the Tunisian police.

His death led to massive protest and bloodshed, eventually ousting Tunisia’s corrupt regime.

Egypt was ruled for the last 30 years by another iron fist leader who did many things including altering the constitution to suit his interest.

The massive protests, which claimed some 300 lives, were an attempt to be free from oppression.

Papua New Guinea is no different to these countries.

For years, our resourceful land has been exploited by self-interested regimes and so-called politicians leaving us with nothing but scarred landscapes.

Most of our resources are being sold cheaply to foreign companies in deals that lack transparency and integrity, while our own people suffer from the low standard regulatory framework and conditions.

We speak of “development” only to realise that after nearly 40 years of independence, the word is political rather than technical, good at giving hope but no substance.

Our leaders are more concerned with power than the people’s welfare and we are being poisoned by the venom of regionalism, crime and ignorance as we struggle to make ends meet within a vicious cycle of suffering.

Tunisia and Egypt are breaking free from their yoke of suffering because people held their head up and say “enough is enough”.

When will the people of Papua New Guinea stand up?

We have suffered for far too long.

Unless we do something, we will continue to die in silence.

Australian pilot missing in chopper crash off Manus

AN Australian pilot is missing, feared dead, after his helicopter crashed into the sea between Manus and Madang on Sunday, The National reports.
Radio Australia reported last night that the wreckage had been found but there was no sign of the pilot who was identified as Lloyd Lester, 57, from Queensland.
He was the only person on board the helicopter when it crashed into the Bismarck Sea on Sunday morning.
His employer, Pacific Helicopters, told the radio service that the wreckage of the chopper has been spotted about 50km from Manus Island.
Floating among it was the helicopter’s emergency life raft, which had not been deployed.
A company spokesman said the state of the wreckage indicates a high-impact crash.
Pacific Helicopters said it would continue its search today for Lester in the hope that he may have swum to an island.
An air and sea search had started on Sunday morning.
Lester was flying from Madang to Manus Island and was the only person on board the helicopter when it crashed.
Pacific Helicopters managing director and Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Kela-Smith told Radio Australia that Lester was about 50km from Manus when he activated an emergency switch.
“He still might be alive. It’s a hope by me,” he said.
“I know he is a very fit person and there was a small nearby island he could have swum to, but at this stage it’s just a hope.”
Lester’s daughter, who wanted to remain unnamed, told News Limited: “He is an amazing father.”
“It’s just a waiting game. We’re hoping they don’t just give up on the search anytime soon.”
An Australian department of foreign affairs spokeswoman said the Australian high commission in Port Moresby was liaising with local authorities and Pacific Helicopters

 

Who??...is w-Hu? Hilarious cartoons on how China will own America some day soon

Sustainable use of wetlands

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

Wetlands are all about water, the continuous supply of water and its natural resources.
It is an area where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or seasonally.
Wetlands eco-systems are found in wide range of environments from coastal deltas, oxbow lakes, mountain lakes, to high altitude inland swamps.
Wetlands eco-systems are among the world’s most productive systems.
They are essential for the supply of fresh water, maintenance and use of biodiversity, mitigation of the effects of climate change, natural water cycle, and sustenance of livelihoods of local communities who depend on them.
Wetlands include coral reefs, coastal eco-systems, peat lands, swamps, lakes and rivers.
There are many benefits that we all derive from these wetlands.
Simple things that we do everyday involve water.
Recent studies suggest that wetlands occupy in excess of 12.8 million sq km globally; although this may be an underestimate due to variations in the definitions used when identifying different types of wetlands.
In Papua New Guinea, wetlands provide tremendous economic and conservation benefits through marine and fresh water food resources, flood control, maintenance of shoreline stabilisation, estuarine systems for coastal fisheries, water quality, provide recreational opportunities, and natural habitats for some important food crop resources like sago, mangroves and water lilies.
The global community recognised the significance of wetlands and signed the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Papua New Guineaa signed up to the convention in 1993.
The Ramsar Convention is now observed as the World Wetlands Day every February 2, since 1997 when it was first celebrated.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is the custodian of our vast wetlands.
It is tasked with their conservation and sustainable use.
People have been associated with wetlands from prehistory to the present day.
Wetlands have been among the most-attractive areas in the landscape, satisfying a variety of needs for hunting and gathering, spirituality, water resources and agriculture.
Wetlands and agriculture are closely linked together and both have greatly influenced humankind.
Available evidence suggests that human settlements started in and around the wetlands. Long before humans learned to grow food, they depended, at least partly, on wetlands for their sustenance.
Agriculture is said to have its beginning in the wetlands and grew at the expense of wetlands (and forests).
Wetlands have been, and will remain, important agricultural resources for people in many parts of the world including PNG.
The most-common form of agriculture in wetlands is paddy rice cultivation.
Evidence of rice culture dates back to the earliest age of humans and domestication of rice started in shallow swamps.

Transplanted rice field

With the growing demand for food, seasonal marshes were modified into paddy fields as man-managed wetlands.
While there are no evidence to suggest the exploitation of wetlands for agriculture in PNG, various types of foods are sourced from it.
Sago, for example, is a common wetland plant and a stable food crop to many communities in the Sepik, Gulf, Western, Madang and Manus provinces.

Growing  rice field

With increase demand for food together with issues of climate change, people will turn to cultivating wetlands.
With such situation and other resource developments like mining, the ecosystem of wetlands is threatened.
DEC is already concerned that some wetlands have been lost through impacts of mining and urban expansions.
The department is already developing its capacity to promote research and education on the wise use of wetlands in PNG.
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day early this month, DEC has called on all citizens to value the importance of wetlands preservation, its uses and its significance to our livelihood.
Awareness on its importance is required in line with the technical plan of the Ramsar Convention to conserve and sustainable use the wetlands.
They should not be considered as wasteland, rather their importance to the local communities who depend on them should be considered before any development.
In view of the objectives of DEC, mechanisms should be in place to promote the synergies between agriculture, wetlands and water resources management.
This can be achieved by developing and implementing guidelines to jointly manage agriculture and wetland eco-systems for food production in a sustainable manner.
Food security is a universal goal and it is linked with sustainable level of food production.

Fish pond

The limits to food production are dictated both by the availability of land and water resources and our capacity to increase the productivity of these resources without depleting or degrading them.
The potential contribution of wetlands resources to food security is vast and varied.
Mobilising this potential depends largely on our ability to understand the many interactions which ultimately determine the functions of a wetland and its eco-system.
Development and use of appropriate technologies could lead to effective utilisation of these resources sustainably to meet our needs.
To utilise their potential, there is a need to understand its complex yet fragile ecosystem.
It is believed that agriculture has grown at the expense of natural wetlands.
The wetland eco-systems are being threatened today due to various human interventions. Therefore, conservation of wetlands requires an integrated, balanced, and coordinated approach to the management of water resources whereby the impacts of agriculture on wetlands are minimised without compromising agricultural production.
Appropriate policies needs to be developed to strike a balance between agriculture and wetland conservation.
With these in place agriculture should be a partner in wetland protection.

NARI now has full council

The National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) now has a full council with the appointment of representatives from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the University of Technology (Unitech) early this month.

The national executive council (NEC) appointed Prof Chalapan Kaluwin and Philip Stagg upon recommendation by the Public Services Commission after they were recommended by their respective university councils.

The duo who will serve in the current term, bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge to the NARI council.

Stagg, who is an electrical engineer by profession, served in various capacities in both the public and private sector before going private.

He is currently the chancellor of Unitech, serving in the council since 1986.

He replaces former representative and academic, Dr Samson Akoitai.

Prof Kaluwin, who has received a number of academic and research awards, has widespread experience in teaching, administration and management, undertaking research projects and served as consultant.

With specific experience in environmental sciences and geography, and as head of environmental science and geography, school of natural and physical science, he brings valuable experience in his field of expertise to the NARI council. 

He replaces former dean of Science at UPNG, Prof Lance Hill, who has retired.

The make-up of the NARI council covers all geo-political regions of PNG, major stakeholder groups, key government agencies, and educational and scientific institutions. The current members including UPNG and Unitech representative consists of head of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, head of the Department of Treasury, three smallholder farmers’ representatives, and one member representing growers’ association, nominated by a legally-recognised association and NARI represented by its director general.

The new appointees will serve the current term under the chairmanship of Dr John Kola, which expires in October 2012.

With the all required representatives on board, the council will now be able to direct the affairs of NARI in its efforts to promote innovative agricultural development in PNG through adaptive scientific research, knowledge creation, and information exchange.

 

University of Goroka kicks 0ff 2011 academic year

Performers from Raun Raun Theatre entertaining guests during the opening

The University of Goroka last week launched its academic year for 2011, with a week of student registration activities.
An official welcome was held on campus as part of registration and included a prayer asking for guidance and blessing for the year.
The national anthem was sung along with recitals of the national pledge and the UOG pledge.
Special guest for the occasion was chancellor of the university Benais Sabumei (MBE).
This was the first time the UOG council had been present at student registration.
Sabumei gave the official welcome and address to the student body, explaining the role and authority of the university council; student dormitory project; catering changes on campus; improvements to IT communication; new music building; academic restructure; performance based criteria for staff; improvements in the university; and community relations.
Sabumei reminded the students of their obligations while studying at UOG; the zero tolerance policy to drugs, alcohol and indecent material on campus; and encouraged them to be responsible and to seriously commit to their studies as they would be “shaping the lives and characters of many children when teaching after graduation”.
Sabumei said the challenge was for all to work together collectively for the betterment of UOG and the community.
Council members Thompson Haroqkaveh MP (speaker’s nominee) and Dr Sam Kari (academic staff representative) spoke to the students on disciplinary matters, academic rules and regulations and how to maximise their potential whilst studying.
The day was also a chance for students to be introduced to various staff members from each of the faculties of the university.
Light entertainment from Raun Raun Theatre performers enlightened proceedings and ended the programme on a high note.

Charity does begin at home

By JOHN PASQUARELLI

Charity does indeed begin at home. 

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz  commenting on the alleged split between Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop, said, 'I would absolutely expect the shadow foreign affairs minister(Julie Bishop) to make strong arguments for foreign aid' – wrong! 

Our MPs' first priority is supposed to be looking after the interests of Australians and   ensuring that their taxes are not splashed up against that proverbial wall.  

Pauline Hanson has been the only  politician to speak out about the rorts in our foreign aid but as I write this, Kevin Rudd is promising to give  more of our money away.Australians wonder why they have to fund Indonesian schools when that country has armed forces that took over West Papua and had to be forced out of East Timor. 

There are many very wealthy people in Indonesia yet we have to fund their schools,  having no idea how our $500,000,000 is administered. 

 

We send money to African countries where monsters like Mugabe are in power and we are told that Papua New Guinea 'powerbrokers' are buying up property in Australia. 

 

Julie Bishop needs to tell Australian flood and cyclone victims why they have to join the handout queue behind Africans and Indonesians.

Prime Minister's leadership tribunal of national interest

The opposition has urged chief justice Sir Salamo Injia to decide speedily on prime minister Sir Michael Somare’s referral by the public prosecutor for a leadership tribunal to be set up to hear alleged misconduct charges relating to declaration of annual returns by the grand chief.

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah said the matter was of national interest and the citizens of Papua New Guinea were entitled to get a decision.

Namah said Sir Salamo had a constitutional duty to the nation to announce the setting up of the tribunal without any unnecessary delays.

“Any delay in appointing the tribunal will cause the public to becoming suspicious,” he said.

“It is judiciary’s interest to bolster the public confidence in the judiciary.”

The pending leadership tribunal stem from allegations by the Ombudsman Commission (OC) that Sir Michael failed to lodge annual returns for the periods 1994/5, 1995/96 and 1996/7, his lodgement returns for the periods 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 20003/04 and incomplete statements for periods 1992/93, 1993/94, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2000.01, 20001/02 and 20002/03.

The OC referred Sir Michael to the public prosecutor for it to ask the chief justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to deal with the allegations, but Sir Michael went to court seeking orders to stop the OC from investigating him.

On June 24, 2008, National Court judge, Justice Derek Hartshorn rejected an application by Sir Michael for a temporary injunction to stop the OC from investigating him.

When rejecting Sir Michael’s temporary injunction, Judge Hartshorn ruled that it was not in the interest of the justice of the general public that lawful authorities should be prevented from performing their legal and constitutional duties.

He went to the court asking it to grant him certain declarations and a permanent injunction preventing the OC from continuing its investigations.

Sir Michael had contended that the OC lacked jurisdiction to continue the investigations.

The conduct of their investigations was oppressive, subject to excessive delays and breached the rules of natural justice to act fairly reasonably and in good faith.

He also alleged that the decision not to engage an independent examiner under section 19 of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, as requested by him was decided by an individual and not the majority quorum of three independent constitutional office holders despite bias allegations raised by his client against the commission.

However, Judge Hartshorn in a seven-page decision stated that Sir Michael did not have a strong case to stop the OC from continuing its investigations.

“It is not in the interest of justice or the public interest that lawful authorities should be prevented from carrying out their lawful investigations.

“Any such prevention should only occur in very clear cases of abuse,” Judge Hartshorn said.

The judge was satisfied given the evidence before him that the PM’s appeal was not serious and the OC be allowed to continue its investigations.

Effectively, the ruling meant that the public prosecutor could proceed to ask the chief justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to determine the charges against the prime minister.

On June 30, 2008, the PM’s lawyers refiled their appeal matter in the Supreme Court to be heard that afternoon.

The appeal matter related to the refusal of the National Court to grant an order restraining the OC from investigating the PM on an alleged breach of the Leadership Code.

PM’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal basically appealing the whole of the judgment of Derek Hartshorn in dismissing their notice of motion.

In the notice of appeal,  they relied on seven grounds saying that in respect of each and every grounds, the National Court erred in the exercise of its discretion which if not overturned would result in the unlawful actions of an authority going unscrutinised by the court and causing serious injustice to the appellant.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal.

Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of the Leadership require every person who is subject to the Leadership Code to furnish the OC every year details of assets, income and other required information.

Namah stressed that he was merely asking the chief justice to perform his constitutional duty and role in the public interest.

“The chief justice owes it to the nation and people to make an effort to set up the leadership tribunal in the national interest.

“It is not my intention to interfere with the work of the chief justice, but expect him to do his job speedily.”

 

Basil rejects Sir Arnold's statement

By Bulolo MP, SAM BASIL

 

The statement by the attorney general that the public should not demand swift decision making from the chief justice as to the appointment of a leadership tribunal is as offensive as it is clearly wrong.

  The chief justice, like the attorney general, is public servants and should be answerable and accountable to the people of Papua New Guinea at all times.

  Serious allegations have been made against the most-senior public servant in PNG, the prime minister. 

These allegations remain unanswered three years later. 

This is bringing the integrity of the office of prime minister into question and it is in the interests of the country as a whole that these allegations are resolved quickly, one way or another.   

  Justice delayed is justice denied.

  The public prosecutor was satisfied that the prime minister was guilty of misconduct in office, which resulted in his referral of the matter to the chief justice for the appointment of a leadership tribunal pursuant to Section 27(2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.

  When a tribunal is to be appointed to inquire in the case of alleged misconduct in office by the prime minister – a special provision applies as to the make-up of the tribunal – which is Section 27(7) (d) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, which provides that the chief justice must appoint a tribunal consisting of a chairman and two other members, all of whom must be—

(i)        Judges or former judges of the National Court; or

(ii)       Former Judges of the pre-independence Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea; or

(iii)      Judges or former judges of an equivalent court of a country that has a legal system similar to that of PNG;

  The chief justice does not have discretion as to whether or not he should appoint a tribunal under the Organic Law, once the matter is referred to him by the public prosecutor, he MUST appoint a tribunal.

  This performance of this duty cannot be delayed.

 It is not a difficult or time- consuming task as there is only a limited pool of persons from which the chief justice may appoint the tribunal.

  It is in the interests of justice that this task is performed as quickly as possible so that these allegations may be resolved so that the integrity of the office of prime minister is not further destroyed.  

  It is therefore entirely appropriate that the people demand that the tribunal be appointed within a reasonable time and that means as soon as possible in these circumstances. 

For the attorney general to suggest that the people have no rights to demand quick action, it is not only in breach of the basic principles of democracy but he is clearly playing politics and trying to delay the determination of the allegations of misconduct against the prime minister, which all of PNG has been waiting for.

 We should also remind ourselves that the attorney general and the governor of Madang Sir Arnold Amet is also a member of the National Alliance Party from which the prime minister is a leader of and delivering such statements can only bring the integrity of his office into question.

 There should be a law in the future to make the office of the attorney general be occupied by public servants only and not politicians as such.

It would be also proper for future chief justices not to enter politics because the respect they carry from this high profile office can be easily tainted when they start playing petty politics.

 

Hon Sam Basil - Opposition MP

Bulolo Open Electorate.

 

In response to –

 

Amet: CJ should not be put under pressure

 

By JOSHUA ARLO – Post Courier

 

THE CHIEF JUSTICE should never be put under pressure by public demand to appoint a leadership tribunal to look into the alleged misconduct in office by the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.  “The process is consultation. That is important given the seniority and importance of the high public office of the Prime Minister,” the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet said yesterday.  The former Chief Justice, who left the bench seven years ago to pursue a political career, was speaking to Post-Courier in an exclusive interview after the launch of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General’s first ever newsletter. He said the decision to appoint a tribunal was the sole responsibility of the Chief Justice and he must not give in to public demand as the decision needs a lot of consideration, as well as consultation with other judges before he could appoint the tribunal.  An appointment for the tribunal is pending because the Public Prosecutor made the request on the eve of court vacation. The vacation ended last Monday when the 2011 legal year resumed. Sir Michael stepped aside from office after the request was made but recently resumed office and he is expected to step aside again when a tribunal is appointed again.  Sir Arnold also raised two other issues that surrounded the issue of the appointment of a tribunal in relation to office holders which are currently being discussed. “Firstly, a misunderstanding that the Public Prosecutor requested the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal that didn’t automatically resort to suspend the Prime Minister. And secondly, it is the decision of the tribunal as to whether the Prime Minister should be suspended from office,” he said yesterday.

 

Powerful message of forgiveness

The National Editorial - Friday, February 11, 2011

AMID the gloom, doom, despair and no hope regarding the vicious circle of ethnic violence in Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea has come a breath of fresh air.
It has taken the life of former Kumul rugby league star Aquila Emil to bring this message across to the people of this country.
Emil was gunned down outside the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby last Friday with the alleged killer now in remand at Bomana jail.
In just about every town or city, even the rural areas, this would have sparked another round of ethnic violence as Emil’s people went on the warpath against relatives of the alleged killer.
There would be more people killed, more houses burned down and more lives shattered in the aftermath.
However, in Aquila’s case, his family has forgiven the alleged killer and opted to let justice take its course, to let God himself be the judge.
It is quite ironic that in life, Emil touched the nation with his rugby leagues finesse and now, after death, he continues to touch the nation with a powerful message of peace.
His grieving family told The National yesterday that they held no animosity against his alleged killer and would let God himself pass judgment.
Emil’s elder sister Margaret Worri said they were from a Christian, God-fearing family from Umbukul village on New Hanover, New Ireland, and forgave Emil’s killer.
She said this was the way their late father, a United church pastor, raised them up to be and he would have wanted it this way.
“We will forgive and let God himself be the judge,” Worri said.
“We come from a humble, Christian family and we were brought up in a loving way.
“We will maintain that.
“I know that if dad was here, he would say the same thing.
“Aquila had loved his children, for his brothers and sisters.
“He is gone but his legacy will live on.
“He did not die for nothing.
“Aquila was a peace-maker.
“He was not a violent person.”
Emil, 43, is survived by his wife Marieta and five children Jr Aquila, 23; Vavine, 20; Martha, 16; Rupa Penias, 12; and 10-year-old Tau Vaitas.
His widow remembers him as the perfect father.
“I love him so much,” she said as she fought back tears.
“He was a good father.
“He never beat up the children or argued with me.
“He always cooked for us.”
Two months this year and, already, innocent men, women and children are being needlessly affected by the wave of ethnic violence sweeping this country.
A new year, a new decade, but there seems to be no respite from this evil in a country which we like to preach of as “Christian”.
Aquila, through his violent death, has begged us to differ.
It goes without saying that had he been from one of the more-volatile areas of the country, renowned for payback killing, that would already be the order of the day.
The livewire from Umbukul electrified the Lloyd Robson oval starting in 1988 onwards for Port Moresby Brothers.
In 1993, during the World Sevens in Sydney, Port Moresby Vipers, captained by Emil, Wests’ magician Tuksy Karu at pivot and players par-excellence such as fullback Philip Boge, Mark Agi and Daroa Ben-Moide demolished highly-fancied NRL teams and shocked and entertained the rugby league world.
They proved critics wrong and made it all the way to the finals.
The same boys were part of the best-ever Kumul side that nearly caused the upset of the century when they almost beat the seemingly-invincible Australian Kangaroos in Townsville in 1991.
The Kumuls were eventually beaten 34-14, but it was the best-ever result for the Kumuls, considering it was not the usual cricket scorelines we have today.
The halves combination of No.6 Karu and No.7 Emil demolished the Australian combination of Laurie Daley and Allan Langer, while Hanuabada fullback Boge blew Michael Hancock off the paddock with a solid tackle which saw him carried out on a stretcher.
Emil’s life was taken in a moment of madness last Friday; however, the memories will never die.
And, the most-touching thing is that his wife and family have forgiven the alleged killer, saying God himself will be the judge.
At this sad moment, as the nation turns its lonely eyes to Emil, let this be a powerful message for peace in our land

 

New Zealand to build fresh food market in Port Moresby

By MALUM NALU
New Zealand is exploring the potential for a fresh produce wholesale market in Port Moresby, due to the increased demand for fresh fruit and vegetables from workers involved in the liquefied natural gas pipeline project.

New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand being taken around Goroka market by FPDA production and supply manager Robert Lutulule in Sept 2009.-Picture by MALUM NALU

New Zealand high commissioner to Papua New Guinea Marion Cranshaw said this at a traditional hangi (earth oven) picnic at the New Zealand High Commission at Waigani last Sunday to mark Waitangi Day.
“Our government is looking to shift its aid programme into areas of economic development as well,” she said.
“We are looking at how we can reform our aid programme into economic areas.
“One of our proposals is putting up a wholesale food market in Port Moresby to improve access to market in Port Moresby for fruit and vegetable sellers.
“We are also looking at how we can assist in rural agricultural development, because while Papua New Guinea may make a lot of money from the big projects, agricultural development is important for development.”
New Zealand believes there is scope to see wider social benefits from a market, particularly for women.
In the future New Zealand will look to support other market infrastructure developments in PNG.
New Zealand already provides strong support to strengthen PNG's agricultural sector.
This includes support for:
• Fresh Produce Development Agency, which links farmers and consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Bris Kanda, which focuses on building commercially productive partnerships between rural communities and service providers in Morobe province; and
• A government extension programme to help rural farmers improve their agricultural and business skills.
Cranshaw believes that commercial relationships between both countries are the future.
Aid-wise, PNG is already the second-largest beneficiary of New Zealand aid to the tune of NZ$30 million (K57m) annually, after Solomon Islands.
“I think the future for New Zealand-Papua New Guinea relationships is in commercial relationships,” she said.
“I see that Papua New Guinea is a growing economy, with the ability to purchase New Zealand goods and services and that’s what’s starting to happen.
“New Zealand is still quite relatively small in the (PNG) market but we want to grow New Zealand’s place in the market.”
Cranshaw said a New Zealand trade mission would come to PNG in April to kick-start things.
“We’ll be looking at what other trade activities will follow that,” she said,
“New Zealand’s got good expertise in energy, some areas of infrastructure, engineering, and of course, food and beverages.
“In a way, I think New Zealand can help the development of Papua New Guinea by selling some of our expertise, because in that way, Papua New Guinea has the ownership of what they’re bringing.
“My focus on commercial engagement is not because it’s to New Zealand’s advantage, but it’s a way that we can help the development of Papua New Guinea and the ownership stays with Papua New Guinea.”

Finschhafen farming goes hi-tech

BY JAMES LARAKI of NARI
FINSCHHAFEN district in Morobe province will now be able plan for its district agricultural and natural resources development guided by computer-generated database tools.

Jimmy Maro (standing) guiding participants in using the desktop GIS tool at the Finschhafen Technical School, Gagidu station

This is possible after the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) conducted a training last week for district administration staff on the use of the geographic information systems (GIS) and the global positioning systems (GPS) tools.
These are spatial tools that provide useful information which can act as guides in the planning and development processes.
The week-long training was an initiative of local MP Theodore Zurenouc, who has a close working relationship with NARI to develop agriculture in his district.
More than 18 officers from various divisions in the district administration, including staff from Zurenouc’s electoral office, participated in the training.
NARI GIS specialist Jimmy Maro said the objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of the district administration in using GIS and GPS tools in rural agricultural planning and development for the district.
Maro said the tools were designed for gathering, analysing and managing spatial information (any object identified according to its location) such as topography, soils, rainfall, land use, population and services such as markets and roads which were useful in planning, particularly agriculture and rural development.
He said the training was also able to introduce to the participants the existing national databases: mapping agriculture systems project (MASP) and the PNG resource information systems (PNGRIS).
These databases contain information about PNG’s natural resources and smallholder agricultural systems.
The training involved formal introductory sessions on how the tools work and desktop mapping of roads, rivers, areas under agriculture, and projecting population in different parts of the district.
The participants were shown how to do land use assessments, for instance modelling the impact of possible natural disasters like floods or identifying suitable land for growing certain types of food and cash crops in the district.
Participants also had hands-on experience in handling the GPS receiver to gather locations such as plantations and villages.
The information generated was mapped and an inventory was created to add to existing information of the district in the national database.
Leka Stanley, on behalf of the participants, said the training was useful as they were able to gain useful knowledge for rural planning, particularly for agriculture and natural resource development and management.
He said equipped with the new skills and knowledge, they were looking forward to better manage and plan the district development effectively.
Stanley, who is also the electoral officer of the local MP, acknowledged NARI for facilitating the training and Zurenouc for his initiative and support.

Lae urban village takes up rice farming

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

An urban village in Papua New Guinea is the last place you will expect to find people growing rice.
You expect people from such villages to be getting their rice from the supermarket or village trade store.
Pat Newton from Wagang (Sipaia) village on the outskirts of Lae has decided to grow rice for his family consumption.

NARI officers and family members of Pat Newton discussing rice growing at Wagang village

Newton, a first-timer, is possibly the first to grow rice among the six Ahi villages of Yalu, Kamkumung, Hengali, Butibam, Yanga and Wagang.
He harvested his first crop last week.
Officers from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) rice and grain project were on hand to provide technical assistance in harvesting and processing of rice.
Newton and his family were provided useful tips on growing rice and advised of the steps in harvesting and processing to get good eating quality and maximum yield from their efforts.
It all started when a family friend brought some rice seeds and encouraged Newton to try them out on his field.
The seeds were brought from OSICA Technical School in East New Britain province, which his friend’s son attended.
With the encouragement of his friend, Newton planted a reasonably-sized field with assistance from family members.
He could not believe that rice could grow so well on his land.
The good performance of his first crop has motivated Newton and he has decided to plant a new field with seeds to come from the recent harvest.

Rice growing at Wagang

Newton said he decided to grow rice as prices in the supermarkets were high and his family could not afford.
He called on his fellow Ong clansmen of Wagang and the Ahi community in general to grow their own rice as the prices of processed rice was high at the supermarkets and would continue to rise.
“We have good, fertile land capable of growing good quality rice and there is no reason why we should wander off to the city supermarkets looking for rice,” Newton said.
“We can grow rice in our backyards and gardens for our own family consumption and I encourage everyone to follow my footsteps.”
He said his family was willing to share seeds and their knowledge with others in the village and surrounding communities that were willing to grow rice.

Dangerous drift away from Papua New Guinea must be halted

By JOHN PASQUARELLI in The Australian

 

WHEN Michael Somare's reign ends, Papua New Guinea urgently needs to change course to re-establish its place in the region and forge fresh, new links with Australia.

White paternalism and colonialism have disappeared in the rear-vision mirror of history, but no less a person than Somare once courageously said PNG had possibly been granted independence too soon.

Papua-New Guineans have a grassroots faith in acknowledging people who are "straight shooters", and they are rightly suspicious of flatterers - black, white, whoever they may be - from the UN, ANU or the UPNG, or even naive MPs from Australia.

PNG at its independence in 1975 stood at the crossroads but took the wrong turn.

The opportunity to rise quickly out of the ranks of the Third World was lost when tribalism and inexperience conspired to create an environment of lawlessness, coupled with the failure of public health and education systems.

 Much of the then huge mineral and oil wealth was squandered, as was the opportunity to become one of the world's major tourist destinations.

But PNG has incredibly been granted a second chance that will require the co-operation of all concerned to reset the country's compass.

The country has huge new reserves of wealth, ranging from the Hidden Valley gold bonanza near Wau-Bulolo to the Frieda River copper and gold prospect in the Sepik District.

Exxon-Mobil is proceeding with its gas and oil pipelines, which will double PNG's GDP in 2014 when exports to Asia commence, with an expected life of 30 years.

Ok Tedi is still producing and moves are under way to reopen the huge copper and gold mine at Bougainville, which ground to a halt when the civil war erupted in 1990.

Since then, copper prices have quadrupled and gold is through the roof at $US1400 an ounce.

With proper management, plantations of exotic timbers can redress the PNG logging rorts of the past, the oceans can continue to produce, aquaculture has huge potential and tourism is still there like a sleeping giant.

Many Australians still have strong connections with PNG, but both governments have drifted apart in recent years and this dangerous separation must be halted.

It is very embarrassing that there is not one Australian federal MP who has any real, in-depth understanding of PNG apart from the odd junket.

An Australian government should set up a taskforce, taking advice from those expats who still have much to offer, before beginning negotiations with PNG, ensuring that such a venture does not end up being just another bureaucratic bludge.

The emphasis must be on Australia offering training and mentoring for future police and army officers, right through all levels of the public service, health and education, and then establishing partnerships with successful Australian companies to train young Papua New Guineans in the trades and the specialist skills required in the mining and construction industries.

Australia must extend the hand of friendship - and let's hope it is enthusiastically grasped by PNG.

BSP eyes hi-tech Eftpos payment

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

BANK South Pacific is preparing to roll out a new product that will give convenience and safety to customers, The National reports.

This will be made possible through the use of a new wireless technology

through the gadget called electronic fund transfer at point of sale (Eftpos) or “point of pay” terminal.

Already in use in some centres in the Pacific, the new concept is faster and easier to secure.

It is expected to be operational later this year.

BSP chief executive Ian Clyne yesterday said this Eftpos machine would be more advanced in that customers could pay for their shopping and also make deposits.

He said at the moment, this wireless concept was being trialed, and was  successful, in Fiji.

Now, it is here in PNG where a team of experts are working to get it connected to all BSP branches and agencies nationwide.

Clyne said a wireless Eftpos machine costs US$750 (K1,969), which BSP would be bringing specially for the rural areas through its BSP  rural programme.

The programme is community-oriented in which communities were to take ownership of , and be responsible for, the upkeep and safety of the agency whilst getting services from it.

Clyne said the focus this year would be on 90% of retail mass market customers who would be encouraged to bank with ATMs and Eftpos machines and to only visit main branches for loan applications and creation of new accounts, among many others.

He said the use of modern telecommunication advances such as cell phones would allow BSP to harness the wireless Eftpos, which was one of the many services BSP was introducing this year through retail banking.

BSP was also looking at using cell phones to make payments which would allow greater access to rural communities to basic payment and banking services.

BSP today has more than 2,900 Eftpos machines in the country and would be increasing the units to 6,000 in a few years time.

BSP Fiji would be increasing from 120 to 1,500 and BSP Solomon Islands would go from one to 100.

Clyne said the cost of all these new services and improvements would be substantial.

He stressed that this was an investment they were making in the name of service to Papua New Guinean society.

 

 

Police begin election planning

POLICE will begin planning for next year’s general election next week, acting Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations Fred Yakasa said yesterday, The National reports.

He said an election planning conference, focusing on police election requirements and budget, had been scheduled for Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, from next Wednesday through Friday.

Yakasa said careful and advance planning was vital in ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure 2012 general election.

Pre-election operations were expected to start in April with police visiting potential problem areas, gathering intelligence and conducting general election security awareness.

The police operations chief said from these, a final election security operations plan would be drafted and prepared for execution.

“The plan will include a detailed budget submission to the government for pre-election security operations and the election proper,” he said.

Yakasa said the final plan would include the mobilisation of all resources required for the elections next year.

Individual provincial police commanders were tasked to develop their own election security plans during the commissioner’s annual conference in Lae last year.

They were told to take stock of their resources including manpower, collect intelligence and conduct major pre-election operations.

“Each commander is expected to provide an assessment of what they require per division per province for a peaceful, free and fair election next year,” Yakasa said.

He stressed that all planning should be completed this year.

Yakasa also warned rogue police personnel to improve on their performance and maintain discipline.

He said the Royal PNG Constabulary had set its focus on improving discipline and the fight against crime in all four regional centres, improving security at major resource project sites, reviving and adequately resourcing the police highway patrol unit, improving community policing and police welfare issues.

“The police management is also devising plans and monitoring devises to apprise individual members of the force,” Yakasa said.

He said these measures were necessary because internal investigations had revealed that some policemen had not made any arrests in their entire career while others had not even prosecuted a case.

“Under the new monitoring system, each member will have a daily, weekly and monthly quota of arrests to make and will also be required to prosecute their cases in court.

“Disciplinary actions will be taken against those who do not perform to expected standards, including termination,” Yakasa said.

“It is time for us to earn our wages and provide the policing service the people of PNG deserve.”

 

 

Iamo condemns Deloitte's report

By JAYSON GIMA WURI and FREDDY MOU

 

THE Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) secretary Dr Wari Iamo has condemned an email circulation that was leaked out this week regarding the second report from Deloitte, an international consultancy firm, The National reports.

The report alleged that DEC had misused donor funds deposited into its biodiversity trust fund and compliance with procedures was “at a very low level”.

The report further claimed that 73% of the spending from the trust fund in 2008, the year of its audit, was for “unauthorised purposes”.

It said K223, 000 from the biodiversity trust fund, used for advances to DEC staff in 2007 and 2008, was completely unaccounted for (including K9, 000 for overseas travel).

The report also stated that no bank reconciliations for the Biodiversity Trust Fund had been done for the previous seven months and all the reconciliations for the previous year, used incorrect opening balances.

“There were no monthly reports made by DEC to the Department of Finance on any DEC trust accounts, despite it being a statutory requirement,” stated the report circulating through emails.

However, Iamo said that he commissioned the report in 2008 as a component of the institutional reform process developed through the DEC new strategic directions.

“The report was not done as a requirement of any donor or government initiative, it was an internal report.”

He said the purpose of the report was to

determine whether financial management systems within the department needed to be improved.

Iamo said he was managing the transition of the department to a statutory authority which would allow the development of competitive remuneration and the recruitment of suitably qualified persons to the finance area.

Meanwhile, Bulolo MP Sam Basil described the department as untrusted and called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to sack Minister for Environment and Conservation Benny Allan and the secretary following the report.

“The recent visit and statements made by the minister and his secretary after visiting Hidden Valley has proven to us that their position has been compromised; so if they can be branded as untrustworthy and irresponsible by a reputable accounting firm, then it is to the best interest of all Papua New Guineans that they be sacked immediately by the prime minister without delay,” Basil said.

Community-based advocacy group ACT NOW! had also called on Allan to investigate claims of financial mismanagement and misuse of trust funds as stated in the Deloitte report in his department.

“The minister needs to tell the people of Papua New Guinea what he is doing about these serious allegations,” ACT NOW! programme manager Efferey Dademo said.

“The government is calling on the international community to give billions of kina for deforestation measures, yet the evidence suggests DEC cannot be trusted with donor funds.”

Southern Highlands villagers murder policeman

Corpse dumped into Kagul River

 

By DAVID TERRY of police media

 

A YOUNG policeman was murdered and his body thrown into the fast-flowing Kagul River in Kaupena along the border of Western Highlands and Southern Highlands at about 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, The National reports.

Police confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old probationary constable Isaac Mambi, from Katiloma village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was attacked by more than 50 knife-wielding tribesmen who mutilated his body and threw it into the river.

Another policeman, identified as James Wali from Kopiago, also in Southern Highlands, escaped with axe wounds. A police high-powered A2 rifle was stolen.

LNG operations officer Snr Insp Michael Tilae said four policemen and five security guards, manning the checkpoint at the Paunda power plant, were alerted by informants of bootleggers trying to smuggle liquor into Southern Highlands by crossing the river on foot.

The policemen and security guards went to investigate by trekking downstream.

When they confronted the suspects, villagers numbering more than 50 gathered around them and one threw a snake at Mambi, which startled him.

Police witnesses at the site said when he tried to brush away the snake, he was attacked and his weapon retrieved.

His colleagues fired warning shots but the assailants continued to attack Mambi with knives, before throwing his corpse into the river.

Police reinforcements went to Kaupena yesterday morning and arrested four people including the driver and crew of a vehicle suspected of smuggling the liquor.

Police investigations are continuing.