Bauka Blue: the true taste of Aiyura Valley

Caption: Marey Yogiyo displaying her Bauka Blue coffee at the recent NARI Agricultural Innovations Show.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

By MALUM NALU

 

One of the upcoming brands of coffee in Papua New Guinea is Bauka Blue Kofi, produced entirely by a dedicated group of women from the beautiful Aiyura Valley, Eastern Highlands province.

It may not yet be in the big league of Chimbu's Kongo Coffee, Goroka Coffee from Eastern Highlands or Sigri Coffee from Western Highlands, however, is steadily developing a loyal fan base among missionaries at neighbouring Summer Institute of Linguistics, Kainantu, Bintangor Supermarket in Goroka, as well as SVS Stores.

Bauka Blue Kofi comes from the green rolling hills of Aiyura Valley, backed by beautiful blue mountains 1,200-1,800 metres above sea level in the Obura-Wonenara district of Eastern Highlands province.

The surrounding mountains are covered with tropical rainforest and beautiful morning fog, home to more than 114 species of birds identified so far out of 852 different types of birds found in PNG.

Of the 42 species of birds of paradise in PNG, four have been identified on the ridges around Aiyura.

Up to 50 different birds are frequent visitors to the shade trees, coffee gardens and secondary forest along the water ways.

Perfect environment for a perfect, environmentally-friendly Bauka Blue Kofi.

Marey Yogiyo, wife of coffee personality Jon Yogiyo, took part in the recent NARI Agricultural Innovations Show in Lae.

"We started it in 2000 as a women's coffee, involving ladies around the area where we live at Aiyura," she says.

"We realised that ladies spend a lot of time making and producing quality coffee, however, when everything was done, the men take the coffee to market and get all the money.

"We decided to do it ourselves.

"We help ladies.

"We pay school fees; attend to health problems.

"The ladies are happy to work together."

After picking, processing and drying, women of the Bauka group take their coffee to Arabicas in Goroka for roasting.

"I want to show farmers that we can make and drink our own coffee," Yogiyo says.

"Why should we work so hard and give it to somebody else?

"Bauka coffee is unique from other coffees because it is a single origin.

"Single origin means it comes straight from the block, from Aiyura."

Yogiyo says Bauka women have not yet secured overseas markets; however, that is not an impossibility.

Guava woman of Lae

 Edith Babul displaying Indian guavas at her stall at the recent NARI Agricultural Innovations Show in Lae.-Picture by MALUM NALU

By MALUM NALU

One of the most-popular stalls at the recent NARI Agricultural Innovations Show was that of woman farmer, Edith Babul, who runs Ngalonzua Farm at 16-Mile along the Highlands Highway outside Lae.

Her Indian guavas, some of them as big as young coconuts, sold like hot cakes on the day.

"I started my farm in 1992," Babul says.

"In 1995, I started growing Indian guavas, having my first harvest in 2000; however, I thought the demand wasn't there, so I only sold at Munum market.

"After that, I started selling at the main market in Lae, and now I have contracts with Papindo, Food Mart, Payless, Coronation school and some other Asian supermarkets.

"Business is going so well that I've also gone into oranges, water melons and soursop – a natural cure for cancer – which I supply on a regular basis to Angau hospital.

"I'm also into livestock like pigs, ducks and chickens."

Babul, a member of PNG Women in Agriculture, urges women to get into farming rather than sitting around gambling, chewing betelnut and wasting time.

"Farming is much better than sitting around doing nothing, gambling, etc," says the former Coral Sea Hotels' employer, originally from Northern province, but married to a local man.

"I now have 4,000 guava trees.

"Now I'm working for myself."

Rich soil gives East New Britain robusta distinct taste

 

ROBUSTA coffee produced in the lowland volcanic rich soil of the East New Britain has distinct cup characteristics from that produced in other parts of Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

Senior quality control officer of the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Ltd based in the Lae export office, Rose Romalus revealed this when speaking to ENB coffee corporative executives and CIC staff in Buana in the Toma local level government (LLG) recently. 

"Any ordinary coffee drinker can tell a big difference between the Robusta coffee produced in ENB and Robusta coffee from other areas of PNG," Romalus said.

She said the ENB Robusta coffee had higher cup characteristics, and could fetch higher prices in the world market.

Chairman of the East New Britain Coffee Growers Cooperative Association (ENBCGCA) Chris Malaibe and ENB smallholder coffee growers association chairman John Kapia Waratopo expressed that more coffee training and awareness programmes were needed in the province to complement the increasing interest among the local farmers to venture into cultivating coffee as an alternative cash crop apart from cocoa and coconut.

They said the farmers needed more training to manage their coffee gardens well and produce quality coffee.

 Malaibe said some farmers were planting both Arabica and Robusta in one garden which posed the possibility of mixing the two varieties while processing them, as such mixing of coffee would degrade the cup quality of a specific variety.

CIC is promoting ENB, New Ireland, Milne Bay, East and West Sepik, Madang, Gulf and Oro as new growth areas for coffee extension programmes to contribute to the overall coffee production in PNG.

According to the ENB technical officer Jacob Morre, a total of 6,000 growers with more than two million coffee trees (both Robusta and Arabica) were recorded in the four districts of Gazelle, Kokopo, Pomio and Rabaul last year.

MP: Millions in Wewak funds ‘lost’

A TOTAL of K16.2 million of public funds, earmarked for Wewak district, has been misused and misapplied, Wewak MP Dr Moses Manwau has claimed, The National reports.

Manwau asked during question time if Finance and Treasury Minister Peter O'Neill was aware of an audit report of the funds from the Wewak district being misused and misappropriated.

He asked what penalties would be given to those who were responsible for the abuse of the public funds.

"The decentralisation functions of the treasury without proper and skilled management team to handle finances in the district is causing havoc to the effective delivery of goods and services in my district," he said.

He said that a 2010 audit report indicated a total gross misuse, misapplication and prudently usage of public money for 2008 to June 2010 of more than K16.2 million.

He said that another independent audit report was also done and the report was with the Office of Rural Development. It also revealed misuse of the funds.

Manwau said later, after parliament was adjourned to 10am, that last November, he got K2 million from his DSIP funds and deposited the funds into the district treasury but they had all been used up without his knowledge.

He said there was only K40,000 in balance and he did not know where the rest of the money had gone without the knowledge of the district budget priority committee.

"The district treasurer and the district administrator are the signatories to the district funds which are basically for services in the district and I am not a signatory to the district treasury accounts," he said.

However, O'Neill replied that he was not aware of the audit but the matter was serious and he would respond after having a look at the audit report.

He said there must be transparency and accountability at all times when dealing public funds.

Garia queries use of DSIP

 

THE buying and owning of earthmoving equipment by districts under the district service improvement programme is questionable, Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia says, The National reports.

He said during question time that although the DSIP funds were a good initiative of the government to provide goods and services to the people, "there is a concern for the districts that used the funds to buy earthmoving and working machinery".

He said if the machinery was used to develop the district, then "it was not a problem but so far many machines brought by the district are engaged in road and construction work in other districts and provinces and making money and not serving its purpose".

He said machines bought through the DSIP were for the development of the district and it should be specifically used for that purpose.

He said such machinery should not be owned by individuals and "cronies of members who will claim it if the member finishes as happened in many cases".

"Who is going to be responsible for the machines and who will own the machines after the term of the member finishes?" Garia asked.

He said there should be some form of progressive report on how the DSIP funds were used and which district was performing exceptionally well in terms of service deliver using the funds.

He said by doing that the government "can actually see how each province is performing so the funds can be given to them".

Garia said if any district did not perform, it should not be given any funds because "they cannot prove that they can deliver to the people".

"It would be a waste of public money giving it to them."

The question was not answered after the Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, ruled that the governor's questions were statements.

Member for Menyamya, Benjamin Philip admitted services were restored and development was taking place in his district after the government introduced DSIP.

He commended the government for the initiative, which he said had complemented the service delivery programmes in his district.

Jealous hubby murders four

Man guns down wife and parents and stabs child

 

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

A MAN allegedly killed four members of his family in Port Moresby last weekend after learning that his wife was having an affair, The National reports.

Police said the mine worker, who was on his field break and whom they did not name, shot dead his Morobean wife and his parents and then slashed his child to death.

The killings took place in broad daylight at Waigani Heights.

Police said the husband, from Sepik, was allegedly high on drugs when he committed the offence.

They added that the killings had been reported to the homicide unit at Boroko police station which was investigating.

Police said the accused shot both his parents at point blank and then his wife during an argument when his parents tried to intervene.

He later tried to shoot his child but failed after he ran out of ammunition, so he slashed the child with a bush knife, killing him on the spot.

Police said the accused then tried to kill himself but his neighbours rushed into his home and restrained him.

Police had not released further details about the man or his background but he is understood to be in police custody pending investigations.

Meanwhile, NCD metropolitan commanderd Supt Joseph Tondop confirmed another wilful murder which occurred at North Waigani last Saturday.

Nixon Naregre, 23, from Koibuka village, Mul Baiyer, Western Highlands, was shot at close range at the back of his head killing him instantly.

Police reported that Naregre was sitting at his mini market stall around 7pm when two suspects approached from behind.

According to reports, the suspects asked the deceased if he was Nixon and when he said yes, one of them took out a .38 revolver and shot him.

Naregre worked as a security guard at Penthouse night club in the Gordon area.

Police attended the scene of the crime and investigations have begun into the matter.

Polling starts for North Bougainville

Caption: Polling week for North B'ville ... Polling for the North Bougainville by-election started yesterday with the exception of Selau constituency, which began polling on May 14. Among the more than 10,000 eligible voters, expected to vote for the seat left vacant by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, was former ABG speaker Nick Peniai voting at Sohano Island yesterday.  – Picture by ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

 

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

 

POLLING for the North Bougainville by-election started yesterday with the exception of Selau constituency, which began polling on May 14, The National reports.

More than 10,000 eligible voters will be going to the poll to elect a new member for the North Bougainville open seat.

The seat was left vacant by former member and now Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.

Six of the 55 polling teams engaged departed Buka Island on Sunday for the Atolls and Nisan while the rest were dispatched yesterday by road to Tsitalato, Hagogohe, Halia, Peit, Tonsu, Haku, Selau, Suir, Teua, Mahari, Taonita Teop and Taonita Tinputz.

For Buka town residents, inside the Tsitalato constituency, polling by limited preferential voting (LPV) would be located at the following venues:

*Today – Buka town market, Iuping Tsuhana, Chinchin;

*Tomorrow – Bel Isi Haus,  Hangan Catholic church, Lonahan CLC Haus Lotu;

*Thursday – Motmoto Elementary School, Bubuil Elementary School, Lonahan aid post;

*Friday – University open campus and Bibinama.

Bougainville electoral officer Reitama Taravaru said he anticipated a smooth by-election with counting to start immediately as constituencies complete polling.

Polling ends on Friday.

Meanwhile, Taravaru also revealed that the Tonsu by-election for Bougainville would cost the Autonomous Bougainville Government K170,000.

The ABG Tonsu by-election would be conducted immediately after the by-election for North Bougainville.

The people of Tonsu constituency will elect a new open member.

O’Neill: Our aim is a stable and robust economy

TREASURER Peter O'Neill assured Australian and Papua New Guinean private sector players that the government was committed to creating a strong and robust economy by providing a stable and conducive environment for business investment in PNG, The National reports.

The assurance came after the government achieved a record budget surplus of K186.3 million equating 0.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) this year as a result of prudent fiscal management and effective implementation of the 2011 national budget.

Speaking at the 27th PNG-Australia Business Forum and Trade Expo in Madang yesterday, O'Neill said: "PNG can achieve real economic independence because of the anticipated economic growth.

"The partnership with the private sector will ensure this growth will be sustained."

O'Neill announced the total revenue and grants for last year was lower K8, 278.9 million, higher by K34.4 million of the revised budget estimates.

He said the total expenditure and net lending last year was lower by K151.9 million of the revised budget for, thus giving a surplus of K186.3 million, a significant achievement given budget deficits in 2008 and 2009.

Updating on the 2011 budget outcome, he said by the end of last month, 60% of the recurrent budget and 40% of the development budget warrant had been released to agencies.

"This is a significant achievement and it's now the responsibility of agencies to deliver the governments agenda," O'Neill said.

"The government needs to manage its finance prudently to ensure that demands for cash are met but also to ensure that the cash that is released is used to deliver services and does not end up sitting idly in the bank accounts."

The treasurer informed the private sector that the government was aware of the importance of successfully implementing the budget for communities and families.

He said, this year, the government would ensure that funding was available in the timely manner to ensure

delivery of services throughout PNG.

The former opposition leader stressed that while outlook for this year was very positive with expected growth by 8% largely due to ramp up of PNG LNG construction, non-mining GDP was also expected to grow by 8.2%  which would provide a significant boost to activity in other sectors of the economy, with rising incomes and consumptions from businesses and households.

Despite the growth, O'Neill said unfortunately inflation remained one of the key challenges for the government.

He said the government was committed to contain the high inflation rate of 8.2% by maintaining its expenditure with budget appropriations while closely monitoring monetary policy in particular the currency and interest rate movement and reserve deposits equipment.

National Alliance split over leadership

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE ruling National Alliance appears split over the much talked-about party interim leadership issue, The National reports.

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, who was appointed by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, had dismissed a push by certain members of the NA party for the interim leadership issue to be taken before the party caucus.

The National understood that there was a series of meetings held last week by the NA party on the interim leadership issue but insiders said that had been thrown back to the regional groups to decide.

Party sources said the interim leadership "is for an interim political head of NA to call party

meetings while the party leader is away".

Sources said Abal was appointed to head the government but the NA party needed an interim political leader to call caucus meetings.

"There is no vacancy and the party constitution is very explicit on the leadership issue. But this is an interim arrangement and consistent with the constitution," the source said.

The Southern region and New Guinea Islands were believed to have met last week and had resolved to back Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch if the interim leadership issue goes before the party caucus.

The Momase bloc, under Pruaitch, had decided to defer the meeting, preferring to wait for the return of Sir Michael.

The highlands bloc, which was yet to meet, was in a dilemma with Don Polye as deputy leader and the job of acting prime minister vested in fellow Engan and highlands bloc member Abal.

Last week, Polye dismissed media reports as "sensationalising the whole leadership issue" but the fact remained that there had been a number of meetings held by the NA.

"It is absolutely not good and inhuman to talk about the leadership issue when the party leader and prime minister is undergoing medical attention," Abal told the media yesterday.

Abal, who was there with Attorney-General and Justice Minister Sir Arnold Amet, said the prime minister, like all other officers of government, "is entitled to medical leave and Sir Michael has accrued leave entitlements which he is taking".

He said there was too much speculation by the media, saying: "There will be no election of an interim party leader.

"We are talking about pulling the carpet under his (prime minister) feet while he is undergoing medical operations and recovery," Abal said.

He said it was not good, under PNG customs and traditions, to talk about somebody "who is down with health conditions".

"I call on the leaders to abstain from talking about the party leadership issue. Let us give it a break for some time.

"I came in as the choice of the prime minister to lead government. I am doing just that and I will do it with my colleagues in government.

"On the leadership issue, I do not think it is timely for the decision to be made.

"Let us give it a break and allow the prime minister and NA party leader to recover."

Air Niugini commences regular commercial flights to Bulolo

Bulolo MP Sam Basil (left) and Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri are welcomed off the inaugural Air Niugini Dash 8 flight to Bulolo by Watut dancers.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

By MALUM NALU

 

The historical mining town of Bulolo, Morobe province, took another giant step forward today with the commencement of twice-weekly Air Niugini flights between Port Moresby and Bulolo.

The first batch of passengers on board the Dash 8 flight to Bulolo yesterday – led by Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri and Bulolo MP Sam Basil - was greeted by management and staff of PNG Forest Products, which owns the land on which the Bulolo Airport is built; Morobe Mining Joint Ventures; Bulolo administration; as well as hundreds of local people who braved pouring rain to be present for the occasion.

The Bulolo service, which will be every Monday and Friday, promises to greatly boost business and tourism in Bulolo, as well as the surrounding electorates of Menyamya, Huon, Markham and Lae.

Air Niugini's introduction of flights follows on from Airlines PNG in 2009.

"Bulolo is a very ideal destination with a high demand for air transportation from the local communities," Kumarasiri said.

"Due to the current activities in Bulolo, we consider it is our duty as the national airline to provide the air services to the local and business communities in Bulolo.

"Apart from the mining activities, there are also other operations and activities that certainly call for further air transportation.

"To name a few, we have the PNG Forest Products Ltd, BSP, Post PNG, Bulolo Forestry College, the Micro Bank, the district administration, which certainly demands for an increase in air transportation.

"As the national flag carrier, Air Niugini has a community service obligation to serve the people of Papua New Guinea.

"Therefore, Air Niugini's operation into Bulolo also means that the local people of Wau/Bulolo can now travel direct from Bulolo to Port Moresby instead of travelling via Lae."

Basil said history was rewriting itself as Bulolo was once one of the busiest airfields in the world during the gold rush days of the 1920s and 30s.

He said his joint district planning and budget priorities committee would commit K50, 000 subsidies for vegetable freight and return airfares.

"We would also look at building the staff quarters and ticket purchasing office for Air Niugini to be owned by the district administration, which will benefit from the rental proceedings," he said.

"I also call on Menyamya people, Wanpar people and people from my district to utilise this service because extra seats are now available.

"We do not have to drive all the way to Nadzab to catch a plane, as it is now at our doorstep."

Transparency International PNG: Parliamentarians must do their job

One of the core responsibilities of a Member of Parliament is to make laws and oversight the executive.

And these things happen in Parliament.

 In a Supreme Court ruling (Supreme Court Reference No.3 of 1993), the Court handed down the decision that the Parliament has a duty to sit, in principle, a minimum of 63 days each parliamentary year.

 Whilst acknowledging the Parliament's attempt to meet for a full three weeks for the next three months to achieve the minimum 63 sittings defined within a calendar year, Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is concerned that Parliament are not abiding by the ruling of the Supreme Court and furthermore the Constitution as stipulated under Section 124.

 "In the past four years, Parliament has failed to sit the required minimum number of sitting days, and one can wonder if the 63 sitting days would be achieved this year," it says. 

"A backlog of work and outstanding national priority agendas remain unresolved may be a result of insufficient legislative activities.

"Parliament, through the office of the Speaker, should come out publicly and explain to the citizens of Papua New Guinea their reasons for not sitting the required number of days.

"Questions may then be raised on the consequence of Parliament breaching a clear court ruling."

Petromin to turn wastes into profits

By PATRICK TALU

 

FOR the first time in the history of Papua New Guinea's mining industry's waste management, state owned Petromin's Tolukuma gold mine will now turn its tailings into profits after a feasibility assessment was done for a state-of-the-art mine waste processing, The National reports.

The feasibility study will be undertaken by Everest Remediation Ltd of Australia with an investment of US$1.5 million over a six-month period.

To effect the assessment, Mining Minister John Pundari, Petromin managing director Joshua Kalinoe and Everest chief executive Patrick Salera penned the agreement last Friday at Petromin Haus witnessed by Petromin board chairman Sumasi Singin and staff.

Pundari described the study as a "milestone achievement for Tolukuma after the Solwara-1 project and a new frontier for PNG".

"After all, doing business is taking risks," he said.

 "We must venture into unknown frontiers."   

Pundari said Everest had been with Tolukuma for some time with a focus on extraction of trace elements of metal from the waste.

"Mine waste is a significant issue with respect to environment.

"In fact, the study will focus essentially on the capacity of extract metals from the waste at the mine site," he added.

He said the feasibility study would, as a first step, assess the commercial benefits derived from treating waste.

Pundari said the process could be applied to all mining projects in PNG and Petromin and PRL would in due course, assess the commercial viability at treating at mines throughout the nation.

The minister indicated that importantly a successful outcome from the study would not only enhance environmental outcomes at the mine but also lead to the creation of new employment opportunities and new revenue for Tolukuma.

Kalinoe said Petromin was proud to be part of the venture which might create significant employment, revenues and improved environmental outcomes throughout the mining sector.

He said the objective of the study was to apply state-of-the-art technology to wastes at Tolukuma with a view to producing a refined waste product which contained no elements that were harmful to the environment.

 

Athlete jailed for sex crime

Darwin court imprisons paralympian for assaulting 10-year-old

 

A PAPUA New Guinean paralympic athlete has been described as a paedophilia when he was jailed last Thursday in Darwin, Australia, for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl at the Arafura Games, The National reports.

In a news that had shocked the PNG team management, track and field athlete Edward Ilau, 24, pleaded guilty in a Darwin magistrates court for indecently assaulting the girl last Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Justene Dwyer told magistrate Daynor Trigg that Ilau –  who has cerebral palsy – "squeezed" the girl's breast three times at the stadium, according to ntnews.com.au

Dwyer said Ilau had finished his field events for the games when he noticed the girl walking through the gates at about 6pm.

She said that Ilau called out to the girl: "Hey you, come over here."

She said Ilau wanted to have a photo taken with her.

"The victim agreed and followed (him) up the stairs of the arena," she said.

She said Ilau and the girl were standing on the first platform and another man continued up to the second platform with a camera.

"(Ilau) moved close to the victim and put his arm around her shoulder," she said.

Dwyer said that Ilau grabbed the girl's breast three times, "causing pain", before he let her go.

She said the girl immediately told her mother what had happened.

Ilau's defence lawyer Matt Hubber said Ilau was "skylarking" with his mates when he touched the girl.

"It was a spontaneous act," he said.

But magistrate Trigg said what Ilau did was a "criminal act" that could be described as "paedophilia".

"The defendant abused the girl's innocence," he said.

Hubber said Ilau came from a poor coconut farming family in rural PNG and had only attended school for one year of his life.

"He lives a very basic life," he said.

But Trigg said what was considered wrong in PNG was also considered wrong in Australia.

"I'm not going to have him on the streets of Darwin," he said.

Trigg sentenced Ilau to one month jail, suspended after seven days, but said he would most likely be deported from Australia once released, ntnews reported.

PNG Paralympic committee president Bernard Chan said he was devastated at the news of Ilau's jailing and would be making a formal statement during the week.

PNG Paralympic assistant team manager Rosemary Mawe said it was an incident that had shamed not only the Paralympic team but all PNG athletes as well.

She stressed that all athletes had been given strict instructions on behaviour and what was expected of them at the games and it was "unfortunate" that one had abused this trust.

K125m deal illegal, says treasurer

TREASURY and Finance Minister Peter O'Neill has admitted to parliament that the K125 million deal for Kokopo district is illegal and contributors risk losing 4% of their savings if the government did not repay the money, The National reports.

After intense pressure from within the National Alliance-led members, including East New Britain Governor Leo Dion who asked a series of questions in parliament last Friday, O'Neill admitted the transaction was illegal and that an investigation was under way.

O'Neill said the national executive council had directed the Central Bank, which is the supervisory body of the superannuation fund, to investigate how the Nasfund board approved the deal.

In his series of questions, Dion asked whether the Treasury Department had the powers to issue treasury bills and whether it had the power to appoint an agent to manage the deal.

"Why was National Capital Ltd appointed at no cost to the state?" Dion asked.

"Do the National Planning and Communication ministers have powers to approve the treasury bill transaction?"

Dion said it was a controversial transaction and called for an immediate investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.

Section 209 (1) of the constitution stated that the raising and expenditure of finance by the national government is subject to the authorisation and control of parliament.

This means this kind of financing must form part of a national budget or a supplementary budget in line with the appropriation act.

Dion said the deal was activated by the then treasury minister, national planning minister and Kokopo MP without appropriate legal advice from government lawyers.

O'Neill said under the Public Finance (Management) Act, only parliament could approve such a deal.

He said under the Treasury Bill Act of 2002, when there was not enough revenue, "the government can go out and raise revenue to fund its expenditure".

But he said only the Central Bank was authorised to do that.

"Treasury has conducted its own investigations and we have got advice that the transaction is illegal," O'Neill said.

Wagambie warns rumour mongers

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

POLICE will arrest and charge people found to be spreading rumours that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is dead, acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie said yesterday, The National reports.

The warning came as text messages, emails and the coconut wireless worked overtime during the weekend with claims Sir Michael had died in Singapore where he is seeking medical treatment.

Late last month, a similar message said Enga Governor Peter Ipatas had died.

"Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is alive and recovering in the hospital after undergoing surgery in Singapore and people should not spread malicious rumours about the prime minister's health," Wagambie said.

He said those spreading the rumour were people with "malicious intentions" and were "causing a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress in the hearts and minds of ordinary Papua New Guineans".

Wagambie said he was concerned about the contents of the message and the way the message was spreading.

He said opportunists and criminal elements could take advantage of the situation and cause trouble in urban centres.

"The extent of this malicious rumour poses a threat to our internal security and, as such, I have issued instructions for police investigators to arrest anyone who is found spreading such false rumours," Wagambie said

He said under section 11 of the Summary Offences Act, spreading false information was an offence and any citizen found in the act would be arrested.

He said he had instructed his regional commanders to be on full alert in light of the hoax to deal with any unruly behaviour from opportunists and criminal cells.

He said Sir Michael was the "father of this nation" and people should accord him the highest respect at a time when he was recovering from surgery.

Wagambie said the rumour had caused "a lot of humiliation and distress" to Sir Michael's family.

Wagambie urged all citizens to be morally responsible by cross-checking the information they got via their mobile phone and email addresses with authorities.

Wagambie said the thoughts and prayers of the 5,000-odd members of the police force were with Sir Michael and they wished him a quick and smooth recovery.

La Sallians celebrate

IT was a fun-filled day yesterday for Hohola youth development centre in Port Moresby as students staged various activities to mark the feast day of their founder St John Baptist de La Salle, The National reports.

And the heat of the sun could not damper the students spirits as they celebrated.

The day began with a talent show display along with a formation of the La Sallian star.

Two groups were selected from a list of performances that were showcased yesterday to establish two finalists to perform today.

The feast day will be hosted at Don BoscoTechnical Institute today with performances from Isidora and Extreme.

St John dedicated much of his life for the education of poor children of France in the 1680s and is considered the founder of the first Catholic schools.

 

Ramu beef aims to supply whole nation

By PATRICK TALU

 

RAMU Premium Beef (RPB), a division of the diversified Ramu Agro-Industry Ltd (RAIL) is setting the pace in quality premium beef production, The National reports.

Having set the pace, RAIL through RPB is looking at supplying the entire domestic market with tasty and quality premium beef.

"We have the potential to supply the entire domestic market and feed meat-hungry Papua New Guineans," RPB farm manager Marcel Eno told The National in Gusap last week.

"Our ultimate goal is to produce quality beef for our customers.

"In order to be what you want it to be, you have to look after it (referring to cattle).

 "And that is where we come in and put more emphasis on," Eno said.

As part of the new approach after recommendation from feasibility studies, RPB has emphasised on new breeding by cloning in which quality sperms are collected from healthy bulls and fertilise with quality eggs from cows.

Eno explained that by getting the best breed means quality beef.

He said to sustain the quality, RAIL had improved its pastures by preserving the harvested sorghum plants in the event that there was insufficient pastures for cattle to feed.

Eno said by the end of the year, RPB is projected to slaughter 20,000 cattle that will be supplied to the domestic market.

He said the company's focus was on producing quality and not quantity just sufficient enough for its domestic markets.

Currently, there are 1,200 cattle on the feedlot ready to be taken to the abattoir for slaughtering.

He said before sending cattle from the feedlot to the abattoir for slaughtering, it had to weigh more between 350kg and 400kg.

RPB abattoir manager Jerry Sei said: "Our customers like the quality beef that we produce. It is very tender and meaty that our customers favor our beef.

"To meet our customers' taste and preference, we have maintained and improved the quality."

Polls dilemma

Amend election legislation or face deferral, govt warned

 

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE government has been urged to push for urgent electoral reforms to increase the number of open electorates or face a constitutional crisis – a possible postponement – in the general election next year, The National reports.

The 2002 law governing elections had provided for no more than 120 open electorates from the current 89.

That legislation must be re-amended to maintain 89 open seats but did not take into account the two new electorates of Jiwaka and Hela for which enabling legislation must be passed for their existence.

Adding to the complication was the newly-appointed Electoral Boundaries Commission which did not recommend for more seats in parliament.

The minister responsible for the electoral commission, Francis Potape, and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet were yesterday preparing a submission for the national executive council on the urgency of amending the 2002 provincial and national election legislation.

Failure to make amendments could mean postponing the general election next year, a source familiar with election laws said yesterday.

The source, who did not want to be named, said if the government did not amend the law, the new 2012 parliament was likely to be postponed to the following year.

The source said Potape and Sir Arnold had prepared the cabinet submission suggesting either a postponement of the elections or to have the newly appointed Electoral Boundaries Commission recommend the creation of more electorates.

The source stressed that the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections as amended in 2002 would have to be amended again to retain the 89 open electorate seats for the 2012 election.

The source said the government would prefer to defer the election.

However, Potape was adamant yesterday that the election was going ahead next year "as announced and revealed by the Electoral Commission".

Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen also said next year's election "will take place as planned but there are doubts whether the election will be conducted as required under the amended Organic Law".

Potape said the amendment to the legislation was ready and the government had ample time to amend the law as elections were still a year away.

National Alliance power play angers United Resources Party leader

 

SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru yesterday blasted National Alliance party members as a bunch of power-hungry players who are disrespectful of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, The National reports.

"Sir Michael, the father of the nation, is in his sick bed recovering from a complicated operation and, here, we have members of the ruling party who are highly disrespectful of him.

"They will stop at nothing to grab power and are making a play for it already. It is very un-Melanesian," Agiru said in a statement.

Agiru, founder of United Resources Party (URP), spoke out after the Post-Courier ran a front-page article yesterday, titled "NA leadership decided today" which suggested certain members of NA were pushing to take over leadership of NA while Sir Michael was on medical leave in Singapore.

He said it was Sir Michael's leadership and charisma that pulled together the coalition that had delivered the government to NA for two terms.

"These NA leaders must realise that it was Sir Michael who pulled together the coalition that has been in government for nine years.

"It is not them or their party. None of them have the magnetic pull that the grand chief possesses and is admired throughout the country for.

"That is why it is highly disrespectful of them to try to topple him while he is in his sick bed recovering," Agiru said.

"We gave the mandate to Sir Michael to lead the country, not NA. These leaders must realise this.

"The grand chief is going through the toughest challenge of his life, and the least you will expect is a tussle for power by the boys. 

"We, smaller parties in the coalition, are disappointed and are watching."

Agiru's URP is the second largest group in the coalition government after NA.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters Francis Potape said certain paragraphs in the Post-Courier report were misleading and sensationalised.

"How did acting Prime Minister Sam Abal marginalised the members and their parties?

"Abal has not made any appointments," he said.

Locals close Kutubu

 

KUTUBU landowners protesting against the state over their benefits have shut down some facilities, stalling progress on the liquefied natural gas project in Southern Highlands, The National reports.

The landowners had shut the gates to Moro Airport, Angogo Ridge, access road and Mubi valve facilities at 6am yesterday.

The landowner leaders said the central production facility (CPF) that pumps oil to the Kumul terminal in the Gulf of Papua would be shut down this morning.

Fasu landowner leaders Kossy Sosoro, Keith Puara, Peter Heno and Foe leader Hami Yawari told a joint media conference the facilities "will remain shut until the state honours its outstanding commitments under the Kutubu petroleum development agreement".

The leaders said the Kutubu project started production in 1990.

"We signed (the agreement) because we understand that we will get the MoA funds and special support grants. But, this has not been honoured by the state since 1990 with more than K5 billion outstanding in MoA and SSG commitments."

Puara, a leader from Sisiba village that owns the Agogo facility, said the people had been patient for a long time and had never damaged project facilities.

"What we are doing today is for our rights and it is a peaceful shutdown," he said.

Kossy Sosoro, who heads the Moro Airport landowners, said the government had set precedence by paying K16 million to Hides 4 landowners to allow for LNG work and "must do the same for Kutubu".

Chief landowner of the central production facility Peter Heno said: "I warn the state and Oil Search Ltd not to intimidate and harass my people because this is a peaceful protest.

"We want our money."

Oil Search Ltd late yesterday issued a statement that there were a number of threats by landowner groups to disrupt oil operations because of their frustrations with the state over a number of alleged unfulfilled commitments, including the release of memorandum of agreement (MoA) funds and the review of the petroleum development licence 2 agreement.

"Oil Search Ltd will take all necessary action to protect its people and property and continue to undertake our lawful business within our licence areas," it said.

"Oil Search has obtained an order from the National Court, restraining any trespassing on its licence areas, as all the issues raised by the landowner groups relate only to outstanding state commitments and not actions or commitments by Oil Search."

The developer said it had been working tirelessly with landowner leaders to understand their grievances and facilitate their communication with the state, "notwithstanding that all these issues are external to Oil Search".

"As a member of this community, Oil Search always welcomes constructive dialogue with project area landowners and appreciates the manner in which this is being conducted, but impacts on operations are unacceptable.

"Following threats to government to shut oil operations, crowds have gathered around the Moro Airfield, the Agogo processing facility and the Moran oilfield."

All ExxonMobil, Oil Search and contractor-owned vehicles had been grounded and field work and business activities had stopped.

O’Neill:All districts will get DSIP funds

ALL electorates in the country will receive their district services improvement programme (DSIP) funds after this parliamentary session, Treasurer and Minister for Finance Peter O'Neill said yesterday, The National reports.

O'Neill gave the assurance after the member for Finschhafen, Theo Zurenuoc, asked during question time why his electorate did not receive last year's DSIP of K2 million.

He wanted to know when the government would pay his electorate its outstanding DSIP funds.

Zurenuoc accused the government of nepotism in the distribution of the funds.

O'Neill said the National Alliance-led government had not discriminated against any member of parliament or any district.

He said all the 89 districts had received their part of the funds over the past four years and the remaining funds would be paid soon.

He said K20 million had been paid over the past four years with the balance of K4 million each owed to the districts.

O'Neill said the government was committed and, wherever a district received a shortfall, it was its responsibility to top up the funds because the government wanted vital services to reach all the people, isolated or not.

"There is no division and separation between where you sit on the floor of parliament and where I sit," he said.

He said it was the government's intention to provide services to all people throughout the nation regardless of their location or their member's political affiliation.

O'Neill said the onus was on respective open members and members of their district budget planning and priorities committee to implement and use the funds to improve the lives of the people.

Committed MPs will have Resi funds, says Marape

MEMBERS of Parliament who show initiative and commitment will be given priority in the K70 million rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure funding, Education Minister James Marape told parliament yesterday, The National reports.

Marape said the K70 million "funding allocated by the government in this year's budget is too thin to spread over all schools throughout the country".

He said submissions made by individual schools exceeded K70 million.

"The submissions are in the vicinity of K10 million a school and if we give that amount only seven schools will benefit because what we have in hand is quite small," he said.

Marape said the best way forward "is that the Education Department has to come up with criteria for major impact on the K70 million which for this year will be targeting high schools".

"To ensure we achieve maximum benefit, we have set criteria for the Education Department to use in disbursing funds."

He said members of parliament who showed initiative in using their district service improvement programme funds to fund education programmes "will have a good chance of getting Resi funds".

"These are members of parliament who are willing to spend the DSIP funds, those who show interest and partnership with their counterpart funding will be given priority."

He said the other criteria would be for districts that missed out on Resi funding in last year's budget to be considered.

 "The money is small and we will now be targeting high schools instead of spreading the money too thinly."

Marape was responding to questions without notice from Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald, who claimed he had used his DSIP funds totalling K3.5 million to build 20 teacher's houses in schools in his electorate.

Mald said with Resi funding assistance, he expected to build 50 teachers houses in his five-year term as MP.

 

IT provider urges 50% drop in rates

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

 

INTERNET rates in PNG need to be dropped by 50% from its current price to give easy and convenient access to people, managing director of Data Nets Ltd Sundar Ramamurthy said, The National reports.

Ramamurthy said this at the emerging technologies information seminar at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday with the theme "enabling emerging technologies to assist business".

He said the main challenge in accessing internet in PNG was capacity constraint and needed to have a high speed capacity for internet users.

Ramamurthy said new innovations such as the mobile broadband service like the recently launched Digicel's 3G broadband access was fantastic for the country.

He said so much excuse was put on high illiteracy as a hindrance to the expansion of internet services, "but if PNG wants to develop, we have to drop the internet price".

Ramamurthy said since the start of the company in 1993, it had grown immensely and had expanded its internet service to 30 towns in PNG apart from their main operating centres.

He added that he was also looking at expanding to other parts of the Pacific as this was one of his ambitions when he first started.

The seminar attracted some of the largest IT companies in the world such as Cisco Systems, NEC and American Power Conversion (APC) and the audience comprised of business houses, government departments, banks and NGOs.

The seminar topics were focused on giving an insight into the current and future technologies and how they were benefiting businesses in other parts of the world.

Ministers say Kapris lying

Highlights:

*Aimo: "Lord have mercy on his lying tongue"

*Pruaitch: "Flabbergasted and innocent of this saga"

*Marus: "Allow the rule of law to take its course"

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

MEMBERS of parliament named by convicted bank robber William Kapris in court have denied the accusations levelled against them, The National reports.

Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo said he forgave Kapris for the accusations and "pray that the Lord has mercy on his lying tongue".

In a personal explanation to parliament yesterday, Aimo said the Post-Courier headline was "misleading and not true".

"The court will not let itself be misled into believing a common convicted criminal," he said.

"But, that is the court's business. I stand respectful to the courts.

"As a leader, I know I am innocent. I still maintain my dignified innocence.

"I forgive this common convicted criminal, Kapris, for those false accusations and may the Lord have mercy on his lying tongue," Aimo said.

Aitape-Lumi MP and State Minister assisting the Prime Minister Patrick Pruaitch, in a follow-up personal explanation, categorically denied any involvement with the bank robber.

He said it was unbecoming of a criminal and newspapers to divert attention to seek sympathy from the courts.

Pruaitch apologised to the people of Aitape-Lumi and West Sepik for what he called "this unfortunate allegation".

"I am flabbergasted; I am totally innocent in this saga," Pruaitch said.

Earlier, acting Speaker and member for Talasea Francis Marus, in response to questions by new deputy opposition leader Sam Basil, said the matter was before the courts and he would not comment.

"We must allow the rule of law to take its course," Marus said.

Maprik MP and Commerce and Industry Minister Gabriel Kapris, angered by the same surname of the convicted criminal, said he had conducted his own investigations into his family in Kimbe, West New Britain, and found that "the name is Kapis and not Kapris".

"The convicted criminal is spelt as Kapis and not Kapris," the minister said.

Namah is leader of opposition

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE member for Vanimo-Green and PNG Party leader, Belden Namah, is the new opposition leader, The National reports.

He replaced Sir Mekere Morauta, who is Moresby Northwest MP.

Sir Mekere, a former prime minister and founder of PNG Party, declared Namah as the new opposition leader.

Member for Bulolo Sam Basil is deputy opposition leader.

Basil recently joined PNG Party after leaving People's Progress Party with Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham.

PNG Party comprised 11 members of parliament.

Other parties in opposition are New Generation with two MPs, People's Progress Party (3), Melanesian Liberal (2), PNG Labour Party (1) and two independents.

Sir Mekere said his decision to relinquish the leadership of the opposition "is occasioned by the changes to the make-up of the opposition and the leadership change in PNG Party".

He said he was proud to give young people the opportunity to rule.

Outgoing deputy opposition leader Bart Philemon said the time for him and Sir Mekere was over and that young, vibrant leaders should take over and lead.

"Today marks an end to the old guard and the beginning of a new guard to keep parliamentary democracy vibrant and alive to serve the interests of the 6.7 million people by keeping checks and balances on the government," he said.

"It is important to groom a young breed of leaders and to allow them to take an active role in leading."

Philemon said he had enjoyed the past four years helping Sir Mekere.

He said they would take the back stage and support their young vibrant and energetic leaders to take up the fight where they had left off.

Namah said he was challenged when the party, MPs and the parties in the opposition decided that he should lead.

He said the decision by Sir Mekere to hand over the party leadership was tough but an honourable thing to do.

He thanked the senior members of the opposition and the young leaders for having trust in his leadership.

Parliament set for 2pm restart

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PARLIAMENT resumes at 2pm today to clear a back-log of government agenda, leader of government business Paul Tiensten said yesterday., The National reports.

There will be a new-look opposition bench after Vanimo-Green MP and PNG Party leader Belden Namah was elected leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil as his deputy, taking over from Sir Mekere Morauta and Bart Philemon respectively.

Tiensten said parliament would sit for three weeks this month and three weeks each for the next three months to clear the backlog of notices.

He said new legislative amendments and bills would go before this session of parliament.

The Pomio MP and Minister for National Planning and District Development said the marathon session was to meet the 63-day per parliament calendar year requirement.

"There are legislations and bills that must be dealt with by parliament, including the outstanding women's bill to have nominated women representation, increasing the number of ministries from 28 to 31, legislations to effect the new Hela and Jiwaka provinces and amendments to the Organic Law to retain provincial governments after the elections next year."

Tiensten said there would be ministerial statements and debate on important issues of national interest.

This session will be free of any threats of a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

The law did not allow for votes of no-confidence 12 month before the issue of writs for the next general election.

The opposition was expected to touch on the K125 million Nasfund loan, the suspension of special agriculture and business lease, outstanding Taiwan deal, Singapore account and asylum issues.

Oil palm yields K5mil monthly for Oro growers

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MORE than K5 million is being paid to smallholder oil palm growers in Oro every month, a senior officer with Oil Palm Industry Corporation Popondetta revealed, The National reports.

Project manager Leo Ruki said more than 5,700 small block holders and 3,000 village smallholders receive about K1.5 million a week resulting in the increase of the cash flow in the province which has started to change the living standards of the people.

Ruki said oil palm was greatly assisting in the overall living standard of the people who needed the  government to assist by providing the necessary infrastructure.

He added oil palm in the province was a family business, where mothers and children collected loose nuts and the husbands harvested the main bunches.

Payment for their efforts are paid directly to their respective made accounts.

Ruki said the small growers were also entitled to Nasfund benefits and that was good news for growers in the province.

He said with the good turnover, more people were actively engaged in the industry and was one way the people had been kept busy.

Meanwhile, a Sohe leader Steven Kila Pat said the cash flow in the province was more than K5 million  a fortnight.

"Beside smallholder oil palm, other sources of cash flow from the province were from wages and royalties from timber operations, salaries, betelnut trade, tourism and fisheries so there could be almost K7 million cash floating in the province every  month," he said.

Former Oro governor Sylvanus Siembo, who accompanied Kila Pat for the Igora Primary School opening, said although there was so much cash in the province, government presence was absent with the lack of services.

He said infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools and other services had crumbled  after Cyclone Guba IN 2007.

Siembo said law and order also needed a boost and called on the political leaders  from the province to stay with the people and make changes so that more investors could be attracted to the province.

He said people were keen to work on their land but the government had to assist them, adding that agriculture was the way forward and the government should invest more in it.