Empty house

19 ministers missing, no one to hear grievances

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE whole front bench of government was empty with only 14 of the 33 ministers present during the parliament session last Friday, The National reports. 

This has drawn criticisms from both within government backbench and the opposition that some of the arguments presented during grievance debate would not be taken seriously and a waste of time.

Abau MP Sir Puka Temu said it was a "sad day" for Papua New Guinea with the whole government front bench empty.

The empty front bench is usually filled by the prime minister, deputy prime minister, finance and treasury minister, justice minister and attorney-general and commerce and industry minister.

The only other key ministers present included leader of government business and National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga and Fisheries Minister Ben Semri.

Sir Puka said there were 33 ministers of state and only a handful present to hear grievance from members.

"The whole front bench is empty.

"Our people deserve a hearing of the executive government.

"The people's house must be an active house.

"How can state ministers hear our grievance and put things into action?"

Sir Puka said there must be a select parliamentary committee that must sit down and address very important suggestions and ideas brought forward by members of parliament.

"How can we change the laws relating to the resources? We must have the select parliamentary committee go through the debate and if it means bringing in amendments to parliament, it must be done," Sir Puka said.

Lae MP Bart Philemon also hit out at the empty government bench, including physically making a head count of ministers on the floor of parliament.

"Fourteen ministers present out of 33. It is a shame to see the front bench empty."

Philemon said in the Australian federal parliament, the front bench was always full.

"What is the difference between Australia and Papua New Guinea? What a shame!"

Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said it was disappointing that state ministers were not present to hear the MPs' grievances.

"The front bench disappointingly is not in parliament to hear the debate.

"It is the only opportunity for us MPs to debate issues and ministers to take note."

Agiru also called on each minister to bring to parliament their performance report during their terms as ministers and also challenged the provincial governors to do the same.

Agiru urges review on forest legislation

SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru has called for a review of the Forestry Act to allow equity participation instead of landowners being mere royalty collectors, The National reports.

Agiru, in a series of questions to Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, called for a moratorium on issuing of new forestry and fishing licences to ensure there were enough resources available for future generations.

"The people are mere recipients of logging levy and royalties.

"Can the minister introduce amendments to the Forestry Act for landowners to become equity participants in the sector?

"In that way, landowners will participate meaningfully in the development of their resources instead of being just recipients of royalties," he said.

Bonga said a review of the Forestry Act was long overdue and promised to bring amendments to parliament for landowners to be equity partners in projects.

"We have to sit down with landowners and all other stakeholders to bring amendments that will give greater recognition to landowners and for them to become equity partners instead of royalty collectors," he said.

Agiru followed that up during grievance debate by thanking Bonga for making a commitment to review forestry laws.

"We are allowing foreigners to rape our forests and I am glad that the minister has made a commitment to revisit and bring in amendments to the forest sector to allow our people equal participation in the development of their resources," he said.

He said this must apply to the fisheries sector "where millions of kina are being squandered leaving resource owners with nothing".

Agiru, in a statement that got cheers and claps from the members on the floor and the public gallery, said customary land was "being sold away and that must be discouraged".

He said in Southern Highlands, the provincial government had made it clear that no customary land must be sold to outside interests.

Such land can be leased.

"That is the only asset our people have and I thank former lands minister Sir Puka Temu for bringing in legislations to safeguard customary land."

Agiru said the LNG project would sustain the economy over the next 30 years.

"Why don't we reserve our forest or our fish for the future?

"We should not be forever friends with our overseas development partners.

"The PNG economy will realise K130 billion in the 30-year life of the LNG project.

"Why can't we ride on the LNG money and preserve our fisheries and forest resources for the future generations?" Agiru asked.

Unions want K125 million repaid before July 31

TRANSPORT sector unions have given the government until July 31 to repay K125 million of contributors funds back to Nasfund, The National reports.

The National Airline Employees Association, the National Air Pilots Union, Aircraft Engineers Association and the Maritime and Transport Workers Union issued a joint statement on the controversial issuance of Sovereign Community Infrastructure Treasury Bills by Nasfund.

Sector union leaders John Mahuk (PNGM & TWU), Edward Foe (NAEA), Captain Joseph Kumasi (NAPU) and Geoffrey Atiken called on the Ombudsman Commission to investigate the ministers involved.

The demands from the transport sector unions included:

*An independent bo­dy to conduct investigations and for the government to immediately repay the K125 million with 7.05% interest by July 31;

*Those responsible for the disbursement of the funds must face criminal charges and an interim board be set-up with fair representation because the workers had lost trust and confidence in the management and the running of Nasfund by the current board;

*Senior ministers in­volved should be referred to the Ombudsman Commission;

*A remedial plan be immediately put in place to stop unnecessary use of contributors funds; and,

*That if the money earmarked for the Ko­ko­po project has been misappropriated and used to start new businesses then the contributors should have allocated shares.

On behalf of the transport sector unions, Mahuk said their interest was to safeguard the members' funds and they did not want to see a repetition of Nasfund board's "mismanagement and misguided ambition to satisfy the government and its needs".

"Members have not forgotten the 15% write-down being experienced some years back due to mismanagement of the superannuation funds," he added.

Fish feed to boost industry

FISH farmers in Papua New Guinea, especially those who specialise in trout and tilapia farming, are set to improve  production with fish feed to be made available soon, The National reports.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) in collaboration with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock had researched and formulated a feed using local ingredients.

Trialling of this feed under farming conditions in the past five years had resulted in the semi-commercial production of fish feed.

In the past, feed, especially for trout, was imported from overseas until recently.

With the increased number of fish farming activities happening around the country, the demand for a proper fish feed had increased.

NFA and its partners have been working to address the demand through the establishment of mini-feed mills and research and development to  find a locally available, affordable and nutritious fish feed.

NFA displayed the innovative products during the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) show earlier this month in Lae to promote fisheries and marine resources activities.

During the show, NFA displayed several 25kg bags of fish feed which was eye-catching for the fish farmers.

The farmers were so keen to learn  the techniques, the ingredients, equipment the processes involved.

NFA's aquaculture and inland fisheries division, responsible for fresh water aquaculture and inland fish farming, is taking the lead in this development, headed by pioneer aquaculturist Jacob Wani.

Currently, the number of fish farming activities – both fresh water and marine areas – have increased overwhelmingly as a result of NFA's support to the fish farmers through the project development fund.    

The NARI show had given opportunities for NFA to participate and promote innovation in fisheries and also to carry out awareness regarding NFA project development funding (PDF) activities.

It also gave an opportunity for NFA to liaise with provincial fisheries division and the fisheries cooperatives, especially the fishermen and fish farmers to showcase their products at the show and meet the fish buyers to supply fisheries products.  

Ok Tedi women go into business

Caption: Women of Lower Ok Tedi posing in front of their new buses which they handed over to Lower Ok Tedi Investment Limited to be used at OTML's Bige dredging project.

 

Women living in areas that are being affected by the operations of the Ok Tedi mine are now investing in business opportunities for their long term benefit.

And a call has been made for more women in those regions to follow suit after women of Lower Ok Tedi through their Nima Ara Women's Association handed over two new buses to help transport workers at Ok Tedi's dredging project at Bige.

The buses, one a 15-seater and the other a 25-seater, were handed over to Lower Ok Tedi Investment Limited (LOTIC) on May 9 in a small but significant ceremony.

Nima Ara is a women's association within the community mine continuation agreement (CMCA) region.

 LOTIC is a landowner company which has been engaged by OTML to provide logistical support to its Bige operation.

Bige is one of Ok Tedi Mining Limited's operating bases where the dredging project is located.

Ok Tedi Fly River Development Program (OTFRDP) executive manager for support services Ben Kamaya said this was the first such arrangement women of mine-impacted regions have embarked on.

He said OTFRDP was committed to supporting women and children of the mine-impacted communities by helping provide various income-earning opportunities for them.

"I want to say thank you to LOTIC and OTML for giving the women this opportunity," he said.

"This is the first for all the eight associations within the CMCA to be involved as far as business opportunities are concerned.

"Nima Ara is actually setting the pace by going into an arrangement like this and this demonstrates the confidence you have in LOTIC and to invest your resources into.

"I believe these two investments are good and will bring good returns to support women within the association.

"I would like to challenge the association to make sure that the earnings you receive from these investments are spent on programs that will benefit women."

OTML executive manager for Kiunga and Bige operations, Derrick Kelly said the new buses would now provide some relief to the logistical needs of Bige and would provide safe travel for workers to and from work.

The buses were bought from funds allocated under the 10% CMCA Women and Children's Fund earmarked for women in the Wai Tri Trust.

In 2007 the mine-impacted communities together with OTML agreed that 10% of the K1.1 billion earmarked under the CMCA would be set aside every year to support women and children.

Ok Tedi eases school’s housing problem

Caption: The new house built for Ningerum Primary school

 

The government-owned Ningerum Primary School has received another facility at its campus – thanks to Ok Tedi Mining Limited.

This time it is a modern high-set teacher's house, built at a cost of K200, 000.

The school, located at Ningerum station on the Tabubil-Kiunga highway, services the township and surrounding villages. 

And in an added bonus to the local communities, the contract for building the house had been awarded to their own landowner company, Hore Binkia.

Head teacher Henry Gugu was grateful to OTML for recognising and addressing the school's need for more teachers' houses.

"The only houses we have are three institutional houses that are in the school," he said.

"The rest are government houses.

"And we rely heavily on the district administration for houses."

OTML community support executive manager Leonard Lagisa who handed over the house to the school said the new house signified OTML's continued commitment to the affected communities in the Highway region and the improvement of important services in education and health.

He said a lot of money had been generated from the Ok Tedi mine but there was still no tangible development taking place in the province.

He said OTML could assist in a little way but it was the responsibility of all stakeholders including communities to work together for the improvement of service delivery.

OTML would want to see more infrastructure development taking place in the province.

Funding for the three-bedroom high timber house came from OTML's mine waste tailings project  (MWTP) which was initiated in 2006 after OTML and Tabubil-Kiunga highway villagers agreed for a pyrite concentrate pipeline to be built from the Ok Tedi mill facilities along the road to Bige where special pits are located under the water bed to contain the waste.

OTML has allocated K2.1 million for community infrastructure projects under the MWTP.

 So far six teachers' houses and two aid posts have already been built in various villages while another two double classrooms, a library and two teachers' houses are under construction.

APEC combats corruption with new code of ethics

Issued by the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group

Big Sky, Montana, 22 May 2011 – APEC has adopted a first-ever code of ethics for the region's medical devices industry.

The principles will improve the quality of patient care, encourage innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs that produce medical devices.

The Kuala Lumpur (KL) Principles for Medical Device Sector Codes of Business Ethics were endorsed by APEC SME Ministers at their 2011 Ministerial Meeting, in Big Sky, Montana.

"Once implemented, the KL Principles will help APEC member economies develop codes of ethics for their respective medical devices sectors," said Michael Camuñez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance.

"The codes will help eliminate corruption, one of the most insidious trade barriers facing SMEs throughout the APEC region," he added.

APEC member economies developed the principles in response to last year's call by APEC's SME Ministers to assist members in improving the often fragmented and complex business ethics rules and practices that exist across the region.

"Ethical practices ensure health care decisions are based on the best interests of patients and promote patient access to life-saving medical technologies," Camuñez said.

"This is done by providing companies with clear parameters to guide conduct, as detailed in the five basic tenets of the KL Principles: integrity, independence, appropriateness, transparency and advancement."

Medical devices industry representatives note that unethical behaviour substantially increases the costs of doing business through the payment of penalties. Corruption lowers sales growth and productivity, inhibits the ability to enter new markets, and constricts access to capital. The World Bank estimates that corruption costs the world's private sector about US $1 trillion dollars annually.

Saving money by tackling corruption also boosts innovation by freeing up resources for research and development investments. Ultimately, both SMEs and patients benefit from better-designed and better-built medical devices.

 "Innovation in this sector is not an accident. Investment in research and development represents 12 percent of the sector's revenue—four times the manufacturer average," Camuñez said. "With more resources freed up to invest in R&D and innovation, the sector will benefit from even greater growth."

The resulting growth of SMEs is essential to APEC economies, where SMEs account for over 90 percent of all businesses and employ as much as 60 percent of the region's workforce.

"The code of ethics is expected serve as a model for other industries," said Camuñez.

The APEC SME Working Group agreed to develop principles for the region's construction and bio-pharmaceutical sectors.

The APEC SME Ministerial is held annually by the APEC host economy to encourage the development of small and medium enterprises and to build their capacity to engage in international trade.

# # #

For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org

Details about APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found at www.apec.org or www.apec2011.gov. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

 

APEC SME Ministers encourage green, innovative, competitive policies

Big Sky, Montana, 21 May 2011 – APEC Ministers responsible for the region's small and medium enterprises (SMEs)considered policies and initiatives to foster greener, more innovative and competitive small businesses.

 

Recognizing the importance of SMEs and entrepreneurs to the development of the Asia-Pacific region, APEC Ministers are determined to:

 

?     Embrace business ethics to enhance SMEs' competitiveness

?     Promote SMEs' use of new technologies to reduce the costs of doing business; and

?     Identify policies to support green SMEs

The joint statement of the 2011 APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting can be accessed at:

 

http://www.apec.org/en/Meeting-Papers/Ministerial-Statements/Small-and-Medium-Enterprise/2011_sme.aspx

 

                                                                        # # #

 

For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org

Details about APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found at www.apec.org or www.apec2011.gov. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

APEC Ministers issue first-ever joint statement to bolster trade and SME development

Big Sky, Montana, 20 May 2011 – A first-ever joint statement by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was issued today.

At the Big Sky meeting, APEC Ministers addressed:

?     The importance of SMEs to APEC economies

?     Top barriers to SMEs trading in the region, including lack of access to financing, lack of capacity to internationalize and the need for open and transparent business environments.

?     Actions to address top barriers to SMEs trading in the region

 

The 2011 Joint Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade and Ministers Responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises can be accessed at:

http://www.apec.org/en/Meeting-Papers/Ministerial-Statements/Trade/2011_joint_tradeSME.aspx

                                                               # # #

For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at mc@apec.org

Details about APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found at www.apec.org or www.apec2011.gov. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade issue statements

Big Sky, Montana, 20 May 2011 – APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade endorsed two statements at the close of their two-day meeting in Big Sky, Montana.

 

1.    The 2011 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, Statement of the Chair. It covers:

                                              

• Strengthening Regional Economic Integration and Expanding Trade
• Promoting Green Growth
• Advancing Regulatory Convergence and Cooperation
• Strengthening Economic and Technical Cooperation

It can be accessed at:

 

http://www.apec.org/en/Meeting-Papers/Ministerial-Statements/Trade/2011_trade.aspx

 

2.    The Statement on the WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations and Resisting Protectionism can be accessed at:

 

http://www.apec.org/en/Meeting-Papers/Ministerial-Statements/Trade/2011_trade/2011_mrt_standalone.aspx

 

# # #

 For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at mc@apec.org

Hidden Valley Joint venture welcomes cooperative approach

Caption: Mining Minister Hon John Pundari and MP for Wau, Bulolo Hon Sam, Watut Union members, MMJV, Morobe provincial representatives after signing the joint press release

The Hidden Valley Joint Venture (HVJV) welcomed the outcomes of a stakeholder meeting held in Port Moresby on May 12,  2011,  that discussed constructive solutions to community concerns relating to the Hidden Valley Mine.

The HVJV would like to thank the Minister for Mining, Hon. John Pundari MP for coordinating the meeting and acknowledge the cooperative approach taken by all attendees, including key government departments, the Member for Bulolo, Hon Sam Basil, Watut River community leaders and the HVJV. 

In the spirit of this cooperative approach, the HVJV has agreed to stop using the statutory declaration form as part of the voluntary garden compensation process.

The HVJV will instead use an amended version of the current 'Damages Assessment Payment Receipt Form' to document all future payments under the voluntary garden compensation process.

The use of a receipt is a normal, responsible and transparent approach as it provides all parties with written evidence that the compensation amount has been agreed and received.

As agreed at last week's stakeholder meeting, the HVJV will now revisit the remaining 471 Watut River landowners who have not received compensation in order to finalise the voluntary garden compensation process.

The HVJV has already paid compensation of K3.8 million to 3,700 Watut River landowners for flood damage to crops and gardens, to which mine related sediment may have contributed, along with natural events including land slips and major rain events.

The HVJV will regard all forms already signed by Watut River landowners as being the same as the amended receipt form. Therefore, landowners who have already received compensation do not need to sign a new form.

The process for the voluntary garden compensation payments will continue the current robust and transparent approach which involves a claim submitted from the affected landowner, followed by a damage assessment.

The damage assessment is conducted by a multi-party team comprising HVJV employees, Morobe Provincial Government or Bulolo District Office representatives, LLG representatives and the claimant/landowner of the affected property.

The HVJV remains committed to continued constructive dialogue with its key stakeholders, including the national, provincial and local level government, community leaders and the local community in order to resolve remaining community issues.

Media inquiries:

David Wissink Hidden Valley Joint Venture Mobile: (675) 7100 2406 Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com

Background

The Hidden Valley Mine is operated by the Hidden Valley Mine Joint Venture (HVJV) a  50:50 Joint Venture between Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest Mining of Australia.

The Hidden Valley Mine is located near Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province. It was officially opened in September 2010.

The Hidden Valley Mine has a workforce of more than 2,000 people with 95 per cent of workers being PNG Nationals and 50 per cent being from the local communities.

It is important to note that the Hidden Valley Mine has an engineered tailings storage facility and no mine processing residue, or tailings, is discharged into the river.

The mine related sediment in the river that has caused community concern was run-off from mine overburden and construction activities.

The mine transitioned from construction to operation in October 2010.

Mine sediment run-off is now significantly lower due to mitigation measures.

These measures included ceasing of side casting of waste rock and overburden in September 2009, ongoing revegetation of exposed slopes and erosion control, and the storage of waste rock in engineered waste rock facilities.

The HVJV places a high value on responsible environmental management and our relationship with local communities.

The HVJV has been making voluntary garden compensation payments to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from the mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain.

To date, the HVJV has paid a total of K3.8 million to 3,700 Watut River landowners.

The voluntary garden compensation payments are in addition to the Hidden Valley Mine's existing sustainable development program which is bringing education support, agricultural skills, health programs and community facilities such as sanitation and water supplies, school classrooms, community halls and aid posts.

These programmess were developed in partnership with the local and provincial government and are aligned with their development programs.

An Expert Stakeholder Advisory Panel is also being established by the HVJV to provide independent review of sediment related issues and related community concerns.

APEC Trade Ministers acknowledge status of DDA, push for stronger multilateral trading system

 
Issued by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade
 
Big Sky, Montana, 19 May 2011 – Committed to increasing trade and opening markets in the Asia-Pacific, trade ministers explored productive steps APEC can take to sustain the overall strength of the multilateral trading system and address the path forward. 
 To support economic growth and job creation in the region, APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade met here today to focus on strengthening regional economic integration, promoting green growth, and advancing regulatory convergence and cooperation – the three priorities for APEC which is hosted by the United States this year.  
US Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk, said the discussion would contribute to achieving concrete results in these areas, which are key to strengthening economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific.
 "Whether they are manufacturers, ranchers, or farmers, many benefit from the outcomes APEC generates and it is vital that we keep that in mind today and tomorrow to ensure that we provide the necessary direction to APEC officials so by November when APEC Leaders meet, we have a set of strong outcomes that will move us towards the goal of a seamless regional economy," said Ambassador Kirk who chaired the meeting. 
 The Doha Round was a topic of discussion. Ministers acknowledged the challenges facing the current round of world trade negotiations. 
 "In my view, without abandoning our commitment to the success of the Round, we need to begin a hard-nosed discussion of what can be done.  We need to explore what 'next steps' we can take to find a more productive path – and, if we find that path, to take it as quickly as possible," Ambassador Kirk explained. 
 "Wherever we go next, I think it's critical to emphasize one point – the WTO is strong, as it has shown itself to be in the past three years.  We have confidence in it."
 World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy also briefed Ministers this morning on the status of the Doha Round and discussed possible next steps.  
 "I will be holding a Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) meeting on 31 May to take stock of my consultations and chart a path forward," said Lamy. "There is little time available and this is why I believe we should use the TNC on 31 May to move the discussions from process into substance." 
 "The signals from this meeting and from the upcoming Ministerial meeting hosted by Australia in the margins of the OECD are key inputs into that process," he concluded. 
 APEC Trade Ministers are expected to release a statement at the end of their meeting on May 20, followed by a press conference. They will also meet jointly with Small and Medium Enterprise Ministers in the afternoon. SME Ministers will convene on May 21 to address barriers and challenges that are facing companies from throughout the region take advantage of global trade.
 Separately, APEC Senior Officials from APEC's 21 member economies have concluded their meeting on the issues and work to be undertaken to address the three priorities for this year
 
# # #
For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at mc@apec.org
 
Details about APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found at www.apec.org or www.apec2011.gov. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

Sir Mekere wants house dissolved

By JEFFREY ELAPA

PARLIAMENT is a dead organ that needs to be dissolved immediately to allow for a fresh election, the opposition said,
The National reports.
In a press conference soon after parliament adjourned yesterday, former opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said all leaders needed to "take measures to resuscitate the legislative arm of government for the benefit of the people they represent".
Sir Mekere said parliament was not working as it continued to be adjourned.
They blamed the government for not providing the numbers to allow the quorum for important bills listed on the notice papers.
They feared that important enabling legislation for the Hela-Jiwaka Transitional Authority, the boundary commission report and other important bills were likely to fail.
They said the government failed to provide the numbers as a result of the infighting within the ruling National Alliance party over its leadership.
The opposition feared the bill to reserve 22 seats for women was likely to fail as there was not enough time for it to be debated before the next election.
Sir Mekere challenged acting Prime Minister Sam Abal to have some control over the movements of his members.
 "They are like cowboys. While he is in office they are fighting for the office. It is a failure of basic human consideration and respect," he said.
Former deputy prime minister and member for Abau Sir Puka Temu said many outstanding bills needed to be passed and the government must provide the numbers to needed for a quorum.
He said that the opposition would support some of the important bills and the government should not continue to leave the seats empty.
He said that the speaker needed to be changed as he was always gagging parliament.
"He is not playing the game right. This is the worst speaker we have had so far, he is a laughing stock," he said.
Deputy PNG party leader and member for Anglimp-South Waghi Jamie Maxtone-Graham said on Wednesday there were only 16 ministers and even fewer yesterday.
Parliament was adjourned to 10am today after many seats in the chamber were left empty.
This is the second time the parliament has adjourned because of a lack of quorum after starting its sitting last week.

K169 million optic cable deal signed

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

RURAL districts of Southern Highlands will be on the forefront of telecommunications technology after the signing of a US$70 million (K169.5 million) agreement for the installation and operation of a fibre optic cable along the PNG liquefied natural gas pipeline, The National reports.
The multi-million-kina agreement was signed between ExxonMobil country manager Peter Graham and Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru at Parliament House yesterday.
The 750km cable line would provide efficient and reliable telecommunication between Hides in Southern Highlands and the LNG liquefaction plant in NCD.
Agiru described yesterday's signing as a momentous occasion for Southern Highlands and Papua New Guinea.
"The fibre optic cable will transform Southern Highlands into a global entity."
With the nerve centre at Ela Beach in NCD, two computer centres would be set up in Tari and Mendi to link districts in Southern Highlands.
Graham said the occasion was another milestone in the execution of the PNG LNG project, bringing with it opportunities for the economy.
"As we progress through the project's four-year construction period, our investments are generating direct benefits and contributing indirectly to the national economy by stimulating business development and demonstrating to the world that PNG is a worthy investment destination," Graham said.
The PNG LNG project has a 33.33% interest in the cable while IPBC owns 41.67%, Oil Search Ltd 16.67% and the Southern Highlands government 8.33%.
The signing was witnessed by Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare and Southern Highlands MPs including Treasury and Finance Minister Peter O'Neill, State Minister Francis Potape, Sports Minister Philemon Embel, Mendi MP Isaac Joseph and Kagua-Erave MP James Lagea. 

Kapris gets 30 years

Highlights:
*Of the K2.4m stolen from BSP Madang, only K430,000 recovered
*Kapris, his number two and Elizabeth Kivare still have BSP Kerema robbery charges to answer
*No suspended sentences

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

WILLIAM Nanua Kapris will spend 30 years in jail for masterminding the K2.4 million Bank South Pacific Madang branch robbery, the biggest heist in the country, The National reports.
Sentencing him yesterday, Justice David Cannings was moved to ask the question everyone wanted the answer to – "where has the money gone?"
In his 64-page judgment, Cannings said of the K2.4 million stolen, K1.2 million was taken from Lae to Port Moresby and kept at Tamara Player Tomscoll's house and police only recovered about K430,000.
But, despite the mystery surrounding the missing money, Kapris and his gang were sentenced to a total of 161 years in jail for the multiple charges they faced.
The court took into account that the conspiracy involved a large number of people, the subject of the conspiracy was the commission of a very serious crime, the offender was the central figure in the conspiracy and that each hostage would have suffered some trauma.
Described as a "habitual criminal", Kapris was charged with one count of armed robbery, one count conspiracy, 13 counts kidnapping and 14 counts of unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Kapris was denied suspended sentences or time deducted for the period spent in custody.
Kapris will be sent to Bomana (and not Lakiemata, in West New Britain, as he had requested) to await the Kerema BSP trial.
However, the judge told Kapris that he was free to pursue the switch if he wanted to.
His 11 other co-conspirators were given sentences of between eight and 15 years with the court using its discretion to deduct time spent in custody and partial suspensions of between three and four years.
They were sentenced as follows:
*Jacob Okimbari Peningi, known as Kapris' second-in-command, was given 11 years to be served at Beon in Madang;
*Kito Aso, nine years and three months, to be transferred to Lakiemata;
*Peter Alan Popo, six years and six weeks;
*Johnny Gumaira was given six years and three months;
*Ruben Micah, five years and seven weeks;
*Colin Masilo, five years and 10 months;
*Bobby Selan, four years, four months and two weeks;
*Damien Inanei, three years, one month and two weeks;
*Joyce Maima, three years and four months;
*Elizabeth  Kivare, who will return to Bomana to answer to the BSP Kerema charge, one year and nine weeks; and
*Boat skipper Elvis Bala Aka, 14 months.
Kito and Bala will be transferred to Lakiemata while Gumaira, Kapris and Kivare back to Bomana.
The cost of their transfer will be met by the Correctional Services.
The case brings to an end 18 months of intensive investigations by police and one of the most expensive criminal cases ever to go before the courts.
Figures released last week by state departments on funds expended on the case showed:
*Public prosecutors spending K299,882.60;
*Police K1,095,455.60;
*Correctional Services K2,757,950; and
*Public solicitors K246,100

Frieda mine could be one of world’s best

THE Frieda River project, a gold and copper mine developed by Xstrata Mining Ltd and Highlands Pacific Ltd, is estimated to have more than 11 million tonnes of copper and 18 million ounces of gold in its Nena, Horse/Ivaal/Trukai (HIT) and Koki deposits, The National reports.
The project, currently undergoing a bankable feasibility study (BFS) carried out by Xstrata, when in full production will put Frieda on the map as one of the world's top 15 copper mines.
Highlands Pacific managing director John Gooding said yesterday that the production life of Frieda could be up to 20-30 years, with the first eight years producing 250,000 tonnes per annum of copper and 380,000 ounces per annum of gold.
"If you look at its second year of operation, on or about the year 2018 on current schedules, Frieda will produce about 320,000 tonnes of copper and a massive 580,000 ounces of gold.
"This would place it in the top 10 if in production today," he explained.
Gooding pointed out that Frieda has in-ground copper and gold resource potential for many decades of production.
"To put the current Frieda resource in context, that is about double the current inventory at the fabulous Wafi-Golpu project which stock market analysts have placed valuations on in the billions of dollars," he told shareholders at the annual general meeting.
Frieda River project, located between the East and West Sepik provinces, is 81.82% owned by Xstrata who are funding its BFS, and by Highlands Pacific (18.18%).
Gooding said the other exploration project for Highlands Pacific on Star mountains has also reported significant copper gold intersections from its drilling programme.

APEC needs to put empowerment of SMEs at center of economic agenda: US Commerce Secretary

Issued by the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group

 

Big Sky, Montana, 18 May, 2011 - "Growing renewable energy industries, such as wind, solar and biofuels, are a critical part of catalyzing clean economic growth," said US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Wednesday in Big Sky, Montana.
Locke made his remarks at the Enhancing Competitiveness through Green Growth Forum. The meeting was organized by the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group. A video of his remarks will be available on the APEC website.
Locke said that over the next few decades, world economies will need to rebuild and reinvent virtually every industrial activity – from power generation and transportation to manufacturing and construction – to succeed in an energy environment that looks drastically different than the one we've grown used to.
"The potential new business and new job creation in front of us is astounding," said Locke.

Locke characterized the issue with an example of one of the challenges facing the United States. In the United States, buildings consume 40 percent of energy and 73 percent of electricity. They are responsible for about 39 percent of carbon emissions – more than the transportation or industrial sectors.
But he also expressed optimism. "It's no surprise then that greening these buildings can create immense economic opportunity, with the overall green building market projected to reach as much as $140 billion worldwide by 2013."
"A big part of the answer lies with the small and medium-sized enterprises," he continued. "This is why APEC member economies need to put the empowerment of small businesses at the very center of our economic agendas."
"I don't think there's any question that APEC member economies greatly value the power of thriving small businesses -- especially when it comes to spurring clean growth.
But small companies continue to face hurdles in the APEC region. The International Trade Commission and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development identified excessive transportation costs and customs clearance delays; difficulty protecting intellectual property and preferential tariff rates; and lack of access to financing and information as the main culprits to growth.
Locke urged APEC member economies to pursue policies that unleash innovation and enable entrepreneurs.

"The job of APEC policymakers is to help create an environment that supports the risk-taking and innovation that will be so important to promoting clean growth in the years to come," said Locke.

He also said that policies need to be developed to give entrepreneurs the tools to succeed no matter where they live.

APEC Senior Officials from APEC's 21 member economies concluded their meeting today. APEC Trade Ministers and Small and Medium Enterprise Ministers are to convene from May 19-21 here and will focus on APEC's 2011 agenda to further advance free and open trade in the region.

                                                                  # # #

For more information, contact: Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at mc@apec.org
Details about APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found at www.apec.org or www.apec2011.gov. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook.

 

APEC, World Bank sign agreement to boost food safety

Issued by the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance's Food Safety Cooperation Forum

 

Big Sky, Montana, 18 May 2011 – APEC and the World Bank today signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration on food safety in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for over 40 percent of the world's population and nearly half of global food production.

 The APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance's Food Safety Cooperation Forum and the World Bank will work together closely on training programs to improve food safety standards and practices in the region, as well as to facilitate trade.

 The programs will enable more growers, producers and food safety officials to understand and utilise preventative controls – resulting in safer food for consumers and fewer safety incidents in food trade.

 "Food trade is increasingly becoming a global issue with complex and inter-related supply chains, which raises the need to address the question of food safety," said APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor.

 Ambassador Noor added that global and regional cooperation on building the capacity of regulatory systems is key to reducing food incidents and boosting trust in trade. This enhances domestic commerce and export markets.

 "More widespread movement of food and livestock around the world requires vigilance on food safety and disease risk," said Inger Andersen, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. "More exacting standards pose challenges to poor farmers competing in these growing markets."
Signing the MOU with APEC today, Andersen said, "Food safety is an increasingly significant part of the World Bank's lending and technical assistance programs in East Asia and the Pacific, as well as in other regions. We are extremely pleased to be working with APEC to bring more attention to this critical issue. This new agreement will strengthen our joint efforts to mobilize resources and promote and support capacity building to better ensure food safety concerns," she said.

 Ms Andersen and the co-chairs of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum, Steve McCutcheon from Australia and Lin Wei from China, signed the MOU in the margins of a series of APEC meetings currently underway in Big Sky, Montana.

 "The MOU opens the way for an upscaling of food safety capacity building in the region," said McCutcheon and Lin in a joint statement.

 APEC Trade Ministers and Small and Medium Enterprise Ministers meet from May 19-21 in Big Sky, focusing on APEC's 2011 agenda to further advance free and open trade in the region.

 The APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum was established to bring together food safety regulators to develop a food safety framework and strategy and to carry out capacity building programs in this important area.

 

The memorandum of understanding is part of APEC's agenda to strengthen food security in the diverse region, home to about one quarter of the world's undernourished people. The region also accounts for half of world grain production and includes major exporters and importers of agricultural products.

 

APEC held its first APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security last October in Niigata, Japan, and committed to focus on raising agricultural productivity, facilitating trade and investment and expanding markets.

 

                                                                                            # # #

For more information, contact:  Augustine Kwan +65 9831 0717 at ak@apec.org or Michael Chapnick +1 (202) 664 6245 at mc@apec.org

 

Museums and memory

 Yesterday was International Museum Day and on hand to join in the celebrations, at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Waigani, NCD, were youngsters Warita Irima (from left), Emerald Hamanin, Ednaldo Sarere and Evangeline Sarere as members of the Bougainville bamboo band, The National reports.

Based on the theme "museums and memory", the gallery organised a number of activities with the main event being an exhibition featuring musical instruments from around the country. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Nautilus completes Bismarck drilling

NAUTILUS Minerals has completed its 2010-11 seafloor drilling programme, with the vessel, rem Etive, having been demobilised in Singapore on Monday, according to Marketwire news, The National reports.

During the drilling programme in the Bismarck Sea between New Ireland and New Britain , Nautilus completed a 99-hole diamond drilling project, for a total of 1,475m.

Drilling was focused within the area of the mining lease (ML154) recently granted to Nautilus by the national government through the Mineral Resources Authority, which contained the Solwara One deposit and the Solwara Five seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) discovery.

 A total of 71 holes was drilled in ML154, for 1,147m.

The remainder of the drilling was conducted in exploration lease 1,374, which hosts Nautilus' Solwara 12 SMS discovery.

Nautilus' chief executive officer Steve Rogers said the highlight of the campaign had been the identification of mineralisation at depth at Solwara 12 and the improved knowledge gained at Solwara-1.

"We have commenced data evaluation and analysis and it is expected that results will be reported before the end of this year," he said.

Nautilus commissioned Golder and Associates to generate an updated resource estimate.

Nautilus is the first company to commercially explore the ocean floor for poly-metallic seafloor massive sulphide deposits and is currently developing its first project at Solwara-1 in the territorial waters of PNG.

Nautilus is listed on the TSX and AIM stock exchanges, and has, among its largest shareholders, two of the world's leading international resource companies namely, Anglo-American (11.1%) and Teck Resources (6.8%) as well as Metalloinvest, one of the largest and fastest growing mining and metallurgical holding companies in Russia.

Metalloinvest owns 21.0% of the company's issued shares through Gazmetall Holding (Cyprus) Ltd.

'Government parked K5 billion in bills with banks’

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

THE government has parked more than K5 billion in treasury bills with commercial banks which has cost the state dearly in steep banking fees, opposition spokesman of finance and economic matters and Lae MP, Bart Philemon told parliament yesterday, The National reports.

He revealed this in questions directed at acting Prime Minister Sam Abal.

Philemon wanted to know why the government had banked revenue earned from high commodity prices with commercial banks rather than with the central bank which offers far lower rates to manage the fund.

He suggested that this practice was in breach of the Public Finances Management Act as well as due processes.

He added that the commercial banks received 5%-6% interest for managing the treasury bills which the central bank has to pay the banks while the interest paid to government was a mere 1%-2%.

Philemon said the central bank might have paid as much as K4 million to the commercial banks for managing the treasury bills.

"This is the biggest scam played by the government," he said.

The former finance and treasury minister said treasury bills should be held with the central bank as the authorised agent for all treasury bills. He said it appeared this established process had been bypassed the responsible departments and their political heads.

Philemon said that it was a poor decision by the ministers and the government to abuse all due financial management processes.

Abal said judgment of the performance of the ministers is the responsibility of the prime minister and it is not something for the parliament to know.

"I will not go into the discussion on the performance of the ministers as it has nothing to do with parliament," he said.

He said that the decisions to park the treasury bills are government policy decisions and directives and it was not done for any personal interest, adding that the government has approved it through the policy guidelines.

From a land of milk and honey

Caption: Milk, eggs, cream and yoghurt produced by EBC Farm at 6-Mile, Lae.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

By MALUM NALU

 

Not many people may know that a farm just outside Lae has for years been supplying the city with fresh dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt.

It proves that Lae, and Papua New Guinea for that matter, is truly a land of milk and honey, as visitors to the recent NARI Agricultural Innovations Show found out.

Apart from these, the Evangelical Brotherhood Church (EBC) Farm at 6-Mile along the Highlands Highway also supplies fresh eggs, chicken, cattle, pigs and other livestock to residents of Lae.

The EBC was founded in 1974 in cooperation with the Swiss Evangelical Brotherhood Mission and one of its main activities to help spread the Word of God is through teaching young people about farming, which it does successfully at 6-Mile.

"We sell our dairy products on the farm at 6-Mile as well as supermarkets and hotels," says sales representative Charles Mark.

"We supply Melanesian Hotel, Lae International Hotel, Huon Gulf Motel, Yacht Club, bakeries, Papindo 8/6, Papindo Eriku, Pelgens, Andersons Foodland, Food Mart and others.

"At the farm, we have chicken, cows and pigs.

"We also have fish."