All about Timothy Bonga, Dr Florian Gubon and the Taiwan deal

The Taiwanese government and media have have implicated Timothy Bonga and Dr Florian Gubon in the the US 30 million deal from money that was supposed to come to PNG.
I received this email from Taiwan TV yesterday trying to do an interview with me on background about Timothy Bonga.
Malum
-----Original Message-----
From: Regina Ho [mailto:raychuho@yahoo.com.tw]
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:20 PM
To: Regina Ho; malumnalu@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: about Timothy bonga
Dear Sir
I haven't got your response yet. However, we would really like to do a phone interview with you. Will it be possible for you to accept be interviewed by us?
My TV station is a 24-hour cable news channel. You can clarify or state your opinions on our news to describe what you know about Mr. Bonga. Wish to hear from you soon.

Best wishes,
Regina
--- Regina Ho f
> Dear Sir
>
> I was searching on the net hoping to find out who MR.
> TIMOTHY BONGA is and I found your blog.
>
> I am a Taiwanese TV journalist and the media of the whole island now
> is trying to look for Mr. Timothy Bonga and Florian Gubon who are the
> people involve in our foreign affair schandal.
>
> Below is the report from AP wire news to give you a rough idea. I was
> wondering if it's possible for you, can we interveiw you about what
> kind of the person Mr.
> Timothy Bonga is.
>
> Hope to receive your mail soon.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Regina HO
> ETTV news, Taipie, TAIWAN
> 8862 23118000 ext 7310
>
>
> ===============================================
>
> TAIPEI, Taiwan - Two senior Taiwanese officials resigned Tuesday over
> the loss of millions of dollars
> (euros) in a failed attempt to lure Papua New Guinea to officially
> recognize Taiwan.
>
> The government said Foreign Minister James Huang and Deputy Premier
> Chiou I-jen were leaving their posts.
>
> The resignations follow last week's revelations that Taiwan lost
> US$29.8 million (?19.2 million) in a failed 2006 attempt to establish
> ties with Papua New Guinea.
>
> The money was intended as economic aid for Papua New Guinea, providing
> it switched its recognition from rival China.
>
> It was given to two middlemen in 2006 on the assumption they could
> induce the impoverished Pacific nation to abandon Beijing. The attempt
> was abandoned after only several months, when Taiwanese authorities
> concluded they could not convince Papua New Guinea to cross over into
> the Taiwanese diplomatic column.
>
> One of the middlemen, Ching Chi-ju, has since disappeared, along with
> the money.
>
> Announcing his decision Tuesday, Chiou said he was deeply sorry for
> his role in the fiasco.
>
> "I have trusted the wrong people with the Papua New Guinea project and
> caused great damage and turmoil to the country, so I am resigning from
> my post," he said.
>
> Huang and Chiou have acknowledged their involvement with the middlemen
> but denied any criminal wrongdoing.
> Their homes were searched early Tuesday for evidence linked to the
> fraud.
>
> The diplomatic bungle underscores the seamier side of the
> no-holds-barred struggle between Taipei and Beijing to curry favor
> among potential foreign allies.
>
> The two sides split amid civil war in 1949. Taipei is fighting a
> desperate rearguard action to bolster its stable of overseas partners
> as a way of asserting its claims to sovereignty.
>
> President Chen Shui-bian also apologized for the affair earlier
> Tuesday, saying it had brought disrepute to Taiwan.
>
> "I am deeply sorry about how the Papua New Guinea project has hurt the
> image of the country and the government," Chen said.
>
> The president also said he had no part in the execution of the
> project.
>
> "I neither directed nor participated," he said.
>
>
>

Inspirational Quotes

I’ve just been supervising the design of our Mothers’ Day supplement, which, for me and my children, will be different this year without their Mum, my wife.

I quickly surfed the Internet and found some inspirational words, which I though I’d share with you:

Inspirational Quotes on Grief, Bereavement and Death and Dying

Grief can become an overwhelming emotion. These inspirational quotes on death and grief could offer a more enlightening, comprehensive perspective on one of life's most serious topics.
More words of inspiration and daily inspiration can be found in "Life and Other Options."
For widows,widowers or anyone suffering through mourning or bereavement -- the death and loss of a close loved one -- the overwhelming sorrow and grief is unbearable. These inspirational quotes on death and grief were specially chosen for widows or widowers to offer a more enlightening, comprehensive perspective on one of life's most serious and emotional topics. Death and dying, loss and sorrow, mourning widow or widower and hopeful survivor -- all are aspects of life's larger plan.


We miss and need and pine for our dead, but we also areangry at them for having abandoned us.-- Judith Viorst


You don't really get over it; you get used to it.-- Robert S. Weiss

Funny thing about families. You think they'll hangtogether after a loss. But death doesn't necessarilyunite you.-- Anne Hosansky

You can prepare for death, but you can't grieve inadvance.-- Rabbi Howard Jaffe

Life is a series of experiences, each of which makesus bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and wemust learn that the setbacks and griefs which weendure, help us in our marching onward.-- Henry Ford

Memory is more indelible than ink.-- Anita Loos

Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you.-- Paul Simon

Do not stand at my grave and weep.I am not there. I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn rain.When you awake in the morning's hushI am the soft uplifting rushof quiet birds in circling flight.I am the soft star thatshines at night.Do not stand at my grave and cryI am not there.I did not die.-- Anonymous

Pictures of Daru, Western province, March 2008

Telikom tower in Daru

Prawns galore in Daru

Barramundi and seafood are plentiful in Daru

Site of the new port in Daru

Daru hospital...so much room for improvement

Canoes in Daru

More pictures of my beloved wife, Hula Debe Nalu, who passed away so suddenly and tragically on Easter Sunday 2008 (see story further below below)

Papua New Guineans reap rewards from Endeavour Awards

By MALUM NALU

Papua New Guinea has been an eligible country for Endeavour Awards since the inception of the awards.

The Endeavour Awards are managed by the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

They were established as part of the 2003 International Education package ‘Engaging the World Through Education’.

Picture above: Robert Bino with his Masters from the Australian National University in 2006.

This is an academically-elite program, bringing high achieving students, researchers and professionals from the region to Australia each year to undertake short or long term study, research and professional development in a broad range of disciplines.

Papua New Guinean applicants are selected using the same merit-based application process as all other applicants from all countries.

In 2007, 57 Papua New Guineans applied for an Endeavour Award, nine of whom were successful in receiving an Endeavour Award.

This included four Vocational Education and Training Awards and three Postgraduate Awards; six females and three males were successful Endeavour Award recipients.

Award Holder fields of research include land and food sciences, business management, computer engineering, tourism, midwifery and marine and tropical biology

In 2008, 45 Papua New Guineans applied for an Endeavour award, seven of whom were successful in receiving an Endeavour Award.

This included five Vocational Education and Training Awards, one Executive Award and one Postgraduate Award; five males and two females were successful Endeavour Award recipients.

Award Holder fields of research include language and communication studies, information technology, electronic systems, Pacific and Asian studies, aerospace studies, English language teaching and logistics.

In April 2008, a series of Award holder functions will take place around the capital cities of Australia to celebrate the Endeavour Awards.

The 2009 application round of Endeavour Awards opens on April 9, 2008, and closes on July 31, 2008.


Dulcie Dennis completed Grade 12 at the Port Moresby Grammar School in 2004 and from 2005– 2006, studied Certificate 2 in Tourism and Hospitality at the IEA College of TAFE at the Ela Beach Campus, Port Moresby.

Last year, Dulcie won a scholarship under the Endeavour Award for a Diploma in Tourism & Travel Management at the South bank Institute of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.

“It is a great honour and privilege to be a recipient for such an award, which opens up a lot more opportunities for me in the future,” she says.

“The course that I am currently undertaking will certainly prepare me well for a career in Tourism and Management in PNG.

“This is an industry that has a lot to offer toward economic growth and nation building and I am eager to offer my service in this area.

“I have enjoyed every moment of my time and studies under this award and want to encourage future recipients to strive to be the best, commit time to studies, remain focused and value this wonderful and prestigious opportunity.

“It is a promising foundation of a fruitful future.”

Eunice Dus is a Masters in Applied Science student at the James Cook University.

“I agree that a lot of Papua New Guineans do not know about this Endeavour Award,” she reveals.

“I did not know until July, 2006, when the Australian Universities came up to Goroka, as well as Lae and Port Moresby, to showcase their universities.

“While attached with the PNG Wildlife Conservation Society in Goroka, as an Intern Ecologist, I applied for the Endeavour Award.

“Knowing that it was a prestigious award, I underestimated myself and was a little reluctant. However, I went ahead and applied. Honestly, I was shocked when I won the award.

“I would like to encourage other Papua New Guineans to apply for this award.

“Never underestimate yourself!!!”


Konio Kwalimu Pala, who teaches geography and ESL with the Port Moresby International School, remarks: “Participating in the Endeavour Executive Awards Program was a long and rigorous process.

“With its comprehensive criteria, stringent time frames, hours of negotiation with host institutions to secure a place, and evidence required to prove one worthy of being a recipient made the challenge for applying even more difficult.

“Being a recipient of this prestigious award is a great privilege as it enabled me to undertake Professional Development outside of PNG.

“Whilst attending University of Queensland, I participated in two courses.

“The first, the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults), a Cambridge University course offered by ICTE-UQ, provided both theory and practical components.

“In addition I undertook work experience at the Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education – UQ, enabling me to further my teaching skills.

“The second programme is the (IDLTM) International Diploma in Language Teaching Management.

“This course has a face-to-face element as well as an online component which I will complete in October 2008.”

Noel Wangunu is a Papua New Guinea marine biologist who has always wanted to do his best for the country and for local coastal communities in assisting communities manage their marine resources, and is now doing his Masters in Applied Science at James Cook University.

“Working with Conservation International (CI) in the Milne Bay Marine Conservation Project was a good start for my career,” he says.

“The decision of taking up studies or furthering my education has always been with me ever since I graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea.

“This opportunity of study here now provides me with a better opportunity to work and learn a lot from institutions in Australia, especially Queensland Turtle Research, in working on issues in managing turtle and dugong which are listed as Endangered species under CITES.

“My future plans are to complete my studies and go back to Papua New Guinea and continue work in Marine and Terrestrial environment in helping my country and its people manage its natural resources.”

Robert Bino is currently undergoing PhD post-graduate studies at the
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.

“Not many Papua New Guineans have benefited from the Endeavour Scholarship Awards,” he says.

“For instance in 2008, I am the only Papua New Guinean awardee in the Postgraduate Award category to do PhD studies.

“It is mostly the Asian countries who have been getting the bulk of the scholarships as opposed to Pacific Island countries.

“So I would like to encourage more Papua New Guineans to try out this opportunity as well.

“You can never know until you've tried.

“I thought I should also mention my topic for my PhD research which may interest many PNG citizens because it is currently a hot issue for the PNG and Australian governments.

“My thesis will be a cost-benefit analysis of the conservation and economic benefits of the Kokoda Track.

“I will also look at how this issue is affecting the politics of the bilateral relationship between PNG and Australia.

“I am also interested at how the conservation and development incentives and arrangements for the Kokoda Track can be applied to other similar projects and situations in PNG.”

Visit http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/. for more information about applications or the awards in general

Introducing accounting to PNG

A second revised edition of Panditha Bandara’s book ‘Introductory Accounting for Papua New Guinea’ was launched on Thursday, April 24.
Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane officially launched the book at the Main Lecture Theatre of the University of Papua New Guinea.
Author Bandara is a lecturer in accounting at the School of Business Administration of UPNG.
Prior to joining the university he served as deputy principal and senior lecturer at Goroka Business College.
He has authored 29 publications including 25 books and four study packs for use of various levels of students.
These publications are currently used in schools and professional institutions, and universities in Sri Lanka.
The current publication is a text book in accounting for beginners.
The target readers are secondary school students, business and technical college students and university students.
The book is designed following a uniform sequence.
A chapter is divided into several sections and graded exercises have been included at the end of each section to revise prior to move on to the next section.
Throughout the book illustrative examples are given prior to the exercises, so that readers can study the example and move on the exercises.
A separate workbook is also supplied to accompany the text book for students to complete exercises.
Answers to selected exercises are also provided as guidance for students.
Text is written in simple lucid language.
Examples, business names and practical situations explained in the text have been taken from an environment familiar to the students.

By using different strategies, the author simplifies the theoretical concepts demonstrating experience in the profession.
Introduction to accounting, Accounting Equation, Double Entry Accounting, Accounting for Trading Businesses, Source Documents, Journals for Cash Transactions, Journals for Credit Sales and Purchases, General Journal, Accounting for GST, Posting Journals, Subsidiary Ledgers and Control Accounts, Petty Cash Transactions, Bank Reconciliation, Financial Statements, Balance Day Adjustments and Financial Statements: Worksheet Method are the 16 chapters included in the book.
“Accounting is a practical subject,” Mr Bandara says.
“Those who are learning accounting should learn this subject to practice.
“Therefore, skill development is very important.
“Students should work out exercises based on actual or close to actual situations.
“This book contains sufficient exercises taken from practical business situations.”
The book was published by New Age Publications of India and sells at UPNG Bookshop and PJB Rait School Supplies for K150.
The author can be contacted on email bandarap@upng.ac.pg or mobile 6875850.

Teaching our young people about running business

It was one of those typically-beautiful, sunny, Friday afternoons on the banks of the murky-brown and meandering Laloki River last Friday.
Here, 17 teachers – from Kilakila, Mount Diamond, Marianville, Gerehu, De La Salle, Iarowari, Badihagwa, Gordon, Jubilee and Laloki high schools – graduated as qualified ‘Know About Business (KAB)’ instructors after a week-long workshop at Bluff Inn outside Port Moresby.
KBA is an internationally-recognised programme of the International Labour Organisation and is being implemented in many countries of the world.
The teachers, from the National Capital District and Central province, are better placed to teach business after their graduation the KAB workshop conducted by the Small Business Development Corporation.
Kokopo Secondary School in East New Britain province is a case in point as a school which is undergoing a quite revolution as its students become real-life entrepreneurs.
To see the determination of these youngsters to be young stars, especially at a time when so many of their peers all over the country are sinking into a quagmire of poverty and unemployment, gives you so much optimism for the future.
Kokopo Secondary School is indeed a parable for the youth of Papua New Guinea.
These young men and women – Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 students - are into various businesses such as vegetable growing, tailoring, trade stores, poultry, cooking food, laplaps, meri blouses, coconut oil, baking, and many more.
They are trained by their teachers in all facets of small business such as producing, buying, marketing, selling, bookkeeping and banking.
They are independent and no longer rely on their parents for school fees and pocket money.
SBDC has partnered the Education Department since 2006 by training teachers in the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Division teaching in vocational institutions in the country and is now working in partnership with the Curriculum Development and Assessment (CDA) Division to have the KAB programme piloted in secondary schools.
“We believe that this is a key strategic alliance with the Department of Education for the success of KAB, given the Department of Education’s overall mandate and the existing educational system/institutions throughout PNG,” SBDC caretaker managing director Diri Kobla said at last Friday’s graduation.
“The current trend of young people leaving the education system into the labour market continues to increase every year over the past years and will continue to increase.
“The future of these young people is much left to be desired as they do not have options, appropriate entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to identify opportunities in their communities.

“The KAB programme tries to contribute towards the creation of an enterprise culture in their society, by promoting awareness among people of the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship and self-employment and the role of young people in shaping their future and that of country’s economy and social development by engaging in meaningful opportunities.”
The KAB programme was introduced into the country by SBDC in 2005 and programme implementation was in 2006.
Towards the end of 2007, SBDC’s collaboration with the Curriculum Development and Assessment Division to have the KAB programme introduced into the secondary curricular has been warmly accepted by the department.
Developing a business culture is the way to go forward in Papua New Guinea and it has to start at the formal education level.
The current education system in this country does not train students at an early age to be entrepreneurial.
As a result, the prospects of securing employment through formal education is becoming increasingly challenging.
Therefore, the development of entrepreneurial skills whilst they are still in a school environment is for their own benefit, if and when they do not make it further in our formal education process.
However, all this may change soon, if KAB takes off in the country.
KAB means to understand the role of business in society, its contribution to the wealth of nations and its social responsibility; entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviour and to be informed how an enterprise is functioning.
KAB is a training programme for trainers and teachers in vocational education, secondary education and also higher education designed for a 120-hours course for young students between 15 and 18 years.
KAB’s general objective is to contribute towards the creation of an enterprise culture in a country or society, by promoting awareness among young people of the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship and self-employment, and of their role in shaping their future and that of their country’s economic and social development.
The SBDC is a government statutory authority under the Ministry of Trade and Industry charged with the responsibility of promotion and development of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Sector.
One of SBDC’s core activities is the delivery of a range of entrepreneurial skills development training.
The more notable one is the Start Improve Your Business (SIYB) training programme, which is an ILO-developed programme that it has implemented since 1996 under AusAID sponsorship.
SBDC has developed partnerships with a few educational institutions under the Department of Education in the past to train teachers and students in entrepreneurial education.
KAB is a new educational program that has been made possible through studies conducted by ILO since the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s.

In its efforts to develop SMEs and vocational education training, ILO worked with a number of projects involving government and private sector institutions to develop entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship education was seen as an important element to developing entrepreneurial attitudes for the future.
No specific training programmes, however, were available.
To close this gap, ILO in Geneva, Switzerland, and International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, provided funds in 1996 to develop a training package for Technical Vocational Education Training institutions that included entrepreneurial education and business skills.
A workshop was organised in Turin with the help of specific resource people from ILO, ITC and University of Illinois, USA, to develop the KAB training materials for trainers and instructors of TVET institutions.
The material was field tested in Kenya and then finalised and printed.
A number of countries including Papua New Guinea have adopted KAB in their National Education Program since 2000.
The experience with KAB and the increasing demand for introduction and adaptation of KAB in other countries led to a decision to review and update KAB so that it corresponded better to the needs of education programmes in a fast-changing world.
The focus of KAB has since been extended from vocational training to general secondary education.