Villagers want Butibam-Kamkumung stretch sealed

Angry Butibam villagers today called on the Works Department to immediately seal the 3km Butibam-Kamkumung stretch to avoid being polluted by dust and heavy traffic.

They made the call as all traffic along Independence Drive from the University of Technology is diverted because of the temporary closure of Kamkumung Corner-Kamkumung Bridge stretch for road sealing.

The Butibam-Kamkumg stretch, once a well-sealed road, has over the years turned into a dusty, pothole-filled bush track.

“Butibam people are seriously considering stopping all traffic from utilising the Butibam bypass unless there is proper maintenance and sealing,”Ahi Association president Jonathan Saing said today.

“It has to be done immediately.

“We are calling on national works secretary Joel Luma to make available funding to fix the 3km stretch between Butibam and Kamkumung.

“We are not a rubbish dump and our dignity as human beings should be respected.”

 

 

Lae's Sipaia Beach out of bounds to public

Frustrated Wagang villagers from outside Lae have put a stop to members of the public using their popular Sipaia Beach.

They said in a public notice dated May 1 that this was due to “continuous harassment and blatant disrespect of the villagers”.

“The Sipaia Beach, which is not a public beach, is now closed to all outsiders until further notice,” village chairman Joe Sawang and councilor John Galang said in the notice.

“We have taken this step to safeguard our children from speeding vehicles, public nuisance, drunkenness, disturbance of village harmony and aimless wandering into private village areas.

“Our intentions are to set up village regulations for use of the beach by the public, and put in place laws to safeguard our village life, and providing barbeque stands, toilets and other amenities before the beach is reopened to the public.”

Mr Sawang and Mr Galang said that when the beach was reopened, fees would be charged for use for leisure and functions, to bring in revenue to maintain public amenities and the beachfront.

“We hope that when we do open up, we will be able to provide services for and better inform the public,” they said.

 

 

Fuel cheaper than a year ago despite May increase

Fuel is significantly cheaper than it was a year ago, despite a small rise in pump prices for May.

InterOil President Bill Jasper says all refined fuels remained “very affordable” following this month’s increase.

“It is important to note retail prices are currently between 40 and 50 percent cheaper than they were at this time in 2008”. (Based on IPP figures, ULP is 44% cheaper, diesel 51% cheaper and kerosene is 50% cheaper).

Mr Jasper said the May pricing structure reflects the volatility and unpredictability of the international marketplace.

“It is driven by perceptions of future demand.

“Markets believe that demand for refined fuels will increase in the months ahead and this drives prices up.

“The stronger demand may become evident as various government economic stimulus measures around the world begin to take effect.

“The price changes we are experiencing here in Papua New Guinea reflect what is going on throughout the globe.

“We are part of the international community and, as such, are not immune from the effects of what is happening overseas”, Mr Jasper said.

The average increase for May for diesel, unleaded gasoline (ULP) and kerosene is about 5%.

“After six months of falling fuel prices (mid-2008 to early 2009) we have now seen four months of increases”, Mr Jasper said.

“The net result is that most fuels are more than a Kina cheaper per litre than they were in May 2008.

“And that, in these trying economic times, is positive and welcome news”.

For further information and to arrange media interviews contact:

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation

Ph: 321 7040

Mobile: 684 5168

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

Bulolo goes big on farming

Bulolo MP Sam Basil drives the new tractor with an excited Mumeng locallevel government president Mathias Jack at his side. Picture by PISAI GUMAR

By PISAI GUMAR

BULOLO district on Tuesday presented K300, 000 to the Department of Agriculture’s Erap Food Security Resource and Development Centre for the purchase of cattle and other livestock.

The money was presented during the National Agriculture Research Institute’s agriculture innovations show at Bubia outside Lae.

The payment was for 160 head of cattle, eight buffalos, 160 goats, 4, 000 ducklings, 20,000 fingerlings and training of trainers in livestock farming system and drugs and medication for animals.

The funding is also for upkeep, extension and advisory support visits by technical officers to assist farmers.

The project was initiated to encourage farmers develop sustainable livestock farming systems and improve family nutrition with the surplus to be sold.

The livestock development project is initiated for Wau Rural, Upper Watut, Buang and Mumeng LLGs.

Meanwhile, the first of four new multi-purpose tractors was delivered to Mumeng from Ela Motors in Lae on Monday to develop the LLG’s agricultural capacity.

Morobe law and order committee chairman Benson Suwang and deputy administrator Patilias Gamato on Monday launched the tractor at Timini Primary School along with with its trailer, slasher, plough and rotor.

“It will help farmers plough agricultural land, clean the government station on weekdays, and transport local farmers’ coffee bags and fresh food to markets,” said Bulolo MP Sam Basil.

Fall 2009 Jefferson Fellowships: The Right Climate for Confronting Climate Change?

Fall 2009 Jefferson Fellowships for Journalists

Dates: October 25-November 14, 2009

Theme: “The Right Climate for Confronting Climate Change?”

Travel Destinations: Honolulu, Hawaii; Monterey and Palo Alto, California; Boulder, Colorado; Washington, D.C.

Who Can Apply: Working print, broadcast, and on-line journalists in the United States, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Five years of experience preferred. English fluency required.

Funding: Airfare, lodging, per diem and most other program expenses are provided through a grant from The Freeman Foundation of Stowe, Vermont. Participants are responsible for all applicable visa fees and any additional visa-related expenses. 

Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

Information and applications: For more information about the program and how to apply, please visit: http://www.eastwestcenter.org/jefferson.

Contacts: Send applications and questions by email to jefferson@eastwestcenter.org or fax at (808) 944-7600. For phone inquiries, please contact Ann Hartman, Jefferson Fellowships Coordinator, at (808) 944-7619.

Theme: “The Right Climate for Confronting Climate Change?”

The new U.S. presidential administration of Barack Obama has increased attention to climate change in advance of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in December 2009. With this backdrop, the Fall 2009 Jefferson Fellowships program will explore the ability of U.S. domestic and foreign policy to confront the important economic challenges and opportunities involved in addressing climate change and its consequences. While near-term costs may affect the livelihoods of Americans already struggling in the current U.S. recession, addressing climate change also presents opportunities to strengthen important parts of the economy and create jobs. In addition, the Fall 2009 program will examine how the issue of climate change may serve as a way for the United States to rebuild partnerships and alliances around the world and to bolster national security. 

The program will begin in Honolulu with one week of discussions, field visits and participant presentations that explore the challenge of climate change throughout the Asia Pacific-U.S. region. Participants will share impacts, responses and policy challenges from the perspectives of their own countries. The study tour will focus on policy challenges and opportunities for the United States through visits to key destinations on the U.S. mainland.

Russian Cake Contest

Russian Cake Contest
Yes, everything you see is a cake with icing
The sewing machine and other items look so real it
Looks like they are the real thing -- but...they are all just cake and
icing.

Call for export markets for agricultural produce

By SENIORL ANZU

 

Bulolo MP Sam Basil called on all stakeholders in agriculture to take research and development to the next level by exploring overseas market opportunities.

Speaking at the 2009 Agricultural Innovations Show at Bubia near Lae on Tuesday, Mr Basil said Papua New Guinea needed a proper strategy to capture markets for local crops that had potential commercial value.

 He added that besides being rich in natural resources, PNG was also strategically positioned to capitalise on market opportunities available in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia which would benefit PNG farmers.

“Papua New Guinea must develop a strategy to capture a share in these markets for some of our potential commercial fresh fruit and vegetable crops like taro, yams, mango, aibika, krusako, kalapoa, cabbages, carrots, lettuce, peanuts, galip nuts and many more”, Mr Basil said.

“If given the support and backing by the government, I am confident our small farmers can grow produce that are competitive on the internal markets.”

 He therefore indicated his willingness to lobby key players.

“I will lobby NARI and other institutions like the National Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Authority, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish a joint task force to formulate a strategy so that the Government can explore opportunities for our farmers to sell their produce to markets in Australia, New Zealand and Asia,” Mr Basil said.

 He stated that PNG was not even exporting to Australia, a country which had long ties with PNG for many years.

He cited an example during his recent travel to Canberra in which, during a visit to a grocery store, he found the shelves occupied with taro from Fiji, krusako from Vietnam, kalapoa from Samoa, and kulau from Thailand.

He said these were crops PNG could produce in volumes for their markets.

“It is shameful that small countries like Fiji can export taro to Australia, New Zealand and the UN, even under a military regime, and Papua New has yet to find a niche in these markets,” Mr Basil said.

Meanwhile, Mr Basil presented K298, 580 to Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Jim Simitab for a livestock development project in the Bulolo district.

The money was for purchase of cattle, buffalos, goats, ducks and fish from the Erap Food Security Research and Development Centre.

Another payment of K7, 162 was made to the Morobe Fisheries Authority for aquaculture development in the electorate.