Lets hope the "Melanesia Way"of decision-making is not writen into the pilot manuals......fly Airlines of PNG, perhaps?

From JOHN FOWKE

 

AIR Niugini has continued its services to Fiji, via the Solomon Islands, under its code share agreement with Solomon Airlines in the hopes that current disagreements between the two airlines can be solved "the Melanesian way".
"Our tolerance and continued effort to resolve this dispute only reflects the Melanesian way of dispute resolution and we are still committed to finding a workable solution that can benefit both parties," Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said in a statement on Wednesday.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea National Youth Sunday

ELCPNG Hagen District Youth singing a song when presenting their offering to the ELCPNG National OfficeDrama performed by the Ampo Youth ministry at the Immanuel Youth Hall

Martin Luther Seminary students presenting an item during the Youth Sunday Service at the Immanuel Youth Center

Ampo Youth leading worship with songs and music at the Immanuel Youth Hall during the National Youth Sunday service

By GUTI WARIME of ELCPNG

Every year the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) observes the first Sunday of May as the National Youth Sunday.

On May 3 this year, all congregations throughout the 17 districts of ELCPNG observed the day in supporting the Youth Ministries with prayers and thanksgiving.
One of ELCPNG’s oldest youth halls, Immanuel Youth Hall, built by the then active Lae Lutheran Youth (LLY) of ELCPNG in the 1970’s, came to life that day.

The Redeemer Parish congregations in Lae city gathered at the hall for Sunday service and many youth participated in leading the worship in music and songs, creative dance and drama.
The secretary of the ELCPNG Evangelism Department, Rev Binora and the ELCPNG National Youth Director, Mr Mileng, were present at the event.

In his speech Rev Binora challenged the youth to fully utilise the Immanuel Youth Hall which has been sitting idle for many years.

He challenged the youth to come up with creative ideas to resurrect the long gone active spirit of fellowship that had moved the LLY in those days when he was a member.

“ELCPNG Youth should fully utilise this big building [Immanuel Youth Hall]!” Rev Binora stressed.
Every year, each of the 17 districts of ELCPNG usually gives their offerings to the National Youth Office (NYO) to show their ownership and support for the youth ministries.

However, due to financial constraints and geographical locations of most congregations, it has been about 10 years since the NYO last sent out invitation to the districts seeking their support.
However, after the event, on May 5 the Highland District of ELCPNG - the ELCPNG-Hagen District Youth - came to present a cash offering of K1557.90 (USD556) to the National Youth Office and some garden food for the staff at the ELCPNG headquarters.

The items included 13 kaukau bags, 12 bunch of banana and bags of fruits and vegetables.
Upon receiving the gifts, the Acting Head Bishop of ELCPNG, Reverend Zau Rapa, thanked them and gave some challenging remarks to everyone who gathered.

“From birth till death, the church is part our life so whatever we do to the Church, we are actually helping ourselves and not another person,” Rev Rapa stated.
The National Youth Director, Mr Mileng, is very pleased and thankful for the gifts of thanksgiving presented to the National Youth Office in Ampo by the Church of Hope Parish in the Jabem District, the Hagen District Youths and other groups.

MEDIA FREEDOM WEEK

BY OSEAH PHILEMON

 

It has been suggested that the standard of journalism in Papua New Guinea has dropped over the last few years and young journalists have been urged to uphold the journalism code of ethics in their work.

It has also been suggested that journalism schools were not producing the quality graduates needed by the media industry in PNG.

I beg to differ.

If it is true that the standard of journalism in PNG has dropped, then it is not the young journalists who should be blamed, but rather the people responsible for providing editorial management and direction in the various news organisations.

These are the people who decide on what events or news get covered and what events do not get covered; they decide on what goes where in newspapers, on TV news and radio news; they determine what the nation should read about, hear about or watch on TV and what should be discarded daily.

They decide what gets prominence and what does not.

They and their chief executives who hold the cheque books determine whether young journalists receive further training at the cost of their own news organisations or wait for freebies from donor agencies and overseas information services.

These are the people who decide how far inland newspapers can be delivered, where TV and radio transmitters should be installed to give wider access to the public.

It is my view that the quality of editorial direction and management in the newsroom has a lot to do with the quality and standard of journalism in PNG.

It has a lot to do with whether journalists, both young and seasoned, uphold the so-called journalism code of ethics.

The quality of journalism in PNG is shaped by them, not necessarily by young journalists who only follow instructions to cover various news events.

It is time for the spot light to be flashed on those who should really be held accountable and answerable to the public for the daily dose of news that we read, hear and see in our media daily; not the young journalists fresh out of journalism school or trying to understand how to cover this complex nation called PNG.

As we celebrate another Media Freedom Week, media organisations should focus their attention on ensuring that many more Papua New Guineans in the rural and far remote areas of PNG have access to the media.

Our media today only reach a very small percentage of Papua New Guineans, especially those in the urban and peri-urban areas.

The rest in the rural and rural remote parts of the country remain completely isolated.

To me, reaching these people remains the single greatest challenge facing the PNG media industry today.

Having spent 10 months out of the media industry, it has become obvious to me that some sections of our industry risk becoming irrelevant to the society they purport to serve.

The public receive very little real value in their media and in a country where there is a glaring absence of government information service; the people are at a loss as to who they should turn to for relevant information.

The people’s hunger for information on how to improve their way of life and or raise their standard of living remain unfulfilled.

 

Yours,

 

 

Oseah Philemon, OBE

Voco Point

Lae

 

 

 

 

Captain Bouraga’s last hurrah

Capt Bouraga is wheeled on the tarmac at Jackson's Airport. Picture by AURI EVA

Capt Bouraga's F100 is given the traditional hosing down at Jackson's AirportCapt Bouraga (centre) with old mates Masket Iangalio (left) and Lae MP Bart Philemon. Picture by AURI EVA

By TRAVERTZ MABONE in The National

AIR NIUGINI saw the departure of one of its pioneer Papua New Guinea pilots last Friday.

Captain Aria Bouraga had his “wings clipped” after 40 years of soaring all over PNG and the world like an eagle, 35 of these with Air Niugini, up until last Friday.

In emotional scenes at Jackson airport in Port Moresby, Capt Bouraga was given the traditional soaking, before being wheeled off the tarmac after clocking a proud 23,000 hours of flying time in a brilliant career.

His last hurrah had none better VIP than Governor-General and PNG patriot Sir Paulias Matane while his first officer was his nephew Gari Bouraga.

Capt Bouraga said that he was proud of being able to remain with Air Niugini since its inception in 1973 and encouraged up-and-coming national pilots to take pride in their job and uphold the high personal and professional standards expected of a pilot.

Sir Paulias congratulated Capt Bouraga, saying he was proud of him being one of the first PNG pilots and thanked him for his many years of service.

Pilots’ Union president Capt Mark Storr was also proud of Mr Bouraga as he was “part of the first group of young Papua New Guineans to discover the mystery of flying”.

Capt Bouraga thanked the many pilots who had flown alongside him in his long and distinguished career.

“After 35 years in the air, I finally would like my feet on the ground at my home in Gabagaba village in Rigo, Central province,” he said.

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