Picture of a local beauty at the
Friday, June 12, 2009
Local Papua New Guinea beauty
7 quarantined for suspected swine flu in Papua New Guinea
Swine flu test samples sent to
By KESSIE TADAP in The National,
THE Pacific International Hospital (PIH) in
However, the hospital is yet to confirm the cases as swine flu because tests have to be done in
The World Health Organisation (WHO) late last night declared that the outbreak has reached the level of a full-blown pandemic, raising its alert level on the pandemic alert scale to phase six.
It is the first official pandemic to be declared in 40 years. Worldwide, more than 27,000 people in 74 countries have been sickened by the virus, with 141 deaths (see reports on Page 15).
PIH deputy chairman, Dr Mathias Sapuri, said yesterday that the hospital should receive the test results from
The hospital screened patients over the last four weeks and tested 20 people for the swine flu virus. Of these, seven have been quarantined.
Dr Sapuri said the suspected cases had been quarantined, meaning that they have been cautioned to stay at home and keep to themselves, wash their hands, wear masks as much as possible, and also to keep away from others, including their family members.
Dr Sapuri said these suspected cases had also been given Tamiflu vaccine, the medicine supplied by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Their swabs have been collected and sent to
“We have done the clinical diagnosis but their blood tests, which we are waiting for, will tell us whether they have the virus or not,” Dr Sapuri said.
He said the seven people had flu-like symptoms and had also passed through
Dr Sapuri also said that if anyone was experiencing flu-like symptoms, they must go to PIH where swine flu tests could be done and free Tamiflu medicines could be provided to those confirmed to be carrying the virus.
He said this was important, so that any cases of the virus could be quarantined and treated early before a pandemic broke out in PNG.
He said all suspected cases must be tested because if there was an outbreak, many of the vulnerable population which includes children, the elderly, those malnourished and sick, would not be able to resist and fight many diseases such as pneumonia.
Dr Sapuri said PIH was in the process of introducing a much quicker swine flu testing kit, which will take only 15 minutes to give a reading.
He said PIH would continue to conduct free swine flu tests for the public including providing free Tamiflu vaccine and would also continue to follow the guidelines set by the WHO to combat the virus.
Health Minister Sasa Zibe warned earlier this week that it was only a matter of time before the epidemic arrived in PNG.
Irregular carbon credits cause upheaval in the government of Papua New Guinea
From Economist.com
AT THE United Nations climate change conference in Bali two years ago, the head of the delegation from
Mr Conrad directs an organisation called the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, an alliance of 33 countries that promotes “avoided deforestation”—which means taking measures to prevent trees being chopped down. Deforestation accounts for about a fifth of the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases. The coalition argues that poor countries urgently need the revenue logging can bring. If rich countries want them to preserve their forests to keep the planet cool, they should provide some compensation for the forgone logging revenue. In other words, rich countries that are obliged to make reductions in carbon emissions under a new climate treaty could pay owners of forests to stop deforesting as a way of reducing carbon emissions.
The World Bank, the UN and various donor countries such as
The proposed process for formalising such trading is known as REDD, which stands for reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation. International talks are under way in
Even before agreement on which projects might qualify, a REDD market has emerged on the basis of promises to deliver carbon credits from pilot REDD projects. Some traders are willing to buy and sell on the assumption that real credits will be delivered one day. In 2008, REDD projects made up 14% of forest carbon “credits” traded on the voluntary credit market.
Such trading may be speculative, but it is legitimate. Yet no government is able to issue any legal REDD credit, as no framework exists for doing so. Indeed, even if REDD is formalised later this year, some expect that credits would be issued by third parties not governments. Nonetheless, the government of
Betha Somare, press secretary for the prime minister, said in a formal statement “the OCC has no legal mandate to issue any forest carbon credits, other than afforestation and reforestation through the Clean Development Mechanism, nor is there currently any REDD asset in existence due to a lack of a regulatory framework for forest carbon in Papua New Guinea”. Officials are now looking in to how REDD credits came to be issued.
Further investigation suggests that at least 39 more such REDD “credits”, which apparently each denote 1m tonnes of carbon, have been issued by the OCC for projects across the country in pilot projects of up to a dozen forests. One of the companies involved in the development of these forests as future REDD credits said a number of certificates had been issued by the OCC. These, it added, were “not real” but rather “symbolic” certificates.
One of these REDD carbon “credits” has caused particular outrage in the country. The area of forest is given as the “Kamula Duso REDD Project”. Yet the 800,000 hectares of virgin rainforest in Kamula Duso are at the heart of a long-running legal dispute over ownership, and the land is now the subject of a court injunction. Until the courts settle the legality of an agreement with the Forest Authority to permit logging, nobody is supposed to touch it.
The emergence of the Kamula Duso credit was one of the reasons for a crisis meeting of the country’s governors in May. All of the governors asked for the OCC to be referred to a public-accounts committee, and to undergo an audit. They also demanded that the office should be restrained from issuing any carbon credits or approving any carbon trade project. At the same time the governors also wrote to the Norwegian and Australian governments, the UNDP and the EU asking for aid funding to be suspended pending these inquiries.
The Economist has also obtained credits that were signed by a government minister in 2005 and that denote ownership in carbon sinks in relation to the Clean Development Mechanism. These credits are also now the subject of investigation by officials. As too is a financial arrangement that would have seen brokers provide money for running the OCC, should REDD be agreed.
Upon receiving a copy of the Kamula Duso credit last week, Ms Somare said, “very recently apparent irregularities within the OCC have come to our attention. As a result the prime minister has asked for a review to be carried out and a report to be made to his office. Other prudential measures are being taken within the OCC until the results of the review are available.” She added that the government could not say more at this stage while it was taking legal advice.
Kevin Conrad, interviewed last week, said it was too early to conclude what went wrong but said an “independent review” was under way. He added that “carbon speculators” were putting pressures on landowners in many countries to sell large tracts of forest ahead of a possible deal on avoided deforestation in
The broader issue with any kind of carbon credit, however, is ensuring that governments of poor countries behave impeccably. Indeed, if problems like this can happen in Mr Conrad’s own back yard, it suggests that the challenges ahead for REDD are tough ones.
Avoided deforestation is a big deal for climate-change policy. It is also a prize worth fighting for, even if it is hard to achieve. Poor governance, on top of poorly defined and defended forest property rights, mean that without proper care REDD could become a recipe for disaster rather than part of a solution the world needs.
Papua New Guinea carbon racket dupes landowners
Landowners in
AAP reports the carbon trading racket has duped at least 500 villagers since late last year around Popondetta in Oro province.
Some people have paid 400 US dollars to register as shareholders in a carbon trading company after being promised big dividends from the millions of dollars expected to be made from carbon trading in the country.
The villagers receive a receipt from an agent but never see their money again.
The conservation organisation, WWF says there is confusion in
WWF spokesperson Dave Melick, says people are calling it ’sky money’ or ’selling the air’.
This month, Reuters and The Economist magazine reported a litany of anomalies with PNG’s Office of Climate Change.
It appears the office has been offering millions of dollars worth of carbon credits while no legislation or policy exists in the country or under United Nations guidelines.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson says a review is being conducted into the apparent irregularities.
Government sources say the Climate Change Office director Dr Theo Yasause could soon be sacked.
Law and Justice Sector exhibition launched at University of Goroka
On the 9th June 2009, an awareness exhibition from the Law and Justice Sector Secretariat was officially launched at the
The ceremony, held on campus at the Mark Solon Auditorium, was attended by students, UOG staff, local stakeholders of the Law and Justice Sector, its NGO partners and local dignitaries from the provincial administration.
The university showed its support for the Law and Justice Sector by agreeing to co-host the exhibition on campus.
Acting Vice Chancellor of UOG, Associate Professor Michael Mel stated that the University has always supported the Law and Justice Sector and “recognises it as significant within the community”.
In his official speech for the event, he pointed out that “justice remains within us..and it is our own responsibility to protect our rights and to recognise our responsibilities in the community”.
Associate Professor Mel also stated that UOG was happy and proud to have the exhibition on campus and available to the community.
Associate Professor Mel officially opened the exhibition with Law and Justice Sector on the day with the Easter Highlands Province Deputy Administrator Mr John Gimeseve.
Aimed at students and the general public, the exhibition will help to inform the community of their rights when it comes to the law.
It will also highlight the assistance available for the solving of law and order disputes, and inform the public of the various departments involved in law and justice issues.
The exhibition entitled Respect for Law, Respect for Property and Respect for One Another is currently being held in the ground floor of the Steven Eka Library at UOG until the 19th June 2009.
Geoff Baskett and the land of ‘Islands and Mountains’
Kristen Redio carved gift,+and+manager+Robin+Steven+in+Lae+in+1991.JPG)
Holding carving are Kristen Redio founder Geofrey Baskett, chairman Len Valu (right), and manager Robin Steven in Lae in 1991
Geoff Baskett singing at Lae celebrations to mark Kristen Redio's 25th aniversary in 1991+at+the+presentation+of+an+MBE+at+Government+House+in+Sydney+in+1990+for+56+years+of+dedicated+service+to+Paoua+New+Guinea.jpg)
Geoff Baskett (left) at the presentation of an MBE at Government House in Sydney in 1990 for 56 years of dedicated service to Paoua New Guinea+during+WW11.jpg)
Captain Geoff Baskett (third from left) during WW11Last week, after years of not knowing where or how he was, I finally heard from a great icon of Papua New Guinea, Geoff Baskett.
In a life of achievements, he is most famously known in PNG for being the composer of well-know songs such as ‘Papua New Guinea’ (which might have become our national anthem), ‘Islands and Mountains (known internationally as The Song of Kwaro)’ and ‘We Are Free’.
I basically lost touch with Mr Baskett in 1995 and, after a brief stint with Kristen Redio in Lae, and since then, trying to locate him has been like searching for a needle in a haystack.
I finally hit the jackpot a couple of weeks ago when my good mate, veteran journalist and Post-Courier features writer Newman Cuthbert, asked me if I had a copy of Mr Baskett’s acclaimed autobiography Islands and Mountains.
Indeed I had, and I willingly lent it to Newman, who reciprocated by providing me with Mr Baskett’s contact details.
Receiving an email from this great man, now aged 93, was a very emotional experience for me.
“Now, at the age of 93, my next New Home is based on the Lord’s promise of eternal life with Him,” he wrote.
“Quoting from the Bible: ‘My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.
“My prayer is that many who read these words will join me in the beauty, joy and peace of a Christian’s life here on earth. May all who claim Him as their Lord and Saviour now, come in the future to live with Him in the place He has prepared for us.”
Baskett was born at Kohat in the high Himalayan Mountains of India and lived a fascinating life, one which every schoolboy dreams of.
As a teenager, he left Sydney for a six-week visit to Kwato, an island off the southeast coast of Papua.
That visit turned into nearly 60 years of service to the nation of PNG.
In a life of achievements, he is most famously known in PNG for being the composer of well-know songs such as ‘Papua New Guinea’ (which might have become our national anthem), ‘Islands and Mountains (known internationally as The Song of Kwaro)’ and ‘We Are Free’.
I basically lost touch with Mr Baskett in 1995 and, after a brief stint with Kristen Redio in Lae, and since then, trying to locate him has been like searching for a needle in a haystack.
I finally hit the jackpot a couple of weeks ago when my good mate, veteran journalist and Post-Courier features writer Newman Cuthbert, asked me if I had a copy of Mr Baskett’s acclaimed autobiography Islands and Mountains.
Indeed I had, and I willingly lent it to Newman, who reciprocated by providing me with Mr Baskett’s contact details.
Receiving an email from this great man, now aged 93, was a very emotional experience for me.
“Now, at the age of 93, my next New Home is based on the Lord’s promise of eternal life with Him,” he wrote.
“Quoting from the Bible: ‘My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.
“My prayer is that many who read these words will join me in the beauty, joy and peace of a Christian’s life here on earth. May all who claim Him as their Lord and Saviour now, come in the future to live with Him in the place He has prepared for us.”
Baskett was born at Kohat in the high Himalayan Mountains of India and lived a fascinating life, one which every schoolboy dreams of.
As a teenager, he left Sydney for a six-week visit to Kwato, an island off the southeast coast of Papua.
That visit turned into nearly 60 years of service to the nation of PNG.
Baskett first came to PNG in 1933 and worked day and night shifts on tractors and a gold dredge on the Bulolo gold fields, served on the islands and mainland with Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) during World War 11 when he rose through the ranks from private to captain.
He also worked in various capacities on the staff of the well-known Kwato Mission and founded a complex for the production of Christian radio programs for 19 radio stations before his “retirement” to Australia.
“When I finally retired in 1990, I went to live in Australia and at the very kind invitation of retired missionaries from Papua New Guinea, Mr Alan Nutt and his wife Elaine,” Mr Baskett wrote.
“I stayed with them at their home in Castle Hill, Sydney, New South Wales.
“I was able to help Elaine who was teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at the Redeemer Baptist School.
“Elaine looked after the younger Asian children from the kindergarten stage and higher classes while I taught the Asian students from Form 9 to Form 12.
“ This suited me very well as I had found it hard to hear the voices of the younger generation and when I did, I found it even harder to understand what they were saying!
“I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the students as I found them all keen to learn English and very appreciative of the help I was giving them on a voluntary basis.
“The students were from South Korea, Taiwan and China and I understood from them that all Asian students were keen to learn English as it made it possible for them to read books printed in that language.
“It also meant that there were many more opportunities for them to find employment in Australia and in their home countries after leaving school.
“In 1997, Alan and Elaine Nutt decided to leave Castle Hill and live at Port Macquarie, some 390km north of Sydney.
“Once again they very kindly invited me to stay with them and as a result we moved into a double-storied home at Amaroo Parade close to the ocean at Port Macquarie.
“Port Macquarie is a most delightful city.
“It boasts eight beautiful surfing beaches, modern shops and, according to a recent newspaper report, the best climate in the world!
“In July this year Alan and Elaine Nutt and I moved into a new home in an area known as ‘Sanctuary Springs’ in Port Macquarie.
“It’s in a very pleasant open area, close to four lakes surrounded by gum trees and with a wide variety of birds and even the occasional kangaroo!”
Baskett tells of the songs he wrote, and his love for PNG, in his autobiography Islands and Mountains.
“Four songs I have written are now printed in a hymn book that is in wide use in Papua New Guinea, and I have often thought that these songs have contributed more to this nation than any book I could have written,” he writes in the book.
“After all, a book once it has been read is usually put away on a shelf for a very long time before it is read again, whereas a song, usually a hymn, is used time and time again, often long after the death of the composer.
“So, as I said, I think there is more value in composing a song that is known to many thousands of people than in writing a book that is read by relatively few.”
Papua New Guinea
He also worked in various capacities on the staff of the well-known Kwato Mission and founded a complex for the production of Christian radio programs for 19 radio stations before his “retirement” to Australia.
“When I finally retired in 1990, I went to live in Australia and at the very kind invitation of retired missionaries from Papua New Guinea, Mr Alan Nutt and his wife Elaine,” Mr Baskett wrote.
“I stayed with them at their home in Castle Hill, Sydney, New South Wales.
“I was able to help Elaine who was teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at the Redeemer Baptist School.
“Elaine looked after the younger Asian children from the kindergarten stage and higher classes while I taught the Asian students from Form 9 to Form 12.
“ This suited me very well as I had found it hard to hear the voices of the younger generation and when I did, I found it even harder to understand what they were saying!
“I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the students as I found them all keen to learn English and very appreciative of the help I was giving them on a voluntary basis.
“The students were from South Korea, Taiwan and China and I understood from them that all Asian students were keen to learn English as it made it possible for them to read books printed in that language.
“It also meant that there were many more opportunities for them to find employment in Australia and in their home countries after leaving school.
“In 1997, Alan and Elaine Nutt decided to leave Castle Hill and live at Port Macquarie, some 390km north of Sydney.
“Once again they very kindly invited me to stay with them and as a result we moved into a double-storied home at Amaroo Parade close to the ocean at Port Macquarie.
“Port Macquarie is a most delightful city.
“It boasts eight beautiful surfing beaches, modern shops and, according to a recent newspaper report, the best climate in the world!
“In July this year Alan and Elaine Nutt and I moved into a new home in an area known as ‘Sanctuary Springs’ in Port Macquarie.
“It’s in a very pleasant open area, close to four lakes surrounded by gum trees and with a wide variety of birds and even the occasional kangaroo!”
Baskett tells of the songs he wrote, and his love for PNG, in his autobiography Islands and Mountains.
“Four songs I have written are now printed in a hymn book that is in wide use in Papua New Guinea, and I have often thought that these songs have contributed more to this nation than any book I could have written,” he writes in the book.
“After all, a book once it has been read is usually put away on a shelf for a very long time before it is read again, whereas a song, usually a hymn, is used time and time again, often long after the death of the composer.
“So, as I said, I think there is more value in composing a song that is known to many thousands of people than in writing a book that is read by relatively few.”
Papua New Guinea
Our land is the island of high mountains,
Of sunlit palms and coral sea,
Where our people sing while the drums are beating,
For our land is strong and free.
Papua……….New Guinea……….
Papua New Guinea our Motherland
Every tribe and race, let us work together,
United we shall stand
There’s a bright new day dawning for our land
As every tribe and race unite
Sons and daughters arise, we’ll advance together
With God to guide us in the right.
Papua……….New Guinea……….
Papua New Guinea our Motherland
Every tribe and race, let us work together
United we shall stand.
Islands and Mountains
Islands and mountains, and sunshine and breeze,
Flowers and moonlight, swaying palm trees,
Jungles and rivers, white coral sand,
This is my country, this is my land.
Dark were the days when men lived in fear,
Fear of the arrow, stone club and spear,
Fighting and hatred filled every land,
That was my country, that was my land
Then came the change that brought peaceful days,
News of our Saviour, learning his ways,
Darkness is fading out of our land,
We know the peace of His guiding hand.
What of the future? Soon we shall be,
Teachers and leaders of our country,
We’ll build our nation as God had planned,
Make this His country, make this His land.
Then shall our country be free and strong,
Homes will be filled with laughter and song,
Peace in our hearts and work for our hands,
Unite our nation with other lands,
Unite our nation with other lands.
We Are Free
Like the birds as they fly over high mountains,
Like the fish as they swim in the sea,
Like the clouds as they float in the clear blue sky,
We are free! We are free! We are free!
Like the songs of a bird at the break of day,
Like the wind in the leaves of a tree,
Like the waves as they break on a coral shore,
We are free! We are free! We are free!
Independence has come, now we all must work
To unite Papua New Guinea,
We shall build our new nation in peace and love,
We are free! We are free! We are free!
We are free! We are free! We are free!
Geoff Baskett can be contacted on email anu16734@bigpond.net.au or write to him at 27 Serene Circuit, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
Geoff Baskett can be contacted on email anu16734@bigpond.net.au or write to him at 27 Serene Circuit, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wildflowers of Simbu
+and+relative.jpg)
Edith Babul and her relative
Lina Giuka, Sasha Paru and Cathy Rex at the summit of Daulo Pass showing the way home to Lae
“Anyone for a flower lei,” says this little girl on Daulo Pass. The selling of floral lei made from everlasting flowers and ferns is a thriving business for the settlers along the road
An orchid specimen that is so breathtaking to look at on display in one of the stalls at the show
School children with innovative ideas … making caps from tree moss
The women behind the display at the PNGWiADF stall representing the Bubia Floriculture Group, Sasha Paru, Cathy Rex, Lina Giuka and Monica MaziBy BARBARA TOMI of National Agriculture Research Institute
The hills are alive … not with the sound of music but wildflowers.
The glorious bright colours lit up the dull and cloudy skies from the foothills of Kassam Pass as we entered the highlands of Papua New Guinea leaving behind the smoldering kunai grass and the smoke-covered plains of the Markham Valley.
The amass radiant colours along the Okuk Highway was a welcome contrast from what was just witnessed and delighted the occupants of the 25-seater Coaster bus as it weaved its way around bends, up and down countless hills and over fast-flowing rivers meandering down into the valleys unknown.
The passengers of the bus scanned the hills from side to side as they attempted to conjure up words to explain the view that sprang up before them even for a brief moment.
“Aiyo lukim dispela flaua ya (look at that flower),” one exclaimed, while another almost screamed, “lukim kainkain tanget stret, (see different kinds of Cordyline [tangets]).”
One would imagine that these were school children going on their first excursion to a national park and not women well advanced in age.
These passengers had keen eyes for flowers and were definitely on the lookout for the exotic high altitude species that could claim a central spot in their backyards if only they could get their hands on them.
Whether they would survive the hot and humid weather in Lae never came into contention.
The cool mountain air up Daulo Pass sent shivers through their bodies and for an instant their minds switched from floral displays to keeping warm as each one rummaged through their carry bags to grab a sweater.
After a quick stop at a watering hole for a taste of a cool and naturally-chilled mountain water the bus continued its journey down the last inch of the Daulo Pass and into the foreboding limestone-studded hillside of Simbu.
The late afternoon sun lit up Simbu’s mountainous limestone ranges and beckoned the weary passengers as their guide and driver known only as Kandre Man announced that “we are now entering Simbu and would soon be arriving at the capital, Kundiawa”.
The words of a song containing Simbu rocks sprang to mind as I tried unsuccessfully to remember the tune summed up the scenes that were unfolding.
With the limestone in the background, the thing that struck the visitors most was the abundant flora in brilliant shades of pink and red welcoming them.
Despite the bumpy ride on some sections of the Okuk Highway due to the continuous natural disasters that had hit the province in the recent past, the carefully-tended gardens of shrubs, the gallant pine trees swaying in the dust of the limestone settling on the branches and an array of Cordylines of different colours and leaf shapes was refreshing and set the scene to what would be a marvelous two days of mingling with flower lovers of Simbu and the interior of the Highlands for this group of women from Lae.
The group finally arrived at the Dickson Oval in Kundiawa after 5pm and was handed over to the organisers of the Simbu Plant Show as their tour guide and driver bid them farewell for the time being until Saturday for the return trip.
All the lovely scenes of the wildflowers were put on hold while the group settled themselves to the space allotted to them to plan their exhibition.
The groups were members of the Papua New Guinea Women in Agriculture Development Foundation involved in two agriculture sectors: horticulture and floriculture.
Horticulture was represented by fruit farmer Edith Babul from Munum and the floriculture segment was represented by the Bubia Floriculture Group of Lae, Morobe province.
The event that drew the group to Kundiawa was the Simbu Plant Show hosted by the local environmental conservation groups Sangamanga Culture Environmental Protection and Simbu Botany Club.
The event was to coincide with the World Environment Day on June 6, 2009.
The show, which spanned two days, was packed to a capacity crowd with various side shows to keep the crowd entertained.
On both days, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th June, invited guests spoke on the importance of plants to the environment and to humans and why conservation and environment protection is detrimental to the survival of both plants and humans.
One of the speakers stressed this importance on scientists’ prediction of El Nino-induced drought and floods in 2012 and its impact on the environment especially the drying of rivers like the Simbu River.
The school children were very much involved in the celebrations putting up displays of orchids, ferns and trees, processed spices, poems, drama and songs based on the World Environment Day and show theme: ‘Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change’.
Dignitaries outside the province such as the NCD Governor Powes Parkop and the greenest thumb of all Justin Tkatchenko arrived on the last day to put their seal of approval on the show and close the event on a high note.
When addressing the crowd and show committee, Mr Parkop said the large participation by schools, NGOs and community-based organisations, with the support of the Governor of Simbu Fr John Garia, Kundiawa – Gembog MP Joe Mek Teine and Gumine MP Lucas Dawa, indicated that Simbu was serious in addressing issues related to plants.
He said he was happy that this plant show would become an annual event. “Simbu has realised the importance of nature, that plants give life, oxygen, food, firewood, houses, in fact, nearly everything including money. So let’s look after nature,” Mr Parkop added.
For a province that is continually being affected by natural disasters, it is a small comfort to see the support it has received in terms of participation from groups inside and outside of the province in this most important event.
Perhaps the answers to some of the problems affecting the province are in some of the little things that people choose to overlook in the quest of making big changes in the name of development.
Sometimes the most profound/drastic change are in the little things we do and take for granted such as planting trees or flowers.
Our planet needs us now more than ever to combat climate changes which we humans have contributed to.
And in that rocky interior that is Simbu, you have challenged the fertile plains of Markham and Morobe province that gloriously-sparkling flowers do grow on rocks and limestone.
What we have seen will be preserved for a long time just like the everlasting flowers of Mt Wilhelm and Daulo Pass in full bloom.
The hills are alive … not with the sound of music but wildflowers.
The glorious bright colours lit up the dull and cloudy skies from the foothills of Kassam Pass as we entered the highlands of Papua New Guinea leaving behind the smoldering kunai grass and the smoke-covered plains of the Markham Valley.
The amass radiant colours along the Okuk Highway was a welcome contrast from what was just witnessed and delighted the occupants of the 25-seater Coaster bus as it weaved its way around bends, up and down countless hills and over fast-flowing rivers meandering down into the valleys unknown.
The passengers of the bus scanned the hills from side to side as they attempted to conjure up words to explain the view that sprang up before them even for a brief moment.
“Aiyo lukim dispela flaua ya (look at that flower),” one exclaimed, while another almost screamed, “lukim kainkain tanget stret, (see different kinds of Cordyline [tangets]).”
One would imagine that these were school children going on their first excursion to a national park and not women well advanced in age.
These passengers had keen eyes for flowers and were definitely on the lookout for the exotic high altitude species that could claim a central spot in their backyards if only they could get their hands on them.
Whether they would survive the hot and humid weather in Lae never came into contention.
The cool mountain air up Daulo Pass sent shivers through their bodies and for an instant their minds switched from floral displays to keeping warm as each one rummaged through their carry bags to grab a sweater.
After a quick stop at a watering hole for a taste of a cool and naturally-chilled mountain water the bus continued its journey down the last inch of the Daulo Pass and into the foreboding limestone-studded hillside of Simbu.
The late afternoon sun lit up Simbu’s mountainous limestone ranges and beckoned the weary passengers as their guide and driver known only as Kandre Man announced that “we are now entering Simbu and would soon be arriving at the capital, Kundiawa”.
The words of a song containing Simbu rocks sprang to mind as I tried unsuccessfully to remember the tune summed up the scenes that were unfolding.
With the limestone in the background, the thing that struck the visitors most was the abundant flora in brilliant shades of pink and red welcoming them.
Despite the bumpy ride on some sections of the Okuk Highway due to the continuous natural disasters that had hit the province in the recent past, the carefully-tended gardens of shrubs, the gallant pine trees swaying in the dust of the limestone settling on the branches and an array of Cordylines of different colours and leaf shapes was refreshing and set the scene to what would be a marvelous two days of mingling with flower lovers of Simbu and the interior of the Highlands for this group of women from Lae.
The group finally arrived at the Dickson Oval in Kundiawa after 5pm and was handed over to the organisers of the Simbu Plant Show as their tour guide and driver bid them farewell for the time being until Saturday for the return trip.
All the lovely scenes of the wildflowers were put on hold while the group settled themselves to the space allotted to them to plan their exhibition.
The groups were members of the Papua New Guinea Women in Agriculture Development Foundation involved in two agriculture sectors: horticulture and floriculture.
Horticulture was represented by fruit farmer Edith Babul from Munum and the floriculture segment was represented by the Bubia Floriculture Group of Lae, Morobe province.
The event that drew the group to Kundiawa was the Simbu Plant Show hosted by the local environmental conservation groups Sangamanga Culture Environmental Protection and Simbu Botany Club.
The event was to coincide with the World Environment Day on June 6, 2009.
The show, which spanned two days, was packed to a capacity crowd with various side shows to keep the crowd entertained.
On both days, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th June, invited guests spoke on the importance of plants to the environment and to humans and why conservation and environment protection is detrimental to the survival of both plants and humans.
One of the speakers stressed this importance on scientists’ prediction of El Nino-induced drought and floods in 2012 and its impact on the environment especially the drying of rivers like the Simbu River.
The school children were very much involved in the celebrations putting up displays of orchids, ferns and trees, processed spices, poems, drama and songs based on the World Environment Day and show theme: ‘Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change’.
Dignitaries outside the province such as the NCD Governor Powes Parkop and the greenest thumb of all Justin Tkatchenko arrived on the last day to put their seal of approval on the show and close the event on a high note.
When addressing the crowd and show committee, Mr Parkop said the large participation by schools, NGOs and community-based organisations, with the support of the Governor of Simbu Fr John Garia, Kundiawa – Gembog MP Joe Mek Teine and Gumine MP Lucas Dawa, indicated that Simbu was serious in addressing issues related to plants.
He said he was happy that this plant show would become an annual event. “Simbu has realised the importance of nature, that plants give life, oxygen, food, firewood, houses, in fact, nearly everything including money. So let’s look after nature,” Mr Parkop added.
For a province that is continually being affected by natural disasters, it is a small comfort to see the support it has received in terms of participation from groups inside and outside of the province in this most important event.
Perhaps the answers to some of the problems affecting the province are in some of the little things that people choose to overlook in the quest of making big changes in the name of development.
Sometimes the most profound/drastic change are in the little things we do and take for granted such as planting trees or flowers.
Our planet needs us now more than ever to combat climate changes which we humans have contributed to.
And in that rocky interior that is Simbu, you have challenged the fertile plains of Markham and Morobe province that gloriously-sparkling flowers do grow on rocks and limestone.
What we have seen will be preserved for a long time just like the everlasting flowers of Mt Wilhelm and Daulo Pass in full bloom.
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