A Port Moresby rhapsody

Luxury cruise liner Rhapsody of the Seas sailed into Port Moresby last Saturday with more than 2,000 tourists and berthed for 12 hours, allowing its passengers a taste of Papua New Guinea.
The visit marked a milestone for PNG tourism as it was the largest number of tourists to visit our shores at a single time.
More than 1,000 tourists disembarked and boarded about 60 hired buses for a tour of the city.
Other activities included a huge craft market staged within the wharf’s premises, organised by the Tourism Promotion Authority.
The cruise ship sailed in from Cairns, Australia, carrying with it tourists from all around the world who flew in to Australia for a cruise around the South Pacific.-Pictures courtesy of FRANK ASAELI of PNG Ports Corporation
 

Law on mining and Anderson's lies

By James Wanjik, Former Secretary for Mining

 

THE PATRIMONY the Chamber of Mines and Petroleum and its Executive Director and a co-foundation board member of a counterfeit regulator of mines in Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Greg Anderson had on mine-related issues in PNG are and will be increasingly questioned and challenged by leaders. No law and lies of Greg Anderson will stop the wind of change that is turning into a tornado.

Time was when law and lies of the miners and their Chamber were taken as gospel truth. No more.

While the current debate on Resource Ownership Bill before Parliament is in my considered view not properly and carefully stated, it is rather a matter for PNG leaders and the people of this country to decide whether a change in mineral policy and law is needed or not.

Greg Anderson is a foreigner meddler in a PNG people’s issue of their national heritage. None is more daring as his dangerous law and lies on the law on mineral ownership and regulation of mines.

I am known and either loved or loathed for my legal knowledge, experience and skills in mineral and hydrocarbon law, policy and practice in PNG.

Greg Anderson knows that. Had he and Graeme Hancock now at World Bank in Washington been dealing with other resources lawyers they would have silenced them with any number of inducements. One just has to look at MRA and its offshoot the new Department of Mineral Policy and Geological Hazard (DMPGH). The truth is out.

The mineral resource ownership issue is supposedly the responsibility of the new DMPGH to address but it is in a conflict of interest. Likewise, the matter of regulation is supposedly for the MRA to deal with. The influence Greg Anderson has in MRA and DMPGH and the moneys put in the MRA till and World Bank Loan for DMPGH put together by Graeme Hancock in late 2005 and early 2006 and put in MRA to avoid PNG’s procurement law tells of huge fraud and corruption in mining business.

Having an informed debate is an absolute necessity. PNG lawyers must take serious interest in mining law, policy and practice. Making money for pride and ego will not replace our way of life. Land, resources and people have symbiotic relationship since time immemorial. Blood bound them and land cemented them. Resources and their utilisation were for communal and tribal purposes and livelihood.

Greg Anderson comes from a culture of private and individual progress. It is a double for Mohammad Bashir and Greg Anderson to choose a worthless title; “Private resource ownership ‘bad’” and give a bad law and lies Anderson is known for.

I have a number of experiences Greg Anderson and Graeme Hancock have been involved in to undermine my assistance to the mining industry.

MRA is a bad law for PNG. I warned the Government and the Government listened to Greg Anderson and Graeme Hancock. I paid with position, pay and privileges.

I advised Graeme Hancock and Kuma Aua the then Secretary for Mining and now PNG’s Ambassador to South Korea in Seoul that Bougainville is different from other provinces that it has mining powers since 2001 Peace Agreement.

Instead of exempting Bougainville from the MRA law, Graeme Hancock, Greg Anderson and other co-advisers to the former Minister for Mining Sam Akoitai convinced him to present to the Cabinet and Parliament MRA Bill with 9 clauses and 15 issues on Panguna mine.

If I had not warned the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), MRA would have seen Bougainville walk right back to the Panguna mine-related crisis.

The ABG leaders confided in me that Akoitai had lied to them about me. On 10 December 2008 two village elders from Buin in South Bougainville met me on arrival in Buka airport car-park. They had come from Buin just to see who I was and to let me know that Akoitai had been to their area and used my name to be the President of Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Akoitai lost after the Buin people knew the truth.

In 2000 I had been appointed Acting Director for Mining at which time I was also heading an inter-agency team on a number of new policies. Among these the key ones were Offshore Minerals Policy, Mine Closure and Sustainability Planning Policy, Marine Scientific Research Consent Regime and Regional Maritime Boundaries Project Technical Group. The Marine Scientific Research Consent Regime was a success. The Maritime Boundaries Project is also a success.

The Offshore Minerals Policy and the Mine Closure and Sustainability Policy were hijacked by Graeme Hancock without notice. Offshore Minerals Policy was up to now delayed by Graeme Hancock. I approached the lawyers engaged by the World Bank. They said this would require huge work. It was revealed subsequently that the moneys for the work on the Offshore Minerals Policy were moved to other areas of World Bank operations. It is a mystery.

Mine Closure and Sustainability Planning Policy and the “Bill” for it was done. Politics of miners did not see it realised. Their view was one of undermining people of PNG. The view of the miners was PNG was not about end of mining at some point in time. Mine Closure Planning was a bad policy that would confuse people of PNG was the patronising position of the miners. As a Papua New Guinean driving this policy I knew that I was exposing one of the most important issues of under development that had eluded PNG for decades of mining.

I kept my professional integrity unlike other lawyers only because Graeme Hancock could not buy my nationalism and national pride. He knew this from the time of my transfer to the Department of Mining from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in March 1998.          

I was using my own private vehicle to and from work and for work runs and Graeme Hancock seeing other nationals’ vulnerability in similar situation as the one I was in tried his bait but I had been in a Senior Management position before that so I told him that I was not in a Senior Management position at the Department of Mining to be entitled to an official vehicle or an allowance in lieu.

Graeme Hancock told me that he could do it with ease. That was when Graeme Hancock knew that I had been using my own vehicle since 1992 to and from work and for work runs. During those years not once at any time have I asked or even been paid for use of my private vehicle for work.

In 2001 when I applied for the Director for Mining position I was the most qualified and experienced national among the applicants.

Graeme Hancock knew that I was the most feared professional. If I had won the position he would not have had the ease that he had from 2000 – late 2005 and first quarter of 2006.

In late December 2005 the lobby for the position of Secretary for Mining had intensified in Cabinet. Graeme Hancock had his hope in Kuma Aua dashed when the Cabinet knew of total incompetence in mineral regulation.

Graeme Hancock then tried his very best to get to Bougainville and into Panguna mine on a K 6 million Letter of Engagement. He would probably now know that I advised the Government not to proceed with the Letter of Engagement. Lot of leaders would have lost their integrity if I had not given the advice.

Akoitai did not know that I had landed the Secretary for Mining on 8 December 2005. He was not interested in the Department of Mining by then.

Akoitai was arrogant and egoistic so much so he allowed Graeme Hancock who was a master at manipulating laws, leaders and public servants to manipulate and control him. So Akoitai got Speaker of Parliament to certify the MRA Act 2005 on 23 December 2005.

After the Prime Minister had resumed duties Akoitai advised the Head of State to commence operation of the MRA Act 2005 on 24 January 2006 backdated to be effective on 1 January 2006. This the Minister for Mining had no power to do. It was a fraud on Prime Minister’s powers. Fraud is a legal ground to void the MRA.   

Prior to my appointment as Secretary for Mining I warned the Government to remove Kuma Aua as Secretary and Graeme Hancock as his adviser. Kuma Aua had no support from the Government. Graeme Hancock was now powerless. When I became Secretary for Mining I gave him notice under his consultancy contract that he should be preparing to leave as I as the Supervisor of the World Bank Loan at the Mines Department would not be recommending renewal of his contract. Graeme Hancock left in a most humiliating way five days prior to expiry and without a project closure report. Auditor General’s Office and their contracting auditors tried in vain to have me release Graeme Hancock from legal and financial implications on his project management of the World Bank Loan at the Department of Mining. Any thorough audit will show that I nailed Graeme Hancock at his game.

Now Graeme Hancock will regret influencing Nellie James, Philip Samar, Shadrach Himata, Ron Gawi, Janet Amean, Stevie Nion and Valentine Kambori and Joshua Kalinoe for removing me in December 2006 and the subsequent smothering of the Department of Mining in 2007. Politics of MRA has only been in the simmers. It will reach boiling point very very soon. When it does the MRA will blame the moles of World Bank and the moles will expose Graeme Hancock for manipulating and controlling them.

Waiting on God paid off. We won gold medal.

 

Papua New Guinea thrashes Tonga

Papua New Guinea gave a rugby league lesson to Tonga with a 44-14 thrashing in their SP Brewery Pacific Cup rugby league game at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
The Kumuls will face the Cook Islands in next Sunday's Pacific Cup final and will be confident of winning through to next year's Four Nations in front of a vocal home crowd.
Led capably by their UK-based contingent of Menzie Yere, Jason Chan and John Wilshere, the Kumuls held a 20-4 halftime lead and racked up another 24 points after the break.
The sheer class of PNG showed all over the paddock through the UK trio, fullback David Mead, halves Dion Aye and Keith Peter, props Rodney Pora and James Nightingale, hooker Jay Aston, backrowers Chan and Siegfried Gande, and lock Jessie Joe Parker,
Tonga struggled to hold their defensive line in the Port Moresby heat and was unable to create any real penetration, despite the best efforts of captain Seleti Mateo.
The local boys, with a patriotic home crowd behind them, opened up their account just five minutes in the game when the stylish Yere, later named man-of-the-match, raced over for a centre try goaled by Wilshere for a 6-0 lead.
The Mate Ma’s replied with a 12th minute touchdown to centre Sione Tonga, the first of his hat-trick, but it was all one-way traffic after that as the Kumuls piled on tries through Chan (20min), centre Anton Kui (27min) and David Mead (39min).
The avalanche continued in the second half as PNG added further tries to replacement backliner Jessie Joe Parker (42min), Mead (50min), Yere (64min) and replacement backliner Charlie Wabo (67min), all goaled by Wilshere, for an unassailable 44-4 lead.
Wabo was a crowd pleaser when he entered the field and had the crowd cheering every time he had the ball.
The Kumuls looked set the pass the half-century, however, slowed down in the last 11 minutes to allow Tonga, one of the hardest tries for his country, to run in tries in the 69th and 78th minutes.
PNG 44 (Yere 2, Mead 2, Yere, Chan, Kui, Mead, Wabao tries; Wilshere 4 goals) bt Tonga 14 (Tonga 3 tries; Eddy Paea goal). Scrums: Tonga 7-5. Penalties: PNG 5-4.

A tribute to Jack Remus Nawatz (September 9th 1983 - October 25th 2004)

Caption: Jack and the gang on the weekend of Morobe Show 2002

We buried Jack at home in Butibam village, Lae, on Tuesday, November 2, 2004, under one of those typically-beautiful November afternoons.

He had just turned 21 that September, had a pretty Manus girlfriend and a bouncy seven-month son, and was eagerly looking forward to graduating from the University of Goroka in 2005 and becoming a music teacher.

All these hopes and dreams, however, were cruelly snuffed out like a candle in the wind when Jack’s heart gave way at the Port Moresby General Hospital on the night on Monday, October 25, 2004.

Jack Remus Nawatz, elder son of my sister Alison and her husband Goromp Nawatz, was born with a heart defect in Lae on September 9, 1983.

It was something that doctors hoped would go away over time; however, this was not to be.

Alison and Goromp were then studying at the University of Technology in Lae and I remember the unparalleled joy that Jack brought into our lives.

Since the two were busy at school, Jack’s grandparents – my mum and dad – looked after Jack as one of their own.

I remember that time in November 1983 when Jack was to be baptised at the Ampo Lutheran Church in Lae.

My elder brother David, who had just graduated a day earlier from Aiyura National High School, sacrificed graduation parties to be with us for the day.

We were all at Ampo Church on Tuesday November 2^nd, 2004 – exactly 21 years later - for Jack’s funeral service.

It was David who read the eulogy – a far cry from 1983.

There is a picture somewhere in one of my old albums, of David and me carrying Jack the day of his baptism in 1983.

We carried his coffin that day.

Despite his short life on this earth, Jack brought so much joy and happiness into our lives.

He was never a strong child, because of his heart defect, and wasn’t actively involved in sports like many of his peers.

He would have made a very good basketball player – all six feet, four inches of him.

Jack, however, found his forte: music.

A very talented musician (Jack could play a variety of musical instruments) since his primary and high school days in Lae, Jack decided that this is what he must study.

In 2002, he went to the UOG, to take up his first year of studies.

I was then living and working in Goroka, with my wife and two sons, and Jack became very much a part of our young family.

Unfortunately, we had to leave Goroka in mid 2002 because my three-year work contract was up, and we left Jack behind.

He remained, and together with some of his best mates, formed a band that often performed at the University of Goroka.

I never realised how good a musician he was until last year, when I was up there for a weekend, I got to watch him play at a concert.

There couldn’t have been a prouder uncle!

In 2004, because his Manus girlfriend Evelyn was pregnant with their son Steven, the young couple was ejected from permanent accommodation by the seemingly-draconian University of Goroka administration.

They rented a backyard shed, down the hill from the university, and continued to look after their newborn baby while going to school.

Jack, with his weak heart, continued to trudge up the steep hill leading to the UOG – something that often made him sick.

In 2004, while in Goroka for the PNG Coffee Festival & Trade Fair, I fell very sick and was admitted to Goroka Base Hospital.

It was kind-hearted Jack and his UOG mates who looked after me.

I promised them drinks at the end of the year – this will never be now.

In September 2004, Jack turned 21.

In October, he came to Port Moresby after final exams, and started complaining of chest pains and shortage of breath.

He was admitted to hospital, with a smile on his face for all family and friends who visited.

He was discharged, however, fell ill again was readmitted to hospital where the heart problem which had plagued him all his life finally claimed him.

I took a picture of Jack and his son Steven in Goroka in May 2004.

I took a look at the picture and was reminded of the Lion King, where Musfasa showed his son Simba the world, and said: “You are part of the never-ending circle of life.”

Au revoir Jack!

Papua New Guinea thrashes Tonga 44-14 in Pacific Cup rugby league

Papua New Guinea has just thrashed Tonga 44-14 in their SP Brewery Pacific Cup rugby league game at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby today.
Full details to come.

Cook Islands late try sinks Fiji

A sensational corner try two minutes from time elevated Cook Islands to a thrilling 24-22 win over Fiji in their SP Brewery Pacific Cup rugby league game at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
Vocal, flag-waving Fiji supporters were singing a dirge for Cook Islands when winger Dominic Peyroux smartly latched on to a well-placed kick from pivot John Ford to score the winner.
Fiji was leading 22-20 at that stage with the game seemingly won when it was grabbed from them by Peyroux with the dexterity and precision of a ballet dancer.
The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, however, the game was in their bag as the Cook Islanders took off their jumpers and entertained an appreciative crowd with song and dance.
Cooks Islands led for most of the match, however, the never say die Fijians fought back to level the scores 20-20 with a 73rd minute try to centre Mike Ratu, goaled by pivot Wes Naiqama, to set the stage for a thrilling finish.
After shocking Samoa in Cairns last weekend, Cook Islands came in with all guns blazing and with tries to forward Tinirau Arona and halfback Daniel Fepuleai, the first of which was goaled by Fepuleaia, strolled to an early 10-0 lead.
An initially disorganised Fiji got its act together midway into the first half with consecutive tries to winger Akuila Vate and backrower Lepa Naga, the second goaled by Naiqama, to level 10-10 at the break.
A domineering Cook Islands opened up the second stanza with a goal to Fepuleai in the 44th minute followed by tries to Peyroux (49min) and Fepuleai for a 20-10 lead before Fiji stepped on the high gear.
Tries to winger Vate (67min) and Ratu (73min), both goaled by Naiqama, including the second from the corner, saw Fiji in front for the first time and the game looking as good as won.
Singing Fiji supporters were suddenly quite when Peyroux leaped into the air for the winner.
Cook Islands 24 (Peyroux 2, Fepeleai 2, Arona tries; Fepuleai 2 goals) bt Fiji 22 (Vate 2, Naga, Ratu tries; Naiqama 3 goals). Scrums: Cook Islands 9-8. Penalties: Fiji 3-1.

Cook Islands bt Fiji 24-22 in Pacific Cup rugby league

Cook Islands yesterday took out the first game of the SP Brewery Pacific Cup rugby league in Port Moresby with a nailbiting 24-22 win over Fiji.
Full story and pictures to come.
Papua New Guinea plays Tonga today.