Work set to start at Sepik Central Campus

By UNRE Public Relations

EDUCATED Papua New Guineans must take the lead in ensuring that basic and essential services reach their fellow countrymen and women.

PNG University of Natural Resources & Environment (UNRE) Vice Chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru said this last Friday at the signing of three agreements related to construction work at the former Sepik Agricultural College in Maprik, East Sepik province.

“The Somare-Temu government has time and again proclaimed service delivery to the people,” he said.

“Time and again the beauracracy has not delivered.

“We the educated masses must deliver the service.”

Prof Siaguru said while it was the government’s desire for basic services to reach people, many a times this did not happen and urged those involved with projects undertaken by the university to deliver.

Three contractors signed agreements with UNRE: AP Engineering, the principal contractor will construct new classrooms, dormitories, houses and other buildings; Kemkai Investments Ltd will provide on-site supervision while Island Security Services will provide security back-up.

KCA Associates, who will undertake land demarcation work, are yet to sign their contract.

“The signing today marks a significant historical event for Maprik district and the nation as a whole because another natural resource management facility offering higher education training is being built,” Prof Siaguru said.

“We must all work together as a team of people committed to this nation and this government’s desire to deliver much-needed service to the rural people.”

Phase one of the “Jump-Start Plan” for Sepik Central Campus is set to begin, following this formality. It involves the construction of an administration block, four high-cost houses, student dormitories, messing facilities, clinic, laboratory, a communal Christian centre and sporting facilities.

Other tasks include re-establishment of electricity, water and communication; and appointment of a campus director and station manager.

Prof Siaguru acknowledged that the commencement of the project was made possible by Commerce & Industry Minister and Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, who facilitated the first- phase funding of K5.6million.

He said it was the government’s desire through Minister Kapris that the nation gained another higher education facility and urged everyone present at the ceremony to work in collaboration with each other to ensure that it was the people of PNG that benefited.

Prof Siaguru added that it was in the best interest of the project if differences and misunderstandings were resolved outside of court.

University registrar Henry Gioven agreed that going to court was not the way to go.

“All players in this development are professional adults,” he said.

“We must not forget that the true achievers in this are the communities and people of Papua New Guinea.” he said.

All three contractors expressed total support for the project and said that the bulk of their general workforce would be recruited from the surrounding communities so that they would take ownership of the campus development and expansion through active participation.

More comments on this blog

By ROB AGEN in North Yorkshire, England

"Hey Malum, brata long taim no speak - great to see you in Facebook.
Toksave, your blog (http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/) is excellent!
Arguably the best blog transmitting events and news in PNG to the rest of the world.
From time to time I would get into your blog to read about news from back home.
Recently I was searching all over the web for the Kumuls v Cook Islands final outcome, and lo behold you were the first person to carry the news (plus photos) in your blog!!!!
Brilliant stuff mate - keep up the good work wantok.
Take care."

Comment about this blog

By REG RENAGI

Having browsed through several PNG web & blog sites & while I enjoy all of them, I rate Malum Nalu's website (or blog site?) as one top interesting place to visit.
It stands out from the others with its variety of human-interest stories. I read a few daily & come back to read some more a few days later, or even once a week.
Malum's blog will only improve over time as many readers post their comments. From reader's feedback, no doubt the webmaster will refine it more by frequently having fresh reader-friendly items posted.
It's a great place to find out more about the many different aspects of our beautiful country, PNG. I have told friends overseas to check Malum's site out if they want to learn more about my beautiful country.
Keep up the good work Malum.

Reginald Renagi
Port Moresby

War museum becomes popular

An impromptu war museum at the site of what used to be Schwimmer Drome at Laloki, on the banks of the great river of the same name, is becoming a must-visit for tourists to Port Moresby.
The museum is run by Thomas Richard Auhava, from Iokea in the Gulf province, without any assistance from organisations such as the National Museum and Art Gallery as well as the Tourism Promotion Authority.
Ironically, last month, when visiting tourist cruise ship Rhapsody of the Sea visited Port Moresby, tourists who were turned away from the NMAG ended up visiting Mr Auhava’s ad hoc museum (pictures above, by Eco Tourism Melanesia).
Mr Auhava has, over the years, been collecting numerous war relics in and around the site of the old Schwimmer Drome in a labour-of-love.
He is fighting a lonely battle against scrap metal hunters and dealers, who without any scruples do anything to get an extra buck.
He has brought a proposal to the NMAG in Waigani, Port Moresby, for funding to set up a proper museum, as well as the TPA, but to no avail,
Mr Auhava has been living at Laloki for the last 20 years and knows every nook and cranny in the area.
“Over the years,” says the former PNG Defence Force soldier, “I’ve been collecting these war relics and I’ve been featured in newspapers.
“Because of this media publicity, tourists started visiting, and I’ve decided to start a proper museum.”
The war relics include human bones, helmets, dog tags, tools, hand grenades (defused), bombshells, bullets, coins, jerry cans, 1940’s Coca-Cola bottles and assorted paraphernalia.
One of the prized possessions of the collection is the remains of the plane of Australian air ace, John Jackson, after whom Port Moresby’s famous Jackson’s International Airport is named.
Jackson crashed on the hills overlooking Laloki after a heroic dogfight against Japanese fighters.
“History is very important,” Mr Auhava extols.
“This generation, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to know anything about the war.
“Historical sites like Schwimmers should be preserved for educational purposes, tourism, etc.
“These relics should be preserved and protected.
“Scrap metal vendors are getting their hands on these war relics.
“If we lose these war relics, we lose history.
“People are just taking them out and selling them to scrap metal dealers.
“I decided to bring them all to one place and take care of them.
“After that, I began to find out about the place itself, its history.
“I borrowed some WW11 books from a historian and did research.
“I realised that it (Schwimmers) was a WW11 US airbase.”

The amazing cucumber

Cucumbers to the rescue!!!

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinate soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours./

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!! Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems...

Anatomy of politics of Sepik

By James Wanjik, Fellow Sepik of Wosera, PNG

SEPIK covers East and West in the North West of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Known business centres are Wewak, Vanimo, Maprik, Aitape, Angoram, Ambunti, Lumi and Nuku. There are number of districts without physical or functional business centres.

PNG is now 34 years old as a nation. Many areas are progressing well even at a small scale. The Sepik is still powerless and helpless.

Toll on people is attributed to stuff up of our leaders. Leaders are working for their popularity more than they are for people and their needs.

No Sepik leader has ever got leaders of the Sepik Provinces to work together. Somare and Pangu Pati tried in the 1970s and the 1980s with some success. Parties which made inroads were United Pati, People’s Democratic Movement, Melanesian Alliance, and most recently People’s National Congress, People’s Action Party and National Alliance.

District that saved the Sepik from the law of ‘group think’ is Wosera Gawi. Though there were incidences of departure from the ‘group think’ in other districts Wosera Gawi made the break since 1985. Wosera Gawi has experience it must share with other districts.

The wall that politics of divide and rule put up since PNG’s independence on 16 September 1975 has been exposed. Very law of ‘group think’ is not a criterion for leadership in Wosera Gawi any more.

Landing the prize for carrying and scurrying for leader and father of the nation Wosera people in particular will share experience. Domestic issues in home province of leader will lead leaders to see how greedy Sepik leaders were.

Lot of leaders are lost and confused because they are ‘group think’ mindset.

Knowing leader and using sudden and abrupt power and arrogance of leadership leaders think that they have power. Arrogance is not a criterion for true leadership. It contrasts with humility as virtue.

Leader claiming to be god is landing credence to new leadership in the horizon.

People of Sepik will have new leaders in 2012. These leaders will work together for Sepik and PNG people.

Now people are restless. They are living in fear and anxiety. Leader of today has made the people feel powerless and hopeless without this leader. Such is the result of ‘group think’.

So we see rushing, pushing and shoving of projects in the two Sepik Provinces in the twilight years of the leader.

National Alliance Government is weak without Somare. This is evident in no heir apparent.

The danger for the people of Sepik is to follow their leaders to think that another National Alliance Government will arise. It’s time had expired.

Desperation tactics we have seen. It will get worse. Leaders want power for selfish ends. Our people must be aware of same old tactics.

In 2012 people of Sepik will share their experience with people of PNG.

Long live PNG.

Leader and great leader

By JAMES WANJIK

I am a keen follower of leadership debates and discussions in Papua New Guinea and do hope and pray that leaders will rise to great leaders.

In the last few months a deputy leader of a political party got deposed by a Court of Disputed Return for election fraud committed by election officials.

Now the same leader is duped as a great leader. Then a comparison is made with other past leaders of a region.

However, no criteria are set out for any meaningful comparison.

I have assisted the people of Wosera in East Sepik Province to look at quality leadership.

Here are 10 criteria for determining great leader.

1. Visionary

To be able to see into the future where and what Wosera people would be.

2. Charisma

To be able to draw Wosera people to the vision.

3. Servant hood

To be of service to the Wosera people.

4. Trustworthy

To lead with word and action.

5. Humble

To walk humbly with God and lovingly serve Wosera people.

6. Knowledgeable in government and politics of development

For removing obstacles know workings of government and policies and programs of government.

7. Wisdom of value-based leadership

Christian values and noble customs well understood and made part of life.

8. Noticeable role model

Inspire and enlist Wosera people to serve people.

9. Power of speech and word of wisdom

Oratory and wise use of language that captivates and motivates people for service.

10. People-centred development leader

Promoter of people as source, means, and end of development.

People have their own criteria.

Politics of popularity is not a criterion for a great leader. Model leader of all great leaders is Jesus Christ. He had lot of faith in His Father God and His greatness came from God. Great leaders are servants of their people.

Unfortunately PNG leaders are too egoistic. It is not a characteristic of leadership greatness.