Kalibobo Spirit is shipshape for 2010

Popular Madang-based tourism vessel mv Kalibobo Spirit  has undergone annual survey at Norship Shipyard in Cairns, Australia,  according to owner Sir Peter Barter.

“The ship returned to PNG on Christmas Eve after it had a complete paint job undertaken by the shipyard and night vision and infa-red camera was installed to improve safety on the Sepik River,” Sir Peter said today.

Kalibobo Spirit provides the perfect way to see the coastal ports, islands and Sepik River in Papua New Guinea.

The 30m vessel was built in Picton, New Zealand,   and is owned and operated by Sir Peter’s Melanesian Tourist Services based in Madang.

The ship is fully-stabilised, carries the latest navigation equipment including sonar and provide luxurious accommodation for up to 16 guests in four queen, three singles and a state room, all with ensuites, air conditioning, television and telephone.

 There is a dining room, lounge, cocktail bar and three covered decks to observe and relax.

Facilities aboard the vessel include two zodiac tenders, a fast aluminium river boat that can carry 20 passengers at 50mph along the Sepik and tributaries and on selected cruises a helicopter.

 The ship is equipped with a dive shop which enables guests to dive some of the most-pristine waters in the world.

Whilst the Kalibobo Spirit is primarily for charter, several cruises to the Sepik are scheduled.

Since the Kalibobo Spirit arrived it has had cruises throughout the Bismarck Sea including Manus, New Ireland, Rabaul, West New Britain, Siassi, Madang, Port Moresby, Milne Bay and to the Sepik River.

For more information, call MTS on (675) 852 2766 or e-mail mtsoperations@mtspng.com  

 

 

IPA Haus nears completion along Lawes Road, Port Moresby

View of IPA Haus at the bottom of Lawes Road.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Workmen at IPA Haus on Sunday

View from Lawes Road of IPA Haus

Crane at work at IPA Haus on Sunday

Work on Nasfund’s IPA Haus along Lawes Road, Port Moresby, is progressing well with work expected to be completed by Jan 31, 2010.

I visited the project site on Sunday and saw workmen hard at work to meet the Jan 31 deadline.

IPA Haus, which is 100% owned by Nasfund, has a total area of 2, 792 sq m.

At the back of IPA Haus is another 100% Nasfund-owned property, ‘The Factory’, with a total of 6, 156 sq m, which is expected to be completed by Mar 10, 2010.

The construction of IPA Haus and ‘The Factory’ is part of Nasfund’s ‘Archipelago Project’, which began in the concept stage in 2006-2007.

The project was designed around building an ‘arc’ of construction projects at the 2km edge of Port Moresby Town, which would capitalise on the highway access, marine facilities and harbour view access.

Building boom to create surplus commercial space, more empty rooms

Nambawan Super commercial development in down town Port Moresby.Pictures by MALUM NALU

Port Moresby and PNG’s tallest building Deloitte Tower…challenged by increasing commercial spaces

Steamships’ commercial property development in Gordon, along the Poreporena Freeway

Steamships’ commercial development in down town Port Moresby

Nambawan Super commercial development in down town Port Moresby

Nasfund has warned of more commercial vacant spaces in light of the current building and construction boom all over Port Moresby.

Joint chief executive officer Rod Mitchell says commercial vacant spaces will grow in 2010 and peak in 2013-2014.

“In early 2009, in the Nasfund newsletter, we stated that ‘Clearly the freeing up of office space in Town, expected early 2010 will signal the beginning of rent stabilisation’,” he said.

“This was stated on the basis that with Harbour City and surrounding Konedobu coming on line, space would naturally free up in town.

“While we do not believe that we will see a dearth of vacant space in town over 2010, we nevertheless are starting to see vacancies in commercial space in Port Moresby.

“This we believe will grow through 2010 and with peak vacancy appearing sometime in 2013-2014.

“The three to five year prognosis for commercial space is increasingly flashing warning signals if all commercial constructions planned to commence over 2010 eventuate.”

Mr Mitchell said there were a number of reasons for raising the alarm bell on commercial construction.

“A number of alternative commercial buildings within close proximity in Gordon’s, Waigani drive and Hohola are now physically underway or near completion,” he said.

“Steamships are building 6,000 sq m in Gordon, there are two three-storey walk-ups in Hohola approximating 3,000 sq m and 4,000 sq m of quality commercial space is being built next to the Westpac building in Waigani drive: The combined space is the equivalent of one Deloitte Tower.

“The Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group is powering perhaps the largest long-term retail and commercial development ever seen in PNG – Vision City.

“Taking away the soon-to-be-completed 33,000 sq m ‘Mega Mall’, the commercial element planned over the coming decade is extraordinary with a further 60,000 sq m of office space planned at Vision City, Waigani.

“This will be the equivalent of four times the current commercial space offered at Deloitte Tower!

“In 2010, Nasfund will commence a further 4,600 sq m in town on two sites and Steamships are planning 8,000 -10,000 commercial on the waterfront: Effectively combined, yet another Deloitte Tower in size.

“A further 4,000 sq m in Hunter St will be commissioned in April 2010.

“Uniting Church House, a brilliantly-renovated 2,000 sq m office complex will be commissioned in January – February 2010.

“Harbour City will shortly see a 4,000 sq m commercial development plus three apartments adjacent to the ANZ building commence by a private consortium with two anchor tenants line up (the implication is that they are being cannibalised from an existing building).

“Finally there is a three-storey walk up approved by Physical Planning for POSF at Two-Mile as their new head office (3,000 existing sq m to be freed up at Era Rumana) and 8,000 sq m planned by CHM in Waigani.

Mr Mitchell said with a large amount of commercial space becoming available over 2010-2012, it was hard to see how demand would meet the oversupply.

“However, it will not be until 2013-2014 that we will witness crunch time,” he added.

“That is when it is expected that Exxon will complete its own head office building of 10,000 sq m and vacate exiting temporary to medium-term accommodation already acquired for the LNG start-up.

“In the absence of another major resource project, vacancy rates will most likely increase substantially from 2013.

“The other factor which has to now be considered is the costs of construction which we believe will face strong upward pressure over the next few years.

“The reasons for this are:

• The LNG project will change the face of skilled labour in PNG. In previous discussions on Nasfund’s residential housing construction at Eight – Nine Mile we talked of a very small but emerging middle class. The LNG project we believe will re-rate PNG skilled labour dramatically with demand for local skills (both trades and professional) propelling hourly rates significantly higher. This will lift a whole new group into what we could describe as ‘aspiring middle class’. The re-rating of labour will mean significantly higher costs to business, higher costs of construction as well as bottlenecks within the economy due to skill shortages. The positive outcome however will be a more visible middle class which tends to drive both greater economic diversity as well as social reform including greater demands on elected officials.
• The increased demand for construction materials will also lead to higher prices over the coming few years exacerbated by the easing of the global economic crisis. Imported construction goods will in the absence of an appreciating local exchange rate be expected to increase as world demand picks up; and
• Finally, inflation and expected higher interest rates will also begin to cause on the margin investment plans to falter or completion costs to rise above budget. In the expected soft demand for commercial space combined with higher completion cost for commercial buildings, we will see a fairly difficult period ahead and certainly a case of lowered expectations than the current display of exuberance by market participants.”

Brighter outlook for quality residential in Port Moresby

Signboard at Harbour City

Work on the ‘The Edge’, Harbour City, on Sunday.Pictures by MALUM NALU

‘The Edge’ with Ravalien Haus in the background

Another view of work on ‘The Edge’

Nasfund has recently committed with Curtain brothers to the biggest apartment construction in Papua New Guinea history.

Based on a 70-30% split, 63 luxury apartments will be constructed at Harbour City next to Sol Wara Apartments owned by Nasfund.

Known as “The Edge”, these apartments will butt the sea, looking straight down Fairfax Harbour and the Yacht Club.

The complex will rise six stories (one more floor than adjoining Sol Wara apartments) and is designed in conjunction with the recent constructions along the archipelago.

“That is, Nasfund has ensured that the development fits within the scale of the landscape,” according to Nasfund joint chief executive officer Rod Mitchell.

“We were very conscious that Harbour City displays a modern yet understated feel: - that instead of breaking the landscape, the buildings merge within the landscape.

“Our aim is to turn Harbour City into a showcase of modern subtlety that lifts the image of Port Moresby and demonstrates the growing sense of a confident nation.

“We are very fortunate that Curtain Brothers share these values as we build a legacy for the 21^st Century.”

The land site covers 6,914 sq m.

At K2, 000 per sq m, the land cost is just under K13.8 million.

The gross floor area covered by the 20 x 2 bedroom apartments and 43 x 3 bedroom apartments including balconies is 14,355 sq m with ground level under cover parking for 126 vehicles taking up a further 2,085 sq m.

Total cost of construction will be K7-8, 000 per sq m with an anticipated yield of 12%.

Construction time is expected to be 24 months with a completion date of March 2012.

Mr Mitchell said demand for premier accommodation remained high in Port Moresby with aid agencies, diplomatic missions and senior executives chasing a shortage of upmarket quality apartments.

“Nasfund has taken the view that the complex will be taken up quickly, either by large multinational companies, embassy staff, or aid agencies,” he said.

“If Nasfund fails to secure large immediate tenants, we will aim to entice existing tenants from upmarket locations currently on Touaguba Hill and adjoining Paga Hill down to the water’s edge.

“Research suggests that a new residential complex tends to attract people from existing older complexes looking for an upgrade.

“Add the fact that ‘The Edge’ will sit on the water’s edge over looking the Yacht Club, Fairfax Harbour and 100m walking distance to SVS Foodland, we believe ‘The Edge’ will become the most-desirable address in the country.

“Rental prices remain tight at the upper end.

“High covenant accommodation going for K3, 500 – K4, 000 per week a year ago is now ranging from K5, 000 to K6, 000 per week.

“This trend should continue for the next few years until increased supply comes closer to meeting demand.

“2010, however, will be a year of shock to many tenants, as rental renewals at the upper end will increase by up to 20%.”

Datec signs partnership with Apple, bringing Apple officially to Papua New Guinea

The MacBook Pro, the high performance notebook for everyone

The new iMac, the ultimate all-in-one

The iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPod Nano. Music for all

Datec PNG is pleased to announce an increase in its portfolio of world-class professional and personal technology by bringing Apple technology and support to the Papua New Guinea market.
Today, Apple leads the computing industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications.
Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players.
The range of products now available within PNG, courtesy of Datec, includes the ‘ultimate all in one’ desktop computer on the market today – Apple’s new iMac.
The full range of MacBook and MacBook Pro Laptops are now in PNG, that suit everything situation ranging from home life, student life and work life.
A range of Apple Accessories will now be available in-store to complement your Apple Technology.
MS office 2008 for Mac for every occasion whether work, school or home, gives you tools that help simplify your life.
With Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, you can manage projects, collaborate with others and create dynamic documents and presentations simply and easily.
iPod family range – Which iPod are you? From the shuffle, the worlds smallest and most wearable music player comes in new colours and tells you which song is playing, through to the latest iPod Touch, with up to 64Gb of storage, for your games, movies, music and so much more.
If you like the sound of “no-fuss, no downtime, easy wireless, no viruses, everything-just-works… “ then welcome to the benefits of owning a Mac.
Expected early in 2010, Datec will be certified as the only Apple Authorised Service Centre in PNG.
To find out more about Apple, then visit Datec’s new Megastore, opening 21st January 2010, the Lae retail showroom or contact sales@datec.com.pg.

New Papua New Guinea Defence Force Commander has a big task ahead

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

The PNG Defence Force has a new Commander and General.  He is infantry Colonel Francis Agwi and former Chief of Defence Intelligence who replaces Commodore Peter Ilau after two tours of duty (2001 – 2009).

While Prime Minister Somare and his big entourage were attending the Copenhagen climate change conference, the National Executive Council (NEC) promoted and appointed a new Defence commander.  The new command changes comes just four days before Christmas and twelve weeks after the tour of duty of Commodore Peter Ilau expired on October 12, 2009.  Since then, the Commodore has been on an acting capacity until Monday 21st December 2009. 

In addition, cabinet also appointed another senior infantry officer as the Chief of Staff to the Force commander.  He is Colonel Tokam Kanene who is presently the Defence Advisor within the PNG High Commission in Djakarta, Indonesia.  Colonel Kanene comes from the Simbu (formerly pronounced ‘Chimbu’) province in the highlands.   This is the first time since Independence the PNGDF has had a Commander and Chief of Staff from the Sepik and Highlands region respectively. 

The recent changes saw the former Commander and Chief of Staff (both from the Maritime Element) being replaced by two infantry officers from the Land Element (Army).   Already there are rumours circulating within the Defence community on the criteria used by the NEC to make these new changes when other options were available to the Government.  

Former Commander Ilau was appointed as Defence Commander in October 2001 by a new Government in office under Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta.  The Commander was directed to cull the force manpower strength to 2,000, and de-mob the rest by December 2001 under a very controversial one-time reduction program. 

What followed was a total national debacle and disgrace to loyal servicemen who dedicated their whole life to their country’s military before and after Independence.  The whole political exercise was virtually an administrative nightmare for many long-serving servicemen and their families for over eight years.  To date, many servicemen have not received their full payout service entitlements to this day. 

Many complaints by ex-servicemen still stranded in the barracks and bases, and in the community are falling on deaf ears.  Many servicemen have passed on while still waiting to be paid leaving their immediate families destitute in the cities and towns.  These families need money to be properly repatriated to their provincial villages. 

The government seems oblivious to their plight.  Maybe the next government in 2012 will do something to resolve this situation.  Many more ex-servicemen will die while waiting.  The list of destitute ex-military families grows with many children dropping out of the education system to joining the unemployment ranks as military widows can not afford today’s high school fees.   These military families have been failed by the system.  Governments have done them a great disservice.    

As a result of the forced reduction of service personnel in 2001, all three PNGDF elements now comprise of hollow operational units.  This must now be fixed by the new PNGDF Commander.   

General Agwi will have an almost impossible job as he takes over a grossly-underfunded, undermanned and a demoralised force. 

These are most trying times for this once-proud national icon, as defence and national security seems to be not a top priority for the PNG government.  The present political regime has unfortunately shown its ignorance and apathy about improving PNG’s national security situation for a long time. 

Commander Agwi in his new role must see that some good basic changes be made to a force that needs a better deal.  The new commander will no doubt have his hands full to whip the present military into top shape and form.  This can be done if the new general resists the temptations of all predecessors not to take too many unnecessary ‘out-of-town’ overseas trips, and have a completely new no-nonsense command team to help him.

A new good command team is an absolutely must.  It will ensure the Commander’s intent and mission is not unduly compromised and carried out without fear or favor by fully committed, dedicated officers and subordinates.  This is the only way to make the PNGDF really work to the expectations of the people. 

Commander Agwi needs to put his job on the line by ensuring the PNGDF is not maintained as a mere ‘paper tiger”, but a true national force.  The PNGDF must now be made into a strong force.  To achieve his new defence mission, General Agwi must tell his government and the bureaucracy to ‘put up, or shut up’.  The Government has two choices: give the Defence Force what it needs now or scrap it. 

 

Papua New Guinea does not need the death penalty

By REGINALD RENAGI

The media recently raised the question of whether Papua New Guinea should implement the death penalty as capital punishment to deter serious crime. This follows a public outcry after a Highlands mother allegedly killed her children whilst in a depressed state of mind. Similar emotional reactions have previously been expressed by citizens whenever instances of brutal murder are committed.

For years, the government having already passed the law on imposing the death penalty on certain serious crimes has yet to execute a convicted criminal. The technical snag as it seems is it has not decided yet what the approved method of execution will be for the criminal.

Why the death penalty?

This writer opposes capital punishment in its different forms but let’s see why society should put our worst criminals to death by execution (capital punishment). Capital punishment is lawfully carrying out the death penalty as a punishment. Capital punishment by execution has been used in societies throughout history as a way to punish crime, and or suppress political dissent.

Execution effectively stops a killer from murdering again. There are many cases in which released, paroled, or escaped murderers have gone on to kill again, so by executing them; society ensures murderers do not kill again.

In most countries that practice capital punishment today, the death penalty is reserved as punishment for premeditated murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. Whilst other places carry the death penalty for sexual crimes, such as rape, adultery, incest and sodomy; including drug and human trafficking and serious cases of corruption, which carry the death penalty by execution (e.g. China).

Capital punishment may make us feel that dead criminals are no longer a threat to society, as they cannot commit any further crimes, either within prison or after escaping; or upon being released. Some people often defend capital punishment saying that society has a moral obligation to protect the safety of its citizens.

Moreover, capital punishment will bring about the greatest balance of good over evil. Thus, killing our worst criminals will benefit society because it may deter violent crime, although it is difficult to produce direct evidence to support this claim. Society may further assume that those who are deterred by the death penalty do not commit murders.

Capital punishment is also a form of “retribution”. Execution is an ultimate form of punishment than rehabilitative treatment, and is less costly. The criminal is made to suffer in proportion to the offence (or so we think). This writer disagrees with any form of retribution, but many people will still see it as an acceptable reason for the death penalty according to certain studies in more recent times.

Another strong argument used in favour of capital punishment is ‘deterrence’. The question whether the death penalty deters is hard to prove one way or the other. This is because the number of people actually executed each year (as compared to those sentenced to death) is usually a very small proportion in certain countries that carries out death penalties. To further qualify this, if one studies those countries which almost always carry out death sentences, there is far less serious crime (eg Singapore). This tends to indicate that the death penalty is a deterrent, but only where execution is a virtual certainty. This does convince me that the death penalty is much more likely to be a deterrent where the crime requires planning, and the potential criminal has time to think about the possible consequences. Where the crime is committed in the heat of the moment there is no likelihood that any punishment will act as a deterrent.

Death penalty is not a deterrent

The death penalty is not a deterrent as proven by studies based upon certain US states prove. In some countries, innocent people have been executed and there is no possible way to compensate them for any miscarriage of justice. Another significant but much less-realised danger here is the person convicted of the murder may have actually killed the victim and may even admit having done so, but does not agree that the killing was murder.

Another reason often overlooked is the pain, the innocent family and friends of criminals must go through in the time leading up to and during the execution. Waiting on death row will often cause them serious trauma for years afterwards.

However strongly one may support capital punishment, two wrongs do not make one right. One cannot and should not deny the suffering of the victim's family in a murder case but the suffering of the murderer's family is surely valid too. There must always be the concern that the state can administer the death penalty justly. Most countries have a very poor record on this.

Like ordinary people, even criminals are real people too who have the capacity to feel pain, fear and the loss of their loved ones, and all the other emotions that the rest of us are capable of feeling. It is easier to put this thought on one side when discussing the most awful multiple murderers but less so when discussing, say, an 18 year old girl convicted of drug trafficking. So if PNG MPs are still undecided all these years, then they should consider this: fourteen years ago, Singapore hanged two girls for this crime who were both only 18 at the time of their offences, and China shot an 18 year old girl for the same offence in 1998.

There is no such thing as a humane method of putting a person to death irrespective of what the state may claim. Every form of execution causes the prisoner suffering; some methods perhaps cause less than others. There may be a brutalising effect upon society by carrying out executions.

I believe it is wrong for the government to kill in order to teach people not to kill. In fact it probably promotes more murder than prevents, because it is telling society that it is alright. It is proven failure elsewhere because we have more murders and violence today than before the death penalty was reinstated back in some countries.

We also have more murders and violence in countries without capital punishment. Far from deterring murder, the continued existence of the death penalty makes people also believe the government is not doing anything at all about crime in general. Countries have been killing murderers for years and years but the murders still continue. This only proves that we cannot stop killing with more killing.

Conclusion

If the general conclusion is that capital punishment is desirable, then the first step toward restoration is for our government to present a fully thought out set of proposals that can be put to the people in a referendum. Here it must state precisely what offences should carry the death penalty, how it should be carried out, who will carry it out and what effect on crime is expected to follow from its introduction.

If such a referendum produced a clear yes vote, the government would have a genuine mandate to proceed upon and could claim the support of our people. After this, we should have another referendum 5 years later so that the effects of capital punishments in PNG can be reviewed and voted on again. A national referendum has the advantage of involving the public in the decision making process and raising awareness through the media all issues involved, and the arguments for and against any proposed changes.

Finally, I am also of the view that public opinion should not determine justice. Justice is not supposed to be up to public opinion. On a matter that is so centrally about justice, public opinion should play a minimal role. National hysteria can lead to unjust convictions and execution. In the US, the famous case of the Rosenburgs should remind us all that capital punishment must never be carried out in response to national hysteria.

PNG must not ever allow public opinion as it is a dangerous approach to capital punishment. A corrupt unpopular government trying to get public support could easily succumb to undue pressure and may execute an innocent person as has happened in some countries. In the final analysis, we have just three clear choices:

• Not to have the death penalty and continue to accept other serious crimes;
• Carry out punishment only for just the worst criminals as retribution to punish criminals for their terrible crimes; and
• The death penalty may be a deterrence to see a corresponding drop in serious crimes.

The government must study the results of a national referendum and ensure PNG has a just legal system to deter and reduce future levels of crime, whilst at the same time protect its citizens, society and state from dangerous criminals.

Reginald Renagi is a freelance writer