US Jazz Ambassadors conduct musical workshop

US Ambassador Teddy Taylor, Mrs Corbin-Taylor, Jazz Ambassadors Freddie Bryant, Gilad Dobrecky, expressive arts teachers and students of Gordons Secondary School

US Ambassador Teddy B Taylor and Mrs Antoinette Corbin-Taylor today visited the Gordons Secondary School to see visiting US musicians Freddie Bryant and Gilad Dobrecky conduct a musical workshop for the music students at Gordons Secondary School followed by a public performance for all staff and students.

The students learned about different musical styles, with Freddie playing three types of guitars and Gilad putting on a show with a myriad of percussion instruments.

The Gordons music students also taught the visiting musicians about traditional musical instruments of Papua New Guinea, which the students then used in a performance for their fellow students, accompanying Freddie and Gilad.

The performance was well-received by the students and administration of Gordons Secondary School, with the audience participating in several songs through both clapping in rhythm and singing along.

Everyone at the show, including the musicians themselves, had a wonderful time, and everyone enjoyed the cultural exchange and coordination of American Jazz, international rhythms, and Papua New Guinean accompaniment.

Freddie and Gilad are in Papua New Guinea this week conducting music workshops and performances with students in Port Moresby at Marianville Secondary School, Gordons Secondary School, Korobesea International School, and youths from the Eight-Mile Settlement.

They will also conduct a two-day music clinic at the University of Papua New Guinea and a public performance on Wednesday, Feb 10 at 3pm.

Freddie Bryant and Gilad Dobrecky were in Port Moresby last June and conducted several musical workshops and performances for students at Gerehu Secondary School, Kilkila Secondary School, POM Grammar School, UPNG, the Children’s University of Music and Art and the Community Partnership Art Education Programme in Eight-Mile.

Stop marine poaching by foreigners!

Papua New Guinea loses millions of kina worth of fish and other marine resources every year through illegal poaching by foreign fishing vessels. 

Despite numerous public complaints and media reports of illegal fishing activities in our waters, these illegal marine activities still continue.

 An effective response action is urgently needed before many fish stocks run out.  

We need immediate measures to deter illegal fishing by foreigners. What the country requires now is effective collective action from relevant agencies to safeguard our rich marine resources. 

Here are some improved solutions to this and we can do it several ways.  The government should start by having more surveillance crafts and at the same time, set up an effective national coast guard service to carry out effective resource protection all year around.  Maritime surveillance of our archipelagic waters out to 200 nautical miles EEZ can be greatly enhanced where vast distances are involved. 

First, we pre-position our naval ships in strategic locations.  Second, we can achieve good synergy by the use of aircrafts to augment overall surveillance coverage.  Third, we periodically home-port naval ships to operate out of key Maritime Provinces.  A future solution is for the government to also set up forward naval operations bases.  This will greatly improve our chances of catching foreign vessels found illegally fishing in our waters.  The advantage for forward operations bases will mean improve surveillance efforts, better fuel conservation for ships with much reduced response times and better coverage of distances involved. 

The Defense Ministry must plan to establish forward operations bases from strategic locations in Western, Milne Bay and New Guinea Islands and in northern waters towards the Western islands region of the Admiralty group.  Presently, the Manus patrol boat base and Port Moresby landing craft base somewhat limits surveillance coverage by our two maritime squadrons to respond effectively to their offshore tapestry protection duties.  Having strategic but smaller forward bases will see better results in the arrest of foreign fishing vessels due to improved surveillance coverage of our vast EEZ. 

Having extensive naval operational experience in our waters and the 200 miles EEZ for many years, I urgently recommend priority government intervention now.  We must immediately programme into our short to medium development strategies, the setting up of naval forward bases within the next five years.  I further propose forward bases at Bwagawaia Harbour on beautiful Misima Island for the eastern Papua region, and in Western province mainland with perhaps another in Pomio, Wide Bay area of the ENB province.  The big advantage here for our navy to effectively project its forward presence better in response to illegal marine activities.  The economy has really improved for some time now so we should be able to make some big improvements by acquiring additional surveillance platforms (ships and aircrafts), including other support assets. 

This is a big challenge for both the Ministry of Defence to ensure collective action by key agencies to safeguard PNG’s rich marine resources.  If we fail to do this now, than it won’t be long before our country’s marine resources will be completely fished out.  Many foreign fishing nations have already depleted their own fish stocks and over fishing our rich marine resources today with much impunity. 

Can the government now take immediate action to deter illegal fishing activities by foreigner snow before all our fish are gone forever!    

 

Reginald Renagi

 

Former Professional Mariner

 

Who will be the next Prime Minister?

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

Recently the media raised three interesting questions: “Who will be the next PM when the prime minister quits politics in 2011 before the 2012 National Elections, What will happen to the National Alliance Party or the current Government?”

This is a subjective issue and you will get many different answers.  I will try to predict what may happen gauging from public perceptions and opinions of a coalition government’s performance since the 2002 national elections.

So who will be the next PM?  This is easy in an ideal political world where the job will naturally go to the next senior MP after the prime minister in the ruling party’s hierarchical ‘chain of command’.  In this case, it should go to the deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu if the PM quits politics next year as speculated by the newspapers. 

This will not happen because we are not in an ideal political world.  There are many competing interests and shifting alliances within any coalition party government. 

First of all, the PM will not quit politics in 2011 and before the elections.  PM Somare is enjoying the feeling of power and controlling the destiny of some six million citizens that he would still has to extend his record breaking streak of being in politics until after the 2012 national elections.  

More so, no one believes this talk of leaving politics any more.  The people of PNG have heard it many times before, like prior to the 2012 and 2007 elections as predicted.  The PM did not quit politics as speculated by the media like this one.

On a hypothetical note, if the PM was to quit politics in 2011 due to some reason like ill-health, the NA party will most likely see splits in its senor ranks.  Some party members have openly shown that they do not prefer the deputy PM take the reins as they see themselves as the ideal choice for the top job.  A further outcome is that the NA party may not do too well in the 2012 polls without the stabilising presence of its draw-card, the grand chief; the glue holding the NA party together.

With due respects to other NA party members, no one is eminently qualified with the required seniority, depth of public administration knowledge and experience; and political  maturity to succeed the PM Somare than the deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu.  Sir Puka has the edge over all the NA party’s regional deputies as none were effective departmental heads like him before entering politics. 

As apart from the deputy PM, there is another option that may seem a controversial outcome but not impossible.  This option could be another record breaker for the grand chief that will be unbeatable in both PNG and Commonwealth politics.  If PM Somare was really serious about elevating the status of PNG women in his twilight years of politics, he will give his job to the best-performing MP in the coalition government: Dame Carol Kidu.  The Dame as an MP has no equal and her actions speak louder than words as she is well supported by a competent Secretary running an effective department than most of her peers.

This decisive action by grand chief Somare will be in full recognition for the tireless efforts of a lone women MP in parliament (and one of PNG’s best lawmakers in recent times).  This will upset the men in parliament but they will soon get over it to see that good governance, accountability, responsibility and ‘sanity’ returns to both parliament; and government before the 2012 national elections.

Finally, I predict PM Somare is not yet ready to quit politics in 2011 and before the 2012 national elections.  There are still many outstanding political reforms left by former PM, Sir Mekere that this government has yet to progress and this is no time to be quitting politics.

 

Airvos View adds to Port Moresby's changing skyline

An exciting new multi-million property development is taking place along Airvos Avenue in Port Moresby (artist's impressions pictured above).

The K30 million development, called Airvos View, involves prestige, upmarket two to three level three-bedroom townhouses within a fully-fenced secured compound with panoramic views of Port Moresby harbour.

They feature a spacious basement area for gym and owner design use, as well as children’s swimming pool, a lap pool, barbeque area and generators.

Property owner John Boo said that work would commence next month and would be completed by September 2011.

“We are doing all the earthworks and retaining wall now,” he said.

“We are doing the earthwork first and getting the land into shape.

“We expect construction work to begin in March/April.

“It will take about one and a half years.

“We expect completion in September 2011.”

Mr Boo said the development would comprise of 18 units, which would be a mixture of either two-level or three-level.

“This is an upmarket, quality accommodation,” he said,

“I don’t think there is any such accommodation at the moment.

“A lot of people like it because it’s convenient, with facilities nearby such as Harbour City.”

Such has been the demand that Mr Boo has already sold five units with another five to be released soon.

“Port Moresby must have more of these to class up its skyline,” he said.

“We are living in the 21^st Century.”

Growth and expansion are signs of investment, says Sir Michael

Boardroom at the new L & A complex

Warehouse of the new complex

All dolled up for grand opening today

Façade of the new complex

Entrance to the showroom today

Top of the range furniture at the L & A showroom

Lush sofa at L & A showroom

Everything for your home

L & A dinner set with chairs

Another quality dinner table and chairs

L & A specialises in the best tiles you can find in PNG

Tiled headstones provide a niche market for L & A

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says growth and expansion are obvious indicators of a conduicive environment for investment.

He was speaking at the grand opening of the K15 million L & A Group of Companies’ head office, showroom and warehouse at Six-Mile in Port Moresby today.

It was the culmination of 40 years of hard work by businessman Luciano Cragnolini and wife Ni.

Sir Michael said it was indeed a pleasure to be invited time and time again by private sector organisations to celebrate with them, their achievements in Papua New Guinea.

“I thank you – Luciano and Ni Cragnolini of L & A Construction for that pleasure today,” he told a fullhouse crowd at the opening.

“Such growth and expansion in the private sector are obvious indicators of a conduicive environment for investment.

“PNG is a nation that critics like to boldly profess would collapse into a heap at any moment.

“I have always believed that we can do it: that one day the world will see and the focus will be upon us, a nation of united indigenous peoples with an amazing future ahead of us.

“We have done it.

“From here, we must show our capacity to handle change by welcoming all other races to live and work together; to grow our industries; provide employment to our people and add value to our future.”

Sir Michael said when the Cragnolinis arrived on PNG shores many years ago, they neither expected to be here for this length of time, nor invest further in this economy.

“While it is a celebration for L & A Construction on the opening of their head office, showroom and warehouse, it is also a celebration for PNG,” he said.

“Slowly, but surely, we will witness in the course of the year other ventures not only opening up but also expanding their operations.

“As head of government, I support all legitimate businesses in Papua New Guinea.

“I encourage the cooperation of all government agencies to play a complementary role in fostering further development and growth.

“But as we grow, we must be mindful of the country’s rules and regulations.

“There must be compliance to rules and standards; they must not be dropped.

“This is not only for the building and construction industry but for other industries as well.

“As developments accelerate in this country, our authorities must also step up their work in monitoring the quality of developments that are taking place.

“We must be proud of ourselves and not accept sub-standard goods and services provided by our industries.”

Sir Michael said government had recently launched its Vision 2050 to accommodate the rapid growth in the economy, population and keep pace with global changes and meeting the requirements of the Millenium Development Goals.

“In order to implement this vision, the public service machinery must also improve its performance,” he said.

“I will be personally making sure that changes are made so that the public and businesses get better services out of our governmentdepartments.

“I can assure developers like L & A Construction that government will play its part to provide the enabling environment for further growth and development.”

Westpac piggy banks raise funds for the community

Westpac Bank PNG have kicked off their 100 year celebrations with ‘Save and Share’, a piggy bank promotion to support charity and community groups across Papau New Guinea.

“Since Westpac brought banking to Papua New Guinea on 10 May 1910, we have been more than just a bank - we’ve been part of the community,” said Mr Ross Hammond, Managing Director.

“As you know pigs play an important role in Papua New Guinea  - they are a symbol of wealth, prosperity and celebration. As such it is fitting that we begin Westpac PNG’s 100 year celebrations with ‘Share and Save’, a promotion which directly benefits the community,” he added. 

Thanks to ‘Save and Share’, Westpac branded piggy banks will be sold at branches for K15 to raise funds for charities and community groups across Papua New Guinea. K5 from the sale of each piggy bank sold will be donated to the branch’s chosen charity.

Charities or community groups that branches have chosen to support include Callan Services Special School for the Disabled Persons at Alotau, Cheshire Homes, Mount Sion Centre for the Blind, Mount Hagen Dental Clinic, the Red Cross, TB Ward at Kimbe General Hospital, Anglicare Elementary School at Kokopo, Angau Memorial Hospital at Lae, Madang’s Country Women’s  Association, Misima Hospital, Hohola Orphanage, Tabubil Service Centre, Prison Ministry, Vanimo Correctional Institution, Port Moresby City Mission and Oxfam at Wewak.

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase your own limited edtion Westpac Bank piggy bank. Drop into a branch today!

The delicate balance - turtles

Story and pictures by DAVID NALU

With all the hype and focus on environmental conservation and global climate change summits, the western world  are only now touching on what the ethnic peoples of the world have always had - a deep understanding of the delicate balance between man and nature.

Sadly this knowledge base was classified as primitive, misunderstood, overlooked and not tapped into, much to the detriment of the world we live in, now faced with the imminent change of global warming, melting ice caps and rising sea levels.

“You only harpoon the giant yellow fin tuna on its way out of the serene mangrove lined inlets after it has laid its eggs, (spawn) and only take what you truly need” whispers an echo from the past when an old man of the sea, once spoke to his grandson as they paddled their canoe over the same serene waters in the evening sunset.

These words were reflective of the profound understanding of the delicate balance of nature which permeated ancient fishing practices and determined when and how it should happen upon the signal of the seasons, tides, wind, moon, birds and even the flowering of certain plants. 

Whilst accompanying fishermen to the bustling Kapari/Viriolo market in Cape Rodney, Central Province in mid January of this year, we came across quite a sight.

As our dinghy pulled in alongside a large double hull, catamaran style boat with shelter built in the middle, I noticed on the deck, the yellowish brown of turtles turned belly up.

A closer look revealed that, sprawled across the entire deck of the double hull canoe, allegedly from down Mailu way, was not 1 or 2 but up to 30 or so, quite large turtles.

The cargo awaited road transport into Port Moresby, had been apparently caught with commercial nets.

Wholesale sale to smaller resellers in Port Moresby  can easily fetch up to K300 to K400, which obviously was a timely and lucrative catch early in the year especially with children returning to school.

 “These people have no respect for the sea, turtles are supposed to be harpooned one at a time not in caught in nets” said Vanua, a subsistence fisherman from Viriolo showing his obvious disgust at the blatant disregard of this ancient practice.

Sales profits to cover basic cost and the ever increasing demand for seafood in urban centres has contributed to overfishing often using  unscrupulous, fishing methods such as commercial nets and dynamite.

Unchecked, this trend stands to destroy a way of life and needs be addressed and stringently policed at community level.

We’d all do well to remind ourselves of the basic message that marine life conservationist purvey – do not overfish and always use sustainable fishing practices.

This is nothing new from the ancient wisdom passed through in the words of my maternal grandfather to me, “take only what you truly need”.

Only then will we still be able to enjoy a true delicacy - an occasional treat of turtle meat with its green fat, spiced and cooked with cherry tomatoes, bought from the local fish market on a Sunday afternoon for many more years to come.

And if all the conservation thing goes really well, I might even be able to one day suck the gooey white and yolk out of soft shelled, boiled turtle eggs pushed down with cold taro and black sweet tea, nostalgic of my childhood, and of a era gone by when the collection of turtle eggs was not yet deemed illegal.