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Integrity of Papua New Guinea Speakers comes under question

Check out this YouTube hit from Papua New Guinea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZdDBLw6DAc

It really makes you wonder about Papua New Guinea.

Tomorrow is World Water Day

World Water Day celebrations will be held at Port Moresby Grammar School tomorrow.

Department of  Environment and Conservation Secretary Dr Warilea Iamo (pictured) has invited relevant State agencies and major water industries to participate in WWD celebrations spearheaded by DEC.

Elsewhere, Waterboard will hold celebrations in Popondetta while Eda Ranu will mark the day in Port Moresby.

Dr Iamo said he envisaged coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders to inform policy makers and the general public about water quality challenges faced today and years to come "as PNG is undergoing rapid development accompanied by population growth and climate change, which poses significant threats on human lives and the environment".

"I understand that certain sectors use more water, while others use less water and yet generate more wastewater," he said.

"I wish to stress that accusations over whom, when and where these challenges occur should rather be avoided, as we maintain focus on preventing, or mitigating these challenges.

"I strongly believe it should be in our collective interest to coordinate among all stakeholders to address these challenges, in order for our vast water resources to be replenished for the benefit of all, including our future generations."

Dr Iamo said as head of DEC, he wanted to invite relevant stakeholders whose activities revolved water resources to participate in observing this year's WWD.

"Each stakeholder has been given opportunity to showcase their efforts in addressing water quality challenges from their own perspective and interests," he said.

"May I take this opportunity to thank those stakeholders who have expressed interest and made commitments by responding to my call in pledging their support to this cause.

"I wish you all successful WWD-2010 celebrations and a clean and healthy future for PNG.

WWD was declared under the auspiciousness of the United Nations in 1992 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, which is observed around the World on March 22 each year.

The Global Theme for this year's WWD is "Communicating water quality challenges and opportunities".

"The United Nation's overall goal of WWD March 22, 2010 is to raise the profile of water quality at the political level, so that water quality considerations are made alongside those of water quantity," Dr Iamo said.

"The DEC captured both the global and Pacific themes and adopted a national theme: 'Communication Challenges and Opportunities-Safe Water for a Healthy Papua New Guinea'."

University of Goroka students to return to classes tomorrow

Classes at the University of Goroka are expected to resume tomorrow after eight weeks of standoff between students and administration.

The University of Goroka’s newly-elected Chancellor Benais Sabumei (MBE) yesterday announced to UOG staff and students the resolutions reached by the new full council regarding the student boycott of classes.

He said in an open letter to all staff and students of UOG that Student Representative Council members Benjamin Michael and Genevieve Mungkaje, present at the council meeting held last Friday, informed council that classes for all programs would commence tomorrow. 

Mr Sabumei stressed the importance of classes commencing tomorrow as “any further delay would grossly affect the academic calendar and more drastically every student’s future academic progress at the University of Goroka”.

He said in the letter that council was pleased with the decision and commended the SRC members for their undertaking.

Mr Sabumei also announced that registered students would be given the opportunity to express their individual democratic right to return to classes via a referendum which is to be conducted at UOG tomorrow afternoon.

Other resolutions reached at the council meeting last Friday, with the participation of the SRC members, included:

·       Compilation of the terms of reference (TOR) for the investigation committee;
·       Composition of an investigation into the student boycott;
·       Approval of the TORs, the approval of the TORs, the approval of an investigation committee, the elections of representatives to the final four vacant seats of the University Council namely: chancellor, pro v ice chancellor, graduate representative and a representative of one of the vice chancellors from another university; and 

·       Approval of the revised 2010 academic calendar.

Mr Sabumei said agreed members of the investigating committee were former Attorney General Michael Gene, prominent academic Prof Allan Easton and accountant George Kuno.

 The duration of the investigation will be four weeks commencing on March 29 and will examine several issues from the TOR concerning governance, processes and procedures, administration matters, academic matters, student welfare, staff welfare and financial matters.

Mr Sabumei said in his letter that the university now had almost a full complement of a council as required by the UOG Act.

Only a Minister’s nominee and one academic board representative, on an acting basis, will need to be elected.

Mr Sabumei said he looked forward to working and cooperating with all the members of the Council.

Another vital milestone for Datec (PNG) Ltd

Caption: Datec CEO Bhanu Sud (left) seals the deal with ISC CEO and Global Chairman Tony Wilde

 

Datec (PNG) Ltd has announced a new initiative to bring management system training courses to Papua New Guinea through an arrangement with International Standards Certifications Pty Ltd (ISC).

ISC is a full scope JAS-ANZ accredited certification body providing independent third-party auditing and certification to companies, organisations, government departments and enterprises who are seeking recognition of compliance to various national and international Standards.

ISC also has a range of accredited training courses in various subjects including quality management, environmental management and occupational health and safety.

With the commencement of the liquefied natural gas projects about to begin, the acquisition of relevant skills by local people will be a crucial factor in PNG’s goal of self sufficiency and will ensure it has the ability to provide the services required by suppliers who wish to work in this huge development project.

Independent third-party auditing and certifications are much sought after all over the world and achievement of certification to the various standards enhances the reputation and global acceptance of any organisation, making it more-competitive and capable of marketing its products and services in a globally-accepted manner.

Bhanu Sud, CEO of Datec (PNG) Ltd said: “With this agreement between ISC and Datec, training can now be provided to government and private organisations in PNG to master the art and science of quality management systems and also to become world-recognised lead auditors, a skill set that has an extremely high demand worldwide and opens exciting new global career opportunities.”

On the occasion of signing the agreement, Tony Wilde, CEO and Global Chairman of ISC, said: “I am extremely happy that we have been able to identify an organisation like Datec, wishing to add a meaningful contribution to the future of PNG by helping to make these training courses available.

“ISC offers flexible, modular-style training which enables you to choose the pace in which you wish to progress to the auditor's qualification.

“The flexibility of the modular style training enables the delegates to digest and consolidate training information before moving on to the next module or stage of training.

 “This new and exciting training concept is a competency-based learning experience and has the ability to evaluate and recognise prior learning and competencies obtained through other training establishments.

“This would obviously mean that the training provided would meet the highest levels of competence and the trainers selected from our global pool would provide relevant and the most effective training.”

These programmes are being launched through the Datec Learning Centers, the training and education arm of Datec, which provides the finest training in PNG and the programmes will be conducted at various locations including the Datec Learning Centers’ facilities at Lae and Port Moresby.

More details of the programme can be found on the Datec website, www.datec.com.pg .

 

Passing of veteran photographer William Williando

This is to let all friends and media colleagues know of the passing of veteran Papua New Guinea photographer, WILLIAM WILLIANDO, earlier today at the Port Moresby general Hospital. William was well-known in this country for his friends-to-all, enemies-to-none approach.

SYB in PNG: Making Up for lost time

By Jenny Hayward-Jones

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was busy improving bilateral relations with more than one neighbour last week. Incredibly, for two countries that share an island and a difficult border, President Yudhoyono was the first Indonesian President to visit PNG since President Soeharto in 1979. 

Making up for lost time, the two governments signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement, a Double Taxation Agreement and letters of exchange on agriculture cooperation. They also agreed to open an official border crossing at Sokau-Wutung. And, according to media reports in PNG, Indonesia has agreed to train PNG police to prevent transnational terrorism, money laundering and people smuggling.

PNG's Post Courier newspaper has suggested that Indonesia's improved relations with Australia paves the way for new forms of trilateral cooperation between PNG, Australia and Indonesia. Whether or not this eventuates, PNG stands to benefit from a more mature bilateral relationship with Indonesia. The focus on economic as well as security cooperation evident in President Yudhoyono's visit is a positive development for the Pacific Islands region's most populous country.

The situation in West Papua was apparently not on the agenda, despite the efforts of Port Moresby's Governor, Powes Parkop, to present a petition to the Indonesian President calling for greater Papuan autonomy. The PNG Government will not have missed President Yudhoyono's warnings to the Australian parliament about respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

This will no doubt be disappointing to Vanuatu, West Papua's most vocal supporter in the Pacific Islands region. PNG's desire to enhance and protect its relationship with Indonesia seems certain to continue to trump Vanuatu's efforts to use the Melanesian Spearhead Group to promote the West Papuan cause