Papua New Guinea cyclone hits Australia

Village-inspired Papua New Guinean son Tyrone "The Cyclone" Tongia will be fighting for the Australian professional light middleweight title in Brisbane on Friday.

It is the culmination of a long journey in which the 27-year-old has fought his way to the top, taking on the best Australia has to offer in boxing.

Born to a father from Hanuabada, NCD, and mother of mixed New Ireland decent, professional boxer Tyrone Tongia began an unconventional pugilistic journey in 2002, vowing to bring honour to his fellow PNG youth.

On Friday, "The Cyclone" fights Andrew "Sundance" Gosden, for the Australian light middleweight title at the Mansfield Tavern in Brisbane.

After completing Year 12 at Brisbane State High in Queensland, Australia, it was while on a New Year's pilgrimage in 2001 to feel his roots in Port Moresby and Nokon, New Ireland, that the inspiration for self-knowledge and self-respect for the well-being of others was cemented.

His family and village experience along with a chance meeting with an uncle, PNG's former world-rated kyokushin champion and SOS director Walter Schnaubelt, ignited the will to merge his sense for adventure and sport with the greater good for family and community by channelling his raw energy constructively.

With initial ambitions for rugby league and union where he earned the nickname "Cyclone" for breaking lines and defensive competency, Tongia instead pursued boxing because he believes the gruelling sport challenged his "personal growth and sense of liveliness" like no other. 

Inspired by the international feats of our own professional boxing legends Johnny Aba and Martin Beni, Tongia ventured to Sydney to learn and train with Australia's best, remaining undaunted by the new city, his inexperience and lack of personal networks.

Tongia recalls encountering many obstacles but stayed on track at all costs, even sleeping in a park a few days until he was accepted to train at the world-renowned Team Fenech headquarters with Billy Hussein in Marrickville.

He did many menial jobs to economically support his ambition including factory work, fruit market packing, and cleaning jobs.

After three disciplined years plying his trade as an amateur, Tongia returned to Brisbane to train for his professional debut which was held in Sydney on the undercard to the biggest boxing fight in Australian history, Danny Green vs Anthony Mundine in May 2006.

 Tongia's alias "The Cyclone" was given new life as he exceeded expectations and blew out his opponent during his professional debut which quickly received over 35,000 views on worldwide internet site YouTube.

Building a growing army of supporters in Brisbane, Tongia has attracted praise from both Mundine and Green.

 In Australia's Courier Mail on March 6 this year, which headlined Tongia as one of the hottest prospects in Australia, three-time world champion and sporting icon, Jeff Fenech, commented:

"He (Tongia) has talent and great power.He just has to stay determined to make it."

For the first time since his pledge to honour his fellow PNG youth in 2001, "The Cyclone" returned to Moresby and New Ireland last September to again experience his roots.

 Tongia then resumed his boxing career in Australia, refreshed with village-inspired creativity, purpose and vigour; consecutively knocking off highly-touted fighters to earn a shot at the coveted Australian title.

After meeting with both setbacks and victories along the way, Tongia is proof that where there's a will, there's a way – it takes disciplined and constructive efforts.

University to host Donigi, Maladina public debate

From PAUL OATES

This is real, practical politics in action and should demonstrate a healthy way forward for PNG. Peter Donigi is to be congratulated for speaking out and standing up for his country in a time of desperate need.
The only problem I foresee is that a debate in Moresby is disconnected from most of the PNG people.
What should now happen is a concerted effort to advertise, televise and broadcast this debate on all  publically-accessed TV and radio stations and in the local PNG newspapers. Rural residents and those in other PNG towns and cities desparately need to become interested and involved. They need to start asking what their local member thinks and how they will vote on this issue?
Who would initiate and promote interest in this debate however? The PNG Opposition or perhaps some public spirited NGO's and business leaders? Perhaps the press may find that this important issue is a great way to sell newspapers?
Now is the time for action by all true PNG patriots to stand up with Mr Donigi and be counted.
__________________

University to host Donigi, Maladina public debate
Source:
By JASON GIMA WURI

A PUBLIC debate on the proposed constitutional amendments now before Parliament will be held at the University of Papua New Guinea main lecture theatre (MLT).
Member for Esa'ala Moses Maladina, who had successfully moved for the amendments to go past the first reading in Parliament, had accepted the challenge by lawyer Peter Donigi to a public debate on the matter.
While allowing the public debate to take place at the MLT following a written request from Mr Donigi, UPNG Vice-Chancellor Prof Ross Hynes said he would not be involved in moderating the public debate.
"The moderator must be someone who is independent and who has relevant status to such a debate," Prof Hynes said.
That person is yet to be identified including the date and time for the debate.
Prof Hynes, however, only indicated that the public debate would take place on the week after March 19.
In his letter to Prof Hynes, Mr Donigi said: "I understand that Mr Maladina will likely call for a second reading of his constitutional amendments at the next sitting of Parliament which is scheduled to start on May 4.
"It would appear, therefore, that we only have a short window of opportunity to debate this issue before it is presented for its last and final reading before passage by Parliament," Mr Donigi said.

Is it worth a Nickel?

From PAUL OATES

In the PNG newspaper 'The National' there is a report that there has been an initial triumph by local landowners in obtaining an injunction to try and prevent the dumping of five million tonnes of slurry waste from the Chinese Nickel mine (MCC) behind Madang into the pristine Basamuk Bay. This is only a temporary injunction however.

One would think that the PNG government, who clearly approves of this project, might start to take the issue seriously and have another look at the whole set up. Not so! In the same article it reports: 'No Government or mineral resources authority officials were available for comments last night, but they are expected to join MCC in fighting the injunction.'

Yep! You can be rest assured that the ol' PNG 'gavaman' is backing the 'right side'. Pity the right side doesn't appear to the PNG people's side isn't it?

Hello! That's the PNG people, who with their families and descendants, have to live with their government's mistakes, ineptitude and worse.

Eh ya! Sori tumas. Telepon blong bus ibagarap pinis ya! Nau husat igat sampela liklik samting blong mi a?

_______________________

article from PNG's The National

Mine work halted
LANDOWNERS in Madang have won a David-and-Goliath battle to freeze a Chinese nickel miner's construction of a massive pipeline to dump waste into the sea.
The National Court in Madang last Friday ordered work to stop on the nickel mine's previously approved submarine tailings disposal system.
The Ramu mine in Madang, operated by the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Group Co (MCC), plans to dump five million tonnes of slurry waste annually into Basamuk Bay.
The company was preparing to start blasting coral reefs for the tailings pipeline to be laid. The stop-work order is another setback for the Chinese project, which had suffered a series of problems with the mine's construction and relations with local people.
Tiffany Nonggorr, the lawyer representing the Madang landowners, said MCC must find an alternative to dumping the mine waste into the bay.
"This injunction is a massive victory for us, definitely a David-and-Goliath struggle.
"Landowners have stopped the Chinese, who have spent US$1.4 billion (K3.8 billion) to build this mine," she told AAP.
"The mine's proposal is just too risky. There are grave environmental concerns," she said.
Despite having Government and environmental approval, the proposed deep sea tailings pipeline would destroy the environment and local people's livelihoods, Mrs Nonggorr said.
Judge David Cannings granted a temporary injunction forcing MCC to stop work "that involves directly or indirectly damage or disturbance to the offshore environment including all coral blasting or popping of dead or live coral and laying of pipes".
MCC "shall not carry out directly or indirectly any such work, pending determination of the substantive proceedings" to be heard at a later date, he said.
Last July, construction of the mine was briefly stopped due to health and safety concerns, while in May outbreaks of violence exposed simmering tensions between Chinese management and PNG workers.
The Ramu mine is expected to yield 143 million tonnes of nickel over 20 years and, during construction, will employ 3,000 workers including 700 Chinese.
Revenue from the mine is expected to add to the country's GDP growth, and forms part of PNG's growth strategy under the National Government's Vision 2050.
No Government or mineral resources authority officials were available for comments last night, but they are expected to join MCC i n fighting the injunction.

Advert "Age" 20March.

Your tax payer dollars propping up a corrupt government. 

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.