Ex-serviceman dies waiting for entitlements

AN EX-PNG Defence Force paratrooper passed away yesterday morning, allegedly succumbing to a stroke, The National reports.

Late Chris Maraga, from Rigo, Central province, passed away while waiting to be paid his entitlements for services to the State.

He was reportedly one of the four remaining survivors of a PNGDF Caribou crash in Wau, Morobe province, in 1972.

The aircraft was on its way back to Port Moresby after troop training at Igam.

Since then, his health had deteriorated due to a leg injury sustained in the crash.

Mr Maraga was a PNGDF major when he was retrenched in 2002 and had been waiting for his hardship and accommodation allowance to be paid ever since.

A family friend said he was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGH) at around 5am yesterday.

However, he could not be attended to at POMGH, so the St John Ambulance vehicle, that transported him from his Hohola 5 home to the hospital, took him to a private clinic.

He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Around 7,000 ex-servicemen throughout the country have been waiting for the State to settle their outstanding retrenchment and retirement benefits dating back to 1982.

Just a few weeks ago, Justice Minister Dr Allan Marat announced that the Justice Department had finalised these outstanding entitlements.

After this announcement, there has been no further word from the State as to when payments would be made.

Attempts to get comments from the Justice and Attorney-General’s Department were unsuccessful.

 

 

 

Former defence chief exonerated of claims of 'stealing'

Papua New Guinea Defence Force chief-of-staff Captain Tom Ur says former PNGDF commander Peter Ilau has been hard done by both the administration of the PNGDF as well as malicious comments made against him in the media.

Capt Ur said this when commenting on today’s articles in The National about Comdr Ilau and his family being dumped by the government and organisation which he had served loyally for 34 years.

He agreed that the PNGDF, particularly secretary Fred Punangi, had failed in its obligation to pay for Cmdr Ilau’s three-month transition as normal for outgoing PNGDF commanders, which allowed them to prepare for a life after the military.

Capt Ur was also disappointed that another former PNGDF commander, Maj Gen Jerry Singirok, had accused Cmdr Ilau of removing household items from Flagstaff House as well as illegally holding on to an expensive Hummer vehicle.

“I don’t want to comment on the contracts of former commanders, however, it’s a normal process that we look after our commanders for three months,” he said.

“The secretary (Mr Punangi), in his wisdom, cancelled the cheque that was supposed to have been paid to Cmdr Ilau.”

Commenting on allegations that Cmdr Ilau had removed household items from Flagstaff House, Capt Ur said these were not true, as Cmdr Ilau had cleared out in a rightful manner and most of the said items were being stored in a shed.

Moreover, he added, most of the household items were very old – having been passed from one commander to another – and were “not worth stealing”.

“I believe that he (Cmdr Ilau) went through the normal process (of clearing out),” he said.

“I talked to the Cmdr and he’s very upset about the allegations.

“I feel sorry for the (Ilau) family.

“The media painted the picture that they ransacked the whole place.”

Cmdr Ilau said today that he was told over the weekend that Flagstaff House had been broken into since he left and that certain people had regular access to the building.

He said PNGDF staff had also advised new commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi not to move in to Flagstaff House until it had been renovated, and not because household items had been “stolen”.

“I think they were not advised of the break and enter,” Cmdr Ilau said.

“They should have checked the house after we left and left some soldiers to guard the place.”

Ilau denies claims he 'stole' State assets

Captions: 1. Where are the ‘stolen’ goods?...Commodore Peter Ilau points out some of his family baggage. 2. Commodore Peter Ilau with the controversial Hummer vehicle.

 

Former PNG Defence Force commander Commodore Peter Ilau has broken his silence over “highly-defamatory” allegations in The National that he was responsible for emptying Flagstaff House – official residence of the PNGDF Commander – of all its contents.

He also explained why he is holding on his contract vehicle, a Hummer bought from Boroko Motors, following scathing accusations leveled at him by another former PNGDF commander Major-General (rtd) Jerry Singirok and unnamed sources.

New PNGDF commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi is reportedly unable to move in to Flagstaff House because it is empty and the PNGDF has no funds to replenish.

A visibly-distraught Commodore Ilau said at the weekend to the three-bedroom unit at Gordons which he is renting to check out if he had indeed “stolen” the contents of Flagstaff House including furniture, white goods, curtains, cooking utensils, cutlery, chinaware, lounge chairs and other goods.

He was flanked by his daughters, who said their and their mother’s safety was now jeopardised, because of accusations about something they had never done.

He said he and his family vacated Flagstaff House – which they had occupied since Nov 2001 - on Jan 29 this year straight after the formal handover and takeover parade for the PNGDF commander.

“Keys were handed back to staff the same day,” Commodore Ilau said.

“The exit from the house followed normal procedures.

“A final inspection and checks were carried out by appropriate staff including the military assistant to the commander PNGDF, who was also present at the time prior to actual departure.

“Five PNGDF personnel were present to witness me and my family’s departure.

“The house was intact with its normal inventory items upon departure, witnessed by appropriate staff.”

Commodore Ilau and family resided in Flagstaff House for eight years.

“Upon moving in in October 2001, all items in Flagstaff House were completely rundown,” he recalled.

“The house itself was also rundown and medically unfit.

“Flagstaff House is on the same national status of national heritage importance as Government House (Governor General’s residence) and Mirigini House (Prime Minister’s residence).

“Whilst those residences were accorded some form of renovation or upgrade. Flagstaff House did not enjoy any of that.

“It was only attended to on essential need basis by its tenants.

“This was basically to avoid the misperception of denying troop’s conditions of improvement.”

As far as Commodore Ilau’s contract vehicle, he says: “Firstly, it is not a support vehicle.

“It is a vehicle entitlement as per my category B State contract.

“This also includes my housing allowance.

“As is the past and current practice, it is normal for a commander, commissioner or departmental head, particularly Contitutional office holders, to have the choice of retaining their contract vehicle.

“In this case, my staff wrote to Transport and Works departments in Dec 2009 to commence the process of transfer of ownership.

“The Transport Department has advised on the depreciation rate of the vehicle on a monthly basis.

“I, being still a serving officer, continue to use the vehicle while awaiting proper invoice, and also my own retirement entitlements to sort out the appropriate payments to complete the transfer process.

“The vehicle selling price from Boroko Motors was K230, 000 and not K350, 000 as reported and claimed by Gen Singirok.

“The actual price was K170, 000.

“Hence, the depreciated value will be calculated from the purchase price plus the number of months of previous usage.”

Commodore Ilau and his family are currently residing in a three-bedroom flat at Gordons, paid for out of his own pocket, at a cost of K2, 500 per week.

He said the PNGDF had failed in its obligation to pay for his three-month transition as normal for outgoing PNGDF commanders, which allowed them to prepare for their final settlement of choice.

He has so far paid three months of accommodation which will expire at the end of April 2010 while PNGDF has yet to respond as obligated, and continues to wait patiently despite Defence Council assurance through the Minister for Defence

In the first five days of departing Flagstaff House, Commodore Ilau and his family were on the streets; however, with the intervention of “some good Papua New Guineans”, he managed to move into a flat on the sixth day.

“All real estate agents approached refused to accept government cheques,” he said.

“More dramatic was the fact that the original cheque issued for my transition rentals was cancelled and put to a stop by Defence Secretary Fred Punangi immediately the next day.

“To this day no reason has been given for the continuing delay.

“My packing container box remains at Murray Barracks due to unpaid repatriation cost entitlements.

“The National Government has yet to decide on my future deployment.

“Appropriate letters to the Secretary for Personnel Management, Chief Secretary and Treasurer have not been answered.”

Ok Tedi mining workers on strike

Workers at the giant Ok Tedi mine in the Western province of Papua New Guinea have been on strike since last Friday for better working conditions.

The management, however, is refusing to negotiate with workers through their union representatives until all workers return to work, according to a reliable source at the mine.

This has aggravated the situation with workers warning that they would not return to work until they got a positive response or course of action from management regarding various issues, the Shares in Success Scheme (SISS) payment amongst them.

The workforce instigated this strike  ahead of the Allied Workers Union, whose representatives were in Port Moresby to register the strike action.

OTML management says: "Clause 4 (c) of the Industrial Agreement states:4 (c) The union commits to utilize the legislated and agreed procedures in place for the resolution of all concerns and disputes and commits to no illegal industrial action or disruption for the duration of the agreement.

 "As no grievance disputes procedures have been initiated, clearly these employees are in breach of the Industrial Agreement and therefore their industrial action is therefore illegal.

"This has been confirmed to OTML by the Industrial Registrar."

Prime Minister witnesses signing of preliminary commitment to for condensate stripping plant joint venture between InterOil and Mitsui

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has congratulated InterOil and Mitsui Corporation for entering into a Preliminary Commitment Agreement to develop phase one of the Elk/Antelope LNG project.

Sir Michael said: “With these partnerships that we as a country are establishing with Japan, I will be happy to eventually leave politics with the knowledge that this government has enabled PNG to take positive steps towards a secure and prosperous future.”

Sir Michael made these remarks after a fruitful working visit to Tokyo, Japan, where he also held bilateral talks with his counterpart Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, further aligning the economic interests of both countries.

Their discussions included details of international co-operation specifically relating to investment in PNG, the key 50%+ LNG off take from the first PNG LNG project, trading partners, environment and climate change, as well as the benefits of a secure environmentally-friendly LNG supply from the second InterOil LNG project.

Sir Michael witnessed the signing ceremony in Tokyo of the Commitment Agreements between InterOil and Mitsui on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.

InterOil is the upstream operator for the Elk/Antelope LNG project and Mitsui Corporation is one of the leading Japanese investment and trading companies.

This follows the HOA (Heads of Agreement) that was signed in Papua New Guinea, on December 23, 2009, between InterOil and Mitsui, where the PNG Government ensured support to Mitsui.

The Preliminary Commitment Agreements allow Mitsui to fund 100% cost of the Condensate Stripping Facilities (CSF) which includes a liquid separation plant and pipeline in the project area, and as a Joint Venture Partner earn tolling fees and various other benefits, with a target completion date of first condensate production in 2012.

Sir Michael said: “Under the arrangements, project financing to be provided by Mitsui will also fund the State’s share of the condensate extraction costs.”

This means that Petromin and the State will not have to seek separate financing arrangements to fund their share of the equity.

Under the arrangements Mitsui will co-build the extraction facilities and will receive toll fee as a Joint Venture partner as well as financing cost from condensate revenue at first production of condensate.

The condensate will be sold on a net back basis to the InterOil refinery in Port Moresby at international market and local PNG market prices.

“The condensate stripping project agreement is the first step in bringing additional revenue and benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea from the InterOil-led Liquid Niugini Gas LNG project.

“We look forward to extending our relationship with the Japanese people and Mitsui Corporation,” Sir Michael said.

Media urged to get both sides of story

Former Papua New Guinea Defence Force commander Commodore Peter Ilau has appealed to the media to get both sides of the story.

He was referring to allegations in The National that he emptied Flagstaff House – official residence of the PNGDF Commander –  of all its contents as well as was holding on to the official commander’s vehicle.

Commodore Ilau said he was bewildered that a former PNGDF commander, Maj Gen Jerry Singirok (ret), was leading the attack against him and feeding “rubbish” to the media when he was no longer a soldier.

He said any more unsubstantiated allegations against him would end up in court.

“I wish to appeal to the media, but more so to the press in particular, to please respect my 34 years of service and eight long years as commander PNGDF through an extremely difficult time,” Commodore Ilau said.

“My family and I persevered a long period of change in a complex organisation.

“It is not fair to my family to continue to suffer on my behalf.

“We have suffered enough of that rubbish during my term as commander PNGDF.

“I thought that reputable service organisations like the press would double check information, seek opinions from both sides of the story before printing.

“I am extremely disappointed.

“My reputation and credibility has been tarnished because of rubbish.”

Commodore Ilau said during his handover takeover speech in January this year, he promised officers that he would remain loyal to the PNGDF and would never comment against it; however, he now had to turn back on this.

“For this report (in The National), I have no choice but to ensure I clear my good name, because others in the appropriate position failed to correct the reporting as expected,” he said.

“I just want my privacy respected, and my family left alone.

“Even if I get paid by PNGDF, at least please leave us alone.

“This is the last time I will comment on this matter.

“Any future commentaries on me and my family, they will explain in court.”

Commodore Ilau said of Gen Singirok: “All I can say is that everything he’s saying is totally misleading.

“I don’t know where he got his information from.

“He’s claiming that he has inside sources within the PNGDF.

“Even then, this is a matter for the commander and his staff.

“He (Gen Singirok) wants to take military matters into his own hands when he’s no longer a soldier.

“He should hesitate is making statements like this which can be taken to court.”

Papua New Guinea beauty takes Japan by storm

Captions: 1.  Emi Maria (right), the Papua New Guinea-Japan beauty who is now a sensation in Japan, and who gave a rendition of the PNG national anthem at the opening, at the PNG Embassy opening in Tokyo last Wednesday. – Picture by YAWI NALU KWAMSE 2. Emi Maria performing at the Hibiki Music Festival 2009 3. Emi Maria as she appears on the home page of her website http://www.emimaria.com/

 

 

She is arguably Papua New Guinea’s biggest export to Japan and one of the biggest R & B recording artists there right now.

Twenty-two year-old Emi Maria, a PNG-born beauty who is a superstar in Japan right now, gave a soulful rendition of the PNG national anthem at the opening of the new PNG Embassy building in Tokyo last Wednesday.

She touched the hearts of members of the large PNG entourage that was in Tokyo last week, especially when they found that she is Papua New Guinean.

“She sang the national anthem so beautifully and made us so emotional, especially when we found out that she is part Papua New Guinean,” said Timon Tomala, leader of a Morobe dance troupe that performed in Tokyo last week.

Emi Maria was born in 1987 in PNG.

Her father is Papua New Guinean, from Simbu province, while her mother is Japanese.

She spent the first five years of her life in Papua New Guinea, before moving to Kobe in Japan.

She first started listening to R&B at six due to her sister, listening to such artists as Janet and Michael Jackson, and K-Ci & JoJo, according to a brief biography published online.

 She began writing lyrics in junior high school.

 By high school, she had started writing music and producing her own tracks.

 She participated in the MTV Star Tour, and started performing lives in the Kansai area from 2006 onwards.

 In 2007, she started appearing on many different Japanese urban artists' albums as a guest artist, such as Seeda and MC Moggy.

In 2007, Emi Maria released her first EP, "Between the Music," under Freest Inc., a label Emi Maria had created for herself.

 Her debut single "I Gotta (Summer Kiss)" was picked as the iTunes Japan single of the week in August 2008.

She debuted as a major label artist in 2009, with the release of a digital dingle "One Way Love" under Victor Entertainment.

 During this time, she had some of her highest profile collaborations.

 "Luv Is..." was a song Emi Maria performed with R&B singer Jay'ed, which features on his top 10 album Musication.

 Last December, she had her first top 10 hit, as a featured artist on Seeda's single "Wisdom," which reached #8 on the Oricon singles charts.

 After the release of her first physical single in 2010, "Show Me Your Love," Emi Maria released her first major label album, Contrast.

More information can be sourced from her website http://www.emimaria.com/.