Prime Minister emphasises need for discipline at higher leaning institutions

Captions: 1. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is given the red carpet treatment at the UNRE graduation last Friday.  2. Schoolschildren wave flags and throw flowers to welcome Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to Vudal last Friday. 3.  Graduating students of the UNRE marching to the graduation area.4. Graduands waiting to receive their certificates at the UNRE graduation last Friday. 5. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare stresses the need for discipline at the UNRE graduation.

 

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has emphasised the importance of discipline among staff, students and administration in higher learning institutions in the country.

In his keynote address at the 13^th graduation ceremony of the University of Natural Resources and Environment at Vudal in East New Britain province last Friday, he said PNG had been experiencing frequent disruptions to classes that were not addressed in a timely and convenient manner.

The UNRE has had its share of student unrest with a major disruption to classes last year.

“This is of grave concern to the Government that provides the greater part of finances for infrastructure, logistics equipment as well as subsidies and scholarships,” Sir Michael said.

“It is of equal concern to parents and guardians when their children’s learning is disrupted as a result of conflicts.

“On average, the cost of educating a student per year is K17, 000.

“As a developing nation, we cannot afford such indulgences and must take positive steps towards minimising the likelihood and antagonism between the various groups on our campuses.

“As head of the executive Government, I challenge councils and administering authorities of all tertiary institutions of education to explore and put into place appropriate and acceptable guidelines or rules that will promote, enhance and sustain harmony and orderly operations of all institutions of learning.”

Sir Michael called on the six universities and three research institutions to share resources and where possible, to conduct joint research.

“Research should influence and inform teaching at our universities,” he said.

“It should drive development and contribute to building research capacity of staff and our top students.

“Today I call on universities such as the Natural Resources and Environment University, research institutes and other institutes of higher learning to enter into constructive dialogues as you strive to meet the demands of this country, understand the current social needs and prepare courses that address future aspirations of this country.

“I believe the quality of higher education can be improved when the higher education sector is unified, works together, shares resources and has a clear vision for its future development.

“The success of the sector is critical for achieving our national objectives in improving our human capital and raising technical capacity.”

Sir Michael said higher education played a vital role in the Government’s Vision 2050 to ensure that PNG had the necessary human resource capacity to implement the plan and contribute to the social and economic development of PNG over the next 40 years,

Sir Michael congratulated graduands on their achievements and wished them strength and perseverance in their working life.

“May you strive to be the best in your profession while at the same time providing service to your country,” he said.

“Lastly, I commend all the parents, relatives and guardians who have had faith in your abilities and have been there for you.

“It is equally a celebration for them and your respective communities.”

Meanwhile, hundreds turn-up at the UNRE’s Vudal campus to get a glimpse of the ‘Father of the Nation’.

His presence added significance to the annual ceremony which for the first time was held in the beginning of the year unlike the traditional November ceremonies held previously.

Students from both of the University’s campuses - Vudal and Popondetta – received their qualifications.

Damien Toki graduated with a Masters degree in management while 13 of his post-graduate course mates received graduate certificates in management.

In the undergraduate stream, 23 students received bachelor degrees of tropical agriculture, while 89 students received diplomas in tropical agriculture.

Forty-five of these diplomats came from the University’s Popondetta campus.

Preparations for Sir Michael’s visit were not restricted to the UNRE.

 Local communities cleaned up the road From Kokopo to Vudal and students from several primary schools lined up along the road with flags to welcome him as he traveled to the UNRE campus.

Surprise birthday party for Prime Minister

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had a surprise birthday party thrown for him by the University of Natural Resources and Environment in East New Britain last Friday.

Immediately after the 13^th UNRE graduation at which Sir Michael was the keynote speaker, and the unveiling of the library extension and administration building opening – named after the Prime Minister – the UNRE surprised Sir Michael with two cakes (one for his birthday and one for his 42^nd year in politics), as well as plenty food and drinks.

It was a special occasion for Sir Michael in that he was born on April 9, 1936, in Rabaul, East New Britain province while his father was serving as a policeman.

Last Friday, he turned 74, with 2010 being his 42^nd year in politics.

Sir Michael was lost for words by the surprise and thanked all staff and students of UNRE, especially Vice Chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru, for making the day a special one for him.

Earlier, during the graduation ceremony, PNG Strategic Plan chairman chairman Prof David Kavanamur presented tabu (traditional Tolai shell money) to Sir Michael as a token of appreciation for making him chairman of Vision 2050.

In a powerful Tolai traditional ceremony, Sir Michael beat a Tolai tubuan with the tabu

Prof Kavanamur also presented a traditional Tolai headdress to the Prime Minister.

Sir Michael traveled to Tokua Airport in Kokopo on the new Falcon jet and flew out later that same day after the graduation.

Fuel prices go up from today

FUEL consumers nationwide will now dig deeper into their pockets as fuel prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene go up from today, The National reports.

Consumers will pay K3.33 per litre for petrol (from K3.16) and K2.75 per litre for diesel (from K2.53). Kerosene price

rises from K2.42 to K2.60 per litre.

Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) acting chief executive officer Elastus Geroro blamed the rise in fuel prices on an increased crude oil price, and a fall by the kina against the US dollar on the exchange rate.

High cost in transporting the products also contributed to the rise.

He said on monthly average comparison, crude oil price rose significantly last month, increasing by 6.48% compared to a 2.7% reduction in February.

Mr Geroro said as the global economy continued to show signs of recovery, crude oil prices began to rise in a region where China has a big influence on other Asia-Pacific economies.

He stressed that change in the fuel prices were determined by global energy demand and, given that crude oil is a globally traded commodity, it was expected that the demand and supply determination in the major regions around the world against the US dollar would continue to cause price changes at any time in the future.

He said with crude oil trading above US$70 per barrel for the third consecutive month, prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming months.

He urged fuel suppliers and retailers not to charge consumers above the set prices.

 

 

 

Payroll excesses

Government expenditure blown by K200 million in 2009

 

THE Government blew a larger than expected hole in its recurrent expenditure last year, and the Treasury Department is blaming the payroll for that, The National reports.

The department is conducting a review to see where it occurred and who caused it, so those responsible can be made to account and closely monitored in future.

This was revealed yesterday when Finance and Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch released the final budget outcome (FBO) for last year. 

Figures released said the recurrent expenditure last year was K4, 166.4 million, which was K213.8 million higher than the revised budget estimates.

This was due to higher expenditure, particularly under personnel emoluments costs by provincial and national departments.

Mr Pruaitch said the total expenditure on personal emoluments was higher than the revised estimate, and Treasury was reviewing the processes of monitoring and controlling expenditure incurred from the payroll.

He said they would monitor agencies that continue to overspend.

Despite this, last year’s FBO recorded a deficit of K36.3 million or 0.2% of GDP against a revised deficit of K86.0 million or 0.4% of GDP announced in this year’s budget.

This was an improvement from the high deficit of K478.5 million (2.2% of GDP) recorded for 2008.

The improved budget deficit outcome was due to higher revenue. Total revenue and grants for last year was K6, 651.3 million, which was slightly higher than the revised budget estimate by K11.7 million.

Abstracting from grants, total revenue collections last year were higher by K172.8 million compared to the revised estimate.

On the expenditure side of the budget, total expenditure and net lending last year was K6, 687.6 million, which was lower than the revised budget estimate published in this year’s budget by K37.7 million.

Total development expenditure was K2, 348.7 million. This was lower than the revised budget estimate by K247.0 million.

Mr Pruaitch also admitted that detailed expenditure on trust accounts were lacking.

“Unfortunately, a number of executing agencies did not provide expenditure reports on their trust accounts.

“A detailed report on the expenditures from trust accounts will be provided in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook report in July,” he promised.

As a result of the payroll blowout, the Government had to borrow to fund the deficit. This caused a net increase in overall debt last year.

Mr Pruaitch said the budget deficit last year resulted in total public debt increasing to K6, 944.1 million, up by K17.4 million from a debt level at the end of 2008 of K6, 962.7 million.

But strong nominal GDP growth contributed to debt as a percentage of GDP fell from 32.1% in 2008 to 31.9% last year, he said

 

O'Neill blames Finance for police housing delay

PUBLIC Service Minister Peter O’Neill has blamed “bureaucratic slowdown” in the failure to deliver police housing in Lae, Morobe province, on time, The National reports.

He wants public servants responsible to be severely reprimanded.

Mr O’Neill said failure by the Finance Department to release funds had resulted in the project at East Taraka being delayed by almost 12 months.

He said this meant police personnel and their families continued to live in rundown and condemned houses at Bumbu.

The project at East Taraka was meant to deliver 120 two-bedroom units at a cost of K20.8 million.

The units would be brick-built, fully furnished, and valued at around K180, 000 each.

He said K5 million was released last year to the contractor to start work. But K15.8 million remained outstanding, and Waigani has not been able to release this money to the contractor to complete the project.

“I’m very disappointed.

“Policemen and women and their families are made to suffer because of incompetence in Waigani.

“There are people in the bureaucratic system, especially in the Finance Department, who are not doing their job,” Mr O’Neill said yesterday.

“If I had the powers to sack, they will be gone.”

Mr O’Neill’s ministry is charged with developing a number of housing schemes for public servants.

The Lae police housing project is one of them.

The Bumbu police barracks has been condemned as unfit for human habitation by health authorities.

Policemen and their families have moved out of the condemned houses to live with wantoks.

Some have crammed into the single quarters, making it very unsafe and unhygienic.

Businesses in Lae are worried about this, as unsettled police personnel may not attend to the city’s daily law and order needs

 

Men face court over missing Vision 2050 office equipment

THE ordinary Papua New Guinean is interested in seeing good education and health services today, rather than in 30-50 years time, Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika said, The National reports.

 “We are dreaming (of what will happen in 50 years time) while our people continue to suffer from lack of basic services which they need immediately to better themselves,” he said.

Justice Salika made this comment in relation to Vision 2050 and the current dispute by those involved in its formulation.

The National Planning Committee Secretariat consisting of Dr Vele Ila’ava, Andrew Kavana, Westly Nukundj and Ralph Yamb were in court after allegedly stealing office equipment from the Vision 2050 office.

They refuted the allegations, saying they were moving offices as their rental of the office space at the Waigani IPA campus had expired.

“Surely, we can resolve this dispute without fighting over these things,” Justice Salika told the parties.

He adjourned the matter to this morning for the alternative dispute resolution to be effected.

 

 

 

Prime /minister to officiate at UNRE graduation

By UNRE Public Relations

 

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare will present the keynote address at the 13^th annual graduation ceremony of Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources & Environment tomorrow.

Sir Michael, who is expected to arrive in the province tomorrow morning on the government jet, Kumul, will officiate at the ceremony as the keynote speaker.

Guest speaker will be Professor David Kavanamur, chairman of the National Strategic Plan Taskforce that produced the PNG Vision 2050.

Hundreds are expected to turn-up at the University’s Vudal campus to get a glimpse of the ‘Father of the Nation’.

Since word of the possible presence of the Prime Minister at the ceremony spread two weeks ago, the campus has been a hive of activity, with staff and students alike preparing to receive him.

His presence adds significance to the annual ceremony which for the first time is being held in the beginning of the year unlike the traditional November ceremonies held previously.

Students from both of the University’s campuses - Vudal and Popondetta – will receive their qualifications.

The Grand Chief will witness the culmination of years of study and commitment of 126 students.

Damien Toki will graduate with a Masters degree in management while 13 of his postgraduate course mates will receive graduate certificates in management.

In the undergraduate stream, 23 students will receive bachelor degrees of tropical agriculture, while 89 students will receive diplomas in tropical agriculture. 45 of these diplomats come from the University’s Popondetta campus.

The students were originally scheduled to graduate two weeks ago; however, the ceremony was deferred after acting Secretary to the Department of Prime Minister & National Executive Council and Pro-Chancellor, Margaret Elias, advised Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru of the Prime Minister’s desire to personally attend the event.

Preparations for Sir Michael’s visit have not been restricted to the University. Local communities have cleaned up along the road and students from several primary schools have indicated that they will line up along the road with flags to welcome him this morning as he travels to the University campus.