Pictures of Prime Minister arriving at Toku Airport, Kokopo, on the new Falcon jet

Above are pictures of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare arriving at Tokua Airport, Kokopo, on the new Falcon jet for the 13th graduation ceremony of the University of Natural Resources and Environment last Friday.

Pictures of Rapopo Beach Resort

Pictures of the beachfront at Rapopo Beach Resort in Kokopo, East New Britain province, last Friday.

Pictures of the Rabaul volcanoes

Pictures of the Rabaul volcanoes as seen from Rapopo Beach Resort in Kokopo last Friday.

Prime Minister Somare to visit New Zealand

 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will welcome the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Michael Somare, when he visits New Zealand from April 19 to 23.

"Sir Michael's visit will underline New Zealand's close relationship with Papua New Guinea," says Mr Key.

 "We have a large aid and development relationship, enjoy defence co-operation and share commercial and business linkages. New Zealand has also helped with security and infrastructure in Bougainville following the peace process in the late 1990s.

 "I look forward to discussing with Sir Michael his views on Papua New Guinea's economic development, particularly with the new liquified natural gas project.

 "As the Pacific's longest-serving leader Sir Michael's knowledge and experience of the region is invaluable."

 While in New Zealand Sir Michael will also meet with Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, business leaders, academics and members of the Papua New Guinea community in New Zealand.

 

 

Graduands urged to be agents of change

Graduating students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment at Vudal in East New Britain province have been urged to be agents of change.

 Vision 2050 chairman Prof David Kavanamur (pictured) urged the graduands to become key agents of change towards attaining the vision and mission statement contained in Papua New Guinea Vision 2050.

 “Our vision: ‘We will be a smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy society by 2050’,” Prof Kavanamur said.

 “Our mission statement: ‘We will be ranked in the top 50 countries in the United Nations human development index by 2050, creating opportunities for personal and national advancement through economic growth, smart innovative ideas, quality service and ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of benefits in a safe and secure environment for all citizens’.

 “Your country, the independent state of Papua New Guinea is now calling upon your knowledge, skill sets, values and nationalism that UNRE has inculcated into your being for attaining the country’s overarching strategic intent.

 “It is encouraging indeed to note that PNG UNRE has already aligned itself to the implementation of Vision 2050.”

 Prof Kavanamur said in strategic planning, once the strategy was set, the next challenge was strategy execution.

 He said the UNRE had captured all seven pillars of Vision 2050 which were human capital development and people empowerment;  wealth creation and natural resources;  service delivery;  environmental sustainability and climate change;  spiritual, cultural and community development; strategic planning; and bio-security and food security.

 “What’s more, the university’s name, following your timely and smart rebranding strategy, reflects the PNG Vision 2050,” Prof Kavanamur said.

 “The name, the Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment, will be recorded in the annals of history and talked about for a long time to come.”

 Prof Kavanamur said the Vision 2050 team recognised that natural resources held so much untapped potential.

 “We recognised much earlier on that enclave industries like mining, oil and gas would never provide all the employment or business opportunities that would satisfy our people’s aspirations or even at the least be effective mediums for equitable distribution of national goods and services,” he said.

 “Contrary to popularly held views, the key lies in unlocking the potential in our renewable natural resources sector through positive empowerment and engagement of our people.

 “We all know too well that is conservatively estimated that around 90% of Papua New Guineans depend on income from coffee, cocoa, palm oil, copra and food crops to make a living for themselves.

 “A very large percentage of this takes place in the informal sector.

 “Compare this to our mining, oil and gas sector which employs less than 50,000 workers across the entire country and your have a perspective on this paradox.”

 Prof Kavanamur told the graduands that they were skilled in the area of natural resources and environment management and had an important role to play in society.

 “In addition, the Somare-Temu Government has deliberately asked us to come up with staretegies to ensure the rapid expansion of four key economic sectors: agriculture, eco-forestry, coast fisheries and eco-tourism,” he said.

 “All these sectors fall within your area of training.

 “In order to fully realise the value of our natural resources, we need to move downstream and position ourselves further along the value chain, thereby creating more local jobs and higher value from our existing renewable resources.

 “This is the real challenge in Vision 2050, to identify and empower more-creative people within our society who will move into these production sectors and progress the transformation.”

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.