Tourist numbers in Papua New Guinea drop dramatically: Sir Peter

Former Madang Governor and prominent tourism operator Sir Peter Barter says tourist numbers in Papua New Guinea have dropped dramatically.

Sir Peter, an outspoken former Health Minister, also reiterated his earlier calls for PNG to import Cuban doctors to serve in the rural areas of the country.

He was speaking at the Divine Word University open day in Madang today which was presided over by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane.

“Sadly today, despite what we read in the media, tourism has decreased dramatically not only in Madang and the Sepik, but throughout PNG with perhaps the exception of the Kokoda Track,” Sir Peter said.

“Visitor arrivals have increased but this is mainly as a result of other economic activities including the LNG projects. 

“Airlines are happy, hotels in Port Moresby may be happy but provincial tourist operators are seriously concerned over the decline.

“Students at DWU should delve into some of the obvious and not-so-obvious reasons why bona fide tourism is in decline.”

Sir Peter said it was also his intention to import initially 50 Cuban doctors to work with church health services to assess their effectiveness to improve rural health services.

“It was also to send 50 PNG students to Havana to train as rural doctors but equally, if not more important, was the development of a rural doctors programme at DWU,” he said.

“Whilst the Cuban concept remains stationary, I am pleased that DWU is moving ahead with its plan to train rural doctors.

“As Minister for Health, I had National Executive Council approval to fund K300 million to improve health infrastructure including hospitals, equipment and rural health services.  

“This was eroded down to K187m.

“Little of this money was released and as we all know our health service is in a terrible state. 

“As Minister, I introduced several legislations: that included the Health Service Management Act which effectively combined national, provincial and LLG health services and hospitals; and the Church Health Act which was to allow Churches to do what they do best and allow them to seek direct funding through donors and other sources and stand on their own two feet. 

“The National Aids Council Amendment provided a multi-sectoral council to coordinate the fight against HIV/Aids in PNG.

“In June, DWU will be hosting an important youth HIV/AIDS debate.

“This debate will be the first of its kind in PNG where all universities will be involved and already they have met and finalised the rules of engagement. 

“The debate will be opened by Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, and will be attended by the Health Minister and hopefully other leaders, but they will be here to listen to the educated youth, keeping in mind they are the most-likely to be effected by the HIV virus and together, we need to hear how the youth feel the Government should improve in awareness, treatment and care.”

Governor-General at sea

Governor General Sir Paulias Matane trying out his hand on the wheel of Melanesian Tourist Services vessel mv Kalibobo Spirit in Madang.

Divine Word University open day

Pictures of today's Divine Word University open day in Madang, which was presided over by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane.

Divine Word University urged to take lead in Ramu Nico conflict resolution

Caption: Governor General Sir Paulias Matane visiting a stall at the Divine Word University open day.-Picture courtesy of Sir Peter Barter

 

Former Madang Governor Sir Peter Barter has called on the Divine Word University in Madang to take the lead in conflict resolution at the Ramu Nico Mine in the province.

He made the today at the Divine Word University open day in Madang, which was attended by Governor General Sir Paulias Matane.

“In Madang, the Government has an agreement signed with MCC to develop the Ramu Nickel Mine, the process of evaluation of the mine and environment was all approved,” Sir Peter said.

“Promises were made for roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

“Just weeks before the multi-billion kina project was to begin production, a court order has stopped the project from proceeding due to doubts as to safe dispersing of the tailings.

“We now have NGOs springing up from nowhere that have planted their ideas in the minds of the people, most of whom are foreign NGOs being funded by foreigners targeting their anger at the Chinese. 

“They seem oblivious to the fact that the issues related to the environment were approved by scientists in or contracted by the Department of Environment and Conservation.

“On this issue, I am not taking sides, but I think in a place of higher education we should all act on the best advise available – if there is a risk to the environment then some other options should be considered, if in the calculated of independent experts it is safe, we must be very careful not to destroy the project.

“Perhaps, institutes like DWU can develop faculties to deal with conflict resolution, perhaps in the future DWU may have to look at introducing faculties to train environmentalists and mining engineers so PNG themselves can evaluate projects such as the Ramu Nico Mine?”

Sir Peter voiced his disappointment  that Madang business houses, who derived so much benefit from DWU, were noticeably absent on the open day.

“DWU has become one become a large industry in Madang,” he said.

“ By sheer size of the university, which is now the second largest in PNG, providing 4,000 meals a day and accommodation for 1,00 students and lecturers in what was a virtual swamp just 14 years ago is no mean achievement.  

“Madang has become the largest centre of learning outside the capital, Port Moresby – the combination of Lutheran School of Nursing, PNG Maritime College, Institute of Medical Research, Madang Teachers College, Madang Vocational Centre, College of Allied Health Science, St Fidelis all involved in providing tertiary education in what can only be described as an almost-perfect learning environment.”

Voco Point gets a new lease of life with hardware shop

Voco Point Hardware all dressed up for opening day on Saturday.-Pictures by GABRIEL LAHOC

First customers rushing into Voco Point Hardware

Customers checking out what is on offer at Voco Point Hardware

One of the first customers of Voco Point Hardware with a roll of wire

By GABRIEL LAHOC

The seafront of Voco Point in Lae is experiencing a renaissance of business activities, with Voco Point Hardware as the latest to set up shop at this once-bustling business hub of Morobe province.
Lae’s newest hardware shop was officially opened to the public yesterday at a ceremony witnessed by members of the public, clients and customers.
Operating as a subsidiary of Mukito Suppliers Ltd, Voco Point Hardware Ltd is a 100% nationally-owned hardware shop specialising in general, industrial, electrical and agricultural supplies.
From humble beginnings in Goroka, Voco Point Hardware brings competition to other hardware suppliers in Lae, with a strong faith to provide the best service and prices to customers.
The hardware shop may be small compared to other established hardware shops, however, the management is of the firm view that it is a very big achievement in terms of the ownership and investment by any Papua New Guinean.
“It’s a big achievement for all small nationally-owned businesses, as most times, these businesses have been overlooked by bigger foreign businesses,” said proprietor Allan Mandi, who started his path as a businessman in 2004 from his experience and a start-up capital of K900 finish pay from another hardware shop.
Voco Point Hardware is located at the junction of Frigate Street and Seagull Street, opposite Trends Beauty Saloon and The National Lae bureau office, and has current staff strength of 20 working under manager Charlie Lapila.
According to Mr Mandi, total staff strength including Mukito Supplies up in Goroka was 50.
Voco Point Hardware promises very-competitive prices and services, which includes special deliveries, with major clients from the rural districts services in Eastern Highlands province such as Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the University of Goroka.
“We can challenge the giants and create competition in this industry,” Mr Mandi said.
The official opening on Saturday, in line with the Christian background of the Mandi family, was led by Pastor Yakura Mandi, who emphasised that God had plans for everyone and everyone should have faith in God.

Investigation concludes at University of Goroka

The independent investigation team at the University of Goroka (UOG) for the past month concluded its investigations into the recent student boycott last Friday (April 30, 2010).

As directed by the UOG council, the three-member investigation committee comprising of Michael Gene, Prof Allan Easton and George Kuno was established to investigate several concerns outlined in an agreed terms of reference (TOR) document previously submitted by the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the National Academic Staff Association (NASA) containing issues related to the boycott of classes.

Chancellor of UOG, Benais Sabumei, said today (Sunday, May 02, 2010) that a report of the investigation’s findings would be formally presented to the UOG council at its next meeting.

 

 

NARI to release kaukau ensiling technology for pig farmers

Caption: Michael Dom of NARI (left) explaining the kaukau ensiling technology to Agriculture Minister and guests at Bubia recently.

 

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

 

Pig farmers in Papua New Guinea will know a new methodology for developing and preserving improved feed from sweet potato or kaukau which can be stored over longer periods before feeding pigs.

The methodology, known as ‘sweet potato silage for pig feed’, will be officially released to the PNG farming community on Wednesday (May 5) during the 2010 Agricultural Innovations Show organised by National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) at its Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre at Bubia outside Lae.

Other highlights of the occasion include a major stakeholder forum on preparing PNG for drought, launch of NARI’s national drought preparedness project and the display of a model resource centre which will be fully equipped with information and resources that will be made available to some 50 centres throughout drought-vulnerable regions of PNG.

The silage technology is a result of NARI’s research and development effort by its livestock programme to improve efficient use of feed by commercial pig growers.

Director for agriculture production systems improvement, Dr Sergie Bang, said kaukau silage developed though the technology could be stored for up to seven months with very simple equipment and relatively-low material costs.

Dr Bang said the technology also improved digestibility of feed, maintained good growth of pigs and potentially improved carcass quality and economic returns

He said the process of silage worked for kaukau in the trials conducted by NARI over the last few years, under both lowland and highland conditions.

“Fermentation acidity was measured at pH 4, which is an indication of high grade silage quality and when fed to pigs, kaukau silage has improved the digestibility of all feed nutrients,” he said.

“When silage was supplied as 50% of diet, digestibility was similar but the growth of pigs was expectedly lower than the sole grower ration.

“The kaukau mixed diet led to improved overall performance of pigs than those on traditional feeding options.”

Dr Bang said all materials needed for ensiling such as graters, bins and plastic sheets

could be easily obtained from agricultural stores in PNG.

The kaukau silage is made through ensiling techniques.

 Ensiling is a method of processing green and raw feed materials that enable their preservation and storage over many months.

Material that undergoes ensiling, known as silage, can provide a very-nutritious and highly-palatable meal for animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

The technology has been proven for pig feed in PNG using kaukau tubers and vines at NARI Labu and was then promoted to villagers and smallholder farmers from communities in which pigs are culturally and economically-prominent.

 Feeding kaukau tubers and vine to pigs is a popular practice by pig farmers in PNG. Growing feed for pigs or providing for pigs from the family garden is a laborious daily chore.

 Kaukau tubers are also cooked before being fed to pigs.

Preparing silage means that cooking pig feed will not be an added task, usually for women.

It is hoped that the ensiling techniques will help save time and labour by enabling pigs to be fed from the preserved and stored feed.

Silage contains feed nutrients, carbohydrates and proteins, from ingredient materials, which have been partially broken down by fermentation processes and are readily digested and absorbed by animals.

Proper ensiling and careful storage enables feed to be kept in good quality for feeding long after the growing season of the crop.

Other food crops such as cassava, cassava leaf, banana and legumes as well as agro-industrial by-products such as copra meal, corn and wheat mill run and rice bran can also be used for ensiling.

Two contact farmers in the highlands and their surrounding farmers have become keen users of this technology, since the silage process and feeding was demonstrated to them. 

They are Albert Kirimpa of Kainantu and Akilo Purunu of Tambul.

Mr Purunu is a semi-commercial pig farmer on whose farm the on-farm feeding trial was concluded.

Members of the Highlands Pig Growers Association from other parts of the Highlands have requested for this technology.