Highlands boasts high mineral content: Survey

A EUROPEAN Union (EU)-funded geological survey has found relatively high mineral potential in the country’s highlands region, The National reports.

The survey, covering Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highlands, was conducted by GEOMAP and the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).

GEOMAP is a five-year EU-funded project that is part of the mining sector support programme (MSSP) launched in 2006.

The survey data, presented by EU officials to Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, showed 48 elements including copper, gold, silver, zinc, chromium and nickel among other minerals.

EU acting head of delegation Dr Ray Beese said the project was to help the PNG government identify the mineral potential

of the country.

He said the project also included certain parts of Sepik and Madang, covering 40,000sqkm the last four years.

Beese said the geological survey in the Wabag area revealed quite interesting potential of copper and other minerals.

GEOMAP chief geologist Dr John Aspden said the survey was to help provide information to the mining sector.

“Eight mining companies, including Barrick, BHP and Rio Tinto have bought the data which is strategic information needed to mine the resources.

“The mineral potential is very high based on the results we have so far,” Aspden said.

“Because of Porgera, Yandera and Frieda mines, the survey worked in between these areas to identify new potential mineral deposits,” he said.

Abal, who is also Wabag MP, said he was alarmed by the number of prospects available in the highlands.

“We want to participate in mineral wealth and this kind of information is vital.

“The geological survey map gives the people and government a big advantage to plan ahead on how to participate in the projects,” Abal said.

“We welcome the EU support that will give investors the opportunity to do desk-top analysis on the data.”

University of Goroka stages 13th graduation ceremony

NCD Governor Powes Parkop addresses the 13th UOG graduation last Friday

By KATE GUNN of UOG

On Friday June 11, 2010, the University of Goroka hosted its 13th graduation ceremony.
A large crowd gathered at the campus to witness the graduation for a total 564 people.
They were officially welcomed by the Chancellor of UOG Benais Sabumei to the graduation.
Mr Sabumei highlighted the fact that UOG now had a full council and it was their special honour and privilege to be part of the graduation.
He encouraged all staff and students of the university to “work together to do everything possible to change the past history of instability by putting aside personal differences”.
Mr Sabumei concluded his welcome speech by congratulating the graduands on their achievement and advising them to give their best in their chosen professions with honesty, commitment and responsibility.
He then officially opened the graduation ceremony.
Acting vice chancellor David Avei-Hosea in his speech on the day commented on UOG’s highlights so far for the year.
These included the hosting of two of the first-ever international conferences held in PNG on dance and early childhood respectively.
Mr Avei-Hosea also congratulated the very first two graduands from the Diploma of Museum Studies course, a direct result of the partnership with the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby.
Acting director of the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery Meck Kuk was witness to the graduation, where he presented a cheque for K30, 000 to Mr Avei-Hosea as a donation to support the Pacific History Conference which will be hosted at UOG from Sept 12-16 this year.
Guest speaker at the graduation was Powes Parkop, MP, and Governor of NCD, who stated he was impressed by the number of graduands and the variety of degrees studied at the university.
He appealed to all at UOG to move forward and resolve conflict so the university could continue to play a pivotal role in education from the base of its rich history.
Mr Parkop strongly stated: “Our people and our nation need this university to continue to function [and] to produce graduates who will shape our nation and the future.”
He also commented on the need for an educated and skilled population for a prosperous nation. To conclude Mr Parkop reminded the graduands of the need for quality leadership in schools and the classroom to impact on students, co-workers and peers.
The ceremony also included the presentation of prizes awarded to graduands for leadership, academic excellence, teaching practice, professionalism and charity.
Entertainment for the ceremony was provided by Expressive Arts (music and dance) students in spectacular form.

Caught in the line of fire

Caption: Villager John Agaundo Bongro, 50, recovering at the Kundiawa General Hospital after he was shot at the roadblock. The bullet was said to have penetrated and smashed a bone below his right knee. Tension is still high in the area following the shooting.

 

MP denies shooting villager at roadblock

 

CHIMBU police are investigating an attempted highway robbery, the discharging of a firearm by a parliamentarian and the shooting of an elderly man on the Highlands Highway at the weekend, The National reports.

Highlands region police commander Simon Kauba said yesterday he had called for an investigation as relatives of the wounded man and the politician accused each other of starting the trouble as the situation remained tense overnight.

The MP told The National he had acted in self-defence to protect his family and K120, 000 in cash he was carrying by firing his licenced gun into the air to scare off people manning a roadblock at the Urinigle section of Highlands Highway in Kerowagi between 6.30pm and 7pm last Sunday.

“I did not shoot anyone; any medical report and police investigations will reveal the truth,” he said following claims by Urinigle clansmen that John Agaundo Bongro, 50, was shot at the roadblock and the bullet penetrated and smashed the bone below his right knee.

The politician said the money was pay for day labourers and five men, who knew he was carrying it, had attempted to steal it.

“I gave them K100 and, as I was trying to leave, another group hiding at the back came out and attacked,” he said, adding that Bongro might have received knife wounds from that attack.

He said by then, reinforcement from his tribe arrived at the scene and a fight broke out with both sides armed with knives, axes and firearms, prompting him to fire shots into the air.

The MP said he did not want further trouble and was negotiating with police to mediate for a peaceful solution and to iron out differences and any misunderstanding.

Provincial administrator Joe Kunda Naur had also asked for police to investigate and file a report at it involved a national leader.

Kunda Naur said from Kundiawa that Uringigle clansmen had officially complained to Kundiawa police that same day.

Bongro, who is in stable condition, said from the Kundiawa General Hospital bed yesterday he wanted a police investigation to determine who shot him.

“I want to go to court to ensure justice prevails and those responsible are prosecuted,” he said in Tok Pisin.

Eyewitnesses confirmed some parts of the MP’s version of events.

They said a group of young men, apparently drunk, had tried to stop the politician’s vehicle as it was passing.

They said two men travelling with the MP got out and assaulted them. Later, the MP gave the drunkards some money.

They said more trucks then arrived with the MP’s supporters and a fight broke out.

Eyewitness Francis Wauglabogl claimed Bongro was an innocent bystander who had gone to see what the fight was all about when he was shot.

 

Gunman kills 2 in marketplace

A LONE gunman went on a shooting rampage at a market in Komo, Southern Highlands, last Sunday, killing two people and wounding one, The National reports.

The shooting occurred at Kangulu village, a few kilometres from the site of the multi-billion-kina PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Work stopped temporarily but resumed on Monday, although the situation was still tense in the area.

Tari police said yesterday that the gunman had been angered at seeing his younger brother, who was drunk, being beaten up by the Sunday crowd.

Police said he rushed to his house, grabbed his home-made shotgun and opened fire into the busy, crowded market, killing an 18-year-old Grade 5 student instantly and a 16-year-old villager, who died in hospital the next day from wounds to the back of his head.

The third victim had his hand shot off and is receiving treatment at the Tari General Hospital.

Police identified the Aku Community School student as Sebby Tobale of Kukupalu village in Komo. The second victim was identified as Hangube Malai of Kangulu village.

The gunman has been arrested and locked up. He is yet to be charged.

LNG police security operations commander Jim Namora said yesterday he was concerned about the increase in alcohol-related crimes in Hela. Namora commended the MS 12 unit and the local Komo police, headed by a regular and 10 auxiliary, for their efforts in responding swiftly in apprehending the suspect.

 

 

Judge fumes over editorial

NATIONAL Court judge Justice Bernard Sakora has taken offence to The National newspaper’s editorial of last Friday, describing it yesterday as work of “many half-baked bush lawyers”, The National reports.

An obviously annoyed Sakora said if these so-called experts, who pretend to know the imminences of the sentencing functions of the court had their way, “I would not be here”.

The editorial suggested that the sentence imposed on William Kapris for the Metals Refining Robbery was lenient.

Sakora said: “These people pretend to know the law, particularly the law in relation to sentencing of a felon . . . and who don’t know anything about the facts of a particular case.

“There is the need to have mitigating and accurate factors, before the court could exercise its discretion, starting with section 19 of the Constitution and the Criminal Code Act.”

He said that the accused would not have the benefit of a lawyer, or ex parte matters before him, like mitigating factors – did they plead guilty of not?

Or, did they go to trial?

The effects of pleading guilty – did they cooperate with police?

“All these matters that we go through in the criminal courts everyday; the lawyers and we judges go through.

“These are called sentencing processes.”

Sakora said that criminal sentencing process was not just about getting the offence that was defined by the Criminal Code, looking at the punishment that was prescribed and imposing it.

He said The National editorial did not have enough facts, thus it was “precipitated, impulsive and ill-informed commentary”.

Three new knights named

REVEREND Samson Lowa has been recognised for services to education, community and United church as bishop and moderator and honoured with a knighthood, The National reports.

Sir Samson is one of three Papua New Guinea named as new knights in the Queen’s Birthday Honours which also recognised 83 others with lesser awards.

The other knight bachelor recipients were Paul Songo and Dadi Mahuru Toka – Songo in recognition for public service as departmental head, diplomat and public sector reform leader while Toka was recognised for his contributions to the Motu-Koita community, Port Moresby and sports.

Speaker Jeffrey Nape received the order of St Michael and St George for service to the community and politics.

Four CBE recipients were Nasfund chairman John Jeffery for community services, Dr John Moxon for service to agriculture, Dr Timothy Pyakalyia for service to public health and administration and Dr Philip Siaguru for service to forestry and education.

Those made officers of the British Empire (OBE) were George Arua, Mark Bennett, Boio Daro, Damien Gamiendu, Rev Paul Jennings, Bill Kua, Iamo Launa, Glen Murphy, Rev Ranyeta Nepo, Tony Poliak, Sister Annette Parker, Ivan Pomaleu and Theresa Williams.

Twenty-five people were awarded the MBE, two the Imperial Service Order and 35 the British Empire Medal.

In the military division Col Tokam Kanini was awarded an OBE for his service to the Defence Force while Thomas Raivet, Lt-Col Otto Pandum and Major Angela Manjor received the MBE.

The Queen’s police medal was awarded to Chief Supt Mark Kanawi and Supt Anthon Billie for service to the PNG Constabulary.

 

 

Cholera hits Kupiano, 2 cases positive

TWO people from Kupiano in Central’s Abau district have tested positive at the weekend, fuelling threats of more increases in the area if the cholera situation worsens, The National reports.

Medical response coordinator for the NCD cholera task force Dr Nicko Wuata said the two were among six admitted to the cholera treatment centre at the St John Hospital in Gerehu on Sunday.

And one person from Koki in NCD was among the weekend admissions.

Wuatai said of the six admitted, three were from Central; one from Bereina in Kairuku and two from Kupiano in Abau district.

He said the two from Kupiano were very sick as they had to travel long distances to get to the treatment centre, and tested positive for cholera, adding the situation there was very serious.

NCD cholera task force leader Dr Timothy Pyakalyia said suspected cases for NCD had gone past 750 as of last Thursday.

 “Our problem still remains; we cannot solve the problem, but to prevent it.

“People must protect their water sources and look after themselves by practicing good hygiene.”

St John officers have gone to Kupiano to set up a cholera treatment centre there to cater for the increasing number of patients from the area.

The Four Square, Salvation Army and Seventh-Day Adventist churches and St John staff have stepped in to assist Central health authorities with manpower to work at the Kupiano Health Centre.