Snakebite victim flown to Madang

The snakebite victim being rushed into Modilon Hospital from the helicopter.-Picture courtesy of SIR PETER BARTER

By MALUM NALU

A pregnant mother of four from Igos, near Mikarew in the Bogia district of Madang was medevaced to Modilon Hospital on Sunday after she was bitten by a suspected death adder.

She was in very serious condition.

Civil Aviation Authority manager Tony Duba contacted Sir Peter Barter and organised Dr John Maihua to fly with Sir Peter in the Melanesian Foundation helicopter to Igos and bring the patient back to Madang.

She is reported to be recovering but according to Dr Maihua has lost her baby.

The Melanesian Foundation is a non-profit organisation that depends on Sir Peter and his company, Melanesian Tourist Services, to largely fund a number of projects including the operating costs of the helicopter where no charge is made but hopefully, costs of fuel will be paid to recover the high costs of maintaining a helicopter.

“The Melanesian Foundation has also funded the replacement of the Gaubin Hospital roof on Karkar Island,” Sir Peter said.

“The consignment of roofing is expected to arrive in Madang from Lae this week when it will be trans-shipped to Karkar so work can begin on replacement of the existing roof which was installed more than 50 years ago.

“The cost of the replacement roofing is estimated to be around K150, 000.”

Enough is enough of National Alliance and Somare

The Opposition has congratulated Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather on his decision to quit the Government over the controversial amendments to the Environment Act 2000 passed recently by Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta said the bold decision taken by Mr Fairweather demonstrated that he was prepared to put aside his personal political interests to protect Papua New Guinea and its citizens.

Sir Mekere said Mr Fairweather’s decision to quit Government would be applauded by the vast majority of Papua New Guineans.

Last Wednesday (June 16 2010), Mr Fairweather, a member of the People’s National Congress Party, announced his resignation from the Government because he did not like the changes to the environment laws.

Mr Fairweather’s statement is telling:  “It is a controversial law. Procedures were not followed in the passage of the bill. I do not want people 70 years down the line to say that their forefathers did not do the right thing by them. The changes were bulldozed through Parliament and it took away the rights of the people to seek justice in court. This is dictatorial and against every principle a democracy stands for,” Mr Fairweather said.

The amendments in effect mean that the Director of the Environment Department’s decision on Environment Permits and related issues is final and cannot be challenged or reviewed in any court or tribunal, even if companies cause environmental damage through negligence.

Commending Mr Fairweather’s stance, Sir Mekere called on all concerned leaders in the Government to seriously reconsider their support for the current leadership.

“We urge other leaders in Government who have genuine concern for the welfare and interest of PNG to withdraw their support and stand out to be counted true leaders.

“The passage of the Environment Amendment Bill is in the interest of the Ramu Nickel Mine only. It is another example of public policy making dictated by foreign interests. People of PNG will pay dearly for this,” the former prime minister stressed.

Sir Mekere said that the manner in which the Government had bulldozed these amendments through was similar to legislation on arrangements regarding the PNG LNG project that the Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare had bulldozed through Parliament.

He noted with grave concern what he described as a dangerous trend where ministers of state were being turned into marketing managers and facilitators of foreign multinational corporations and interests.

“As elected representatives of our people we are duty bound and morally obliged to do our utmost best to put our nation’s interest ahead of personal and vested interests.

“A band of National Alliance party members together with the Prime Minister have sold this country under the pretext of PNG’s economic gains. In PNG’s national interest this Government should not be allowed to continue in office.

“Just as the majority of people will support Mr Fairweather’s move, they will also agree with the comments published by Professor John Nonggorr last week.  Prof Nonggorr gave very clear legal and ethical reasons why Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare should stand down.  Members of Parliament should heed the views of the people and follow Hon Fairweather by withdrawing support for Somare and Company,” Sir Mekere said.

Morauta condemns Marat assassination plot

Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta has described the alleged assassination plot against former Attorney General and Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat as a most-worrying development in Papua New Guinea politics.

Sir Mekere has called on the police and all relevant state law-enforcing agencies to urgently investigate the matter.

He expressed concern that the apparent plot to kill Dr Marat was linked to Dr Marat’s statements against the Government, exposing corruption and criticising certain aspects of the multi-billion kina PNG LNG and Ramu Nickel.

“It is a very serious and frightening development if the Government or its agents are using such measures to silence critics.   

“The revelation of an assassination plot against Dr Allan Marat should not be taken lightly. It is a very serious matter that demands most immediate and appropriate action by relevant state agencies.

“Why should elected leaders who speak their mind freely on issues of national importance be subject to threats?” the former prime minister asked.

“This is a serious matter. It involves life and death. Therefore it calls for immediate police action to investigate and establish the validity of the assassination plot and take immediate measures to both counter it and deal with any perpetrators,” Sir Mekere said.

“At the same time I urge leaders not to be deterred by such tactics.  They should strengthen our resolve to expose the evils of the current Government, not silence us.”

 

 

I'm still waiting for an apology and compensation from Timothy Bonga

Three years on and I’m still waiting…”hello, is Timothy Bonga out there?”

 Now that Timothy Bonga has been recycled as MP for Nawaeb, and made chairman of the Powerful Public Accounts Committee, perhaps he can apologise to me and compensate me for the beating that I received at his hands in 2007 before the elections.

The Taiwanese government and media have also implicated Timothy Bonga and Dr Florian Gubon in the US $30 million deal from money that was supposed to come to Papua New Guinea.

Apart from that scam, the good people of Nawaeb and the rest of Papua New Guinea should know that for no apparent reason, outgoing Eda Ranu executive chairman Mr Bonga harassed, insulted, and then assaulted me at the Lamana Gold Club on Friday evening, May 4, 2007.

The incident happened as I was about to leave Lamana after a few “Happy Hour” drinks with workmates.

Mr Bonga confronted me as I was leaving – out of the blues - and accused me of working together with Lae MP and New Generation Party leader Bart Philemon to bring him down.

He made reference to the recent newspaper reports about his payout from Eda Ranu.

I denied this, saying that I was no longer working as a fulltime journalist (I was working with Small Business Development Corporation at that time), and walked out to catch a taxi, but Mr Bonga followed me outside where he punched me, pushed me to the ground, and then proceeded to kick me in full view of security guards.

I suffered a black eye, a sore face and a painful back.

This was a criminal matter, which I wanted to pursue further with police, but decided not to, lest his election chances be jeopardised.

In true Papua New Guinea style, it is only fitting that Mr Bonga compensate me, my family, and my friends, given that he has already received his big pay cheque from Eda Ranu , is now Nawaeb MP and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and has publicly confirmed benefiting from Taiwanese money.

AusAID in Papua New Guinea: any way forward from here?

From PAUL OATES

This is the final article by PAUL OATES analysing matters raised in the recently published Review of Australian Aid to PNG

IN ITS PREFACE the Review states that its overall aim is "to consider and recommend how Australia's aid can most effectively contribute to Papua New Guinea's current, medium and long-term development priorities."
In my first article, I examined claims that the PNG public sector was ineffectual and not delivering intended government services because of reasons including failures of leadership, management, strategy, knowledge, and capacity. And a bunch of other factors that suffocate good governance.
I proposed that, to achieve real results, full control by Australian departments over some areas of aid expenditure might be considered on an interim basis.
The second article looked at an existing AusAID performance report in the context of the recent aid review and showed why it has not been possible to initiate a results-based programme or effectively monitor the use of AusAID funds.
The main problem in appraisal is the interweaving of Australian aid funds into PNG government programmes. The PNG government operations are unable to be properly monitored or assessed simply because there are no effective mechanisms to do so.
Despite this, the Review remains bullish, saying: "There is a shared commitment to act." Well tally-ho, but where?
It seems to me, after scrutinising and weighing these reports, that changes to the status quo are unlikely to occur in the near future.
Details on the website www.dfat.gov.au/geo/png/sgp.html explain how, at the 2008 Australia-PNG ministerial forum in Madang, it was agreed that the continued placement of senior and experienced officials in the PNG public sector would help accountability and good governance.
A previous Australian government programme was renamed Strongim Gavman [strengthening government]. This program was to be run from Canberra with this remit:"Our officials are focused on providing strategic and policy advice and on building capacity in the PNG public service, including through mentoring to improve the knowledge and skills of PNG staff."
In other words, there was a new name but essentially no change to how the aid programme is run. Therein lies the current dilemma.
The review highlights changes in the level of aid Australia gives to PNG, which has fallen in real terms since independence. It is stated:"There are signs that PNG is diversifying to other donors. 2010 PNG budget documents put Australian aid at 68% of the total. China has started to provide aid."
Prime Minister Somare has publicly declared a 'Look North' policy and the PNG Opposition Leader has claimed China is bribing PNG leaders. While Australian aid has been maintained at a steady level, it remains highly fragmented.
Since 1999, per capita spending by the PNG government on health and education has decreased from K140 to K40. While PNG's GDP has substantially risen, spending per capita has remained at virtually the same level as at independence. The Review states:"Education, health and infrastructure have long been important sectors for Australian aid. In the last decade, governance has become an increasingly important area. Over the period 1975 to 2002, 27% of Australia's aid went to education, 24% to infrastructure, 12% to health, and 21% to governance (AusAID, 2003).
"The main change over the last decade has been in the area of governance, where the share of total aid spending almost doubled from 20% in 1999-00 to 36% in 2009-10.3 Health has increased its share of the aid programme (thanks to new HIV/AIDS spending), but education and infrastructure have both seen a significant decline."
In other words, real spending on education and health (other than on HIV/AIDS) has decreased while spending on governance has increased. Yet the same review suggests that PNG governance has been steadily worsening. Clearly the switch has not had the desired effect.
So what opportunities are there to change the current regime? In 2010-2011 it is estimated that official Australian aid to PNG will be $457 million. Yet under the situation revealed in the Review, this amount will virtually disappear without any real benefit to the PNG or Australian people.
On the web page www.ausaid.gov.au/country/partnership.cfm under the heading 'Mutual Respect', it is stated that:"Australia and partners will also acknowledge accountability to our respective Parliaments for the impact and effective use of development assistance."
Yet how can accountability to the Australian Parliament be discharged when AusAID has publicly acknowledged it is not possible to monitor the impact and effective use of aid given to PNG?
It seems there will be no opportunity this year to review the current bilateral arrangements at the highest political level because the Rudd government cancelled the annual ministerial forum with PNG. The official explanation was that this was due "to limitations on ministerial travel in an election year." Hmmm.
Unless AusAID can effect major changes to its PNG operations, it appears another $457 million will go the same way as the previous billions and disappear into a big black hole that is the PNG government.

Papua New Guinea police needs total reinventing

By REG RENAGI

With so much public criticisms directed against poor performances by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in recent times, the government must now direct the police hierarchy to implement key recommendations of a so-called police review done over some two years ago.

There appears to be no progress reports to date whether the police is in fact implementing what this review recommends among other things to drastically improve the constabulary’s overall operational performance

It is not clear what the PNG government expects of its police force other than do its traditional job of enforcing the ‘rule of law’.

It is time the government focus all its efforts to developing a professional police institution distinct from the defence force or military and be responsible for internal security.

In future, PNG must create a more dispersed, visible, accessible and service-orientated police force which will frequently interact and gently with the community; and society.

The new-look future police force‘s primary duty will be to protect citizens and property.

The government must aim to totally professionalise the whole police institution.

We must plan now to make our future police force to be:

· More effective and integrate efforts to de-politicise the police

· Strengthen it capacity ‘to enforce the law’

· Maintain public order with the minimum of physical force

· Made more accountable and law abiding, humane and closely integrated into our civil community

· Make it more politically autonomous and responsive to community needs

· Develop leadership, organisation, training systems, transportation and communications systems and appropriate equipment

· Improve its capability to conduct urban, rural, border patrol operations (with the defence force if need be), investigations of varying degree of complexity and sophistication

· Make it more politically-autonomous and responsive to community needs

· Professionally managed from the top down, is adequately trained, equipped and rewarded; and

· Other specialised functions.

This is not hard to do if we can better organise future police reforms by fully using domestic resources and further complement these initiatives through required international support in certain specialised and technical areas of police science.

An obvious resource area that the government has overlooked for many years that we should have already fully tapped into a long time ago is to fully engage former government, military and police members as well as current members of the constabulary and the community.

Burning rage

The remains of the dormitory that was built on high posts. Only the iron roof and metal beds and lockers did not go up in smoke.-Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Involvement by cult group claim probed

By WALLACE KIALA in The National

CLASSES at the Mainohana Catholic Secondary School in Central’s Bereina were suspended last Friday after a male dormitory was razed by arsonists last Wednesday night.
The dormitory houses 110 Grade 9 and 10 students.
The school has informed the police that more than 10 students, allegedly practising cult activities, were responsible for the arson.
Some names of students have been given to police who are investigating the claim.
The fire started about midnight when most of the students were asleep.
“Luckily for the students, they escaped unhurt,” deputy principal Sr Antoinette Ake told The National last Friday.
Ake said the students, who had lost all their personal belongings, had to sit for the Grade 10 written expression examination last Thursday.
“While a handful managed to grab one or two bags and run to safety, most of them were left with only what they wore,” he said.
While the situation was tense at the school from last Thursday morning to Friday, Ake said Bereina police would be patrolling the school frequently in the next few weeks.
Central police criminal investigations division and forensic teams were at the school last Friday for investigations and would be working closely with the local Bereina police to nab the arsonists.
Deputy principal (administration) Poni Kila said the school was suspended for two weeks before the term break (term 2) to enable the school to prepare temporary accommodation for the students.
“The fire has not greatly affected the general operations of the school as help is already on its way from Australia where a team from the De La Salle brothers is coming to carry out maintenance to one or two unused buildings in the school to accommodate the students,” he said.
Central education officials also inspected the school last Thursday and conducted their own investigations.
The school is run by the De La Salle brothers and was established more than 60 years ago.