Manus island community promoting self-help

Story and pictures by SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

The people of M’buke Island in Manus province have been praised for their efforts in initiating several self-help projects.

 M’buke islanders on their traditional outrigger canoes welcome the visitors to the launching

 Director for New Guinea Islands region with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Tom Peni, said the M’buke community had shown that hard work, commitment and patience would bring positive results.

 DAL director for NGI, Tom Peni, and other visitors arriving to a typical Manus style welcome on M’buke island

 He commended the villagers for their initiative in establishing a number of integrated self-help projects to bring development to the area and added that it should be regarded as a model for other disadvantaged communities in the province.

 Peni was speaking during an official launching at M’buke last week attended by representatives of various agencies including DAL, National Agriculture Research Institute, PNG Sustainable Development Program, World Wide Foundation and others. M’buke Island, comprising 13 atolls with a population of around 1, 000 and about 98 km from Lorengau town on the mainland, has survived with resilience from natural and environmental hardship with limited government assistance.

 The community through the M’buke Island Peoples Association has secured its own funding to establish or initiate projects on health, food security, conservation, culture and education.

Their commitment has inspired various agencies, private sector, non-government organisations, individuals and others to provide assistance in one way or another.

 DAL food security director Brown Konabe, on behalf of the DAL Secretary Anton Benjamin, launched a solar water pump system funded at a cost of K30, 000, whilst DAL Mamose region director Masayan Moat launched the coconut replanting programme. Other events included the launching of an improved agricultural technologies project implemented by NARI with funding support from PNGSDP, aid post, double classrooms, two outrigger canoes and a scholarship fund.

 In his address, Peni said the M’buke group of islands situated in the south coast of Manus was vulnerable to the effects of land degradation, declining crop yields and food shortages.

Their main livelihoods are mostly based on fishing and trading.

However, the people have mobilised themselves through the association to raise their own funds and initiate development projects.

A lot of effort has been made by the M’buke community living and working in Port Moresby and elsewhere to raise funds.

Peni commended the community for the outstanding work so far and also involving other stakeholders.

This is a classic example of commitment by individuals and groups to commence projects and seek assistance afterwards.

He said others should look at the M’buke concept and introduce it into their communities. Peni said the association objectives were also in line with the government’s policies and strategies and demonstrated how the public-private partnership could work to achieve long-term and sustainable livelihood.

He assured the community that DAL would work closely with the provincial administration to provide technical assistance to support agriculture initiatives.

 Peni said the solar water pump would help in providing water for drinking, which was a major problem faced by island communities.

He urged the community to look after the facilities.

On the coconut replanting, Peni said coconut was a vital commodity and needed to be promoted vigorously as a cash crop and source of food.

He said the M’buke community had taken the lead to replant and rehabilitate senile coconut trees and urged relevant agencies including Kokonas Indastri Koporesen to support the initiatives.

 Village chief Luke Polangou described the launching of not only one but several projects as a wonderful and historical occasion and praised the M’buke community in Manus and Port Moresby for their support and commitment.

He said the efforts were a result of working in partnership to achieve sustainable livelihood for the people.

 He called on relevant agencies to consider the self-help initiatives undertaken by the M’buke community and provide more support.

 One of the guests who travelled from Port Moresby was Dr Neil Stronach, representative of WWF Western Melanesia Programme based in Papua New Guinea, and officiated in the launching of two outrigger canoes; spoke on the need to make wise decisions regarding conservation and protection of the environment.

He urged the people to use their natural resources wisely for the sake of their future generation.

 Dr Stronach and other officials from DAL were taken to a small group of islands known as Purdy islands where the community is planning to make them wildlife protected area due to its rich marine life.

DAL also plans to rehabilitate rundown coconut trees on one of the islands.

Agricultural scientist recognised for long service

Dr John Moxon


By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

A prominent agricultural scientist who has spent his entire professional life in Papua New Guinea for over three decades has been recognised  for his contributions towards agricultural development in the country.

He is Dr John Edwin Moxon, a senior National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) scientist based at Keravat at the Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES).

 Dr John  Moxon receives a gift from a staff member for his long service to LAES Keravat during its 80th anniversary in 2008

Dr Moxon was among those listed on Queen’s Birthday award list last month.

 He will be awarded the Commander of British Empire (CBE) for services to agriculture and to NARI in particular.

The award will be conveyed on July 12.

Dr Moxon is a household name in the Gazelle Peninsula and Rabaul areas of East New Britain. Currently, he is the man behind the development of PNG’s galip nut industry.

This is a new innovation in the making, promising to become a lucrative revenue and income earner for Papua New Guineans for many years to come once the industry gets into full swing. Galip is valued at around US$300 million industry at the world market and grows only in PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  

Dr Moxon, 58, from Yorkshire, England, first arrived in the country in 1980 as a young agriculturalist straight after his PhD in Entomology from the Royal Holloway College, University of London.

Upon recruitment by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, his first posting was in East New Britain at LAES, a place he has lived and worked ever since.

 He started as an entomologist, dealing with pests and diseases of a range of food and tree crops. He led a team of scientists, both expatriates and nationals, in various capacities, including as LAES team leader 1986-1993 with major responsibilities in scientific and administrative management of the farming systems research programme for the wet lowlands of PNG. 

From 1993 to 2000, Dr Moxon worked with the PNG Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute (now PNG Cocoa Coconut Institute) as its chief executive officer.

His work on cocoa resulted in scientific development and commercial release of the first hybrid cocoa clones for PNG now commercially achieving four tonnes dry bean cocoa per hectare, arguably amongst the best-available in the world.

After PNGCCI, Dr Moxon returned to LAES in 2000, this time under NARI as the research programme leader, a job he has held to this date, taking leadership in scientific research for development, focusing on food and cash crop research for food security and income generation for the wet lowlands areas of PNG.

He continues to contribute to the cocoa industry, especially towards the cocoa pod borer pest through strategic management and crop diversification programs.

In 1993, Dr Moxon received a certificate of service from the Government of PNG.

He is married to Wendy from Nonga village in East New Britain province and has three children.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea riding the same wave

By NEWMAN CUTHBERT

It is not too difficult to work out that Papua New Guinea and Fiji are using different surf boards but are catching and riding the same wave.

The military regime in Fiji could not have found a better time to announce the decree which places the future of Fiji Times in a critical position, than the same hour when PNG was making a mockery of the parliamentary democracy.

This was the same hour when PNG was blatantly misleading parliament to entertain a motion that merely sought the consent of the house for candidate for the Governor General’s post and turning it into an actual vote unbeknown to the members.

It seems that in the confusion they all forgot that this case could well be a clear breach of parliamentary privilege and the mover of the motion and its seconded should be referred to the parliamentary privileges committee for misleading parliament.

But the privilege that you and I have for which we cannot be referred to that same committee is this and the fact that we are able to pen our views on any subject without being gagged and regulated against.

And this is where I am led to openly express a profound feeling of guilt for not speaking out enough for our colleagues in Fiji especially at the Fiji Times at their hour of need.

I can only imagine  what it must be like  for  fellow  journalists and staff of Fiji Times in a delicate balancing act  between the ethics of journalism and trying to pull  together  to uphold the principals of  free press while at the same time trying to explain to their  children that that Bainimarama  is giving them the rope to hang themselves.

We in the news business in PNG have come close to that situation but I suppose to make any moves against the Post-Courier or The National would cause a public revolt   and you and I know that we too have friends in high places.

But I have absolutely no idea as to what has prevented us from speaking out for our colleagues in Fiji.

Bainimarama’s focus has been on the most-powerful firepower in the free world and that is the press.

He has now resorted to a military tactic where he is up against a superior enemy and finding that he cannot match them fire for fire, he is cutting off their supply line.

Rupert Murdoch is just as able a commander as Bainimarama himself and Murdoch has not fired his first shot.

This fight is also our fight and we have not engaged you.

If the Fiji Press cannot speak out, we should be that mouth piece.

Sir Julius upset over delays in resource laws review

Sir Julius...the Government should stop playing “deaf-ear” and take heed of growing resource-owner concerns.

By HENZY YAKHAM 

Papua New Guinea is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of mineral boom with so much hype of the economic gains that has the potential to transforming the socio-economic conditions of the country.

Inevitably, comes with the developments in the extractive industries sector, are landowner related concerns and issues, which have similarly attracted much debate in recent times than ever before.

Concerns over resource ownership, mining royalties, equity participation, and benefit sharing and related issues have taken from the back burner to the forefront as more and more resources owners are aware of their rights to gain maximum benefit from their land, sea and environment.

This has been particularly so following the experiences of Misima gold mine in Milne province, the forced closure of the Panguna mine on Bougainville as well as currently operating Ok Tedi and Tolukuma mines.

Experiences of Misima and Panguna mines, not exactly the same, have many similarities and provided customary landowners, local communities and their provincial governments some valuable lessons.

Concerns of landowner benefits, equity participation, Special Support Grants (SSG) to provincial governments and the National Government not honoring its commitments and obligations in signed Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) with provincial governments are still pressing issues to be resolved.

Since the gold rush day of Bulolo, Eddie Creek and Koranga in Morobe province in the early 1920s, customary landowners PNG-wide have been crying foul over poor treatment by miners over royalties, preferential employment and business opportunities for local communities , equity participation, tax credit schemes and benefit sharing arrangements.

These issues will continue to be hot potatoes as long as mining activities continue in PNG.

Whist there is much excitement and fanfare with promises of much economic gains from PNG’s huge mineral resources, the National Parliament is yet to deal with a motion initiated by New Ireland Governor and former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan that seek some revolutionary changes to the Mining Act 1992.

One of the underlying objectives of the motion is that Sir Julius believes that in these fast-changing 21st Century times, law makers need to review the laws relating to resource exploitation.

Another is that Papua New Guinea should not allow itself to be raped of its vast natural resources by multi-national corporations under outdated laws and regulations.

Instead, Sir Julius proposes appropriate changes in resource laws in line with the true wishes and aspirations of the people on whose lands these vast natural resources are found.

The over-orchestrated myth by some people including politicians that PNG’s current laws governing the extraction of mineral, oil, gas and resources are sufficient is absurd and a total nonsense.

Why?

Because, in general, the existing laws do not favour the resource owners.

 It disadvantages the resource owners, making them minor recipients of benefits from resources derived on and in their customary land.

Not only the landowners miss out, but if benefits are reaching them, sometimes it takes months and even years for promised goods and services to arrive.

The National Government had failed in some instances to honor its commitments to provinces where it has entered into agreements with commitments of Special Support Grants and other funds for the provinces.

Lihir Gold Mine in the New Ireland province is a classical example.

Since the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Government and the New Ireland Provincial Government in 1995, the former had failed over the years to fully honor its commitments as per the MOA. 

The fact that Waigani failed over the years to fully honor its commitments has resulted in the people of Lihir and New Ireland province in general missing out on infrastructure projects and socio-economic benefits generated by those projects.

That MOA specifies for among others the National Government to allocate each year major infrastructure grants, SSG and major infrastructure projects.

The major infrastructure projects include an international airport, an international seaport, a modern well-equipped hospital at Namatanai and major redevelopment and sealing of the Bulminski Highway.

To date, none of these projects have been undertaken since the signing of the MOA in 1995.

As well, the New Ireland people through their provincial government have missed out on a lot of opportunities.

National Government owes the New Ireland provincial government over K400 million in outstanding infrastructure grants.

Divide that by 15 years from 1995 when the MOA was signed and find that the province has been missing out on up to K26 million annually.

If all the grants were paid on time and if use properly, imagine what New Ireland province would be like now, or for that matter provinces where major resource development projects are taking place.

Considering these and other outstanding cases, the motion by Sir Julius, when passed by parliament will not only resolve the outstanding claims or entitlements of the NIP, but also for existing as well as new projects in the country.

It is over one year this month that Sir Julius gave Notice of Motion for the comprehensive review of the Mining Act 1992 to transfer all natural resources ownership to landowners.

The motion, seconded by Bulolo MP Sam Basil, in whose electorate the new Hidden Valley and Wafi gold mines are coming up, is to move for the National Government to review the ownership of minerals as part of a comprehensive review of the Mining Act 1992.

The review calls for among others:

•           Review the decisions by the State to reduce the rate of Special Support Grant (SSG) calculations from 1% to 0.25% and demand the state to immediately restore the 1% special support grants (SSG) will full compensation to be paid to affected provinces retrospectively to the date of the Governments unilaterally, without consulting the stakeholders or invoking settlement of dispute under Terms of the MOA;

•           SSG calculation be increased from 1% to 10% of annual FOB sales revenue and that SSG be given untied;

•           The principle of derivation revenue (5%) paid to provinces be applied also to mineral exports;

•           The rate of mineral royalty payment be increased from 2% to 5% of annual FOB sales revenue;

•           The 10% equity option offered to Provincial Government and the landowners be fully carried by the State;

•           The supply and procurement of goods and services from within PNG be transferred from within the province where the mining operation is located so that GST to the provinces is maximised;

•           Tax credit scheme be supplemented with more favourable arrangements to enable linking infrastructures to be established right from day one of the mining operations;

•           Mining companies contribute at least 10% of the value of further expansion costs not originally planned for that many prolong the payment of corporate tax;

•           Mining companies committed to support infrastructure as recommended by the Provincial Government and this commitment must from part of the mining contract;

•           National Government  immediately settle all outstanding MOA by 30 June 2009; and

•           Amendment to the Mining Act 1992 and transfer all natural resources, (Timber, Fish and Underwater Mining, Oil and Gas), ownership to resource owners with clear and agreed sharing formula.

Sir Julius has made a statement outlining the reasons why it is imperative for changes in the relevant laws to transfer all the resource ownership to the landowners.

This week, when asked about his motion, Sir Julius expressed concern that for some unexplained reason, the motion cannot be listed for Parliament’s deliberation.

“It is an important motion and should be brought forthwith without unnecessary delay so that we debate, discuss and reach some decision. It’s very important considering the increased activities nationwide in extractive industries sector,” he stressed.

What a week it was in Australian politics!

From JOHN PASQUARELLI

 

What a week it was!

 Rudd the blubberer, all for himself – with nary ever a tear for the four Australians killed in roof spaces because of that mad batts scheme which still starts fires and which was signed off by Rudd, Gillard, Swan and Garrett. 

What was in that mysterious fourth letter to Rudd allegedly from Garrett? 

Gillard and Swan after doing over Rudd with a little help from friends and enemies are continuing on their merry way and if voters are suckered in by the second most-famous redhead in Australia come the election,  then please,  no whingeing when she reveals her real policies for changing the face of Australia forever.

 Bill Shorten and his mates detest Gillard but such is the Labor way that for as long as it suits them, Gillard can stay where she is.

 Shorten is very capable and ambitious and it is no secret that he regards himself as the next PM. 

Tony Abbott has promised that he will never let the mining super tax see the light of day but if the industry is conned, then it too can cop whatever happens in the future. 

How the hell will Gillard resolve the ‘illegals’ issue?

 

2010 Papua New Guinea census off

Blame levelled at funding and logistics shortfalls

 

THE 2010 national housing and population census, scheduled to start in two weeks time, will probably be deferred to next year, census director Kit Ronga said yesterday, The National reports.

Ronga cited various logistics problems, including funding, as contributing to the need to defer it from July 11 to a later date although much of the preliminary work had been done.

This is on top of the more than K40 million already expended to update Papua New Guinea’s population.

“We want to defer the national census to next year but full details would be announced after our meeting with National Planning and Monitoring Minister Paul Tiensten.”

Ronga, acting national statistician Joseph Aka and members of the finance committee are expected to meet with Tiensten tomorrow to finalise a new counting date.

“Funding is not the only worry, there were many other pressing issues which had forced us to reach this decision,” Ronga said.

He said one of the reasons was that provinces were not yet ready for the census, although awareness and workshops had been conducted to prepare provincial census coordinators on how the census will be conducted and the expected outcome.

“Funding remittances from the Department of Finance and Treasury to provinces to carry out house listing and council ward mapping exercises have not been forthcoming.

“The process has been very slow and, hopefully, Tiensten would clarify this.”

Ronga said while funding was available, the challenge was how to make it available to provinces to carry out the listing exercises.

Ronga said: “Our case is not an isolated one, previous census exercises experienced similar problems with the release of funds.”

He said that more time was needed now, not the six months that had been allocated, to prepare for the July 11 start.

“We have been very optimistic about the census this year but it seemed we have been too ambitious in our approach towards the project.

“We did not expect it to turn out this way.”

The government allocated K107 million for the National Statistical Office to conduct the nationwide population and housing survey this year.

This allocation included additional funding for 2011 and 2012 to ensure the successful completion of the census.

According to Ronga, a total of K66 million had been made available for the preparations and the actual census this year.

Two-thirds of that money had been spent while the remainder had not been released by Finance and Treasury, he added.

The national census is conducted at 10-year intervals since Independence – in 1980, 1990 and 2000.

The deferral would mean that the government would miss out on important updated facts and figures it needed to plan properly for the people.

It would also mean that vital information and statistics for reviewing and updating implementation strategies for Vision 2010-50 would not be there when needed most.

Prime Minister will not quit

THE National Alliance will not force its leader, Sir Michael Somare, out of office because of pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the opposition, party president Simon Kaiwi said yesterday, The National reports.

The prime minister has, in recent times, faced a number of calls from prominent individuals, NGOs and the opposition to step down over a number of issues.

Some commentators and writers of letters to the editor had used the resignation of Kevin Rudd as prime minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) to renew their call for Sir Michael to step down.

But Kaiwi said the party would follow the law in deciding change in its leadership, and this would  not happen at the whims of others.

He said just like what happened with Labor, a change of leadership at NA would also be decided by the party and, at this stage, the party still supported the leadership of Sir Michael.

“This government is adhering to the principles of democracy as stipulated by the PNG Constitution on the process of electing leaders to Parliament and the subsequent formation of government that follows.

“Sir Michael fulfilled all these criteria that saw his re-election as prime minister in 2007.

“Therefore, his removal from office will follow the processes stipulated in our Constitution and not by manipulative NGOs and the opposition outside of our democratic processes,” Kaiwi said in a statement.

He said there were rules that guide the conduct in PNG’s democracy and any change of government must follow these procedures and processes.

“If we abuse these processes to remove duly-elected leaders, we can hold ourselves responsible for the type of anarchy that may result.”

He welcomed Julia Gillard as the new ALP leader and first woman prime minister of Australia.

“The National Alliance and its coalition partners strongly supported the representation of women in Parliament and are happy to see that Australia now has, for the first time, a woman prime minister.

“The National Alliance continues to support women candidates during the general elections and, recently, despite the unsuccessful outcome through its support behind the vote to nominate women to Parliament.”