"You picked a fine time to leave me, National Alliance"

It’s the only game in town.  It’s hot media topic right now making front page news. The political punters are betting on one of two outcomes when parliament sits this week: who is going to be the next PM or will it be Somare again.

But I am quietly confident that it's not time yet for PM Somare's swansong to be playing in the background. Or it could well be Kenny Roger's song: you picked a fine time to leave me, NA ... being hummed along the corridors of the Haus Tambaran, this week.

 Already there is excited talk in the streets of 'Mosbi' (Port Moresby). In the suburbs and settlements, street-bookies may already be making a wager or two with 'wantoks'.

 This is done in ways not to risk unnecessary altercations within one's own close-knit regional groupings that makes up our diverse social strata of the capital. Care is taken here as one never knows who one is talking to and whether that particular person is a Somare supporter, or not.  

 The media has speculated for over a week.  It's now public knowledge that the Sir Mekere-led opposition party intends to move a vote of no-confidence motion in this week's parliamentary session. Their aim: to remove Somare as PM.

 This will be a difficult task and recent changes in the OLIPAC law will not make it any easier. Many political variables still remains that even those thinking of crossing the floor are still not sure of whether it's the right thing to do at this stage.

 Politics in PNG is always fluid and is a numbers game, among other factors. And Sir Mekere knows very well that he is up against a tough veteran opponent who knows how to play the numbers' game better than anyone past or present, except perhaps Sir Julius; as the other maestro.  So far, the astute New Ireland Governor knows a thing or two about PM Somare that the young guns today do not know in parliament.

 Sir Julius was Somare's first Treasurer and later PNG's second PM.

 In PNG today, whilst important; party policies is a secondary matter.  Those who will be enticed or seduced will already have a weakness the behind-the-scenes facilitator (a shadow Mr. Fix-it) will work hard on.

Among other incentives, the carrot to attract weak-willed MPs will be a cash gifts or promises of certain Ministries if one is to vote for, against or abstain from  a vote of no-confidence motion in parliament. This is regardless whether that particular MP has the required qualifications or not.  

 So in order to beat Somare, Mekere must have the required numbers by this week before parliament sits.  If he fails here, then his chances of removing a recently-perceived dictator would not happen. 

 The people will also miss an ideal opportunity to put someone to properly run this government for the next two years.  This is important. 

 For now, the opposition has made a bold move by publicly inviting other MPs to join them to "remove Somare...” 

It seeks like-minded MPs within the coalition and middle-benches unhappy with Somare's leadership to defect for the planned 'no-confidence' motion vote in parliament. 

 The Grand Chief is not leaving politics as yet.  This may only further frustrate his inner party circle that he has once again misled his party, the nation by delaying a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle (and quiting politics).

 On the other hand, many NA insiders have long secretly fear that the PM may do something very stupid that could seriously threaten NA party's internal stability now that the pressure is on for his job. Many party members feel threatened that in a 11th hour surprised move, Somare will forget the country's national interest and give the top job away to his own own son, and damn his party deputies. 

 This may not be possible under party constitution.  But there have been some media speculations a while back of amending certain provisions of the constitution that could facilitate this. If it happens, then it could be plain suicide for the man who has stayed too long in PNG politics.  The NA regional deputies will indeed challenge this and prompt a possible internal revolt, or simply dump Somare squarely by defecting to the other side.

This week, we will know whether PNG has a new PM (or government). But one thing is clear. Sir Mekere may not have the required numbers in the time available. The opposition has not even told the nation why they should be in government and what will it give PNG as the 'Alternative Government'.

 

 

Stone misses Prime Minister

Frustrated Tari youths disturb Hela ceremony

 

THE launching of the Hela Transitional Authority (HTA) for Southern Highlands’ Hela region in Tari yesterday was marred by a stone-throwing incident perpetrated by a small group of frustrated youths, The National reports.

The incident happened in the presence of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony.

Cabinet ministers, MPs and invited guests and thousands of people gathered for the occasion.

Police said before the prime minister could speak, some disgruntled members of the public booed at a speaker and, in the process, stones were thrown at those seated in the grandstand including the prime minister.

A stone hit the master of ceremony and radio personality, Roger Hau’ofa.

Police said the prime minister was shaken by the incident as one of the stones missed him by inches.          

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A National Alliance party official said it was a close call, and others on the grandstand quickly formed a barricade around the prime minister, afraid that more stones would be hurled onto the grandstand.

Police had to fire shots into the air to bring the situation under control when people fled the ceremonial area.

The prime minister’s protocol and security officers and cabinet ministers quickly whisked Sir Michael away, however, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru talked the PM into returning to give his speech.

Police officer-in-charge of security Jim Namora, in confirming the incident, described it as “disgraceful and unfortunate”.

He said according to reports, a drug addict among the crowd had thrown the stone that missed the prime minister.

Police are looking for the suspect.

Last December, stones were thrown at several government ministers attending the LNG licenced-based benefits sharing agreement (LBBSA) forum in Tari by frustrated youths who felt they had been left out.

The prime minister was accompanied to Tari by National Planning Minister Paul Tienstein, Arthur Somare (State Enterprises and Finance), Patrick Tammur (Communications), Don Polye (Works, Transport and Civil Aviation), Sasa Zibe (Health), Peter O’Neill (Public Service), Philemon Embel (Sports), Sam Abal (Foreign Affairs) and Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga.

 

 

Education drops bomb on Grade 10 examinations

MORE than 40,000 Grade 10 students, in 220 schools, will in October sit for 12 examination papers instead of the traditional four, The National reports.

The Department of Education measurement services division shocked teachers at an in-service week at the Busu Secondary School in Lae yesterday with the announcement that English, Maths, Science and Social Science, which for more than 50 years had been the only examinations, would now be joined by Personal Development, Business Studies, Agriculture, Arts, Design, Technology, Home Economics and Practical Skills.

Measurement services division director Greg Kapanombu said Grade 10 students would sit for the new subjects during their final examinations from Oct 5-15.

The Education Department also announced another first. It is implementing a new upper secondary curriculum starting with Grade 11 next year.

The new curriculum would have a total of 32 subjects, 23 more than the nine being currently taught.

New subjects include Legal Studies, Geology, Applied Science, IT, Tourism, Textile, Food Technology, Practical Skills Technology, Accounting, Business Studies, Agriculture, Forestry, Applied Natural Resource Management, Physical Education, Personal Development and Applied English.

Out of these, 16 will be examined, starting next year.

The Department of Education has decided to introduce more subjects to cater for the needs of industries and business which are currently on the upsurge in PNG.

Kapanombu said this was also in line with making students more knowledgeable and diversified so that they could be self-sustaining after leaving school.

Education officials said in making the decision, equal importance and status should also be given to all subjects taught at schools and “it is unfair that only the four traditional subjects of Maths, English, Science and Social Science are examined”.

They said although the four subjects could still form the core, “the world is a different place from what it used to be and people have become multi-talented and multi-skilled but, more importantly, the additional subjects would ensure students become more sustaining after leaving school”. 

Kapanombu said PNG was part of the global village and “our students and people need to step outside the box and go the extra mile and embrace change”.

Some parents spoken to were incensed, saying this “is too much at very short notice”.

“My daughter goes to school in Wau and her teachers are hardly ever there. This is over the top and should have been announced last year or so to give our children time to adjust,” one dad said.

Another whose son attends Bugandi, and is top of his class, called it absurd. “I still feel the four core subjects are the basis of all the other subjects and this is killing.”

 

 

Local firms missing out

INTERNATIONAL companies engaged in early work of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects are “killing” of local contractors, The National reports.

The issue came to light at the recent Highlands regional Consultative Implementation Coordinating Committee forum in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.

Civil Contractors Pacific Ltd (Civpac) general manager Dickson Tasi said international contractors came with nothing and hired equipment and personnel from locals.

The international contractors used Civpac, a local company specialising in drilling and blasting in Kikori, for six months and then stood them down.

They told Civpac they were bringing in their own machines and equipment.

 “They have hired barges to accommodate personnel, with no offices in Papua New Guinea and operate from offices in Australia and elsewhere, communicating via email and telephone.

“This is the kind of treatment we (local contractors) are getting from our international contractors. The national content plan is media propaganda and only geared towards local labour hire.

“There is very little or no participation or benefit to landowner companies or PNG businesses,” Tasi told forum participants.

“We are now just watching these foreigners and their equipment working on our land, earning millions of kina to be taken overseas and they will eventually pack up and leave after making enough.

“This is a typical example of international expertise that have been over the years, reaping the goodies from this country, leaving nothing tangible for PNG national companies,” he said.

Tasi said if Civpac, a big company owned by locals from the project area in Gobe to miss out, there was little hope for smaller companies starting up hoping to win contracts with the seed capital from the government.

He said the LNG project’s national content plan should be given real meaning.

 

Pala: be warned of lawyers without ethics

From JAMES WANJIK

THE Story, "Pala plans to thwart hire of foreign lawyers", (Post Courier, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 p.9) is what law so-called Papua New Guinea attorney-general Ano Pala knows and practices.
Preventing foreign lawyers is within Attorney General's powers. Is Pala the attorney-general or is he only a Minister for Justice? Can Pala or someone in the know shed light on this?
On the issue of contempt of Supreme Court, can Pala give court order preventing comment on public law such as the Environment (Amendment) Act 2010?
Law is for public purpose. Public interest will only be served if public is allowed to comment on its utility. What public purpose does Pala serve with his legally flawed edict denying freedom of expression that is guaranteed under the National Constitution?
A Supreme Court Appeal is within the rights of litigants. The dispute that would have given right to an appeal would be laid out in court for trial by the Supreme Court. If comments were made on these such comments may jeopardise fair trial and justice could be denied the litigants.
If, as Pala advises the public that, we have a Supreme Court Reference on the Constitutional validity of the Environment (Amendment) Act 2010, then the lawyers who advised Pala are very nervous.
Lawyers have four duties: duty to the law, duty to the legal profession, duty to the court, and duty to the client. All duties are equal. Lawyers who advised Pala have failed all four duties and should be referred to the Ombudsman Commission and the Law Society for professional and leadership misconduct.
Law on contempt of court is for the Supreme Court under section 160(2) of the National Constitution. It is for the Supreme Court to lay down the rules of the game. Pala is a bystander on the clap am omnibus.
Let the Supreme Court do its job Pals. You are not authorised by law to interfere in the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Papua New Guinea officials get surf judging tickets

 Course participants and officials at Sero Beach outside Port Moresby last Sunday.-Picture courtesy of PNGSA

 

By MALUM NALU

 

The second round of the International Surfing Association surf judging and officiating course was completed in Port Moresby last weekend.

Twenty participants, including Supreme Court judge and Tupira Surf Club patron, Nicholas Kirriwom, partook in the course.

The Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG) staged the course with head coach of Surfing Australia, Glen Elliot, running it.

This is Elliot’s third time into PNG, his first trip being in 2004 to facilitate the first ISA Level 1 course and then in 2007, where he head judged the SAPNG national Surfing titles in Vanimo.

“The SAPNG now has 10 clubs around PNG and as we lead up to staging of the next national surf titles at Tupira Surf Club in Madang in 2011, SAPNG has had to invest into its human resource to beef up its number of qualified judges to enable them to stage and judge competitions at the community and provincial affiliated surf clubs, and then at the national titles and South Pacific Games in 2011 and also 2015,” said SAPNG president Andrew Abel.

“The SAPNG will be staging the 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Long boarding Title (WLT) in Vanimo in 2011 and hence, SAPNG has had to beef up its number of judges to be part of the judging process.

“These events will be co-hosted by ASP Australasia and SAPNG.

“SAPNG plans to make this a permanent fixture in its calendar of events to showcase PNG as an attractive surf tourism destination and give our surfers an opportunity to compete on the world stage on home soil.

“This investment by SAPNG is a significant one costing over K20,000 to empower our surfers and judges to ensure SAPNG meets the required international surf judging and officiating standards that all 50 members of the International Surfing Association (ISA) use in competition surfing.”

Participants were Nicholas Kirriwom,  Roger Kirriwom, Isidore Gemo,  Keneka Malaha , Hardie Tomol (Tupira Surf Club – Madang); Nolis  David, Junior Yanga (Kavieng Surf Club  - New Ireland); Steven Tekwie, Tekla Wekre, Henry Nyekre (Sunset Surf Club – V animo); Martha Moihe, John Awoli (Vanimo Surf Club – Vanimo);  John Toles ( SAPNG board member), Richard Farrell (SAPNG board member and Sero Surf club – POM), Charles Andrews (Sero Surf Club – POM), Chey Scovell (SAPNG board member and Sero Surf Club – POM), Nick Studdy   (SAPNG board member and Sero Surf Club – POM),  Joao Monteroao (Sero Surf Club – POM), Christian Lohburger (Sero Surf Club – POM), Alberta Taligatus (Sero Surf Club – POM).

Officials included Elliot, Abel, SAPNG board member, contest director, observer and Level 2 judge Jason Pini and PNGSA patron Kieran Nash.

True spirit of Fourth Goal in Papua New Guinea Constitution destroyed

By HENZY YAKHAM

 The current resource exploitation trend, coupled with changes in natural resources and environmental laws of Papua New Guinea clearly undermines the true spirit of the Fourth Goal of the National Constitution.

In effect, it has compromised this and PNG’s future generations by lawmakers.

Vision 2050 uses the analogy of a driver knowing where to go before getting into a vehicle, assuming the road map PNG.

Theoretically, this might be so, but practicality it may not be easy, if not impossible.

Normally, before a driver gets into a car he/she knowing there is road connecting the destiny.

PNG is geographically a difficult country with rugged terrains, high mountains, gullies, large rivers and wet conditions.

Therefore, road to the destiny of this Vision can be described the same.

Given the PNG road conditions, type of vehicle and the necessary accessories like spare tyres, additional fuels, wheel-jack and other accessories are important.

Will ever the driver of this vehicle reach its destiny is the question to be answered in 2050?

 Will the PNG LNG Project build an all-weather type road with a vehicle fitted with all the necessary accessories take this nation to its destiny in 2050?

The generation of 2050 will reflect on the journey and provide the answer to this question.    

The Fourth Goal of PNG’s Constitution declares that “Our natural resources and environment to be conserved and used for the collective benefit of us all and are replenished for the benefit of future generations”.

PNG’s social-economic development strength is at present based on natural resources.

How these resources are managed jointly with their surrounding environments on sustainable basis is the key to meeting future generations’ inspirations and needs.

It also requires fair and equitable distribution of wealth derived from these resources and reinvesting the returns into management these resources and environments.

In early 2004, PM Sir Michael Somare challenged the Australian Government and the World Bank by announcing that he had 10 impacts forestry projects, which if all came into operation, would generate more than K300 million annually.

Sir Michael said then that he would no longer need the Australian aid money.

Consequently, the World Bank forest conservation programme was kicked out of PNG.

Recently, on Kundu 2 talkback show, Kevin Condrad confirmed that he was behind that advice which saw the withdrawal of the World Bank forest conservation programme, and the beginning of negotiation for forest carbon.

Main reason behind this decision was the comparative monetary values.

The forest carbon is now seen as a second major source of development fund to the PNG LNG Project revenue generation for PNG.

Sir Michael championed the formation of Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) and has been heavily engaged in the international negotiations for the forest carbon projects.

Quick assessment on technical inputs by individual member countries of CfRN) showed that PNG contributed very little in this regard, though PNG is boasting of the chairmanship of the group.

What happened to the 10 impact forestry projects since then?

Are these 10 impact forestry project areas still intact to fully realise the forgone value of forest conservation with forest carbon projects?

The 2009 Copenhagen meeting on Climate Change and reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) failed to come up with any agreed way forward.

It was a total failure to PNG costing the nation’s taxpayers K8 million to send the delegation across.

PNG’s position paper for the Copenhagen meeting was prepared by two sets of international consultant teams at very-extravagant fees.

The first group involved individual consultants from Australia claiming to be the experts on PNG, compiling different sector reports on the drivers of deforestation.

Following the compilation of these individual reports, another consultant firm put together the reports for PNG’s positional paper for Copenhagen meeting.

This consultant firm is also responsible for PNG’s climate-compatible development policy framework document and the ultimate changes to the Office of Climate Change and the office name.

This firm is now the main contender to undertake PNG REDD demonstration projects in PNG.

Concurrently, the Office of Climate Change has turned into a battle ground for political cronies to muscle their ways into office.

Initial establishment cost of the office including fleet of vehicles was phenomenal and controversial.

In 2009 there were four regional conferences conducted throughout PNG.

A report is yet to be compiled together with the accounts of funds spent on the conferences.

After the conferences a major controversy surfaced involving the EO of OCCES of his involvement in voluntary forest carbon markets deals which led to his suspension and thereafter his fate was not known up to the abolition of the office in June 2010.

In November 2009, another NEC decision abolished OCCES and was replaced with Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD).

The frequent NEC decisions affecting Office of Climate Changes to facilitate individual cronies’ interests and agendas are cause for concern.

The recent changes in to the forestry and environment acts raises more concern among resource owners.

Why is the Government manipulating tactics and intimidated its own citizens to control their birthright and God-given resources?

Exploitation of natural resources using such tactics sends wrong messages to the international communities.

Over 97% of land in PNG is traditionally-owned.

The effective participation of the resource owners in any meaningful dialogue and decision is now in jeopardy and thus democratic principles adopted by PNG is now being tested.

Collapse of effective natural resource laws through such changes to give full government control in PNG is a dangerous trend heading towards dictatorial rule.

The changes in the Forestry Act diminished the forest resource owners’ freedom of choice of developer for their forest resources.

The changes gave ultimate power to the PNG Forestry Board to make final decision on the developer.

Were the changes made to merely to cover up for the Forestry board’s blunders in 1999 for allocating the Kamula Doso forest management area (FMA) in the Western Province to Wawoi Guavi?

The decision was against the provincial forest management committee (PFMC) choice in which resource owners were party to the decision.

Also, the Forestry board allocated the Middle Ramu FMA to another company against the Madang PFMC decision and recommendations.

In both cases, Forestry Board was found to have violation of Section 69 of the act.

Changes to the act are simply to make the board and ultimately the minister have more control over the forest resource allocation in PNG, thus going back to the dark days of the Barnett Inquiry into the forestry sector in PNG in 1987.

Similarly, the changes to the Environment Act 2000 were simply to cover up for the incompetence of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in dealing with such environmental issues and also to protect government’s dealing with Ramu Nickel.

Ramu Nickel deal is similar to the Bougainville one where the deal was signed overseas without much input from the relevant stakeholders including the landowners.

Though the proposed deep sea tailing placement (DSTP) may have met all the necessary requirements, the system has been worldwide considered to be of high risk because a small leakage in the ocean will cause more damage than if the same leakage was occurred on land.

There were already such instances with Misima Mine and Lihir Gold Mine.

Why repeating the same mistake?

Is it because DSTP is the cheapest means and that PNG is the cheapest place to practice environmental protection and management?

Adding new laws (Sub-sections 69, A & B) to outlaw any third party involvement in land and resources issues in PNG is a crime of humanity.

About 97% of land and resources are owned by the people and 80% of these people live on these land and resources in the most-remote parts of PNG.

These people are the most vulnerable ones to the environmental risks, which also give rise to poverty and deprivation of human rights to healthy living.

The changes to the Environment Act 2000 ultimately will give more powers to the secretary of DEC both as the director of Environment and the chairman of environment council (Sections 15-17).

The secretary has the ultimate power to make the final decision on the issue of environmental harm and landowners will only dispute his decision through court without any third party involvement.

This is an act of violation against human rights.

80% of the population does not have access to legal means and to subject them to such requirements is a crime against humanity.

NGOs are the organisations that can quickly come to landowners’ aid when it comes to immediate services.

In effect, the changes make it difficult for any NGO to assist the disadvantaged landowners and communities PNG-wide to pursue their concerns with land and environment.

Is this fair and fits the principle of democracy?

And in whose interest are these changes of the Act trying to protect?

Legislators ought to bear know that they will be the most-frustrated ones when they find themselves back home and want to seek re-election in 2010.

At the dawn of this new millennium the world leaders came to realisation that human miseries were brought about as a result of the so-called social-economic development.

The world leaders then came up eight millennium development goals (MDGs) with set targets, and recommended that MDG 7 which deals with ensuring environmental sustainability is the key to achieving the other development goals.

Apparently, PNG through the current Government had little regard on the environmental issues in this country.

The National Planning & Monitoring Department’s performance framework report on the MTDS in 2007 clearly showed that environment sector has the rating of zero (0) out of 5 for its trend of development and 1 out of 5 for its current performance.

Generally, the overall ratings of each sector on the MTDS were very poor and we now are moving into the new MTDS under the new national strategic plan for PNG’s Vision 2050.

PNG to date has failed miserably in meeting many important regional and international multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including the millennium development goals.

The responsible sectors have lost touch of their mandates to ensure sustainable development principles in the country.

DEC is merely there to facilitate the process of environment permit issuance.

The important sectors are no longer headed by technically-qualified citizens, but rather by political cronies to protect and pursue certain political interest.

The power of money is more frightening than the barrel of gun - even the gun barrel works through the power of money.

The revelations by prisoner William Kapris should not be taken lightly and that the development of natural resources in PNG will is the key factor to the downfall of this resource-rich nation.

This calls for urgent action from lawmakers.

In early 2008, Environment Minister Benny Allen, during the swearing-in of the environment council members challenged the members of the council with an allegation that a multi-million company tried to bribe him to approve their environment permit application.

Has the Minister forgotten that challenge or can the Minister reveal the name of the company?

Manipulation of resource and environmental laws in the country to suit minority groups and foreign multinational in PNG is a very bad and dangerous which can cause the collapse of this nation.

Do we have to wait until the whole system collapses on us?