RAMU NiCo, developers of the K3.3 billion Ramu nickel project in the Bismarck Ranges of Madang, said yesterday that they were disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision last Friday not to lift the interim injunction and allow the company to install and operate the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) facility at Basamuk Bay, The National reports.
“We are now keenly waiting on advice from our lawyers on the full meaning of the decision and its likely effect on the continued development and operation of the Ramu nickel project,” it said in a statement from Madang.
“This project was approved in 2000 and, subsequently at different stages of development, Ramu NiCo obtained the permits required from the PNG government.”
Ramu NiCo said the project had been under construction for more than two years and was now nearing completion, but Basamuk landowners’ court action only started some four months ago.
It said that during this time, it had used about K3.3 billion out of a total budget of K3.8 billion.
However, the company was confident that with a full trial on the issues in the National Court of Madang, the matter would be resolved satisfactorily.
Ramu NiCo estimated that for every day that operation of the project was held up by virtue of these court orders, the developer and its partners, Highlands Pacific Ltd and MRDC, would lose up to K7 million.
“No company can sustain losses of this magnitude for extended periods and, now, we will find it exceedingly difficult to raise funds to invest in PNG until Ramu NiCo’s rights to develop this project are confirmed.
“We suspect that this will become more than just our concern once the implications of these issues confronting us are fully assessed by the international investment community and their responses, in turn, are felt in PNG.
“The extended delays will create enormous disruption to DSTP construction and, therefore, the commissioning and operation schedule.”
The company said this would be further complicated by the coming rainy season.
“The impact on the overall plant viability could be far-reaching.”
It said that once it had been briefed by its lawyers, Ramu NiCo would discuss its present situation with project stakeholders, including the other owners, the government and key landowner and provincial government representatives, and it would make another full statement on these developments in due course.
THERE will be no protest march today, Police Commissioner Gari Baki said yesterday, The National reports.
Baki warned that any protests occurring today would be deemed illegal and that police would be deployed in parts of the city to ensure his directions were strictly followed.
Baki’s comments come in light of announcements in the media and the public by anti-corruption activist Noel Anjo and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that there will be a protest march to Parliament today.
“We want to make it clear that there will be no protest march tomorrow (today) and that it will be business as usual,” Baki told a media conference yesterday.
He said there had been so much speculation going around about a planned protest but that established procedures relating to obtaining permission to stage such a march had not occurred.
The police commissioner said also that with talk of a motion of no-confidence being moved on the prime minister when parliament sits, his men were stretched and spread too thinly to contemplate another matter such as a protest march.
Baki said he was briefed on the situation by NCD police commander Awan Sete and metropolitan commander Chief Supt Fred Yakasa.
“As far my colleagues and I are concerned, these are just speculations. There was no formal arrangement with me and my men on the protest,” he said.
Baki said requests would normally come to a committee which determined whether or not a march would go ahead and that this had not occurred.
The commissioner announced that 300 police personnel would be deployed to parts of the city today to monitor the situation and to stop any group from protesting.
Half of the policemen and women will be at the parliament while the
rest will be stationed in strategic
parts of the city.
“With so many things happening around us and now with parliament resuming with talk of vote of no-confidence, we are stretched to the limit.
“That must be respected by public, NGOs and any other individual groups. We have no time to divert those amongst ourselves to activities outside of our normal duties, it is too much,” he said.
Baki said such grievances such as the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) had to be addressed nationally with parliament as the forum.
Yakasa said any public forums or assemblies today would be deemed as illegal.
“Now is not the appropriate time for protest marches. Any peaceful demonstration on any issues is capable of re-igniting certain things that can go out of hand. We want peace to prevail and are concerned about the safety of our people,” he said.
Catholic agency schools have told their students not to turn up for school today and it is expected other schools have done likewise in case the protest goes ahead.
Up until the turn of the century, says prominent Papua New Guinea tourism operator Sir Peter
Barter, there were positive signs that tourism would continue to prosper providing
Papua New Guinea
with a renewable resource that was sustainable.
Sunset in Kavieng.-Pictures courtesy of SIR PETER
BARTER
Not so, however, statistics show.
More recently, visitor
arrival figures issued by the Tourism Promotion Authority indicated that PNG
had one of the “fastest-growing tourist industries in the South Pacific region
and constant positive media reports indicated a healthy growth”.
“Nothing could have been further from the truth,” Sir Peter
admonishes.
Picturesque Tsoi Island, New
Ireland province
“The tourism industry in PNG generally has declined by more
than 50% over the past few years.
“I refer to ‘bona fide’ tourists, not visitor arrivals which
in real terms include all types of visitors to PNG.
“No one disputes there are more people arriving in PNG,
(however) the reality is most are not tourists, instead, they are people visiting PNG for other
purposes in most cases work-related, many of whom abuse the ‘tourist visa’
system which help to distort the real situation of the tourist industry.”
Nusa Island Retreat, New Ireland province
Historically, much of the growth of the tourist industry is
directly related to overseas tour operators.
It is through the
partnership arrangements that have been concluded between local operators in
PNG and these overseas operators who for the want of a special word have
‘packaged’ tours or parts of their tours to visit PNG.
Bilbil pottery making, Madang province
“These overseas operators are experts in their respective
markets,” Sir Peter explains.
“They produce the superb tourist brochures that highlight
reasons for visiting a particular destination.
“In more recent years they have used their websites and
internet to expose their destinations and tours, most of whom concentrate on
their specific interests, as an example diving, trekking, birding and they know
how to market their tours.
Bilbil singsing for tourists, Madang province
“The end result is the tourists contract to purchase the
product that is described in their brochures and this has a direct impact on
bona fide tourists who visit PNG.
“The number of operators featuring tours to PNG from North
America, Europe, UK, Japan, and Australia would have been in the
hundreds, supported by the various airlines.
mv Melanesian Discoverer at Simsim in happier days
“The exposure PNG received at this time resulted in the industry’s
growth.
“This coupled with other marketing by individual operators,
agents, airlines - not least Air Niugini - and hotels including the attendances
at tourist shows placed PNG in the right direction to expand the tourism
industry.”
Visiting cruise liner
mv Columbus in
Madang
The decline began with circumstances beyond PNG’s
control: fuel price increases, SARS, terrorism,
and a general change in which PNG expected a continuation of the industry to
grow without the need to retain personal contact with the operators, many of
whom also suffered from the same effects.
Bamboo band, Madang
province
Most recently, the
worldwide economic situation and continuation of problems in the Middle East have frightened tourists, especially
Americans, from travelling internationally and to lesser-known destinations.
“Whilst Air Niugini cannot be blamed for the reduction in
tourism, the unreliability of schedules, cancelled and disrupted flights have
not been helpful over the past couple of years,” Sir Peter admits.
Bagabag entertainment group, Madang province
“Tourists from developed countries have become increasingly
aware of the ease to sue and tour operators are frequently targeted for not
providing the services described in their brochures, which in turn has forced
tour operators to sell destinations that are better known for their reliability
and safety.
“Another obstacle to developing tourism is the withdrawal of
commuter air services that previously linked the Highlands
with the coast and islands.
“A tourist visiting PNG wanting to see each of the
geographic regions is forced to fly back to Port Moresby and connect with flights into
the next geographic region,
“This not only wastes time, but also substantially increases
the airfares, making PNG more expensive to visit.
“The law-and-order situation in PNG is another obstacle and
we have failed to handle this situation well in PNG.
“A good example where it has been handled well is in Fiji, where
after three military coups and bad press, the tourism industry coordinated by
the Fiji Visitors Bureau have quickly responded and been proactive in offering
all types of deals to maintain their fledging tourism industry, which is a
very-important part of the economy.
“In PNG, we have done nothing!
“Perhaps worse than the law and order problem itself is the
perception created by the various ‘Travelers Alerts’ that are widely dispersed
to travel agents, airlines and consumers.
“Having read some on PNG, it is a wonder anyone comes to
PNG!
“An industry association no longer appears to exist!
“If it does it is not effective!
“In Fiji,
the Fiji Visitors Bureau along with the Fiji industry members have
coordinated their efforts to recover the damage done by the coups.
“It goes without saying that a travel or tourism association
in PNG could do the same, yet, attempts to date have really failed to support a
number of attempts to establish industry associations.”
Sir Peter, however, is not all a harbinger of doom about
PNG’s tourism industry.
“There are many types of tourism catering for various
interest groups,” he lightens up.
“The one segment that has been doing relatively well is the
Kokoda Track, but this year, again, there has been a large decrease in numbers
of people walking Kokoda.
“PNG is well-known for its spectacular diving and the dive
segment has always shown some growth, but over the past year, it also has
experienced a decrease.
“For more than 30 years I have endeavoured to develop a cruising
segment and finally sold the Melanesian Discoverer because it was becoming
almost impossible to transport our passengers to and from the ship by Air
Niugini and charter aircraft in and out of the Sepik.
“Since we sold the ‘Discoverer’, we have been assisting
international expeditionary vessels continue to operate in PNG waters.
“We act as ships and tour agents for most tourist vessels
visiting PNG and again, the difficulties experienced by the owners of these
vessels deter many from coming back into PNG.
“I will not go into the detail, but excessive charges of
fees levied, overtime claims by officers, inconsistent rules, policies, charges
for services not provided are just some of the obstacles faced in handling
tourist vessels.
“TPA and PNGPorts are seriously
considering ways in which these problems can be eliminated to restore
confidence in attracting motor yachts and cruise ships, as like other segments
in the tourism industry, cruise ship operators class PNG as one of the most-exciting
and interesting destinations in the world.”
So how does Sir Peter see things in his crystal ball?
“It is encouraging to see competition on the Cairns/Port
Moresby route and equally encouraging is the development of more hotel rooms in
Port Moresby,
Rabaul, Madang, Wewak,” he forecasts.
“Regretfully, most of these rooms have not been built to
cater for bona fide tourists, rather, commercial travellers and work related
accommodation due to the development of resource projects under way in PNG.
“Whilst Cairns is gearing up to cater for increased visitors
that are expected to fly in and out of PNG with the LNG project, little is being
done to encourage imported workers to either reside in PNG or take the R and R
(rest and recreation) in PNG.
“It is difficult to force this issue unless confidence can
be restored as to the safety of the various potential tourist destinations in
PNG and this should be one of the tourist industry’s prime objective.
“It makes sense to attract workers in the LNG project to
really see PNG and return to whence they come as good ambassadors, rather than
pessimists, spreading doom and gloom about PNG which is not warranted.
“We spend millions of kina on the development of our natural
resources that ultimately will be exhausted.
“The one industry that is sustainable is tourism and yet it
is not given the priority it deserves in PNG.”
Up until the turn of the century, says prominent Papua New Guinea tourism operator Sir Peter
Barter, there were positive signs that tourism would continue to prosper providing
Papua New Guinea
with a renewable resource that was sustainable.
Sunset in Kavieng.-Pictures courtesy of SIR PETER
BARTER
Not so, however, statistics show.
More recently, visitor
arrival figures issued by the Tourism Promotion Authority indicated that PNG
had one of the “fastest-growing tourist industries in the South Pacific region
and constant positive media reports indicated a healthy growth”.
“Nothing could have been further from the truth,” Sir Peter
admonishes.
Picturesque Tsoi Island, New
Ireland province
“The tourism industry in PNG generally has declined by more
than 50% over the past few years.
“I refer to ‘bona fide’ tourists, not visitor arrivals which
in real terms include all types of visitors to PNG.
“No one disputes there are more people arriving in PNG,
(however) the reality is most are not tourists, instead, they are people visiting PNG for other
purposes in most cases work-related, many of whom abuse the ‘tourist visa’
system which help to distort the real situation of the tourist industry.”
Historically, much of the growth of the tourist industry is
directly related to overseas tour operators.
It is through the
partnership arrangements that have been concluded between local operators in
PNG and these overseas operators who for the want of a special word have
‘packaged’ tours or parts of their tours to visit PNG.
Bilbil pottery making, Madang province
“These overseas operators are experts in their respective
markets,” Sir Peter explains.
“They produce the superb tourist brochures that highlight
reasons for visiting a particular destination.
“In more recent years they have used their websites and
internet to expose their destinations and tours, most of whom concentrate on
their specific interests, as an example diving, trekking, birding and they know
how to market their tours.
Bilbil singsing for tourists, Madang province
“The end result is the tourists contract to purchase the
product that is described in their brochures and this has a direct impact on
bona fide tourists who visit PNG.
“The number of operators featuring tours to PNG from North
America, Europe, UK, Japan, and Australia would have been in the
hundreds, supported by the various airlines.
mv Melanesian Discoverer at Simsim in happier days
“The exposure PNG received at this time resulted in the industry’s
growth.
“This coupled with other marketing by individual operators,
agents, airlines - not least Air Niugini - and hotels including the attendances
at tourist shows placed PNG in the right direction to expand the tourism
industry.”
Visiting cruise liner
mv Columbus in
Madang
The decline began with circumstances beyond PNG’s
control: fuel price increases, SARS, terrorism,
and a general change in which PNG expected a continuation of the industry to
grow without the need to retain personal contact with the operators, many of
whom also suffered from the same effects.
Bamboo band, Madang
province
Most recently, the
worldwide economic situation and continuation of problems in the Middle East have frightened tourists, especially
Americans, from travelling internationally and to lesser-known destinations.
“Whilst Air Niugini cannot be blamed for the reduction in
tourism, the unreliability of schedules, cancelled and disrupted flights have
not been helpful over the past couple of years,” Sir Peter admits.
Bagabag entertainment group, Madang province
“Tourists from developed countries have become increasingly
aware of the ease to sue and tour operators are frequently targeted for not
providing the services described in their brochures, which in turn has forced
tour operators to sell destinations that are better known for their reliability
and safety.
“Another obstacle to developing tourism is the withdrawal of
commuter air services that previously linked the Highlands
with the coast and islands.
“A tourist visiting PNG wanting to see each of the
geographic regions is forced to fly back to Port Moresby and connect with flights into
the next geographic region,
“This not only wastes time, but also substantially increases
the airfares, making PNG more expensive to visit.
“The law-and-order situation in PNG is another obstacle and
we have failed to handle this situation well in PNG.
“A good example where it has been handled well is in Fiji, where
after three military coups and bad press, the tourism industry coordinated by
the Fiji Visitors Bureau have quickly responded and been proactive in offering
all types of deals to maintain their fledging tourism industry, which is a
very-important part of the economy.
“In PNG, we have done nothing!
“Perhaps worse than the law and order problem itself is the
perception created by the various ‘Travelers Alerts’ that are widely dispersed
to travel agents, airlines and consumers.
“Having read some on PNG, it is a wonder anyone comes to
PNG!
“An industry association no longer appears to exist!
“If it does it is not effective!
“In Fiji,
the Fiji Visitors Bureau along with the Fiji industry members have
coordinated their efforts to recover the damage done by the coups.
“It goes without saying that a travel or tourism association
in PNG could do the same, yet, attempts to date have really failed to support a
number of attempts to establish industry associations.”
Sir Peter, however, is not all a harbinger of doom about
PNG’s tourism industry.
“There are many types of tourism catering for various
interest groups,” he lightens up.
“The one segment that has been doing relatively well is the
Kokoda Track, but this year, again, there has been a large decrease in numbers
of people walking Kokoda.
“PNG is well-known for its spectacular diving and the dive
segment has always shown some growth, but over the past year, it also has
experienced a decrease.
“For more than 30 years I have endeavoured to develop a cruising
segment and finally sold the Melanesian Discoverer because it was becoming
almost impossible to transport our passengers to and from the ship by Air
Niugini and charter aircraft in and out of the Sepik.
“Since we sold the ‘Discoverer’, we have been assisting
international expeditionary vessels continue to operate in PNG waters.
“We act as ships and tour agents for most tourist vessels
visiting PNG and again, the difficulties experienced by the owners of these
vessels deter many from coming back into PNG.
“I will not go into the detail, but excessive charges of
fees levied, overtime claims by officers, inconsistent rules, policies, charges
for services not provided are just some of the obstacles faced in handling
tourist vessels.
“TPA and PNGPorts are seriously
considering ways in which these problems can be eliminated to restore
confidence in attracting motor yachts and cruise ships, as like other segments
in the tourism industry, cruise ship operators class PNG as one of the most-exciting
and interesting destinations in the world.”
So how does Sir Peter see things in his crystal ball?
“It is encouraging to see competition on the Cairns/Port
Moresby route and equally encouraging is the development of more hotel rooms in
Port Moresby,
Rabaul, Madang, Wewak,” he forecasts.
“Regretfully, most of these rooms have not been built to
cater for bona fide tourists, rather, commercial travellers and work related
accommodation due to the development of resource projects under way in PNG.
“Whilst Cairns is gearing up to cater for increased visitors
that are expected to fly in and out of PNG with the LNG project, little is being
done to encourage imported workers to either reside in PNG or take the R and R
(rest and recreation) in PNG.
“It is difficult to force this issue unless confidence can
be restored as to the safety of the various potential tourist destinations in
PNG and this should be one of the tourist industry’s prime objective.
“It makes sense to attract workers in the LNG project to
really see PNG and return to whence they come as good ambassadors, rather than
pessimists, spreading doom and gloom about PNG which is not warranted.
“We spend millions of kina on the development of our natural
resources that ultimately will be exhausted.
“The one industry that is sustainable is tourism and yet it
is not given the priority it deserves in PNG.”
In recent times, many Papua New Guineans and Australians have been engaging in a good healthy debate on aid to PNG from Australia.
Everyone is in some agreement it needs to be relooked but its also quite interesting and perhaps not surprising a growing number of bloggers screaming at the lack of PNG nationals in government, not being able to absorb the aid constructively to deliver to our people.
I personally have had the rare privilege of sitting around mahogany tables in Canberra, Beijing, Brussels, Geneva, New York and Washington negotiating foreign and trade relations on behalf of our great country.
Every diplomat and government official we met around the world had one question, “what’s in it for us?”
Which was what we expected, after all, that’s what former diplomatic hawks in Washington and Brussels taught us.
So how does PNG react towards such a question?
Well, as our colorful history tells you, we try to formulate a negotiating position so as to establish a platform of norms that our partner must appreciate our development needs.
In return we will allow them access in our markets for their private sector to trade.
So the armada of development assistance comes in.
Our kids absorb taxpayers money from our friends in education and health projects, and return some of the experts that will help us make shit loads of money, some will dig great big holes in our backyard looking for rocks, oil, gas and others will mop up our fish in our waters. So how do you measure the success of aid?
Who is benefiting?
I don’t know and there may be some formula out there that does this but what I have observed over the years is that it is usually the other partythat dominates the entire relationship and eventually wins everything.
All because there is a mechanical system of positions being meticulously crafted by experts, officials academics etc… and than is fed to their leaders who than deliver it with utmost conviction and confidence.
They’re bloody prepared.
And herein lays the problem for PNG: we don’t spend time and energy in developing a culture of research and analysis on our foreign relations.
We go ill prepared and it translates to our leaders not knowing what to do and say.
But in all fairness, these limitations are not mere incompetence but a clear reflection that we are a nation driven by sectoralism in foreign relations and not on holistic relations.
So when our biggest bargaining chip is our resources, we sectorally negotiate resources and not holistically look at everything.
So at the end of the day, instead of demanding quality control in projects, personal and outputs, we are satisfied experts will help us on the gas project.
Instead of ensuring our people should have flexibility in working in Australia and benefit from its industries, we are satisfied with Australian businesses coming to help us with our gas project.
Instead of negotiating greater allocations of our unskilled men and women to work in farms, we are content with a lousy 700 people because that is a trade off or getting more people to help us with the gas project.
So when the blokes and sheilasthat come up are recycled public servants whose only training is hopping around the Arnhem Land teaching Aboriginals what’s right and wrong or have just been farted out from ANU, than remember that your leaders trade it off for our natural resources. When our people working in the private sector are managed by incompetent managers whose only experience is to run little outfits in regional Australia, Mt Isa or Tamworth, of course you’ll expect little knowledge transfer to help our people in businesses.
There are, however, signs of hope in the current Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who is an exceptional man and commands greater understanding in foreign policy compared to his processors or his fellow ministers.
When he barked at aid effectiveness, trade should be the focus of our relations; this was a man trying to save the pitfalls that had already become part of the norm, where we only engage with our partners sectorally.
His officers are ringing the same message: holistic foreign relations are the way for PNG and not sectoral trade-offs.
The benefits of a holistic approach allows all development issues to be discussed and more importantly trade if off with our resources.
Our linear approach is destroying us.
At the end of the day we are forced to eat the blueprint of Canberra because of the natural resource trade off.
And so, an aid programme is implemented with little contribution and for the most part, it is littered with projections that are not in the interest of PNG. Discipline is required by the Cabinet to allow Minister Abaland his officers to contribute meaningfully in natural resource negotiations with the Home State (Exxon Mobil for US) of the developers so that they may foster a framework based on sound holistic foreign and trade relations.
A good start is his strong views on telling his counterpart Minister Smith and PM Gillard, PNG wants less aid and more trade.
As I said earlier, every diplomat asks the question, “What’s in it for us?”
There is nothing in Australia in holistic development because “what’s in it for them” is in those sectoral concessions.
Politics of Puka Temu is becoming very obvious. Politicise removal of young leaders and take a shot at National Alliance Perty leadership as a stepping stone to leadership of PNG government.
Media has done well to expose Puka Temu as a mole in the camp without notice to NA Party members. Exposing truth about Puka Temu the NA Party can now turn on him.
What are Temu's reasons for change of NA Party leadership? What contributions has Temu made to the stability of political parties?
Leaders owe duty to the people. People have a right to know why change is needed in a political party and to its leadership.
Looking at Australian political coup Julian Gillard was driven to act by fear of negative campaign by the miners on mining super profits tax. She has done a deal with the miners that will probably see Australian people throw out Labour government at forthcoming elections.
Damage is deep. Kevin Rudd has now made statement to the effect that Labour Party will lose.
Please Temu tell us why you want to change Somare as leader of NA Party and then to have a shot at Prime Minister's position?
The word according to Moses: final, fini, last tok
The blithely-approved-and-imposed Westminster party system has been the nursery within which the political, administrative and social dysfunction which defines Papua New Guinea in 2010 has developed.
Far from an enfranchisement leading to the empowerment of the people, the party-system set up by – or perhaps it is better said countenanced by Australia, has led to the marginalisation of the proletariat in this once most-egalitarian of societies.
It has led to the growth of small, unstable, unscrupulous but very tenacious governing elite, divided by greed within itself but united in its concern to keep and expand its hegemonic hold over the affairs of the nation through its exclusivity.
The growth of the very conditions which the Westminster system slowly eradicated in Britain is, in complete paradox, the outcome of Australia’s foolish decision to allow it to arise in a setting where there was no requirement for it.
How could the Australian powers of the day have been so dense?
The answer lies perhaps in the strong “them-and-us” outlook manifest in the ruling clique of senior administration officials vis-à-vis the elected and appointed “private enterprise” “mission” and “indigenous” members of the old chamber of representation, the Legislative Council, or “Legco” as it was called.
Here was a de-facto governing party and a de-facto opposition operating in a parliament-like situation.
Today it is difficult to find any record of more than superficial discussion of alternatives.
At least one was readily to hand, in the shape of a fully-democratised version of the former Legislative Council supported by the 19 existing district advisory councils, democratised and linked to the network of well-established and democratically-elected local government councils then numbering more than 100.
This would-have-been governance anchored firmly at the roots of society, government answering the reality of regional needs and interests as opposed to non-existent social, class-based or occupation-based needs.
There was however an aversion at Konedobu to the encouragement of "regionalism"-perhaps engendered by the violence of tribal politics in Kenya and other East African states.
There is a hint of what may have bee the unadmitted and unspoken fears of senior echelon administration men contained in the late Ian Downs's novel “THE STOLEN LAND”.
What to do now, today? Today? In this present, potentially-productive period of turmoil prior to the 2012 election?
Follow the word of Moses, is my very strong recommendation. Moses recommends-
1. Provincial management committees to be created by LLGs and governors along lines of old-time district advisory councils; may be set up as voluntary organisations and registered as such-outside current stautory committees etc. Strength will be in the statutory powers of individual members derived from their outside appointments and in the fact that this is the voice of the people AT LONG LAST!!!! Not unconstitutional; sanctioned by the laws of the land and the principle of the constitution.This is taking direction as suggested in the stream of articles and papers I have published in PNG in the past 12 months.
2. These committees to be chaired by the governor in each case and to comprise the provincial MPs and chairmen of all provincial LLGs and meetings to consider and prepare needed action based on the submitted, signed, sealed minutes of the past three months' LLG meetings. Meetings to be open and very well publicised.
3. Committee meetings every three months to receive, deliberate upon and provide necessary support/action in regard to quarterly reports received from LLGs -these based on reports presented by councillors at LLG meetings reflecting needs/conditions in each ward.See my series of three published articles in THE NATIONAL in November/December last year.
4. Resolutions to be carried to the provincial public service and to national departments with forcefulness and with publicity both within and outside each province. Dates for completion/implementation to be publicised and referred to regularly.Thus will democracy and fairness slowly arise amid the wreckage of the attempts and failures and disappointments of the past 35 years.These steps are not in conflict with the principles of the Constitution. They need no great period of deliberation, no long and expensive series of conferences for consideration.They are common-sense, pragmatic, simple and able to be adopted and implemented if the people want them to come into being.
