We are off target: Abal

FOREIGN Affairs and Trade Minister Sam Abal admits that Papua New Guinea and many Pacific Island countries will not meet the millennium development goal (MDG) targets by 2015, The National reports.

Abal was speaking yesterday on return from Jakarta, Indonesia, where he was involved in a special ministerial meeting on the MDG and the 2nd PNG-Indonesia joint ministerial commission.

He said PNG, along with many other Pacific Islands, would not achieve all the MDG goals by target year 2015.

But, he said, PNG had made significant progress.

Abal said it was now up to the government to shape up and tighten up, making budgetary commitments within the next five years until 2015.

He said PNG could make significant progress in the eight MDG, particularly the goals of reducing maternal health and child mortality and achieving universal basic education, because all were already identified and prioritised in the government’s medium-term development strategy, national strategic plan 2030 and Vision 2050.

He said the K10 million district service improvement programme funds could assist in this regard, but it is the question of getting the work done in the districts by individual MPs.

Abal identified decentralising powers to the provinces, under the provincial government reforms, as a hindrance to achieving the targets, because it blocked plans and policies by the central government trickling down to the districts.

 

Kapris treated like a 'terrorist'

Caption: Suspected bank robber Kapris (right) and his lawyer David Dotaona outside the Waigani court premises in early June. – Nationalfilepic

14 suspected accomplices, all smartly dressed and mingling like in a high school re-union

ALLEGED bank robber William Nanua Kapris told the National Court in Madang yesterday that his rights have been deprived and “I am being treated like a terrorist”, The National reports.

Speaking in court before Justice David Cannings, Kapris said his rights had been deprived since his 25-month imprisonment at Bomana and that his human rights had been abused.

“Even in Madang, I am still under tight security,” he added.

“Our case is a big case. It’s our life, but I have not been allowed access to my lawyer David Dotaona.

“My family and I are willing to pay for travel and accommodation costs. I am being treated like a terrorist,” he told the court, adding: “I want to be treated like a normal state prisoner.”

However, Justice Cannings said: “This is not a human rights abuse case. If you have any human rights complaints, then you can bring it up with your lawyers, the same goes for the others with similar complaints.”

Kapris and 14 others were appearing in relation to the Madang BSP heist in 2008 during which K2 million was stolen and a substantial amount was yet to be recovered. 

Cannings allowed an application by senior state prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to adjourn the case to this morning.

Kaluwin expressed concern that the 10-day trial period was “not realistic”.

Asked why by Cannings, Kaluwin said this was because the matter had changed hands with different prosecutors as well as the need for him to speak to the defence counsel.

In his response, Cannings said: “We had a series of pre-trial earlier in the year. We originally set this trial for May but, due to your office’s slackness and lack of capability, we have been delayed. I had to personally ring the acting public prosecutor to sort this matter out. So, I will allow for tomorrow (today) at 9am.”

Then Cannings asked Kaluwin: “Do you think you will be prepared then?”                                                                  

 When Kaluwin responded with a “we’ll see”, Cannings said: “That you will.”                                         

Kapris’ suspected accomplices, 14 (named) and all smartly dressed and mingling like in a high school re-union after the court, were represented by Lae-based state solicitor’s office, a private Lae-based lawyer and Dotaona.

The courthouse was cordoned off, including the provincial government building area, disrupting normal business as the public and people living along the Kina Beach residential area tried accessing the nearby offices to have a glimpse of proceedings.                         

Off duty policeman Sgt Joe Mbur said: “The temporary arrangement by concerned authorities is causing unnecessary inconveniences. Kapris should just be treated like any normal prisoner.”                                      

Reporters were not allowed to take photographs of the prisoners outside the court house.                                       

Police are on a 24- hour vigil around the courthouse area as a precautionary measure.

Devete sets new goals for office

A POOR showing by the Office of Solicitor-General has seen millions of kina paid out to claimants against the state, the government’s top litigation lawyer has admitted, The National reports.

Solicitor-General Neville Devete said most of the cases filed against the state were cases that could easily have been defeated, which would have saved the government millions of kina it paid out in the past 10 years.

Inefficiencies and slackness, including lack of manpower, are problems that are known to have existed in the office Devete heads, but little has been done over the years to address this.

The office has often attracted the ire of judges when lawyers fail to turn up to defend cases.

Now, the office aims to minimise this and is conducting workshops around the country to establish good working relationships with government agencies in all regions.

Devete, who is in Kokopo, East New Britain, said with the support of the Attorney-General and Justice secretary Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, they wanted to bring a new focus to the representation of the state with all matters that go to court.

This focus getting government agencies such as police, Correctional Services, health department, provincial works and others to be prompt in referring cases to the office when actions are filed.

Devete said his office was responsible for representing the state in all matters defending the state in the event that it was taken to court by organisations or companies.

The office also files cases on behalf of the state to take other organisations to court.

Devete said two workshops had already been conducted in Mt Hagen.

He said as a result of these workshops, they had seen a big improvement in the response of state agencies based in the province.

He said this minimised many cases, where in the past there had been no one to defend because representatives from the office were not provided instructions, and they could only go to court when they received instructions from state agencies taken to court.

Devete said the office was keen to establish better consultation and co-ordination in order to better represent the state.

The two-day workshop at the Kokopo Village Resort ends today.

 

 

Numapo takes over

Veratau, Juffa to work for the good of rugby league

 

FORMER PNG Rugby League chairman John Numapo will be heading a new interim committee with Gary Juffa and Albert Veratau as members to manage the affairs of rugby league in the country, The National reports.

The interim committee was set up following a decision by the former chairman Veratau to withdraw court proceedings against Juffa and his board challenging their election in Lae at the PNGRFL annual general meeting last November.

Both Veratau and Juffa have agreed to put aside their differences and work together for the good of rugby league in PNG.

The agreement reached between the parties was endorsed by Justice Ambeng Kandakasi on July 29.

The new committee will now replace the previous caretaker management committee comprising of Numapo and Brian Canavan appointed on July 3 by the Rugby League International Federation.

In welcoming the decision, Numapo said: “There are two things that stand out in this outcome.

“Firstly, the initiative taken by both Veratau and Juffa to have the matter resolved amicably between themselves and secondly, for putting aside their differences and agreeing to work together for the greater good of rugby league in PNG.

“Now that the tussle over leadership is put to rest, the committee has some urgent and immediate tasks to attend to as a matter of priority.

“Among others, the selection of the Prime Minister’s XIII for the game against the Australian PM’s XIII next month and the preparations of the Kumuls for the Four Nation in October. Time is against us and we need to move quickly on that,” he said.

A number of sub-committees will also be appointed to assist the new committee to manage the different activities and programmes of the PNGRFL.

The agreement endorsed by the National Court stated that the committee shall perform the functions of the board and management of the PNGRFL in managing and administering the affairs of the PNGRFL and, in particular amongst others:

*           Appoint Gary Juffa to be responsible for the administration and management of representative games for this year, including the review of the selection process and management of representative teams, such as the PNG Kumuls;

*           Appoint Albert Veratau to be responsible for the negotiations and securing of funding from the Australian government;

*           Ensure the continuation of the PNGRFL’s existing programmes;

*           Review and establish the PNGRFL’s relationship with the National Rugby League (NRL) Bid Team;

*           Propose changes and take steps to implement such changes as are necessary in relation to all of the above mentioned matters; and

*           Do anything and everything to promote the interest of rugby league in PNG.

The interim committee will cease to hold office at or after the 2010 AGM which shall take place no later than Nov 30.

The Rugby League International Federation and the Australian Rugby League have been notified of the decision of the Court endorsing the agreement reached.

Critics see REDD over Papua New Guinea carbon schemes

By ILYA GRIDNEFF,

PAPUA NEW GUINEA CORRESPONDENT

August 6, 2010

 

AAP

 

Two carbon trade projects proposed for Papua New Guinea have been hammered by critics who list a litany of inconsistencies, dubious science, legal issues and concerns landowners will be ripped off.

PNG's pilot Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation' (REDD) schemes, which are part of the United Nation's framework for tackling climate change, are in the Kamula Doso forest, Western Province and April Salumei, East Sepik Province.

But documents obtained by AAP show the PNG government does not support the REDD projects and there is a scathing reaction to the Project Development Documents (PDD) that were submitted in July for verification and approval from the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) regulator.

The Kamula Doso venture is led by Nupan, a company run by controversial Australian businessman Kirk Roberts, a former disqualified horse trainer who also ran a Philippines cockfighting business.

Mr Roberts, who is a self-proclaimed "carbon kingpin", has travelled extensively across PNG promising landowners if they stop logging their forests, millions - and potentially billions - of dollars will come via his carbon trade projects.

The April Salumei project is run by the Rainforest Management Alliance (RMA), which did not respond to emailed questions regarding their plans or who they were exactly.

No phone number is listed on RMA's website.

Stephen Hooper is the only name on the RMA site that also lists a connection to Earth Sky, an Australian company previously embroiled in PNG carbon trade scandals and operated by Queensland boilermaker Greg Corby.

The submitted comments to the CCBA show PNG's Office of Climate Change and Development Executive Director Wari Iamo is dead against both REDD proposals.

"The PNG government does not recognise and disavows any partnership, support, endorsement or any form of connection to the proposed projects," he wrote.

Dr Iamo includes legal advice from O'Brien lawyers which equates both schemes to an infamous Pacific land scam from the 19th century.

O'Brien states: "PNG requires extensive legislation to be passed by the parliament before it can implement any system to commercialise carbon sequestration.

"Both projects are legally untenable.

"Until the legal regime in PNG establishes a foundation for such schemes they are little different to a modern day version of the false prospectus for the Port Breton Colonisation Scheme issued by the Marquis du Reys and circulated through Europe in the late 1870s."

World Wide Fund for Nature's Matt Leggett raised concerns that communities within the project areas would suffer.

"The level of community consultation and understanding of the project in the region is insufficient to guarantee the project has ensured free, prior and informed consent of landowners," he wrote.

"The proposal does not adequately recognise or account for existing disputes over land tenure and landowner company representation in the region."

Forest carbon scientist, Sunil Sharma, who worked for Carbon Planet, the Adelaide-based company that recently went bankrupt after investing more than $1 million with Nupan, is also against the April Salumei plan.

"The threat to the forest in the Project Area is not convincing and the PDD contradicts itself."

The only support comes from Theo Yasause, the former head of PNG's climate change office, suspended and under investigation into his dealings with Mr Roberts, including falsely signing carbon deals for Nupan.

"April Salumei will deliver and open the eyes as the vehicle for future development," he writes.

Inap lo kago boi, brukim bus tasol!

By MAVARA HANUA

For the past 100 years, most of our iconic enterprises have been built on a pyramid scheme of bos man and his kago boi. 

From the perched plantations of the Niugini Islands to the cattle valleys of the Whagi Plain, it was all about the kago boi doing loads of work while boss yells every conceivable biological description of the female anatomy, to bring a sense of order.

 No knowledge building, no high end skill transfers, it was all about using our boys and girls as lorries and trucks.  

I’d say not much has changed.

 Ok so we wear trendy clothes, have slick phones and work in air-conditioned offices but guys, we’re still doing so much work for little remuneration. 

We’re still kago boi’ing around. 

But like anything in Papua New Guinea, there are those who are making change in the most PNG way possible: Brukim Bush Tasol.

Several years ago I befriended an influential lawyer who has been a dear mentor to me.  He stands a mere 4, 9 but you knew he was from the bar.

 With a shot gun of a voice and a veneer of nobility, he commanded great respect amongst his peers when he delivered his arguments in court. 

A senior partner in one of PNG’s respected law firms, he had great insight on the daily fights Papua New Guineans endured over the years in the big bad commercial world where the white boys and girls have it all.

 Quite unsurprisingly he’d tell me the web of clienteles that would only exclusively deal with white firms.

  He’d then tell me how they’d farm work out to the folks across the Coral Sea because the black boys couldn’t do shit.

Irrespective of this, they ploughed on and eventually the government, developers and major law firms around the world started working with them. 

I asked him one evening over a glass of scotch, what was his inspiration and he told me the story about his first encounter with his first client. 

He was a typical businessman in the early days of our independence, quite new with business affairs but had shit loads of knowledge on his profession, flying.

 Curious by my mentor, he kept asking him where does he work.

 He indicated the law firm which was a white firm.

 The trailblazing pilot said so you work for these guys.

 If you start your firm tomorrow you’ll get all my work. 

To put into context, this man was making millions just by sitting in his cockpit for an hour. 

His firm was born and over the years, has given my mentor inspiration to go where no PNG lawyers have gone, the world of natural resources and big commercial field.

His weary eyes looked at me and said, our greatest asset is our unpredictability.

“They think just because we have bad body odor, don’t have a dress sense and are woefully untidy, we’re dumb but pikinini, how wrong are they!”

That was what summed up PNG’s persona in the professional world.

 Many of our men and women are insanely intelligent in this great nation of ours.

 From designing industrial technologies in the fields of communications, transport and weapons systems to frontline development in drug discovery for AIDS, TB and malaria, these are our men and women. 

Some manage major mining and petroleum projects around the world while others are formulating dialogue with rouge states that are on the brink of war with their enemies.

Indeed knowledge and the desire to acquire it has become a major investment tool for our people. 

Clans, tribes and families are spending everything so that their children may reach the high echelons of their professions. 

Many die before the first pay and yet they continue.

 Courageous and a sacrifice beyond compression, our people do this every day.

 From stashing away daily sales of kaukau or fish in the markets to fathers selling bottles, they are the backbone of this nation.

Papua New Guineans know their roots and this is why we hate being a kago boi. 

Our families didn’t invest all that money so that carry the trash out when they themselves don’t know how to build a secure firewall using CISCO applications to deter hackers in our major government and financial institutions, to clean the toilets irrespective of the fact that we are able to infuse compounds derived from our genetic materials so as to eliminate the TB bug, to paint the runways, when we have flown the largest airplane in the world or to sweep the floors when in fact we design major highways.

Education is the tool for our security, prosperity and happiness and it is the only way we become mastas of our future and move away from being the kago boi.

New fund for coffee and cocoa growers

Sector to benefit from K67.5m financing from World Bank

 

SMALLHOLDER coffee and cocoa growers around the country will benefit from a K67.5 million (US$25 million) project funded by the World Bank group (WB), The National reports.

The fund was approved under the WB’s productive partnerships in agriculture project (PPAP) of which it aims to improve the livelihoods of rural PNG communities.

The K67.5 million was part of a US$40 million (K108 million) package signed as a concessional financing agreement yesterday between the WB and Minister for Treasury and Finance Peter O’Neill on behalf of the PNG government.

A total of US$15 million (K40 million) of the K108 million (US$40 million) was approved for rural communications Project.

The WB said the funds were purposely for rural development projects in the agriculture sector, particularly coffee and cocoa production by small holder growers in rural communities.

The WB acknowledged that over 80% of Papua New Guineans lived in rural areas that are largely dependent on agriculture for livelihood and that supporting rural populations was imperative to both social development and economic growth.

The bank said PPAP would assist coffee and cocoa farmers in adopting improved farming practices, facilitate relationships between smallholder farmers and agribusiness and provide critical infrastructure for market access.

The project will focus on areas dependent on coffee and cocoa production such as East New Britain, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Jiwaka, and Chimbu and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

WB country director for PNG, Timor-Leste and Pacific Islands, Ferid Belhaj after the agreement signing stressed that improving the lives of rural households was a priority for both the WB and the government.

“These projects will improve the incomes and livelihoods of smallholder coffee and cocoa farmers and provide access to communication services for hundreds of thousands of people,” he said.