Vision City RH Hypermart opens for business

This group of women from the highlands residing in Port Moresby were among the first to walk in, see what the new Vision City RH Hypermart has to offer, do their shopping and leave when Papua New Guinea’s biggest supermarket opened its doors yesterday along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby.

THE country’s newest and biggest supermarket opened its doors for business yesterday.

A big crowd started converging on the Vision City RH Hypermart at Waigani in Port Moresby from early morning.

Scores of armed policemen, including mobile squad members, and private security personnel were stationed around the perimeter to prevent any untoward incident.

In view of the large crowd, the shoppers were only allowed into the hypermarket in batches.

Occupying a whopping floor space of more than 10,000sqm, the RH Hypermart offers a huge range of goods that include clothings, sporting goods, tools, furniture, personal care products, health products, gifts and of course, food and wine.

The meat section is supervised by an Australian butcher while the bread section will be operated by popular franchise Brumby’s from Australia.

Apart from fresh breads, Brumby’s is also known for its pies, cup cakes, sausage rolls and many other favourites.

It will commence business next month.

The seafood section offers a wide selection and for a small fee, customers can have their purchases cut, clean and ready to cook.

The service is also available from the meat section.

CC Ang, the general manager of RH Trading which runs the hypermarket, said the new outlet offered Port Moresby residents a new shopping experience.

“The hypermarket is the largest in PNG and possibly the South Pacific. It offers a one-stop shop for everything and anything,” he told The National.

“We have about 45,000 items for sale.”

He said that apart from competitive pricing, they also offered quality, freshness and convenience.

“There will be no shortage of parking space as we have up to 1,000 lots in a safe and secure environment.

“In the near future, we will introduce a loyalty programme to our frequent shoppers.”

On the other two outlets in Port Moresby, Ang said both would be renamed RH Hypermarket Express and would offer goods at lower prices.

“While the Vision City RH Hypermarket is aimed at the middle and upper end, it does not mean that the prices will be higher,” he said.

Ang is confident customers will appreciate the convenience of shopping under one roof.

Many shoppers are surprised by the range of goods available.

“Now I know where I want to shop. It’s so convenient,” a shopper, who lives at Touaguba Hill, said.

Another shopper from Boroko said: “Most of the items are cheaper than at the usual supermarket where I shop.”

The business hours of the new hypermart have been tentatively fixed at 8am-9pm daily.

The hypermart is located in Vision City’s shopping mall which is close to completion.

The mall will house more than 50 retail outlets, restaurants and a foodcourt.

They are expected to start moving in next month.

Vision City is a billion-kina project undertaken by the RH Group (PNG) which includes an office tower block, service apartments, a hotel and convention centre.

The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Abal orders illegals to leave immediately

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

FOREIGNERS working or living illegally in Papua New Guinea must leave immediately, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration minister Sam Abal said yesterday, The National reports.

These people are illegal immigrants who are not wanted here, he told journalists when announcing the department’s new model for processing visa applications at the Moale Haus in Port Moresby.

Abal said that the past weaknesses and other illegal means of obtaining and issuing visas would now be over with the installation and implementation of the new border management system.

He said the new PNG Immigration and Citizenship Services (PNGICS) would increase its staff strength and officers would be travelling to the provinces to hunt “foreign aliens”.

Therefore, he is warning those living in the country without proper visas to pack up and leave.

“My warning is that you start packing up and start leaving because we will not be lenient.”

Abal also warned foreign companies to abide by PNG laws and not to bring in people through illegal means.

He said those who had been engaged in human trafficking should also leave because they would face a bigger problem when the law caught up with them.

“Big companies and investors are warned to follow laws and respect the people of this country like what we do when we visit their countries.

“We know what is happening but because of lack of capacity and logistics, we were not able to monitor and investigate. However, with the new approach, it will be different because all visas will be approved at Waigani and issued at the diplomatic missions overseas,” he said.

 

Ready to sail

By DANIEL M DAVID

 

A BOGE Bada or female lakatoi built by Manumanu villagers for the Hiri Moale festival this weekend was launched at the Sea Park, Ela Beach, by Motu Koita assembly chairman Miria Ikupu yesterday, The National reports.

Manumanu, one of the Motuan villages whose ancestors participated in the famous Hiri trade, built a lakatoi for display during the festival.

It took two weeks for the villagers to build with materials brought from the village to build the

four-hull boge bada at Ela Beach.

Ikupu said: “Without lakatois and Hanenamos there is no festival.

“I thank the United church and the people of Manumanu village for their commitment and effort to build this lakatoi.

“The Motu-Koitabuans  will always celebrate the Hiri Moale because it is through the Hiri trade that our ancestors survived and as a result, we are here.

“Hiri Moale is our lifestyle, it is our pride, our

tradition and our cultural heritage.”

Manumanu village chairman Dadi Kwaragu commended his people for their loyalty and exertion in building of the lakatois and their preparation. 

“We will come in true Motuan style with a sense of belonging to show Papua New Guineans in Moresby that we are not spectators in our own land,” he said.

Meanwhile, the second lakatoi built by Gaire villagers will be launched tomorrow at Gaire and the second judging for the Hiri queen will be held tomorrow at the Botanical Gardens.

Leaders of the future

They could have fooled any visitor into thinking that they were from another place and time. But, a closer look will reveal that they are only children dressed up and made to look like grown-up dwarves out to celebrate with their Narku tribe people at Mindima village during the launch of development projects valued at more than K1 million. Among them was the switching on of the EMTV signal and funding commitments and initiatives rolled out to the Kondom Augando High School, Mindima Village Court house, Nend-Keramugl water supply, Mindima market, Bamugl-Mengagl and Damar road and elementary schools at Nend Border, Gaglkugla, Guiye, Wandi, Mengagle, Damar and Pinga. Damar aid post, Nend Yomba-Suara care centre and Mingende Rural Hospital also received assistance. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

Citizens taking back control of their country

By REG RENAGI

 

Since Independence, Papuans New Guineans have taken their own country for granted. 

As citizens, the people are somewhat tolerant about the way PNG is presently being cleverly manipulated, if not controlled for many years. 

But I hope this will soon change for the better.

 It is very important that citizens have every right to be concerned at the overall direction PNG has been heading for over three decades. 

As a sovereign country, we are fast losing the ability to control our own destiny, freedoms and national interests guaranteed by our national constitution. 

Since independence we have blindly trusted politicians, bureaucrats and those in positions of authority to apply fairness in our system of politics, and government.  The system has for far too long being manipulated, so unfortunately it really does not guarantee the people’s rights, and freedom. 

This must now be seriously addressed by all citizens. 

Failure to do this may soon see the total demise of PNG.

When we elect local, national and provincial government officials, we give them the job of providing a political, social, economic and judicial framework that allows our society to function in a way we believe is in our best interest.

The fact is that our politicians and bureaucrats have miserably failed us. 

As each month goes by, we are fast losing control of our country. 

It is only a matter of time before we lose total control in the way PNG should be governed, and its rich resources prudently managed today, and for our next generation.

Fortunately, there is a way forward. 

It is time for change with Papua New Guineans taking back full control of their country. 

It is high time the people take full responsibility by telling the politicians and bureaucrats exactly how things are going to be in future. 

As citizens, we will remind them that they are just mere public servants. 

We must keep reminding those in authority from the Prime Minister down that it is time to start serving the public in the national interest.

Papua New Guineans as the citizens of our country should now set out the national agenda, not public servants, politicians and big global business interests. 

These people have for a very long time now has all along proven themselves to be greedy, and self-serving. 

Nowadays, few can fail to be aware that the government wastes their tax money. 

But the true extent of this waste is astonishing, and even worse; is how waste is actually built into the system!

It has clearly been proven over time that it doesn’t matter which political party is in power.

Put very simply, the candidates on both sides tell the same tired lies year after year, and many voters still believe them.

Unfortunately, the same thing happens each time but voters repeatedly elect the same sorts of people come election time.

The real problem is deeper than the mediocre quality of our elected officials. 

Despite strident accusations by the people, I believe these are for the most part not evil men, intent of worsening the lot of citizens who put them into office.

Instead, they are marginally-competent men, unable to understand the larger issues, lost in the mass of immediate details and trying to find a compromise between conflicting needs.

We have all heard the rhetoric of politicians, but they are not answers. 

We also read, listen and watch the media reaction, but they still do not provide answers, just more questions.

What of the future? 

Where are we heading? 

What are we leaving our children?

Our politicians do not show us any vision and backbone required to lead us into the future. 

They are being led ‘willy-nilly’ by international influence and interests.

Are our laws just and fair?

 Does the judicial system provide justice or a job just for the law industry?

The average citizen today must start asking themselves these questions, and more. 

When I think about the manner our people have been constantly lied to since Independence, I become worried, angry and depressed, but motivated all at the same time.

This issue by now should have cause a deep debate on some serious issues that Papua New Guineans should be concerned about. 

We as a nation of people should not just easily accept what we are given or allowed at face value, because we need to enlighten ourselves to what is happening out there.

If we do not set things right by the people now, I say there will be a mass hysteria before the next political regime takes up office. 

I hope what I am saying here causes some serious debate on certain key issues of national importance, and hopefully some readers enter the debate, and possibly come up with some solutions.

In the final analysis, it is all about educating our whole country, adopting a certain point of view that is commonly shared by the majority of Papua New Guineans.  From this, a constructive discussion should follow that hopefully will subsequently result in a better future outcome for PNG.

Hiritano claims one, 13 injured

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

 

A MAN is dead with 13 others nursing severe injuries at the Port Moresby General Hospital after a vehicle with 18 passengers on board ran off the road and crashed into nearby trees along the Hiritano Highway, Central, last Friday morning, The National reports.

A pregnant woman sustained spinal injuries while a six-year-old girl was badly hurt when she fell off the vehicle. They were among the 13 recovering at the hospital.

Agevairua health extension officer Don Oa said Bereina and Agevairua health centres staff were first on the scene to rescue the injured.

Ambulances from both centres immediately repatriated the severely injured to Port Moresby General Hospital.

“It was a nasty accident with people suffering from broken bones and lacerated skin, but we were prepared.

“This is nothing new to us, our medical staff are used to receiving victims in very bad conditions as a result of vehicle accidents along the highway,” Oa said.

Reports claimed that the vehicle, owned by a villager from Hisiu, was driven by the owner’s 20-year-old son who was transporting relatives to a bride price ceremony in Port Moresby.

“The police will give a clear account but, from what we heard, the cause of the accident may have been a failure on the vehicle gathering speed when climbing up a steep hill between Kaiau and Agevairua village,” Oa said.

“The accident occurred at around 9am and, thanks to the immediate action of the police highway patrol team, we were able to save many lives that morning.”

The driver is in police custody while the body of the dead person is at the hospital morgue.

 

10,000 in Bougainville starving

MORE than 10,000 people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are in need of food and medical assistance after continuous rainfall destroyed food gardens and devastated roads, The National reports.

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President John Momis highlighted the problem last Friday when accepting 4,000 cartons of biscuits worth K180, 000 from the Lae Biscuit Co Ltd.

The company will ship the biscuits in two containers to the ABG office this week.

Weather experts had linked the continuous rainfall to the change in climate as a result of global warming.

According to the 3news.co.nz website, the months prior to July were hot and dry in Bougainville.

“Rainwater storage tanks were running low and any rainfall was occasional and light.

“However, in the last couple of weeks, there has been a major change – rain is now heavy and frequent,” the website said.

Many Bougainvilleans lead a mostly subsistence lifestyle, growing most of their own food in gardens. Others rely on generating income through growing cash crops like cocoa and coconuts.

According to locals, people grow crops fit for the climate, and the crops are grown according to the seasons.

“If weather patterns start to change and crops do not grow, many people have little safety net and will struggle for income and food,” the 3news.co.nz website added.

Typically, July is part of the dry season but, this year, the wet season came early and the heavy monsoon rains were having a massive impact.

“Only small sections of the roads in Bougainville are sealed and the remainder has quickly turned to a series of deep water-filled potholes.

“The rain also caused slips and landslides, creating road blocks that the government in Bougainville does not yet have the capacity to clear quickly,” the website added.

This had impacted greatly on the local communities, as the poor roads meant they could not take their cocoa and copra to the buyers.

Many government and non-governmental projects and programmes had also been affected, officials said.

The rains had not stopped since last month.

“We express our sympathy for the hardships and the life-threatening situations in the affected areas.

“We assure the president and other leaders of the ABG that we are happy to provide whatever we can for the health and safety of the victims of the natural disaster,” Lae Biscuit southern region manager Fabian Chow said.

He also called on the good people of Bougainville around the country to assist their families as much as possible.

“The leaders of Bougainville and other stakeholders can only do so much but it is the families that must now stand together to assist in any way possible your relatives back home,” Chow added.          

Also present to receive the donation with Momis were the Minister for Higher Education and North Bougainville MP Michael Ogio and director of the national coordination office of Bougainville affairs Ellison Towollom.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lae  Biscuit. Thank you for the tremendous help you have given us in our time of need,” Momis said.

Ogio echoed similar sentiments and emphasised on the importance of strengthening partnership in all sectors of development.

“I call on the people of Bougainville to encourage partnership in your business so that, in times of need, this partnership exists,” he said.