Highlands students want end to year

By ELLEN TIAMU

 

STUDENTS from the six highlands provinces, excluding Chimbu, at the University of Technology in Lae, yesterday presented a petition to the university administration saying the resumption of classes cannot happen this year following another flare-up on campus on Tuesday morning between Sepik and Highlands students, The National reports.

There have been on-going fights at the Taraka campus between the Sepik and Chimbu students which resulted in the hospitalisation of two and the death of one, all from Sepik, nearly four weeks ago.

The death resulted in the exodus of Chimbu students as well as those from other provinces three weeks ago out of the campus.

The university’s standing committee and executive management two weeks ago called for classes to resume.

Most of the students who left campus returned last weekend but at a meeting on Monday with vice-chancellor Misty Baloiloi, registrar Allan Sako and Lae police commander Chief Supt Nema Mondiai made it clear that they would not return to class unless the Chimbu and Sepik students made peace.

Despite assurances from the administration and police that it was safe to return to classes, a fight broke out the next day, Tuesday purportedly between Sepik and highlands students leaving several students injured.

Student leaders from Western, Eastern and Southern Highlands and Enga  as well as SRC president, Justin Herepe, yesterday morning petitioned the executive management saying although it was the wish of the other students to complete studies this year, they would only do so after the Sepiks and Chimbu students reconciled.

“The environment here is not conducive for learning. We feel that it is only right that we return early next year to complete the remaining academic year,” their petition read.

The highlands students were aggrieved that the Sepik students were allowed to congregate in one area although a memo was sent out forbidding gatherings.

They said the administration should not misinform students and the public that all was well on campus when it was not as demonstrated on Tuesday in front of police and security guards.

They also recommended that an external mode of learning such as distance learning be used to complete studies, a complete overhaul of the campus security system and the perpetrators of the killing and fights be arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, Mondiai said restraining orders had been served on both Chimbu and Sepik student groups, stopping them from harassing and intimidating other student groups.

He said police investigations into the initial fight and murder had progressed but students involved were not cooperating with police.

“Police cannot just go out and round up anyone without first receiving a complaint and evidence to support the complaint. We need names and statement of facts,” he said.

Taiwan and Papua New Guinea recommit efforts to promote agriculture

Ministers Hickey (right) and Chen shake hands after the signing

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

Taiwan and Papua New Guinea have reaffirmed their commitment towards improving the agriculture sector.

This follows the signing of the revalidation of the technical cooperation agreement on agriculture for a further three-year period.

The PNG government has committed itself to ensure that the agreement with Taiwan is revalidated and remains active for the medium and long-term to ensure that PNG farmers continue to benefit and improve their livelihood.

Over the years since the agreement was first signed, PNG has benefitted through the provision of quality rice and vegetable seeds, machinery, technical expertise, irrigation technology and support to agricultural extension including human resource development both in country and in Taiwan through the international cooperation and development centre.

The technical mission has established its office and facilities in Bubia outside of Lae and has worked closely with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and other agricultural agencies to promote agriculture.

Many of the technologies promoted by the Taiwanese experts are being popularised in many parts of the country.

On Aug 30 this year, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock John Hickey and his counterpart minister and chairman of the council of agriculture, Wu-hsiung Chen, signed the agreement in Taipei, Taiwan.

Hickey expressed his appreciation and thanked the government of Taiwan for inviting him to visit Taiwan and for the second time revalidate the agreement.

APEC ministers urge sustainable growth of tourism

Issued by the 6^th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting

Nara, Japan, 22 September, 2010 – Tourism Ministers from the Asia-Pacific region stressed the importance of achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in this key industry, on the opening day of the 6^th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday.

 Opening the meeting, Japan’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Sumio Mabuchi, said tourism, like the rest of the economy, had suffered from the global financial crisis, natural disasters and the H1N1 virus in recent years.

 However Minister Mabuchi, who is chairing the meeting, said tourism has potential to play a key role in the region’s economic recovery. Steps, therefore, need to be taken by APEC to help nurture the industry so that it grows sustainably for future generations. 

 “Although we see some signs of upturn in the economy starting from this year, we are still far away from a full-fledged recovery. So there are efforts being taken around the world to bring about growth,” Minister Mabuchi told the meeting in his home town of Nara, Japan.

 “The tourism industry is an industry which can actually enable growth without resorting to fiscal stimulus. It is an industry that has the potential to impact on the revitalisation of the regional economy as well as on employment and therefore the sustainable growth of this industry is of paramount importance.”

 “Over the next two days in this ministerial meeting, I do hope that we can have very robust and active discussion and exchange of views and express and translate our strong resolve into the Nara Declaration, so that we can jointly take one step forward.”

 APEC’s share of world tourism has been growing over the past 15 years, according to StatsAPEC, an extensive database showing economic performance in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC’s share of world tourism has increased from 28 percent in 1995 to currently 51 percent. International tourism arrivals in the APEC region have grown approximately 122 million over this period.

 During the plenary session, Ministers discussed the important role that the sector can play in contributing to APEC’s new growth strategy, which will be submitted to APEC Leaders for consideration when they meet in November in Yokohama.

 In particular, Ministers discussed the need for protection of the region’s natural and cultural assets to create a more environmentally sustainable sector. Creating more stable workforces in the sector and enabling tourism to generate business opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises would also lead to more inclusive growth of the sector that benefits more sections of society.

 Among other topics discussed was the importance of sharing information and ideas between member economies to strengthen the industry, and closer cooperation between APEC fora, the private sector and other international organisations to help achieve APEC’s goals.

 Ministers provided an assessment of the tourism industry in their economies, and also received a report on the results of the APEC Tourism Working Group. The meeting will continue on Thursday before Ministers are expected to release the “Nara Declaration” on Tourism and hold a press conference.

                                            # # #

For more information, contact:  Trudy Harris + 65 98983710 or th@apec.org

For StatsAPEC, visit: http://statistics.apec.org/

Fighting resumes at Unitech

By PETER PIA and PISAI GUMAR

 

CLASSES at the University of Technology (Unitech) in Lae were disrupted again yesterday after Sepik students, claiming that nobody had attended to their petition, attacked students from Chimbu as early as 11am, The National reports.

The Sepik students had petitioned the Unitech administration and council after the death of a first-year applied physics student and the injury of two others in a fight with students from Chimbu three weeks ago.

Their petition called for:

* Kuima Security Services Ltd to withdraw its services from the university;

* Current university administration to be sidelined and a caretaker administration appointed to investigate the fight and death;

* Perpetrators to face the full force of law; and

* Effective security measures to be put in place to complete the academic year.

On Monday, the university administration and police had assured students from other provinces and abroad that there would not be any disruption to classes and that their safety was guaranteed.

However, this changed yesterday morning when students attending classes fled in fear for their lives when a group students, who refused to go for classes, mobilised and attacked those from Chimbu.

A final-year civil engineering student, who requested anonymity, told The National from Lae that they had fled their classrooms at about 11am when a group of students, who were armed, threatened his course mates from the highlands region.

“It all happened during our lectures.

“A group of Sepik students arrived and threatened an Eastern Highlander and two others.

“Police arrived and restored order,” he said.

“All Chimbu students packed their belongings and left early yesterday morning,” he added.

The source said the university administration and council must be blamed for not solving the problem fully and effectively.

The university suspended classes for the rest of yesterday and today “with the hope to recommence thereafter”.

“In the meantime, police have reassured that security on campus is intact and the incident had been attended to,” Vice-Chancellor Dr Misty Baloiloi said.

He said the administration of law and order on campus had been given to the metropolitan commander and “police were handling the issues of security on campus in the best way they know”.

He told the students that the provincial administrators of East Sepik and Chimbu had agreed to travel to Lae and onto the campus to assist the students involved in the conflict reconcile.

Baloiloi appealed to the students to cooperate with police and the administration to ensure the operations of the university was not affected, “especially to conclude the academic year properly”.

The fighting was said to have started at the administration block at about 10.30am and started a melee.

Several students were reportedly injured and taken to Angau while several were arrested by police.

Neither the hospital nor police could say anything about the injured nor those arrested.

During the rush, criminals capitalised and attacked an expatriate academic from Japan.

He was held up with a pocket knife in broad daylight as people ran about.

The academic was traumatised and left the campus.

Meanwhile, students from Enga, Southern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Central and NCD and others have announced their intention to petition the national government for negligence and non-intervention in solving the problem.

They had called on the students representative council (SRC) to take the lead to ensure they complete this academic year.

Their petition called for the government to:

* Close this academic year and allow students to return and complete the remaining five weeks in early January;

* Tighten security with the police mobile squad setting up camp inside the campus; and

* An independent inquiry to be established to fully investigate the matter.

The students planned to send their representatives to Port Moresby either tomorrow or Friday to hand over their petition to the government.

 

Transparency International hits out at K9 million guns purchase

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE PNG chapter of the civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, Transparency International, yesterday said the acquisition of non-lethal weapons and munitions by the Correctional Services will not solve the various problems faced by jails throughout the country, The National reports.

TIPNG said the K9 million would be better spent on upgrading and securing all prison facilities, including living quarters, to boost the low morale among staff and instill discipline among service members.

CS Minister Tony Aimo had earlier explained that the purchase would, presumably, deter mass breakouts.

However, yesterday, he said the organisation would not use its development budget to make the buy.

“It is just an order, with money not coming out of the CS development budget.

“This arrangement is on a protocol level (government to government),” Aimo explained.

He said the demolition and reconstruction of its staff living quarters and other entitlements were not compromised in the arms deal.

Aimo said the statement by TIPNG was “a slap in the face of hardworking prison officers working and living in trying conditions over many years”.

During a visit to the Beon jail in Madang last month, court judge Justice David Cannings also highlighted the problems faced by warders and their families. 

 

 

Customs impound tanker off Manus

AN oil tanker that ran aground on reef off the north of Manus, could have caused severe damages to the marine life if the oil and fuel it was carrying had spilled out, the PNG Customs Service said, The National reports.

The tanker, carrying 1,600 metric tonnes of oil and fuel with a crew of 21, including the captain, was detained by officials from PNG Customs, police

and National Fisheries Authority to establish grounds and impose possible fines under their respective laws as per breach of each of their regulations.

The PNG Customs Service will lay appropriate charges on the owner of the oil tanker for non-compliance in the provincial capital Lorengau.

The tanker is owned and operated by Singapore-based company Hai Soon International Trading Pte Ltd.

During the record of interview, Customs found that Hai Soon 5 was on a voyage through the high seas north off Manus Island to refuel fishing vessels operating in the international waters.

As it tried to pass through the PNG waters, the ship accidentally hit a coral reef and ran aground, but failed to inform PNG Customs and other relevant authorities of the incident.

The tanker is registered in Kiribati and its last port of call was Peyongtaek, South Korea bound for Hawaii.

Customs also found 10 pornographic DVDs during routine ship search and two crew members will also be charged for being in possession of prohibited items under PNG laws.

Customs commissioner Gary Juffa said all sea and aircraft entering and operating within the country’s boundary were covered by PNG laws.

“As Customs duty is to safeguard the country’s borders, its environment and the people, anyone found to break the Customs regulations would be severely penalised under the existing laws,” Juffa said.

ICT vital for agricultural development in Papua New Guinea

PNGARNet opens up greater learning and information sharing opportunities through broadband technology

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

Information has become an important input in ever-increasing knowledge-intensive agriculture

. The information needs in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) is increasingly become complex and changing due to climate change and its impact on agricultural practices; need for rural non-farm employment and income generation; integrated farming; agri-entrepreneurial opportunities; access to modern markets, food safety for consumers and depleting natural resources.

New knowledge based on innovative ideas and systematic research is a crucial catalytic agent for agricultural and rural development.

However, the extent of positive impact of new knowledge depends on how effectively this knowledge is transferred to and adopted by the farming communities and the end- users.

At the heart of the transfer process is the information and communication system and its effectiveness in a given environment.

The use of new tools and systems of information and communication technology (ICT) thus is of paramount importance in the development process. 

In today’s information age, new developments in ICT are offering many exciting opportunities and new challenges in rapid and effective dissemination of agricultural technologies and knowledge to stakeholders.

 The ICT advances are complemented by new techniques for efficient information and communication management (ICM).

The importance of ICT and ICM has been duly signified through global platforms in the realisation of the effective application of e-agriculture in recent years.

In recognition of these potentials, many national agricultural research systems (NARS) and agricultural research and development (R&D) organisations in the Asia-Pacific region have emphasised the use of ICT in agricultural research and rural development.

The extension mechanism, which is conventional, mandated to provide necessary information support to farming community often fail due to a variety of inherent problems.

Adding to this is the ever-increasing learning needs of stakeholders that are continuously changing due to globalisation.

This is where the applications of ICT in AR4D are offering immense opportunities to strengthen agricultural extension system all over the world.

The potential of ICTs is significant in making AR4D more inclusive through highly targeted and location specific information services; delivery of ICT-enabled services such as market access, access to export markets, traceability systems, mobile extension services etc.

To add to this, the advances like cloud computing, availability of new generation mobile technology in many developing countries and global information systems (GIS), ease of web 2.0 technologies and social networking at all levels have increased opportunities for new ways to share and exchange information and knowledge with wide range of stakeholders.

It also led to improve agricultural advisory services and encourage innovative partnerships in ICM for AR4D for greater impact.

There are notable ICT attempts in agriculture and rural development which not only provide lessons on connectivity and device development but also offer more insights into ICM issues related to digital content development, end-user needs, policy support, digital intellectual property rights, open access issues, standards for greater coherence, information and knowledge management, security of information systems, research in ICT/ICM, socio-economic impact, and institutional and process interventions to manage all these continuous changes.

 This specialised body of knowledge, cutting across disciplines, opens up great learning opportunities for all stakeholders in AR4D and it forms a key component to improve their capacities for leveraging ICT/ICM for AR4D.

There are many success stories on how ICT has been effectively utilised in rural development.

Experiences have also shown that ICT initiatives, including on-line agricultural databases, electronic forums and CD-ROMs, have changed the way the information and knowledge are managed and communicated.

New public domain software and applications allow for research information to be digitised. 

Audio-visual materials make transfer and access of information much faster.

In Papua New Guinea, the government has created the enabling environment with the introduction of the national ICT policy 2009.

This timely policy sets out a strategic framework for meeting the government’s objective for the ICT sector.

Key amongst this will be the integrated government information system – the platform for e-government and governance.

This sets the basis and opens up opportunity for greater use of ICT/ICM in agricultural and national development.

The recent introduction of competition in mobile telephony and establishment of PNG academic and research network (PNGARNet) company have enhanced increased communication, research, teaching and learning.

The PNG NARS, in a new shift, have reorientated their focus to enhance development impact in their research and development efforts with prominence given to information and communication as an equally-important function at programme level.

Some educational and R&D organisations in PNG have on-line access to knowledge and information exchange using broadband technology and other ICT tools and techniques.

Many more have established electronic communication links with like-minders both in country and abroad, taking advantage of internet and email systems.

With the rapid growth of cellular telephony and wireless internet technologies, the use of ICT can be extended to household and individual levels, making it possible for real time communication.

Innovative actions such as the SMS market information project of the Fresh Produce Development Agency and the mega EU-funded regional agricultural information system (RAIS) for the Western Pacific Countries (PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) demonstrate the potential application of ICT/ICM in AR4D.

And traditional medium through radio, television and newspapers are continuing to be channels of information and education, with most moving into digitalisation.

The participation by PNG NARS at inter-regional events has opened up new initiatives and changes in the emerging global alliance in RAIS and collaborations. Through such collaborative and capacity building activities, a number of initiatives and resources have been locally developed, such as the PNG NAIS, an online database information system for the country. 

However, how to make ICT/ICM work in rural areas of PNG is a real challenge.

This is because of typical constraints such as limited access to remote areas, unreliable infrastructure, high illiteracy rate, inadequate funding support and high telecommunication costs.

 Farmers and key stakeholders need timely information and decision-making ability.

 It will also require capacity building support to enable them adopt the new ICTs in a user-friendly manner.

While rural telecommunications can play a vital role in supporting and providing farm and non-farm livelihoods, access to markets, education, health services, governance, etc, the cost of connectivity and its sustainability will continue to be an issue.

 At the same time, farming is the major economic activity in the rural areas and therefore, agricultural development should be a major consideration in defining telecommunications strategies.

For ICT to really impact on agriculture and rural development in PNG, a number of issues require consideration:

·        Policies relating to telecommunication and information management for agricultural and rural development should reflect local realities and needs;

·        Need for rural-based information communication policy framework to give access to the rural poor (and the illiterate) on a sustainable basis;

·        Resource allocation to support information services should be appropriate and effective to meet rapid technological development and demand;

·        Greater partnerships and collaborations be enhanced with RAIS and NARS based on institutional arrangements;

·        Relevant strategies for human resource development in ICT/ICM be developed and implemented.  Need is also to consider and incorporate gender equity and sensitivity in ICT/ICM;

·        There is a need to create public-private-community partnerships in agricultural information delivery and exchange; and

·        Agricultural policies need to focus on ICT/ICM use, considering initiatives by various stakeholders, including the private sector and NGOs.