Mineral Resources Authority now a villain in National Alliance government

By JAMES WANJIK

AFTER five years Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) cannot hide anymore.

Somare government feared truth about removal of James Wanjik as secretary for mining.

Paying with position, pay and privileges James Wanjik made Somare leadership continue to 2010.

MRA was the mad artist.

It has form without substance.

Having a taste of its own medicine the National Alliance (NA) Party is split every where.

She is falling to pieces.

NA Party had warred truth over lies and deceits.

Paying attention NA leadership would have noticed the Trojan horse.

This Trojan horse is MRA.

Now MRA announces her hidden motive (Post Courier, 22 Sept 2010 p.51 and The National, 22 Sept 2010 p.24).

She had no way with Wanjik leading the Department of Mining.

Wanjik had stated publicly in March 2006 that MRA had no life and any World Bank deal entered into by a Graeme Hancock in the company of junior officers Nellie James and Philip Samar would not bind the Department of Mining.

In May 2006 Wanjik gave notice to Graeme Hancock to leave PNG.

He left five days before the end of his consultancy contract.

He left without any closure report.

Prior to leaving Graeme Hancock moved all government records on MRA and World Bank loan to Ok Tedi Mining Limited's Port Moresby Office headed by Robin Moaina who was said to have been appointed the chairman of MRA Board.

Arthur Somare wanted Somare dynasty to continue without anyone knowing about MRA.

On 20 December 2006 Arthur Somare met with Nellie James at a hotel in Port Moresby and gave instructions for MRA to be set up.

Keeping cool and collected James Wanjik left the office of Secretary for Mining in January 2007.

In 2009 James Wanjik published two books namely Wanjik Poems and MRA and Corruption of Mineral Regulation in Papua New Guinea.

The message is very clear.

Arthur Somare wanted to mount NA leadership challenge upon Puka Temu's downfall.

Toll on NA Party leadership debacle were the result of MRA.

MRA was the Trojan horse in NA Party.

Puka Temu took it in and paid for it with deputy party leadership.

Now till 2012 NA Party will continue to break up.

Arthur Somare will know then why MRA was created by the World Bank: To destroy Somare dynasty.

It was a prophecy Daniel prophesied in Daniel 2: 31- 45 Wanjik explained in chapter 7 of his book MRA and Corruption of Mineral Regulation in Papua New Guinea.

Judgement day for 'Black Jesus'

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

TODAY is judgment day for “Black Jesus” – the cult figure in Madang who has been found guilty of four counts of rape, The National reports.

Black Jesus or BJ, better known as Steven Tari Nangimon Garaisi, would be sentenced by Justice David Cannings in Madang after four years of trial.

Police had been pursuing him tirelessly for the past four years to make him pay for his sexual relationship with his flower girls in his cult.

Tari, in his 30s, from Morobe, received pastoral training at Amron Bible College in Madang but did not graduate.

Instead, he moved to Matepi village, 17km northwest of Madang, behind Mt Hanseman, where he “preached” to those willing to listen that he was “god Yali” incarnate, the Black Jesus.

When finding Tari guilty of four of the six counts of rape last week, Cannings had noted that: “Community standards dictate that a person who holds himself out as a preacher, or holds some other position of religious authority and who purports to preach from the Holy Bible, ought not to have sex with members of his church.”

In his movement, he acquired hundreds of flower girls who would hold flowers and stand in front of the podium when he preached. Of the four houses built in his enclosure, three were for the flower girls which he would choose at random for sexual pleasure.

Court documents showed that Tari enticed them into having sex with him, saying: “I am your bridge to heaven”, or “I will open your gate to heaven”.

The unsuspecting females, who were told tales of god Yali of afore by their parents, were even told that the current Tari must be the incarnate, the true son of Yali, and were pleased that their daughters were chosen as flower girls, telling them to obey whatever “he says”.

The documents showed that many of the young victims were scared and had sex against their will because they said Tari claimed to be “Jesus” and their answer to salvation.

Tari, whose remarks in court warranted a psychiatrist session, was cleared on April 14 of any insanity and was said to be capable of understanding the proceedings.

The five victims were members of his congregation who served as flower girls.

Three gave evidence about the manner in which they had sex with the accused in which Tari said that “each time they gave their consent, the act was supposed to be a secret among themselves”.

The court heard that the girls were not to tell anyone. It was the law of the culture ministry that, of every three daughters born to a family, one must be given back to God, in his case, god Yali.

'Payouts no problem'

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

ACTING Treasurer and Finance Minister Peter O’Neill has told ex-servicemen that the amount to be paid out is not an issue; rather, the main issue is proper calculations of entitlements legally owed to each ex-serviceman, The National reports.

He said this after a meeting with leaders of six groups of ex-servicemen last Friday, which the group claimed that their total entitlement was K187 million and demanded that the amount paid to them.

“After completion of proper calculations, the government will pay whatever amount that is legally owed to the ex-servicemen,” O’Neill said.

The planned payout of outstanding entitlements was supposed to start last Thursday at Murray Barracks as promised. But, this was stopped by leaders of ex-servicemen who claimed that certain issues remained unresolved and must be properly addressed by the government. They insisted on another meeting with O’Neill.

That meeting was held at Vulupindi House and attended by O’Neill, chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, Finance secretary Gabriel Yer and Defence secretary Fred Punangi, Personnel Management acting secretary Ravu Verenagi, solicitor-general Neville Devete and Anthony Yauieb representing treasury, prime minister and NEC.

The meeting lasted for more than two hours and focused on issues raised by the ex-servicemen leaders which included method of payments, different groups of ex-servicemen, their petition to government and other pertinent issues.

O’Neill thanked the ex-servicemen for their services to the state and apologised on behalf of the government for not attending to their issues quickly.

He made it clear that the government was obliged to settle any outstanding claims that were legally owed to each and every ex-serviceman.

“I can assure you that the government will pay all entitlements legally owed to you,” O’Neill said.

He told the leaders that the government team was ready to start paying the ex-servicemen last Thursday, but it was stopped by their own leaders.

O’Neill said the payouts were legal entitlements of each and every ex-serviceman and cheque payments would be made to each individual name instead of going to a group leader or a lawyer’s trust account.

Voters reconcile with Vele

By JUNIOR UKAHA

THOUSANDS of people living in the Moresby Northeast electorate, National Capital District, flocked to the Unagi oval on Saturday to reconcile with Port Moresby businessman and former governor Wari Vele, The National reports.

The “wanbel 2012” ceremony was staged by the people and their leaders, using their own resources, to say sorry to Vele for letting him down in 2007.

Coordinator of the reconciliation ceremony Pex Kuman told the gathering that the event was special because it was a time for the people of Moresby Northeast to say sorry and make peace with their leader.

Kuman said Moresby Northeast was a Wari Vele stronghold but, in 2007, the people deserted him and voted for other candidates.

He said last Saturday’s ceremony was to ask for Vele’s forgiveness and to work closely with him in 2012.

Women leader Maria Andrews said there was no point decorating and beautifying the streets, roads, parks and buildings if the needs of the people who used these facilities were not properly addressed. 

She said contracts from NCDC must not be taken away from mothers, children and the grassroots and given to big business people.

She compared the late Sir William Skate to Vele and said they were the “champions” of the grassroots.

Vele, while accepting the people’s invitation, apology and gifts, said he had attended the event not for politics but purposely for the reconciliation.

While he was sorry that the people had suffered, Vele said they had inflicted the suffering upon themselves.

However, he said he was willing to work with them and right these failures.

The ceremony ended with the breaking of sugarcane to symbolise peace and the presentation of 20 pigs and food items to Vele and his delegates.

Speech by Bulolo MP Sam Basil on the occassion of the official opening of Hidden Valley gold mine

His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane - Governor General of PNG; Hon. John Pundari, Minister for Mining; Hon. Benny Allen, Minister for Environment; Hon. Sasa Zibe, Minister for Health; Hon. Luther Wenge, Governor for Morobe; Rex Mauri and Peter Askai representing the landowners; Mr. Graham Briggs, Harmony CEO; Mr. Ian Smith, Newcrest CEO;and all stake holders here today to witness this historical event the opening of this seventh mine in operation the Hidden Valley Mine, partially owned and operated by Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest of Australia a recent marriage of two mining giants now operating in this region.

As the Mining Minister Hon. John Pundari has said last night in Port Moresby, the Somare/Polye Government supports this project and other such projects in the country which we all support.

I commend the government’s effort through its agencies, which have successfully facilitated the Hidden Valley mining development to this stage.

The hardworking landowners’ executives represented through Rex Mauri, Peter Askai, Ben Joseph and others through their tireless efforts have also contributed to this success and I commend them for that.

This project is new in Morobe province but not new to Bulolo district, because Bulolo has its place in the early record-breaking history of gold mining and aviation industry.

Many people including early miners, explorers and the locals (often referred to as natives) lost their lives all because of the gold rush era.

The early Wau/Bulolo goldfields was a forerunner of large mining which eventually saw the development of Bougainville, Ok Tedi, Porgera, Kutubu, Lihir and other mines established.

Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975 while some companies in Wau such as New Guinea Gold (NGG) and others slowly packed up and left.

Wau became a ghost town while Bulolo was a little lucky enough to have sustained itself through the pine plantation operations of PNG Forest Products.

PNG Forest Products employs locals while keeping the banking and postal services operational, but on many occasions, the two towns are always forgotten by successive governments through lack of maintaining law order support.

Sadly this situation still confronts us today.

My district has committed K2million for rural police by purchasing seven police vehicles and recruitment of 70 community police officers.

The Morobe provincial government has committed K500, 000 for the Mumeng police barracks while the national government has committed K7m for the Wau police barracks, but this is still not enough.

While the good Minister is present here today, I would like to stress further that more attention is needed from the government in the law and order sector for Bulolo district. The investors, their shareholders and the locals in this region demand a safe and sound environment to live and work in.

I am sure the government is concerned too and must live up to its commitments to facilitate such investment.

The Kumalu River still remains an obstacle to this mine and other businesses operating in this region despite numerous attempts to push a K27m bypass project.

There have been proposals to attract Public Investment Programme (PIP) funding. Numerous attempts were made in the past three years but were always overlooked by the government.

I now would like to acknowledge all stakeholders for the success of this project.

I, however, would like to remind all that along the way of progressing, some situations have been created and must be addressed by all concerned stakeholders.

As Rex Mauri has said last night in Port Moresby, everyone's concerns must be properly addressed and I share that concern too.

 I do represent this electorate in Parliament and every one’s concern will eventually become my concern too.

During the early stripping stages of Hidden Valley project up until now sedimentation has been a problem affecting the Latep/Leklu, Middle Watut and the Lower Watut areas,  destroying gardens, fertile soil, covering up drinking waters sources, diminishing of aquatic lives from the rivers such as prawns, eels and fish. Flash floods washing away footbridges and parts of Watut and Latep bridges.

The community affairs duplicate district programmes and operate independently without partnership from the district and local level government programs.

Local and Morobean businesses (non-land owners) have been overlooked by the MMJV

for businesses spin off activities while land owner companies have been forced to participate with other JVs instead of venturing on their own as 100% owners.

The Bulolo district itself, aside from the LLGs, has been overlooked when the distribution of royalties were negotiated in the early stages of their negotiations.

This saw my district and the Morobe provincial government entering into a separate memorandum of agreement (MOA) outside the MMJV-Project MOA.

This MOA between the district and the MPG was recently breached by the Honourable Governor of Morobe Hon. Luther Wenge as the chairman of the provincial executive council.

This mutual trust and understanding that we have established through the MOA is now in question.

I urge the Honourable Governor to honour our commitments and respect my district as the host district of this very important project, and furthermore, this arrangement must be also captured in the 2012 MOA review for the good of all.

May I remind all stake holders here today that the affected communities, local wards, local level government and the district government must have all their genuine concerns attended to in one way or other.

In saying this, I commend this project in my district and thank both Harmony Gold and Newcrest for having faith in this region and look forward for your continued support locally.

We will also stand behind the project which will be one of the seven revenue-generating mine projects of this young nation of ours as stated by the Mining Minister last night which we will all work together and support.

We all can hope that the remaining years of this mine can enrich especially the land owners, who gave up their gardening and hunting grounds for the development of this mine.

We can also hope that Wau, Bulolo and Mumeng township can be also transformed from the proceeds of this mine’s revenue and the district must be also recognised as an important partner in this project aside from the provincial and the local level government.

Shooting with verbiage

From JAMES WANJIK

VISION 2050 junta had been dethroned in July 2010 leadership games in government.

Vision is a dream written in few words.

Leaders envision and people set goals.

Vision 2050 is a death trap we are led to accept without question.

Rallying people support of a vision requires charisma.

Blaming and challenging public servants will not win people. Neither will agreements and communiques.

So what does Vision 2050 entail?

It is clear no worthy leader has waved green leaf marking peace after war.

Telling people to merely accept as given that by 2050 PNG will be smart, wise, fair, healthy and happy Vision 2050 adherents are reactionaries.

Vision is about plotting the future based on past and present situation.

Had we been told the truth we would not have been lied to, to accept Vision 2050.

Truth is PNG has not matched economic development underpinned by minerals with human development.

Vision 2050 has as its base potential proceeds from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) prospect.

LNG prospect was a mad rush as we know.

ExxonMobil did not want to follow our law so our laws were amended to suit ExxonMobil.

By linking Vision 2050 to the LNG prospect PNG is mortgaged to ExxonMobil.

Vision 2050 is totally a bad sin and a crime against our pride as a nation. It is verbiage with no truth.

May all good people rally against Vision 2050.

Waigani is lost with Vision 2050

By JAMES WANJIK

THE EDITORIAL "Vision 2050: All hands on deck" (Sunday Chronicle, Sunday, October 3, 2010 p. 14) was not an issue at all.

Vision 2050 is driven from the Prime Minister's Department.

It is driven by consultants and advisers who did little to nothing as Waigani bureaucrats.

National Planning has not been driving Vision 2050. So why point fingers at bystanders?

Ignoring truth will not help PNG.

Vision 2050 was a power tool for a particular leader.

Now that we have no leader owning Vision 2050 it will die a natural death.

Please stop the blame game on Vision 2050.