Ice falls in Komo

More than 2,000 people in Komo and Mananda villages in the Southern Highlands have been affected by frost, The National reports.
A villager (pictured) showing a chunk of ice found in his garden on Monday afternoon. 
Other villagers also found their gardens and surroundings affected and have called on the government to assist them. 
It is understood that LNG developer ExxonMobil officers are in the area assessing the situation.

Big push for Papua New Guinea hydro-power

Qld premier to spearhead talks with business sector next week

 

THE proposed hydro power plant in Gulf province from which electricity would be undersea-cabled  to Queensland is gaining momentum, with premier Anna Bligh spearheading the talks with Townsville business leaders, The National reports.

The Cairns Post reported that the Queensland premier would meet with business leaders in Townsville next week to promote plans to import hydropower from Papua New Guinea for use in Queensland’s north.

“Bligh will govern Queensland from the north next week, basing herself in Townsville from Oct 11 to 16,” the newspaper reported yesterday.

She told parliament she would  be sharing with Townsville business leaders’ information about plans to import green power generated from Purari River to Queensland via an undersea cable.

She said she would also meet with federal independent MP Kennedy Bob Katter and Mt Isa state MP Betty Kiernan, about the project.

Bligh also revealed she plans to travel to PNG in December with representatives from Origin Energy, which is pursuing the hydropower project with PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd.

“I will be joining with the CEO of Origin Energy to speak at a business breakfast of Townsville business leaders about this project,” she said yesterday.

The premier last month signed a memorandum of co-operation with the PNG government, Origin and PNG Energy Developments Ltd to begin investigations into the multi-billion dollar plan.

A comprehensive feasibility study was expected to be finished in 2012 and PNG green power could be pumping into the national grid at Townsville by 2020.

The 50:50 joint venture between Origin and PNGSDP could ultimately see the hydro-power plant built at Purari River, the country’s third largest waterway located in the Gulf province.

Last month, Origin chief executive Grant King said the ongoing assessment of the project was consistent with his company’s pursuit of renewable energy opportunities.

 “This would be the first project to deliver year-round baseload renewable energy into mainland Australia,” King said.

Bligh also said for the project to be viable, PNG needed a baseload customer for the power, which her state would become.

“If successful, this project would be a massive win-win for both PNG and Queensland, opening up new opportunities for all of us,’’ Bligh said.

Deputy prime minister Don Polye said it was a milestone to have the governments come together with the private sector in a partnership to develop such an important project.

 

 

City time-bomb

NCD police overpowered by influx of people

 

By THOMAS HUKAHU

 

The National Capital District is sitting on a law and order time bomb, The National reports.

This warning came from the city’s top policeman, metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa.

Yakasa said the increasing number of people moving into Port Moresby from other centres, and from overseas, was presenting a major problem to them and was really stretching them.

“NCD police need more support to manage law and order problems in the city.

“We lack resources and manpower and need urgent help,” Yakasa said.

He was speaking as city residents came to terms with another brutal killing, this time a premeditated murder of a first-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Yakasa said where there were more people moving about in a place, there was bound to be more problems.

He said police were doing all they could but they could only stretch so much. And, that was the case with Port Moresby.

“Our situation is not helped with the absence of reserve police personnel, a task force or a dog unit. All these must be looked at seriously to help us do proper policing of the city.

“I know the department’s executive management team is trying hard to assist my men, but I think our politicians must also see the realities and assist police in their work to maintain law and order in the city,” Yakasa added.

He also thanked community leaders who had worked tirelessly in their communities to resolve problems at their level.

Yakasa said: “I really appreciate those leaders. It is very encouraging to hear of leaders like that who are helping to maintain law and order in their communities.”

Law and order was everybody’s problem, not just the police, he added. 

Yakasa also appealed to the public to respect the rule of law and, under no circumstances, take the law into their own hands.

Port Moresby city’s population is estimated to be around 450,000, although some government authorities said the number could be as high as 600,000 due to a high influx of people, especially from the highlands, in recent years.

The increase in population was placing a stress on utility and service providers for electricity, water and sewerage.

A national census due to start this year to determine the country’s population, and the population in towns and cities like Port Moresby, had been put off due to lack of funding by the national government.

 

 

Fright of a lifetime flying Air Niugini

By ALPHONSE MUAPI

PNG Electoral Commission media

 

PASSENGERS travelling on yesterday morning’s Air Niugini flight from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus got the scare of their lives when the aircraft developed technical problems midair soon after take-off, The National reports.

The 78 passengers on flight PX 292, from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus, were shaken when the Fokker 100 had to take off and land twice at the Jackson Airport.

The F100 aircraft developed technical problems soon after take-off at 9.45am.

It started experiencing technical problems with its landing gear about 10 minutes into the flight when the aircraft was about to cruise over the Owen Stanley Ranges.

The captain, trying not to cause panic among passengers, calmly announced over the aircraft’s public announcement system that, due to technical problems with some of the aircraft’s flight equipment and for the safety of passengers, he had to return to Port Moresby.

The plane landed safely at 10.15am at the Jackson Airport. Airport fire and rescue trucks were on standby at the PNG Defence Force air wing.

On arrival, passengers were advised by the captain not to disembark as Air Niugini’s ground staff (aircraft engineers) would have a look at the aircraft’s landing gear and clear the aircraft for a second take-off (departure).

After 45 minutes, the all-clear was given for the plane to fly. However, just five minutes after take-off from Jackson Airport, the captain’s voice came on again, apologising and advising that, unfortunately, they could not make it to Lae because the problem with the landing gear had re-occurred.

The plane was back on the ground at 11.30am.

During the second landing, a female passenger sitting in row 13 fumed, and said in Tok Pisin: “Festaim mipela kamdaun na mi tok long mipela go daun na kalap long narapela balus, tasol yupela no sapotim mi. Nau, lukim wanem samting kamap (the first time we landed, I said we should all leave this aircraft and board another. However, nobody supported me and, now, see what has happened).”

Passengers were all advised to disembark after the “second arrival”, and they did so calmly with some anger.

Luggages were also unloaded from the faulty PX 292 to another F100 aircraft that departed Port Moresby for Lae at 12.15pm.

“I got a scare of my life and decided not to board the other aircraft to Lae.

“I came out of the boarding lounge, caught a cab and went straight home,” Alphonse Muapi, writer of this story, said.

A statement released later to the media by Air Niugini’s corporate affairs department said there was no emergency landing at the airport.

“We wish to confirm that PX 292 from Port Moresby to Lae and Manus was delayed due to a technical defect and the situation did not require an emergency landing but to return to Port Moresby.

“The aircraft, after take-off, encountered an anti-skid defect and the pilot in command applied the standard operating procedures by electing to return to Port Moresby,” the airline stated.

 

MPs disgusted with axe murder

THE axing to death of a university student in Port Moresby has drawn widespread condemnation, with Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye warning that those responsible can expect no less treatment, The National reports.

“I do not think we should allow such heinous and barbaric behaviour to continue in our communities.

“Those responsible for this crime must realise that our laws will ensure that they can expect nothing less.

“Taking a person’s life away in a premeditated fashion is inhuman. It is uncivilised,” Polye said.

Mining Minister and Kompiam-Ambum MP John Pundari also condemned the cold blooded killing in Port Moresby saying he was appalled by the brutal killing of Christopher George Kalupai, a first-year law student at the University of Papua New Guinea.

“This is a complete disgrace, a slap in the face and has tarnished the good name of the rest of the law abiding citizens of our capital city,” he said.

Pundari wanted those responsible for the murder to immediately surrender to police and urged police to speed up investigations.

The late Kalupai, from Enga, was allegedly hacked to pieces by rival clansmen from Wapele village, Laiagam, after being dragged out of a PMV bus in Morata, Port Moresby, on Monday.

Police Commissioner Gary Baki was also disgusted with the killing and vowed that his men would “wipe” the killers from the rest of society.

“This payback and tribal war killings is totally uncalled for. It is animalistic and uncivilised.

“I call on the so-called Highlands leaders to cease their chest beating and political garbage to address these tribal fights which is an ulcer in their societies.”

Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald called on the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to immediately enforce the law which has been passed by parliament.

He said the country was losing many intellectuals and businessmen who could make a big difference in the overall development of this nation.

Mald said the judiciary must now act if we want to put a stop to horrific and senseless killing as if they were doing it their little village back home.

“Port Moresby is the country’s capital and not a place for some bunch of animals to practice and bring their village tribal differences,” he said.

“How can we put a stop to such barbaric actions of some inhuman bunch of group of people?”

Mald claimed that if the death penalty was not implemented, then the country should expect more innocent people would be killed and that perpetrators would think that they could get away from the law.

Lions Club of Lae needs your help

It will be smiles all round for the Lae Lions and Lioness Clubs members on Saturday, Nov 20,  as they gather for a special occasion as part of the reformation of the Lae Lions Club.

Club cecretary Jerry Manjawi with sick boy at the Angau Hospital children’s ward

Lae Lions Club branch president, Lion Namon Mawason, has confirmed that the immediate past district governor of Lions for Papua New Guinea and Northern Queensland, Lion John Muller, will be visiting Lae on this day to meet with the members of both the Lions and Lioness Clubs and to update them on Lions activities and programmes right around the world.

Muller said: “It is a great honour for me to return to Lae and to represent our current district governor Patrick Lynch for this formal visit to the club.

“Many years ago Lions had a strong presence in the local Lae community, and it is great that I am here and able to assist the new club as it continues to grow membership and build towards again being a chartered Lions Club.”

The Lae branch club currently has 15 members, and needs to recruit further community-minded people so that it can reach the minimum number of 20 Lions required to enable the club to again charter and be recognised as a club in its own right.

Mawason said: “The Lae club branch members and their families recently celebrated Papua New Guinea’s 35^th independence day on Sept 16, 2010, by visiting the Angau Hospital children’s ward and presenting some gifts - drinks, biscuits and ice cream - to the children as part of the service activities we do for our community.”

Club members preparing at Coronation College before proceeding to the hospital

He thanked Lae Biscuit Company and Laga Industries Ltd for contributing biscuits and ice cream for the Children.

Lions Club International is the largest service club organisation in the world, with over 1.36 million members in more than 48,000 clubs in 205 countries world-wide. Membership in Lions is by invitation, is open to all community-minded people, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, colour or disability.

Anyone wishing to know more about Lions should contact Mawason on phone (675) 76863219 or secretary Jerry Manjawi on (675) 4721011.

“We would love to see many new interested people at past district governor Muller’s visit on Saturday evening, Nov 20, so that they may learn more about Lions and also be invited to join our club,” Mawason said.

For further information and photo opportunities:  Namon Mawason (675) 7686 3219 / namon.mawason@lbcgroup.com.pg

Agriculture support services project launched in Chimbu

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

Fr Garia unveils the official plaque watched by Dr Lahis and other officials

The people of Chimbu have been urged to utilise their land and resources for agriculture farming which will help improve their livelihood.

Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia called on the people to be more innovative and use whatever little resources they had to seek income-earning opportunities and reduce poverty and food insecurity.

He told the people not to use the rugged and mountainous terrain, inadequate infrastructure, ineffective services and other issues as an excuse.

Fr Garia was speaking at the official launching of the smallholder support services expansion project (SSSEP) in the province last week.

 Provincial administration staff, farmers, women’s leaders and provincial leaders attended the launching in Kundiawa.

He also presented K40, 000 as counterpart funding to help establish the new project office.

The programme will be introduced into the Kerowagi and Sinasina-Yonggomugl districts.

Central together with Chimbu are the two new provinces to be included in the expansion phase after the project was trialed in Morobe and Eastern Highlands for several years.

 It was trialed as a way to address the inadequate and ineffective delivery of agricultural support services in PNG, and the approach included contracting individuals and institutions to deliver support services to smallholder farmers.

The overall goal is to improve the quality of life of smallholder farmers by increasing their access to agriculture support services.

The Governor, whilst expressing his appreciation to the Department of Agriculture and Livestock for accepting his province, said SSSEP would boost agriculture development and provide opportunities for the farmers to improve their livelihood.

He expected the majority of the rural population to gain maximum benefit through their involvement in the project and urged all stakeholders to support the new system.

Fr Garia acknowledged the efforts of many farmers in food crops, rice, fish farming, livestock and coffee who had worked tirelessly without government assistance to become successful.

He said people should not always rely on the politicians for cash handouts but try to become self-reliant.

Fr Garia said he never encouraged handouts and always gave out seedlings and farming tools to farmers who requested for assistance.  

The Governor also called on public servants to stop being bottlenecks and assist in getting the flow of services to the rural communities.

He said new concepts such as the SSSEP could work effectively if public servants were committed and honest in the delivery of services.

Chairman of Kerowagi farmers’ co-operative society, Jacob Kerenga, on behalf of the farmers of Chimbu, thanked DAL and the provincial administration for selecting his province to be included.

He said people had the land and resources but they were lazy.

 They also lacked regular extension and technical advisory services and hopefully this would change through the SSSEP.

“This is the opportunity we have all been waiting for to improve agriculture farming activities,” Kerenga said.

“How can we improve our livelihood if we don’t go back to agriculture- the backbone of our economy?”

 Kerenga said while the people were being encouraged to produce more food crops, there were inadequate markets available.

He said this was one of the constraints faced by the farmers and urged DAL to do something.  SSSEP project coordinator Dr Sam Lahis thanked the Governor for the counterpart funding, which is a commitment towards supporting the SSSEP in the province.

He also acknowledged the New Zealand Government through the NZ Agency for International Development (NZAid) for providing grant funding worth over K3.7 million in support of the SSSEP in PNG.