Namah leads PNG Party

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

MEMBER for Vanimo-Green Belden Namah is the new leader for PNG Party, The National reports.

He takes over from founder and former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta.

A handover ceremony for the media took place last Friday.

Namah, former forest minister and a central part of the National Alliance party, defected to the opposition with former deputy prime minister Sir Puka Temu and former culture and tourism minister Charles Abel in July.

A plot to remove Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare during the July sitting did not succeed.

The PNG Party suffered defections to the government recently before Namah’s arrival.

Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa, Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia, and Henganofi MP Ferao Orimyao recently announced they were leaving the party to join the United Resource Party.

Sir Mekere told reporters at the handover ceremony that PNG Party was a national institution, and, therefore, the party wanted to make a change in the political landscape in the country by giving away the leadership to a young and vibrant leader as he was old and do not want to continue to hold on to the party leadership.

“A new generation of leadership must take place, and, therefore, I have stood down as the party leader.

“I have every confidence in his leadership and I am confident that he can grow the party,” he said.

Sir Mekere continues to hold on the opposition leadership until the members of the opposition meets and decides who should take over.

Namah said others should take the cue from Sir Mekere and follow suit.

“It’s time for Sir Michael and others to do the same and allow young and vibrant leaders to run the country while they sit behind and advise, rather than selfishly holding on to power,” he said.

Namah said he was determined to remove the Somare-Polye government come November.

Meanwhile, Anglimp-South Waghi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham, when applauding Sir Mekere, said other “old dinosaurs” holding on to power should do the same to allow young leaders to take the lead.

Goroka MP Thompson Horokaqveh also declared his move to PNG Party by leaving Pangu Pati to support the opposition for a change of government.

Wosera Gawi rural electrification programme is of no use

By JAMES WANJIK

 

THE Member for Wosera Gawi, Ronald Asik, has done nothing of worth since 2007 to keep the people of Wosera Gawi happy.

His credit scheme for cocoa fermentries is now a popular wasted effort.

The Nunguaia Bongos Agro Forestry project has landed two groups in land dispute and destruction of property.

Roadworks in North Wosera have done more political damage to his leadership.

Independence celebrations at Wambisa and Nunguaia without the presence and funding from Ronald Asik sent clear and unambiguous message that Wosera Gawi has no leader of any worth.

And recently we hear of rural electrification (The National, October 01, p.4).

K 1 million he is allocating will not benefit any Wosera Gawi person.

Hearing of other districts' electrification programmes Ronald Asik jumped on the bandwagon without any development plan.

Who is Asik trying to provoke with his no-impact programme?

 

Ramu litigation needs to challenge Mineral Resources Authority's legal standing and competence to regulate Ramu mine

By JAMES WANJIK

 

LAW is the basis for legal action.

One of the cardinal principles of law is legal standing.

No person can be at the court without establishing legal standing.

For legal standing, a lawful person must be at the court.

That is, a corporate entity, such as, the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), must show that, it is a lawful entity.

Lawyers acting for the parties and in particular the landowners owe duty to bring this elementary and fundamental legal issue to the attention of the court.

Landowners are being taken for a ride by lawyers and people with no legitimate people's interest.

Ramu litigation is becoming a nuisance no better than the nuisance giving rise to initial litigation.

 

Make MRA an issue in court: Wanjik

FORMER Secretary for Mining and resources lawyer James Wanjik has called on lawyers involved in the Ramu deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) litigation to advise their clients and the court to make Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) as an issue.

“In any litigation, one of the cardinal principles to be considered by the court is the legal standing and competence of the litigants,” Wanjik said.

“The MRA is unconstitutional and is operating illegally.

“As such it has no legal standing and competence to regulate all mines including the Ramu mine and its DSTP.

“It follows that MRA has no legal standing and competence to be a party in the DSTP litigation or to be entertained by the court.

“Questions of legal standing and competence of litigants are preliminary, elementary and fundamental legal issues.

“It is a surprise lawyers involved in the litigation particularly lawyers for the landowners have not made MRA's legal standing and competence to regulate Ramu mine and its DSTP preliminary, elementary and fundamental legal issues before the court.

“Lawyers have duty to the law and court apart from the profession and clients.”

 

Aihi observes Teachers’ Day with teachers

Story and photo by HENZY YAKAM

Kairuku Hiri MP Paru Aihi observed the International Teachers Day today with teachers from Inauabui Primary in the Bereina district of Central province.

Together with the 19 teachers were their spouses who travelled to Port Moresby and a guided tour of the National Parliament House to observe the day.

Mr Aihi  (fourth from left , back row standing) with teachers from Inauabui Primary School  with their spouses after the group’s visit to Parliament House

The tour was organised by Mrs Theresa and led by Inauabui Primary School principal Mrs Victoria Efi.

The visit to Parliament House was concluded with a lunch with Mr Aihi who told teachers to be role models both in the classroom and community.

“I want to see our children from Kairuku Hiri become competitive with the rest of PNG for top jobs and be future professional.

“To achieve that, I depend on you teachers.

“You must become role models for every child in your school,” Mr Aihi told the teachers.

As well, he noted the challenges and difficulties teachers faced including lack of resources and basic teaching and learning materials.

“It takes an awful amount of sacrifice to be in the profession and I want to say thank you every teacher.

“As your representative in Parliament, I promise to do everything within my power to improve the education sector in our district,” he said.

Mr Aihi also took the opportunity to inform the group that in 2011 he would supply all grade five classes in Kairuku Hiri district with one computer as part of the education improvement programme.

APEC ministers address sustainable fishing

 Issued by the 3^rd APEC Oceans-related  Ministerial Meeting

 

Paracas, Peru, 8 October, 2010 – Securing fish supplies, sustainable management of marine resources, enhancing free trade and the effects of climate change on oceans will be addressed by APEC Ministers meeting here next week.

 The 3^rd APEC Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting will be held in Paracas on Peru’s south coast on October 11-12 to address key issues impacting fisheries, a crucial industry for the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for about half of global fish exports.

 Peru’s Minister of Production, Jorge Villasante, said APEC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the security and sustainability of the sector is important, especially given its size and socio-economic significance for the region.

 “APEC economies account for more than half of the world’s exports of fishery products in terms of value, while six of the 10 largest exporters of seafood products are APEC member economies,” the Minister said.

 APEC member economies account for 65 percent of the world’s capture fisheries and more than 80 percent of aquaculture production. APEC economies account for approximately half of the world’s exports of fishery products in terms of value, totalling USD45.6 billion in 2007.

 The fisheries and aquaculture sector employs about 26.2 million people in the region, and for some living in rural and remote areas, it is one of the few sources of available income.

 The region also consumes 70 percent of the world’s fish products, including from aquaculture. Ensuring reliable and affordable access to seafood is therefore a key issue for APEC Ministers, along with sustainable development of the industry and protection of the marine environment.

 Enhancing fair and equitable trade in the industry is also expected to be discussed along with the effects of climate change on oceans, such as rising sea levels and their impact on coastal communities.

 Ministers are expected to share information on food security issues in their economy, and to release a joint statement at the end of the two-day meeting on the way forward. Ministers will also hold a press conference for local and international media.

 

                                            # # #

 

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

 

                                                 Michael Chapnick +65 96474847 or mc@apec.org

 

For media registration, contact: vloyola@produce.gob.pe or mcanales@produce.gob.pe or prensa@produce.gob.pe or jberrio@produce.gob.pe

 

 

 

 

 

Sell jet to buy life-saving equipment for hospitals: Morauta

The PNG Trade Union Congress (PNGTUC) should stop telling the Australian government to pump some of its aid money directly into buying life-saving machines for hospitals throughout Papua New Guinea.

Leader of the Opposition Sir Mekere Morauta said instead PNGTUC president Michael Malabag should urge Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to sell the K130 million executive Falcon jet to buy the much-needed life-saving equipments for hospitals.

"Malabag's statement is not news to the people of PNG.

"Important referral and main hospitals like Port Moresby General Hospital, Angau Memorial Hospital, Goroka Base Hospital and others PNG-wide all need essential medical equipment.

"It's a national shame.

"Where were Michael Malabag and the unions when the PM was trying to buy the Falcon jet?

"Silent.

"Nothing said.

"I want him to come out on behalf of the unions to call on the PM to sell the plane.

"We all know that the craft exclusively used by Somare as his aerial PMV for family shopping trips, birthday parties and other family errands.

"Somare and I are likely to get medivac services to Australia if we are sick and the state pays for it, but what about the ordinary people?" Sir Mekere said.

On Thursday, October 7 2010,  during a meeting with Australian parliamentary secretary for Pacific Islands affairs Richards Marles in Port Moresby, PNGTUC officials raised the need for life-saving equipment in PNG hospitals among others issues.

However, Sir Mekere said the unions and people must come out and urge the Prime Minister to find money to buy the essential life-saving equipments instead of begging other nations and donor agencies.

"I'm ashamed. Other leaders should also be ashamed," the former prime minister said.

He also called on the unions to urge Minister for Public Enterprises to stop spoon feeding National flag carrier, Air Niugini to buy second-hand aircraft using agents.

"We wonder whose getting the commission?

"Why can't we use the money to buy life-saving equipment?

"It is shameful to ask Australia to buy equipment for our hospital," Sir Mekere said.