Family home razed

A house along the Angau Drive in Boroko was completely gutted by fire on Friday afternoon, The National reports.

It is unclear how the fire started, but the owner and his family was not home when the fire started. 

The flames spread quickly and engulfed the entire house. 

Residents call the emergency number 000 for the Fire

Service to respond to the emergency, but the number just rang out. 

“We called 000 so many times but that line is useless,” a frustrated bystander, who lives in the area, said. 

A fire truck arrived 35 minutes later, but angry residents and bystanders stoned the truck, and it sped away. Minutes later it returned, escorted by police. 

Firemen got to work to prevent the flames spreading to nearby houses. 

Even to get the water main near the street side to work, so the hose could be connected, took about 10 minutes. – Nationalpics by EKAR KEAPU

Crash kills two

Survey shows alcohol is main killer

 

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

TWO people are dead and seven others are nursing injuries at the Port Moresby General Hospital when their vehicle overturned along the Sogeri road on Saturday, The National reports.

The two killed were believed to be from Enga, one of them a final-year medical student at the University of PNG.

PMGH accidents and emergency coordinator Dr Sam Yockopua said two of those injured were women.

He said four other males were still at the emergency ward with injuries and receiving treatment. They were expected to be discharged today.

Yockopua said the driver was also believed to be injured but did not turn up at the hospital for treatment.

He said five males and four females were continuing their drinking spree when the accident happened.

They were reported to be returning to the city from Sogeri in a white Toyota Fifth Element when the accident happened.

Police could not be reached for comments on the accident, but eyewitnesses said the driver lost control as the vehicle was approaching a bend at speed, and the car ran off the road.

Yockopua said that there should be zero tolerance on drink-driving and tougher penalties imposed on those who were caught.

He said a report would soon be released showing a high rate of alcohol-related casualties.

He said the report showed that between 50% and 70% of 550 casualties were related to road traffic accidents (RTA) and 100% of the accidents along the Hiritano and Magi highways were alcohol-related.

The survey was conducted between January and June last year. 

Yockopua said this was proof that alcohol was a road killer, and appealed to the authorities to act now.

“Drunken motorists are causing unnecessary accidents, taking away lives and harming others.

“There are very careless people who should not be allowed to drive around, and authorities should do something about this,” he added.

 

 

Polye's wife charged with misusing car

By JAMES APA GUMUNO

 

THE wife of Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye was arrested last Friday by Mt Hagen police for allegedly illegally driving around in Kandep’s electoral vehicle, The National reports.

She was arrested last Friday morning and charged with the illegal use of an electoral vehicle under the Motor Traffic Act.

She was later released after posting a bail of K200. The vehicle was locked up at the police station.

Metropolitan commander Chief Insp John Kale said she had used the vehicle to transport her family members to Goroka and back to Mt Hagen.

She was arrested following a complaint from the Kandep district administration.

She would appear before the Mt Hagen District Court today for mention.

Kale said police would act firmly on complaints of abuse of public property, regardless of who the complaint was against.

The deputy prime minister, when contacted, commended police for doing a good job without fear or favour.

He said it was not a family vehicle.

He said he could not use his position as deputy prime minister to defend his wife, and would allow the law to take its course.

 

 

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.”