Lagai do it for themselves

By PISAI GUMAR

 

THE Lagai ward, 30km in the outback of Menyamya district, Morobe, has, for the first time, seen 50 men and women graduate through the Yangpela Didiman training enriching village farmers with self-sustainable knowledge and skills, The National reports.

The training was to train village farming leaders to recognise available resources within themselves and utilise surrounding environment to improve village livelihood.

“Despite inaccessibility to road, health, education, communication and clean water, we are committed and striving for success to improve our village life through agriculture,” trainer in charge Isso Angapase said.

Angapase, who led the participants to cut a 2km bench track in seven days to link Kwaplalim to Menyamya station, said the participants had achieved something through their own hard work rather than waiting for it to happen.

The participants, comprising of 11 women and 39 men, also had three elderly men, a woman in late 60s and four middle-aged men.

The 10-month training covered both theory and practical knowledge and skills training in aquaculture and agriculture, micro-finance and community development courses.

They also learnt about micro-finance, where they found out more about credit union schemes and treasurer’s roles and responsibilities.

Community development training included food, nutrition and health, personal, environment, health and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, usefulness of environment, stewardship, sewing machine maintenance and basic sewing, community development planning including how to critically recognise and understand impacts of so-called developments.

Lutheran development service Yangpela Didiman training coordinator Jasaking Kigasung said the training was purposely to enrich underprivilege villagers to take pride and look within themselves, utilise available strengths to help themselves, families and the community.

“Basically, it is focusing at food security, we need to assess and understand crop values that will produce desired outcomes in consumption and economic terms to sustain livelihoods,” Kigasung said.

“To improve livelihoods, we have to change integrally, meaning mentally, spiritually and physically.

“With knowledge and skills attain, we can contribute ideas and mobilise resources collectively.”

 

 

 

Putting on a show

Milamala dancers putting on a traditional performance at the official opening of the 8th Pacific Islands Forum education ministers meeting in Port Moresby yesterday which was graced by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare (left). See reports on Page 5. – Nationalpic by DULCIE OREKE

Drunk MP bashed up

Witness: Public set on drunk driver without realising he is an MP

 

A MEMBER of parliament was punched to the ground and kicked unconscious after he attempted to flee an accident scene in Port Moresby last Friday evening, The National reports.

Eyewitnesses said the MP was drunk and was involved in a vehicle accident, and in a bid to flee, he was severely bashed up by members of the public.

The eyewitnesses said the MP, representing an electorate in Northern, was driving at top speed when he came out from a pokies parlour at the Gordon’s industrial area, where alcohol was served to patrons.

The MP was following a Toyota fifth element vehicle and as it slowed down at the Waigani tunnel to give way to oncoming traffic, the speeding MP slammed his vehicle into the back of the Toyota.

Realising he had caused an accident, the MP tried to escape by reversing his vehicle, but his path was blocked by other vehicles behind him.

He opened the door to escape on foot but was set upon by members of the public who had witnessed what had happened.

They punched him to the ground and kicked him until he was unconscious.

An eyewitness said the bystanders who attacked the MP did not realised that they were beating up a member of parliament.

“They thought he was just another drunk driver involved in an accident and was trying to run away,” the eyewitness said.

He said the incident happened around 7.30pm last Friday.

Several attempts to get comments from the MP were unsuccessful with no one answering his parliament office phone.

His mobile phone was also switched off.

Police said no official complaint against the MP had been filed, but they would look into it.

MPs convicted of drunk and disorderly behaviour can be punished for breaching the Leadership Code.

Drink driving has been blamed for a fatal accident the following day in Sogeri, which claimed the lives of two people, and left seven others injured.

 

 

Chiefs: Bring back Duma

By PEARSON KOLO

 

LANDOWNERS of gas fields in the Southern Highlands have demanded to know why the function of LNG matters was separated from the petroleum and energy ministry, held by William Duma, and given to Climate Change Minister Francis Potape, The National reports.

Leaders from the area feel the appointment of Potape, who is from the electorate hosting the project, poses a potential for conflict of interest and bias.

The leaders aired their views in a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday, after learning that the LNG matters function, stripped from Potape and returned to Duma two weeks ago by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, was returned to Potape.

The leaders are from the Tuguba, Hiwa Wita, Arua and Pina clans from the LNG project areas.

They expressed their disappointment and gave Sir Michael 14 days to explain why Potape was reinstated as minister assisting in LNG matters just a week after his removal.

They questioned what wrongs Duma did for the LNG function to be given to Potape.

The chiefs, led by Anoli Mituba, from the Hiwa clan, and Himuni Homogo, from the Tuguba clan, jointly said what had progressed so far in the LNG project since the Kokopo BSA and LBBSA agreements last year could not be continued by Potape.

“The government made many commitments with the landowners and Duma has facilitated them well for the landowners to benefit.

“These are likely to be hindered with the change,” Thomas Taku, from the Arua clan of Juha, claimed.

Taku said the landowners had seen enough delays and they did not want the change of responsibility from Duma to Potape to cause more delays in their beneficiaries and participations.

“We, the landowners, see no problem in the way William Duma is dealing with LNG and there is no need for change,” the chiefs stressed.

The landowner leaders said they did not trust their own Southern Highlands MPs because they were involved in the provincial and district politics.

“There will be widespread nepotism in handling of MoA funds and other landowner benefits including minor civil contracts.

“Political preferences will come into play, and landowners will be affected. Frustrations from this can lead to real trouble at the project sites.

“That is why we feel Duma is neutral and is the right man,” Homogo said.

 

 

Panguna landowners claim maltreatment

LANDOWNERS of the Panguna copper mine, who went to war in 1988 over what they claimed then was utter disrespect and disregard for their existence and welfare, are claiming the same maltreatment as the National Government,  the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Bougainville Copper Ltd prepare for negotiations on the possible reopening of the mine, The National reports.

They are claiming that the interim Panguna Landowners Association (PLA) has not been recognised and its reconciliation process not supported.

In a letter dated Oct 5, to chairman of BCL Paul Coleman, PLA interim secretary Lawrence Daveona said: “The people of Panguna mine leases believe that ABG, BCL and the Government have the legal obligation to assist Panguna mine landowners.

“For far too long, even before the crisis, we have been used for your own benefits. Through the crises and up till now our people are still suffering.”

He said while the name Panguna landowners was “too often prostituted in the news media by the chairman of BCL in his chairman’s statement at the AGM”, the same chairman had said variously that the landowners were disorganised.

 “Our simple question now especially with the arrangements to prepare for Bougainville copper agreement review is: How long do we have to wait for you our partners (with the resources) to assist us with funding to enable us to be prepared and be ready to take part in the BCA review?” Daveona said in his letter.

It ought to be noted that both BCL and the ABG had assisted the Panguna landowners with their reconciliation ceremony last October.

The company donated K5, 000 and ABG threw in K300, 000.

Daveona said the work of reconciliation and disarmament was not yet completed and it would take at least two to three million more to cover the entire island.

He said presently their pleas were falling on deaf ears and it seems the reconciliation process might be short-lived and the review of the BCA proceeds without the landowners participating.

“Most of the interim PLA executive members have worked tirelessly year after year over the past 21 years keeping the Panguna landowner’s fire burning because of the concern for the welfare of their people without receiving any payment. Our concern for our people is deep rooted and we will not rest until such time we have achieved our goal,” Daveona said.

“All we need from you as partners in this process are for you to assist us with:

• Make funding available to ABG electoral commission to conduct PLA elections; and
• Make funding available for United Panguna Landowners Association (UPLA) BCA review task force.”

Daveona said he was very disappointed to hear comments repeated about the Panguna landowners not being organised and do not constitute a legal body that BCL can organise.

He said the landowners had formed the interim organisation out of their resources and it was up to the company to assist with an election to make the body be properly elected and incorporated.

Daveona was particularly critical of the Government and its Office of Bougainville Affairs which had not accommodated a single request to date.

He said such neglect had led to the crisis.

 

Time for GST reform

From AARON HAYES

 

As a small business operator in PNG I would like to make some observations about the unpopular 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) which some businesses still incorrectly refer to as VAT (old name).

Both businesses and consumers hate the GST because  

(a) The 10% rate is too high and  

(b) The tax is not being collected fairly.

The flat 10% rate makes purchases significantly more expensive and discourages spending.

These often makes people “go without” or buy cheaper quality food and consumer goods which reduces quality of life and can even affect nutrition and health.

Consumers think twice about buying big-ticket items like TVs and fridges and often end up buying cheaper brands that don't last long, and then they are back to square one with nothing but unrepairable goods littering their back yards.

In terms of collecting the tax, it's my understanding that some businesses that are not registered to collect GST are still adding 10% to their invoices.

Customers who are none the wiser just pay up.

This is fraud.

Some other businesses that are registered to collect the tax always add 10% GST to their sales invoices but do not remit all GST takings to the Internal Revenue Commission which is the government's tax collector.

They under-state their income to the IRC and surrender less GST than they have actually collected.

Some businesses are up to five years behind in remitting their GST revenue to the IRC.

This is also fraud but the IRC does not seem to have enough resources to audit all businesses registered for GST and prosecute those who are not playing fairly.

So the culprits just get away with it.

Another problem the IRC should be concerned about is those businesses turning over more than K100, 000 per year that have not registered to collect GST.

The government is missing out on huge amounts of GST revenue from these businesses.

Some privately owned hotels and hire car companies in Port Moresby are notable culprits.

They are deliberately avoiding collecting GST because it gives them a price advantage over their competitors.

The best way to make this unpopular and unfair tax work for the future is to reduce the rate to 5% and then put more IRC resources into auditing and compliance and make everybody cooperate.

If all businesses are collecting and remitting the tax properly at 5% the government will still be financially better off than under the current unaffordable and unpopular 10% rate which many businesses are failing to collect and remit.

Businesses that are not registered for collecting GST will be happier to sign up with IRC if the tax is only 5%.

Businesses not remitting the full amount of GST collected will remit more reliably if the rate is lower.

Crooked busiensses that are not registered but still collecting the tax will get away with less loot.

And consumers will find 5% much less painful and this will stimulate spending which will be good for the economy.

Let's start a campaign for reforming an unpopular 10% GST into a workable 5% GST that everybody will support.

 

 

Aaron Hayes
Sec 55 Lot 25 Lokua Avenue, Boroko
(PO Box 531 Gordons)
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Vision 2050 is dead

By JAMES WANJIK

 

THE STORY "Govt unveils plan" (The National, Tuesday, October 12, pp. 1-2) is very clear.

Vision 2050 is a cover for a particular leader's popularity.

It is now dead.

Legislation to lock in the Medium Term Development Plan puts beyond doubt that Vision 2050 is dead.

Hiring consultants and advisers was Waigani's way of propping up popularity of a particular leader.

Thank God, Paul Tiensten is a political novice no more.

Papua New Guinea will know why Vision 2050 would have been a bad mistake in due time.