PNG seen as biggest tuna processor after '14

By PEARSON KOLO

 

PAPUA New Guinea is expected to emerge as the world’s largest tuna processor after 2014, The National reports.

This would become possible once PNG catches, processes and sells the final product of tuna to the European Union (EU) markets and other markets in the world.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigrations Sam Abal said this last week after returning from Europe where he had a follow up meeting with the European parliamentary committee (EUPC) on international trade in Brussels.

Abal who was accompanied by the Fisheries Minister Ben Semri and senior executives of the National Fisheries Authority said the meeting was in preparation for the EUPC to finalise the interim economic partnership agreement (IEPA) signed in 2007 between PNG and EU.

“Under the IEPA agreement, fish caught anywhere in the world which is processed on shore in PNG can be exported to the European Union duty-free,” Abal explained.

“Other countries supplying fish to the European markets are also pushing for similar preferential market access so it is in PNG’s interest to defend the IEPA for its own fish products.”

Abal said more than US$400 (K1 billion) million had already been committed by potential investors who want to set up fishing and processing industries in the country.

 

 

Drought-starved children die

By PISAI GUMAR

 

AN ecological disaster with severe implications on lives has befallen the Menyamya district of Morobe, The National reports.

Councillors said in Menyamya yesterday that the situation in Morobe’s border with Eastern Highlands and Gulf was similar.

The prolonged drought of the past eight months had scorched the earth, cracked the soil, dried up food gardens, cash

crops and waterways.

The total impact of the drought on more than 100,000 people had not been measured by the Menyamya district administration, but officials feared the worst.

So far, reports said eight children had died from starvation in the past month in the most hard-hit area, Lagai in Kome sub-district, about 25km from Menyamya station towards the border with Eastern Highlands.

Ward councillors from Zipa, Miseck Moses, Kenali Jessie Solomon and elementary teacher George Titus at Ilbali and ward development committee at Longuli village Ofaiah Malje reported that five children had died in Ikumdi and three at Kenali in the Hakwange area.

All over Menyamya, people were surviving on pandanus nuts and young shoots.

Feral animals and reptiles, including cuscuses, bandicoots, snakes, lizards and birds had been seen dying from the heat.

Most mammals foraging for food had no fruits to feed or canopies to hide.

Aquatic creatures including eels, fish and tadpoles from three major rivers – Woklei, Kulani and Wanami in Lagai, Hengali, Awapango and Buu-Angai – are also dying.

The rivers had grown green with algae while small water sources continued to dry out while growing furry green algae.

The people had no choice but to use the same water used by animals.

At Lagai, ward councillor James Milpa reported that eight domestic pigs had died from dehydration.

The heat had also resulted in the burning down of nine houses at Ilbali including a trade store.

Bush fires, both natural and man-made, were flaring up.

No relief was in sight, the councillors said.

Kome LLG president Thompson Molinguso and Lagai Primary School headmaster Miseck Peter said the drought had reduced classes from six hours daily to two-and-a-half, adding that pupils became dizzy towards mid-morning.

Molingusa said without immediate government assistance, more people would die either of starvation or disease.

He added that they were wishing for rain.

But, an ecologist warned that any rain after a drought was often heavy, which could lead to flooding and more disasters.

 

 

 

Tiensten: Align plans with MTDP

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

PROVINCIAL governments throughout the country have been reminded to state clearly their plans in line with the national government’s 2011-15 medium-term development plan, The National reports.

National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten said the medium-term development plan (MTDP) would drive PNG’s development plans and programmes.

It was approved by cabinet this week at a cost of about K65 billion for the next five years.

Tiensten sounded the reminder after receiving the Western Highlands provincial development plan from Governor Tom Olga in Port Moresby yesterday.

Western Highlands is the first in the country to produce a medium-term development plan that is aligned with the national government’s medium-term and 20-year strategic plans (see separate story).

The minister said the MTDP was clear and would direct all stakeholders to address PNG’s development problems.

He said the dreams of PNG prospering and becoming an educated, healthy and united nation had not been realised in the last 35 years.

“The living standards of our people have not improved.

“The MTDP sets clear targets for every sector to achieve,” Tiensten said.

He said while the 2010-30 strategic plan was a step for guidance, the MTDP was the yardstick for sectoral, provincial, district and LLG plans for the next five years with clear expenditure outlined.

“The implementation of the MTDP will require a total reform in the way we do business to avoid the nation slipping back to the last 34 years,” he added.

He said the plan also provided both direction and accountability for all sector activities.

Tiensten also urged all other provincial governments to follow in the footsteps of Western Highlands and develop medium plans that were aligned with the national government’s MTDP.

 

 

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.