True spirit of Fourth Goal in Papua New Guinea Constitution destroyed

The current resource exploitation trend, coupled with changes in natural resources and environmental laws of Papua New Guinea clearly undermines the true spirit of the Fourth Goal of the National Constitution.

In effect, it has compromised this and PNG’s future generations by lawmakers.

Vision 2050 uses the analogy of a driver knowing where to go before getting into a vehicle, assuming the road map PNG.

Theoretically, this might be so, but practicality it may not be easy, if not impossible.

Normally, before a driver gets into a car he/she knowing there is road connecting the destiny.

PNG is geographically a difficult country with rugged terrains, high mountains, gullies, large rivers and wet conditions.

Therefore, road to the destiny of this Vision can be described the same.

Given the PNG road conditions, type of vehicle and the necessary accessories like spare tyres, additional fuels, wheel-jack and other accessories are important.

Will ever the driver of this vehicle reach its destiny is the question to be answered in 2050.

Will the PNG LNG Project build an all-weather type road with a vehicle fitted with all the necessary accessories take this nation to its destiny in 2050?

The generation of 2050 will reflect on the journey and provide the answer to this question.    

The Fourth Goal of PNG’s Constitution declares that “Our natural resources and environment to be conserved and used for the collective benefit of us all and are replenished for the benefit of future generations”.

PNG’s social-economic development strength is at present based on natural resources.

How these resources are managed jointly with their surrounding environments on sustainable basis is the key to meeting future generations’ inspirations and needs.

It also requires fair and equitable distribution of wealth derived from these resources and reinvesting the returns into management these resources and environments.

In early 2004, PM Sir Michael Somare challenged the Australian Government and the World Bank by announcing that he had 10 impacts forestry projects, which if all came into operation, would generate more than K300 million annually.

Sir Michael said then that he would no longer need the Australian aid money.

Consequently, the World Bank Forest Conservation Programme was kicked out of PNG.

Recently, on Kundu 2 Talk-Back Show, Mr Kevin Condrad confirmed that he was behind that advice which saw the withdrawal of the World Bank Forest Conservation Programme, and the beginning of negotiation for forest carbon.

Main reason behind this decision was the comparative monetary values.

The forest carbon is now seen as a second major source of development fund to the PNG LNG Project revenue generation for PNG.

Sir Michael championed the formation of Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) and has been heavily engaged in the international negotiations for the forest carbon projects.

Quick assessment on technical inputs by individual member countries of CfRN) showed that PNG contributed very little in this regard, though PNG is boasting of the Chairmanship of the group.

What happened to the 10 impact forestry projects since then?

Are these 10 impact forestry project areas still intact to fully realise the forgone value of forest conservation with forest carbon projects?

The 2009 Copenhagen meeting on Climate Change and reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) failed to come up with any agreed way forward.

It was a total failure to PNG costing the nation’s taxpayers K8 million to send the delegation across.

PNG’s position paper for the Copenhagen meeting was prepared by two sets of international consultant teams at very extravagant fees.

The first group involved individual consultants from Australia claiming to be the experts on PNG, compiling different sector reports on the drivers of deforestation.

Following the compilation of these individual reports, another consultant firm put together the reports for PNG’s positional paper for Copenhagen meeting.

This consultant firm is also responsible for PNG’s Climate-Compatible Development policy framework document and the ultimate changes to the Office of Climate Change and the office name.

This firm is now the main contender to undertake PNG REDD demonstration projects in PNG.

Concurrently, the Office of Climate Change has turned into a battle ground for political cronies to muscle their ways into office.

Initial establishment cost of the office including fleet of vehicles was phenomenal and controversial.

In 2009 there were four regional conferences conducted throughout PNG.

A report is yet to be compiled together with the accounts of funds spent on the conferences.

After the conferences a major controversy surfaced involving the EO of OCCES of his involvement in voluntary forest carbon markets deals which led to his suspension and thereafter his fate was not known up to the abolition of the office in June 2000.

In November 2009, another NEC Decision abolished OCCES and was replaced with Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD).

The frequent NEC Decisions affecting Office of Climate Changes to facilitate individual cronies’ interests and agendas are cause for concern.

The recent changes in to the Forestry and Environment Acts raise more concern among resource owners.

Why is the Government manipulating tactics and intimidating its own citizens to control their birthright and God-given resources?

Exploitation of natural resources using such tactics sends wrong messages to the international communities.

Over 97% of land in PNG is traditionally-owned.

The effective participation of the resource owners in any meaningful dialogue and decision is now in jeopardy and thus democratic principles adopted by PNG is now being tested.

Collapse of effective natural resource laws through such changes to give full government control in PNG is a dangerous trend heading towards dictatorial rule.

The changes in the Forestry Act diminished the forest resource owners’ freedom of choice of developer for their forest resources.

The changes gave ultimate power to the PNG Forestry Board to make final decision on the developer.

Were the changes made to merely to cover up for the Forestry Board’s blunders in 1999 for allocating the Kamula Doso Forest Management Area (FMA) in the Western Province to Wawoi Guavi.

The decision was against the Provincial Forest Management Committee (PFMC) choice in which resource owners were party to the decision.

Also, the Forestry Board allocated the Middle Ramu FMA to another company against the Madang PFMC decision and recommendations.

In both cases, Forestry Board was found to have violation of Section 69 of the Act.

Changes to the Act are simply to make the Board and ultimately the Minister have more control over the forest resource allocation in PNG, thus going back to the dark days of the Barnett Inquiry into the forestry sector in PNG in 1987.

Similarly, the changes to the Environment Act 2000 were simply to cover up for the incompetency of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in dealing with such environmental issues and also to protect Government’s dealing with Ramu Nickel.

Ramu Nickel deal is similar to the Bougainville one where the deal was signed overseas without much input from the relevant stakeholders including the landowners.

Though the proposed Deep Sea Tailing Placement (DSTP) may have met all the necessary requirements, the system has been worldwide considered to be of high risk because a small leakage in the ocean will cause more damage than if the same leakage was occurred on land.

There were already such instances with Misima Mine and Lihir Gold Mine.

Why repeating the same mistake?

Is it because DSTP is the cheapest means and that PNG is the cheapest place to practice environmental protection and management?

Adding new laws (Sub-sections 69, A & B) to outlaw any third party involvement in land and resources issues in PNG is a crime of humanity.

About 97% of land and resources are owned by the people and 80% of these people live on these land and resources in the most remote parts of PNG.

These people are the most-vulnerable ones to the environmental risks, which also give rise to poverty and deprivation of human rights to healthy living.

The changes to the Environment Act 2000 ultimately will give more powers to the Secretary of DEC both as the Director of Environment and the Chairman of Environment Council (Sections 15-17).

The Secretary has the ultimate power to make the final decision on the issue of environmental harm and landowners will only dispute his decision through Court without any third party involvement.

This is an act of violation against human rights.

The 80% of the population do not have access to legal means and to subject them to such requirements is a crime against humanity.

NGOs are the organisations that can quickly come to landowners’ aid when it comes to immediate services.

In effect, the changes make it difficult for any NGO to assist the disadvantaged landowners and communities PNG-wide to pursue their concerns with land and environment.

Is this fair and fits the principle of democracy?

And in whose interest are these changes of the Act trying to protect?

Legislators ought to know that they will be the most-frustrated ones when they find themselves back home and want to seek re-election in 2012.

At the dawn of this new Millennium the world leaders came to realisation that human miseries were brought about as a result of the so-called social-economic development.

The world leaders then came up 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with set targets, and recommended that MDG 7 which deals with ensuring environmental sustainability is the key to achieving the other development goals.

Apparently, PNG through the current Government had little regard on the environmental issues in this country.

The National Planning & Monitoring Department’s Performance Framework Report on the MTDS in 2007 clearly showed that Environment Sector has the rating of zero (0) out of 5 for its trend of development and 1 out of 5 for its current performance.

Generally, the overall ratings of each sector on the MTDS were very poor and we now are moving into the new MTDS under the new National Strategic Plan for PNG’s Vision 2050.

PNG to date has failed miserably in meeting many important regional and international Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), including the Millennium Development Goals.

The responsible sectors have lost touch of their mandates to ensure sustainable development principles in the country.

DEC is merely there to facilitate the process of environment permit issuance.

The important sectors are no longer headed by technically qualified citizens, but rather by political cronies to protect and pursue certain political interest.

The power of money is more frightening than the barrel of gun - even the gun barrel gun works through the power of money.

The revelations in the video recording by prisoner William Kapris should not be taken lightly and that the development of natural resources in PNG will is the key factor to the downfall of this resource-rich nation.

This calls for urgent action from lawmakers.

In early 2008, Environment Minister Benny Allen during the swearing-in of the Environment Council members challenged the member of the Council with an allegation that a multi-million company tried to bribe him to approve their Environment Permit Application.

Has the Minister forgotten that challenge or can the Minister reveal the name of the company?

Manipulation of resource and environmental laws in the country to suit minority groups and foreign multinational in PNG is a very bad and dangerous which can cause the collapse of this nation.

Do we have to wait until the whole system collapses on us?

Papua New Guinea’s national security – a cause for concern

By Honorable BELDEN NAMAH, MP

Leader of PNG Party & Member for Vanimo/Green

Papua New Guinea’s national security and sovereignty is at stake as a direct result of the current government’s continued neglect in addressing properly the nation’s security concerns.

In recent times, the nation has experienced widespread criminal activities with increased armed hold-ups, kidnappings, robberies, rapes, cold blooded murders and other serious crimes.

In addition, there have been numerous instances of open defiance of the rule of law by ordinary citizens and increasingly it is becoming the order of the day.

Members of Parliament have been publicly confronted and physically assaulted by their own voters causing injuries.

Worse still, police personnel, the very people who are to enforce law and order are on the receiving end of firearms.

On 6th October 2010, a man was murdered in Vanimo and a senior government officer sustained serious head injuries on 8th October 2010, which left his skull partially open.

Also this month, in Port Moresby a long-serving senior policeman, father of seven was brutally killed in broad day light by merciless, gun-trotting, trigger-happy thugs in the heart Port Moresby city at Waigani.

This particular law enforcing officer was providing escort for a private company.

Why do some policemen choose to provide private escort to companies?

Why are police personnel resorting to doing extra jobs outside of their duty statement?

One of the main reasons is that the salary they earn fortnightly simply cannot sustain their families. Therefore, some officers at their own accord provide escort for private companies and other similar tasks.

Coupled with the PNG’s prevailing law and order situation has been the dramatic increase in human trafficking, illicit drugs trade, arms smuggling and illegal trans-border crossings with countries which PNG shares its borders.

Even the formerly quiet and peaceful towns such as Alotau in Milne Bay province and Vanimo in Sandaun are no longer safe.

The Government and state law enforcing agencies are fully aware of trans-border and trans-national crimes along the PNG-Indonesia border, PNG-Australia border along the Torres Strait region and PNG- Solomon Islands borders.

The crimes along border regions are highly organised involving modern and sophisticated techniques and communication making it difficult for easy detection.

Numerous calls from all sectors of the wider PNG community for appropriate and swift government action have simply fallen on deaf ears.

The current Somare Government simply does not care about the safety, security and well being of the nation’s over six million citizens and of course our investment partners and tourists.

The Somare Government has no concern for its life assets - the lives of our citizens and others.

 It is a clear demonstration of this government’s don’t care attitude towards addressing the security concerns of the nation and the nation’s development needs and issues of national interests.

This is an indicative fact that the current Somare government has failed to properly fund, strengthen and equip PNG’s three discipline forces.

The low morale among rank and file of the Royal PNG Constabulary, PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and Correctional Institution Services (CIS) are evidence of this.

Very poor living conditions, condemned houses and dilapidated buildings and work places have compounded the problems over decades of neglect.

Whilst our service men and women continue to perform their duties under extreme conditions, the Somare government continues to cloud the issues with big promises of life transformation multi-billion kina projects such as PNG LNG and the Ramu Nickel projects.

While the government continues to ignore the plight of its citizens to provide safe and secure communities, thugs have reigned taking full advantage of the lack of leadership in the Somare government in addressing important security issues.

In effect, thugs are ruling the country in many fronts of the wider PNG community.

There is no Government guarantee of the safety of its citizens and foreigners including temporary residents and tourists.

The Prime Minister and members of his Kitchen Cabinet are not worried. They are not affected because they have 24-hour body guards and security when they travel around PNG.

If not in PNG, they are safe in Australia living in properties acquired during their term in Parliament. Their families (wives and children) are living overseas in safe environment enjoying better living conditions.

But for the rest of us, we have to fend for ourselves including our daughters and mothers left vulnerable to physical and sexual assaults.

Their bags and other belongings are snatched at bus-stops, market places and other public places every day and it is becoming an accepted way of life.

Is this the kind of society we want?

Where have we gone wrong?

Where is executive government authority?

What is the Government doing to protect its citizens, business houses and foreigners in this country?

Way forward for PNG

It has become increasingly evident that the Somare Government has lost the plot.

 It no longer cares what happens to the ordinary citizens of this great nation, nor does it care for its own leaders.

The Government has proven itself to be more interested in multinational corporations in the pretext of national economic development.

THE WAY FORWARD FOR PNG IS A SECURE, SAFE AND STABLE NATON WITH PEACE AND GOOD ORDER BEING OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. PEACE AND GOOD ORDER IS PRE-REQUISITE TO ALL FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT.

As the nation has witnessed, there have been number of defections by Members of Parliament who supported the current Somare Government.

We, the leaders who withdrew our support of the Somare Government, did so because we could not tolerate the way a lot of important national issues affecting our country are being addressed and managed.

There will be more defections in the coming weeks before next month’s Parliament session, which begins on the 16th of November, 2010.

WE MUST REMOVE THE CURRENT SOMARE GOVERNMENT DURING THE NOVEMBER SESSION. WHEN WE DO, WE WILL PLACE LAW AND ORDER AS THE TOP PRIORITY.

Funding to important components of police law enforcement sections will be boosted to restore some authority and rule of law will be an immediate action by the new Government.

This will be followed by major funding programmes for Police, PNGDF and CIS.

In the Police Force, we will weed out corrupt and unfit personnel and replaced them with honest, hard working and physically fit young men and women employed from all around PNG.

Recruitment teams will go out to rural towns and communities to identify honest, hardworking and fit young men and women.

Recruitment will not be centred on Port Moresby, Lae and other major centres.

Whilst strengthening institutional capacity building, focus will also be on major increase in staff ceiling to make the discipline forces play a more active and meaningful role in a modern 21st Century PNG.

We will put more money to improve the conditions of CIS, including conditions of prisoners and CIS officers.

We will allocate sufficient funding for prisoner rehabilitation programmes so when inmates have served their terms, they will come out equipped with some skills to return to their communities as law abiding citizens.

There will be increased funding allocation to the PNGDF to improve existing facilities as well as its surveillance, civic work and other capabilities.

By addressing the current problems faced by the three disciplinary forces, we can then comfortably talk about development needs of our country.

These three important institutions must be the flag carriers of our nation.

The pride of our nation and the envy of every youth are to wear the uniform and serve our nation.

That is to provide a better and safer PNG for our people, business community and foreigners and as well as those who are here on short visits or long-term residency and tourists.

Whilst providing and securing safer communities, we will work with the churches and other recognised community based organisations to develop our communities and the nation as a whole.

This is “UNITY in DIVERSITY with PEACE and GOOD ORDER”

The security and law and order issues of Papua New Guinea are of national concern.

They are very serious issues which must be attended to without delay to save this and the future generations of PNG.

By reducing the current level of crime, it will create a climate conducive for increased foreign and local investments.

A more-peaceful and crime-free nation means more tourists coming into PNG bringing in additional revenue through foreign exchange.

As responsible elected lawmakers, all Members of Parliament are not only duty bound, but have moral obligation to move swiftly and take appropriate action to contain PNG’s law and order problem now before it is too late.

Somare told not to destroy PNGSDP

Opposition Leader Mekere Morauta today urged Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to show leadership by stopping ministers from destroying PNG Sustainable Development Program.

PNGSDP was established by Sir Mekere when he was Prime Minister in 2002. 

His government negotiated the gift by BHP of its 52% equity in the Ok Tedi mine. 

“This was a gift by BHP, with Parliament’s assent, to the people of Western province and to the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“It was not a gift to the Government of the day or to future governments. 

“And the gift was conditional. 

“It was conditional on the gift being managed properly as a trust, independent of Government.

“It was my view that the trust should be insulated from the sticky hands of politicians, so that they could not get their hands on it to spend on personal or political projects. 

“BHP supported my view, and the way PNGSDP was established is the result, with BHP appointing three directors including the chairman. 

“The Treasury, the Bank of PNG and the PNG Chamber of Commerce appoint three other directors, along with an independent international accountant.” 

Sir Mekere said:  “The funds of the Trust were also set up very deliberately – one as a future generations fund, to ensure the people of Western Province had access to services after the mine closes; another as a fund just for the development of Western province; and a third fund as a national fund, for development projects anywhere in Papua New Guinea.

“At the end of 2009, after seven years existence, PNGSDP had assets of K2.8 billion, K2.2 billion kina of the total being the long-term fund.

“Since its establishment, PNGSDP has approved project funding of K531 million, 54% in the Western province and 46% in other parts of PNG.”

Sir Mekere said that he was pleased to see that the Treasurer, Peter O’Neill had retracted his initial statement on PNGSDP last week. 

“However, Mr O’Neill has not denied that he has written to BHP demanding changes to the trust company so that the Government could appoint board members and have access to the funds of the company.”

“The Minister for Planning, Paul Tiensten bolted into the debate, salivated by the prospect of having access to the 2.8 billion kina (and growing) financial assets of PNGSDP. 

“He has not yet explained to the nation what he and his colleagues have done with the 5 billion kina that was parked in trust accounts under his control. 

“The Opposition has reports that there is less than 500 million left in the trust accounts. 

“The thought of the Somare government having access to the assets of PNGSDP is sickening and frightening.”

Sir Mekere said Sir Michael and his ministers should stop destroying institutions that were working. 

“Concentrate on making the public service more efficient, on getting decent health and education services to people, on supplying people with reliable and affordable power and transport services. 

“The Prime Minister, Treasurer and Planning Minister should be reforming the institutions that have become dysfunctional in the last eight years, the scores of institutions that are in intensive care, requiring resuscitation. 

“Don’t kill others that are working.”

Sir Mekere said that the reasons given by O’Neill and Tiensten for wanting control of PNGSDP were spurious. 

“They are a camouflage. 

“Their real interest is getting their hands on the money, not on solving environmental issues in the Western province. 

“And since when has the Government proved itself an efficient spender of development funds? 

“Why should the Department of National Planning have access to PNGSDP money, when it can’t spend its own money properly?

“Unlike the Government, the expenditure of funds by PNGSDP is totally transparent, with full accountability. 

“Government Ministers should be taking a lesson from the model and practice of PNGSDP, instead of trying to pollute it. 

“The books are open. 

“If they have a problem, or have specific projects they would like PNGSDP to consider, act like civilised human beings and talk to the CEO, Mr David Sode, instead of destroying the institution.

“The statements by the Ministers reflect their ignorance of what PNGSDP is doing, in its own right and as the major shareholder in Ok Tedi. 

“If Mr O’Neill studied the environmental mitigation actions of the company since 2002, he would see value in the record of the company in the past seven years. 

“Over US$40 million per annum has been spent on dredging at Bige, which has arrested the expansion of flooding downstream. 

“For the past two years, a flotation plant has removed the sulphur from the tailings, greatly reducing the risk of future acid and related water problems. 

“The capital cost of this plant is around $US350 million, with an annual recurrent cost of around US$50 million.”

“The increased concern for environmental issues is a direct result of responsible national ownership of the mine, a result which Papua New Guineans should be proud of.”

Sir Mekere said that apart from PNGSDP being deliberately set up as a trust independent of Government, with a specific focus on the development needs of the Western province, he also envisaged PNGSDP playing a major role in national development as a partner of the national and provincial governments, of the private sector, of communities, and of churches.

“If the Planning Minister and his colleagues took time to educate themselves, they would learn that PNGSDP is fulfilling this role.

“Instead of criticising it, the government should be encouraging it as a partner in development.

“ I am quite sure the hundreds of thousands of people, especially in rural areas, who have been the recipients of PNGSDP projects, whether schools, health centres, roads, rural electrification, microfinance, rubber, aquaculture, forestry projects or water supply, to name a few, do not share the views of Paul Tiensten or Peter O’Neill about PNGSDP.”

Sir Mekere said that his vision was for the dividend income flowing from the 52% equity in Ok Tedi previously owned by BHP to be used productively, to build up social and economic infrastructure for PNG now, and in the future. 

“That is happening. 

“It would be a national crime if PNGSDP were to pass into the hands of politicians. 

“I hope people will speak out and tell the government to leave PNGSDP alone. 

“We all know elections are nearing. 

“This attempted takeover of PNGSDP smells to me of building war chests for elections. 

“We must not allow it.”

More police for Southern Highlands

New police recruits, under the Southern Highlands-sponsored six-month initiative, and their squad master passing by the reviewing officer and Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru in a march formation, The National reports.

The 192 probationary constables graduated last Friday at the Bomana Police College outside NCD. 

Of the lot, 120 will be posted at various locations in the province while 72 will serve in other provinces. A

lso present at the graduation were parade host Police Commissioner Gari Baki, Southern Highlands MPs and senior police officers. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

JV: Rich Wafi-Golpu mineral deposits

NEWCREST Mining Ltd and Harmony Gold believe that deposits in their joint venture Wafi-Golpu copper and gold project in Morobe could double in size, The National reports.

Newcrest is the new operator of Lihir gold mine on Lihir Island while Harmony has mining interests in South Africa.

The partners had previously told the market that the resource estimate at Wafi-Golpu stood at 16 million ounces of gold and 4.9 million tonnes of copper.

But latest drilling has further extended the deposit.

The partners have now upgraded their ‘’exploration target’’ to a potential 30moz of gold and 8 million tonnes of copper.

Sydney Morning Herald  newspaper last Friday reported that Newcrest managing director Ian Smith told analysts last Thursday that the Wafi-Golpu was shaping up as a major discovery and would form the basis of a ‘’major ongoing long life operation into the future’’.

A pre-feasibility study is planned for next year and Smith said that could lead to a development decision in 2014.

Smith was speaking on the release of Newcrest’s September-quarter production report – its first since acquiring Lihir.

Gold production for the quarter from all operations was 674,219oz.

Newcrest also disclosed in its third quarter ending report that a new operating model it would adopt for the goldmine on Lihir island in New Ireland province would cost an additional US$260 million (K640 million), taking the cost of the mine’s optimisation programme from what Lihir had forecast to about US$1.23 billion (K3.2 billion)

But the additional cost was more than covered by the additional 10 million ounces it would contribute to mine production out to 2040.

Newcrest’s cash costs at A$488 an ounce for the quarter were up from A$342 an ounce in the previous quarter due to the inclusion of Lihir’s higher-cost operations, the impact of lower grades and exchange-rate movements.

The gold production effort was lower than the market expected

Police purge

Bawa first of top cops charged

By JULIA DAIA BORE

NEW National Capital District police chief Fred Sheekiot has wield the axe on senior police white-collar crime in the city, The National reports.

The first victim was former NCD police operations deputy boss Andy Bawa, who was arrested and charged with two counts of official corruption last Friday.

Another 10 senior officers would be similarly charged, Sheekiot, who is commander of NCD and Central, said when declaring that he had started his “head-rolling” exercise of police officers within his command who had been indulging in deals outside of their call of duty.

The crackdown was in line with the directives from Police Commissioner Gari Baki, he said, adding that Bawa had been suspended without pay with immediate effect pending the outcome of his court case.

Bawa had, over the years, developed a reputation as a hard-working deputy of NCD police chief Supt Fred Yakasa.

He had been replaced by Chief Insp Jim Namora as the new operations commander for NCD.

Sheekiot said the charges involved receiving a double salary spanning over three years – one from the police force and another from another government agency since January 2008.

The charges alleged that in addition to his normal police salary, Bawa was being paid K500 a fortnight by another government agency between Jan 1, 2008, and April 22 last year and between April 23 last year and July 21 this year.

Bawa was allowed bail of K500 last Friday, and was expected to appear in court this week.

Sheekiot said the practice of double dipping had been going on for a while with no action taken by those in authority.

“We have to clean up our backyard first before we can effectively exercise our designated roles as policing officers in the larger community of NCD and PNG.”

He said more officers would be charged in the coming days.

Since Baki announced a crackdown on discipline within the constabulary, complaints had emerged that policemen were continuing as security guards for politicians, heads of government departments and statutory organisations and businesses.

It was alleged that these policemen were given vehicles and salaries or allowances by their “side employers” while they continue to draw salary from police and live in barracks or police housing.

“Baki must clean up the entire force.

“The crackdown should not just target one or two people,” a senior police officer said last night.

“If police are providing security for big businesses in the city, Baki must stop them.

“If policemen are wearing uniforms and engaging in businesses, Baki must stop them, or get rid of them,” he added.

Paul Pora passes on

NATIONAL Party and Western Highlands icon Paul Pora is dead, The National reports.

The humble elder statesman was three-time member for Hagen open and one of Western Highlands’ first multi-millionaire businessmen.

Pora succumbed last Friday to a life-long struggle with asthma, exacerbated by a life-long smoking habit.

He was 66 years old.

Many would mourn his passing across the country among the National Party followers, business and personal friends and colleagues, and among his former Hagen electorate, particularly his loyal Yamuka Pepka tribesmen.

As with many people of his stature and longevity, Pora was the stuff of legend.

Such stories often tell the measure of the man.

When former communications minister Malipu Balakau was gunned down outside his house in Mt Hagen in June 1989, the death was blamed initially on Western Highlanders.

Yet, Yamuga Paul Pora was the lone man standing in the middle of the road at Togoba with the father of the late Malipu Balakau to face the wrath of the Enga people.

A convoy of Engan vehicles, nearly three kilometres long ready to do battle and burn Mt Hagen town, was stopped by the figure of this lone man.

He told the Engans that they could continue into Mt Hagen, but, in peace.

He told them that the city was theirs as well as Western Highlanders, that the perpetrators of the violence were not known, only that the killing had occurred in Mt Hagen.

The convoy did proceed into Mt Hagen – in peace where Pora ordered every food bar in the town to contribute food for the assembled Engans and told all Western Highlands tribes in the town’s vicinity to contribute sugar cane.

On the day he lost his Hagen seat to William Duma in June 2002, Yamuga tribesman threatened to block the Highlands Highway leading into Mt Hagen and to close the Kagamuga Airport.

They had good reason.

Three boxes from Pora’s stronghold areas remained uncounted when the returning officer declared Duma the member-elect.

Hearing of the threats and the people’s anger, Pora sent word to all Yamuga men to gather at his Tega village community grounds.

There, he told them, in words we paraphrase here: “The elections have just ended. We have a new member for Hagen Open.

“Something happened that I do not agree with, but there is a due process. It is not for you to take any action.

“It is for me to take this course of action.

“I want all of you to return to your jobs and your homes.

“Everything must run as normal.

“The airport is a national airport and it must remain open.

“The highway is a national road and it must remain open.

“Mt Hagen town is ours. It must not be touched ...”

And, with that, Pora stepped out of politics for the last time.

He never challenged his loss. The last 10 years he spent in retirement at his Kuriva farm outside Port Moresby.

When, as minister for finance from 1988 to 1992, he was told to ensure members were secured into guard against impending motions of no-confidence, Pora always sent away to his own company, Dobel Farming and Trading, for financial support.

Such was the drain on his family business that, while he was yet minister, he had the unpleasant task of appointing a receiver for the company when the PNG Banking Corporation placed it under receivership.

He refused pressure to sack then managing director of the PNGBC, Sir Mekere Morauta, which he perfectly well could have done as minister.

Pora’s funeral service will be held tomorrow at the Sione Kami Memorial church in Port Moresby between noon and 2pm before the casket with his remains makes the final journey, by chartered aircraft, the next day to Mt Hagen and his final resting place at the site of his birth, Kum Kona.

Pora walked to Chimbu to attain his primary education and completed it at Finschhafen, Morobe. He did his high school at Bugandi and Sogeri and was the second lot of intake for the new University of PNG.

He worked for the Reserve Bank of Australia, rising to be registrar of the savings and loans division before he answered a call from local councillors to become council clerk of Mt Hagen.

He was charged with having developed the council’s business arm which now remains the successful Wamp Nga group of companies.

He went into business himself and had a diversified portfolio under the Dobel Farming and Trading holding company name.

He was made the first chairman of the national airline, Air Niugini, and entered politics in 1987.

He served as minister for finance and for civil aviation.

Pora is survived by his four wives and 17 children and many grandchildren.

Soft-spoken, unassuming with the distinctive afro-hair and the curled moustache, Pora helped built many people’s lives and businesses and used others less.

His legacy shall long remain.