Bulolo MP takes government to task for environmental damage

Bulolo MP, Sam Basil, has published photographs of the environmental damage caused by the Hidden Valley  gold mine and berated government agencies for not protecting the interests of local landowners and instead fighting the corner of the mining companies.
“I  want to make such information available to the public especially the resource districts to show them what they may expect when such developments comes their way in the future”, he says.
“Development as we all know will come at a cost but to me development must not cost my people’s environment as their lives depend on it”.

Basil says that as an MP he finds it very surprising that he is fighting the very institutions set up by the government of the people to monitor and safeguard the landowners interests – Mineral Resources Authority, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Mining and the provincial mining division.
“None of these Authorities or agencies are willing to help attend to the landowners' concerns of environmental destruction to the Watut River system” says Basil.
“MRA are totally ignorant.
"This organisation recently chose to buy two new Toyota Land Cruisers for Bulolo Ddstrict’s law and order offices costing more then K200,000 while ignoring the cries of environmental damages and MOA breaches by the both Watut River communities and the Nakuwi Landowners' Association”.

“The Morobe provincial mining division  officers were often seen wearing MMJV uniforms (orange jackets) and in the company of MMJV officers.
“Benson Suwang (provincial chairman of mines), a community representative whom I as MP for Bulolo appointed him into the Morobe provincial assembly,  gave a contradicting statement supporting the MMJV activities while ignoring the environment damages by saying development comes at a cost.
“The Department of Environment has never monitored the river system since MMJV started excavation and side casting from the mine site,  leaving the provincial government's mines officers walking around with MMJV-sponsored environmental reports - blindly believing without challenges.
“There is already evidence of the Watut River system damages and I will not turn back now but will fight this issue all the way.
“I welcome support and experiences from other Landowners or brothers and sisters from PNG.
“We must all now be responsible in making all mining practices now and in the future safe for the surrounding communities.If the government and its agencies are lazy or compromises themselves then the developer will take shortcuts at the cost of the unfortunate rural people”.

NCD farewells Pora

THE Rev Sione Kami Memorial church ground was packed to capacity yesterday as the casket containing the remains of the late Paul Pora was brought in for his funeral service, accompanied by his grieving wives, including Sharon (pictured above with daughter Victoria), former business and political associates, family friends like Lady Elizabeth Kiki (below, wife of the late Sir Albert Maori Kiki), relatives and Hagen tribesmen and women residing in Port Moresby, The National reports.

As the tears flowed freely, sentiments of courage, briliance, respect and patriotism was accorded the late Pora, who died of asthma, aged 66, last Friday. 

After losing the Hagen open seat to William Duma in 2002, Pora retired to his Kuriva farm outside NCD. 

The remains of the late Pora will leave for Mt Hagen today to be laid to rest beside his mother at Kum Kona, Dobel village. – Nationalpics by EKAR KEAPU

New IT services up

INTERNET subscribers and information technology users can now avail of what Telikom calls “a door’s step services anywhere, anytime”, The National reports.

In fact, the telco has just introduced two new IT technology – the 4th generation wimax and viedo conferencing.

They could now be viewed or tried at the company’s “Telikom New Look” store in down town Port Moresby.

Telikom chief commercial officer Ajay Mathur on Monday night spoke of video conferencing, saying: “In today’s competitive environment, companies are highly concerned with improving collaboration, reducing travel-related time and expenses and cutting down on carbon dioxide emission.”

As a result, he said, the demand for high-quality video conference solution was  rapidly increasing.

Mathur was speaking to reporters and customers who attended the launch.

He said video conferencing (VC) was vital for business where a meeting could be conducted using VC facilities.

He said the latest facility available could host point-to-point conferencing, point-to-three-party conferencing and point-to-multi-point conferencing.

Telikom is also offering the Teli-NET, an internet service that could be accessed where there is a hot spot or place where a high-speed modem for internet access is available.

At the new-look shop, Telikom has opened a new internet café, which is volume-based modem and therefore, much cheaper than other internet cafés in the city.

Francis Waibe, the person in charge of the new technologies and services, explained it was very cheap and convenient because it would cost only 40 toea per megabite.

“It is the first in the country,” Waibe said.

Works' powers 'stripped'

Office of chief secretary to handle HHRP

THE Department of Works has lost all powers and responsibilities relating to the controversial Highlands Highway Rehabilitation Programme (HHRP), The National reports.

In a clear message that the government had lost confidence in the department, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare directed that all powers and responsibilities relating to HHRP be transferred to the office of the chief secretary.

While the move was welcomed by Chimbu claimants and their consultants, who had gathered in Port Moresby yesterday, it could have political ramifications as Works and Transport come under Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye.

A senior official said the Works Department had been isolated from a major project in the country.

“It demonstrates a lack of faith in Polye and Works secretary Joel Luma in dealing with the HHRP. That is a major project in the country,” the official said, asking not to be named.

The official said he understood the department would not be involved in work on the Highlands Highway and the Lae roads, which would cost about K100 million in this year’s supplementary budget.

The prime minister issued a directive to chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc on Oct 14 to approve consultants to partner with the Highlands Highway Landowners Association Incorporated (HHLAI) group and the state to do a final verification and assemble the landowners for proper payment in early December. The claims, amounting to K68.7 million, would also be audited.  

No reason was given for the stripping of powers from Works but, according to Skytech Consultant Ltd officer Joe Kile, this was done because the department was too slow, unorganised and lacked the capacity to carry out the verification exercises quickly and professionally since 2008.

Neither Polye nor Luma could be reached for comments.

Solwara licence deferred

By PATRICK TALU

THE signing and granting of a licence to Nautilus Mineral for the Solwara 1 underwater mining project has been deferred, The National reports.

Minister for Mining John Pundari yesterday attributed the deferral to conflicting advice given to him by the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).

He said it was not due to a court injunction taken out against the state and MRA by the New Ireland provincial government as reported in The National.

“In light of the new deep sea mining method to be employed by Nautilus and the risk profile associated with the Solwara 1 project, I must ensure the state is not exposed to any unnecessary risks while preserving any benefits that the state may stand to lose in the development of the project,” Pundari said.

“With that in mind, it is my intention to use my powers under the Mining Act 1992 to grant the Solwara 1 mining licence with conditions for compliance by the company in the best interest of the state.

“I was provided with two separate documents containing a number of conditions by MRA.

“One document had 11 conditions while other had 12,” the minister said.

The 12th condition was related to the preservation of state equity in the project.

“In fact, these conditions reflect the position of the state as advocated by the minister for treasury and finance through the deliberation of the state team when assessing the development proposal of the project.

“The condition give the state the right to exercise its option to take up 30% participating interest in the Solwara 1 project up to a period of at least 12 months from the time Nautilus advises that it has successfully completed the trial of the mining equipment,” he said.

Pundari said for some reason, MRA had recommended the document with 11 conditions for approval, leaving out the bit outlining the state’s interest in the project.

MRA and Nautilus had argued that the 12th condition would limit the developer’s ability to raise capital to finance the project.

“I am not convinced by this assertion by MRA and Nautilus,” Pundari said.

“I have directed the state team to reassess this condition and confirm the assertion made by Nautilus and advise me accordingly.

“In the meantime, my position has not changed and I am determined to sign off the Solwara 1 project mining lease with the 12th condition attached,” the minister said.

Early works on pipeline halted

By PATRICK TALU

THE early construction work on the engineering procurement construction on the PNG LNG project pipeline from Kopi to Kaiam in Gulf, Kaiam to Gobe in Southern Highlands and Mubi crossing at border of the two provinces by Clough-Curtain Joint Venture (CCJV) have been halted, The National reports.

The early works stopped last Friday when 108 CCJV employees walked off their job over outstanding industrial issues with the management leaving the constructions in chaos while the early works at PDL 4 and Pipeline 2 for the LNG project was stopped by the Irakorahi people who were impacted by the pipeline as of Oct 13.

Chairman of the landowners, who owns the Mubi valve station, Soni Kanu, said the shutdown followed the lack of response to a petition to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to address certain demands.

Team leader of the CCJV construction worker Kennedy Onzen told The National yesterday after returning from Kopi on a chartered flight from Gobe to Port Moresby that the workers walked out after the CCJV management failed to address their grievances.

Onzen said on Oct 15, the employees had petitioned CCJV to pay or be assured to pay their safety bonus, which were incident free operation entitlements, and also a pay rise for all employees after their three months probation period lapsed.

He said when they did not  receive any response, they petitioned CCJV the same issues and gave until last Friday for any response.

“However, the management failed to respond so I ordered all the boys to stop work and leave” Onzen said.

“Based on past experiences with CCJV, we have learnt that the company does not pay out their entitlements and outstanding allowance, so we wanted and demanded the company to assure us whether our grievances would be met.

“We work on risky work environments and our safety is not guaranteed. We feel that in the event that the construction is over and when we want to claim our entitlements, there is no guarantee that our entitlements will be paid.

“All we want now is for the management to tell us when it will address the grievances,” he stressed.

“We also urge the government to review all the agreements relating local content in the aspect of employment because we see that we the locals will be big time losers after the construction is over,” he said.

Both sites remain closed until today.

Several attempts to get comments from PNG LNG project operator ExxonMobil to confirm the reports were unsuccessful.

Come salsa and support Ms PNG

By SAO HOIRE

Apart from promoting awareness of marine conservation, reigning Miss PNG Rachel Sapery James is also a strong advocate of health and fitness, The National reports.

After winning the much-coveted title two months ago, James is now preparing to compete in the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Port Moresby from Nov 22-27.

Reigning Miss PNG, Rachel Sapery James on the catwalk.

With only a month to go, a fundraising committee has been established to help her prepare for the event.

This is an opportunity for James to showcase PNG to rest of the Pacific region and do the country proud.

 She is appealing to all Papua New Guineans including business houses for their support in the event.

James will be joining 10 other contestants from Fiji, Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands and Kiribati.

 Last year’s winner was Fiji’s Merewalesi Nailatikau who was in the country earlier this month to officially launch the pageant.

The young and inspiring Miss James is no ordinary beauty and brains.

A marine biologist by profession, she is also a tri-athlete and loves to dance salsa.

Salsa or zumba is the latest fitness craze taking Port Moresby by storm, attracting mainly women.

It is a fun and dynamic exercise which is exciting and different - fitness programme that the whole family can enjoy.

You don’t need dance training to participate and there is no partner involved.

Even the most un-coordinated person can give it a try!

All you need is an instructor to give fewer verbal cues with participants to watch the movements and feel the music.

It takes Latin music and dancing out of the dance studio and into the gym!

So if you haven’t tried zumba and want to see what the craze is all about, come on down to the indoor sports complex, Sir John Guise Stadium,  for ‘The Miss PNG Zumba Fitness Party’ happening on Saturday from 3pm-4pm.

There will be prizes for the best outfit, best dancer and the fittest looking and performing participants so come along and support the event!

Tickets are selling at K20 adults and K15 kids below the age of 12.

All funds raised will go towards supporting Miss PNG’s preparations for the Miss South Pacific Pageant.

For tickets, you can contact Chrissilla Kabe Talis on 322 9175.

The Miss PNG zumba fitness party will be coordinated by Milla Nash of McNash Fitness.