A$24m micro-finance plan

By PATRICK TALU

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian government will support a A$24 million (K62 million) project to help rural communities in Papua New Guinea access credit and financial services, The National reports.

In a statement last Friday, ADB said the microfinance expansion project was  expected to generate jobs and boost growth in some of the country’s poorest and most isolated regions.

ADB said lack of access to finance is a major constraint to rural development in PNG.

It estimated that only 15% of the population had access to formal or informal banking facilities, and many parts of the country still used a non-monetary barter system for transactions.

“This project would help rural areas move from a subsistence to a modern cash-based economy and in the process it would increase incomes and reduce poverty by stimulating informal business activity,” Robert Wihtol, director general of ADB’s Pacific department, said.

ADB’s loan, from its concessional Asian development fund, covers 54% of the project cost of A$24.06 million.

The loan has a 32-year term, including a grace period of eight years.

Interest is charged at 1% per annum during the grace period and 1.5% per year for the rest of the term.

AusAID will provide a grant of A$6 million to be administered by ADB. The government of PNG and project beneficiaries will cover the remaining cost of A$3.09 million.

The project is due for completion by the end of 2017.

The project would extend and build on the experiences and lessons learned from ADB’s microfinance and employment project, also co-financed by the Australian government through AusAID, an eight-year project that began in 2002 and established a solid base for microfinance in PNG.

The new project would strengthen industry regulation and bolster the capacity of lenders to deliver a wider range of financial services and products in rural areas, with a focus on lending to micro and small enterprises, and especially to women, who struggle to access credit and income-generating opportunities.

“Making financial services more accessible to people in rural areas enables  them to save money in a more secure way, provides them with an efficient means of transferring funds for personal and business transactions, and allows them to borrow to start up a business,” Eugenue Zhukov, regional director of ADB’s Pacific liaison and coordination offfice in Sydney.

Wingti bids farewell to Pora

By YVONNE HAIP

THOUSANDS of people turned up last Saturday at the Tega ceremonial grounds to bid farewell to former Mt Hagen MP Paul Pora, The National reports.

After a funeral service, the late Pora was finally laid to rest at Kum Kona in Dobel where he grew up as a child.

Former prime minister Paias Wingti also attended the burial among family members, friends, the Yamka people, community leaders and business people.

Wingti paid his respects and praised Pora for quality leadership that he had displayed during his reign as a three-term parliamentarian.

Wingti described Pora as an honest and humble leader who came from humble beginnings with a vision to lead with transparency and accountability.

He said today’s leadership was infected with corruption and malpractices.

He said that there were some who were living off government handouts and, due to these bad habits, leaders were travelling around with heavy police escorts unlike in the past.

Wingti said when Pora was finance minister during the height of the Bougainville crisis, he had run the country on a budget of K1.8 billion compared to the current K6 billion.

He said Pora had managed the people’s money well and was a true leader who had the heart for his people.

Wingti added that Pora was a businessman before he entered politics, and did not steal the people’s money.

Speaker holds key

SENIOR coalition leaders in government are trying to talk Speaker Jeffery Nape into preventing the notice of a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister from being entertained when parliament convenes in two weeks, The National reports.

Sources in Waigani told The National that two senior government leaders visited Nape, who was holidaying in Cairns, Australia, last week.

Nape had been unimpressed by the failure of the government to release funds he had requested to carry out urgent maintenance in parliament since the house rose in July.

A notice of a motion of no-confidence was already with the speaker to remove Sir Michael Somare as prime minister. It named Sir Puka Temu as the alternate prime minister.

“The notice is there, and it is up to the speaker to bring it to the floor to be entertained,” a source said.

“I believe the speaker will allow the vote to take place.”

The opposition does not have the numbers at present, and would have to rely on government MPs breaking ranks to topple the PM. And, if the last sitting was any indication, it could happen.

It was understood the opposition was talking to factions in government, and would likely nominate a highlands MP for prime minister to attract the numbers to remove Sir Michael.

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah reiterated last night the opposition was committed to removing the Somare-Polye government in this month’s sitting of parliament.

“The opposition is confident of forming the next government so long as the speaker is impartial and does not hijack the democratic and parliamentary processes,” he said.

He said that the people did not believe in the manner in which the country was run by a kitchen cabinet and there was a need for change.

Sir Puka, who travelled with Namah to Vanimo last week for the Bewani oil palm project signing, said the government needed to change with most indicators going backwards.

Also in Vanimo were member for Anglimp-South Waghi Jamie Maxtone-Graham, Markham MP Koni Iguan and member for Telefomin Peter Iwei.

Vision 2050 is flawed

By JAMES WANJIK

THE New York Times was very correct.

Its story "Papua New Guinea is little prepared for gas wealth" published October 26, 2010 made it clear that Waigani has no working knowledge of the national economy of our country.

Following e-mail communication with the New York Times I obtained a copy of ‘Endorsed Working Strategic Policy’ on Vision 2050.

The first two pillars are very badly approached.

First, the human development pillar has no linkage with the national goal on integral human development.

Besides, it does not propose solution to lack of human development in the last 35 years of independence.

Secondly, the wealth creation pillar identifies minerals on the economic power house of PNG but it has no solution.

We are actually being taken on same path of development in the last 35 years.

Role of advisers is to advise managers manage and leaders lead.

Vision 2050 has no leader.

Like Vision 2050 the national goals had no leader.

Were leaderless vision achieved anywhere in the world?

Certainly not.

We in PNG are lied to then by Vision 2050 advisors and consultants.

PNG people must be aware that advisers and consultants work for money.

They are not public servants.

No money, no work and vice versa.

Lot of truths are out but advisers and consultants of Vision 2050 did not expose them for Waigani and its bureaucrats to lead PNG to prosperity.

Here I expose some of the issues for the benefit of our people.

"1. Integral human development.

We declare our first goal to be for every person to be dynamically involved in the process of freeing himself or herself from every form of domination or oppression so that each man or woman will have the opportunity to develop as a whole person in relationship with others."

The goal was set at independence.

Thirty five years on we are still not aware what to do.

PNG leaders are money leaders.

They vilify our people for money.

That is why goal of integral human development was not achieved.

Money is the reason for Vision 2050.

The Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was to underpin Vision 2050.

Unfortunately, this is not reflected in the two pillars of human development and wealth creation.

Politicians will be nervous when people pose questions.

There are questions already in people's minds.

What we need to do is to jot their memories with history.

Be as it may, dare I say Vision 2050 is dead. This is why.

"5. Papua New Guinean ways

We declare our fifth goal to be to achieve development primarily through the use of Papua New Guinean forms of social, political and economic organization."

LNG is a foreign investment.

It is a money business.

Now LNG has made inflation go high.

In a very short time lives have been lost.

Sowing seed of discontent LNG proponents did not want to follow PNG law.

They wanted their way and not PNG way.

Our leaders obliged and changed our laws.

Now signs of discontent are appearing. LNG's contribution to Vision 2050 will be known then.

Now let us make some truths about PNG's resource development known.

LNG Project and other mineral projects which are of economic importance do not necessarily lead to human development.

Human development is the first national goal in our National Constitution.

 It is about whole person human development.

A person has body, heart, mind and spirit.

According to Steven Covey from USA, each of the components of a person has different function, need and attribute.

LNG and minerals can make money and money can buy basic necessity of the body like food, clothing and shelter.

Money cannot buy love and compassion only the heart gives.

 Money cannot buy vision and passion for service of fellow human person.

These are functions of the mind and spirit.

PNG has many mines.

These are operated by Western mining companies.

Panguna mine was the first.

It ended up causing environmental damage to land, river and way of life of people.

Ok Tedi mine was second.

 It has killed the Ok Tedi River and its environmental damage is going down into the Fly River.

Third is Misima mine.

It operated a deep sea tailings placement and closed shop in 2005.

Then Porgera mine came on.

It has environmental issue on the Strickland River and recently Amnesty International found human rights abuses by police when called in by the government to assist the mine maintain its presence.

Lihir is eating PNG minerals and funding activities of Newcrest mines of Australia.

And now we have Ramu mine with a first Chinese company as majority owner and project operator.

 It has been accused of human rights violations and an environmental law suit has been in court this year that has rocked it a bit.

Kutubu oil fields brought in a lot of money and nobody talks about it these days.

PNG is very vulnerable to manipulation and control by the miners.

Its leaders have been enlisted and disabled. Laws have been tampered with to suit the miners.

Regulations have been put in miners’ hand.

Vision 2050 will see PNG mortgaged to ExxonMobil as its base is the promised money from LNG.

We are racing against time set and dictated by ExxonMobil.

It is our country but we are not in charge.

James Wanjik

Papua New Guinea

27 October 2010

Well-known Papua New Guinea bird scientist dies

By MALUM NALU

Papua New Guinea’s first ornithologist (bird scientist) Paul Igag –internationally renowned for his work  in the Crater Mountain area of Eastern Highlands province - died suddenly last Friday night in Goroka.

Paul Igag…a lifetime passion for birds

Details of his death were not immediately available today, however, the scientific community in both PNG and overseas is mourning the death of Igag, PNG’s first national expert on birds from PNG, who held a PhD

From Madang province, he was one of the first scientific staff at the young Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG, became one of the first scientific staff at the Wildlife Conservation Society PNG Programme, and then became a founder of the PNG Institute of Biological Research.

Igag was a leader in PNG's movement toward greater scientific autonomy.

Dozens of students and his co-workers affectionately called him "Uncle Paul”.

Close friends and scientific colleagues have created an online memorial in memory of Igag, which they hope will create a good profile of his life and a last record and tribute of all of his accomplishments.

“Paul (Igag) was PNG's first home-grown ornithologist,” said longtime colleague Dr Andrew Mack.

“He bridged the world of village PNG and Western academia. 

“In the field Paul worked well with local assistants and he always trained up a good team of young men and women to help with his various field projects. 

“Back in town, Paul collaborated with top ornithologists worldwide.

“Paul's research covered many topics, but his real passion was large parrots. 

“He made important discoveries about palm cockatoos and vulturine parrots that have and will continue to help guide conservation of these threatened species.

“We all grieve, but we should also celebrate how lucky we were to have been in the presence of such a wonderful man.”

Igag had worked on the conservation biology of various species at Crater Mountain since 1999 with the support of the Wildlife Conservation Society (New York).

With generous support from the Pacific Biological Foundation, he came to the Australian National University in 2001 to study for a Masters degree under the supervision of Rob Heinsohn and Sarah Legge.

The aim of Igag’s research was to outline the breeding biology and likely causes of threat to three species of large parrot found in the New Guinea rainforest.

Palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) and Pesquet’s parrots (Psittrichus fulgidus) are threatened by over-exploitation for food and the thriving trade in their feathers, and along with Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus) are threatened by loss of habitat.

In January this year, the work of Igag and PNGOBR colleague Miriam Supuma, was featured on a high-acclaimed BBC documentary by international environmental icon David Attenborough on the increasingly-rare birds of paradise.

The documentary followed Igag and Supuma as they went about researching how killing birds of paradise for feathers for ceremonial headdress was endangering rare species.

APEC Ministers to tackle new socio-economic growth

Issued by the 8^th Telecommunications and Information Industry Ministerial Meeting

 

Okinawa, Japan, 29 October, 2010 – APEC inisters will focus on development of broadband infrastructure and advancing information and communications technology (ICT) in critical areas such as education, health, energy and the environment when they meet here this week.

 At the October 30-31 meeting, Ministers will also address ongoing efforts to develop free and open markets in the Asia-Pacific region for the telecommunications and information technology industries, including regulations that encourage increased competition and investment in APEC economies.

 Meeting under the theme ‘ICT as an Engine for New Socio-Economic Growth’, Ministers will turn to initiatives aimed at developing and sharing best applications of ICT to address problems such as energy and resource constraints and environmental degradation, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of emergency preparedness in the region.

 “APEC is developing next broadband goals and initiatives aimed at using ICT to address social-economic challenges in areas such as the environment, emergency response, medicine, education and energy efficiency,” said Yoshihiro Katayama, Japan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, who is chairing the meeting.

 Measures to strengthen cyber security, including effective policies to protect personal information and security of networks as well as efforts to protect vulnerable groups from online threats, will also be addressed by the Ministers.

 APEC Cyber Security Awareness Day will be held in conjunction with the meeting to highlight the importance of sharing information between member economies on this issue and collaborating on region-wide efforts to address cyber security.

 The meeting is expected to prove crucial to shaping APEC’s long-term growth strategy which will be finalised for Economic Leaders at their annual meeting, to be held next month in Yokohama.

The strategy includes promoting economic growth across the region through fostering innovation and a knowledge-based economy.

 Telecommunications and ICT have, throughout the years, revolutionised the way the region’s citizens communicate, do business, interact with governments and educate and inform themselves.

 Internet broadband subscriptions have increased from .2 per 100 inhabitants in the region in 1999 to 10.8 in 2009.

Similarly mobile phone subscriptions have rocketed from 10.5 in 1999 to 76.6 per 100 inhabitants in 2009, according to data from StatsAPEC, an extensive database showing economic performance in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Ministers are committed to achieving an ambitious goal, set in 2008, of universal access to broadband in the APEC region by 2015.

APEC economies have achieved the goal of tripling internet access in the region, and largely achieved the goal of universal internet access by 2010 in terms of ICT infrastructure.

 

                                                  # # #

 

For more information, contact:  Trudy Harris +65 98983710 or th@apec.org

                                                       Michael Chapnick +65 96474847 or mc@apec.org

 

 

 

A satirical look at how rugby league politics has affected the Papua New Guinea Kumuls!

By MAVARA HANUA

 Albert Veratau and Garry Juffa represent two clashing ideologies. 

Veratauism consists of building the code by forging strong relations with a major partner who will provide financial and technical support.

 It reached the echelons of our relations with Australia when former PM Rudd pulled strings to get the ball rolling on the NRL contemplating a 2015 entrant for one of our teams. 

Even at the operational level we saw a mass injection of technical assistance. 

Whole bunch of blokes flooded our shores bringing goodies. 

The Pacific Cup saw a full team of dimdims in everything. 

From setting up the PA system, touch judges, promotion and marketing consultants and even water boys.

Why even the great Adrian Lam looked far and wide in the great southland for Kumuls.  Recruiting them from the north all the way to the south and boy they put on a show.

 Trashing every pacific country that came our way. 

It was something and Veratauism had prevailed in bringing the code much needed attention.

However, the flaw in Veratauism and one that persists in PNG foreign and investment relations is its inability to be absorbed and sustained in national institutions. 

Whether during or after the initial phase of the development assistance or investment.

 In this case, PNGRFL’s inability to sustain human and financial capacity in these investments. 

So when the assistance comes, it’ll be mostly spent on consultants from down under and the four million evaporates.

 The support services will likely all come from Australia, will have no long-term capacity-building developments and the PNGRFL staff and management. 

When continuous recruitment of big boys from Australia to play for the Kumuls, local talent is denied and therefore there is no exposure.  

In all, collapse is eminent but more so, a nationalistic intervention is attractive. 

And that is exactly what Juffaism brought: nationalism + discontent = takeover.

With whispered neglect of affiliated associations all over the country, Juffa funded a meeting in Lae in 2009 which voted him as president.

 It mattered little to the affiliated members of Rudd and Somare’s ‘rugby aid’ multi-million dollar sponsorships or Lam’s predominantly southland Kumuls. 

At the end of the day, all that mattered to the voters was associations were not progressing and even for some, their boys were been denied a Kumul jumper.

In true Juffaism, Veratau’s pale crowd was chased out and Lam’s “southland” kumuls flew away. 

But has this improved our game? 

I don’t know but what is clear is that there are no winners. 

As much as Juffa wants to bang the nationalistic drum, he needs technical assistance in management, commercialising the game and training programmes to enhance the code.

While credit must be given to Veratau for bringing these activities, developing long-term programmes, recruitment of local-based experts in formulating marketing, and plans must be in full and genuine consultations with PNG counterparts. 

There are examples all over our country on why development assistance collapses and it is largely due to blueprints brought from Canberra and stamped into Waigani without input from PNG officials.

Veratau or Juffa, Lam or Gene, win or lose, one thing is for sure, one thing is for sure: the Kumuls are an instrument of inspiration and change. 

Kids sit around the fireplaces in Kabiufa talking about the mighty Lahanis, boys paddling down the Fly River chatter about the Kumul speedsters, school yard fights over who should be David Mead,  and supporters like me, go nuts looking for Kumul memorabilia.

Sport is capable of great things. 

Jesse Owens defied the irrational Nazi propaganda of the Aryan superiority, Mandela and Pienaar united a nation on the brink of civil war and who can ever forget what Pini gave PNG. 

PNGRFL and the Kumuls don’t need wins, they need leaders!