Group queries market facility

By JASON GIMA WURI

A GROUP of protesters comprising mainly women, youths and children yesterday confronted NCD Governor Powes Parkop as he was about to open the new Lareva market at Hohola 2, The National reports.

The protesters said the new site did not have any water and toilet facilities, fuelling threats of cholera and other diseases.

They also raised concerns on petty crimes and other illegal activities including the safety of women and girls using and visiting the market.

Hohola community chairman Abraham Araupe said a petition outlining these concerns were given to Parkop six months ago but to no avail.

“The market is now sitting right in the middle of our recreational area.

“There is no proper licencing from the NCD lands board and the market was built without proper facilities, planning and health inspections being carried out,” Araupe said.

Community leaders yesterday threatened to take out a court injunction against Parkop and NCDC.

However, Parkop told the protesters that the market had to be moved for the city’s benefit.

“We cannot listen to only one part of a group of people but, instead, we have to get everyone’s views - those from the Highlands, the Papuans, New Guinea Islands and Momase.

“This market does not belong to the Hagens or the Keremas only. It belongs to all of us in the city; it will improve our people’s lives with the vegetables and betelnuts sold here,” Parkop said.

“I understand and take into account your concerns for security, rubbish and health hazards.

“New toilets and water facilities will be in place immediately in the coming weeks.”

He also challenged the community to organise itself and collect taxes from the vendors to pay for security and the upkeep of the market.

The NCD governor also thanked Digicel and BSP for providing 300 and 100 beach umbrellas respectively for distribution to the market vendors.

Westpac to join LNG bandwagon

By PATRICK TALU

WESTPAC Bank PNG Ltd, the oldest bank in the country, will tap into the emerging banking opportunities spawned by the mining and petroleum boom, particularly the gas project, The National reports.

Incoming general manager for Pacific banking Greg Pawson told the media in Port Moresby yesterday the Pacific was a key focus for Westpac and PNG was one of the most focused areas that would  see the bank’s three strategies carried out.

“We are excited about some of the emerging opportunities particularly the gas project and the mining,” Pawson said.

“We are very eager to invest and leverage in terms of where we are now and we are mapping out a three-year strategic plan.

Pawson outlined the three key focus areas as:

* Investment in emerging market opportunities;

* Retails banking; and

* Strong business banking.

Investment in the emerging market opportunity was  along term concern, Pawson said.

On retail banking, there is no need to open new branches but instead, improvement should come in for wider and efficient banking services.

“On business banking, we are looking at how we can take that to the next level where we are looking at a significant relationship with the government, the diplomatic corps and other big corporate organisation to contribute to the growth of the economy of Papua New Guinea,” Pawson said.

Westpac managing director for PNG Ashleigh Matheson said as part of the three-year strategy, a state-of-the-art internet banking services was under way

WHP teachers slam OBE concept

By YVONNE HAIP

Teachers in Western Highlands are planning to go on strike to get rid of the outcome based education (OBE) system, The National reports.

The teachers have given a 20-days notice to Education authorities and Minister James Marape to publicly debate the system, which has drawn widespread criticism in recent times.

The 20-day notice expired last Friday with no response.

The teachers, through their organisation Teachers Rights Movement group, signed a petition and held a public rally in Mt Hagen last month, challenging Marape to a public debate.

The teachers argue that OBE was not in the best interest of teachers and students.

They said as implementers of the system, they were concerned about the students and were willing to engage in a public debate with authorities so that solutions could be discussed.

They now plan to hold a sit in protest or would not return to classes until education authorities meet with them.

The teachers said they had deferred their strike to next week due to the Grade 8 examinations being conducted this week.

Teachers from the elementary, primary, high, secondary, and technical schools have all shown interest in the public debate.

Spokesperson, Nius Rom, who teaches Grades 11 and 12 history at Mt Hagen Park Secondary School, said the public forum would discuss factors brought on by OBE.

He said these included class size where teachers taught more than 30 students in a class, lack of student material, failure in the education delivery system, teachers work conditions, and the purpose of the teachers union.

He said teachers would be “exercising their freedom of expression to professionally call for changes for the betterment of the future generation”.

He said the teachers would take a firm stand on the matter and were willing to “put their jobs on the line” as it was for a worthy cause.

“We are now on the crossroads, that is whether to make changes and improve the failing education system or ignore these calls,” Rom said.

“We cannot pretend that nothing is wrong and start to jump up and down later after the whole education system has collapsed,” he added.

Rom also said that from the classroom perspective, the reform system which began in 1995, had failed to achieve its intended purpose of quality relevant education over the past 15 years and would continue if not addressed.

The teachers said they had carried out their research and would produce facts and figures during the debate.

We’re with you

Visiting US secretary of state reaffirms ties

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton addressing women in parliament flanked by Papua New Guineans dressed in their different traditional costumes representing all provinces of the country. Leading them, and on Clinton’s left, is diplomat and foreign affairs senior official Lucy Bogari, adorned in her Northern tapa colours.  – Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed the United States of America’s commitment to assist Papua New Guinea avoid the “resource curse” by building institutional capacity to govern revenue from its natural resource extraction, The National reports.

She said that PNG, with its vast natural resources, would become a strong regional leader but must have strong commitment to governance, accountability and transparency.

“The United States stands ready to assist translate Papua New Guinea’s natural resources into a vibrant developing nation,” Clinton said.

She told a joint media conference after her meeting with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on bilateral issues.

“A lot of countries with such excitement like what is happening here have not done it.

“As Papua New Guinea begins to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources, the US state department hopes to assist the PNG government, especially the department of Petroleum and Energy, as well as tax and finance agencies, to maximise value and efficiency of oil and gas production and revenue flows.”

She said the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) would seek to bolster institutional capacities related to governance, revenue management and technical capability.

Clinton said she was very excited to visit PNG after her husband, former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to promote his Clinton Foundation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She said her planned visit in January was cancelled due to the earthquake in Haiti that forced her to turn back from Honolulu, Hawaii.

“It is well known that the journey from Washington DC to Port Moresby is a long one. But I left to come see you in January and I am only arriving now. So, thank you for your patience, I am thrilled to be here today.”

She said the government and people of PNG were trusted partners today, and had been for more than 60 years and that was why she saw the visit as a privilege and a priority.

Clinton said the partnership was serious and wide-ranging and soon new grounds would be broken for a new and larger embassy in Port Moresby.

She arrived in Port Moresby at 5pm and left about 11pm for the New Zealand-Australia leg of the regional visit.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said they had a wonderful dialogue on a number of issues including climate change, women empowerment, human smuggling and trafficking, gender development and US assistance.

We're with you

Visiting US secretary of state reaffirms ties

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed the United States of America’s commitment to assist Papua New Guinea avoid the “resource curse” by building institutional capacity to govern revenue from its natural resource extraction, The National reports.

She said that PNG, with its vast natural resources, would become a strong regional leader but must have strong commitment to governance, accountability and transparency.

“The United States stands ready to assist translate Papua New Guinea’s natural resources into a vibrant developing nation,” Clinton said.

She told a joint media conference after her meeting with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on bilateral issues.

“A lot of countries with such excitement like what is happening here have not done it.

“As Papua New Guinea begins to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources, the US state department hopes to assist the PNG government, especially the department of Petroleum and Energy, as well as tax and finance agencies, to maximise value and efficiency of oil and gas production and revenue flows.”

She said the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) would seek to bolster institutional capacities related to governance, revenue management and technical capability.

Clinton said she was very excited to visit PNG after her husband, former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to promote his Clinton Foundation in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She said her planned visit in January was cancelled due to the earthquake in Haiti that forced her to turn back from Honolulu, Hawaii.

“It is well known that the journey from Washington DC to Port Moresby is a long one. But I left to come see you in January and I am only arriving now. So, thank you for your patience, I am thrilled to be here today.”

She said the government and people of PNG were trusted partners today, and had been for more than 60 years and that was why she saw the visit as a privilege and a priority.

Clinton said the partnership was serious and wide-ranging and soon new grounds would be broken for a new and larger embassy in Port Moresby.

She arrived in Port Moresby at 5pm and left about 11pm for the New Zealand-Australia leg of the regional visit.

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said they had a wonderful dialogue on a number of issues including climate change, women empowerment, human smuggling and trafficking, gender development and US assistance.

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Four Nations a good learning curve for Papua New Guinea

By REG RENAGI

 

The Four Nations rugby league tournament is all but over for Papua New Guinea. 

But it’s still a good learning curve for PNG’s pride: the ‘Kumuls’. 

The Kumuls must from here on drastically lift up their game standards if PNG expects to do far better than at present in future international league competition.

With a 42 – 0 beating by the Aussie Kangaroos in their first match of the tournament, and last weekend’s canning by the New Zealand Kiwis with a record breaking 76 – 12 score, the Kumuls have no other choice but must beat the ‘Poms’ this weekend. 

After the Kumuls’ loss to the Kiwis, PNG captain Paul Aiton said: "We're very disappointed. We just missed something that makes us PNG." 

But whatever it is, that ‘elusive something’ better be found quickly if PNG don’t want to end up as “wooden - spooners” against an expected spirited English side.

Like PNG, the Poms lost their last two tough encounters with the Aussies and Kiwis and are expecting a very physical battle in ‘a do or die’ match, with their respective country’s pride riding on their big shoulders.   

However, coach and former Hull KR star in England, Stanley Gene is more upbeat about the Kumul’s chances in the next match. 

Stanley should know very well how the English side’s main tactics are going to be, so there is some slight chance there if our Kumuls can come up with a very good game plan. 

PNG fans also share some of Stanley’s recent sentiments in the media, but know full well that they also harbour a secret fear of losing again.  This will be too painful even for this writer to admit. 

But fingers crossed, we all are quietly confident for PNG to beat England in a tight finish.  But even if we did lose this game, let’s hope the Kumuls try to keep the final score low and as close to our opponents, after the savage mauling by two of the strongest teams in this four nation competition. 

So with just a few days to go before playing this weekend, many upset fans in recent days are now calling for the sacking of the entire management team, including coach; Gene. 

I don’t blame them.  Die-hard fans in league-crazy PNG are understandably upset over the last two straight losses.

These are still early days. But after the tournament we must do a good ‘post-mortem’ and no doubt critics here and abroad will have their say.  This will be good for the code.

PNG league management must find out what we did wrong, and what we can do now to either avoid; or minimise similar mistakes in future.  

The four nation rugby league competition provides many good lessons for the PNG Kumuls and its management; and those who administer the code back home.

The two-year tournament will be a regular international meet.  It’s an important opportunity where PNG’s rugby league reputation and credibility will always be tested for the world to see. 

Here is what we must do from here on:   Firstly, regardless of our loss this time, PNG must now plan better for the future. 

This is important if we are to fare a little better than in the previous two weekends playing against league’s two best teams in the Southern Hemisphere.

Secondly, the Kumuls management must now treat all future international matches as an occasion not to be missed. 

Thirdly, PNG will not only be pitted against some of the best teams from strong rugby league playing nations, but learn valuable lessons required to improve future Kumuls performance standards. 

Fourthly, the Kumul management team must also closely observe and cleverly use new game tricks against countries like Australia, New Zealand and England. 

This may be one good way to see some big improvements in the Kumuls’ overall match-performance to be potential “giant killers” in future. 

So with the exception of the Poms, the ‘Kangaroos’ and ‘Kiwis’ can one day be beaten like any other team.

This will only happen if the Kumuls can work out both the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents well before playing them.

PNG league strategic planners must work hard to capitalise on them and in particular develop special tactics for playing each of the other three countries, with their own distinct styles of play. 

The Kumuls management has no real excuses here.  Rugby League has been played in PNG for some half century.

PNG league administration by now should develop a good capacity, and depth of managing and playing the code at somewhat similar levels as Australia, NZ and England.

The Admirals’ money is on the Kumuls.  Go Kumuls!