Somares’ referrals of public interest

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has urged the Supreme Court, Public Prosecutor and the Ombudsman Commission (OC) to speed up the referral process of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his son, Public Enterprises Arthur Somare, both facing alleged misconduct charges.

Namah noted that the referral of the father and son by the OC involving two high profile state officials was of public interest and the constitutional office holders were duty bound to ensure the cases were dealt with in a timely manner.

He stressed that the people of Papua New Guinea expected speedier result of the court appeal by Sir Michael to stop the OC from investigating his alleged misconduct charges relating to declaration of annual returns.

Namah said the matter involving Sir Michael and Minister Somare were of national interest and the people of Papua New Guinea were entitled to get a decision one way or another.

He pointed out that the case involving the Prime Minister went before the High Court in 2008, over two years ago.

"Why has it taken the Supreme Court so long?

The public is becoming suspicious.

 It is in the Supreme Court's interest to bolster the public confidence in the High Court," he stressed.

The OC alleges that Sir Michael failed to lodge annual returns for the periods 1994/5, 1995/96 and 1996/7, his lodgement returns for the periods 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 20003/04 and incomplete statements for periods 1992/93, 1993/94,1997/98, 1999/2000, 2000.01, 20001/02 and 20002/03.

The OC referred the Grand Chief to the Public Prosecutor for it to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a Leadership Tribunal to deal with the allegations, but Sir Michael went to court seeking orders to stop the OC from investigating him.

On June 24, 2008, National Court Judge, Justice Derek Hartshorn rejected an application by Sir Michael for a temporary injunction to stop the OC from investigating him.

When rejecting Sir Michael's temporary injunction, Judge Hartshorn ruled that it was not in the interest of the justice of the general public that lawful authorities should be prevented from performing their legal and constitutional duties.

The PM had gone to court asking the court to grant him certain declarations and a permanent injunction preventing the OC from continuing its investigations.

Sir Michael had contended that the OC lacked jurisdiction to continue the investigations.

The conduct of their investigations was oppressive, subject to excessive delays and breached the rules of natural justice to act fairly reasonably and in good faith.

The PM also alleged that the decision not to engage an independent examiner under section 19 of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, as requested by him was decided by an individual and not the majority quorum of three independent constitutional office holders despite bias allegations raised by his client against the commission.

However, Judge Hartshorn in a seven-page decision stated that Sir Michael did not have a strong case to stop the OC from continuing its investigations.

 "It is not in the interest of justice or the public interest that lawful authorities should be prevented from carrying out their lawful investigations.

"Any such prevention should only occur in very clear cases of abuse," Judge Hartshorn stressed.

The judge was satisfied given the evidence before him that the PM's appeal was not serious and the OC be allowed to continue its investigations.

Effectively, the ruling meant that the Public Prosecutor could proceed to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to determine the charges against Sir Michael.

On June 30, 2008, the PM's lawyers refiled their appeal matter in the Supreme Court to be heard that afternoon.

The appeal matter related to the refusal of the National Court to grant an order restraining the OC from investigating the PM on an alleged breach of the Leadership Code.

PM's lawyers filed a notice of appeal basically appealing the whole of the judgment of Derek Hartshorn in dismissing their notice of motion.

In the notice of appeal,  they relied on seven grounds saying that in respect of each and every grounds, the National Court erred in the exercise of its discretion which if not overturned would result in the unlawful actions of an authority going unscrutinised by the court and causing serious injustice to the appellant.

The Supreme Court is yet to make a ruling of this matter.

Arthur Somare is also alleged to be in trouble with the law and was referred by the OC on February 28, 2006 to the Public Prosecutor for prosecution under the Leadership Code.

He was referred over allegation that he failed to give annual statements on time that he misapplied his district support grant (DSG) funds and allegedly failed to acquit these funds' expenditure.

The OC alleged that K250, 000 of DSG was allegedly deposited into Somare's electorate trust account held at the Australian and New Zealand Bank Limited, Waigani Branch in Port Moresby.

It is alleged that he then applied the funds in the form of unverifiable cash cheques to individuals; made cheque payment of various amounts for various activities; and made cheque withdrawals for which no details are available.

Despite Somare's assertion that he used for the purposes intended for under the relevant laws, the OC alleged that there appear to be cases where the MP has applied proceeds of the DSG to activities which the relevant guidelines specify as ineligible.

The OC has stated that other payments do not have quotations, receipts, etc to ascertain credibility and genuineness in their applications.

"It appears that the leader applied public funds contrary to the relevant guidelines that provide for, among others, the prudent application and acquittal of these funds," the OC has stated.

It is also alleged that Somare failed without reasonable excuse to provide the watch dog organisation on time his annual statements which details of his assets, income, gifts, business interests and dealings and debts and liabilities.

They are for the following periods: July 16 1998 to July 15 1999; July 15 1999 to July 15 2000; and July 16 2000 to July 16 2001.

The OC said Somare failed to submit his annual statements for the above periods when they were due acting contrary to the requirements of Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership."

Section 4 of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of the Leadership requires every person who is subject to the Leadership Code to furnish the OC every year details of assets, income and other required information.

Namah said that he was merely asking the Supreme Court, Public Prosecutors and the Ombudsman Commission to perform their constitutional duties and roles speedily in the public interest.

"The constitutional office holders owe it to the nation and people to make an effort to decide in these cases in the national interest.

"It is not our intention to interfere with the work of these important constitutional offices, but expect them to do their job speedily," he concluded.

APEC Finance Ministers contribute priorities to secure future growth

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

Kyoto, Japan, 6 November 2010 – APEC Finance Ministers agreed to contribute priorities for future growth at their meeting here on Saturday after exchanging views on current economic and financial developments and policy direction in the Asia-Pacific region.

 Issuing a statement at the end of their meeting, Ministers emphasised the importance for APEC members to take policy measures to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth in the region.

For the joint ministerial statement, visit: http://www.apec.org/apec/ministerial_statements/sectoral_ministerial/finance/2010_finance.html

Ministers agreed to submit the “Kyoto Report on Growth Strategy and Finance” to APEC Economic Leaders for their consideration when they meet next week in Yokohama.

The report identifies priorities for securing future growth, including rebalancing and strengthening of global demand, pursuing sound fiscal management, and enhancing finance to key sectors such as infrastructure, small and medium enterprises, households and green investment.

 In their joint statement Ministers acknowledged that the global economy is recovering from the recent financial crisis, but uncertainty remains.

While growth in the region is uneven across economies, they said financial reforms are proceeding and that APEC economies should continue to take steps to build a stronger and more resilient global financial system.

They also said that they remain committed to maintaining open markets and fighting protectionism.

 In support of recent moves by the G20, Ministers agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation to promote external sustainability and pursue the full range of policies conducive to reducing excessive imbalances and maintaining current account imbalances at sustainable levels.

 Because of the weight of APEC economies and their role in the global economy, Ministers recognised that each member, whether a surplus or deficit economy, has to implement policy measures.

Economies with current account deficits will need to take steps to boost domestic saving while those with current account surpluses need to reduce their reliance on external demand and undertake structural reforms that catalyze stronger domestic demand-led growth.

 Ministers also said that they will move towards more market-determined exchange rate systems that reflect underlying economic fundamentals and will refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies. 

 They also said that they need to ensure appropriate financing for several key areas, including for infrastructure, to strengthen growth, enhance productivity, alleviate poverty and improve access to service delivery systems.

Ministers said they will continue to support emerging APEC economies as they implement public-private partnership infrastructure projects, including through a new mentoring program to be launched next year.

 Addressing the needs of micro, small and medium-size enterprises, and households, Ministers launched an APEC Financial Inclusion Initiative to identify concrete actions that financial policy makers can take to expand the reach of financial services to those that need them.

 Ministers committed to taking action to raise international regulatory standards to ensure a level playing field and avoid fragmentation of markets, protectionism and regulatory arbitrage while also recognising the importance of creating more open and integrated financial markets in the region.

 International financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank also addressed the meeting and provided analysis and economic forecasts for the region.

 The outcomes of the 17^th APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting will be delivered to APEC Economic Leaders when they meet in Yokohama, Japan next weekend.

#  #  #

For more information please contact:

Michael Chapnick (in Japan): +65 9647-4847 (mobile) or mc@apec.org

Trudy Harris (in Japan): +81 (0)80 34173130 or +65 98983710 (mobiles) or th@apec.org

A tribute to the ‘bird man’ of Crater Mountain

By MALUM NALU

The death of leading Papua New Guinea ornithologist (bird scientist)  Paul Igag –internationally renowned for his work  in the Crater Mountain area of Eastern Highlands province –  has left a huge vacuum and big shoes to fill within the PNG scientific community.

Paul Igag…a lifetime passion for birds

Igag, 46, from Krangket village in Madang province, died suddenly last Friday in Goroka after suffering pains in his chest.

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

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, who was born on Feb 24, 1964, 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.

The memorial, needless to say, has been overflowing, which just goes to show the respect Igag commanded both in PNG and overseas.

“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 PNGIBR colleague Miriam Supuma, was featured on a high-acclaimed BBC documentary by international environmental icon Sir 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.

Supuma described him as “a dear friend who will be missed”.

“I especially admired his humbleness, generosity, enthusiasm and energy for work and was in awe of his knowledge of birds when I spent some time with him and the BBC crew filming the Bird of Paradise Documentary back in Aug 2008,” she said.

“I am lucky to have worked with ‘Uncle’ Paul.

“Like most scientists, there is this thirst for knowledge, inquisitiveness about various things in life that intrigues one.

“Apart from biology, I found ‘Uncle’ Paul to be someone who read broadly especially on religion, spiritualism, astrology, and history.”

Supuma remembers Igag once telling her about a supernatural experience along the wartime Bulldog Trail between Wau in Morobe province and Gulf province.

“I once heard Uncle Paul talk about unusual or sinister encounters in the field,” she says.

“He once told us a story of an experience along Bulldog Trail, Lakekamu Basin.

“He was checking mist nests early dusk, in the mid -1990s, and mentioned of this truck in the middle of nowhere honking its horn and chasing him through the dense foliage!

“He later went on to give another example of himself and Michael Kigl doing field work in Manus and experiencing something similar.                       

“He wanted to understand why this phenomenon occurred - whether it was the mind playing games after a long exhausting day, or the fact that there really existed a spiritual realm.

“He read the Bible and other literature to try to understand this phenomenon.”

The National journalist Thomas Hukahu, who went to school with Igag at Aiyura National High School in Eastern Highlands and later University of PNG, has fond memories of the man.

“In reminiscing, I can understand that Igag, when getting himself into something would be completely passionate about it,” Hukahu remembers.

“He was a person who loved the outdoors and practical life; thus he chose biology - the life science - to study at UPNG.

“Igag did not come the easy way in life to get to where he was before passing away last Friday.

“I know from his stories that he was a school leaver doing College of Distance Education (CODE) studies in Lae, part-timing with doing ‘bicycle kicks’ at the soccer fields, and was accepted to continue to do grade 11 at Aiyura in 1986.

“I first met Igag a year later as his junior at Aiyura, which waste best national high school in the country at that time.

“To many of us, his juniors at Aiyura and UPNG, Igag was ‘Polex’, the jovial soccer star and big brother.

“We rarely saw him exhibiting a bad temper.

“And he had heaps of jokes and fun to put your dark days away.

“In 1989 we joined Igag again at UPNG.

“His enthusiasm for life, clean fun and soccer had him, Boga Figa from Madang and Emunare Embe from Morobe  - all ex-Aiyurans -  organising us, mainly ex-Aiyurans and a few ex-Kerevats,  to form No Gat Nem (NGN), a soccer team participating in the campus competition.

“The competition was run by Eric Kwa, now UPNG’s associate professor in law and a peer of Igag, and his Morobe boys. 

“With the leadership of the big boys, who were also playing for University in Port Moresby soccer competition, NGN scooped up three awards in the competition in its first year: best and fairest team, best midfielder and top goal scorer.

“The top goal scorer went to our striker Leonard Boaz from Solomon Islands.  

“In the second year Samuel Koyama from East Sepik same on board as the coach/player of NGN and we continued the fun with Igag and others.”

“The natural science academia will certainly miss Igag, the passionate researcher and academic but we, his many friends, school mates and small boys will certainly miss him, the amiable big brother.”

Igag is survived by seven children from two wives.

“Paul (Igag) was a longtime friend and schoolmate,” PNGIBR colleague, forest ecologist Banak Gamui, said.

“He was a passionate man and never had any enemies.

“He always was an icrebreaker in people’s darkest moments.

“His death is a great loss to his friends and family, as well as the scientific community.”

Igag’s body will be flown from Goroka to Madang today and will be at Krangket village until Sunday when a service will be held at 9am.

His body will be laid to rest at 2pm on Sunday.

For more details contact Banak on 72738242 or Francis Igag on 72742102 at Krangket village.

PNG Party promises free education

Party-led government will reintroduce its free education policy next year if the current National Alliance-led Government of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is removed in this month’s Parliament session.

Making the undertaking, PNG Party leader Belden Namah said if in Government after this month’s parliament session, the free education policy would be re-introduced to relieve Papua New Guinea parents and guardians the burden of meeting the ever-increasing school fees.

As well, Namah has critically queried the current Somare government’s genuineness of providing universal basic education (UBE) for Papua New Guinea.

He questioned the genuineness of a Prime Ministerial announcement on September 16, 2010 on Independence Hill by Sir Michael which promised “to focus on education from this month onwards apart from health, law and order and transport infrastructure concerns”.

Namah stressed that the announcement by Sir Michael should not be taken seriously by the people of this country.

“Is this the same Prime Minister who vowed to scrape the free education policy initiated by the former Mekere Morauta Government before the 2002 general election?” he said.

“Is this the Prime Minister who, true to his words lived up to his promise to abolish free education policy the Morauta Government initiated and implemented during the three short years in office from 1999 to 2002?” Namah asked.

“Surely, this Prime Minister cannot be taken seriously considering the fact that he vehemently opposed free education just over eight years.

“The Prime Minister and his ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ must never be taken seriously by the majority of PNG citizens.

“It is Somare Government who abolished free education the Morauta Government introduced and implemented.

“This is yet another classical example of the Somare Government making public policy on the run.

 It is an announcement made on the spur of the moment due to public pressure.

“Our citizens must not allow themselves to be fooled by this government with grand announcements, promises and sweet talk, which eventually will translate to nothing.

“Instead, the people must be wary of what they are promised, especially in the coming months before the 2012 general election.”

Namah explained that during Sir Mekere’s term as Prime Minister, among other reforms, he shifted public expenditure to concentrate on free education and transport rehabilitation.

“PNG Party record speaks for itself.

“The whole nation including Sir Michael Somare knows about this.

“A government PNG Party is in will reintroduce free education.

“Human resources development is the vital asset for Papua New Guinea’s development.

“Education is a right for all PNG children and it is the Government’s duty to provide that service.

“We will provide that important service because we believe strongly in education and human resources. We believe Papua New Guinea is as good as its educated citizens.

“We will do this is line with the United Nations 2000 Millennium Development Goals which includes universal education as one of the eight priorities of all nations.”

Hohola market protest

 Protesters, mostly women, youths and children, were among the crowd that turned up at yesterday’s opening of the Lareva market at Hohola 2, brandishing placards protesting the new facility. The protesters said the new location was incomplete without proper toilet and water facilities. A placard held by women and children also said women’s safety was not guaranteed. A petition to that effect was given to NCD Governor Powes Parkop six months ago to no avail. But, yesterday, Parkop assured the vendors that proper water and toilet facilities would be attended to immediately.

K6 billion needed for Highlands Highway

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

THE government needs about K6 billion to completely overhaul the Highlands Highway to modern standard, The National reports.

A study on the reconstruction, commissioned by developer of the liquefied natural gas project ExxonMobil, was presented to the Department of Works yesterday at Parliament House.

The cost estimate was put at US$2.2 billion (or K5.83 billion), according to government officials at the ceremony.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Works and Transport Don Polye was on hand to receive the report.

The report highlighted the phases of the upgrade of the entire 759km stretch from Lae in Morobe to Hides, Southern Highlands, over the next five years (2010-15) and how much it will cost.

The cost estimate included works on road and bridge redesign, reconstruction, maintenance and upgrading from Lae to Hides via Eastern Highlands, Chimbu and Western

Highlands.

The initial priority works designated in the study included immediate repairs and maintenance to five key sections – Kassam Pass, Daulo Pass, Chimbu-Eastern Highlands border and the area close to Mendi.

Polye said funding for the work would come from the government’s annual budgets and from borrowings onshore and offshore.

The project would be managed by the National Roads Authority and the Department of Works with input from an international consultant.

Polye said work had begun in some crucial sections of the Highlands Highway, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and AusAID under separate arrangements.

He said the aim was to do a complete overhaul of the deteriorating highway and turn it from an outdated T40 (40 tonne) road and bridge system to a new T60 road and bridge structure.

He said constructing work on the highway would go into full swing next year.

 

 

Lending and land tough for business

AN international financial expert has expressed concerns that lending and freeing of land for development are  major economic constraints affecting local business, The National reports.

Outgoing country manager for International Financial Corp (IFC) Peter Cusack said two major concerns plaguing small business were its inability to borrow money from financial institutions and mobilising land for development.

Cusack said the opportunities for small business to borrow from the banks were limited, or at times non-existent, until the idea of micro-financing had emerged.

He said small business entrepreneurs could not expand or sustain operations due to limited capital and that lending institutions do not trust them.

On land mobilisation, there is a need for traditional land to be freed up for development.

Cusack said the government needs to help landowners in their land registration so they could benefit from any development that would take place on the land.

Meanwhile, the problem of financial lending will be eased when small business entrepreneurs are readily informed of the opportunities available through set of data, lenders’ profile and other necessary information provided by Credit & Data Bureau Ltd (CDBL).

CDBL is a PNG company established in 2008 by leading financial institutions. 

Managing director Bruce Mackinly said: “We supply our members with information that allows them to make informed credit and business decisions.

“We collect this information from our members and also from public records … we then make this information available to our members through a sophisticated but user-friendly software system accessed through the internet,” Mackinly said.

He said CDBL principal business was the operation of a credit bureau database where members could access the credit history and identify details about their customers. 

The credit bureau also assists members with debt collection involving defaulting debtors who are in the database.