Budget reply is priority, says Tiensten

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE opposition’s reply on next year’s budget will take precedence over all government business in parliament today, including the proposed bill on the reserved seats for women, The National reports.

Leader of government business Paul Tiensten said the opposition would be expected to reply to the budget at 2pm and debate would follow until the passage of the 2011 money plan.

This was expected to take three weeks.

“The government caucus will (this morning) decide on the programme on critical bills to be dealt with by parliament,” Tiensten said yesterday.

“We may sit for three weeks to deal with the huge government agenda, including the women’s reserved seats bill, but the government caucus will decide on the programme and see how we will manage.”

He said the three-week sitting would, at least, meet the 63-day requirement for parliament to sit in a calendar year.

Tiensten, who is National Planning and Monitoring minister, brushed aside claims of a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister.

He said moves by the opposition had backfired after they targeted the man who will entertain their motion – Speaker of Parliament Jeffrey Nape.

“The opposition should be constructive and provide alternative policies.

“We have a country to run and there is no way you can weave magic to resolve the country’s problems, which the opposition is pushing.

“They should sit down and formulate alternative policies and take them to the elections to get the mandate of the people to return and run the country.”

Tiensten was also expected to make a budget statement on the medium-term development plan (MTDP) in parliament today.

He said the MTDP was a measurable document that had been fully costed at K65 billion for the next five years, aimed at creating jobs, growing the economy and improving the quality of life for all Papua New Guineans.

He also condemned the recent “politics of shooting down personalities” instead of providing alternative policies and plans and how to fund them.

Tiensten also disputed the free education policy mooted by the opposition, saying it was not sustainable and funding it would mean sacrificing other sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and economic development.

“You have to cost such policies.

“How much will you put into free education and, at the end of the day, what will you get out of it?” he asked.

“We have to be responsible in what we say, otherwise, we are kidding ourselves.”

 

PMGH women's ward runs short of space

By GRACE AUKA

UPNG journalism student

 

THE women’s ward at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) is facing overcrowding, lack of proper facilities and shortage of midwives due to shortage of funds, The National reports.

This was revealed by the hospital staff during a donation of linens by NCD Governor Powes Parkop his wife Jean and a group of women to ward 9 of the PMGH last Friday.

These concerns were raised by unit nurse coordinator Sr Jennifer Piakalyia and Dr Apeawusu Amoa, who said the ward was in distress and needed more support particularly for mothers. 

“The challenge faced by the hospital is overwhelming and it still needs more funds because currently there is not enough beds, unfinished construction work on a building next to ward 9, this all comes down to lack of funds,” Amoa said.

He emphasised that the hospital needed more funding and support for the women in PNG in order for them to be kept in a comfortable and caring environment when admitted to the hospital.

According to Piakalya, the number of women delivering a day was 40-50, but there were not enough hospital beds, forcing some of them to sleep and rest along the corridors and even in the reception area of ward 10.   

“The number of midwives has decreased, in a day there are only two midwives on duty to help mothers to deliver their babies,” she said.

The donation came from the women’s own effort and funds from a family project.

It comprised 100 pillows, 198 pillow cases and 174 bed sheets.

Beauties arrive for Miss South Pacific quest

By ILA PAILAEA

TEN of the 11 contestants for the 2010 Miss South Pacific pageant contest in Port Moresby have arrived in the country, The National reports.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop joining contestants from around the South Pacific, including New Zealand, in Port Moresby for this year’s Miss South Pacific title quest during dinner yesterday evening. Rachel Sapery James (fifth from left) is representing Papua New Guinea. – Nationalpic by AURI EVA

Twenty-three-year-old Miss Hawaii Pomaikai Klein is expected to fly in today for the week-long event.

Papua New Guinea will be represented by Miss PNG 2010 Rachel Sapery James. The other contestants are Miss Niue Island Maria Mitimeti; Miss Tonga Mafi Tuinukuafe; Miss Solomon Islands Fuatino Malasa; Miss Tokelau Meleka Mativa; Miss Samoa Jolivette Menime Ete; Miss Cook Islands Joyana Meyer; Miss Fiji Sera Tikotikoivatu; Miss American Samoa Cindy Fonofili Silao; and Miss Aotearoa New Zealand Angela Cudd.

Yesterday was a quiet day for the contestants with only two public appearances; the first at Lamana Hotel and during dinner at the Royal Papua Yacht Club.

The contestants and their chaperones will leave for Alotau, Milne Bay, today and return tomorrow to continue on with the pageant programme.

The crowning is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Sir John Guise indoor complex.

During a briefing with the media yesterday afternoon, many of the contestants spoke about the “beauty and friendly welcome” which made them felt at home.

Miss Tonga Mafi Tuinukuafe, perhaps, summed up most of their feelings: “I felt surprised by every minute of it. The different people, cultures are a world in one.

“PNG is rich, not only in its natural resources but also in the cultures you have.”

KAML: PNG economy performing along forecast

By PATRICK TALU

 

PAPUA New Guinea’s economy is performing broadly in line with the forecasts outlined in the March 2010 monetary policy statement, according to fund manager Kina Asset Management Ltd last Friday, The National reports.

Significant investment opportunities have emerged in recent times in both local and the Asian regions as a result of the recovery of dynamic economies, according to KAML.

“KAML is well positioned to benefit from the regional bounce back of current investments and the implementation of new investment opportunities which continue to emerge,” chairman Sir Rabbie Namaliu said.

He said while real GDP growth had been revised downwards to 7.5% from 8.5% this year, this mainly reflected the delay in the start of production from the Ramu nickel-cobalt project.

Sir Rabie released the KAML third quarter review last Friday.

“The construction of the LNG project infrastructure, now well underway, will underpin growth in the period ahead.

“The sales revenue generated will represent a significant inflow into the domestic economy and also the region,” he added.

Sir Rabbie said after its weakness early in the quarter, KAML had  benefited from the pick-up in stock markets late in the September quarter, a trend that has continued into the current month.

“The year-to-date performance of all asset classes has exceeded their respective benchmarks,” Sir Rabbie said.

He said PNG is currently among the emerging market countries that were experiencing recovery and growth faster than their more advanced counterparts, adding that it was important to relate the market overview to the implications for the KAML fund.

 

Cholera spreads

30 deaths confirmed, 800 villagers affected

 

THE cholera outbreak on Daru Island has been contained but health officials fear the deadly bacteria is spreading inland, along Western’s Fly River villages, The National reports.

Health Department officials said 30 villagers had died from cholera on Daru while more than 800 Daru people had been diagnosed with the disease.

They said three medical teams were patrolling south bank villages to identify the sick and treat them as well as conducting awareness.

The disease spread to Daru from an outbreak that was first reported in September last year in Morobe.

The World Health Organisation and Australian aid agency, AusAID, have been flying in medical supplies and emergency experts from Port Moresby since cholera was first reported on Nov 11.

Last Friday and Saturday, AusAID airlifted more than 3,000kg of medical supplies with pledges of more from Australian foreign affairs minister Kevin Rudd.

WHO representative in Daru Geoffrey Clark said the cholera outbreak on the island was under control with efforts now focused on reducing its spread on the mainland because of the movement of people from the affected areas along the Fly River.

Australia has restricted all cross-border travel under the free movement provisions of the Torres Strait Treaty, in consultation with PNG authorities.

 

Taylor: Women up to the challenge

TOMORROW is D-Day, when women throughout the country will be waiting for the deliberations and debate on a bill to be tabled in parliament on the reserved seats for women, The National reports.

Prominent women leader Dame Meg Taylor said the current situation was such that women representation in parliament was meagre and unacceptable.

“The future of our nation was, and is, based on our hopes and aspirations as a people.

“At self-government, our leaders enshrined our aspirations in the eight-point plan.

“We clearly articulated the equal participation of women in political, economic and social life and institutions.

“The purpose of this is to ensure the sound and strong development of PNG with women as equal partners in development and nation building,” Taylor said in a statement yesterday.

“At independence, the National Goals and Directive Principles of our Constitution enshrined the desire for a nation recognising tradition but aspiring for a common future based on equality of men and women that will be a shared responsibility.

“We stood as a young nation on a journey of great expectation towards nationhood.

“We knew that there will be challenges and we believed that we will all share those challenges,” she said.

“Women in Papua New Guinea have worked hard and contributed to the development of our young nation, however, women’s participation at senior levels in government has seriously declined.

“Women’s participation in small-to-medium business enterprises is nominal while women have continued to be among the work force in towns and villages.”

Dame Meg said in parliament where laws were made where politicians defined the future of the country, there was an obvious absence of women.

“In the 35 years of our young nation, there have been four women in parliament. Two have held a ministry.

“This statistic is shocking and shameful.

“We will not build a nation when the opportunity for women candidates to be elected into parliament is undermined by reason of culture and prejudice, however, that has been the case and that must be changed.

“As a country in transition, we must note the past and reassess the current situation and redefine our hopes and aspirations for our future generations.

“The participation of women in national parliament, through reserved seats, will ensure a phase in our political history that will prepare the ground for more robust democratic institutions for the future.

“By reserving seats for women in the national parliament, the opportunity will be created to enable women to be elected through a democratic process.

“This will be the beginning for a more equal representation through the electoral process.”

 

Cholera spreads along Fly

By SINCLAIRE SOLOMON

 

THE biggest shipment to date of Australian medical supplies for cholera-hit Daru and villages of the Fly River was delivered at the weekend where health officials said the disease has been contained on the island but is spreading to the mainland, The National reports.

A total 2,845kg of emergency supplies was airlifted from Port Moresby on an Australian aid agency, AusAID, charter on Saturday, taking total aid since Nov 11, when the outbreak was reported, to about A$1 million.

The Australian government had also provided emergency experts in Daru to complement personnel from the Health Department and the World Health Organisation.

Health Department officials on the island said 30 people had died from cholera, a bacterial infection typically spread through contaminated water. But they feared the death toll could be as high as 100, confirming the figure suggested by Daru Catholic mission priest Fr Vinod D’Mello last week,

They said up to 70 patients per day were presenting themselves at Daru General Hospital, which serves a large and difficult-to-access region near the mouth of the Fly River. As of last Friday, some 800 villagers had been diagnosed with the disease.

As of Saturday, three medical teams, which included two doctors provided by the church of the Latter-Day Saints, visited the Fly River villages to treat suspected cases, checked water supplies and carried out awareness.

Communication with Daru, where a control centre had been set up at the police station opposite the hospital, had been made more difficult since last Thursday when landline communication with the rest of the country was cut, Daru police said.

Western communications officer Dr Naomi Pomat told AAP in Daru response to the disease had been slow because of an early misdiagnosis.

“The first test presented for typhoid. Then, the clinical staff realised the presentation was wrong and more likely cholera,” she said.

Villagers travelling by sea to Daru, and other islands in the mouth of the Fly River, have aided the rapid spread of the deadly bacteria that caused diarrhoea-like symptoms.

“Settlements on the island are very crowded. The influx of people, especially from the surrounding villages, has increased the incidence.

“Because of the high water table on Daru, you cannot build good toilets, and poor sanitation and access to water has also fuelled the spread.

“There is a big problem here, but it is not just from now – it goes back to the colonial days.”

WHO representative in Daru Geoffrey Clark said cholera on the island was under control and the islanders were responding well to the awareness campaigns that had been carried out.

He said efforts were now focused on reducing its spread along the north and south banks of the Fly River.

“There has been an excellent coordinated response since cholera was first reported.”

Cholera would usually make people only mildly sick, but up to 10% of patients had developed severe illness.

It is transmitted by water contaminated by bacteria from an infected person or food contaminated by dirty water, soiled hands or flies.