Milne Bay butterfly habitats unspoiled says British scientist

There are plenty of healthy habitats for butterflies and other creatures on Milne Bay povince’s Calvados Chain of Islands which are largely unspoiled, says a British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist. John Tennent, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum in London, said his research had identified several species not previously recorded from Milne Bay as well as a significant number of butterfly species and subspecies not known to science.

British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist John Tennent

He has just returned from several weeks touring Milne Bay’s eastern Louisiades islands and is on his way back to England to stat the real work of sorting, identifying and publishing.
“Small dots on the map do not do the islands justice.
"The rugged islands of some of the Calvados Chain are stunning and there is a lot of healthy habitat out there which, because of the difficult terrain, has remained largely untouched,” he said.
“The data obtained during this research will be of critical value to researchers in other disciplines including biogeographers.
“The final results will include a comprehensive book on the 250 or so butterflies of Milne Bay Province islands.”
British High Commissioner to PNG, Jackie Barson, said the publishing of a book on Milne Bay’s butterflies would be an asset to the province and add to the growing data which confirms PNG as a mega biodiversity hotspot.
“I congratulate Mr Tennent on completing his research in the islands of Milne Bay.
“While this has undoubtedly been challenging, collaboration with other organizations such as Conservation International and the PNG Binatang Research Centre has helped make his work a lot easier,” she added.
Mr Tennent has been in Milne Bay Province since April 2010 carrying out a survey of the islands’ butterflies and has visited 76islands in the Province, and recorded butterflies on 74 of them.
He expects to spend most of his time in the coming year working on the specimens and the data collected during his time here, before returning to Milne Bay to tidy up loose ends early in 2012.
On many islands he has worked closely with the staff of Conservation International, an organisation for which he has nothing but praise.
He has also provided assistance in identifying butterflies to the PNG Binatang Research Centre in Madang.

OTML soon-to-be 100% PNG-owned

MINING giant Ok Tedi Mining Ltd will soon become 100% nationally-owned following the exit of shareholder Inmet Mining Corp next year, The National reports.

OTML managing director Alan Breens said this was a result of an agreement between the companies in which OTML would repurchase the previously announced 5% net smelter royalty (NSR) that Inmet was to receive from OTML.

The NSR is a fee which is a specific percentage of the revenue generated by a mine by selling its product, minus production expenses.

After seeking approval from the OTML board, Canadian company Inmet will now receive at closing the cash payment of US$335 million in lieu of its entitlements under the NSR arrangement.

Under the prior arrangement for the NSR, Inmet would have exchanged its 18% equity interest to OTML and at closing for that transaction, would have received a cash payment equal to 18% of OTML’s working capital and a 5% net smelter royalty on revenues of product produced from the Ok Tedi mine thereafter.

The NSR would have applied during Ok Tedi’s current mine life.

Breens said the closing of the NSR repurchase was expected to take place on or before Jan 31 next year.

He said OTML would then become 100% PNG-owned, with the state owning 36.6% and PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) owning 63.4%.

 

 

Beon guards refuse to escort Kapris

Warders want payment

 

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

 

DISGRUNTLED prison officers at Beon Jail in Madang are refusing to provide armed escort to Papua New Guinea’s most infamous prisoner William Kapris Nanua, when he appears this week in the Madang National Court in relation to a Bank South Pacific armed robbery charge, The National reports.

The Correctional Services officers started their sit-in protest last Wednesday after word got out that the 11-strong CS contingent from Port Moresby, which had arrived three days earlier to provide extra security during the trial, had been paid ahead of them.

They told their bosses during a near-confrontation at Beon that they would not provide the armed escort for Kapris and his alleged accomplices unless they were assured of payment this week.

The good news, according to a senior officer yesterday, was that CS Commissioner Richard Sikani had given an undertaking that these officers would be paid this week.

Escorted by armed guard or not, Kapris and his co-accused are due to appear today before Justice David Cannings to enter a no-case submission. It is understood that a decision is expected by the end of the week.

Kapris, a convicted rapist and habitual prison escapee, had been charged with a serious of bank robberies, including the BSP Madang branch in which more than K2 million was stolen on July 25, 2008.

Last Wednesday, tempers flared which nearly turned into a fist fight between the warders and their bosses over outstanding administrative issues regarding delayed overtime and operation allowances for guarding Kapris and his co-accused.

 

 

Polye condemns reports over court challenge

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

DEPUTY Prime Minister Don Polye has urged the public not to be manipulated and brainwashed by naïve political tactics employed by individuals and groups who are hell-bent on tarnishing the good name of the national government, The National reports.

Commenting on last week’s Post-Courier reports alleging that the prime minister had lost his court appeal challenging his referral to the public prosecutor, Polye said: “I challenge those individuals and groups, including the opposition, to think about how they can contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation instead of engaging in counter-productive bickering over

trivial matters, which, most likely, is for purposes of advancing their political interests other than anything else.”

The deputy prime minister said the matter relating to the referral of the prime minister was being addressed by the judicial system and it was wrong for groups and individuals to capitalise on the issue for their political gain or otherwise.

Polye, who is Works and Transport Minister, also called on young politicians not to be misled by the so-called veteran politicians who had little to show in terms of their contributions to the development of this country.

“I further call on the youths to be vigilant and ensure they do not become influenced by the cheap politicking that is, unfortunately, becoming an all-too-common practice that unpopular and weak leaders resort to demean other leaders,” Polye said.

He said there were more rewarding matters that journalists should give emphasis to allow for the public to reflect on and discuss rather than wasting time on exaggerating an issue that was still before the courts.

Polye said while freedom of expression and information were the cornerstone of PNG’s thriving democracy, it was unfortunate that some citizens tended to abuse their purposes for ill-conceived motives.

 

 

Ban sex education, lawyers meet told

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

SEX education should be banned from schools, government chief specialist on lifestyle diseases Dr Thomas Vinit said, The National reports.

He said it should not be taught at primary and secondary schools “until the students are fully matured”.

 “Condom should not be promoted but let only as option for those who wish to take a risk for it is not 100% safe,” Vinit, who is the technical adviser in lifestyle diseases at the Health Department, made these known last Wednesday at the Constitutional and Law Review Commission (CLRC) conference in Alotau.

He also called on churches to speak out on their moral teaching on sex and marriage to promote abstinence and chastity, or being faithful in marriage; to promote good role models as saints and our Blessed Peter Torot instead of models who promote sexual promiscuity and beauty shows; all cultural values that promote abstinence and being faithful such as high bride price for virginity must be strengthen and encouraged and others that promote promiscuity and polygamy must be exposed and outlawed.

Vinit said adultery laws should be tougher to deter multiple sexual partners claiming that adultery was the main route of HIV/AIDS transmission.

He added that it had increasingly become PNG’s main instigator of criminal offences, describing the rise in the HIV/AIDS epidemic as frightening and no longer a health issue but an economic and a development issue which required a multi-sectoral approach.

Vinit told the conference that his focus was on adultery, “especially the Adultery Act to have it reviewed”.

He said this would lead to definite decreases in sexual transmitted diseases (STI).

“There will be decrease in the prevalence in HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and deaths related to adultery,” Vinit said, adding that the degree in incidents in tribal fights as a result of adulterous behaviour would no longer be; or that there would be better control of such behaviour.

He said also that the social and economic gains would better with there being less family break-ups “and I am sure you know of a lot of family break-ups”.

Vinit said children would be happier in a good and loving family home or environments where there were less adulterous parents.

“There will be a lot of money saved if there were less adulterous affairs.

“There will be decrease in tribal tensions and decrease in criminal activities; as those are effects of adultery and family break-ups.

“And spiritual benefits will increase as there will not be any family break-ups and, ultimately, family values in that love (in a family) is cherished.”  

He expressed concerns about media reports on a daily basis reflecting how “people now have not a care in life at all; they just can go and kill somebody”.

“And this is because the family values are not now being seen as very important.

“And it is in the family that love starts growing. And you can see that in families where there is love and caring, they will not enter into rascalism and even murder.”

Prime Minister must step aside: Namah

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has called on Prime Minister (PM) Sir Michael Somare to voluntarily step aside from official duties following last Tuesday’s (30th November2010) Supreme Court dismissal of an appeal by Sir Michael to prevent the Ombudsman Commission (OC) from investigating him.

Namah said Sir Michael should stop employing deliberate delay tactics to frustrate the constitutionally mandated tasks of the OC to delay his referral process by endlessly seeking relief in courts.

He said: “Sir Michael’s indifference with the law and OC leaves a lot to be desired of the founding father, who was an architect of the very constitution he helped drafted and adopted at independence.

“He should simply swallow his pride, stop being arrogant and humble himself.

“ In the public interest, he must voluntarily relinquish his position by stepping aside as prime minister to allow for his referral process to proceed without further unnecessary delays.

“If the PM has nothing to hide, he should allow his referral process to proceed unimpeded.

“ He should defend himself in the tribunal hearing like other leaders who have been referred in the past.

“He is no different to other elected leaders who have been referred for misconduct in office.

“Is the PM telling the nation that he is above the law?

“Is he telling us that he should not be prosecuted if he breaks and laws?

“Why can’t he respect the very laws he helped crafted?

“Why shouldn’t he be prosecuted and dealt with appropriately like others leaders who have been charged under the Leadership Code?” Namah asked.

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 Sir Michael to the Public Prosecutor 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.

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

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

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

On Nov 19, 2010, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek told a media conference in Port Moresby that Sir Michael was referred to office of the public prosecutor after his court challenge failed to stop the referral.

Manek highlighted that he was not aware of any court order preventing the public prosecutor from appointing a tribunal.

Namah said since the Supreme Court had upheld that National Court decision, the Public Prosecutor was duty bound to move swiftly to perform his constitutionally mandated duty to ask the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal to deal with Sir Michael.

“This is a case of national importance involving the chief executive of this nation.

“It therefore demands for the Public Prosecutor to act in a timely manner in the public interest,” he stressed.

Fix corruption at Vulupindi House: Namah

Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah has called on Prime Minister (PM) Sir Michael Somare to act decisively in dealing with corruption in the Treasury and National Planning departments.

Namah said it was common knowledge that corruption was rife in Treasury and National Planning offices, but Sir Michael continues to pretend that all is well.

He said Sir Michael had conveniently shut his mouth and chooses to remain deaf and blind.

“When will he act to fix the problem and protect MPs from paying huge sums of money in commission to get money that is legally belongs to their electorate released?

“Why should members pay public servants who are already paid by the taxpayers to get project funds?” Namah asked.

He noted with grave concern that Treasury and National Planning offices have become houses of conmen and organised thieves robbing million of public funds that could well fund important development projects throughout the country.

“This has to stop.

“The PM must act swiftly to stop such corruptive and fraudulent acts.

“Enough is enough.

“Immediate action is needed to save the Treasury and Planning offices from becoming an institutionalised corruption houses, “Namah stressed.

He also challenged Sir Michael why he had not acted to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance and Treasury as required under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

“The nation is anxiously waiting for the PM to act and implement the recommendations of the inquiry, which among others revealed of over K500 million missing without trace.

“This is despite the PM promising to act swiftly on the inquiry recommendations to investigate and prosecute those involved in stealing public funds.

“To date, nothing had been forthcoming from the PM.

What a pleasant surprise.

Sir Michael’s inaction simply sends one message to the general public.

He condones the existence of rampant corruption in Treasury and Planning offices.” Namah stressed.

As well, Namah said National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten should stop passing the buck by blaming MPs for paying commissions, and take remedial actions to deal with civil servants and middlemen who are collaborating to rob the state and taxpayers.

On Tuesday (30th November), Telefomin MP Peter Iwei claimed that he paid K10, 000 to a staff of National Planning department to have a cheque of K12.4 million for electoral project released; only to find out that it was a bogus cheque.

Namah said this was a serious case of fraud that warranted swift and most appropriate action to deal with those involved, including criminal charges.

“The public demands immediate and decisive government action and not buck passing and lame excuses from Mr Tiensten.

“The situation demands most immediate and decisive action.

“It is incumbent on the minister to stop talk and institute remedial measures to address the issue of corruption in that office.

“The minister has a duty to take appropriate action and inform the nation what measures he has instituted to rid corruption in the department he is responsible for,” Namah concluded.