The dame can be better than the knight

By REGINALD RENAGI

Apart from having a good deputy prime minister put up as the next Papua New Guinea prime minister, there is stiil another political option that may seem a controversial outcome, but not impossible. 

This option could be another record breaker for grand chief Michael Somare that will be unbeatable in both PNG and Commonwealth politics. 

If Somare is really serious about elevating the status of PNG women in his twilight years of politics, he will now give his job to the best-performing MP in the coalition government, Dame Carol Kidu. 

The Dame as an MP has no equal.

This only woman MP's actions speak louder than words. 

Dame Carol Kidu is ably supported by a good department secretary running an effective state agency than most of her MP peers.

This decisive action by grand chief Somare will be in full recognition for the tireless efforts of a lone women MP in parliament (and one of PNG’s best lawmakers in recent times). 

This will no doubt upset the men in parliament, but will soon get over it to see that good governance, accountability, responsibility and ‘sanity’ return to both parliament; and government before the 2012 national elections.

Finally, I predict PM Michael Somare is not yet ready to quit politics in 2011 and before the 2012 national elections. 

Importantly, there are still many outstanding political reforms left by former PM, Sir Mekere,  that this government has yet to introduce any real substantial improvements , hence; this is no time to be quitting politics.

But today, PNG has the wrong political leadership running the country.

It should not be this way at all for our country. 

So who’s going to do it for PNG?

 

Who will be the next prime minister of Papua New Guinea?

By REGINALD RENAGI

Recently the media raised three interesting questions: “Who will be the next prime minister?; will the prime minister quit politics in 2011 before the 2012 national elections;  and what will happen to the National Alliance Party or the current government?

This is a subjective issue and you will get many different answers. 

 I will try to predict what may happen gauging from public perceptions and opinions of a coalition government’s performance since the 2002 national elections.

 So who will be the next PM?  This is easy in an ideal political world where the job will naturally go to the next senior MP after the prime minister in the ruling party’s hierarchical ‘chain of command’. 

 In this case, it should go to the deputy PM, if the PM quits politics this year as speculated in the media. 

 This will not happen because we are not in an ideal political world.  There are many competing interests and shifting alliances within any coalition party government. 

 First of all, PM Somare will not quit politics in 2011 and before the elections. 

 Somare is enjoying the feeling of power and controlling the destiny of over six million citizens that he would still like to extend his record of being in politics until after the 2012 national elections.   

 More so, no-one believes Michael Somare's occasional talks of leaving politics any more in the media.

 The people of PNG have heard it many times before, like prior to the 2002 and 2007 elections as predicted.

 The man just does not keep his word anymore so the public does not now take him seriously at his word.

 The PM did not quit politics as speculated by the media. 

 On a hypothetical note, if the PM was to quit politics in 2011 due to some reason like ill-health, the NA party will most likely see splits in its senor ranks. 

 Some NA party members have openly shown that they do not want the job going to the deputy PM incumbent as they see themselves as the ideal choice for the top job. 

 A prediction is the NA party may not do too well in the 2012 polls without the stabilizing presence of its drawcard, Michael Somare; the glue holding the NA party together.

 With due respect to other NA party members, no-one is eminently qualified with the required seniority, depth of public administration knowledge and experience; and political  maturity to succeed the PM Somare than the former deputy PM, Sir Puka Temu. 

Sir Puka had the edge over all the NA party’s regional deputies as none were effective departmental heads like him before entering politics. 

But alas, this is not to be as he has left for the opposition. 

Another former DPM, Don Polye, has also been recently dispensed by Somare for fellow Engan, Sam Abal.

Michael Somare will not simply bow out of politics with a whimper but a loud bang in the 2012 national general elections.

 

Reginald Renagi

Port Moresby

 

Two die in Port Moresby ethnic clash

Woman among two with limbs chopped off

 

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

TWO people are dead, another two hospitalised and a number of properties and houses have been destroyed in the latest of a number of ethnic clashes that have plagued the country recently, The National reports. 

The latest incident in Port Moresby involved settlers from Goilala in Central and Tari from Southern Highlands residing at the Badili, Vanagi and 2-Mile Hill settlements.

The fight started on Sunday afternoon and spilled into the early hours of yesterday morning.

Tension was high yesterday and traffic into downtown Port Moresby was diverted via the Poreporena Freeway. There was no access into 2-Mile and Badili areas.

There was no police presence within the fighting zone on Sunday.

In Bulolo, Morobe, several attempts at negotiations finally resolved ethnic clashes involving the people of the two Sepik provinces and the locals.

Early last month, Engans and Eastern Highlanders living at the Horse Camp settlement at Sabama came to blows which resulted in a number of injuries and damage to properties.

In the latest incident, NCD metropolitan superintendent Joseph Tondop said the fight started following the killing of a man from Goilala late on Sunday afternoon.

Blaming the people of Tari in Southern Highlands, the Goilala people residing at Koki mobilised and attacked the Taris, resulting in the death of a man early yesterday morning.

Two bystanders also had their limbs chopped off. The woman victim, said to be from one of the highlands provinces, had her left arm chopped off while a man lost his foot during the confrontation.

Although police could not confirm how the fight initially started, it was believed that a group of youths from Tari, residing at the Vanagi settlement, had allegedly consumed alcohol and assaulted a family from Goilala at the Koki market.

A fight broke out resulting in the death of the man from Goilala.

NCD police superintendent operations Jim Namora yesterday confirmed that properties and houses were also destroyed in the fight.

Among the homes destroyed was that of former politician and Kiriwina MP William Ebenosi.

Namora said Ela Motors also had one of its cars’ windscreens smashed by a flying missile.

Tondop said police yesterday took control of the situation.

“I appeal to community leaders from Badili, Vanagi and the 2-Mile Hill settlements, including Koki, to come to the police station and have the matter sorted out.

“Please, respect the rule of law and do not take the law into your own hands,” Tondop said in his appeal to the warring factions.

Police had apprehended five suspects – two from Goilala and three from Tari.

Reports claimed that firearms, apart from knives, axes and other weapons, were also used in the clashes.

Meanwhile, acting Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie yesterday denied reports of an alleged blockage mounted by members of the police special services division (SSD) at McGregor outside the city.

He said the incident only involved four drunken policemen.

Media reports alleged that SSD members had erected the barricade into the McGregor barracks last Saturday after refusing to hand over a number of weapons to a task force set up by police headquarters for a police contingent to fly over to Vanimo for a joint border patrol operation.

They claimed that the border operation was for the SSD and that the hand-picked men, by the acting commissioner and his acting deputy, were not fully trained men for such sensitive operations.

However, Wagambie yesterday assured the public and investors that the special services division was intact and orders had been served to deploy a contingent to Vanimo for border duties.

“Normal police investigations will be carried out into the matter and those responsible will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

 

Parkop: Get vote on governor general out of house

THE nomination and election process of the governor-general should be removed from parliament and vested in a committee of eminent persons, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said yesterday, The National reports.

He said such a move would maintain the integrity and reputation of the office of the governor-general.

Parkop was commenting on what he termed as “increased politisation of the nomination and election process” of the governor-general.

The Supreme Court, on Dec 10 last year, annulled the reappointment of Sir Paulias Matane and ordered parliament to resume this year to elect a new governor-general.

Nominations for the vice-regal post would open today at 2pm.

“The committee should comprise the prime minister, leader of the opposition, chief ombudsman and the chief justice or their nominees,” Parkop said.

He said the practice of candidates lobbying for support among parliamentarians had also demeaned this high office “where, even MPs, are caught in political affiliations and do not seriously consider the integrity of the process and the office”.

He said by removing the election and appointment process from parliament, “we ensure the process of nomination and election is not compromised by political interest or influences and that the best candidate is appointed based on merit”.

“Alternatively, we should remove the office of the governor-general and have a head of state elected by the people under the presidential system of government,” Parkop suggested.

“Our experiences in the last 35 years, and the lessons to be learnt from the world, shows that the presidential system of government is most preferable and successful.

“It is time Papua New Guinea considers this option seriously.”

 

 

Senior cop: I did not abuse powers

THE senior police officer in the NCD Central Command who was accused of unprofessional conduct and abuse of process by a businessman in Port Moresby has denied the allegations levelled against him, The National reports.

He explained that the person accusing him, Simeon Manihia, was purported to have a legal relationship with his adopted daughter but that, he claimed, was false because they were just living together in a de facto relationship.

Manihia told The National on Sunday that the officer had abused his position as a senior police officer by getting involved in a trivial family matter.

He claimed the officer had used his position to get armed policemen to front up at his Tokarara home last Friday evening over differences over a nine-month-old child.

However, according to the senior officer: “Manihia has maliciously released a one-sided story to The National, alleging that I had not followed proper procedures and that I had used my position to get my officers to go to his home and harass him and his relatives.

“It was my adopted daughter who had laid a complaint and sought police assistance to go and get her baby who was still breast-feeding.

“The mother had gone to get her baby earlier but Simeon refused her request outright, and swore and threatened her, which resulted in her seeking police assistance.

“That was when police responded and I, as a father and a grandfather, felt obliged to follow my daughter and get the nine-month-old baby who is still breast-feeding and needed her mother’s  care more than the father’s.”

He said the claim by Manihia that armed policemen had entered his premises was not true.

“I was there and nobody was armed when we went into the area; the armed officers were outside the gate.

“A senior NCO and a member of the unit accompanied my daughter into the yard to get the child for fear of being attacked by her partner.

“I wish to categorically deny the allegations that I had used my position or rank to get policemen to do their duties.

“Like any other person or member of the public, my daughter was threatened by her husband so she had to seek police assistance.”

 

 

Cholera claims five in Abau outbreak

By ELIZABETH MIAE

 

FIVE people from Mailu Island in Central’s Abau district died from cholera during the festive period, The National reports.

Central health authorities believed that the outbreak occurred during the Christmas and New Year period.

Abau district health coordinator Etene Boyama said yesterday that the first cases were reported last Tuesday at the island’s health centre.

She said 44 people (in severe condition) were admitted and treated including those with mild diarrhoea throughout last week.

Boyama told The National that a team was sent into the area with medical supplies as well as information material to conduct awareness.

She said they managed to contain the spread and the situation was now under control but closely monitored.

More medical supplies have been transported to the Kupiano health centre where they would be taken to Mailu by dinghies on a six- hour journey.

Boyama said Wanigela village was also hit by the outbreak during that same period.

She said there was a possibility that the Wanigelas from Port Moresby’s Koki settlement, who went up for the holidays could have infected those in the village which caused

the spread.

Quick response by health workers at Kupiano health centre helped to contain the spread of

the disease.

Boyama said they were now putting together logistics to continue awareness and provide medical assistance to those affected.

Wanigela and Waiori villages located in the Marshall Lagoon area of Abau were hard hit by the disease last June which claimed 11 lives.

ICCC to monitor Roots Rice prices

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

TRUKAI Industries’ Roots Rice brand will be monitored over a period of five years to make sure there is no unjust price increases on the staple grain, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) said yesterday, The National reports.

The move was arrived at following an extensive price regulatory review on the product by ICCC last year.

Price monitoring on this brand began on Jan 1 and will end on Dec 31, 2015, ICCC said, adding that it would also monitor the brand’s ex-factory gate prices and sea and road freight charges.

According to the 2010 rice industry pricing review final report on the regulated segment of the market, Trukai’s Roots Rice products accounted for more than 70% of the overall sales in the domestic market.

The ICCC, which promoted competition, fair trade and regulation of prices of certain goods and cervices, said only this brand would be monitored to ensure that there were no unjust price increases.

It said Roots Rice was traditionally consumed by low to middle income earners and is currently the leading brand in the market.

“Any price changes would automatically lead to price increases of other rice brands,” the watchdog said.

The PNG rice market showed many of the characteristics of an effectively competitive market but ICCC would continue to monitor them, especially Roots Rice.

In 2005, the ICCC undertook a comprehensive review into the price setting arrangements for rice products.

Following this, then Treasurer Peter O’Neill determined that prices of Roots Rice should be monitored under the provision of the prices regulations Act and the ICCC Act 2002.

This is stepping away from price setting regulation to a price monitoring approach, which is light-handed approach used by regulators.

This ended last Dec 31 and contributions from stakeholders, interested parties and the industry had concluded that the methods used before would continue.

These and the wholesale and retail charges are all currently declared as monitored goods and services under the provisions of Section 32A of the PR Act.

However, ICCC is giving Trukai Industries a chance to apply for the lifting of    price monitoring regime on Roots Rice products based on evidence “that competition in the rice industry is good”.

The ICCC will now use Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) medium grain index as its main rice price guide and would also maintain the use of existing Australian bureau of statistics (ABS) index to monitor Roots Rice prices.

Any significant changes between Roots Rice and FAO would be reviewed by ICCC in comparison with ABS index and information on the world-wide supply and demand balance.

The ICCC considered that at this point, the overall welfare and long term interest of PNG was best served by retaining a degree of oversight of the flour and rice markets, given the staple nature of these products.

The decision to maintain a degree of oversight in these markets was related to the ICCC’s concerns regarding the general cost of living, which is rapidly increasing more than the wages.