JK ‘might have been’ governor general

By MALUM NALU
On Wednesday evening, while my kids were laughing away at Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy on my laptop, I was flicking through a scrapbook belonging to well-known media personality Justin ‘JK’ Kili and wondering what might have been.
The scrapbook basically contained old newspaper and magazine cuttings dating back to the early 1970s when JK began his colourful career in radio.

JK grtduating from a course at BBC London in 1985

In fact, so much has been written about JK over the years, that I need not ditto.
The cuttings jumped out at me, as I am a child of the 1970s, and feel very much of an affinity to this iconic pilot of our airwaves.
Suddenly, I was a child again, listening to JK, and singing these unforgettable words from the Carpenters’ Yesterday Once More:

“When I was young
“I'd listen to the radio
“Waitin' for my favorite songs
“When they played I'd sing along
“It made me smile…”

Ironically, I became familiar with this song while growing up on Sohano, the island off JK’s home of Buka, back in the halcyon days of the early 1970s.
What if JK was our current governor general instead of the incumbent-elect, North Bougainville MP, Michael Ogio?
But for all sad words of tongue and pen, wrote the great American writer John Greenleaf Whittier, the saddest are these, “it might have been”.
Early last month, through another good mate and former radio personality, Emile ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa, I found out that JK had out his hand up to be in the running to be governor general.
Then-acting governor general Ogio, also minister for higher Education, was understood to have met prime minister Sir Michael Somare to declare his unavailability for election and to lobby for JK to contest on behalf of the people of Bougainville.
The government was understood to have asked for Ogio’s candidacy for the governor general’s seat, however, he had decided against it because of political commitment to his people as North Bougainville MP.
JK was said to have the support of all four Bougainville MPs in Ogio, South Bougainville’s Steven Kama, Central Bougainville’s Jimmy Miringtoro and governor Fidelis Semoso.
JK, 58, from Lemanmanu village on Buka, confirmed his availability for the governor general’s election when I met him at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, Jan 6.
.For those who came in late, he is a Queen’s awardee, PNG Logohu medal awardee, two-time prime ministerial awardee, Australian senatorial awardee and the most-trained, most-honoured, and, most-celebrated media and industry manager in Papua New Guinea.
JK needed the support of another 11 MPs to meet the required 15 to be eligible to contest, however, was confident of garnering the support because of his nationwide popularity as a radio icon.
“If the people (through their MPs) want me to contest, then I will oblige,” he told me then.
“If anything comes to fruition, I can honestly say that I am qualified as a citizen of Papua New Guinea.
“I have the international exposure and the regional experience for the job, if the people so want me to do.
“I think I’m capable, willing and able.
“If Parliament elects me, that’s on merit.
“I have not put my hands up, but the people of Bougainville have put their hands up for me.
“Our (Bougainville) members are pushing for me, so I leave it to them.”
However, by the time deadline for nominations for the governor-general’s post lapsed at 4pm on Wednesday, Jan 12, only two candidates – JK not included – were confirmed.
Government candidate Ogio and Sir Pato Kakaraya were the only nominees who would go through the secret ballot on Friday, Jan 14.
Ogio seemed to have made an about-turn on JK, and the man who had been campaigning hard for him, ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa.
“I see him (JK) as a very-qualified candidate,” ET, another charismatic former radio man from Bougainville (Mortlock islands) told me.
“On top of that, he is not politically-aligned with any party and is well respected by the people of PNG, because of his services to them as a radio broadcaster and a journalist.
“”He’s a household name who is known to MPs from both sides of parliament.
“There’s a misconception that governor general’s position is for former politicians.
“The governor general’s position has got to be a neutral one.
“The governor general has got to be elected on merit.
“I totally agree with having someone from the outside!
“Let’s not create the misconception among ourselves that the position is for former politicians, as well as based on regionalism!”
On Friday, Jan 14, Parliament elected Ogio as the ninth governor-general of PNG.
Voting for the new governor general went ahead despite a notice of appeal being served to the acting speaker, the clerk of parliament, the acting prime minister and the state solicitor.
The government, with its strength in numbers, elected Ogio, defeating his rival Sir Pato 65-23 while another eight votes were declared informal.
Papua New Guinea was left wondering what might have been if JK had become governor general, as so many MPs on both sides of the house, grew up listening to his voice on radio.
I leave the last word to JK: “I am young, intelligent, and have the charisma to do the job very, very well.
“I bring to the position of governor general 38 years of a wealth of experience in the public service, private and corporate services.
“I have a very strong knowledge of regional and international relations and co-operation, and the necessary understanding of how government and provincial governments work.
“I have many, many years of national exposure and international exposure, which places me in the right position and the right level and tilt, to make this job work successfully for PNG and our people.”
American writer John Greenleaf Whittier: “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”

Yasi vents fury on Popondetta

* Dam busted
* Taps run dry
* Police on alert

By JASON GIMA WURI

A lone villager crossing the Bango River which had provided Popondetta residents water until Wednesday when it flooded its banks and washed away the temporary dam. Part of the wire fencing at right is what is left of the dam. – Picture by JAMES WILA

POPONDETTA in Northern is without water after the Bango River flooded its banks and washed away the town’s dam following heavy rain since Wednesday night, The National reports.
Reports said rain was still pouring yesterday with local police stepping up patrols to deter opportunists and looters.
The National Weather Service had confirmed that the heavy rains experienced in Popondetta and other parts of Oro and Milne Bay were directly related to Cyclone Yasi.
Weather service acting director forecasting and warning centre Jimmy Gomoga yesterday said Popondetta, the Owen Stanley Ranges and Milne Bay’s Misima and Rossel Islands were experiencing rain bands.
Gomoga said: “This may also suggest continuous rain in the days ahead.”
Oro provincial disaster office acting coordinator Lawrence Baisa said the town’s water supply had been cut off after the dam was destroyed.
He also reported the flooding of Kausada village along the North Coast but there was no casualty.
“The flood waters have risen to post levels with every good gardens destroyed.”
Baisa said the creek next to the St Margaret’s School of Nursing was flooded but there were no reports of any infrastructural damages.
“Although the Girua River is flowing dangerously fast, the bridge and airport have not been affected,” he said.
The provincial administration was arranging a vehicle for Baisa to visit the affected areas and assess the damages.
Popondetta police station commander Insp Noboya Zozowa had instructed his men to stay on full alert following rumours of possible looting and other crimes.
PNG Water technicians were understood to have retrieved the main raw water pump and were trying to get it repaired.
“While that is going on, there will be no water supply for the township for an indefinite period,” Baisa said.
“Fortunately, we have not received reports of any casualties.”

TWL, Lynden ink JV deal

By PATRICK TALU

 

PAPUA New Guinea’s biggest prime and logistic mover Trans Wonderland Limited (TWL) will venture into air and sea transport services to meet the growing logistics demand from the PNG LNG project and other new resource developments in the country, The National reports.

This was revealed yesterday by TWL managing director Larry Andagali during the signing of a deal with one of world’s leading logistic movers – Alaska-based Lynden Logistics.

Lynden Logistics’ country manager Greg Vaughan lauded TWL’s plan and said: “From PNG we can build a sustainable global business.

“We are looking forward to the possibilities of developing a sustainable multimodal transport business and providing the best possible services in PNG and the Australasia region.

“It’s perfect for us to begin here in PNG and I have no doubt we can achieve that,” Vaughan said.

The companies signed the deal that would pave the way for them to develop an integrated transport and logistic company for fast, efficient and quality services to clients and explore other opportunities in the Australasian region.

Andagali said the deal marked yet “another significant milestone for TWL in its quest to becoming a truly integrated transport and logistics company”.

“I admire the commitment and determination for Lynden Logistics in developing a world-class company from its humble beginning as a two-truck company some 60 years ago.

He said Lynden and TWL have some parallel in history as both companies started small then grew with resource based development project.

“We also have an opportunity to use this relationship to explore benefits derived from setting up well-managed landowner future funds like Alaska Permanent Fund.

TWL, with a fleet of more than 70 prime movers and growing rapidly, makes the joint venture the biggest road transport company in PNG.

Meanwhile, Education Minister and Chairman of the Hela Transitional Authority James Marape commended TWL for achieving success as a landowner company.

Marabe has urged all the LNG project area landowners companies to unite for successful business ventures.

Constantinou is BSP chairman

BANK South Pacific has a new chairman, and he is Kostas Constantinou, The National reports.

Chief executive officer Ian Clyne announced that Constantinou was elected unanimously after Noreo Beangke stepped down during a special board meeting of the directors yesterday.

Constantinou had been a director of BSP since April 2009.

He is a prominent businessman in PNG and is chairman of Airways Hotel and Apartments Ltd, Airways Residences Ltd, Lamana Hotel Ltd, Hebou Constructions (PNG) Ltd, a director of Gazelle International Hotel Ltd, Heritage Park Hotel Ltd in the Solomon Islands and Grand Paci_c Hotel Ltd in Fiji.

Constantinou was also a director of POMSoX-listed Airlines PNG Ltd and ASX-listed Oil Search Ltd.

Clyne, on behalf of the board, congratulated Constantinou on his appointment as BSP chairman.

He said Constantinou was a well regarded and successful businessman in PNG, and that he would bring a wealth of experience to the role of chairman of BSP.

Constantinou and Clyne both expressed their gratitude to Beangke who had been a director of BSP since August 1993 and chairman since May 1994.

During that period, Beangke was instrumental in the development of BSP as a PNG-owned commercial bank following the exit of National Australia Bank as owner of BSP in 1993, which ultimately led to BSP amalgamating with PNGBC when PNGBC was privatised in 2002.

Beangke provided leadership and vision during this period and also oversaw the development and implementation of BSP’s Paci_c strategy that led to BSP operating in Niue, the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Beangke would remain on the board as a director.

Tom Fox was also re-elected as deputy chairman.

 

 

Teacher report finds flaws in selections

By DULCIE OREKE

 

A NEW National Research Institute report yesterday found evidence of flaws and corrupt practices in the teacher appointment process in PNG, The National reports.

The report stated that although, there were guidelines to appoint teachers in the Teaching Service Act of 1995, teachers were appointed illegally.

The study conducted in eight provinces, two from each region highlighted some teachers being appointed through nepotism, bribery and by force.

“This contributes to corruption, lack of accountability and transparency and failure on the part of the appointing authorities to effectively and efficiently manage the process of teacher appointments,” the report read.

It was pointed out that teacher appointment process continued to be a concern among teachers, parents, board of management and governors throughout the country.

“The education gazette is always late, the appointment of teachers is not done before the end of the year and teacher resume late for duties.”

It was also revealed that teachers who were eligible for higher level positions were rarely notified of the outcome of their application.

An example was a 2009 case where teachers in East Sepik who applied for promotional positions were informed about their outcome of their applications in October 2010, which was already late to take up their appointment.

The report also identifies the following;

* Factors contributing to teachers’ refusal to take up teaching appointments;

* Actions teachers take when take when they are given positions for they apply;

* Actions appointing authorities take when teachers refuse to take up their appointments;

* Factors contributing to teachers late resumption of teaching duties; and

* Problems associated with the resumption of duty process.

 

 

Judge wants court to look and smell good

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

THERE is one thing I do not like, and that is body odour, said National and Supreme Court judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, in a courtroom filled to capacity with lawyers and their clients who were present for the alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mediation session yesterday morning, The National reports.

Kandakasi dropped this bombshell when announcing that the mediation session would continue later in the afternoon at the smaller ADR centre mediation facility which he said would prevent overcrowding and disruption to the air ventilation system

That is said was common knowledge in any overcrowded courtroom situation.

The judge, therefore, asked that only lawyers and a limited number of clients should come for that afternoon session and not like the big turnout earlier in the day.

In saying that he appointed to begin at 3pm.

Kandakasi also pointed out to the lawyers present that lawyers must dress up according to their profession’s ethical dress standards. 

“We need to raise the standards of lawyers dress,” he said, adding that he had raised these issues in the past and he would do so again.

“I will not hear any lawyer who is not appropriately dressed.

“Your appropriate dress is white shirts and black trousers, not brown trousers.

“Ensure that your shirt is tucked in neatly into your trousers.

“For those of you who chew betelnut, make sure there are no stains.

“I do not want to see stains on your white shirts or bibs – they must be clean.

“I do not want to see you sweating and puffing when you arrive to present yourselves in court; this is not a nightclub but a court,” the no-nonsense judge told the civil courtroom 10, which was filled to capacity with lawyers and their landowner clients who were present to hear the LNG-related mediation session yesterday.

 

Parents swap foodstuff for school fees

Chimbu scheme proves a success

 

By VERONICA FRANCIS

 

School fee is the main problem all parents in rural and urban centres face nowadays with the high cost of living.

However, for parents in Chimbu they were fortunate with the introduction of a scheme in which fresh produce and livestock were given to the schools as payment for school fees for their children.

According to Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia, the scheme was successful and had been running for two years.

This year will be the third year, adding the schools and especially parents were very cooperative.

He said it was difficult for parents to meet the standard required fee upfront, therefore the scheme allowed them to bring vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, greens and livestock such as pigs and cows to the schools in exchange for school fees.

Garia said the vegetables and livestock were weighed and charged at a normal retail price against the school fees.

He added that parents could bring in supplies over time until they meet the required amount.

“This scheme has worked successfully for both the parents and the school. The schools run all year and have surplus at the end while the parents are not burdened to look for cash,” he said.

Garia said that Chimbu had the lowest school fee rate because of good management.

“Most schools in the province have no management problems and the records are good because they do quarterly checks to make sure everything is running smoothly,” he said.

He said the idea was to maintain the strength of human resource, adding that sometimes students missed out and did not further their education because of school fee problems.

Garia said that with no natural resource to dwell on, Chimbu focused on developing its human resource and would continue to do so.