Powerful message of forgiveness

The National Editorial - Friday, February 11, 2011

AMID the gloom, doom, despair and no hope regarding the vicious circle of ethnic violence in Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea has come a breath of fresh air.
It has taken the life of former Kumul rugby league star Aquila Emil to bring this message across to the people of this country.
Emil was gunned down outside the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby last Friday with the alleged killer now in remand at Bomana jail.
In just about every town or city, even the rural areas, this would have sparked another round of ethnic violence as Emil’s people went on the warpath against relatives of the alleged killer.
There would be more people killed, more houses burned down and more lives shattered in the aftermath.
However, in Aquila’s case, his family has forgiven the alleged killer and opted to let justice take its course, to let God himself be the judge.
It is quite ironic that in life, Emil touched the nation with his rugby leagues finesse and now, after death, he continues to touch the nation with a powerful message of peace.
His grieving family told The National yesterday that they held no animosity against his alleged killer and would let God himself pass judgment.
Emil’s elder sister Margaret Worri said they were from a Christian, God-fearing family from Umbukul village on New Hanover, New Ireland, and forgave Emil’s killer.
She said this was the way their late father, a United church pastor, raised them up to be and he would have wanted it this way.
“We will forgive and let God himself be the judge,” Worri said.
“We come from a humble, Christian family and we were brought up in a loving way.
“We will maintain that.
“I know that if dad was here, he would say the same thing.
“Aquila had loved his children, for his brothers and sisters.
“He is gone but his legacy will live on.
“He did not die for nothing.
“Aquila was a peace-maker.
“He was not a violent person.”
Emil, 43, is survived by his wife Marieta and five children Jr Aquila, 23; Vavine, 20; Martha, 16; Rupa Penias, 12; and 10-year-old Tau Vaitas.
His widow remembers him as the perfect father.
“I love him so much,” she said as she fought back tears.
“He was a good father.
“He never beat up the children or argued with me.
“He always cooked for us.”
Two months this year and, already, innocent men, women and children are being needlessly affected by the wave of ethnic violence sweeping this country.
A new year, a new decade, but there seems to be no respite from this evil in a country which we like to preach of as “Christian”.
Aquila, through his violent death, has begged us to differ.
It goes without saying that had he been from one of the more-volatile areas of the country, renowned for payback killing, that would already be the order of the day.
The livewire from Umbukul electrified the Lloyd Robson oval starting in 1988 onwards for Port Moresby Brothers.
In 1993, during the World Sevens in Sydney, Port Moresby Vipers, captained by Emil, Wests’ magician Tuksy Karu at pivot and players par-excellence such as fullback Philip Boge, Mark Agi and Daroa Ben-Moide demolished highly-fancied NRL teams and shocked and entertained the rugby league world.
They proved critics wrong and made it all the way to the finals.
The same boys were part of the best-ever Kumul side that nearly caused the upset of the century when they almost beat the seemingly-invincible Australian Kangaroos in Townsville in 1991.
The Kumuls were eventually beaten 34-14, but it was the best-ever result for the Kumuls, considering it was not the usual cricket scorelines we have today.
The halves combination of No.6 Karu and No.7 Emil demolished the Australian combination of Laurie Daley and Allan Langer, while Hanuabada fullback Boge blew Michael Hancock off the paddock with a solid tackle which saw him carried out on a stretcher.
Emil’s life was taken in a moment of madness last Friday; however, the memories will never die.
And, the most-touching thing is that his wife and family have forgiven the alleged killer, saying God himself will be the judge.
At this sad moment, as the nation turns its lonely eyes to Emil, let this be a powerful message for peace in our land

 

New Zealand to build fresh food market in Port Moresby

By MALUM NALU
New Zealand is exploring the potential for a fresh produce wholesale market in Port Moresby, due to the increased demand for fresh fruit and vegetables from workers involved in the liquefied natural gas pipeline project.

New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand being taken around Goroka market by FPDA production and supply manager Robert Lutulule in Sept 2009.-Picture by MALUM NALU

New Zealand high commissioner to Papua New Guinea Marion Cranshaw said this at a traditional hangi (earth oven) picnic at the New Zealand High Commission at Waigani last Sunday to mark Waitangi Day.
“Our government is looking to shift its aid programme into areas of economic development as well,” she said.
“We are looking at how we can reform our aid programme into economic areas.
“One of our proposals is putting up a wholesale food market in Port Moresby to improve access to market in Port Moresby for fruit and vegetable sellers.
“We are also looking at how we can assist in rural agricultural development, because while Papua New Guinea may make a lot of money from the big projects, agricultural development is important for development.”
New Zealand believes there is scope to see wider social benefits from a market, particularly for women.
In the future New Zealand will look to support other market infrastructure developments in PNG.
New Zealand already provides strong support to strengthen PNG's agricultural sector.
This includes support for:
• Fresh Produce Development Agency, which links farmers and consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Bris Kanda, which focuses on building commercially productive partnerships between rural communities and service providers in Morobe province; and
• A government extension programme to help rural farmers improve their agricultural and business skills.
Cranshaw believes that commercial relationships between both countries are the future.
Aid-wise, PNG is already the second-largest beneficiary of New Zealand aid to the tune of NZ$30 million (K57m) annually, after Solomon Islands.
“I think the future for New Zealand-Papua New Guinea relationships is in commercial relationships,” she said.
“I see that Papua New Guinea is a growing economy, with the ability to purchase New Zealand goods and services and that’s what’s starting to happen.
“New Zealand is still quite relatively small in the (PNG) market but we want to grow New Zealand’s place in the market.”
Cranshaw said a New Zealand trade mission would come to PNG in April to kick-start things.
“We’ll be looking at what other trade activities will follow that,” she said,
“New Zealand’s got good expertise in energy, some areas of infrastructure, engineering, and of course, food and beverages.
“In a way, I think New Zealand can help the development of Papua New Guinea by selling some of our expertise, because in that way, Papua New Guinea has the ownership of what they’re bringing.
“My focus on commercial engagement is not because it’s to New Zealand’s advantage, but it’s a way that we can help the development of Papua New Guinea and the ownership stays with Papua New Guinea.”

Finschhafen farming goes hi-tech

BY JAMES LARAKI of NARI
FINSCHHAFEN district in Morobe province will now be able plan for its district agricultural and natural resources development guided by computer-generated database tools.

Jimmy Maro (standing) guiding participants in using the desktop GIS tool at the Finschhafen Technical School, Gagidu station

This is possible after the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) conducted a training last week for district administration staff on the use of the geographic information systems (GIS) and the global positioning systems (GPS) tools.
These are spatial tools that provide useful information which can act as guides in the planning and development processes.
The week-long training was an initiative of local MP Theodore Zurenouc, who has a close working relationship with NARI to develop agriculture in his district.
More than 18 officers from various divisions in the district administration, including staff from Zurenouc’s electoral office, participated in the training.
NARI GIS specialist Jimmy Maro said the objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of the district administration in using GIS and GPS tools in rural agricultural planning and development for the district.
Maro said the tools were designed for gathering, analysing and managing spatial information (any object identified according to its location) such as topography, soils, rainfall, land use, population and services such as markets and roads which were useful in planning, particularly agriculture and rural development.
He said the training was also able to introduce to the participants the existing national databases: mapping agriculture systems project (MASP) and the PNG resource information systems (PNGRIS).
These databases contain information about PNG’s natural resources and smallholder agricultural systems.
The training involved formal introductory sessions on how the tools work and desktop mapping of roads, rivers, areas under agriculture, and projecting population in different parts of the district.
The participants were shown how to do land use assessments, for instance modelling the impact of possible natural disasters like floods or identifying suitable land for growing certain types of food and cash crops in the district.
Participants also had hands-on experience in handling the GPS receiver to gather locations such as plantations and villages.
The information generated was mapped and an inventory was created to add to existing information of the district in the national database.
Leka Stanley, on behalf of the participants, said the training was useful as they were able to gain useful knowledge for rural planning, particularly for agriculture and natural resource development and management.
He said equipped with the new skills and knowledge, they were looking forward to better manage and plan the district development effectively.
Stanley, who is also the electoral officer of the local MP, acknowledged NARI for facilitating the training and Zurenouc for his initiative and support.

Lae urban village takes up rice farming

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

An urban village in Papua New Guinea is the last place you will expect to find people growing rice.
You expect people from such villages to be getting their rice from the supermarket or village trade store.
Pat Newton from Wagang (Sipaia) village on the outskirts of Lae has decided to grow rice for his family consumption.

NARI officers and family members of Pat Newton discussing rice growing at Wagang village

Newton, a first-timer, is possibly the first to grow rice among the six Ahi villages of Yalu, Kamkumung, Hengali, Butibam, Yanga and Wagang.
He harvested his first crop last week.
Officers from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) rice and grain project were on hand to provide technical assistance in harvesting and processing of rice.
Newton and his family were provided useful tips on growing rice and advised of the steps in harvesting and processing to get good eating quality and maximum yield from their efforts.
It all started when a family friend brought some rice seeds and encouraged Newton to try them out on his field.
The seeds were brought from OSICA Technical School in East New Britain province, which his friend’s son attended.
With the encouragement of his friend, Newton planted a reasonably-sized field with assistance from family members.
He could not believe that rice could grow so well on his land.
The good performance of his first crop has motivated Newton and he has decided to plant a new field with seeds to come from the recent harvest.

Rice growing at Wagang

Newton said he decided to grow rice as prices in the supermarkets were high and his family could not afford.
He called on his fellow Ong clansmen of Wagang and the Ahi community in general to grow their own rice as the prices of processed rice was high at the supermarkets and would continue to rise.
“We have good, fertile land capable of growing good quality rice and there is no reason why we should wander off to the city supermarkets looking for rice,” Newton said.
“We can grow rice in our backyards and gardens for our own family consumption and I encourage everyone to follow my footsteps.”
He said his family was willing to share seeds and their knowledge with others in the village and surrounding communities that were willing to grow rice.

Dangerous drift away from Papua New Guinea must be halted

By JOHN PASQUARELLI in The Australian

 

WHEN Michael Somare's reign ends, Papua New Guinea urgently needs to change course to re-establish its place in the region and forge fresh, new links with Australia.

White paternalism and colonialism have disappeared in the rear-vision mirror of history, but no less a person than Somare once courageously said PNG had possibly been granted independence too soon.

Papua-New Guineans have a grassroots faith in acknowledging people who are "straight shooters", and they are rightly suspicious of flatterers - black, white, whoever they may be - from the UN, ANU or the UPNG, or even naive MPs from Australia.

PNG at its independence in 1975 stood at the crossroads but took the wrong turn.

The opportunity to rise quickly out of the ranks of the Third World was lost when tribalism and inexperience conspired to create an environment of lawlessness, coupled with the failure of public health and education systems.

 Much of the then huge mineral and oil wealth was squandered, as was the opportunity to become one of the world's major tourist destinations.

But PNG has incredibly been granted a second chance that will require the co-operation of all concerned to reset the country's compass.

The country has huge new reserves of wealth, ranging from the Hidden Valley gold bonanza near Wau-Bulolo to the Frieda River copper and gold prospect in the Sepik District.

Exxon-Mobil is proceeding with its gas and oil pipelines, which will double PNG's GDP in 2014 when exports to Asia commence, with an expected life of 30 years.

Ok Tedi is still producing and moves are under way to reopen the huge copper and gold mine at Bougainville, which ground to a halt when the civil war erupted in 1990.

Since then, copper prices have quadrupled and gold is through the roof at $US1400 an ounce.

With proper management, plantations of exotic timbers can redress the PNG logging rorts of the past, the oceans can continue to produce, aquaculture has huge potential and tourism is still there like a sleeping giant.

Many Australians still have strong connections with PNG, but both governments have drifted apart in recent years and this dangerous separation must be halted.

It is very embarrassing that there is not one Australian federal MP who has any real, in-depth understanding of PNG apart from the odd junket.

An Australian government should set up a taskforce, taking advice from those expats who still have much to offer, before beginning negotiations with PNG, ensuring that such a venture does not end up being just another bureaucratic bludge.

The emphasis must be on Australia offering training and mentoring for future police and army officers, right through all levels of the public service, health and education, and then establishing partnerships with successful Australian companies to train young Papua New Guineans in the trades and the specialist skills required in the mining and construction industries.

Australia must extend the hand of friendship - and let's hope it is enthusiastically grasped by PNG.

BSP eyes hi-tech Eftpos payment

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

BANK South Pacific is preparing to roll out a new product that will give convenience and safety to customers, The National reports.

This will be made possible through the use of a new wireless technology

through the gadget called electronic fund transfer at point of sale (Eftpos) or “point of pay” terminal.

Already in use in some centres in the Pacific, the new concept is faster and easier to secure.

It is expected to be operational later this year.

BSP chief executive Ian Clyne yesterday said this Eftpos machine would be more advanced in that customers could pay for their shopping and also make deposits.

He said at the moment, this wireless concept was being trialed, and was  successful, in Fiji.

Now, it is here in PNG where a team of experts are working to get it connected to all BSP branches and agencies nationwide.

Clyne said a wireless Eftpos machine costs US$750 (K1,969), which BSP would be bringing specially for the rural areas through its BSP  rural programme.

The programme is community-oriented in which communities were to take ownership of , and be responsible for, the upkeep and safety of the agency whilst getting services from it.

Clyne said the focus this year would be on 90% of retail mass market customers who would be encouraged to bank with ATMs and Eftpos machines and to only visit main branches for loan applications and creation of new accounts, among many others.

He said the use of modern telecommunication advances such as cell phones would allow BSP to harness the wireless Eftpos, which was one of the many services BSP was introducing this year through retail banking.

BSP was also looking at using cell phones to make payments which would allow greater access to rural communities to basic payment and banking services.

BSP today has more than 2,900 Eftpos machines in the country and would be increasing the units to 6,000 in a few years time.

BSP Fiji would be increasing from 120 to 1,500 and BSP Solomon Islands would go from one to 100.

Clyne said the cost of all these new services and improvements would be substantial.

He stressed that this was an investment they were making in the name of service to Papua New Guinean society.

 

 

Police begin election planning

POLICE will begin planning for next year’s general election next week, acting Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations Fred Yakasa said yesterday, The National reports.

He said an election planning conference, focusing on police election requirements and budget, had been scheduled for Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, from next Wednesday through Friday.

Yakasa said careful and advance planning was vital in ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure 2012 general election.

Pre-election operations were expected to start in April with police visiting potential problem areas, gathering intelligence and conducting general election security awareness.

The police operations chief said from these, a final election security operations plan would be drafted and prepared for execution.

“The plan will include a detailed budget submission to the government for pre-election security operations and the election proper,” he said.

Yakasa said the final plan would include the mobilisation of all resources required for the elections next year.

Individual provincial police commanders were tasked to develop their own election security plans during the commissioner’s annual conference in Lae last year.

They were told to take stock of their resources including manpower, collect intelligence and conduct major pre-election operations.

“Each commander is expected to provide an assessment of what they require per division per province for a peaceful, free and fair election next year,” Yakasa said.

He stressed that all planning should be completed this year.

Yakasa also warned rogue police personnel to improve on their performance and maintain discipline.

He said the Royal PNG Constabulary had set its focus on improving discipline and the fight against crime in all four regional centres, improving security at major resource project sites, reviving and adequately resourcing the police highway patrol unit, improving community policing and police welfare issues.

“The police management is also devising plans and monitoring devises to apprise individual members of the force,” Yakasa said.

He said these measures were necessary because internal investigations had revealed that some policemen had not made any arrests in their entire career while others had not even prosecuted a case.

“Under the new monitoring system, each member will have a daily, weekly and monthly quota of arrests to make and will also be required to prosecute their cases in court.

“Disciplinary actions will be taken against those who do not perform to expected standards, including termination,” Yakasa said.

“It is time for us to earn our wages and provide the policing service the people of PNG deserve.”