Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sustainable use of wetlands
By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
Wetlands are all about water, the continuous supply of water and its natural resources.
It is an area where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or seasonally.
Wetlands eco-systems are found in wide range of environments from coastal deltas, oxbow lakes, mountain lakes, to high altitude inland swamps.
Wetlands eco-systems are among the world’s most productive systems.
They are essential for the supply of fresh water, maintenance and use of biodiversity, mitigation of the effects of climate change, natural water cycle, and sustenance of livelihoods of local communities who depend on them.
Wetlands include coral reefs, coastal eco-systems, peat lands, swamps, lakes and rivers.
There are many benefits that we all derive from these wetlands.
Simple things that we do everyday involve water.
Recent studies suggest that wetlands occupy in excess of 12.8 million sq km globally; although this may be an underestimate due to variations in the definitions used when identifying different types of wetlands.
In Papua New Guinea, wetlands provide tremendous economic and conservation benefits through marine and fresh water food resources, flood control, maintenance of shoreline stabilisation, estuarine systems for coastal fisheries, water quality, provide recreational opportunities, and natural habitats for some important food crop resources like sago, mangroves and water lilies.
The global community recognised the significance of wetlands and signed the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Papua New Guineaa signed up to the convention in 1993.
The Ramsar Convention is now observed as the World Wetlands Day every February 2, since 1997 when it was first celebrated.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is the custodian of our vast wetlands.
It is tasked with their conservation and sustainable use.
People have been associated with wetlands from prehistory to the present day.
Wetlands have been among the most-attractive areas in the landscape, satisfying a variety of needs for hunting and gathering, spirituality, water resources and agriculture.
Wetlands and agriculture are closely linked together and both have greatly influenced humankind.
Available evidence suggests that human settlements started in and around the wetlands. Long before humans learned to grow food, they depended, at least partly, on wetlands for their sustenance.
Agriculture is said to have its beginning in the wetlands and grew at the expense of wetlands (and forests).
Wetlands have been, and will remain, important agricultural resources for people in many parts of the world including PNG.
The most-common form of agriculture in wetlands is paddy rice cultivation.
Evidence of rice culture dates back to the earliest age of humans and domestication of rice started in shallow swamps.
With the growing demand for food, seasonal marshes were modified into paddy fields as man-managed wetlands.
While there are no evidence to suggest the exploitation of wetlands for agriculture in PNG, various types of foods are sourced from it.
Sago, for example, is a common wetland plant and a stable food crop to many communities in the Sepik, Gulf, Western, Madang and Manus provinces.
With increase demand for food together with issues of climate change, people will turn to cultivating wetlands.
With such situation and other resource developments like mining, the ecosystem of wetlands is threatened.
DEC is already concerned that some wetlands have been lost through impacts of mining and urban expansions.
The department is already developing its capacity to promote research and education on the wise use of wetlands in PNG.
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day early this month, DEC has called on all citizens to value the importance of wetlands preservation, its uses and its significance to our livelihood.
Awareness on its importance is required in line with the technical plan of the Ramsar Convention to conserve and sustainable use the wetlands.
They should not be considered as wasteland, rather their importance to the local communities who depend on them should be considered before any development.
In view of the objectives of DEC, mechanisms should be in place to promote the synergies between agriculture, wetlands and water resources management.
This can be achieved by developing and implementing guidelines to jointly manage agriculture and wetland eco-systems for food production in a sustainable manner.
Food security is a universal goal and it is linked with sustainable level of food production.
The limits to food production are dictated both by the availability of land and water resources and our capacity to increase the productivity of these resources without depleting or degrading them.
The potential contribution of wetlands resources to food security is vast and varied.
Mobilising this potential depends largely on our ability to understand the many interactions which ultimately determine the functions of a wetland and its eco-system.
Development and use of appropriate technologies could lead to effective utilisation of these resources sustainably to meet our needs.
To utilise their potential, there is a need to understand its complex yet fragile ecosystem.
It is believed that agriculture has grown at the expense of natural wetlands.
The wetland eco-systems are being threatened today due to various human interventions. Therefore, conservation of wetlands requires an integrated, balanced, and coordinated approach to the management of water resources whereby the impacts of agriculture on wetlands are minimised without compromising agricultural production.
Appropriate policies needs to be developed to strike a balance between agriculture and wetland conservation.
With these in place agriculture should be a partner in wetland protection.
Wetlands are all about water, the continuous supply of water and its natural resources.
It is an area where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or seasonally.
Wetlands eco-systems are found in wide range of environments from coastal deltas, oxbow lakes, mountain lakes, to high altitude inland swamps.
Wetlands eco-systems are among the world’s most productive systems.
They are essential for the supply of fresh water, maintenance and use of biodiversity, mitigation of the effects of climate change, natural water cycle, and sustenance of livelihoods of local communities who depend on them.
Wetlands include coral reefs, coastal eco-systems, peat lands, swamps, lakes and rivers.
There are many benefits that we all derive from these wetlands.
Simple things that we do everyday involve water.
Recent studies suggest that wetlands occupy in excess of 12.8 million sq km globally; although this may be an underestimate due to variations in the definitions used when identifying different types of wetlands.
In Papua New Guinea, wetlands provide tremendous economic and conservation benefits through marine and fresh water food resources, flood control, maintenance of shoreline stabilisation, estuarine systems for coastal fisheries, water quality, provide recreational opportunities, and natural habitats for some important food crop resources like sago, mangroves and water lilies.
The global community recognised the significance of wetlands and signed the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Papua New Guineaa signed up to the convention in 1993.
The Ramsar Convention is now observed as the World Wetlands Day every February 2, since 1997 when it was first celebrated.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is the custodian of our vast wetlands.
It is tasked with their conservation and sustainable use.
People have been associated with wetlands from prehistory to the present day.
Wetlands have been among the most-attractive areas in the landscape, satisfying a variety of needs for hunting and gathering, spirituality, water resources and agriculture.
Wetlands and agriculture are closely linked together and both have greatly influenced humankind.
Available evidence suggests that human settlements started in and around the wetlands. Long before humans learned to grow food, they depended, at least partly, on wetlands for their sustenance.
Agriculture is said to have its beginning in the wetlands and grew at the expense of wetlands (and forests).
Wetlands have been, and will remain, important agricultural resources for people in many parts of the world including PNG.
The most-common form of agriculture in wetlands is paddy rice cultivation.
Evidence of rice culture dates back to the earliest age of humans and domestication of rice started in shallow swamps.
 |
| Transplanted rice field |
While there are no evidence to suggest the exploitation of wetlands for agriculture in PNG, various types of foods are sourced from it.
Sago, for example, is a common wetland plant and a stable food crop to many communities in the Sepik, Gulf, Western, Madang and Manus provinces.
 |
| Growing rice field |
With such situation and other resource developments like mining, the ecosystem of wetlands is threatened.
DEC is already concerned that some wetlands have been lost through impacts of mining and urban expansions.
The department is already developing its capacity to promote research and education on the wise use of wetlands in PNG.
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day early this month, DEC has called on all citizens to value the importance of wetlands preservation, its uses and its significance to our livelihood.
Awareness on its importance is required in line with the technical plan of the Ramsar Convention to conserve and sustainable use the wetlands.
They should not be considered as wasteland, rather their importance to the local communities who depend on them should be considered before any development.
In view of the objectives of DEC, mechanisms should be in place to promote the synergies between agriculture, wetlands and water resources management.
This can be achieved by developing and implementing guidelines to jointly manage agriculture and wetland eco-systems for food production in a sustainable manner.
Food security is a universal goal and it is linked with sustainable level of food production.
 |
| Fish pond |
The potential contribution of wetlands resources to food security is vast and varied.
Mobilising this potential depends largely on our ability to understand the many interactions which ultimately determine the functions of a wetland and its eco-system.
Development and use of appropriate technologies could lead to effective utilisation of these resources sustainably to meet our needs.
To utilise their potential, there is a need to understand its complex yet fragile ecosystem.
It is believed that agriculture has grown at the expense of natural wetlands.
The wetland eco-systems are being threatened today due to various human interventions. Therefore, conservation of wetlands requires an integrated, balanced, and coordinated approach to the management of water resources whereby the impacts of agriculture on wetlands are minimised without compromising agricultural production.
Appropriate policies needs to be developed to strike a balance between agriculture and wetland conservation.
With these in place agriculture should be a partner in wetland protection.
NARI now has full council
The National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) now has a full council with the appointment of representatives from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the
The national executive council (NEC) appointed Prof Chalapan Kaluwin and Philip Stagg upon recommendation by the Public Services Commission after they were recommended by their respective university councils.
The duo who will serve in the current term, bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge to the NARI council.
Stagg, who is an electrical engineer by profession, served in various capacities in both the public and private sector before going private.
He is currently the chancellor of Unitech, serving in the council since 1986.
He replaces former representative and academic, Dr Samson Akoitai.
Prof Kaluwin, who has received a number of academic and research awards, has widespread experience in teaching, administration and management, undertaking research projects and served as consultant.
With specific experience in environmental sciences and geography, and as head of environmental science and geography, school of natural and physical science, he brings valuable experience in his field of expertise to the NARI council.
He replaces former dean of Science at UPNG, Prof Lance Hill, who has retired.
The make-up of the NARI council covers all geo-political regions of PNG, major stakeholder groups, key government agencies, and educational and scientific institutions. The current members including UPNG and Unitech representative consists of head of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, head of the Department of Treasury, three smallholder farmers’ representatives, and one member representing growers’ association, nominated by a legally-recognised association and NARI represented by its director general.
The new appointees will serve the current term under the chairmanship of Dr John Kola, which expires in October 2012.
With the all required representatives on board, the council will now be able to direct the affairs of NARI in its efforts to promote innovative agricultural development in PNG through adaptive scientific research, knowledge creation, and information exchange.
University of Goroka kicks 0ff 2011 academic year
.JPG) |
| Performers from Raun Raun Theatre entertaining guests during the opening |
An official welcome was held on campus as part of registration and included a prayer asking for guidance and blessing for the year.
The national anthem was sung along with recitals of the national pledge and the UOG pledge.
Special guest for the occasion was chancellor of the university Benais Sabumei (MBE).
This was the first time the UOG council had been present at student registration.
Sabumei gave the official welcome and address to the student body, explaining the role and authority of the university council; student dormitory project; catering changes on campus; improvements to IT communication; new music building; academic restructure; performance based criteria for staff; improvements in the university; and community relations.
Sabumei reminded the students of their obligations while studying at UOG; the zero tolerance policy to drugs, alcohol and indecent material on campus; and encouraged them to be responsible and to seriously commit to their studies as they would be “shaping the lives and characters of many children when teaching after graduation”.
Sabumei said the challenge was for all to work together collectively for the betterment of UOG and the community.
Council members Thompson Haroqkaveh MP (speaker’s nominee) and Dr Sam Kari (academic staff representative) spoke to the students on disciplinary matters, academic rules and regulations and how to maximise their potential whilst studying.
The day was also a chance for students to be introduced to various staff members from each of the faculties of the university.
Light entertainment from Raun Raun Theatre performers enlightened proceedings and ended the programme on a high note.
Charity does begin at home
By JOHN PASQUARELLI
Charity does indeed begin at home.
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz commenting on the alleged split between Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop, said, 'I would absolutely expect the shadow foreign affairs minister(Julie Bishop) to make strong arguments for foreign aid' – wrong!
Our MPs' first priority is supposed to be looking after the interests of Australians and ensuring that their taxes are not splashed up against that proverbial wall.
Pauline Hanson has been the only politician to speak out about the rorts in our foreign aid but as I write this, Kevin Rudd is promising to give more of our money away.Australians wonder why they have to fund Indonesian schools when that country has armed forces that took over West Papua and had to be forced out of East Timor.
There are many very wealthy people in Indonesia yet we have to fund their schools, having no idea how our $500,000,000 is administered.
We send money to African countries where monsters like Mugabe are in power and we are told that Papua New Guinea 'powerbrokers' are buying up property in Australia.
Julie Bishop needs to tell Australian flood and cyclone victims why they have to join the handout queue behind Africans and Indonesians.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Prime Minister's leadership tribunal of national interest
The opposition has urged chief justice Sir Salamo Injia to decide speedily on prime minister Sir Michael Somare’s referral by the public prosecutor for a leadership tribunal to be set up to hear alleged misconduct charges relating to declaration of annual returns by the grand chief.
Leader of PNG Party Belden Namah said the matter was of national interest and the citizens of
Namah said Sir Salamo had a constitutional duty to the nation to announce the setting up of the tribunal without any unnecessary delays.
“Any delay in appointing the tribunal will cause the public to becoming suspicious,” he said.
“It is judiciary’s interest to bolster the public confidence in the judiciary.”
The pending leadership tribunal stem from allegations by the Ombudsman Commission (OC) 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 for it 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,
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.
He went to the court asking it to grant him certain declarations and a permanent injunction preventing the OC from continuing its investigations.
Sir Michael had contended that the OC lacked jurisdiction to continue the investigations.
The conduct of their investigations was oppressive, subject to excessive delays and breached the rules of natural justice to act fairly reasonably and in good faith.
He also alleged that the decision not to engage an independent examiner under section 19 of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, as requested by him was decided by an individual and not the majority quorum of three independent constitutional office holders despite bias allegations raised by his client against the commission.
However, Judge Hartshorn in a seven-page decision stated that Sir Michael did not have a strong case to stop the OC from continuing its investigations.
“It is not in the interest of justice or the public interest that lawful authorities should be prevented from carrying out their lawful investigations.
“Any such prevention should only occur in very clear cases of abuse,” Judge Hartshorn said.
The judge was satisfied given the evidence before him that the PM’s appeal was not serious and the OC be allowed to continue its investigations.
Effectively, the ruling meant that the public prosecutor could proceed to ask the chief justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to determine the charges against the prime minister.
On June 30, 2008, the PM’s lawyers refiled their appeal matter in the Supreme Court to be heard that afternoon.
The appeal matter related to the refusal of the
PM’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal basically appealing the whole of the judgment of Derek Hartshorn in dismissing their notice of motion.
In the notice of appeal, they relied on seven grounds saying that in respect of each and every grounds, the National Court erred in the exercise of its discretion which if not overturned would result in the unlawful actions of an authority going unscrutinised by the court and causing serious injustice to the appellant.
The Supreme Court rejected the appeal.
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.
Namah stressed that he was merely asking the chief justice to perform his constitutional duty and role in the public interest.
“The chief justice owes it to the nation and people to make an effort to set up the leadership tribunal in the national interest.
“It is not my intention to interfere with the work of the chief justice, but expect him to do his job speedily.”
Basil rejects Sir Arnold's statement
By Bulolo MP, SAM BASIL
The statement by the attorney general that the public should not demand swift decision making from the chief justice as to the appointment of a leadership tribunal is as offensive as it is clearly wrong.
The chief justice, like the attorney general, is public servants and should be answerable and accountable to the people of
Serious allegations have been made against the most-senior public servant in PNG, the prime minister.
These allegations remain unanswered three years later.
This is bringing the integrity of the office of prime minister into question and it is in the interests of the country as a whole that these allegations are resolved quickly, one way or another.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
The public prosecutor was satisfied that the prime minister was guilty of misconduct in office, which resulted in his referral of the matter to the chief justice for the appointment of a leadership tribunal pursuant to Section 27(2) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
When a tribunal is to be appointed to inquire in the case of alleged misconduct in office by the prime minister – a special provision applies as to the make-up of the tribunal – which is Section 27(7) (d) of the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership, which provides that the chief justice must appoint a tribunal consisting of a chairman and two other members, all of whom must be—
(i) Judges or former judges of the
(ii) Former Judges of the pre-independence Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea; or
(iii) Judges or former judges of an equivalent court of a country that has a legal system similar to that of PNG;
The chief justice does not have discretion as to whether or not he should appoint a tribunal under the Organic Law, once the matter is referred to him by the public prosecutor, he MUST appoint a tribunal.
This performance of this duty cannot be delayed.
It is not a difficult or time- consuming task as there is only a limited pool of persons from which the chief justice may appoint the tribunal.
It is in the interests of justice that this task is performed as quickly as possible so that these allegations may be resolved so that the integrity of the office of prime minister is not further destroyed.
It is therefore entirely appropriate that the people demand that the tribunal be appointed within a reasonable time and that means as soon as possible in these circumstances.
For the attorney general to suggest that the people have no rights to demand quick action, it is not only in breach of the basic principles of democracy but he is clearly playing politics and trying to delay the determination of the allegations of misconduct against the prime minister, which all of PNG has been waiting for.
We should also remind ourselves that the attorney general and the governor of Madang Sir Arnold Amet is also a member of the National Alliance Party from which the prime minister is a leader of and delivering such statements can only bring the integrity of his office into question.
There should be a law in the future to make the office of the attorney general be occupied by public servants only and not politicians as such.
It would be also proper for future chief justices not to enter politics because the respect they carry from this high profile office can be easily tainted when they start playing petty politics.
Hon Sam Basil - Opposition MP
Bulolo Open Electorate.
In response to –
Amet: CJ should not be put under pressure
By JOSHUA ARLO – Post Courier
THE CHIEF JUSTICE should never be put under pressure by public demand to appoint a leadership tribunal to look into the alleged misconduct in office by the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. “The process is consultation. That is important given the seniority and importance of the high public office of the Prime Minister,” the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet said yesterday. The former Chief Justice, who left the bench seven years ago to pursue a political career, was speaking to Post-Courier in an exclusive interview after the launch of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General’s first ever newsletter. He said the decision to appoint a tribunal was the sole responsibility of the Chief Justice and he must not give in to public demand as the decision needs a lot of consideration, as well as consultation with other judges before he could appoint the tribunal. An appointment for the tribunal is pending because the Public Prosecutor made the request on the eve of court vacation. The vacation ended last Monday when the 2011 legal year resumed. Sir Michael stepped aside from office after the request was made but recently resumed office and he is expected to step aside again when a tribunal is appointed again. Sir Arnold also raised two other issues that surrounded the issue of the appointment of a tribunal in relation to office holders which are currently being discussed. “Firstly, a misunderstanding that the Public Prosecutor requested the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal that didn’t automatically resort to suspend the Prime Minister. And secondly, it is the decision of the tribunal as to whether the Prime Minister should be suspended from office,” he said yesterday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)