To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, the British High Commission is pleased to announce a joint venture with Governor Powes Parkop and the National Capital District – the establishment of a women’s advisory centre for Papua New Guinean women.
The project, which is the brainchild of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will see the centre providing much needed professional advice for women who seek financial independence through obtaining relevant skills, information and knowledge.
The project, which will be launched tomorrow (March 8, 2011) will fund a support centre and network for PNG women who seek advice on achieving financial independence through obtaining relevant skills, information and knowledge at one convenient location.
The centre will be based in the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce Office.
British High Commissioner to PNG, Jackie Barson, said the women’s advisory centre would enable women in PNG, where the majority remain educated only to a to a minimal standard, to access professional advice as a means to enhancing both their professional and personal lives.
Barson said the establishment of the centre would also offer women access to information on how to start their own business, manage household finances, how to apply for a loan, statutory requirements of a registered business and basic book-keeping amongst other issues, and it would also offer access to women in business workshops.
She added that it is incumbent on all of us to focus our determination to tackle the discrimination and oppression of women and to step up our progress towards fairness and equality and equal opportunities.
Education is one of the most powerful instruments known for reducing poverty and inequality and for laying the basis for sustained economic growth, sound governance, and effective institutions.
Access to educational opportunities for women will change attitudes, economic circumstances and encourage opportunities for improving women’s social, economic and legal status.
Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide is a priority for the UK coalition government.
Where it can, the British High Commission will continue to support programmes which promote the empowerment of women in PNG.
This is an integral element to the UK’s global commitment to promote human rights, sustainable global growth, alleviation of poverty and democratic values.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Challenges of pig production in Papua New Guinea
By STANLEY AMBEN of NARI
Pork meat has been an important protein source for many generations of Papua New Guineans and continues to be so in many parts of the country.
However, supply of pork meat is still low.
Local commercial suppliers of chilled pork meat are unable to meet the high demand.
This is evident with the import of additional quotas of chilled pork meat.
On the other hand, the larger informal live pig market may also be facing shortages in meeting demands, with reports of live pigs selling at K1, 000 – K3000 in the highlands during the 2010 festive season.
These pigs are generally from native and cross bred origins and farmed with limited input. Information on this sub-sector is limited as past efforts were mostly focused on commercial breeds.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), in its effort to improve smallholder productivity through sustainable pig farming practices, conducted a baseline survey of smallholder pig production in the Morobe province to identify constraints and opportunities for further research and development.
The survey covered the Markham, Wau-Bulolo, Huon Gulf, Nawae, Tewai-Siassi, Finschhafen and Kabwum districts.
Pig farming is a labour intensive activity depending on the number of pigs per household. Therefore, a valid assumption would be the more pigs per household, the more labour input needed to sustain increased herd numbers.
However, this assumption does not hold true as the survey noted that household size had no influence on herd numbers.
This is attributed to the traditional low input practice of scavenging where pigs are left to fend for themselves.
Despite the predominantly low management input associated with traditional practices, the current trend is showing that farmers prefer to keep their pigs enclosed.
Due to increasing population densities and shortage of arable land, growing of food crops has intensified.
Scavenging pigs poses a threat to food gardens.
Some areas surveyed have enforced village laws to keep pigs enclosed.
This situation is forcing farmers to adopt the ‘highlands’ practice of tethering pigs.
Enclosed pigs require the farmer to provide all necessary inputs for its welfare.
Survey results show that the standard approach in feeding pigs comprises of starchy staples sourced from food gardens.
Farmers are content with this approach assuming that both feed and water is provided.
However, problems arise with this approach as protein and water requirement for pigs are not being adequately met.
As a result, the farmers have been observing a decline in the growth performance of their enclosed pigs and bluntly request for ‘marasin’ or medication alluding to protein supplements. Similar needs are expressed for fencing materials.
It was also noted that farmers in accessible districts rarely invest in pig production despite reporting good returns from selling their pigs.
Obligations such as school fees took higher precedence with income generated from the pig sales.
Pig farmers need more awareness on opportunities for improving their current production systems.
Economic modelling of improved pig farming systems can motivate and encourage farmers to enhance and sustain their production.
Most farmers surveyed keep crosses of native and exotic lines to capitalise on the hardiness and low input requirement of the native breed and the faster growth rate of exotic breeds.
However, a higher level of input in feed and management is needed for these crossbred pigs to be profitable.
Furthermore, farmers perceive their pigs to be suffering from serious ailments.
However, PNG is largely free from major contagious pig diseases apart from common ailments such as diarrhoea and the common flu associated with poor management practices.
Pig farmers in the Morobe province are being encouraged to emerge from the low input level of production into a more market-orientated production system where there they have reinvest from income generated from pig sales.
This is the case with two pig farmers from the Situm area outside Lae.
These farmers currently manage a breeding herd of about 50 pigs each, consistently producing live pigs for the informal market.
The pigs are fed with on farm-formulated feeds using agricultural by-products.
There is a lot of capital investment in terms of feed, housing and labour.
This higher level of production has been reached by the pair due to consistent investments back into their farms from the income generated from the sale of pigs.
A previous scheme initiated in the area by the Pelgens Smallgoods Company, whereby local farmers obtained weaned piglets from the company and raised to supplying the abattoir, has been unsuccessful.
This scheme needs some improvement based on previous experiences as a similar concept has been successfully implemented by Niugini Tablebirds with broiler chickens.
Improved technologies in pig feeding and management for enclosed pigs are required by the smallholder pig farmers in Morobe province.
They may not be alone; this is the situation for farmers’ country wide.
With proper management practices and formulating pig feeds using locally available resources would go in a long way to help increase pig production.
NARI has developed a pig feed using sweet potato tubers and leaves which was officially released to the farming community last May for adoption.
This is among other technologies on livestock feed that NARI is developing using locally available sources taking into consideration the increased cost of commercial feeds.
It is hoped with such technologies available, farmers will increase livestock production for their own consumption as well as for income.
 |
| Cross-bred pigs at Lennie Aparima’s pig farm at Munum village, Morobe province |
However, supply of pork meat is still low.
Local commercial suppliers of chilled pork meat are unable to meet the high demand.
This is evident with the import of additional quotas of chilled pork meat.
On the other hand, the larger informal live pig market may also be facing shortages in meeting demands, with reports of live pigs selling at K1, 000 – K3000 in the highlands during the 2010 festive season.
These pigs are generally from native and cross bred origins and farmed with limited input. Information on this sub-sector is limited as past efforts were mostly focused on commercial breeds.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), in its effort to improve smallholder productivity through sustainable pig farming practices, conducted a baseline survey of smallholder pig production in the Morobe province to identify constraints and opportunities for further research and development.
The survey covered the Markham, Wau-Bulolo, Huon Gulf, Nawae, Tewai-Siassi, Finschhafen and Kabwum districts.
Pig farming is a labour intensive activity depending on the number of pigs per household. Therefore, a valid assumption would be the more pigs per household, the more labour input needed to sustain increased herd numbers.
However, this assumption does not hold true as the survey noted that household size had no influence on herd numbers.
This is attributed to the traditional low input practice of scavenging where pigs are left to fend for themselves.
Despite the predominantly low management input associated with traditional practices, the current trend is showing that farmers prefer to keep their pigs enclosed.
Due to increasing population densities and shortage of arable land, growing of food crops has intensified.
Scavenging pigs poses a threat to food gardens.
Some areas surveyed have enforced village laws to keep pigs enclosed.
This situation is forcing farmers to adopt the ‘highlands’ practice of tethering pigs.
Enclosed pigs require the farmer to provide all necessary inputs for its welfare.
Survey results show that the standard approach in feeding pigs comprises of starchy staples sourced from food gardens.
Farmers are content with this approach assuming that both feed and water is provided.
However, problems arise with this approach as protein and water requirement for pigs are not being adequately met.
As a result, the farmers have been observing a decline in the growth performance of their enclosed pigs and bluntly request for ‘marasin’ or medication alluding to protein supplements. Similar needs are expressed for fencing materials.
It was also noted that farmers in accessible districts rarely invest in pig production despite reporting good returns from selling their pigs.
Obligations such as school fees took higher precedence with income generated from the pig sales.
Pig farmers need more awareness on opportunities for improving their current production systems.
Economic modelling of improved pig farming systems can motivate and encourage farmers to enhance and sustain their production.
Most farmers surveyed keep crosses of native and exotic lines to capitalise on the hardiness and low input requirement of the native breed and the faster growth rate of exotic breeds.
However, a higher level of input in feed and management is needed for these crossbred pigs to be profitable.
Furthermore, farmers perceive their pigs to be suffering from serious ailments.
However, PNG is largely free from major contagious pig diseases apart from common ailments such as diarrhoea and the common flu associated with poor management practices.
Pig farmers in the Morobe province are being encouraged to emerge from the low input level of production into a more market-orientated production system where there they have reinvest from income generated from pig sales.
This is the case with two pig farmers from the Situm area outside Lae.
These farmers currently manage a breeding herd of about 50 pigs each, consistently producing live pigs for the informal market.
The pigs are fed with on farm-formulated feeds using agricultural by-products.
There is a lot of capital investment in terms of feed, housing and labour.
This higher level of production has been reached by the pair due to consistent investments back into their farms from the income generated from the sale of pigs.
A previous scheme initiated in the area by the Pelgens Smallgoods Company, whereby local farmers obtained weaned piglets from the company and raised to supplying the abattoir, has been unsuccessful.
This scheme needs some improvement based on previous experiences as a similar concept has been successfully implemented by Niugini Tablebirds with broiler chickens.
Improved technologies in pig feeding and management for enclosed pigs are required by the smallholder pig farmers in Morobe province.
They may not be alone; this is the situation for farmers’ country wide.
With proper management practices and formulating pig feeds using locally available resources would go in a long way to help increase pig production.
NARI has developed a pig feed using sweet potato tubers and leaves which was officially released to the farming community last May for adoption.
This is among other technologies on livestock feed that NARI is developing using locally available sources taking into consideration the increased cost of commercial feeds.
It is hoped with such technologies available, farmers will increase livestock production for their own consumption as well as for income.
Rice research and development
By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
Rice is the second most important cereal in the world and staple food to about two billion people.
Production is geographically concentrated in Western and Eastern Asia with more than 90%of world output. China and India, which account for more than one-third of global population, supply over half of the world's rice. Brazil is the most important non-Asian producer, followed by the United States. Italy ranks first in Europe.
Although rice is not a traditional crop to Papua New Guinea, it has been cultivated for over 100 years and has become a staple food to many people, with an estimated consumption of over 300,000 tonnes per annum.
Rice and grains have emerged strongly during the post-war era in PNG.
It has now become prominent in the household food basket, thus contributing a significant part to national nutrition and calorie requirements.
Despite its popularity, almost all the rice consumed in PNG is imported.
Importing rice is one of the most-contentious food policy issues in PNG. Commentators have suggested that the local population is becoming too reliant on imported rice.
These concerns prompted policymakers in the 1990s to set an ambitious target to produce approximately 50,000 tonnes by the end of the decade.
Despite these goals, rice production in PNG has made little progress.
The estimated 10,000 tonnes produced is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. The scale of production has been limited by various technical, sociological, economic and institutional constraints.
PNG’s shifting farming systems, labour intensity and productivity, pests and diseases, have become major contraints.
These have been compounded with lack of continuous supply of pure seed, appropriate milling facilities, and lack of information and training.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has been active in promoting rice and grains development through scientific research since 2001 when all rice and grains research was transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).
Research on rice and grains is aimed at addressing issues of food security and self-reliance with opportunities for people to participate in national development of rice production, distribution and consumption.
NARI rice and grains project takes heed of smallholder rice production using new and improved knowledge, information and technologies derived from scientific research under PNG conditions.
The current focus of NARI rice and grain project is on introduction and evaluation of upland rice varieties to contribute to improved productivity, quality and quantity of production.
Most of PNG’s local rice production is taking place in remote areas like Finchhafen and Garaina in Morobe, Maprik in East Sepik and inland Bougainville.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a number of varieties available for farmers at any given time that are high-yielding under low input, resistant to important pest and diseases, good eating qualities spread over diverse agro-ecological conditions.
In May 2006, NARI released four rice varieties to the PNG farming community (NARI Rice (NR) 1, NR 9, NR 15 and NR 16) suitable for upland production in the lowlands.
With a total of 1100 varieties obtained from the International Rice Research Institute in its germplasm collection, the project is identifying varieties that can stand out and suit a wide range of environments in PNG.
In some rice growing places such as Finschhafen and Garaina, growers have selected and maintained suitable landraces from earlier introductions.
“Waria Sunlong” of Garaina and Waria valley, and “Finsch Brown”, “Sukong Turung”, and “Finsch White” of Finschhafen are some examples.
Supply of good quality seeds is vital for rice production in the country.
Currently, the supply of rice seeds is coordinated by DAL.
Seeds of NARI rice varieties are distributed from NARI regional centres and can also be sourced through provincial DALs.
With annual import bill running into millions of kina, efforts to reduce import dependency remain a major challenge.
These efforts are being aided by various overseas governments, aid agencies and NGOs.
The government’s efforts are manifested in DAL policy document: ‘Papua New Guinea Rice Development Policy 2004 – 2014’.
This document is the successor to the National Rice Policy of 1998.
The latest policy document recognises the importance of rice as a staple food for the people of PNG and proposes a range of policy and programme interventions to provide a clear policy environment to mobilise resources to promote sustainable domestic rice development.
It provides a framework for partnership between the government and its development partners and donor agencies to support the domestic rice development.
Attempts to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic rice production over the years have had limited success, although it is a proven fact that rice can be grown in PNG. Despite renewed interest and recent reports of a surge in rice cultivation by local farmers throughout the country, domestic rice production is still remains minor and highly local.
This calls for coordinated efforts to review the factors which hinder domestic rice production in the country. Issues on access to rice milling facilities, shortage of trained personnel, technical support and credit facility, poor infrastructure and market access, continuous supply of pure seeds, information and support services, quality of locally-grown rice, and other contributing factors need to be addressed.
Research and extension support also need to be strengthened and supported to drive rice development in PNG.
Rice development needs to be promoted to the farming community for food security, income opportunity, and improved living standard of the rural population.
Rice is the second most important cereal in the world and staple food to about two billion people.
 |
Rice germplasm evaluation field at NARI Bubia, outside Lae
|
Although rice is not a traditional crop to Papua New Guinea, it has been cultivated for over 100 years and has become a staple food to many people, with an estimated consumption of over 300,000 tonnes per annum.
Rice and grains have emerged strongly during the post-war era in PNG.
It has now become prominent in the household food basket, thus contributing a significant part to national nutrition and calorie requirements.
Despite its popularity, almost all the rice consumed in PNG is imported.
Importing rice is one of the most-contentious food policy issues in PNG. Commentators have suggested that the local population is becoming too reliant on imported rice.
These concerns prompted policymakers in the 1990s to set an ambitious target to produce approximately 50,000 tonnes by the end of the decade.
 |
NR 1- 'C Fields'
|
The estimated 10,000 tonnes produced is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. The scale of production has been limited by various technical, sociological, economic and institutional constraints.
PNG’s shifting farming systems, labour intensity and productivity, pests and diseases, have become major contraints.
These have been compounded with lack of continuous supply of pure seed, appropriate milling facilities, and lack of information and training.
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has been active in promoting rice and grains development through scientific research since 2001 when all rice and grains research was transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).
Research on rice and grains is aimed at addressing issues of food security and self-reliance with opportunities for people to participate in national development of rice production, distribution and consumption.
NARI rice and grains project takes heed of smallholder rice production using new and improved knowledge, information and technologies derived from scientific research under PNG conditions.
The current focus of NARI rice and grain project is on introduction and evaluation of upland rice varieties to contribute to improved productivity, quality and quantity of production.
Most of PNG’s local rice production is taking place in remote areas like Finchhafen and Garaina in Morobe, Maprik in East Sepik and inland Bougainville.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a number of varieties available for farmers at any given time that are high-yielding under low input, resistant to important pest and diseases, good eating qualities spread over diverse agro-ecological conditions.
In May 2006, NARI released four rice varieties to the PNG farming community (NARI Rice (NR) 1, NR 9, NR 15 and NR 16) suitable for upland production in the lowlands.
With a total of 1100 varieties obtained from the International Rice Research Institute in its germplasm collection, the project is identifying varieties that can stand out and suit a wide range of environments in PNG.
In some rice growing places such as Finschhafen and Garaina, growers have selected and maintained suitable landraces from earlier introductions.
“Waria Sunlong” of Garaina and Waria valley, and “Finsch Brown”, “Sukong Turung”, and “Finsch White” of Finschhafen are some examples.
Supply of good quality seeds is vital for rice production in the country.
Currently, the supply of rice seeds is coordinated by DAL.
Seeds of NARI rice varieties are distributed from NARI regional centres and can also be sourced through provincial DALs.
With annual import bill running into millions of kina, efforts to reduce import dependency remain a major challenge.
These efforts are being aided by various overseas governments, aid agencies and NGOs.
The government’s efforts are manifested in DAL policy document: ‘Papua New Guinea Rice Development Policy 2004 – 2014’.
This document is the successor to the National Rice Policy of 1998.
The latest policy document recognises the importance of rice as a staple food for the people of PNG and proposes a range of policy and programme interventions to provide a clear policy environment to mobilise resources to promote sustainable domestic rice development.
It provides a framework for partnership between the government and its development partners and donor agencies to support the domestic rice development.
Attempts to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic rice production over the years have had limited success, although it is a proven fact that rice can be grown in PNG. Despite renewed interest and recent reports of a surge in rice cultivation by local farmers throughout the country, domestic rice production is still remains minor and highly local.
This calls for coordinated efforts to review the factors which hinder domestic rice production in the country. Issues on access to rice milling facilities, shortage of trained personnel, technical support and credit facility, poor infrastructure and market access, continuous supply of pure seeds, information and support services, quality of locally-grown rice, and other contributing factors need to be addressed.
Research and extension support also need to be strengthened and supported to drive rice development in PNG.
Rice development needs to be promoted to the farming community for food security, income opportunity, and improved living standard of the rural population.
 |
| NR 1- 'C Fields' (before flowering) |
Playing with the rules of Rafferty in Papua New Guinea*
BY PAUL OATES
* Rafferty's rules: An Australian expression meaning no rules at all
INDULGE ME FOR a few minutes while I examine the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea [the citations are from the Constitution].
211. ACCOUNTING, ETC., FOR PUBLIC MONEYS.
(1) All moneys of or under the control of the National Government for public expenditure and the Parliament and the Judiciary for their respective services, shall be dealt with and properly accounted for in accordance with law.
In a recent statement, the Deputy Police Commissioner publicly identified that half of PNG's annual budget was lost to corruption.
Amazingly, no government Minister or representative chose to deny this statement or defend their responsibility to effectively and accountably govern PNG. Of course, with Parliament suspended, there was no forum for this disastrous situation to be debated and fully examined.
27. RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE.
(1) A person to whom this Division applies has a duty to conduct himself in such a way, both in his public or official life and his private life, and in his associations with other persons, as not–
(a) to place himself in a position in which he has or could have a conflict of interests or might be compromised when discharging his public or official duties; or
(b) to demean his office or position; or
(c) to allow his public or official integrity, or his personal integrity, to be called into question; or
(d) to endanger or diminish respect for and confidence in the integrity of government in Papua New Guinea.
In a letter titled 'Former CJ (Chief Justice) gone too far' in the PNG Post-Courier of 2 March, 'Sprox Walker' writes:
The Former Chief Justice, current Regional Member for Madang and Justice Minister (Sir Armet) has gone way too far and lowered himself too low when he sacked the acting public prosecutor Wala Tamate….
His reason that Tamate has not performed his administrative duties competently is sluggish, insensitive and balant abuse of power —when Mr Tamate is handling the Prime Minister referral case to appear before a Leadership Tribunal.
However the former Chief Justice tries to justify his actions — he has gone far too low for a person that is supposed to understand the law better.
On the other hand the new Public Prosecutor — Camillus Sambua — is the blood nephew of Sir Michael Somare who is the Prime Minister that is now waiting to appear before the Leadership Tribunal. Isn't that illegal?'
Surely this can't be true? The acting Public Prosecutor sacked for apparently performing his duties correctly and a relative of the PM who has been referred for judicial review, appointed in his place.
141. NATURE OF THE MINISTRY: COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
The Ministry is a Parliamentary Executive, and therefore–
(a) no person who is not a member of the Parliament is eligible to be appointed to be a Minister, and, except as is expressly provided in this Constitution to the contrary, a Minister who ceases to be a member of the Parliament ceases to hold office as a Minister; and
(b) it is collectively answerable to the People, through the Parliament, for the proper carrying out of the executive government of Papua New Guinea and for all things done by or under the authority of the National Executive; and
(c) it is liable to be dismissed from office, either collectively or individually, in accordance with this Subdivision.
In a recent article in The National, it was claimed that the Department of Personnel Management did not have records of the total number of public servants on the government pay-roll.
It seems the government is paying more than 300,000 public servants, including dead persons, wives, children and even people walking around the streets but still getting salaries each fortnight.
Apparently there are less than 100,000 public servants but there are no accurate records. Public Service Minister Moses Maladina said he was awaiting the return of secretary John Kali from holidays to map a way forward. He confirmed there were too many acting appointments with some acting in jobs for more than six months, which is illegal.
Isn't this the same Minister that claimed Deep Sea Tailing Disposal of toxic mining waste would only 'damage a few worms'. The same Minister who inspired recent large public demonstrations and petitions against amendments to weaken the Ombudsman Commission.
If Mr Maladina doesn't know what to do or how to run his Department, in the words of PNG's Constitution, he 'is liable to be dismissed from office.'
The PNG people could well ask why Mr Maladina is still a Minister. They could, that is, if there was a functional Parliament that sat for the required number of days set out in the Constitution.
Can anyone realistically claim that there is a government in control of PNG at the moment? If no one is obviously in control of the country then maybe there remains just a vacuum waiting to be filled?
Students nabbled for attempt on policeman's life
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
SEVEN high school students, facing charges of attempted murder, have been released on K200 bail each, The National reports.
They were among 17 people arrested by Wabag police in Enga over an alleged attempted murder on a member of the police mobile unit based in Laiagam district.
The incident allegedly took place on Feb 17.
Ten other men were released on K500 bail each with their guarantors also ordered to pay K500 each.
Police claimed that the Lanekep tribesmen, living at the edge of Wabag town, attacked First Const Caspar Maugla at the Wabag bus stop with bush knives.
This was in reaction to an incident earlier on during the day when one of their tribesmen was allegedly bashed up by a police mobile unit member during a drunken brawl.
Provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari said Maugla was attacked while he was waiting to catch a PMV to Laiagam.
The victim sustained cuts to his forehead and parts of his body.
Lakari said bystanders at the bus stop reacted quickly and stopped the villagers from inflicting severe injuries, or possible death, on the policeman.
He said Wabag police also responded quickly and, with the help of bystanders, arrested the suspects and had them locked up in the police cells.
The accused were refused bail until last Friday when they made an appeal to the committal court.
The suspects would appeal in court at the next call-over, which was yet to be confirmed.
While condemning the attack on the policeman, Lakari said higher and stiffer penalties must be imposed on such people to deter others from doing the same.
He also warned that police would not go easy on people who threaten or attack them, but would ensure their attackers face the full brunt of the law.
Maugla has been discharged from
Floods destroy Anglimp area
By YVONNE HAIP
THOUSANDS of kina worth of properties, education infrastructure and food gardens were destroyed at Avi in Western Highlands’ Anglimp district after heavy rain forced rivers to flood their banks last Thursday night, The National reports.
Students turning up for classes last Friday found their chairs and desks floating around and had to wade into the classrooms to save some of their items.
Classes were suspended for the day.
Families, on the other hand, spent the day draining flood waters from their food gardens while others checked on their livestock that could have fled the area or were caught in the floodwaters and carried away.
According to community leader Pr Solomon Lucas, the issue of flooding in Avi was ongoing and needed to be addressed at the provincial level.
He said flooding was brought on by drainage problems and, even though the local community had done its part to trying to resolve it, the problem had resurfaced and was affecting them.
He said the primary solution was to maintain and seal the feeder roads, with one of them leading to Baisu jail, and build proper bridges.
Lucas said in this way, the drainage system would be upgraded and streams, which caused flooding, could be diverted into the nearby Waghi and Penn rivers.
He said ongoing flooding and the problems it posed had gone unnoticed by the government and was a sign that government services in the district were either lacking or were in chaos.
Lucas said locals, a majority of whom were block holders, had suffered long enough and were wondering when existing services would be maintained.
He called on local MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham to bail them out of this mess as the people were being denied services when schools and roads were affected by the floods.
He said the community had played its part and now needed government intervention to replace the logs being used as bridges and upgrade the road system.
 |
| Classes suspended ... Avi Nazarene Elementary School students in Anglimp, Western Highlands, turned up for classes last Friday only to find their classrooms flooded as a result of heavy rain the previous night. Nearby, villagers lost their food gardens and livestock while the roads and bridges in the area have disappeared. – Nationalpic by YVONNE HAIP |
Students turning up for classes last Friday found their chairs and desks floating around and had to wade into the classrooms to save some of their items.
Classes were suspended for the day.
Families, on the other hand, spent the day draining flood waters from their food gardens while others checked on their livestock that could have fled the area or were caught in the floodwaters and carried away.
According to community leader Pr Solomon Lucas, the issue of flooding in Avi was ongoing and needed to be addressed at the provincial level.
He said flooding was brought on by drainage problems and, even though the local community had done its part to trying to resolve it, the problem had resurfaced and was affecting them.
He said the primary solution was to maintain and seal the feeder roads, with one of them leading to Baisu jail, and build proper bridges.
Lucas said in this way, the drainage system would be upgraded and streams, which caused flooding, could be diverted into the nearby Waghi and Penn rivers.
He said ongoing flooding and the problems it posed had gone unnoticed by the government and was a sign that government services in the district were either lacking or were in chaos.
Lucas said locals, a majority of whom were block holders, had suffered long enough and were wondering when existing services would be maintained.
He called on local MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham to bail them out of this mess as the people were being denied services when schools and roads were affected by the floods.
He said the community had played its part and now needed government intervention to replace the logs being used as bridges and upgrade the road system.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Border Development Authority celebrates second anniversary with new website
By MALUM NALU
Treasurer Peter O’Neill says the Border Development Authority (BDA) is working towards increasing economic activities in the long-neglected border provinces.
He said this at a function last Thursday to celebrate BDA’s second year in existence, launch of its new website http://www.bda.gov.pg/ , and the screening of a television documentary on the launching of BDA’s new vessel mv Manus Atolls.
O’Neill said BDA was working towards increasing economic activities in border provinces, and complementing the work of existing government agencies to improve the lives of rural people.
“These are the people we have ignored for the last 30-odd years,” he said.
“I see that the Border Development Authority is working towards achieving that goal.”
The BDA was established by an Act of Parliament in August 2008.
Provinces covered by the act are West Sepik, Western, Manus, New Ireland, Milne Bay and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The BDA was officially launched on March 3, 2009, at the Ela Beach Hotel in Port Moresby.
The inauguration ceremony coincided with the appointment and swearing-in of board members followed by the first board meeting.
The main responsibility of the BDA is to improve the lives of people living in the border provinces of Papua New Guinea by coordinating and implementing economic, social, and security projects and infrastructures.
 |
| Treasurer Peter O’Neill (left) and BDA executive chairman Pomat Manuai watch a projected version of the new website.-Picture by MALUM NALU |
He said this at a function last Thursday to celebrate BDA’s second year in existence, launch of its new website http://www.bda.gov.pg/ , and the screening of a television documentary on the launching of BDA’s new vessel mv Manus Atolls.
O’Neill said BDA was working towards increasing economic activities in border provinces, and complementing the work of existing government agencies to improve the lives of rural people.
“These are the people we have ignored for the last 30-odd years,” he said.
“I see that the Border Development Authority is working towards achieving that goal.”
The BDA was established by an Act of Parliament in August 2008.
Provinces covered by the act are West Sepik, Western, Manus, New Ireland, Milne Bay and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The BDA was officially launched on March 3, 2009, at the Ela Beach Hotel in Port Moresby.
The inauguration ceremony coincided with the appointment and swearing-in of board members followed by the first board meeting.
The main responsibility of the BDA is to improve the lives of people living in the border provinces of Papua New Guinea by coordinating and implementing economic, social, and security projects and infrastructures.
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