Huli wigmen for world music festival

HULI wigmen dancers will have a chance to showcase PNG culture at this weekend’s world music festival in Adelaide, Australia, The National reports.

The Huli Duna Cultural Group rehearsing in Port Moresby for the world music festival in Adelaide, Australia, starting this Friday.

The Huli dancers from Southern Highlands have been invited by organisers, a first of its kind, to add colour and a different music flavour with their kundu drums.
The biennial music festival attracts some of the world’s popular rock and contemporary bands.
The Huli Duna Cultural Group, consisting of men, women and children, will leave for Adelaide tomorrow for the March 11-14 festival.
Markham Galut, who is the coordinator for the trip, said: “We are there to showcase our huge cultural heritage.
“We want to see if we can feature, blend and promote PNG culture to the world music scene.”
Galut, a freelance artist, dancer and musician, has been working closely with David Brady, a Melbourne-based musician, who has been promoting PNG string-band music, especially Tolai rock le­gend George Telek.
Brady, through the organisers, had extended the invitation to PNG through Galut who had a difficult task in selecting a group to represent more than 800 different cultural groups.
“I sent the some sample videos of our traditional dancers and the organisers were impressed with the colourful Huli dancers,” Galut said.
The group’s return air tickets, accommodation and transport while in Australia will be met by the festival organisers.
Huli Duna Cultural Group chairman Simon Bole, who will be accompanying his dance troupe, said PNG had been talking about and promoting the LNG project.
Bole said the LNG project would only bring Western cultures and modernisation, “a threat to our culture”.
He said the LNG project would come and go but unique cultures and traditions must be preserved for long term sustainable tourism dollars.
“The LNG project will not promote our cultures. We have a rich culture that we must protect at all costs.
“We must preserve and teach our children to uphold our cultures which will become extinct if nothing is done,” Bole said.
He also appealed to Culture and Tourism Promotion Authority to support freelancers such as Galut, who had given their time and resource, to give the Huli an opportunity to become ambassadors re­presenting PNG’s different tribes at this year’s world music festival.

Bank South Pacific K283.15m net profit

BANK South Pacific posted an after tax profit of K283.15 million for the financial year 2010, The National reports.

The bank also announced that its assets as of December last year were worth K8.655 billion, up 6% from December 2009.

BSP chairman Kostas Constantinou made the disclosure in a financial result submitted to the Port Moresby Stock Exchange.

The bank’s pre-tax profit was K402.10 million, up 6% from K377.96 million posted at the end of 2009.

Constantinou said that emerging from period of some uncertainty into a year that held out some promise of a strengthening global recovery, and some positive expectations about the domestic economy, the BSP Group achieved sound result last year.

He said this was characterised by continued profitability and balance of sheet growth, showing operational and financial stability.

Constantinou said most of the growth was attributed to non-interest income streams following a fall in net interest margins occasioned by a prolonged decline in bank bill rates since late in the second quarter of the year.

The newly-appointed chairman stressed the re-branding of BSP continued to be successful last year with some emphasis given to the appropriate BSP branding of newly-acquired business in Fiji.

He said overall, the group posted well-rounded financial achievement for last year considering that the bank was progressing with major commitments to transform its programmes.

Constantinou said much work had been required on the integration of the newly acquired Fiji business.

“In 2010, there was evidence of a slow strengthening of global economic conditions with large traditional economic powers in North America and Europe showing more sustained recovery trends and the developing high-growth Asian and South American economies continuing to accelerate,” Constantinou said.

“PNG’s economy became increasingly exposed to those global trends as we move closer towards major steps change expected as the LNG project reaches production phase.

BSP was striving to get itself into a position where it would be able to achieve solid performances which would be competitive by global standards under these conditions.

“The 2010 results showed that we continue on track with this objective,” Constantinou added.

 

 

Departments summoned

PAC to haul up below par govt agencies

 

By DENNIS ORERE

 

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inspected the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital and the Port Moresby General Hospital yesterday, The National reports.

The PAC is expected to hold inquiries into the Department of Health today and also open inquiries into several government entities.

Tomorrow, the PAC will haul up the worst performing government institutions identified through the inquiries, to explain to the committee why they are unable to improve their performance.

The inspection team yesterday was led by chairman Martin Aini and Bulolo MP Sam Basil.

Chief Secretary Margaret Elias and other senior go­vernment officials from the Prime Minister’s Department and the Department of Health accompanied the inspection team.

At the PMGH, the team visited various wards, asking questions and receiving answers from hospital management and staff members.

Patients with relatives and staff at the hospital reacted in various ways when they saw the team touring the hospital, with some being happy that such an inspection could result in changes to the hospital in the future.

Others just admired the presence of senior government officials at the hospital.

 

North Bougainville polls set for May 14

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

 

PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen has announ­ced March 21 as the date for the issue of writs for the North Bougainville open electorate by-election in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, The National reports.

It is to fill the vacant seat left by former North Bougainville member Michael Ogio, who is now the governor-general, and is expected to cost the state K2.6 million. 

Trawen, who was in Buka Island last Thursday to meet with the provincial election steering committee on preparations for the 2012 general election, said the by-election would take place as per the time sche­dule set by the commission.

“Following the issue of writs, close of nomination will be on March 28 with polling on May 14 and end on May 20.

“The return of writs will be on June 10,” Trawen said.

Bougainville electoral commissioner Reitama Taravaru said his office was prepared for the by-election.

“We aim to see a peaceful and democratic by-election. Despite the time constraints, I am confident it will progress at a comfortable pace,” Taravaru said.

Preparations by the Bougainville electoral team include training and awareness for groups who will be assisting in the by-election.

They include civil society groups, police, Leitana Wo­men’s Council and United church AIDS council.

“Due to the time constraints in preparing the roll before the issue of writs, we will be using the ABG electoral rolls used in the last election with village assembly clerks assisting to prepare the election roll be­cause of their local knowledge of the area and the people,” Ta­ravaru said.

Six assisting returning officers to be nominated by the PNG electoral commission will be assisting Taravaru, who will be the returning officer for the by-election.

 

 

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Fuel prices up again

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

FUEL prices for this month will see a big increase led by diesel and kerosene, The National reports.

Consumers in Port Moresby will now have to pay K3.26 for a litre of diesel, a rise of 15t, while kerosene is up 17t to K3.19 per litre.

Petrol, meanwhile, rose by 7t to K3.69 per litre.

Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) Commissioner Dr Billy Manoka said given another increase in crude oil prices last month, demand for crude oil continued to reach high peaks in the Asia Pacific region.

However, the trend is heading for a repeat of high fuel prices last felt in July 2008.

Then, Port Moresby experienced the highest ever fuel charges with petrol selling at K4.20 per liter, diesel K4.19 and kerosene K4.

According the ICCC 2008 annual report, domestic prices decreased since August 2008 and this trend was maintained until December 2008.

This period of price reduction is the longest ever experienced in the country and the PNG consumers had benefited from these reductions.

This was due to the fall in crude and refined product prices as a result of a US-led recession which spread to Europe and parts of Asia.

From 2009 through to early this year, fuel and crude oil prices have continued to increase slowly but steadily.

Last month saw crude prices spiking due to political tensions in North Africa and several parts of Middle East.

This has caused crude oil prices to pass US$100 per barrel for the first time since 2008.

Changes in fuel prices are determined by global energy demand and supply and given that crude oil is a globally traded commodity, it is expected that demand and supply determinants in the major regions around the world, the value of the US dollar and other geo-political tensions in oil producing nations will continue to cause prices to change at any time in the future.

Manoka said should the crude oil continued to trade above the US$100 per barrel, then prices would have to be adjusted accordingly.

He said domestic prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming months should crude oil prices continue to trade below or above that mark.

British High Commission launches women’s advisory centre

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.

Challenges of pig production in Papua New Guinea

By STANLEY AMBEN of NARI

Cross-bred pigs at Lennie Aparima’s pig farm at Munum village, Morobe province

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.