By PATRICK TALU
TRADE, Immigration and Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye has signed a bilateral accord on Tuesday that would remove obstacles to Japanese investment in the Pacific country rich in natural resources such as liquefied natural gas and copper ore, The National reports.
Japanese foreign minister Takeaki Matsumoto and Polye endorsed the pact in Tokyo, with the two expressing hope that the accord would deepen bilateral economic ties.
In a meeting with Polye following a signing ceremony of the investment treaty, Matsumoto said Tokyo would try to ratify the accord soon.
The Japanese minister also expressed gratitude for donations of K10 million by Polye on behalf of the people of PNG to support Japanese victims of the March 11 9.0 quake and tsunami.
The two countries launched negotiations on the investment pact last September after then Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Papua New Guinean counterpart Sir Michael Somare reached an accord to start the talks in March last year.
During the talks, Matsumoto told Polye that Japan, which faces energy shortages due chiefly to the ongoing nuclear crisis spawned by the twin disasters, hoped that Papua New Guinea would be a stable LNG supplier for Japan.
Polye said from Tokyo that PNG would ensure that a LNG development project, in which JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp is involved, would run smoothly.
About half of some 6.6 million tonnes of LNG to be produced annually from the project is scheduled to be exported to Japan.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Japan embassy in Port Moresby said it hoped that the signing of the bilateral investment agreement would further boost the economic development of PNG and affirm the bilateral relationship of the two counties.
“The agreement will contribute to enhancing legal stability for investment and promoting investment between the two counties as well as people-people exchange.
“It will also contribute to further strengthening the economic relationship with PNG which is being more important to Japan as a supplier of LNG,” the statement said.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Seven government organisations excluded from 7.5% pay rise
By JEFFREY ELAPA
NOT all public servants will benefit from the 7.5% pay increase signed between the Public Employees Association and Department of Personnel Management yesterday, The National reports.
Under the new memorandum of agreement, seven government organisations involved in service to the people are excluded in the payout expected on May 18, the 10th pay day of the government payroll system.
More than 35,000 public servants will be entitled to the salary increase.
Department not included in the award are police, Correction Services, Teaching Service Commission, Defence, Ministerial Services, National Forest Authority and the National Judiciary Services and Magisterial Services.
Public servants in other departments and government organisations will benefit from salary increases for the next three years.
Public Employees Association president Michael Malabag said a 6% salary increase plus a 1.5% increment based on productivity had been agreed too.
He said the package included a consumer price index threshold given by the government to cushion any fluctuations of CPI.
He said this would be determined “from time to time”.
He said recreational leave fares to employees would be made available after every two years for a public servant and his family.
Malabag said the association had rejected the government’s buy-out offer of K500 per annum for the K20 fortnight housing subsidy.
He said the association was negotiating for a K250 fortnightly accommodation allowance and would pursue the matter before the public service conciliation and arbitration tribunal.
He said the government’s home ownership scheme was vague and a long-term plan that would benefit and solve the housing problems of public servants.
But, Malabag said other matters such as retrenchment/ retirement agreement, reduction of 35% tax on terminal benefits, compulsory life and health insurance cover, risk allowance and review of outdated allowance rate provided in the general orders would be negotiated at a later date.
DPM secretary John Kali urged all public servants to perform their duties diligently.
He said the people really needed their service and with the increase in salary, they should perform better.
The new agreement covers a three-year period of annual increases.
NOT all public servants will benefit from the 7.5% pay increase signed between the Public Employees Association and Department of Personnel Management yesterday, The National reports.
Under the new memorandum of agreement, seven government organisations involved in service to the people are excluded in the payout expected on May 18, the 10th pay day of the government payroll system.
More than 35,000 public servants will be entitled to the salary increase.
Department not included in the award are police, Correction Services, Teaching Service Commission, Defence, Ministerial Services, National Forest Authority and the National Judiciary Services and Magisterial Services.
Public servants in other departments and government organisations will benefit from salary increases for the next three years.
Public Employees Association president Michael Malabag said a 6% salary increase plus a 1.5% increment based on productivity had been agreed too.
He said the package included a consumer price index threshold given by the government to cushion any fluctuations of CPI.
He said this would be determined “from time to time”.
He said recreational leave fares to employees would be made available after every two years for a public servant and his family.
Malabag said the association had rejected the government’s buy-out offer of K500 per annum for the K20 fortnight housing subsidy.
He said the association was negotiating for a K250 fortnightly accommodation allowance and would pursue the matter before the public service conciliation and arbitration tribunal.
He said the government’s home ownership scheme was vague and a long-term plan that would benefit and solve the housing problems of public servants.
But, Malabag said other matters such as retrenchment/ retirement agreement, reduction of 35% tax on terminal benefits, compulsory life and health insurance cover, risk allowance and review of outdated allowance rate provided in the general orders would be negotiated at a later date.
DPM secretary John Kali urged all public servants to perform their duties diligently.
He said the people really needed their service and with the increase in salary, they should perform better.
The new agreement covers a three-year period of annual increases.
Remake of old ‘house’ to portray democracy
THE torn-down old House of Assembly in downtown Port Moresby is to be rebuilt and dedicated as a museum to the birth of democracy in Papua New Guinea, The National reports.
Superannuation fund, Nambawan Super Ltd (NSL), is the major shareholder (65%) in a joint venture with the Lamana Group that will construct a replica of the old House of Assembly.
NSL chairman Sir Nagora Bogan said in a statement yesterday that, when completed, the building would be transferred to the National Museum and Art Gallery at no cost to the state.
In return, the joint venture would be given an adjacent subdivision of the House of Assembly land to develop for its own purposes.
The statement sets to rest conflicting messages reported this week that the site might be turned over to private interests to use for their purposes, a view that was supported by the culture and tourism minister and the management of the national museum.
The plan for a private consortium to build a replica of the old House of Assembly was agreed to by the national executive council in January 2007 but internal matters of due diligence that followed to ensure probity by the Nambawan Super took time, Sir Nagora said.
When completed, the replica of the old House of Assembly will have on display old photos, statutes and other memorabilia such as who designed the national flag and who wrote the national anthem.
Former culture, tourism and civil aviation minister Charles Abel, who had quite a bit to do with this idea in his time, said: “We wanted not just to restore the House of Assembly but to have a living, moving theme.
“We wanted an element of self-sufficiency to it.”
Sir Nagora confirmed this in his statement: “We are pleased to be able to play a significant role in restoring a place of our modern history where the birth of our democracy took place.
“This will be a historic place where many of our citizens, our children and visitors can visit, reflect and, hopefully, be inspired.”
He praised the Lamana Group for its part in the project.
“We have had a number of successful joint ventures with the Lamana Group which has delivered positive returns and value to the fund.
“Nambawan Super, as a responsible corporate citizen, is pleased to be part of a final win-win solution to rebuild a significant piece of our nation’s democratic history.”
Many attempts have been made in the past to restore the building but none had materialised.
Considerable funds were raised and assigned to the project to no effect.
The neglect continued and the building became more derelict to the extent that a demolition order was issued in June 2005.
In July 2006, a notice for eviction and demolition was published.
A press statement in April 2006 created the seeds of an idea which would see the old House of Assembly reborn as a memorial and a museum dedicated to the birth of democracy in PNG.
That statement related to the disappearance of K300,000 raised for the renovation of the old house.
Not a toea was spent on restoration, the report said.
That article highlighted the sad state of the old House of Assembly which had been ravaged by fire.
Many former staff, or their relatives, and new squatters converged on the property and demolition notices were issued by NCDC.
Sir Nagora said the joint venture had spent close to Kl million in land rent payments to the state and in getting the site ready for improvement.
He said the rest of the land would be developed for commercial use.
“Nambawan Super is leading the project and acknowledges that it will be in PNG hands with our members benefiting both in commercial terms and for restoring a major part of our nation’s history,” he said.
Superannuation fund, Nambawan Super Ltd (NSL), is the major shareholder (65%) in a joint venture with the Lamana Group that will construct a replica of the old House of Assembly.
NSL chairman Sir Nagora Bogan said in a statement yesterday that, when completed, the building would be transferred to the National Museum and Art Gallery at no cost to the state.
In return, the joint venture would be given an adjacent subdivision of the House of Assembly land to develop for its own purposes.
The statement sets to rest conflicting messages reported this week that the site might be turned over to private interests to use for their purposes, a view that was supported by the culture and tourism minister and the management of the national museum.
The plan for a private consortium to build a replica of the old House of Assembly was agreed to by the national executive council in January 2007 but internal matters of due diligence that followed to ensure probity by the Nambawan Super took time, Sir Nagora said.
When completed, the replica of the old House of Assembly will have on display old photos, statutes and other memorabilia such as who designed the national flag and who wrote the national anthem.
Former culture, tourism and civil aviation minister Charles Abel, who had quite a bit to do with this idea in his time, said: “We wanted not just to restore the House of Assembly but to have a living, moving theme.
“We wanted an element of self-sufficiency to it.”
Sir Nagora confirmed this in his statement: “We are pleased to be able to play a significant role in restoring a place of our modern history where the birth of our democracy took place.
“This will be a historic place where many of our citizens, our children and visitors can visit, reflect and, hopefully, be inspired.”
He praised the Lamana Group for its part in the project.
“We have had a number of successful joint ventures with the Lamana Group which has delivered positive returns and value to the fund.
“Nambawan Super, as a responsible corporate citizen, is pleased to be part of a final win-win solution to rebuild a significant piece of our nation’s democratic history.”
Many attempts have been made in the past to restore the building but none had materialised.
Considerable funds were raised and assigned to the project to no effect.
The neglect continued and the building became more derelict to the extent that a demolition order was issued in June 2005.
In July 2006, a notice for eviction and demolition was published.
A press statement in April 2006 created the seeds of an idea which would see the old House of Assembly reborn as a memorial and a museum dedicated to the birth of democracy in PNG.
That statement related to the disappearance of K300,000 raised for the renovation of the old house.
Not a toea was spent on restoration, the report said.
That article highlighted the sad state of the old House of Assembly which had been ravaged by fire.
Many former staff, or their relatives, and new squatters converged on the property and demolition notices were issued by NCDC.
Sir Nagora said the joint venture had spent close to Kl million in land rent payments to the state and in getting the site ready for improvement.
He said the rest of the land would be developed for commercial use.
“Nambawan Super is leading the project and acknowledges that it will be in PNG hands with our members benefiting both in commercial terms and for restoring a major part of our nation’s history,” he said.
Port Moresby power, water restored
City Hall kick-starts talks with K500,000
By ANGELINE KARIUS and SAMUEL RAITANO
WATER and power was restored to Port Moresby residents at 1pm yesterday after Koiari landowners reached an agreement with the national government and NCDC, The National reports.
The landowners agreed to accept K500,000 instead of the K1.5 million they had demanded.
They then handed over the keys to the Rouna II hydropower station.
By 8pm last night, electricity and water were fully restored to the capital city.
The keys were given in exchange for the payment, which would be used to facilitate talks between the landowners and the national government over outstanding memorandum of understanding (MoU) issues.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the K500,000 from the City Hall was not to compensate for the death of Koiari leader Umaia Koeari.
It was to help the landowners begin negotiations under the established task force committee and ensure a memorandum of agreement (MoA) was reached.
He said he would join the task force team, set up by the national government, to address the grievances the landowners had with the state in order to solve the matter once and for all.
He said compensation payments by the government would set a precedent for future demands when similar incidents occurred.
Parkop said the K1.5 million compensation requested by landowners should be paid by the perpetrators responsible for Koeari’s death and not the government.
Koeari was killed on April 19 at Hohola 3, Port Moresby.
Parkop thanked acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, Higher Education Minister and Kairuku-Hiri MP Paru Aihi and Finance Minister Peter O’Neill for their help in reaching a quick resolution to the water and power crisis in the capital.
“I am happy that an agreement has been reached, and power and water supply restored,” Parkop said.
Aihi thanked his people for taking the boldness to address the issue.
“Koiari people have been neglected for too long,” he said, stressing that a MoA was needed to secure commitments on their behalf and the government to fully realise its positions on the agreement.
He said Abal and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet had assured their support for the people.
Both PNG Power and Eda Ranu officers thanked Parkop for resolving the dispute.
Landowners cut water and power supplies to Port Moresby on Tuesday.
PNG Power workmen were filling the head pond and penstock before water could go into Rouna 1, III and IV power stations to start generating electricity.
Linesmen were working on a fallen line that caused a blackout last night and disrupted the starting of auxiliary equipment at the power stations.
By ANGELINE KARIUS and SAMUEL RAITANO
WATER and power was restored to Port Moresby residents at 1pm yesterday after Koiari landowners reached an agreement with the national government and NCDC, The National reports.
 |
| Kairuku-Hiri MP and Minister for Education Paru Aihi (left) assisting NCD Governor Powes Parkop as he switches on the main power valve at 1pm yesterday.-Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU |
They then handed over the keys to the Rouna II hydropower station.
By 8pm last night, electricity and water were fully restored to the capital city.
The keys were given in exchange for the payment, which would be used to facilitate talks between the landowners and the national government over outstanding memorandum of understanding (MoU) issues.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the K500,000 from the City Hall was not to compensate for the death of Koiari leader Umaia Koeari.
It was to help the landowners begin negotiations under the established task force committee and ensure a memorandum of agreement (MoA) was reached.
He said he would join the task force team, set up by the national government, to address the grievances the landowners had with the state in order to solve the matter once and for all.
He said compensation payments by the government would set a precedent for future demands when similar incidents occurred.
Parkop said the K1.5 million compensation requested by landowners should be paid by the perpetrators responsible for Koeari’s death and not the government.
Koeari was killed on April 19 at Hohola 3, Port Moresby.
Parkop thanked acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, Higher Education Minister and Kairuku-Hiri MP Paru Aihi and Finance Minister Peter O’Neill for their help in reaching a quick resolution to the water and power crisis in the capital.
“I am happy that an agreement has been reached, and power and water supply restored,” Parkop said.
Aihi thanked his people for taking the boldness to address the issue.
“Koiari people have been neglected for too long,” he said, stressing that a MoA was needed to secure commitments on their behalf and the government to fully realise its positions on the agreement.
He said Abal and Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet had assured their support for the people.
Both PNG Power and Eda Ranu officers thanked Parkop for resolving the dispute.
Landowners cut water and power supplies to Port Moresby on Tuesday.
PNG Power workmen were filling the head pond and penstock before water could go into Rouna 1, III and IV power stations to start generating electricity.
Linesmen were working on a fallen line that caused a blackout last night and disrupted the starting of auxiliary equipment at the power stations.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Here they lie segregated from the mainstream
By DAVID NALU
Beneath giant rain trees that lined the perimeter of the cemetery were hundreds of neatly lined granite headstones on manicured lawns.
They reflected faint light in the in the cool misty morning air.
This was Bomana war cemetery, at the ANZAC day dawn service on the 25th April 2011, to commemorate Australian and New Zealand service personnel that lost their lives in major conflicts and especially World War II which was more relevant to PNG.
It was a quiet, perfect and sombre moment to reflect on life generally, and to remember our own fragile mortality and to remind one’s self of where we fit into the massive scheme of the things in history, time and space.
As the ceremony drew to a close, I left the crowd and wandered down the rows of graves, with the lone bugle call of the “Last Post” resonating in the background, in the early morning misty dawn and amidst the morning cries of the “kigahoc” birds in the tree tops.
I wandered on, a little bemused yet sadly sorry by the names and ages engraved on the upright, granite headstones that marked the graves.
Maybe it was the sombre moment, but what struck me next and welled silent tears, was when I crossed the line of the graves of an the unknown soldiers.
For them - the daily prayers offered by their mothers to the Almighty, for the return of their sons, was not to be.
Their inscriptions on granite slabs simply read, “Known only unto God” - a stark reminder of the often senseless nature of war.
It was these very thoughts that ran through me, and to well those silent tears.
It was the tragedy of war – my thoughts went out to the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters that will never what really know became of their loved ones.
Driven by the call of the British Empire, they left the comforts of their home and took up arms to rage a war in tropical jungles in a foreign land against a fearful enemy exaggerated maybe more so on propaganda.
Despite all that war historian and books will tell you - one really has to wander what the war was really about - what was it really for – you’d have to be almost insane to leave the comforts of your home, bundle off to a foreign land and fight a meaningless battle against an enemy you did not know nor really understand what had driven them to war.
However what has always been painfully apparent was the lack of appropriate recognition by the colonial regime, of the significant contribution of the Papuan soldiers, carriers and even indigenous Australians who served and lost their lives.
They only feature in the far corner of the cemetery, amounting to 30 so headstones, but segregated away from the mainstream.
Beneath giant rain trees that lined the perimeter of the cemetery were hundreds of neatly lined granite headstones on manicured lawns.
 |
| Juanita Gamoga (left) and Lavao Nalu against a backdrop of white crosses at Bomana War cemetery on ANZAC Day 2011 |
This was Bomana war cemetery, at the ANZAC day dawn service on the 25th April 2011, to commemorate Australian and New Zealand service personnel that lost their lives in major conflicts and especially World War II which was more relevant to PNG.
It was a quiet, perfect and sombre moment to reflect on life generally, and to remember our own fragile mortality and to remind one’s self of where we fit into the massive scheme of the things in history, time and space.
As the ceremony drew to a close, I left the crowd and wandered down the rows of graves, with the lone bugle call of the “Last Post” resonating in the background, in the early morning misty dawn and amidst the morning cries of the “kigahoc” birds in the tree tops.
I wandered on, a little bemused yet sadly sorry by the names and ages engraved on the upright, granite headstones that marked the graves.
Maybe it was the sombre moment, but what struck me next and welled silent tears, was when I crossed the line of the graves of an the unknown soldiers.
For them - the daily prayers offered by their mothers to the Almighty, for the return of their sons, was not to be.
Their inscriptions on granite slabs simply read, “Known only unto God” - a stark reminder of the often senseless nature of war.
 |
| Sunrise over Bomana War Cemetery on ANZAC Day 2011 |
It was the tragedy of war – my thoughts went out to the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters that will never what really know became of their loved ones.
Driven by the call of the British Empire, they left the comforts of their home and took up arms to rage a war in tropical jungles in a foreign land against a fearful enemy exaggerated maybe more so on propaganda.
Despite all that war historian and books will tell you - one really has to wander what the war was really about - what was it really for – you’d have to be almost insane to leave the comforts of your home, bundle off to a foreign land and fight a meaningless battle against an enemy you did not know nor really understand what had driven them to war.
However what has always been painfully apparent was the lack of appropriate recognition by the colonial regime, of the significant contribution of the Papuan soldiers, carriers and even indigenous Australians who served and lost their lives.
They only feature in the far corner of the cemetery, amounting to 30 so headstones, but segregated away from the mainstream.
Somare recovering after surgery
By ABC PNG correspondent LIAM FOX
Papua New Guinea's elderly leader Sir Michael Somare is said to be recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Sir Michael has been in Singapore on medical leave for the last fortnight and there have been rumours the 75-year-old had died.
But his spokeswoman and daughter, Betha Somare, says Sir Michael underwent surgery last week and is recovering well.
"He remains a fighter and will be around for many years to come," she said in a short statement.
No further details of the surgery were released.
In another statement, Sir Michael's deputy chief of staff Leonard Louma said the leader will remain in Singapore until he is fit enough to resume his duties as prime minister.
Papua New Guinea's elderly leader Sir Michael Somare is said to be recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Sir Michael has been in Singapore on medical leave for the last fortnight and there have been rumours the 75-year-old had died.
But his spokeswoman and daughter, Betha Somare, says Sir Michael underwent surgery last week and is recovering well.
"He remains a fighter and will be around for many years to come," she said in a short statement.
No further details of the surgery were released.
In another statement, Sir Michael's deputy chief of staff Leonard Louma said the leader will remain in Singapore until he is fit enough to resume his duties as prime minister.
The truth about the old House of Assembly
By JULIUS VIOLARIS
President – Board of Trustees
National Museum and Art Gallery
A lot of controversy and misinformation has been circulating in the press regarding the “Old House of Assembly” and the future of the site and the building.
As President of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum & Art Gallery I wish to clarify the situation that now exists by providing some hard facts to dispel rumors and misconceptions.
These are the facts that people should consider, regarding the recent history of the “House of Assembly” and the actions taken by the Government to safeguard the site and to replicate the original “House of Assembly” on that site.
These may not be what the public perception is at the moment, but it is the truth of the matter.
Firstly, there is nothing left of the original building that can be saved and refurbished.
It is all gone.
• The Old House has had a varied history, originally built in 1905 as a hospital in early colonial times. Eventually it became the First Legislative Assembly between 1958 and 1960, and four years later it became the full House of Assembly. It was extended at various times and after independence in 1975 it changed name from House of Assembly to National Parliament.
• It was vacated after the construction and opening of the National Parliament building at Waigani in 1984. The building was left to the care of the Central Provincial Government for purposes of its Provincial Assembly. This was formalised by an NEC decision, No27/90
• In 1992, the Central Provincial Government was granted a Business (Commercial) lease over the land where the Old House of Assembly was located. By this time they had abandoned the building for Konedobu where they actually moved to in 1990.
• Between 1990 and 1996 the building was left unattended by any official government authority and illegal tenants moved in. The building suffered severe vandalism during these time and two fires consumed 90% of the building in 1996.
• The fires crystallised attention on the Old House of Assembly and a public outcry galvanised government action and the NEC in 1996 by its Decision No.182/96 rescinded the earlier decision No.27/90 resolved to transfer the custody of the Old House of Assembly from the Central Provincial Government to the National Museum & Art Gallery. The same decision carries a Directive to the NMAG tasking it with restoring the Old House of Assembly and developing it into a political museum and a historical monument. Following the NEC decision the Minister for lands granted a lease on the property to the NMAG in February 1998.
• The restoration project was supposed to commence in 1997 and the Government earmarked seed funding of K106,000 for this. The Museum, also with the help of the “Friends of the Museum”, initiated a fund-raising drive called “Save the House Fund” which apparently raised K300, 000 between 1997 and 2006. Sadly not only did the NMAG neglect to take any action to restore the building, it made all the funds raised “disappear” (see Post Courier 26th April 2006)
• It is a sad fact that the management of the NMAG and the leadership became weakened by politics and self-serving interests and obviously lacked the inspiration, willingness and energy to see this restorative project implemented. Even after the NCDC Building Authority issued a demolition order on the buildings in June 2005 they waited for a year for the NMAG to respond. When they failed to do so , they published the Demolition order in the National on the 26th July 2006.
• This period marks the “Dark Ages” for the NMAG, with ineffective and corrupt management that did not just neglect its duties but actively acted contrary to the safeguarding and preservation of our culture, monuments and artefacts.
• The NEC, in its wisdom, resolved to take action and by its Decision No 30/2007 to approve the proposal by OPH Limited to replicate the Old House of Assembly and have that and the land it sits on handed over to the NMAG as the State Agency that is to be responsible to preserve the “Historical Centre” and that OPH Limited have the remaining land granted to them.
• The remains of the OHA are not existing to be refurbished – it is physically impossible to do so – and so a new building, replicating the old, will be constructed and given to the NMAG. It will be developed at a cost equivalent to the market value of the whole Section 8 Allotment 11.
Basically, the NMAG and the people of PNG are getting a replica of the Old House of Assembly at no cost to the state, and as far as the NMAG is concerned it is in fact selling part of the land to finance rebuilding the Old House of Assembly.
In view of the situation that existed in 2007, the NEC acted in the best interests of the NMAG and the people of Papua New Guinea by the actions it has taken to safeguard the site of the historic building and at the same time creating a monument to the birth of our Nation.
This land that the Old House was on is not just any lease-hold land and it should not be traded and bought and sold as any other lease-hold property in the land.
It is the womb in which the Nation of Papua New Guinea was developed and grew before its birth, and the Government should take whatever steps necessary to protect it and this it has done through NEC Decision No. 30/2007.
The current Board of Trustees is very much aware of its duty and is doing everything in its power to return the NMAG to its proper role.
We have now identified the only Papua New Guinean educated and qualified to run the Museum, we have overcome challenges and court actions by the past management and are now waiting for our political masters to officially appoint him in this important role.
President – Board of Trustees
National Museum and Art Gallery
 |
| The House of Assembly as it used to be, driving up Touaguba Hill |
As President of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum & Art Gallery I wish to clarify the situation that now exists by providing some hard facts to dispel rumors and misconceptions.
These are the facts that people should consider, regarding the recent history of the “House of Assembly” and the actions taken by the Government to safeguard the site and to replicate the original “House of Assembly” on that site.
These may not be what the public perception is at the moment, but it is the truth of the matter.
Firstly, there is nothing left of the original building that can be saved and refurbished.
It is all gone.
• The Old House has had a varied history, originally built in 1905 as a hospital in early colonial times. Eventually it became the First Legislative Assembly between 1958 and 1960, and four years later it became the full House of Assembly. It was extended at various times and after independence in 1975 it changed name from House of Assembly to National Parliament.
• It was vacated after the construction and opening of the National Parliament building at Waigani in 1984. The building was left to the care of the Central Provincial Government for purposes of its Provincial Assembly. This was formalised by an NEC decision, No27/90
• In 1992, the Central Provincial Government was granted a Business (Commercial) lease over the land where the Old House of Assembly was located. By this time they had abandoned the building for Konedobu where they actually moved to in 1990.
• Between 1990 and 1996 the building was left unattended by any official government authority and illegal tenants moved in. The building suffered severe vandalism during these time and two fires consumed 90% of the building in 1996.
• The fires crystallised attention on the Old House of Assembly and a public outcry galvanised government action and the NEC in 1996 by its Decision No.182/96 rescinded the earlier decision No.27/90 resolved to transfer the custody of the Old House of Assembly from the Central Provincial Government to the National Museum & Art Gallery. The same decision carries a Directive to the NMAG tasking it with restoring the Old House of Assembly and developing it into a political museum and a historical monument. Following the NEC decision the Minister for lands granted a lease on the property to the NMAG in February 1998.
• The restoration project was supposed to commence in 1997 and the Government earmarked seed funding of K106,000 for this. The Museum, also with the help of the “Friends of the Museum”, initiated a fund-raising drive called “Save the House Fund” which apparently raised K300, 000 between 1997 and 2006. Sadly not only did the NMAG neglect to take any action to restore the building, it made all the funds raised “disappear” (see Post Courier 26th April 2006)
• It is a sad fact that the management of the NMAG and the leadership became weakened by politics and self-serving interests and obviously lacked the inspiration, willingness and energy to see this restorative project implemented. Even after the NCDC Building Authority issued a demolition order on the buildings in June 2005 they waited for a year for the NMAG to respond. When they failed to do so , they published the Demolition order in the National on the 26th July 2006.
• This period marks the “Dark Ages” for the NMAG, with ineffective and corrupt management that did not just neglect its duties but actively acted contrary to the safeguarding and preservation of our culture, monuments and artefacts.
• The NEC, in its wisdom, resolved to take action and by its Decision No 30/2007 to approve the proposal by OPH Limited to replicate the Old House of Assembly and have that and the land it sits on handed over to the NMAG as the State Agency that is to be responsible to preserve the “Historical Centre” and that OPH Limited have the remaining land granted to them.
• The remains of the OHA are not existing to be refurbished – it is physically impossible to do so – and so a new building, replicating the old, will be constructed and given to the NMAG. It will be developed at a cost equivalent to the market value of the whole Section 8 Allotment 11.
Basically, the NMAG and the people of PNG are getting a replica of the Old House of Assembly at no cost to the state, and as far as the NMAG is concerned it is in fact selling part of the land to finance rebuilding the Old House of Assembly.
In view of the situation that existed in 2007, the NEC acted in the best interests of the NMAG and the people of Papua New Guinea by the actions it has taken to safeguard the site of the historic building and at the same time creating a monument to the birth of our Nation.
This land that the Old House was on is not just any lease-hold land and it should not be traded and bought and sold as any other lease-hold property in the land.
It is the womb in which the Nation of Papua New Guinea was developed and grew before its birth, and the Government should take whatever steps necessary to protect it and this it has done through NEC Decision No. 30/2007.
The current Board of Trustees is very much aware of its duty and is doing everything in its power to return the NMAG to its proper role.
We have now identified the only Papua New Guinean educated and qualified to run the Museum, we have overcome challenges and court actions by the past management and are now waiting for our political masters to officially appoint him in this important role.
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