Transparency International PNG: Parliamentarians must do their job

One of the core responsibilities of a Member of Parliament is to make laws and oversight the executive.

And these things happen in Parliament.

 In a Supreme Court ruling (Supreme Court Reference No.3 of 1993), the Court handed down the decision that the Parliament has a duty to sit, in principle, a minimum of 63 days each parliamentary year.

 Whilst acknowledging the Parliament's attempt to meet for a full three weeks for the next three months to achieve the minimum 63 sittings defined within a calendar year, Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is concerned that Parliament are not abiding by the ruling of the Supreme Court and furthermore the Constitution as stipulated under Section 124.

 "In the past four years, Parliament has failed to sit the required minimum number of sitting days, and one can wonder if the 63 sitting days would be achieved this year," it says. 

"A backlog of work and outstanding national priority agendas remain unresolved may be a result of insufficient legislative activities.

"Parliament, through the office of the Speaker, should come out publicly and explain to the citizens of Papua New Guinea their reasons for not sitting the required number of days.

"Questions may then be raised on the consequence of Parliament breaching a clear court ruling."

Petromin to turn wastes into profits

By PATRICK TALU

 

FOR the first time in the history of Papua New Guinea's mining industry's waste management, state owned Petromin's Tolukuma gold mine will now turn its tailings into profits after a feasibility assessment was done for a state-of-the-art mine waste processing, The National reports.

The feasibility study will be undertaken by Everest Remediation Ltd of Australia with an investment of US$1.5 million over a six-month period.

To effect the assessment, Mining Minister John Pundari, Petromin managing director Joshua Kalinoe and Everest chief executive Patrick Salera penned the agreement last Friday at Petromin Haus witnessed by Petromin board chairman Sumasi Singin and staff.

Pundari described the study as a "milestone achievement for Tolukuma after the Solwara-1 project and a new frontier for PNG".

"After all, doing business is taking risks," he said.

 "We must venture into unknown frontiers."   

Pundari said Everest had been with Tolukuma for some time with a focus on extraction of trace elements of metal from the waste.

"Mine waste is a significant issue with respect to environment.

"In fact, the study will focus essentially on the capacity of extract metals from the waste at the mine site," he added.

He said the feasibility study would, as a first step, assess the commercial benefits derived from treating waste.

Pundari said the process could be applied to all mining projects in PNG and Petromin and PRL would in due course, assess the commercial viability at treating at mines throughout the nation.

The minister indicated that importantly a successful outcome from the study would not only enhance environmental outcomes at the mine but also lead to the creation of new employment opportunities and new revenue for Tolukuma.

Kalinoe said Petromin was proud to be part of the venture which might create significant employment, revenues and improved environmental outcomes throughout the mining sector.

He said the objective of the study was to apply state-of-the-art technology to wastes at Tolukuma with a view to producing a refined waste product which contained no elements that were harmful to the environment.

 

Athlete jailed for sex crime

Darwin court imprisons paralympian for assaulting 10-year-old

 

A PAPUA New Guinean paralympic athlete has been described as a paedophilia when he was jailed last Thursday in Darwin, Australia, for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl at the Arafura Games, The National reports.

In a news that had shocked the PNG team management, track and field athlete Edward Ilau, 24, pleaded guilty in a Darwin magistrates court for indecently assaulting the girl last Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Justene Dwyer told magistrate Daynor Trigg that Ilau –  who has cerebral palsy – "squeezed" the girl's breast three times at the stadium, according to ntnews.com.au

Dwyer said Ilau had finished his field events for the games when he noticed the girl walking through the gates at about 6pm.

She said that Ilau called out to the girl: "Hey you, come over here."

She said Ilau wanted to have a photo taken with her.

"The victim agreed and followed (him) up the stairs of the arena," she said.

She said Ilau and the girl were standing on the first platform and another man continued up to the second platform with a camera.

"(Ilau) moved close to the victim and put his arm around her shoulder," she said.

Dwyer said that Ilau grabbed the girl's breast three times, "causing pain", before he let her go.

She said the girl immediately told her mother what had happened.

Ilau's defence lawyer Matt Hubber said Ilau was "skylarking" with his mates when he touched the girl.

"It was a spontaneous act," he said.

But magistrate Trigg said what Ilau did was a "criminal act" that could be described as "paedophilia".

"The defendant abused the girl's innocence," he said.

Hubber said Ilau came from a poor coconut farming family in rural PNG and had only attended school for one year of his life.

"He lives a very basic life," he said.

But Trigg said what was considered wrong in PNG was also considered wrong in Australia.

"I'm not going to have him on the streets of Darwin," he said.

Trigg sentenced Ilau to one month jail, suspended after seven days, but said he would most likely be deported from Australia once released, ntnews reported.

PNG Paralympic committee president Bernard Chan said he was devastated at the news of Ilau's jailing and would be making a formal statement during the week.

PNG Paralympic assistant team manager Rosemary Mawe said it was an incident that had shamed not only the Paralympic team but all PNG athletes as well.

She stressed that all athletes had been given strict instructions on behaviour and what was expected of them at the games and it was "unfortunate" that one had abused this trust.

K125m deal illegal, says treasurer

TREASURY and Finance Minister Peter O'Neill has admitted to parliament that the K125 million deal for Kokopo district is illegal and contributors risk losing 4% of their savings if the government did not repay the money, The National reports.

After intense pressure from within the National Alliance-led members, including East New Britain Governor Leo Dion who asked a series of questions in parliament last Friday, O'Neill admitted the transaction was illegal and that an investigation was under way.

O'Neill said the national executive council had directed the Central Bank, which is the supervisory body of the superannuation fund, to investigate how the Nasfund board approved the deal.

In his series of questions, Dion asked whether the Treasury Department had the powers to issue treasury bills and whether it had the power to appoint an agent to manage the deal.

"Why was National Capital Ltd appointed at no cost to the state?" Dion asked.

"Do the National Planning and Communication ministers have powers to approve the treasury bill transaction?"

Dion said it was a controversial transaction and called for an immediate investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.

Section 209 (1) of the constitution stated that the raising and expenditure of finance by the national government is subject to the authorisation and control of parliament.

This means this kind of financing must form part of a national budget or a supplementary budget in line with the appropriation act.

Dion said the deal was activated by the then treasury minister, national planning minister and Kokopo MP without appropriate legal advice from government lawyers.

O'Neill said under the Public Finance (Management) Act, only parliament could approve such a deal.

He said under the Treasury Bill Act of 2002, when there was not enough revenue, "the government can go out and raise revenue to fund its expenditure".

But he said only the Central Bank was authorised to do that.

"Treasury has conducted its own investigations and we have got advice that the transaction is illegal," O'Neill said.

Wagambie warns rumour mongers

By JUNIOR UKAHA

 

POLICE will arrest and charge people found to be spreading rumours that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is dead, acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie said yesterday, The National reports.

The warning came as text messages, emails and the coconut wireless worked overtime during the weekend with claims Sir Michael had died in Singapore where he is seeking medical treatment.

Late last month, a similar message said Enga Governor Peter Ipatas had died.

"Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is alive and recovering in the hospital after undergoing surgery in Singapore and people should not spread malicious rumours about the prime minister's health," Wagambie said.

He said those spreading the rumour were people with "malicious intentions" and were "causing a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress in the hearts and minds of ordinary Papua New Guineans".

Wagambie said he was concerned about the contents of the message and the way the message was spreading.

He said opportunists and criminal elements could take advantage of the situation and cause trouble in urban centres.

"The extent of this malicious rumour poses a threat to our internal security and, as such, I have issued instructions for police investigators to arrest anyone who is found spreading such false rumours," Wagambie said

He said under section 11 of the Summary Offences Act, spreading false information was an offence and any citizen found in the act would be arrested.

He said he had instructed his regional commanders to be on full alert in light of the hoax to deal with any unruly behaviour from opportunists and criminal cells.

He said Sir Michael was the "father of this nation" and people should accord him the highest respect at a time when he was recovering from surgery.

Wagambie said the rumour had caused "a lot of humiliation and distress" to Sir Michael's family.

Wagambie urged all citizens to be morally responsible by cross-checking the information they got via their mobile phone and email addresses with authorities.

Wagambie said the thoughts and prayers of the 5,000-odd members of the police force were with Sir Michael and they wished him a quick and smooth recovery.

La Sallians celebrate

IT was a fun-filled day yesterday for Hohola youth development centre in Port Moresby as students staged various activities to mark the feast day of their founder St John Baptist de La Salle, The National reports.

And the heat of the sun could not damper the students spirits as they celebrated.

The day began with a talent show display along with a formation of the La Sallian star.

Two groups were selected from a list of performances that were showcased yesterday to establish two finalists to perform today.

The feast day will be hosted at Don BoscoTechnical Institute today with performances from Isidora and Extreme.

St John dedicated much of his life for the education of poor children of France in the 1680s and is considered the founder of the first Catholic schools.

 

Ramu beef aims to supply whole nation

By PATRICK TALU

 

RAMU Premium Beef (RPB), a division of the diversified Ramu Agro-Industry Ltd (RAIL) is setting the pace in quality premium beef production, The National reports.

Having set the pace, RAIL through RPB is looking at supplying the entire domestic market with tasty and quality premium beef.

"We have the potential to supply the entire domestic market and feed meat-hungry Papua New Guineans," RPB farm manager Marcel Eno told The National in Gusap last week.

"Our ultimate goal is to produce quality beef for our customers.

"In order to be what you want it to be, you have to look after it (referring to cattle).

 "And that is where we come in and put more emphasis on," Eno said.

As part of the new approach after recommendation from feasibility studies, RPB has emphasised on new breeding by cloning in which quality sperms are collected from healthy bulls and fertilise with quality eggs from cows.

Eno explained that by getting the best breed means quality beef.

He said to sustain the quality, RAIL had improved its pastures by preserving the harvested sorghum plants in the event that there was insufficient pastures for cattle to feed.

Eno said by the end of the year, RPB is projected to slaughter 20,000 cattle that will be supplied to the domestic market.

He said the company's focus was on producing quality and not quantity just sufficient enough for its domestic markets.

Currently, there are 1,200 cattle on the feedlot ready to be taken to the abattoir for slaughtering.

He said before sending cattle from the feedlot to the abattoir for slaughtering, it had to weigh more between 350kg and 400kg.

RPB abattoir manager Jerry Sei said: "Our customers like the quality beef that we produce. It is very tender and meaty that our customers favor our beef.

"To meet our customers' taste and preference, we have maintained and improved the quality."