Jealous hubby murders four

Man guns down wife and parents and stabs child

 

By ANGELINE KARIUS

 

A MAN allegedly killed four members of his family in Port Moresby last weekend after learning that his wife was having an affair, The National reports.

Police said the mine worker, who was on his field break and whom they did not name, shot dead his Morobean wife and his parents and then slashed his child to death.

The killings took place in broad daylight at Waigani Heights.

Police said the husband, from Sepik, was allegedly high on drugs when he committed the offence.

They added that the killings had been reported to the homicide unit at Boroko police station which was investigating.

Police said the accused shot both his parents at point blank and then his wife during an argument when his parents tried to intervene.

He later tried to shoot his child but failed after he ran out of ammunition, so he slashed the child with a bush knife, killing him on the spot.

Police said the accused then tried to kill himself but his neighbours rushed into his home and restrained him.

Police had not released further details about the man or his background but he is understood to be in police custody pending investigations.

Meanwhile, NCD metropolitan commanderd Supt Joseph Tondop confirmed another wilful murder which occurred at North Waigani last Saturday.

Nixon Naregre, 23, from Koibuka village, Mul Baiyer, Western Highlands, was shot at close range at the back of his head killing him instantly.

Police reported that Naregre was sitting at his mini market stall around 7pm when two suspects approached from behind.

According to reports, the suspects asked the deceased if he was Nixon and when he said yes, one of them took out a .38 revolver and shot him.

Naregre worked as a security guard at Penthouse night club in the Gordon area.

Police attended the scene of the crime and investigations have begun into the matter.

Polling starts for North Bougainville

Caption: Polling week for North B'ville ... Polling for the North Bougainville by-election started yesterday with the exception of Selau constituency, which began polling on May 14. Among the more than 10,000 eligible voters, expected to vote for the seat left vacant by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, was former ABG speaker Nick Peniai voting at Sohano Island yesterday.  – Picture by ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

 

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

 

POLLING for the North Bougainville by-election started yesterday with the exception of Selau constituency, which began polling on May 14, The National reports.

More than 10,000 eligible voters will be going to the poll to elect a new member for the North Bougainville open seat.

The seat was left vacant by former member and now Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.

Six of the 55 polling teams engaged departed Buka Island on Sunday for the Atolls and Nisan while the rest were dispatched yesterday by road to Tsitalato, Hagogohe, Halia, Peit, Tonsu, Haku, Selau, Suir, Teua, Mahari, Taonita Teop and Taonita Tinputz.

For Buka town residents, inside the Tsitalato constituency, polling by limited preferential voting (LPV) would be located at the following venues:

*Today – Buka town market, Iuping Tsuhana, Chinchin;

*Tomorrow – Bel Isi Haus,  Hangan Catholic church, Lonahan CLC Haus Lotu;

*Thursday – Motmoto Elementary School, Bubuil Elementary School, Lonahan aid post;

*Friday – University open campus and Bibinama.

Bougainville electoral officer Reitama Taravaru said he anticipated a smooth by-election with counting to start immediately as constituencies complete polling.

Polling ends on Friday.

Meanwhile, Taravaru also revealed that the Tonsu by-election for Bougainville would cost the Autonomous Bougainville Government K170,000.

The ABG Tonsu by-election would be conducted immediately after the by-election for North Bougainville.

The people of Tonsu constituency will elect a new open member.

O’Neill: Our aim is a stable and robust economy

TREASURER Peter O'Neill assured Australian and Papua New Guinean private sector players that the government was committed to creating a strong and robust economy by providing a stable and conducive environment for business investment in PNG, The National reports.

The assurance came after the government achieved a record budget surplus of K186.3 million equating 0.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) this year as a result of prudent fiscal management and effective implementation of the 2011 national budget.

Speaking at the 27th PNG-Australia Business Forum and Trade Expo in Madang yesterday, O'Neill said: "PNG can achieve real economic independence because of the anticipated economic growth.

"The partnership with the private sector will ensure this growth will be sustained."

O'Neill announced the total revenue and grants for last year was lower K8, 278.9 million, higher by K34.4 million of the revised budget estimates.

He said the total expenditure and net lending last year was lower by K151.9 million of the revised budget for, thus giving a surplus of K186.3 million, a significant achievement given budget deficits in 2008 and 2009.

Updating on the 2011 budget outcome, he said by the end of last month, 60% of the recurrent budget and 40% of the development budget warrant had been released to agencies.

"This is a significant achievement and it's now the responsibility of agencies to deliver the governments agenda," O'Neill said.

"The government needs to manage its finance prudently to ensure that demands for cash are met but also to ensure that the cash that is released is used to deliver services and does not end up sitting idly in the bank accounts."

The treasurer informed the private sector that the government was aware of the importance of successfully implementing the budget for communities and families.

He said, this year, the government would ensure that funding was available in the timely manner to ensure

delivery of services throughout PNG.

The former opposition leader stressed that while outlook for this year was very positive with expected growth by 8% largely due to ramp up of PNG LNG construction, non-mining GDP was also expected to grow by 8.2%  which would provide a significant boost to activity in other sectors of the economy, with rising incomes and consumptions from businesses and households.

Despite the growth, O'Neill said unfortunately inflation remained one of the key challenges for the government.

He said the government was committed to contain the high inflation rate of 8.2% by maintaining its expenditure with budget appropriations while closely monitoring monetary policy in particular the currency and interest rate movement and reserve deposits equipment.

National Alliance split over leadership

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE ruling National Alliance appears split over the much talked-about party interim leadership issue, The National reports.

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, who was appointed by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, had dismissed a push by certain members of the NA party for the interim leadership issue to be taken before the party caucus.

The National understood that there was a series of meetings held last week by the NA party on the interim leadership issue but insiders said that had been thrown back to the regional groups to decide.

Party sources said the interim leadership "is for an interim political head of NA to call party

meetings while the party leader is away".

Sources said Abal was appointed to head the government but the NA party needed an interim political leader to call caucus meetings.

"There is no vacancy and the party constitution is very explicit on the leadership issue. But this is an interim arrangement and consistent with the constitution," the source said.

The Southern region and New Guinea Islands were believed to have met last week and had resolved to back Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch if the interim leadership issue goes before the party caucus.

The Momase bloc, under Pruaitch, had decided to defer the meeting, preferring to wait for the return of Sir Michael.

The highlands bloc, which was yet to meet, was in a dilemma with Don Polye as deputy leader and the job of acting prime minister vested in fellow Engan and highlands bloc member Abal.

Last week, Polye dismissed media reports as "sensationalising the whole leadership issue" but the fact remained that there had been a number of meetings held by the NA.

"It is absolutely not good and inhuman to talk about the leadership issue when the party leader and prime minister is undergoing medical attention," Abal told the media yesterday.

Abal, who was there with Attorney-General and Justice Minister Sir Arnold Amet, said the prime minister, like all other officers of government, "is entitled to medical leave and Sir Michael has accrued leave entitlements which he is taking".

He said there was too much speculation by the media, saying: "There will be no election of an interim party leader.

"We are talking about pulling the carpet under his (prime minister) feet while he is undergoing medical operations and recovery," Abal said.

He said it was not good, under PNG customs and traditions, to talk about somebody "who is down with health conditions".

"I call on the leaders to abstain from talking about the party leadership issue. Let us give it a break for some time.

"I came in as the choice of the prime minister to lead government. I am doing just that and I will do it with my colleagues in government.

"On the leadership issue, I do not think it is timely for the decision to be made.

"Let us give it a break and allow the prime minister and NA party leader to recover."

Air Niugini commences regular commercial flights to Bulolo

Bulolo MP Sam Basil (left) and Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri are welcomed off the inaugural Air Niugini Dash 8 flight to Bulolo by Watut dancers.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

By MALUM NALU

 

The historical mining town of Bulolo, Morobe province, took another giant step forward today with the commencement of twice-weekly Air Niugini flights between Port Moresby and Bulolo.

The first batch of passengers on board the Dash 8 flight to Bulolo yesterday – led by Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri and Bulolo MP Sam Basil - was greeted by management and staff of PNG Forest Products, which owns the land on which the Bulolo Airport is built; Morobe Mining Joint Ventures; Bulolo administration; as well as hundreds of local people who braved pouring rain to be present for the occasion.

The Bulolo service, which will be every Monday and Friday, promises to greatly boost business and tourism in Bulolo, as well as the surrounding electorates of Menyamya, Huon, Markham and Lae.

Air Niugini's introduction of flights follows on from Airlines PNG in 2009.

"Bulolo is a very ideal destination with a high demand for air transportation from the local communities," Kumarasiri said.

"Due to the current activities in Bulolo, we consider it is our duty as the national airline to provide the air services to the local and business communities in Bulolo.

"Apart from the mining activities, there are also other operations and activities that certainly call for further air transportation.

"To name a few, we have the PNG Forest Products Ltd, BSP, Post PNG, Bulolo Forestry College, the Micro Bank, the district administration, which certainly demands for an increase in air transportation.

"As the national flag carrier, Air Niugini has a community service obligation to serve the people of Papua New Guinea.

"Therefore, Air Niugini's operation into Bulolo also means that the local people of Wau/Bulolo can now travel direct from Bulolo to Port Moresby instead of travelling via Lae."

Basil said history was rewriting itself as Bulolo was once one of the busiest airfields in the world during the gold rush days of the 1920s and 30s.

He said his joint district planning and budget priorities committee would commit K50, 000 subsidies for vegetable freight and return airfares.

"We would also look at building the staff quarters and ticket purchasing office for Air Niugini to be owned by the district administration, which will benefit from the rental proceedings," he said.

"I also call on Menyamya people, Wanpar people and people from my district to utilise this service because extra seats are now available.

"We do not have to drive all the way to Nadzab to catch a plane, as it is now at our doorstep."

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.