Rich soil gives East New Britain robusta distinct taste

 

ROBUSTA coffee produced in the lowland volcanic rich soil of the East New Britain has distinct cup characteristics from that produced in other parts of Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

Senior quality control officer of the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Ltd based in the Lae export office, Rose Romalus revealed this when speaking to ENB coffee corporative executives and CIC staff in Buana in the Toma local level government (LLG) recently. 

"Any ordinary coffee drinker can tell a big difference between the Robusta coffee produced in ENB and Robusta coffee from other areas of PNG," Romalus said.

She said the ENB Robusta coffee had higher cup characteristics, and could fetch higher prices in the world market.

Chairman of the East New Britain Coffee Growers Cooperative Association (ENBCGCA) Chris Malaibe and ENB smallholder coffee growers association chairman John Kapia Waratopo expressed that more coffee training and awareness programmes were needed in the province to complement the increasing interest among the local farmers to venture into cultivating coffee as an alternative cash crop apart from cocoa and coconut.

They said the farmers needed more training to manage their coffee gardens well and produce quality coffee.

 Malaibe said some farmers were planting both Arabica and Robusta in one garden which posed the possibility of mixing the two varieties while processing them, as such mixing of coffee would degrade the cup quality of a specific variety.

CIC is promoting ENB, New Ireland, Milne Bay, East and West Sepik, Madang, Gulf and Oro as new growth areas for coffee extension programmes to contribute to the overall coffee production in PNG.

According to the ENB technical officer Jacob Morre, a total of 6,000 growers with more than two million coffee trees (both Robusta and Arabica) were recorded in the four districts of Gazelle, Kokopo, Pomio and Rabaul last year.

MP: Millions in Wewak funds ‘lost’

A TOTAL of K16.2 million of public funds, earmarked for Wewak district, has been misused and misapplied, Wewak MP Dr Moses Manwau has claimed, The National reports.

Manwau asked during question time if Finance and Treasury Minister Peter O'Neill was aware of an audit report of the funds from the Wewak district being misused and misappropriated.

He asked what penalties would be given to those who were responsible for the abuse of the public funds.

"The decentralisation functions of the treasury without proper and skilled management team to handle finances in the district is causing havoc to the effective delivery of goods and services in my district," he said.

He said that a 2010 audit report indicated a total gross misuse, misapplication and prudently usage of public money for 2008 to June 2010 of more than K16.2 million.

He said that another independent audit report was also done and the report was with the Office of Rural Development. It also revealed misuse of the funds.

Manwau said later, after parliament was adjourned to 10am, that last November, he got K2 million from his DSIP funds and deposited the funds into the district treasury but they had all been used up without his knowledge.

He said there was only K40,000 in balance and he did not know where the rest of the money had gone without the knowledge of the district budget priority committee.

"The district treasurer and the district administrator are the signatories to the district funds which are basically for services in the district and I am not a signatory to the district treasury accounts," he said.

However, O'Neill replied that he was not aware of the audit but the matter was serious and he would respond after having a look at the audit report.

He said there must be transparency and accountability at all times when dealing public funds.

Garia queries use of DSIP

 

THE buying and owning of earthmoving equipment by districts under the district service improvement programme is questionable, Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia says, The National reports.

He said during question time that although the DSIP funds were a good initiative of the government to provide goods and services to the people, "there is a concern for the districts that used the funds to buy earthmoving and working machinery".

He said if the machinery was used to develop the district, then "it was not a problem but so far many machines brought by the district are engaged in road and construction work in other districts and provinces and making money and not serving its purpose".

He said machines bought through the DSIP were for the development of the district and it should be specifically used for that purpose.

He said such machinery should not be owned by individuals and "cronies of members who will claim it if the member finishes as happened in many cases".

"Who is going to be responsible for the machines and who will own the machines after the term of the member finishes?" Garia asked.

He said there should be some form of progressive report on how the DSIP funds were used and which district was performing exceptionally well in terms of service deliver using the funds.

He said by doing that the government "can actually see how each province is performing so the funds can be given to them".

Garia said if any district did not perform, it should not be given any funds because "they cannot prove that they can deliver to the people".

"It would be a waste of public money giving it to them."

The question was not answered after the Speaker, Jeffrey Nape, ruled that the governor's questions were statements.

Member for Menyamya, Benjamin Philip admitted services were restored and development was taking place in his district after the government introduced DSIP.

He commended the government for the initiative, which he said had complemented the service delivery programmes in his district.

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."