Kiunga-Hiritano highway gets OK

BY JASON GIMA WURI

 

THE Trans-Island Highway (stage two) road project agreement, which will run 600km between Kiunga in Western and Central's Hiritano and through three provinces, has been given the go-ahead by the national government, landowners and developer Independent Timbers and Stevedoring Ltd, The National reports.

Western Deputy Governor James Ukin said the project was a long time coming but it had finally arrived for the people of Western and southern region.

The highway would run through Western, Gulf and Central provinces.

 "This project has taken eight years of negotiations and, at last, the government has approved it," Ukin said.

"We thank the developer who willingly came in and assisted us with more than K30 million to do feasibility studies to meet the requirements of all line departments including lands, forest, transport and works, commerce, trade and industry and civil aviation.

"Western is the largest province but parts of it have not been developed since independence.

"In fact, the people are dying, they are still fighting each other and practise cannibalism.

"Since independence, no good development had taken place although the Ok Tedi mine is there," Ukin said.

He said basic services like schools, health centres and markets to sell their fresh produce were hard to access by the rural people.

"The road project is very important to link the people to better services.

"The national and provincial governments will not put any money on this project.

"Two major bridges will be built from 100 tonnes of brick across the Fly River and Strickland River," Ukin said.

Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabriel Kapris, who was at the signing ceremony, said it was the sheer determination of the landowners who wanted to trade off their resources for access to roads and sustainable development in agriculture by agreeing with a developer to harvest forest within the road corridors for a second phase of the trans-national highway.

The highway would also open up links to Gulf, Southern Highlands and West Sepik.

Kapris urged all stakeholders to proceed with the implementation of the project as per the spirit of the agreement to ensure the project benefits were derived for the landowners, developer, province and the country.

Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio signed the agreement on behalf of the state with the Fly River provincial government, North East West Investment Ltd, Kebogas Investment Ltd, Tosigiba Timber Group Ltd, PNG Agency for International Development and developer IT&S Ltd.

Historical 9 to work in Australian farms

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

 

NINE men made history yesterday by becoming the first Papua New Guineans to leave for Australia to work as seasonal workers, The National reports.

The men will be involved in pruning almond trees in Robinvale, Victoria, for four months.

PNG seasonal workers task force committee chairman Alexis Maino said it took some time for the pilot project to start but he was happy to see the first contingent of seasonal workers off to Australia yesterday.

Maino told reporters yesterday more locals would leave to work in Australia if they were needed.

He said the pilot scheme was made possible after the signing of a memorandum of understanding last July in Alotau during the PNG Australia bilateral meeting between then foreign affairs minister Sam Abal and his Australian counterpart Stephen SmithMaino said they secured a K1 million funding from the Department of Finance and Treasury for the pilot scheme.

He said the workers would be paid between A$18 and A$19 (K46-K48.50) an hour.

Department of Labour secretary George Vaso said it was an exciting time as the country exported labour for the first time since independence.

He urged the men to be good ambassadors of PNG while in Australia.

"Be of good behaviour and character, work hard and come back as good ambassadors," Vaso said.

Acting Deputy Australian High Commissioner Adrian Lochrin thanked the task force team, saying it was quite a task given the enormous interest shown.

He encouraged the men to do well as their performance would determine similar interest in future.

Lochrin said PNG was known for its farming and living in communities and hoped that the men would fit in well with the Victorian community.

Workers team leader Nickson Peni said they were happy for the opportunity and promised to work hard and be good ambassadors of PNG.

Ex-Miss PNG fights pornography claims

One arrested at city mall during bid to blackmail TV presenter

DETECTIVES arrested a 23-year-old man in a mall while attempting to extort money and sex from TV journalist and former Miss PNG Antonia Singut in Port Moresby on Saturday, police said in a statement yesterday, The National reports.

A Martin Wojeiba, of Rosun village, Manus, was arrested and charged with possessing pornographic materials.

According to Singut, numerous threats had been received by her and her immediate family since February.

The threats related to allegations that Singut had been involved in a pornographic video and that callers wanted money from her.

She said yesterday the allegations were the work of people trying to defame her standing in the public.

She said: "I strongly refute these allegations.

Singut said: "As a former Miss PNG and TV presenter, as well as a role model in the community, I am mindful of my activities and whom I associate with.

"Such malicious allegations contradict the Christian values I stand for and the upbringing my parents have instilled in me."

She said it all started when a caller claimed he had in his possession a video tape of her and her boyfriend.

"I told him he was wasting my time as I had not participated in any activities of the sort," she said.

Singut said her family had been greatly affected as a result. 

Father, Brian Singut, denied his daughter's involvement.

"It is very sad that our children have to grow up in this cruel world," he said, expressing concern about his daughter's security. 

"By God's grace, my family has survived this ordeal for the past four to five months ... from sick human beings with malicious intent to destroy my daughter's reputation," he said.

Singut filed a police complaint after receiving malicious telephone calls and emails accusing her of taking part in a pornographic video tape.

Officer-in-charge of the sexual offence squad Tinol Pakiapon said the woman in the sex tape "is not Singut".

He said anyone caught circulating malicious rumours or attempting to blackmail or extort money from the victim would be arrested.

Pakiapon said the suspect was caught by police inside the Vision City Mega Mall.

Unaware of the police sting, the suspect met and showed her the video on his phone while demanding K500 as well as sex.

"He was quickly overpowered and arrested by policemen in civilian clothing who had arrived earlier in the shopping complex," he said.

Pakiapon said the suspect faced further charges relating to attempted blackmail and extortion.

Another man of mixed Filipino and Central parentage was only warned after police could not find the tape in his possession.

Police are trying to locate a woman identified as Louisa Hainter, who allegedly posted defamatory remarks against Singut on the social network Facebook.

Pakiapon is appealing to anyone who may know the whereabouts of Hainter to contact the sexual offences squad at the Boroko police station on 324 4257.

Hearty welcome

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal was given a hearty welcome on Saturday when he arrived in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to present K3 million for the upgrading and sealing of roads, The National reports.
The Buka ring road received K2 million while K1 million was for the 20km Kokopau to Siera road.
The presentation took place at Kokopau in the Selau constituency of North Bougainville.
The acting PM also apologised for what had happened in the past and publicly declared: "Bougainville, we love you, the rest of PNG loves you. Sorry for the past that has happened but there is that decision to move forward to a brighter future." – Nationalpic by STEPHANIE ELIZAH

Empty house

19 ministers missing, no one to hear grievances

 

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

THE whole front bench of government was empty with only 14 of the 33 ministers present during the parliament session last Friday, The National reports. 

This has drawn criticisms from both within government backbench and the opposition that some of the arguments presented during grievance debate would not be taken seriously and a waste of time.

Abau MP Sir Puka Temu said it was a "sad day" for Papua New Guinea with the whole government front bench empty.

The empty front bench is usually filled by the prime minister, deputy prime minister, finance and treasury minister, justice minister and attorney-general and commerce and industry minister.

The only other key ministers present included leader of government business and National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye, Forest Minister Timothy Bonga and Fisheries Minister Ben Semri.

Sir Puka said there were 33 ministers of state and only a handful present to hear grievance from members.

"The whole front bench is empty.

"Our people deserve a hearing of the executive government.

"The people's house must be an active house.

"How can state ministers hear our grievance and put things into action?"

Sir Puka said there must be a select parliamentary committee that must sit down and address very important suggestions and ideas brought forward by members of parliament.

"How can we change the laws relating to the resources? We must have the select parliamentary committee go through the debate and if it means bringing in amendments to parliament, it must be done," Sir Puka said.

Lae MP Bart Philemon also hit out at the empty government bench, including physically making a head count of ministers on the floor of parliament.

"Fourteen ministers present out of 33. It is a shame to see the front bench empty."

Philemon said in the Australian federal parliament, the front bench was always full.

"What is the difference between Australia and Papua New Guinea? What a shame!"

Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said it was disappointing that state ministers were not present to hear the MPs' grievances.

"The front bench disappointingly is not in parliament to hear the debate.

"It is the only opportunity for us MPs to debate issues and ministers to take note."

Agiru also called on each minister to bring to parliament their performance report during their terms as ministers and also challenged the provincial governors to do the same.

Agiru urges review on forest legislation

SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru has called for a review of the Forestry Act to allow equity participation instead of landowners being mere royalty collectors, The National reports.

Agiru, in a series of questions to Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, called for a moratorium on issuing of new forestry and fishing licences to ensure there were enough resources available for future generations.

"The people are mere recipients of logging levy and royalties.

"Can the minister introduce amendments to the Forestry Act for landowners to become equity participants in the sector?

"In that way, landowners will participate meaningfully in the development of their resources instead of being just recipients of royalties," he said.

Bonga said a review of the Forestry Act was long overdue and promised to bring amendments to parliament for landowners to be equity partners in projects.

"We have to sit down with landowners and all other stakeholders to bring amendments that will give greater recognition to landowners and for them to become equity partners instead of royalty collectors," he said.

Agiru followed that up during grievance debate by thanking Bonga for making a commitment to review forestry laws.

"We are allowing foreigners to rape our forests and I am glad that the minister has made a commitment to revisit and bring in amendments to the forest sector to allow our people equal participation in the development of their resources," he said.

He said this must apply to the fisheries sector "where millions of kina are being squandered leaving resource owners with nothing".

Agiru, in a statement that got cheers and claps from the members on the floor and the public gallery, said customary land was "being sold away and that must be discouraged".

He said in Southern Highlands, the provincial government had made it clear that no customary land must be sold to outside interests.

Such land can be leased.

"That is the only asset our people have and I thank former lands minister Sir Puka Temu for bringing in legislations to safeguard customary land."

Agiru said the LNG project would sustain the economy over the next 30 years.

"Why don't we reserve our forest or our fish for the future?

"We should not be forever friends with our overseas development partners.

"The PNG economy will realise K130 billion in the 30-year life of the LNG project.

"Why can't we ride on the LNG money and preserve our fisheries and forest resources for the future generations?" Agiru asked.

Unions want K125 million repaid before July 31

TRANSPORT sector unions have given the government until July 31 to repay K125 million of contributors funds back to Nasfund, The National reports.

The National Airline Employees Association, the National Air Pilots Union, Aircraft Engineers Association and the Maritime and Transport Workers Union issued a joint statement on the controversial issuance of Sovereign Community Infrastructure Treasury Bills by Nasfund.

Sector union leaders John Mahuk (PNGM & TWU), Edward Foe (NAEA), Captain Joseph Kumasi (NAPU) and Geoffrey Atiken called on the Ombudsman Commission to investigate the ministers involved.

The demands from the transport sector unions included:

*An independent bo­dy to conduct investigations and for the government to immediately repay the K125 million with 7.05% interest by July 31;

*Those responsible for the disbursement of the funds must face criminal charges and an interim board be set-up with fair representation because the workers had lost trust and confidence in the management and the running of Nasfund by the current board;

*Senior ministers in­volved should be referred to the Ombudsman Commission;

*A remedial plan be immediately put in place to stop unnecessary use of contributors funds; and,

*That if the money earmarked for the Ko­ko­po project has been misappropriated and used to start new businesses then the contributors should have allocated shares.

On behalf of the transport sector unions, Mahuk said their interest was to safeguard the members' funds and they did not want to see a repetition of Nasfund board's "mismanagement and misguided ambition to satisfy the government and its needs".

"Members have not forgotten the 15% write-down being experienced some years back due to mismanagement of the superannuation funds," he added.