Agiru called on to explain investigation

By YVONNE HAIP

 

PARENTS and teachers in Southern Highlands are calling on Governor Anderson Agiru to explain why the findings of an investigation team into falling education standards have yet to be made public, The National reports.

The provincial government sanctioned an investigation in January to look into the drop in standards of education in the province.

The investigation team was set up after examination results showed the pass rate of students in secondary schools was in a downward spiral.

But James Waiya Mange, who taught for more than 40 years, said the investigating team had yet to start work.

Speaking on behalf of parents, concerned citizens, teachers, boards of governors and other stakeholders, he said the long delay, especially as it was already mid-year, was a concern.

He said school examinations were around the corner once term two ended and the findings of the investigation needed to be made known.

He said the very poor output of all provincial secondary schools showed Grade 10 and Grade 12 marks continued to drop.

He said that resulted in most students missing out on spaces in tertiary institutions.

Mange said the prompt action taken by the governor and his administration in appointing and funding the team of investigators had been timely, the people had yet to know the probe’s results.

He said if the provincial administration had attended to all its obligations, there would not have been unnecessary delay as it was taking five months to get the committee assembled in Mendi and move into the districts.

He said along with the progress of the rich LNG project, the province needed to build its human resources so that the younger generation could take part meaningfully as the project developed.

 

Polye, Duma deny sacking

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

PAPUA New Guinea is a thriving democracy that does not allow for blackmail, pressure or intimidation of leaders, ousted Foreign Affairs Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye said yesterday, The National reports.

Polye made it clear that leadership "is not a tradable commodity and cannot be sold, bought and given on a golden platter".

He said this when denying media reports of being threatened to hand over the deputy leadership of National Alliance Party to acting Prime Minister Sam Abal.

Polye, who arrived from South Korea, said in a joint media conference with ousted Petroleum Minister William Duma that they refused to comment on media speculation of their sackings.

Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal confirmed yesterday that the two ministers had been removed from their respective ministries and that he was considering other candidates as replacement.

They claimed to be an integral part of government.

Polye was visited in the VIP lounge by Momase deputy leader Patrick Pruaitch, who gave an assurance of the stability of the National Alliance deputy leaders.

"National Alliance is in sympathy with our leader who is in hospital. Whatever that came out in the media, we refuse to believe, we went through thick and thin to get this government in place," Polye said.

He denied having discussions with Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Sani Rambi on the leadership issue.

Duma said that he was leader of the United Resource Party, which had been very loyal to the prime minister and a party that was a signatory to the Warangoi Accord on the formation of government in Kokopo.

"At this stage, I cannot be making any comment.

"I am loyal and no politician can question my loyalty unlike some National Alliance MPs who have question marks over their integrity," Duma said.

"I have not been informed of my purported sacking. I cannot comment on something that has not been conveyed to me personally."

Duma said, as leader of a political party in the coalition government, courtesy demanded he was told of any political changes.

"What I am saying is that the media is lying about the whole thing.

"We are the government and we are an integral part of government."

Duma refused to pre-empt any action by the United Resources Party based on the media reports.

 

 

Abal: Sacking is now official

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal yesterday confirmed the sacking of two senior cabinet ministers, The National reports.

Gone are Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Don Polye and Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma.

"I have exercised my full powers as acting prime minister to remove the portfolio responsibilities from Polye and Duma," Abal said.

"However, they still remain members of their parties in government."

Polye and Duma, in a joint press conference, expressed disbelief and said they had not been informed of their removal as ministers (see page 2 report).

"I signed instruments of revocation of these portfolios last week," Abal said.

"I am considering filling in the vacancies that have been created."

Abal said stability of government was paramount.

"Discipline and control are needed to maintain assertive leadership.

"Over the few months that I have been tasked by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to lead government, discipline has been lacking in cabinet.

"There must be cohesion, consolidation and solidarity in government.

"We are a coalition government and we must have the zeal to work together for the good of our people.

"I have observed ministers causing insubordination to the extent that they are not cooperating in the job of governing this country for the common good of our people.

"They are not putting national interest before their own.

"It is my duty to ensure discipline in cabinet is maintained without allowing personal leadership interests to stand in the way, and for cooperative leadership from all coalition partners, for the common good of all Papua New Guineans.

"I am forced to demonstrate leadership authority to make decisions that satisfies more people than just a few.

"I must demonstrate control of government as well as for the sake of the country," Abal said.

 

 

Babuaf people celebrate aid post, staff house and water supply projects opening

Caption: No more travelling long distances – the Babuaf aid post packed with people last Friday

 

Throbbing kundu drums, tribal chants and a magical display of fine traditional regalia marked the opening of a new aid post, staff house and water supply projects for the people of Wonkins and Kapunung last Friday.

It was a proud occasion for the Babuaf communities from the Lower Watut Region in Morobe province as it also marked the construction and completion of 14 water supply projects for the other villages.

This was witnessed by an emotional Wampar local level government president,Peter Namus, Morobe provincial government (MPG) provincial programme advisor health Dr Likei Theo and representatives from Lutheran Development Services (LDS) and Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV).

Centrally located at Wongkins, the aid post will serve 10 villages including Pekumbe, Malarina, Tsilitsili, Mafanazo, Uruf, Benseng, Wampan, Chiatz and Kapungung and will be staffed and receive medical supplies from the MPG district health services programme.

The projects were funded by MMJV and constructed by LDS with the villagers contributing sweat equity that saw the project through to completion.

The water supplies were constructed by LDS while the villagers build the aid post and the staff house. 

Many were unable to stem the flow of tears, as the occasion marked the beginning of the end of many years of difficult traveling that had unfortunately claimed the lives of many villagers, including children, mothers and babies during child birth.

Namus, when addressing the people, stressed the need for government and communities to strengthen ties and work with development partners such as MMJV and non-government organisations such as LDS to help facilitate service delivery to the people.

Namus said it took more than 30 years for such services to come to the area.

“By building standards, the aid post may seem small; but by its very nature it is a significant development project for us as a people,” he said.

Dr Theo echoed Namus, saying there had not been any real service provided for the people of Lower Watut for many years.

“This is the result of working together!

“ Creating partnerships with organisations and in this case, partnership with MMJV and LDS where we are fortunate to receive the aid post and water supplies,” he said.

MMJV’s community and regional development projects manager, Romias Mills Waki said the occasion signified positive achievements and progress.

Again stressing the theme of partnerships,  Waki said through interaction with government, NGOs and most importantly with the support of people and their leaders, MMJV were able to implement the projects.

“The company will not take over the role of the government to deliver services but is committed to work together through partnerships that would enable delivery of vital services to the local people, bearing in mind it has to be tied into wards, LLG districts, provincial and national government plans and priorities.”

He  commended the people and encouraged them to take care of the infrastructure.

Production at Ok Tedi still suspended

Production at the giant Ok Tedi mine in the Western province is still suspended after four localised ruptures to its pyrite concentrate waste pipeline last month.

The ruptures occurred in a small section of the pipeline that runs from its tailings processing plant to underwater storage pits located at Bige.

The ruptures were mainly caused by the scouring of the pipe as the slurry travelled through the pipeline which is buried under the road. Investigations to determine the condition of the full length of the pipeline are still progressing.

As soon as the ruptures were reported, OTML took immediate steps to shut down the pipeline, however,  this did not prevent some of the pyrite concentrate that was still in the pipeline spilling into the environment.

It is estimated that between 100 and 200 cubic metres of pyrite concentrate was lost through the ruptures.

A team of officers from OTML’s environment and community relations departments are working with the local communities to clean up areas affected by the spill.

Due to the steep terrain,  the clean up may take several more weeks to complete.

Monitoring of these areas including the creeks and streams where the spill has entered is still ongoing.

Current results from the sampling and monitoring program has indicated that while the bulk of the pyrite remains close to the points of rupture,  some pyrite is visible in streams up to 2km downstream of the ruptures.

All efforts are being made to trap and remove pyrite concentrate in the affected streams.

Water monitoring to date shows that apart from an initial flush of process water during the rupture, the water quality of the impacted streams has not been affected.

Water samples collected downstream of the pyrite ruptures indicate that the water is safe to use.

Pyrite is a natural mineral containing both iron and sulphur and is commonly found in rocks, especially those that contain valuable metals like gold or copper.

Pyrite can be potentially harmful to the environment because on exposure to air and water it can slowly produce acid.

Results from monitoring of the impacted streams to date shows no evidence of acidification occurring, however,  monitoring will be ongoing both during and after the spill cleanup.

 OTML managing director, Nigel Parker has said that everything possible was being done to ensure the communities were not affected by the spill “and we will be communicating to the communities the results of the environmental assays for water quality”.

Parker added that OTML had had discussions with the impacted communities and the State on its plans to recommence production while the pipeline was being repaired but said the decision to recommence production must have approval from the communities and the state.

Meanwhile, the company refutes claims of local communities being affected by the spills.

Parker stated that officers from the OTML community relations and environment departments were monitoring the situation on a daily basis and there had been no such incidents reported.

OTML is a 100% PNG-owned company and in 2010 it contributed 18% to PNG’s gross domestic product and 32% in export earnings.

Aussie miner eyes PNG projects

PERTH-based gold and uranium developer Siburan Resources last Thursday told the market that it had initiated reviews and discussions with potential strategic partners in PNG, with the aim of acquiring mineral pro­jects in that country, The National reports.

According to Mining Weekly last week, Siburan said in a statement that the PNG move was consistent with its strategy of adding diverse opportunities, in prospective mineral regions to its current portfolio.

“PNG is famous for its large multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Porgera, Lihir and also the OK Tedi copper mine,” managing director Noel Ong said.

He added that PNG had been ranked as the 11th  largest gold producer in the world over the past few years and was also emerging as a significant copper producer.

“PNG is enjoying its longest run of economic growth since independence.

“In 2009, despite the international recession, the PNG economy grew by 4.5% and the most recent budget is forecasting growth at 8%,” Ong said.

He said Siburan was “very excited” to be reviewing opportunities in PNG.

“I believe that by taking these initial steps, we can establish ourselves in a country that is prospective for a whole range of minerals.

“We are currently in discussions with potential strategic local partners that may lead to Siburan entering into joint-venture opportunities in PNG.”

Ong said with the experience of the Siburan team and a well-funded exploration budget, the company was confident of establishing a presence in PNG.

Siburan has a number of gold and uranium exploration projects in Australia, with its gold exploration projects located in the Kalgoorlie goldfields of Western Australia.

 

Polye, Duma sacked

Abal shows muscle over insubordination and LNG issues

 

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal has finally flexed some muscle, The National reports.

He is expected to announce today disciplinary actions he had taken against two ministers.

Government sources said last night that Abal last Friday signed instruments terminating ministers Don Polye (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigrations) and William Duma (Petroleum and Energy).

Reasons for the tough disciplinary actions were yet unknown but sources claimed last night that Polye, who is deputy leader of the National Alliance highlands faction, was cited for insubordination.

A tussle over the leadership of the faction had been brewing between Abal and Polye since the former was named deputy prime minister.

Duma is parliamentary leader of the United Resources Party, the second largest party in the coalition government.

His sacking, it was understood, was in relation to concerns over his leadership of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and licencing issues within his department.

From another direction, a court decision on Public Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare’s long-running case has now paved the way for the appointment of a leadership tribunal.

Were this to happen, the ruling party would be rocked with the absence of the prime minister and the displacement of key ministers.

The highlands region has the biggest number of NA parliamentary members but sources said members from the region had been split with some showing support for Polye while others were behind the acting prime minister.

The sacking was an indication that a bulk of the highlands faction had finally shifted its allegiance towards Abal.

Over the past few months, the National Alliance was also split over the interim party leadership after a vacancy existed when party leader Sir Michael Somare underwent surgery in Singapore.

Sir Michael had undergone two operations in Singapore and had taken almost two months off from work, creating a vacancy in the party leadership which NA members had tried to elect a party leader but that did not eventuate as there was a split within the party.

Sir Michael is still in intensive care at the hospital.

Sources said Polye was also vying for the interim party leadership while Abal was said to be backed by other members of the party for the same post.

NA Momase deputy party leader Patrick Pruiatch is also vying for the party leadership and it is understood the southern and NGI factions may be supporting his candidacy.

However, sources said the leadership issue had not been resolved but the sacking of Polye was likely to create more disunity within the party with less than a year before the general election.

Duma and Polye could not be contacted last night.