Morobe Mining Joint Ventures empowers village women

Participants show off their certificates, birthing kits, shirts and caps with representatives from MMJV, trainers and government officers. The shirts and caps are  part of the Healthy Baby campaign known as ‘Malolo Liklik’, supported by the National Health Department and Population Services International.

The Bulolo district health division in partnership with Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) are committed to empowering village women through village birth attendant (VBA) training as a means of reducing infant and maternal mortality in the Bulolo district of Morobe province.

Recently, 25 women from the Biangai villages in Wau were the recipients of the second such training funded by MMJV when qualifying for certificates after a successful two-week course.
The women were also certified as village volunteers responsible for tuberculosis patients in their villages and as an added bonus, were presented complete birthing kits containing items such as buckets, lamps, gloves and razor blades to assist with a clean and safe delivery thanks to Zonta Birthing Kits Foundation of Australia (ZIFA).
ZIFA is part of the Zonta International Foundation worldwide organisation that supports programmes to improve the wellbeing of women and girls everywhere.
According to Zonta PNG representative, Pedro Jericho, Bulolo district was the first to receive the birthing kits outside of NCD which were the only recipients so far through donations to St Johns and the Port Moresby General Hospital.
“Thanks to MMJV this relationship marks the first time for Zonta’s programme to be extended beyond NCD and shows what we can achieve by pooling resources and networking together and we look forward to continuing this relationship,” he said.
MMJV general manager sustainability and external Relations, David Wissink stressed the importance of partnerships in making sure programmes such as the VBA training and aid posts were completed and sustained.
He said for any programme, facility or training to be effective, the participation of stakeholders was needed in the form of sweat equity or contribution to ensure ownership and commitment for the long term benefit of everyone.
“At MMJV, this PPP approach applies with all our other partners and we remain committed to continuing the relationship with the provincial health division and non-government organisations to implement health programmes aimed at further improving the lives of our stakeholders,” Wissink said.
Provincial programme advisor – health, Dr Likei Theo commended the partnership saying together MMJV and the provincial health division were working at addressing these issues according to the national government’s plan of reducing maternal mortality rate.
The VBA training was conducted by experienced Bulolo district health VBA trainer, Sr Rose Bosimbe while the TB component was conducted by Huon Gulf district advocacy communication & social mobilisation (ACSM) coordinator, Millie Meren.
The women from Wau are the second lot to receive the training.
The first were from the landowner villages of the Wafi project.
Similarly, they were taught theory and practical lessons on clean and safe delivery and to identify signs of complications in mothers during pregnancy and when to refer them to seek medical help.
Part of their practical lesson involved a visit to the Bulolo hospital where they assisted in the delivery of a baby.

Logistics a problem for fishing industry

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

 

LOGISTICS problem was identified as a major challenge for the fishing industry in PNG, given the escalating fuel prices and lack of transport access to certain parts of the country, The National reports.

Speaking at the fishing industry consultation meeting, managing director of Maru Mine Ltd, Meremi Maina said the fish industry was very demanding but issues such as logistics problems was a main setback.

Maina, who owns a fishing company in Daru, Western, said fishing was a challenging business and required strong fishing skills as well as knowledge on preserving methods to keep the fish fresh.

He said most of the lobsters and prawns from his factory were transported by air to Port Moresby and was a very costly exercise.

As a way of minimising operational costs, Maina has set up village buyers and assisted them with fuel and dinghies to buy fish from the villagers and transport to his factory.

He said concerned authority such as National Fisheries Authority should focus more on smaller players in the industry and not so much on big established fish factories.

Maru Marine Ltd exports more than 90% of its lobsters to Australia with the first initial export of 10 tonnes of lobster to the United States recently.

Other products from Maru Marine such as prawn, lobster and finfish are supplied to hotels and restaurants in Port Moresby.

Maina, who could be the longest serving national in the fishing industry having recently celebrated his 27th year in business, said money was not the issue but it was one’s determination and commitment to succeed in life.

 

Abal stands firm

ACTING Prime Minister Sam Abal was unmoved last night by news that he had been expelled by a group, purporting to be the Enga branch of the National Alliance party, The National reports.

A statement announcing the expulsion was signed by Paul Kurai as chairman, Kundapen Talyaga as secretary, treasurer Luke Kembol and foundation member Rex Paki.

Also yesterday, a faction of the United Resource Party, led by leader William Duma, dumped Minister assisting the Prime Minister on constitutional matters Francis Potape as a member of the party.

Both actions stemmed from the sacking of deputy leader of NA highlands Don Polye as Foreign Affairs Minister and URP leader William Duma as Petroleum and Energy Minister last Friday by Abal.

An aide of Abal said last night the acting prime minister was unperturbed by the purported sacking and that, as a financial member of National Alliance, certain processes and procedures, stipulated under the NA constitution, would need to be followed.

In any case, sacking a parliamentary party member was the prerogative of the party leader and nobody else.

He said NA President Simon Kaiwi conveyed the same to the acting PM last night.

Registrar of political parties Sir Kina Bona denied knowledge of the two purported sackings, but said any such move would have to comply with the constitution of each party.

In related moves:

* The URP had expressed disappointment over the “lack of professionalism” in the sacking of their parliamentary leader and minister for petroleum and energy;

* The URP itself appeared split on the issue with only three MPs present and Potape denying there was any meeting where his sacking was formalised; and

* A protest march over the double sacking was scheduled for Mt Hagen city, Duma’s electorate, today. But, it was uncertain last night whether police would  approve the march.

Abal was said to be unperturbed and “ready to get on with the business of government”.

“The acting prime minister has the support of the Grand Chief (Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare) who was informed through his family of the sackings,” the aide said.

“The entire highlands NA members, except Polye, have endorsed Sir Michael’s choice of Abal as the DPM and acting PM.

“All the regional NA membership have endorsed Sir Michael’s choice.

“All government coalition parties have pledged their support.

“Abal carries the full powers, duties and responsibilities of the prime minister.”

United Resource Party slams manner in which Duma was sacked

THE United Resource Party has expressed disappointment over the manner their parliamentary leader and Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma was sacked, The National reports.

Deputy leader and Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Kela-Smith, in a media conference with Duma and Dei MP Puri Ruing expressed disappointment over the method of communication by acting Prime Minister Sam Abal.

“We feel there is lack of professionalism,” Kela-Smith said.

Duma said he had yet to receive any formal letter of dismissal from Abal and he only learnt of his sacking in the media.

He said the URP had been meeting since Monday and the party had not made a formal decision on its position on the sacking.

“We do not know whether the removal of the party leader also means the party is also expelled from government.

“As the leader of the second largest coalition party in government, I have not been informed of my removal. I learnt it in the media and I feel disappointed.”

Duma said URP had a special relationship with Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and had been very loyal since 2002 and URP was also a signatory to the Warangoi Accord to form government.

Duma also said his people and supporters in Mt Hagen were also disappointed over the sacking.

He said the media speculations that the petroleum and energy portfolio would go to another URP member was not true as it was the prerogative of the prime minister to make appointments.

“Not one single party has the right to claim a ministerial portfolio,” Duma said.

 

Lenalia to head probe

KOKOPO-based judge Justice Salatiel Lenalia replaces Sir Kubulan Los as chairman of the Arthur Somare leadership tribunal, The National reports.

The tribunal will begin sitting on July 4 at 9.30am at the Waigani National and Supreme Court room No.7.

At that time, Somare, the member for Angoram and Minister for Public Enterprises, will know whether he is suspended from office for the duration of the tribunal.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia made the announcement in Port Moresby yesterday, confirming that the two other members of the tribunal would remain. They are principal magistrate Orim Karapo and senior magistrate Noreen Kanasa, who were appointed in 2006 by the former (and now deceased) Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi.

The appointment of the new chairman followed the decision of the National Court last Friday, in OS No. 818 of 2006 (judicial review) Arthur Somare versus Ila Geno & Others, which dismissed those proceedings.

Sir Salamo said last Friday’s decision handed down by Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika effectively paved the way for the new chairman to be appointed.

Sir Kubulan has retired. 

In a statement yesterday, the chief justice invited parties to file necessary documents to the tribunal via the National Court registry.

In reference to whether the leader holds office during the duration of the tribunal hearing, the CJ said in a media statement that “for avoidance of doubt, pursuant to section 28 of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership and the latest decision of the Supreme Court on the question of suspension in Patrick Pruaitch V Chronox Manek & Others (2011) SC 1093, the question of suspension, if any, is to be determined by the tribunal”.

The tribunal will look into allegations of official misconduct against Somare.

Sir Mekere Morauta - the great reformer of our times

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

While he did not remain long in office, this Papuan Knight and former PNG Prime Minister; Sir Mekere Morauta will long be remembered over his peers as a great political reformist.

Among important policy changes he did as a PM, the citizens have come to remember him well for his fundamental reforms in PNG’s financial sector. 

Unlike other former PMs who lacked the political will and commitment to make a difference, Sir Mekere inherited his predecessor’s liability and immediately cleaned up any remaining problem areas in the country’s financial sector. 

As PM, Sir Mekere reformed the following public entities:

·         Minerals Resources Development Corporation (MRDC).  Key actions taken were: To protect the landowner interest groups, pushed for legislation removing political interference by MPs, regulatory regime similar to the Superannuation Act 2000, outsourcing investment management, Central Bank oversight and a ‘fit and proper persons’ test.

·         Workers Mutual Insurance.    To protect many thousands of contributors, he re-established the Worker’s Mutual Insurance at a cost of K 19 million, outsourcing investment management and conducted a major inquiry into its collapse as prelude to reforms of the existing Insurance Act.

·         Pacific Balanced Fund.  Acting on major Inquiry recommendations, resolved current impasse by appointing new trustees and investment manager.

·         Securities Commission.  The commission was revamped to strengthen its weak and ineffective status.  This action gave it stronger powers and independence to pursue white-collar criminal activity by corporate bodies.

·         Rural Development Bank (now called the National Development Bank – NDB).  The bank was continually under capitalised with much political interference.  A review of the new act followed to protect the interests of small rural-based entrepreneurs.  With current regulatory regime the NDB under the Central Bank includes: appointment of independent directors similar to the old IPBC board make up of ex officio directors and a fit and proper persons test.

The financial reforms greatly improved the efficiency of the economy which among other things: restored independence to the IPBC, facilitated instructions to IPBC as a matter of priority to develop ‘community service obligations’ in such important areas of: power, water, telecommunications and airlines to deliver services to rural PNG. 

The commitment to phase out the former Telikom monopoly by increasing competition in telecommunications, and other monopoly service providers achieved positive outcomes: increase in jobs, services and tax revenues.

Furthermore, a full review and reform of the Electoral Commission included: an audit of existing roles, registration of eligible voters and more voter awareness education programmes.

To further boost the national economy, his plans to phase in competition in the airlines and to establish an Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) with wide sweeping powers were mooted widely then, but Sir Mekere did not finish what he started when he left to hand over to a new administration after the 2002 national elections.

Presently, the last two political regimes under the current government have consistently demonstrated an inability to initiate much-needed political reforms from where this great reformist PM left off.

Despite pressing needs, current PM has unfortunately not ensured real and innovative political reforms to improve the country’s financial sector.   

Papua New Guineans are only hoping and praying that our country gets another reformist leader like Sir Mekere Morauta after the 2012 national elections to make the required political reforms PNG so desperately needs in future.

 

Basil engages with rural communities in the highlands

Sam Basil flanked with Kiamuga  congregation members,  Eastern Highlands province

Deputy Leader of Opposition Sam Basil has began engaging with rural population to educate them on current state of the nation, parliament and politics in general.

Sam Basil and Francis Kap in Peace Valley Village , Baiyer  River Western Highlands province

“The people must know what their leaders are doing and the state of the nation as a result of that leadership. It’s their right – and it should be our privilege to serve them in this way,” Basil said.

In what was his first official trip since becoming Deputy Leader of Opposition, Basil travelled to Mul-Baiyer electorate to one of Lae’s long time businessman Koi Trappe to pay respects to Trappe’s late mother, Ms Mano Enta on Saturday June 4.

Trappe is the managing director of Traisa Transport one of the premier transport companies operating between Lae and Highlands for over 30 years contributing to Lae’s economic development.

Koi’s contribution to Morobe, Highlands and Papua New Guinea prompted Basil, on behalf of Morobe leaders, people and the Opposition,  to show respect and contribute K2,000 to the haus krai at Kenakyausa village Mul-Baiyer District.

The Tralea tribe asked Basil to give a brief about the current affairs of the nation, parliament and politics in PNG.

Basil told the Tralea tribe that while the overall economic indicators show that PNG was growing, basic processes of governance were not being handled right resulting in a mismatch between economic indicators and social development indicators.

He described the Mul-Baiyer District as another hidden paradise which like many others in PNG were so unique with wonderful people struggling to make life bearable for themselves and their children.

“They don’t need much to be satisfied – access to roads, transport and markets; functioning, stocked, and adequately staffed basic health services; utilities like piped water, communication and power are all that they need,” Basil said.

“These will be our focus as an alternative Government: when in power we will empower the rural communities with this basic services.”

Basil worshipped with the Kiamuga Lutheran congregation of Yamiyufa Lutheran Church in the Lower Asaro area in the Eastern Highland province on the way back where he donated K1,000 to the local church.

In a brief statement, on the current state of the nation and Parliament, he assured them that the alternative government would ensure that the government and churches partnership was adequately resourced to develop citizens of integrity, honesty and respect – keys to law, order and harmonious living in communities, districts, provinces and PNG as a whole.

The experience has fuelled the Deputy Opposition Leader’s resolve to tour as many rural electorates – upon invitation – educating them on the parliament, national issues and politics and hearing what the grassroots people of Papua New Guinea have to say.