Probe ordered for Lae roads

By JEFFREY ELAPA

WORKS Minister Francis Awesa has ordered an investigation into the Lae City Council over sub-standard road works carried out there, The National reports.
Awesa has instructed the Department of Works to carry out the investigation before releasing the next K100 million for road repairs in the city.
"If we find out that (the money) was misused, then, we will not release the next K100 million until things are cleared," he said.
Awesa, who has a background in the construction industry, said many small companies were not delivering projects as required.
"The standards are low and is not worth the value of the money spent," he said.
Awesa claimed that the K100 million road development in Lae was wasted and that the government "will now look into the use of the funds".
Awesa said before releasing the next K100 million allocated from the supplementary budget, the Department of Works, which was never involved in the project, "will carry out the investigation".
"The K100 million has done nothing. The quality and the work done were poor and we need to find out how the funds were used before we release the other K100 million."
He said this when announcing a National Executive Council decision to continue the public-private partnership policy to enable the implementation of the country's most needy infrastructure.
The partnership procurement method is seen as the best method the Department of Transport, Works and National Road Authority will apply to implement the government's nominated high impact national interest infrastructure projects in the country.
Awesa said the Lae city roads and the wharf were important
national government impact projects and the quality of work must be considered by the constructors.
He said the investigation was part of the government's move to fight corruption, including misappropriation and mismanagement of funds and resources.

Utula Samana farewelled in Port Moresby

By MALUM NALU

Firebrand former Morobe Premier Utula Samana was farewelled at a moving funeral service at the Sione Kami Memorial Church in Port Moresby yesterday.

Utula Samana's casket is hoisted by military pallbearers after the service.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Samana, 64, also a former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and PNG Ambassador to the United Nations, was remembered by among others, Prime Minister's chief-of-staff Ben Michah, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, his deputy at the UN Max Rai, and former DAL Secretary Ted Sitapai.

Rev Qogi Zongorrenr, Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG Papua Region Bishop (left) and preacher Rev Taiye Zawia lead the funeral possession

Rai and Sitapai said Samana achieved much more for Papua New Guinea than what many people gave him credit for, including chairing many committees at UN level, and fighting for the development of agriculture.

Michah, in his obituary, talked about a student protest at the University of Technology outside Lae in 1983 over the suspension of Morobe academic Jonathan Soten.

Tears fall for Utula Samana

Police were about to move in and arrest all ringleaders, Micah being main culprint, as the then Student Representative Council president.

Samana suddenly drove in and ordered the withdrawal of police.

Mourners line up

"His action on that day was a mesmerising introduction for me to the persona, character and leadership of Utula Utuoc Samana," Michah said.

"That day defined and established a relationship that developed into a close friendship that lasted 28 years up to the early hours of Sunday, Oct 2, 2011.

Final viewing of body

"During most of that period, I came to intimately know and understand some of the character traits that made Utula who he was and the great leader the people of Morobe, Papua New Guinea and even the world has come to know.

"He was an intellectual who could translate knowledge into concepts, devise plans and develop practical steps for introduction.

Mourners paying their last respects

"His depth of knowledge in diverse subjects such as politics, religion, law, agriculture, sociology, anthropology, administration and the list goes on was amazing.

"Many times we would debate for hours on how the thoughts of Vladmir Lenin, Chairman Mao, Ho Chi Min, Fidel Castro or Juliys Nyerere could be integrated into our own brand of Melanesian socialism."

Military guard of honor

Micah said the Biwat people in Lae would remember Samana for rescuing them when PNG Readymix was about to bulldoze their homes into the Bumbu River.

When the Bumbu River burst its banks in 1983, it was Samana who sought the help of the PNG Defence Force, and built what has become known as 'Tent City'.

Micah said Samana mellowed somewhat after losing the Morobe provincial seat to arch rival, Jerry Nalau, in the 1992 elections.

"He truly believed that in his lifetime he could politically engineer the transformation of our country from the Third World into a developed nation," he said.

"The voters of Morobe denied him this dream, and to all other citizens, a real opportunity that I can tell you in all great confidence Utula Samana was capable of delivering.

"He always reminded me that if Lee Kuan Yew could do it in Singapore without natural resources, we could do it in no time with our abundance of resources.

"Today, it is with great sadness that we gather to farewell one of the greatest sons of our nation."

Samana's body was flow to Lae today.

Tomorrow, it will be flown to his mother's Nanduo village in Finschhafen, and then on to Bau Village in Morobe Patrol Post.

On Tuesday, the body will lie in the Morobe provincial assembly chamber for leaders to pay their respects and tributes.

On Wednesday, the funeral service will be held at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, before being buried at the Old Lae Airport Cemetery.

Sir Puka Temu launches new political party

By MALUM NALU

Hundreds of people converged on the indoor complex at Sir John Guise Stadium yesterday for the launching of Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sir Puka Temu's brand-new Our Development Party.

Truckloads of villagers from Sir Puka's Abau electorate in Central, a large contingent from Southern Highlands, many more from around the country, as well as invited guests packed the indoor stadium to capacity for the launch.

Unlike other party launchings, which are usually held in restaurants, this one was held in public with no-one paying to attend.

People feasted on taro, bananas, yams, sago, fish and crabs brought especially for the launching of ODP.

Guests included Public Service Minister and Lae MP Bart Philemon representing the government, Treasurer and Kandep MP Don Polye, Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP John Kekeno, senior public servants and members of the business community.

Following the launching by New Generation Party leader, Philemon, donations and pledges totaling almost K500, 000 were made.

Live entertainment was provided by dance groups from Abau, Tari in Southern Highlands, Telefomin in West Sepik and Bougainville.

Sir Puka told a cheering crowd that ODP was ready, willing and able to take on the challenge to build a bigger, better and brighter future for Papua New Guinea.

"Like you all, Our Development Party was established and motivated by our strong belief that our young nation needs visionary, strong and smart leadership if we are to achieve sustainable economic growth and prosperity for every citizen," he said.

"Our vision is to transform our people and our nation by transforming our mindset and attitudes, providing the framework to reform and align our institutions and systems so that all our citizens enjoy the highest quality of life that PNG is offering.

"Currently, our economy is dominated by mining and energy sectors contributing an estimated 80% of our total export revenue.

"We believe the best way to achieve strong and sustainable broad-based economic development for the future is to focus on our strengths, which are our people and our vast renewable resources such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism.

"We will therefore manage and leverage the revenues from the mining and energy sectors to build and develop world-class and internationally-competitive agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism sectors in the future."

Sir Puka said he was the architect and champion of the PNG Vision 2050 and would ensure that this served as a cornerstone for the future.

4 more MP cross floor

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

A MAJOR coalition partner in the previous government has crossed the floor to merge with Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah’s PNG Party, The National reports.

PNG Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah embracing PAP leader Gabriel Kapris yesterday.-Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU

The move by the People’s Action Party cedes to the government party leader and Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, Ambunti-Drekikir MP Tony Aimo, Middle Ramu MP Ben Semri and Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP John Kekeno.

This swells Namah’s PNG Party numbers to 21, making it the second biggest group in the government after Don Polye’s National Alliance.

The PAP MPs were welcomed by PNG Party members including Namah, founder Sir Mekere Morauta, Sam Basil, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, Wake Goi, Peter Iwei and Anthony Nene.

Kapris said the PAP was a small party that had a proud record in forming two previous governments after elections in 2002 and 2007.

“We are a very solid team that believes in loyalty and stability.

“PAP is a party that has to be recognised and our joining the PNG Party is not a mistake,” he said.

Kapris said the party had met with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to let him know that they would be joining the PNG Party under the leadership of Namah.

He said another reason was that the PAP had initiated many projects under the former government and would like to support those development projects by being in government.

“We have created more impact projects and we want those to continue.

“We do not believe in a witch-hunt so let’s support good projects,” Kapris said.

Aimo said another reason for the party’s move was that PAP leaders did not want the people of East Sepik marginalised.

“The respect for Grand Chief Sir Michael still remains but the people of East Sepik must not be marginalised,” he said.

Sir Mekere described their move as “heroic and not selfish but made in the interest of the people of PNG”.

He said said the country needed fewer political parties that were well run and managed for stability.

Namah congratulated the MPs for leaving aside their political aspirations and differences to forge a partnership that would strengthen and stabilise politics.

Namah said the decision was reached after long negotiations with PAP and the amalgamation of the two political parties was not easy.

Hami Yawari farewelled

NCD Governor Powes Parkop paying his respect to the late Hami Yawari

FORMER Southern Highlands Governor, the late Hami Yawari has been described as a leader who had his people and country at heart.

Yawari, from the Kutubu area, who rose up to become governor of the resource-rich province, was also praised for his role in supporting the LNG project to become a reality.

Former Petroleum and Energy Minister Sir Moi Avei said although the Yawari had passed on, he had left behind a legacy that would be benefit the people.

Sir Moi said Yawari was instrumental in ensuring the project agreement was signed.

He said the people of Boera and at Portion 152 must appreciate that the pipeline would be passing through Central province because of leaders like Yawari.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, who attended the funeral service at Hohola Christian Outreach Victory Church yesterday, conveyed his praise for a leader who had at heart his people and country.

His body will leave for Mendi this morning before the Late Hami Yawari is laid to rest at his Gesege Village, Lake Kutubu, on Thursday