By WALLACE KIALA
PRIME Minister Peter O'Neill says the proposed merger between Air Niugini and Airlines PNG has been cancelled, The National reports.
The government's decision comes because of the tragic plane crash last Thursday, the worst air disaster in the nation's history.
The Dash 8 aircraft crashed near Madang, killing 28 of the 32 people on board.
While conveying his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, O'Neill said the Independent Public Business Corporation would be directed to review other business alternatives.
It would also put in place aviation safety options and look at planning a way forward for the aviation industry.
"Government has heard what the people and the unions have said and has decided to cancel it (the merger)," O'Neill said.
He was speaking at the launch of the National Airports Corporation last Friday. His announcement was greeted with applause from the company's management and staff.
An NAC senior officer was reportedly among one of those killed in the plane crash.
The decision by government to have the merger dissolved now puts to rest speculation and issues from the public, individuals, private and public institutions and the airline workers unions on the implications of the merger.
The National Executive Council last month approved in principle the merger by the two major airlines.
There has been increasing concern raised against it by the public and private institutions.
When announcing the merger last month, O'Neill said the major result would be the significant expansion of air services.
He had said only 32 airports had scheduled airline services.
More than a week ago, members of the National Airline Employees Association, the National Pilots Union, Flight Attendants Association, Air Niugini Engineers Association and the airport fire fighter union marched from Jackson International Airport to the Air Niugini head office at 7-Mile to protest against the proposed merger.
They had a petition to the airline management, saying a merger would not deliver any financial, commercial and credible gains to Air Niugini and the people.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Passenger list released
AIRLINES PNG grounded its remaining 11 Dash 8 aircraft last Friday while investigations started into last Thursday's horrific crash that claimed 28 lives, The National reports.
Eleven of the 28 people on the ill-fated flight were parents and family members of students at the Divine Word University who had gone to participate in a thanksgiving ceremony last Friday.
The university held a candle-lit vigil in remembrance over the weekend.
Those who died in the accident were Sidy Abore, Patrus Akau, Jeffrey Ako, Lucas Bako, Jenny Bal, Ronold Bibi, Samuel Bid, Natasha Bonga, Nathan Bonga, Cotilda Bula, Jeffrey Bula, Saron Doma, Ian Gagi, Benedict Kanaiu, Paul Konia, Thomas Kuekue, Esher Matlam, Christine Matlam, David Olobai, Samson Ote, Barnabas Philip, Debura Rabura, Miria Renagi, Anki Saiyong, Robert Sanglela, Mark Save, Simon Tiriman and Cecilia Wata.
As six Australian forensic experts were dispatched to assist with identification of almost all the bodies which have been burnt beyond recognition, APNG also announced that experts from aircraft frame manufacturers DeHavilland in Canada were also on their way and should be at the site today.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is also expected to visit the site and to participate in a memorial service at Divine Word University today.
Two black boxes, the flight recorders, were retrieved and could give vital details to investigators on what exactly happened in the final moments on board DHC-8 P2-MCJ.
An eyewitness, Amos Titus, from Marakum village told The National that there was a loud noise in the air and there was smoke pouring from the tail of the aircraft as it flew low over the sea.
"The smoke was blowing from the tail of the aircraft," Titus said in Tok Pisin.
"And fuel was pouring from the plane because it was dripping flames behind it as it approached. Where ever the fuel dripped on leaves of trees, the leaves burst into flames.
"The plane hit the branch of a tree and it flew off and then the tail broke apart and the plane hit the ground. It skidded for about 150m before it hit a tree and stopped.
"I was so shocked. I had never seen anything like it.
"I heard screams inside but the fire was too hot to do anything. Only one Chinese man jumped out and we helped him to safety."
APNG chairman Simon Wild pledged the airline's total commitment to establish the cause of last Thursday's tragic crash and support the families of the 28 victims.
He said APNG was "100% committed to finding out" the truth about the cause of the crash.
"We want and need to know too, and when we do, we will share our knowledge with you.
"That is why we have opened our books and made our people available to the investigating authorities, why there is a team from Canada representing the airframe manufactures and the engine makers on site today, and why we will share the community's pain until we know.
"My personal commitment to you is that, until we are confident there are no safety issues with our Dash-8 fleet, they will stay on the ground."
Eleven of the 28 people on the ill-fated flight were parents and family members of students at the Divine Word University who had gone to participate in a thanksgiving ceremony last Friday.
The university held a candle-lit vigil in remembrance over the weekend.
Those who died in the accident were Sidy Abore, Patrus Akau, Jeffrey Ako, Lucas Bako, Jenny Bal, Ronold Bibi, Samuel Bid, Natasha Bonga, Nathan Bonga, Cotilda Bula, Jeffrey Bula, Saron Doma, Ian Gagi, Benedict Kanaiu, Paul Konia, Thomas Kuekue, Esher Matlam, Christine Matlam, David Olobai, Samson Ote, Barnabas Philip, Debura Rabura, Miria Renagi, Anki Saiyong, Robert Sanglela, Mark Save, Simon Tiriman and Cecilia Wata.
As six Australian forensic experts were dispatched to assist with identification of almost all the bodies which have been burnt beyond recognition, APNG also announced that experts from aircraft frame manufacturers DeHavilland in Canada were also on their way and should be at the site today.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is also expected to visit the site and to participate in a memorial service at Divine Word University today.
Two black boxes, the flight recorders, were retrieved and could give vital details to investigators on what exactly happened in the final moments on board DHC-8 P2-MCJ.
An eyewitness, Amos Titus, from Marakum village told The National that there was a loud noise in the air and there was smoke pouring from the tail of the aircraft as it flew low over the sea.
"The smoke was blowing from the tail of the aircraft," Titus said in Tok Pisin.
"And fuel was pouring from the plane because it was dripping flames behind it as it approached. Where ever the fuel dripped on leaves of trees, the leaves burst into flames.
"The plane hit the branch of a tree and it flew off and then the tail broke apart and the plane hit the ground. It skidded for about 150m before it hit a tree and stopped.
"I was so shocked. I had never seen anything like it.
"I heard screams inside but the fire was too hot to do anything. Only one Chinese man jumped out and we helped him to safety."
APNG chairman Simon Wild pledged the airline's total commitment to establish the cause of last Thursday's tragic crash and support the families of the 28 victims.
He said APNG was "100% committed to finding out" the truth about the cause of the crash.
"We want and need to know too, and when we do, we will share our knowledge with you.
"That is why we have opened our books and made our people available to the investigating authorities, why there is a team from Canada representing the airframe manufactures and the engine makers on site today, and why we will share the community's pain until we know.
"My personal commitment to you is that, until we are confident there are no safety issues with our Dash-8 fleet, they will stay on the ground."
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Belden Sevua was a "political animal"
By
MALUM NALU
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|
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The late Belden Sevua, who passed away last Monday
been described as a “political animal” by close friends and family members.
His funeral service will be held at Siome Kami
Memorial Church tomorrow, Monday, October 17, from 1pm-4pm before the body
departs on Tuesday for burial on Manus.
Close friends Paul Bengo, John Kambuou and Martin
Tabel, as well as family member Reuben Pokanau, said Sevua was one of a kind.
Sevua is the second longest-serving political staff
with the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, having spent 34 years with the man.
He joined the Office of National Planning, then
under the Department of Prime Minister, as a research officer after graduating
from the University of PNG in 1977, and seconded to the PM’s Office, reporting
to Paul Bengo, who was then department head.
He was a passionate snooker, billiards and darts
player and member of South Pacific Motor Sports Club (Car Club), his ‘second
home’.
Belden Sinaki Sevua was born on January 28, 1950,
born to Sevua Sameal and mother Mara Leomwie in Rei Village, Lou Island, in
Manus.
He was just six months old when he lost his mother
through a freak accident.
He was looked after by Irong Pani of Baon village when
he was old enough to go to school in 1958.
He attended primary school at the Pisik SDA Central
School from 1958 to 1964.
From there, he went on to Kambubu Adventist High
School in East New Britain province.
He completed his high school education at Manus High
School in 1968.
From 1969 to 1971, he attended Goroka Teachers
College and attained his Diploma in Teaching in Agriculture Science.
From 1972 to 1974, he taught at Tusbab High School
in Madang.
During that time, he attended Lahara sessions at
University of PNG for matriculation.
He went to UPNG from 1975 to 1976 and graduated with
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.
In 1989 and 1990, whilst an advisor to Sir Michael,
he attended Wollongong University in Australia and completed his Masters Degree
in International Relations.
He left behind his daughter Dorcas and sons
Thompson, Chris and Komini, as well as his late daughter, Sonia.
He also left behind his relatives of the Umbua clan.
Family member Reuben Pokanau described Sevua as a
“political animal”.
“He ate, slept and lived for Grand Chief Sir Michael
Somare,” he said.
“He was never employed by anyone else.
“Belden Sevua
has been the first department head from Lou Island and an icon for aspiring
islanders to reach the top in whatever profession they are in.”
Friday, October 14, 2011
Plane crash claims 28
By SINCLAIRE SOLOMON
AN Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed in bad weather near Madang killing up to 28 people in the country's worst air disaster, The National reports.
There were four survivors – three crew members and a passenger.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill immediately conveyed his condolences while Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta suspended all talks in relation to the proposed Air Niugini and Airlines PNG merger.
The Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) said last night there were 32 people on board the plane which went down about 6pm in the Raicoast area on a normal flight from Lae to Madang.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that the passengers were mainly parents on their way to attend the thanksgiving of their children attending the Divine Word University in Madang.On a normal domestic flight, a Dash 8 aircraft carries a crew of four – a pilot, a first officer and two flight attendants.
Villagers and Madang residents said the weather was bad, with thunderstorm in the area in the afternoon.
AIC had not officially confirmed how many had survived the crash, however, investigator Sid O'Toole said the plane went down over land about 20km south of Madang.
"There were reports of fire and there have been some fatalities," he said.
O'Toole said police and ambulances had reached the crash site and investigators will be travelling there today.
The billion-kina Ramu nickel mine developer Ramu NiCo, which has projects in the area, said last night it had a rescue team on site.
As of 7pm, Madang provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr and his officers, emergency official Norman Philemon and provincial administrator Ben Lange were making preparations to send a rescue team to Raicoast.
In Port Moresby, consular officials at the Australian High Commission were trying to determine if there were any Australians on board. It was believed the pilots were Australians.
Australia also scrambled four Black Hawk helicopters, here for the past week for a joint defence force exercise, to help in the search and rescue effort.
Sir Mekere expressed deep sympathy for the families and relatives of those who had lost their lives in the crash.
"This is a terrible accident, and many people have died," he said.
"I offer my condolences to the families of the victims of this disaster," he said.
AN Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed in bad weather near Madang killing up to 28 people in the country's worst air disaster, The National reports.
There were four survivors – three crew members and a passenger.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill immediately conveyed his condolences while Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta suspended all talks in relation to the proposed Air Niugini and Airlines PNG merger.
The Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) said last night there were 32 people on board the plane which went down about 6pm in the Raicoast area on a normal flight from Lae to Madang.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that the passengers were mainly parents on their way to attend the thanksgiving of their children attending the Divine Word University in Madang.On a normal domestic flight, a Dash 8 aircraft carries a crew of four – a pilot, a first officer and two flight attendants.
Villagers and Madang residents said the weather was bad, with thunderstorm in the area in the afternoon.
AIC had not officially confirmed how many had survived the crash, however, investigator Sid O'Toole said the plane went down over land about 20km south of Madang.
"There were reports of fire and there have been some fatalities," he said.
O'Toole said police and ambulances had reached the crash site and investigators will be travelling there today.
The billion-kina Ramu nickel mine developer Ramu NiCo, which has projects in the area, said last night it had a rescue team on site.
As of 7pm, Madang provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr and his officers, emergency official Norman Philemon and provincial administrator Ben Lange were making preparations to send a rescue team to Raicoast.
In Port Moresby, consular officials at the Australian High Commission were trying to determine if there were any Australians on board. It was believed the pilots were Australians.
Australia also scrambled four Black Hawk helicopters, here for the past week for a joint defence force exercise, to help in the search and rescue effort.
Sir Mekere expressed deep sympathy for the families and relatives of those who had lost their lives in the crash.
"This is a terrible accident, and many people have died," he said.
"I offer my condolences to the families of the victims of this disaster," he said.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Goroka Secondary School needs your help
By
MALUM NALU
Former students of Goroka Secondary School, one of
the leading secondary educational institutions in the country, are putting
their money where their heart is.
They will be holding a fundraising dinner at Dynasty
Seafood Restaurant, Vision City, on Saturday, October 22, to help the school
raise funds to rebuild its science laboratory, which was razed by fire in June
this year.
The school, formerly known as Goroka High School,
has produced some of Papua New Guinea’s leading personalities such as Prime
Minister Peter O’Neill, Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, National Court judge
Panuel Mogish, Airbus A380 pilot Capt Locklyn Sabumei, and many more from all
over PNG.
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| Captain Locklyn Sabumei at the "front office" of the Airbus A380 |
They have all been asked to help the school at this
time of need.
A fundraising committee known as Asu Amiti
Fundraising Committee has been set up in Goroka and Port Moresby since the
burning down of the laboratory, and has already conducted several fundraising
activities, which will culminate with the dinner.
It is made up of former students and staff of the
school.
Tickets are on sale in three categories – gold for
K10, 000, silver for K5, 000 and bronze for K3, 000 – while individual tickets
can be purchased for K150.
Committee member and businessman Jeno Aeno, owner of
Oxford Medical Supplies and a former student, urged all former students to
attend the dinner.
“We’re having ex-students from places like Alotau,
Kokopo, Tabubil, Lae and Madang calling us to purchase tickets,” he said.
“These people are going to spend their own money to
fly in just for the dinner.
“It’s also becoming like a big reunion for the
school.”
Aeno said they were already assured of support from
National Gaming Control Board, Post PNG, JDA Wokman, Eyechen and National
Maritime Safety Authority.
He is already putting his money where his mouth is,
with Oxford paying for four tables at a cost of K19, 000.
Former students and supporters of the school who
wish to attend the dinner can call Oxford Medical Supplies on telephone
3254874.
Expert: Australia banks a haven for Papua New Guinea fat cats
AUSTRALIA may be sheltering hundreds of millions of black dollars funnelled out of South Pacific countries, including Papua New Guinea, by corrupt politicians and public officials, a conference in Brisbane on law and order and good governance in Australia and the Pacific region has been told, The National reports.
This money laundering was being tolerated by a disinterested Australian federal government, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported, quoting a good governance expert Prof Jason Sharman of the University of Griffith.
The newspaper quoted Sharman as saying that PNG, in particular, was believed to suffer from the avarice of some of its officials and politicians.
He added that a senior police officer recently claimed the country lost as much as 50% of its budget – about A$1.9 billion – every year through fraud and corruption.
Sharman called on the Australian government to drop its "nonchalant attitude" towards the problem, which, he said, hamstringed regional aid, governance and security policies.
"Recent research on grand corruption has emphasised the importance of following the money trail to determine where corrupt senior officials hide their stolen assets," he said.
"The answer is often that wealth looted from poor countries is held in rich countries with large, stable financial centres and which share historical ties with the victim country."
But, he said, Canberra had displayed a lack of interest in pursuing foreign corruption in Australia. An example of this, he said, was the bribery scandal enveloping the Reserve Bank in relation to foreign bribes allegedly paid by employees of its part-owned subsidiaries, Note Printing Australia and Securency.
The government has ignored that case and has three times blocked a move in the Senate to launch a parliamentary inquiry.
"The government doesn't care about Australia playing host to the proceeds of foreign corruption," Sharman said.
He said he first became concerned about the role of Australia in embezzlement and corruption in the South Pacific while undertaking research for the World Bank about the problem in Africa.
"If you're a corrupt leader and you're stealing millions ... through embezzlement or taking bribes, then you don't want to keep it at home, you want to put it somewhere international."
He said his research showed that money tended to flow to the former coloniser, or the nearest thing. Given that many South Pacific politicians and officials study in Australia and have family and friends here, Australia would be the closest thing to a coloniser.
The SMH said evidence gathered by several international organisations had made particular claims about politicians from Papua New Guinea – which had undergone a minerals boom in recent years – buying property in Queensland with their corrupt profits.
This money laundering was being tolerated by a disinterested Australian federal government, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported, quoting a good governance expert Prof Jason Sharman of the University of Griffith.
The newspaper quoted Sharman as saying that PNG, in particular, was believed to suffer from the avarice of some of its officials and politicians.
He added that a senior police officer recently claimed the country lost as much as 50% of its budget – about A$1.9 billion – every year through fraud and corruption.
Sharman called on the Australian government to drop its "nonchalant attitude" towards the problem, which, he said, hamstringed regional aid, governance and security policies.
"Recent research on grand corruption has emphasised the importance of following the money trail to determine where corrupt senior officials hide their stolen assets," he said.
"The answer is often that wealth looted from poor countries is held in rich countries with large, stable financial centres and which share historical ties with the victim country."
But, he said, Canberra had displayed a lack of interest in pursuing foreign corruption in Australia. An example of this, he said, was the bribery scandal enveloping the Reserve Bank in relation to foreign bribes allegedly paid by employees of its part-owned subsidiaries, Note Printing Australia and Securency.
The government has ignored that case and has three times blocked a move in the Senate to launch a parliamentary inquiry.
"The government doesn't care about Australia playing host to the proceeds of foreign corruption," Sharman said.
He said he first became concerned about the role of Australia in embezzlement and corruption in the South Pacific while undertaking research for the World Bank about the problem in Africa.
"If you're a corrupt leader and you're stealing millions ... through embezzlement or taking bribes, then you don't want to keep it at home, you want to put it somewhere international."
He said his research showed that money tended to flow to the former coloniser, or the nearest thing. Given that many South Pacific politicians and officials study in Australia and have family and friends here, Australia would be the closest thing to a coloniser.
The SMH said evidence gathered by several international organisations had made particular claims about politicians from Papua New Guinea – which had undergone a minerals boom in recent years – buying property in Queensland with their corrupt profits.
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