Fives new houses for jail staff in Goroka

Correctional Service officers and jail commanders around the country were urged to focus on their primary role of looking after prisoners rather than involving in other activities outside their line of duties and abusing properties and their privileges.

Acting Correctional Service Commissioner, Martin Balthazar expressed these during a mini ceremony to mark the completion of five officer’s houses at Goroka’s Bihute Jail last Friday.

From right are CS Minister’s first secretary Smith Sagao, CS Acting Commissioner Martin Balthazer, managing director of Noru Supplies Patrick Kavare and CS executive officer to the office of the Commissioner, Superintendent David Melange and the Bihute Jail Commander Superintendent Simon Laken inspecting one of the renovated houses

He said unlike other government departments, the CIS staff have been enjoying free housing, transport, electricity, and water at the Commissioner’s discretion and these can be abolished if staff were seen to be abusing them.

“On top of these existing privileges, the O’Neill / Namah government is giving salary increment, free education, free medical service, no tax for workers receiving K10,000 per annum and below, and I do not see any reasons why officer should not look after prisoners,” Balthazer said.

His comments follows the escape of 22 prisoners from the Bihute jail last Monday, of whom 19 were remandees awaiting trial.  

He said the breakout was allegedly caused as all attention was focused on the death of a female officer and also the delay in announcing the promotion of officers.

Balthazar said the reasons were unacceptable as security for the prisoners should be the paramount importance and concern of the officers and promotions was not a big issue as it was an ongoing administrative process and also that they were already enjoying more privileges.

He warned officers that they would pay a fine of K200 for minor offences and K1,000 or face dismissal for committing major offences.

“Any appeals will have to go to the National Court as Parliament has dismissed the CS Appeals Tribunal in October 2011,” Balthazar said.

Commencement of New Ireland province community projects

Newcrest Mining Ltd and the New Ireland provincial government have announced the commencement of three key projects in New Ireland to improve community health, education facilities and infrastructure.

 The three high impact projects in New Ireland are to be funded by Newcrest Mining Ltd in partnership with the Governor of New Ireland Province, Sir Julius Chan.

New Ireland Governor sir Julius Chan (left) and Newcrest country manager Peter Aitsi at Palie

 Newcrest Mining country manager, Peter Aitsi, said the three agreed projects were the first of five to be funded by Newcrest. 

 “As a gesture of ‘goodwill’ to the people of New Ireland, Newcrest is making available K2 million to fund high value impact projects which align with the New Ireland Provincial Government priority areas,” Aitsi said.

 “The funding for these projects is above and beyond the requirements within existing agreements, demonstrating Newcrest’s desire to engage in effective partnerships with its key stakeholders.”

 The three projects are:

1.      Funding for an additional doctor under the Australian Doctors International Memorandum of Agreement with the New Ireland Provincial Government (NIPG).  This funding amounts to AUD$70,000 each year for three years or approximately K163, 000 per year, or K490,000 over the three years.

2.      Providing concrete surfacing over the Namatanai (Moronai) Bridge and associated embankment work. Project budget K400,000.

3.      Connecting and commissioning an existing generator and undertaking reticulation of the power system to Namatanai High School. Project budget K300,000.

It was also agreed that Newcrest Mining Ltd technical staff would work with the Public Works New Ireland to fully assess the scope for the Namatanai Bridge and Namatanai High School projects as well as to reconfirm the budgets to complete the projects to the required specifications. Sir Julius met with Aitsi last week after the adjournment of Parliament.  Their discussions led to the first three projects being signed off. During the meeting Aitsi reaffirmed Newcrest’s commitment to building a long and productive relationship with the NIPG.

Sir Julius in supporting the partnership said “These projects indicate a new desire for a more co-operative platform between Newcrest and the New Ireland Provincial Government.

“The projects will positively impact the lives of the People of New Ireland Province and signal a renewal of the economic and commercial life of the Province”.

Newcrest operates the Lihir Gold Mine in the New Ireland province.

“Getting agreement to commence three of the five projects is excellent news”, Aitsi said.

 “Newcrest and NIPG through these projects will target important areas such as health, education and infrastructure. 

“This joint effort will see the conversion of our efforts into projects with meaningful impact.”

The remaining two projects will target the key area of health and are expected to be finalised soon.

Pardoned mutineers a dangerous precedent

By REG RENAGI

The military I joined before independence was a professional outfit .
After 1975, general discipline in the PNG Defence Force was very tough. 

Every servicemen knew the military regulations and what the overall consequences for serious breaches of service discipline - such as being involved in a military mutiny was. 

Not today!

News has just reached the streets that by this afternoon we will soon know of some rogue soldier's demand for a pardon, as a result of last weeks' mutunity.

It seems certain now that the authorities will most likely give the soldiers who breached serious regulations of the PNGDF what they are demanding for.

If the soldiers involved in last weeks' mutuny are going to be pardened by this afternoon, then both the government and the defence hierachy will have then all compromised themselves. 

This unprecedented decision alone will also greatly undermined the PNGDF command position and its future efforts to strengthen general discipline within all defence communities.

The bottom-line is: it is now open-slatter for anyone in the PNGDF (and the Royal PNG Constabulary) to be rebelious, disobey superior orders and take the law into their own hands...knowing they will always be pardoned by their own government?

A dangerous precedent has now been set by the powers-that-be!

Mutineers to be pardoned

Just got news from my military contacts that PNG Defence Force soldiers who took part in the mutiny are granted amnesty and pardon.
Documents regarding this will be signed at 2pm today.
All arms have been handed in.
"Once it is signed everythng is put to rest once and for all," my source says.
"No arrest,no court case as assured by deputy prime minister and prime minister."

Amet says Somare faction will not support early elections

Sir Michael Somare's "Attorney General" Sir Arnold Amet says the Somare faction is unlikely to attend Parliament and vote for early elections, NBC news reports on its 12pm bulletin.

O'Neill seeks court order restraining army from making appointments

The Peter O'Neill faction is seeking a court order restraining the PNG Defence Force from making appointments, NBC reports on its 12pm bulletin.

Somare vows to continue fight

GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare, who maintains he is the legitimate prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said yesterday he will continue to uphold the Constitution, The National reports.
Sir Michael, whose claim to lead the government is backed by a Supreme Court ruling delivered last December, said in a statement: “If this is to be my last and biggest battle, I will fight for the Constitution, the underlying law that holds the very fabric of our democracy and democratic institutions together.
“Yes, I could call it quits and allow elected leaders that continuously sidestep our laws to take us to the brink of our democracy.
“But I am still the representative of my people and will continue to stand for what I believe is in their best interest.
“Parliament does not have absolute power and yet we are allowing this dangerous trend of violations and breaches to be legitimised by the one argument of majority rule,” Sir Michael, who was ousted last August after Peter O’Neill and his deputy, Belden Namah, garnered superior numbers in parliament, said.
“All past prime ministers respected the orders of the courts; from Sir Julius Chan, Paias Wingti, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, the late Sir William Skate and even Sir Mekere Morauta.”
He said O’Neill, with the support of the Speaker of Parliament (Jeffrey Nape) was the only illegitimate self-proclaimed prime minister who considered himself above the law and would not comply with court orders.
“This impasse is not about Michael Somare or Peter O’Neill. If we continue to trample on our laws to stay in power we are condoning illegitimacy. What law will we turn to in order to argue our rights?” he said.
“I do not want a country that is under the barrel of arms. I do not want a country where our security forces will compromise on the laws of this land for personalities.
“I stress that this impasse is about the law. Therefore, to suggest that I encouraged a coup is shameful in its simplicity.
“I want to set the record straight by saying, my government appointed Fred Yakasa and the matter is before the court. We also appointed Gabriel Yer as treasury secretary and the matter is also before the court.
“In the same way, we last week dismissed Commander Francis Agwi and replaced him with Col Yaura Sasa.
“If O’Neill is aggrieved he must take the matter to the same courts. He must not manipulate agents of the law in the manner that we have seen since he inappropriately took office on 2 August 2011.
“I appeal to the people of Papua New Guinea to look at the law and not at personalities. This issue is bigger than me and O’Neill.”
Lae-based Sasa, who is 60, led a short-lived mutiny involving about 30 other soldiers last Thursday when he placed Agwi under house arrest at the defence headquarters at Murray barracks.
However, the mutiny folded after 12 hours for lack of support from senior officers around the country.