Bart Philemon to quit politics after 2012 elections

By MALUM NALU

Lae MP and Public Service Minister Bart Philemon says the 2012 national elections will be his last.

Philemon, 66, from Butibam village in Lae, made the announcement at his New Generation Party’s fundraising dinner at Vision City in Port Moresby on Saturday night.

 New Generation Party leader Bart Philemon )centre) with Health Minister Jamie Maxtone-Graham (left) and deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah.-Pictures by RUSSEL SAIGOMI

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill stresses the need for good leadership as New Generation Party leader Bart Philemon looks on.

He told a full house crowd of business executives, public servants, politicians and others that after serving four terms since 1992, 2012 would be his “swansong”.

“I could win this one or I could lose it,” he said.

‘It will be my last elections and my last term as politician.”

He said politicians owed it to the children of Papua New Guinea for a better future.

“Today’s children, tomorrow’s future,” he said.

“There must be strong and effective leadership.

“PNG is a country very much in turmoil.

“Hence, the branding, a ‘poor rich country’.”

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the current political chaos in the country was not doing any good for the children.

“Papua New Guinea is at a very interesting juncture,” he said.

“We are going back and forth to the court house.

“The country does not deserve this.

“We need to provide a future for the kids.

“It is very important that we have political parties that have good principles, candidates that are outstanding.”

O’Neill said never had the need been greater for good leaders with the current LNG and resource developments in the country.

“All these world-class developments will bring in windfall to this country,” he said.

“This election is for the future of this country and for the future of our children.”

The crowd was entertained by school children who spoke about the need for good leadership for their future and a Cuban music trio.

Health Minister and Anglimo-South Waghi MP, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, pledged K250,000 support to NGP from PNG Party.

Duma welcomes Shell to PNG

By MALUM NALU

Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma says the return of Shell to Papua New Guinea augurs well for the country’s hydrocarbon industry.

Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma speaking at yesterday’s Shell office opening at Petromin Haus in Port Moresby.-Picture by ROY SANGI of Petromin

“I’m very proud of what is happening today,” he said at yesterday’s (Thursday) opening of Shell’s new office at Petromin Haus in Port Moresby.

“I’m sure it’s good for positive development of our hydrocarbon industry.

“The government of Peter O’Neill sees the opportunity to offer incentives to companies who want to invest in this country.”

Duma said Shell had not wasted time since entering into a strategic alliance agreement on Aug 18, 2011 with Petromin to establish a long-term partnership.

“Not even a year has passed and Shell is back again,” he said.

“Shell, from what I know, has a very good track record.

“I strongly believe that with Shell, we can go miles.

“There are many areas out there waiting to be explored.

“For Shell to come and open an office in the country tells a lot.

“As the saying goes, ‘fortune favors the brave’.

I see a good future ahead for both Shell and Petromin.”

Home is where the heart is

By MALUM NALU

AT least, for one member of Shell’s senior management team at the opening of the company’s Papua New Guinea office at Petromin Haus in Port Moresby yesterday PNG is a place that he calls “home”.

Australian Marc Gerrits, Shell’s vice-president exploration – Asia, was born in Angoram along the Sepik River and spent his early years in PNG before returning to Australia in 1977, where he completed high school and university to become a geologist.

Gerrits, who was instrumental in Shell’s return to PNG, admitted in an interview with The National yesterday that his heart was still with PNG as that was where he was born.

“Your heart is where you were born,” he said.

: Marc Gerrits…’home is where the heart is’.-Picture by ROY SANGI of Petromin

“I was born in Angoram along the Sepik River in 1964.

“My father was a doctor in Angoram.

“We then moved to Popondetta, Kiriwina, then Maprik and Wewak.

“My father was a leprosy and TB specialist.

“He was and is very interested in the culture.

“He is at the moment writing a book on culture in the Maprik area.”

Gerrits said Shell had been studying developments in PNG for quite a while now before deciding to return.

“We operate many gas projects around the world,” he said.

“We work closely with governments and national oil companies for the people.

“That’s exactly what we want to do here.

“We believe very strongly in developing local talent.

“We operate very much from a position of business principles.

“In terms of PNG, we have a long working history here.

“We hope opportunities will emerge to do more.”

Asked about what projects Shell would be involved in, Gerrits said: “It’s still very early days.

“The ingredients are good.

“Papua New Guinea is very promising.

“We’re no longer involved in downstream here.

“There has been a significant degree of success in PNG.

“We firmly believe that there’s more to come and I believe Shell is part of that bigger picture.”