PFF condemns police bashing of PNG journalist

The Pacific Freedom Forum condemns the brutal attack by uniformed police officers on Papua New Guinea journalist Mark Kayok on the evening of Saturday 21 April, in Port Moresby.
Kayok, a police rounds reporter with the National Broadcasting Corporation, has reportedly sustained a broken nose amongst his injuries and is currently recovering at home.
The incident was reported in the morning bulletin on NBC radio on Monday 23 April .
Kayok had been on assignment on Saturday evening before meeting up with a friend who was wearing his police uniform.
Returning home, they were tailed by a mobile police Unit who stopped them at a service station in 5-Mile and began assaulting the police officer.
When Kayok tried to stop the attack, the assailants asked him who he was.
He identified himself as an NBC journalist and was also beaten up by the group of police officers who told him media were not reporting positively on them.
“We strongly condemn these crimes and call on those in authority to let the rule of law prevail, and investigate and prosecute those behind this shocking and despicable act.
“Not only did this attack involve a fellow law enforcer, but the citizen who tried to come to his aid also became a victim after it was found he was a journalist,” says American Samoa-based PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
The assaults come in the wake of ongoing tensions within police ranks in the PNG capital, after reports of fighting between factions of Highlands and NCD-based police in the last week.
“We urge the leadership to ensure the safety of all PNG citizens, especially when it’s those paid to protect them who are their biggest threat.
“The media must be able to safely do the work of keeping the public informed at a critical time in the nation’s history and we are gravely concerned at ongoing reports of threats and harrassment.
“We urge the government and law enforcers to respect the role of the fourth estate, and uphold their own duty to serve and protect the people of Papua New Guinea.”
Miller says it’s important that the leadership in the police and government quickly investigate and stand down the perpetrators of the beating and strive for peaceful settlement of the current tensions within the police ranks, while keeping open lines of communication with journalists.

Port clearance time greatly affects business

By MALUM NALU
Business is becoming more costly and difficult in PNG because of the time it takes to clear cargo at the port, according to the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber chief executive officer David Conn, a former chairman of the Port Moresby Port Users’ Group, told The National that it was now taking 10 days on average to clear goods, however, there were cases where it had taken four to six weeks.


David Conn…cost of doing business has risen because of longer port clearance times

He estimated that costs of doing business since start of the LNG project had skyrocketed - which was untimately borne by the consumer.
He said that in other countries, it took only two days maximum to clear goods at the port.
“Ten days is a very rough average (to clear goods at the port), but we are very often hearing of cases where it has taken four to six weeks,” Conn said.
“Several companies we approached said their experience is that the clearance time has doubled from two weeks to anything from four weeks or more.
“Last year, it took seven to 12 days; two years ago, it took six to seven days.”
This is a matter which gravely concerns the chamber, as costs associated with the prolonged port clearance, are passed on to consumers.
“As we have said so many times it becomes more and more difficult and costly to do business in PNG,” Conn said.
“The flow-on effect is that it affects the grassroots people most with the cost of food going up massively.
“A high-cost society puts more low- income consumers under increased pressure and this is clearly reflected in Port Moresby in incidences of opportunistic , petty crime and increased social issues such as alcohol abuse , violence in our settlements and general lawlessness and unaccountability among our citizenery and youth .”
“Freight companies are losing time with loaded trucks sitting at the wharf, waiting for storage cheques to be written up and delivered back to the wharf, which must happen after the truck is loaded, but before it can leave the wharf,” he said.
“There is no such thing as pre-clearance for sea cargo anymore with Customs –this creates delays of up to a week just on that.
“PNG Ports, like all state-owned entities, is forced into a cost-recovery mode, but there are serious maintenance issues on Port Moresby main wharf, and if a user-pay logic is to be followed, prices can only skyrocket.
“Surely the government has to kick in somewhere, as these are essential services that keep the cogs of the economy ticking over.
“We note a recent dividend payment to Independent Public Business Corporation by PNG Ports and it should be expected that port costs would drop as under the current Independent Consumer and Competition Commission regulatory contract pricing was based on this not having to happen.
“If PNG Ports can afford to pay a dividend then the regulatory contract requires them to lower the costs to users.
“We have not noticed this happening as yet.”
Conn estimated about 2,500 containers entered Port Moresby port every month, with “a sharp increase is still expected this year”, and ruled out the possibility of government agencies being prepared to meet the onslaught.
“No new customs cashiers, inspectors, no courses for new customs brokers, no new National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA) inspectors,” he said.
“John Pomoso from Customs, with regards to the issue of serious shortage of customs brokers in town and no new ones coming through, has said they don’t have enough staff to run the courses to bring on new brokers.
Conn was skeptical about an advertisement from PNG Ports giving importers five days free storage.
“It has been five days free storage for the last three years,” he said.
“Nothing new.
“This should be enough but unfortunately for some time now, it takes much longer than that to get the cargo off the wharf.
“After that, they will charged certain rates per day.”

Chamber: Lae running out of land for business

By MALUM NALU
The industrial city of Lae is fast running out of land for residential and commercial development, according to the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber president Alan McLay told The National that the lack of available land for residential and commercial development in Lae was a major concern as it is in most cities in the country.

An aerial view of busy Milfordhaven Road and the industrial heart of Lae…the city is fast running out of land for residential and commercial development.-Picture by PETER BOYD

“This land shortage is pushing up prices of developed land as well as rents,” he said.
“Landowners have taken advantage of the shortage of land to register customary land and then lease it to companies but as we are hearing from landowners themselves, this is causing social problems and could lead to disputes down the track.
“The lack of planning by the government to resolve this problem and to free up more land for appropriate urban development is a major handicap to the development of Lae City.
“The Ahi people commenced a land mobilisation scheme some years ago to address this problem and to overcome the illegal settlements that were springing up everywhere, but this scheme has floundered because of a lack of support and direction by the government.
“It appears that the government is reluctant to assist in a proper and planned development of this city and other urban cities in the country.
“Will Lae continue to develop in this ad hoc manner, where most of the expansion that is taking place is by unplanned land deals and settlements?”
Meanwhile, the LNG and mining projects are already having a profound impact on business in Lae.
McLay said there was already increase business in Lae for trucking companies, logistics firms and shipping agents; more vehicles being bought from vehicle distributors; and increased imports meaning more jobs for stevedores, and leases for storage of containers (Morobe provincial government and Lae urban local level government to benefit).
McLay said the K700 million Lae port project had not yet impacted on Lae, however, “presumably it will mean that there will be more jobs available, and hopefully local contracts”.
He is generally optimistic about the future of business in Lae.
“Given that the power and communications will improve and the roads are to be fixed, then business will continue to expand,” McLay said.
“The government must plan better for this expansion, and formalise the leasing of land.
“What I don’t want to see is a landless group of people, who find that greedy companies have taken all the land near Lae City.”

Today's buai pekpek (betelnut shit) in Port Moresby

And while's we're talking about politics, elections, et al, our capital city of Port Moresby continues to get filthier by the day under all this buai pekpek (betelnut shit)!
This is today's buai pekpek!
There's a whole lot more in Port Moresby and around PNG!

Outside Mobil Service Station, Wagani

Outside Bank South Pacific Waigani, along the main Waigani Drive

So much for a cleaner and greener Port Moresby!

A close-up of a pile of buai pekpek and other litter along Waigani Drive

The filthy walkway along the bemobile bus stop, Waigani Drive

PNG rebuffs Gillard's poll push

From AFP

PAPUA New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has rebuffed pressure from Australia to hold elections on time.

Peter O'Neill

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday ratcheted up pressure by contacting Mr O'Neill directly, but he yesterday said the timing of polls was PNG's own business.

Canberra has repeatedly called on PNG to adhere to the June deadline for elections as set out by its constitution.

Ms Gillard's office issued a statement saying the pair "discussed the importance of holding national elections on time" and Ms Gillard had "welcomed Prime Minister O'Neill's statements that he supports the election proceeding on time."

But Mr O'Neill shrugged off the pressure yesterday.

"We appreciate the support of the Australian government, but it is for us to determine where we go with the elections in the coming months," Mr O'Neill told the ABC.

Australia is impoverished PNG's major aid donor and has pledged significant assistance to help the polls proceed, including electoral personnel and aerial capability to help transport ballots across the remote and rugged nation.

The election's timing was thrown into doubt earlier this month when PNG's parliament voted for a six month delay - a decision Mr O'Neill initially supported but later distanced himself from.

There was fresh speculation the June deadline was in doubt on Friday due to an investigation into the electoral commissioner, who is strongly committed to proceeding with the elections on their original date.

Canberra rankled PNG in March by suggesting Australia would "be in the position of having to consider sanctions" if PNG failed to hold elections in June.

In comments he later stepped back from, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Australia would "have no alternative but to organise the world to condemn and isolate" PNG, leading Port Moresby to caution against threatening its independence.

Politics in PNG have been in turmoil since late 2011, when the Supreme Court ruled Mr O'Neill's rise to power - via a parliamentary vote while then-leader Sir Michael Somare was recovering from illness in Singapore - was illegal.

Mr Somare, who has dominated politics in the country for decades, believes he is still the leader of the nation of 6.6 million people, and fresh elections are viewed as a way of resolving the dispute for good.

PNG: Beyond the boom

Economic update from Oxford Business Group

Asia | 20 Apr 2012

Papua New Guinea’s recent surge in natural resource projects has had a spin-off effect on other sectors, thus giving the country a positive near-term outlook for its economy, which is expected to see GDP growth reach 8% this year.

Work progresses on the LNG processing plant outside Port Moresby.-Picture courtesy of EXXON MOBIL

 However, the government has been advised to tighten its management of revenues from mining and natural gas projects, as well as curtail spending to ensure expansion remains stable moving forward.

In February, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Papua New Guinea (PNG) continues to see high growth due to elevated commodity prices and the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, with the benefits seen in the construction and transportation sectors.

The IMF noted this was the 10th year of uninterrupted economic growth, but added that by 2013, growth will likely dip to 4%, as construction winds down and output at maturing mines declines.

The IMF’s confidence is mirrored in the latest regional review by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which noted in March that the economy continued its strong performance during 2011.

“Industry made the largest contribution to growth, boosted by construction of the $16bn, ExxonMobil-led LNG project and high levels of government spending.

"Spillover from this activity also drove growth in the services sector, including wholesale and retail trade and transport,” wrote the ADB.

However, the bank also noted that increasing prices, driven by high government expenditure, large resource project investments and rising international commodity prices, saw the consumer price index (CPI) growth reach double digits in mid-2011.

Indeed, keeping inflation stable will remain key to maintaining economic stability as major mines close in the coming years and the PNG LNG project comes online in 2014.

 However, the Central Bank has been praised for monetary tightening in 2011, which helped see inflation fall to an annual headline rate of about 7% at the end of 2011, from close to 10% in the second quarter.

According to the IMF, the economy’s future also depends on Port Moresby’s commitment to ensuring that revenues from the LNG plant and minerals such as gold benefit the population.

“PNG’s resource sector could make a larger contribution to public revenues,” the IMF said. “Efforts to promote this could include strengthening revenue collection, reinforcing the internal revenue and Customs services, streamlining existing tax concessions, as well as an additional profits tax to mining activities, given that the average effective tax take from resources appears to be on the low side when compared with other fiscal regimes across the world.”

Concerns have been raised that the profits of PNG LNG could be spirited away from the country, with the government admitting in 2011 that only 4.5% of the project’s investment flows will be retained in the local economy between 2011 and 2013, as most project costs will be for imported goods and services.

In this regard, the passing of the new sovereign wealth fund (SWF) law by parliament in February is seen as an important step forward. The fund will be managed onshore and fully integrated into the budget and PNG’s fiscal framework, and will follow strict governance, transparency, disclosure, accountability and asset management rules.

To ensure growth, investment will need to continue to flow into the country. However, controversy has clouded Canadian firm Interoil’s plans for a $6bn LNG plant in the country’s Gulf province, with the plant initially expected to produce 5m tonnes per annum (tpa), ramping up in stages to 7.6m tpa and 10m tpa. The PNG government has shelved the plan, stating that the project was “fragmented” and “deviates from the [government] agreement”.

Also expected to impact foreign investment are political uncertainties, with fallout from last year’s stand-off between Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former premier, Michael Somare, continuing to negatively influence the decision-making process. As a result, tensions are expected to intensify in the lead up to national elections scheduled for June 2012.

The need to spend to attract voters has also been flagged as a potential source of economic instability. In December 2011, the government passed its largest-ever budget at $4.98bn, an increase of 13% over the previous year. “We recommend moving toward a path of steady and affordable real expenditure increases,” said the IMF.

Improving financial management issues, strengthening procurement systems and creating greater integrity in public financial governance will go a long way to securing positive growth in the near term.

PNG government may sack elections chief

By EOIN BLACKWELL, AAP Papua New Guinea Correspondent

There is growing evidence that Papua New Guinea's government may move to sack the electoral commissioner, removing a steadfast obstacle to parliament's vote to suspend the June election by six months.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said on Friday the government appointment's committee was investigating a discrepancy in Andrew Trawen's reappointment as head of the electoral commission in 2010 by the government of Sir Michael Somare.

He told parliament he had received legal advice that Mr Trawen's term as commissioner had been extended beyond the mandatory retirement age of 55 set for certain PNG civil servants without a compelling reason.

"That reasoning was not provided at that meeting," Mr O'Neill said.

"In fact, the meeting took less than three minutes, at least that's what one of the members who was there deliberated to us after that meeting yesterday with my good friend, the leader of the opposition and the other members."

He told parliament the government's chief secretary, Manasupe Zurenuoc, was investigating the matter and had told the PM he needed time to do so, with advice to come in the coming week.

But in what can be interpreted as parliament's determination to have its will heard, Mr O'Neill earlier told the chamber parliament's vote on April 11 to delay the election did not need to be rescinded.

"The motion that we passed on this floor was voted on by many of us on this side of the house. We stood because we believed very strongly then, as we do today, that the electoral commissioner was not ready because of his failure to present the common roll (on time)."

Mr Trawen is a steadfast opponent of parliament's vote two weeks ago to suspend the elections by six months.

The specifics of Mr Trawen's appointment are just the latest volley in a larger, and longer, political game.

Since he took office on August 2 last year, Mr O'Neill has repeatedly said he wants elections to be conducted on time.

Mr O'Neill voted along with 62 other government MPs on April 5 to delay the poll by six months over fears of fraud in the common roll.

Mr Trawen says parliamentary terms - five and a half years - are fixed by the constitution.

Following parliament's vote, Mr Trawen said he was going to Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio to sign off on the issue of writs as scheduled on April 27.

Following a massive public outcry about delaying the polls, Mr O'Neill said parliament's decision was a protest only, and he agreed with Mr Trawen to a three-week delay in the issue of writs with no change in the June 23 polling date.

However, Jeffery Nape, PNG's powerful speaker, told the chamber on April 11 the vote still stood and Mr Trawen should obey it.

Mr O'Neill's coalition partner, Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah, has frequently been highly critical of Mr Trawen's performance as electoral commissioner, arguing that the rolls are not ready five years after the last election.

Mr Trawen, with the backing of Australian-funded electoral support staff, says the rolls will be fully updated by May 18.

AAP understands that many sitting MPs also fear the odds are stacked against them during PNG's relatively chaotic five-yearly elections because Mr Trawen is an appointment of the former PM.

However, PNG traditionally has a high turnover rate of MPs after elections.

Journalists were on Wednesday night sent documents from the Somare camp detailing Mr Trawen's appointment as electoral commissioner.

Mr Trawen could not be contacted for comment