2012 Goroka Show gets K200,000 boost from Gaming Board

By MALUM NALU
Monetary benefits of the Goroka Show, one of PNG’s biggest tourism money makers, will be known later this year when a socio-economic study is completed by the National Research Institute (NRI).
This will be the first time that such a professional economic study has been carried out into any one of the many cultural and tourism events in the country.
National Gaming Control Board chief executive officer, Edward Mike Jondi, said this when presenting K200, 000 to show committee chairman Gideon Samuel at the Bird of Paradise Hotel in Goroka on Saturday to kick-start the 2012 show.

NGCB CEO Edward Mike Jondi (left) presents the K200, 000 to Goroka show committee chairman Gideon Samuel.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Other cash sponsorships and pledges were made, including K10, 000 from geologist Wera Mori of Mori and Associates, while Eastern Highlands provincial government and Coffee Industry Corporation made pledges.
Other companies and organisations are expected to follow suit.
Jondi said the full economic benefits of the show to Goroka and Eastern Highlands, as well as PNG as a whole, would become clearer when the study was completed by the NRI.
Jondi, who is from Lufa in Eastern Highlands, also called on other business houses in Goroka and Eastern Highlands to get behind the show as it promoted business and culture in the province.

A singsing group from Lufa entertains guests at Saturday’s launching of the 2012 Goroka Show at the Bird of Paradise Hotel.-

“Today we are proud of the many positive contributions Goroka Show adds to the province and country,” he said.
“Goroka Show is a must-see event on the tourism calendar of PNG and is a global event.
“It is an event which brings cultures together, facilitates exchange of ideas, unearths innovation, promotes positive themes, hence the reason for supporting the show.
“These positive contributions will soon become clearer as soon as an economic impact study is done by the NRI.”
Goroka Show committee last November commissioned the NRI to carry out a study into the socio-economic benefits of the show to Goroka, Eastern Highlands and PNG.

An Asaro mud man entertains guests at Saturday’s launching of the 2012 Goroka Show at the Bird of Paradise Hotel in Goroka.-

Executive officer Tom Solepa said despite Goroka having the oldest show in PNG, there were no proper records or tangible assets.
“It (Goroka show) has a very long history,” he said.
“However, despite its length of existence, there’s nothing tangible on the ground.
“I see that there’s a need to get a structure in place, which is something that we’ve talked about at committee level.
“The whole idea is to have information and data available.”
He said the study would go a long way towards self-sustainability in future, including the study by NRI.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill last year approved K700, 000 for the Goroka Show, which made the 2011 event one of the best ever.

Famous kiap Bob Cleland returns to Eastern Highlands

By MALUM NALU
Legendary kiap (patrol officer) and Highlands Highway builder Bob Cleland returned to Goroka and Eastern Highlands for the first time since he left in 1976, last Saturday (April 28).

Bob Cleland is welcomed back to Goroka by Asaro mudmen and other Eastern Highlands dancers.-All pictures by MALUM NALU

Cleland was feted like royalty the moment he stepped onto the tarmac in Goroka, on which he first set foot on 59 years ago in 1953.
Asaro mudmen and other Eastern Highlands dancers welcomed him back to Goroka, and he was greeted by senior provincial government officials including outgoing provincial administrator MunareUyassi, as blind children from the Mt Sion School for the Blind outside Goroka sang that famous and moving Goroka anthem “Welcome to Goroka”.



Bob Cleland being presented an Eastern Highlands flag by outgoing provincial administrator Munare Uyassi on Saturday. Cleland was the one who designed the Nokondi motif on this flag.

 Cleland, now aged 81, was clearly overwhelmed by the welcome.
His widely-acclaimed book, Big Road, first published in 2010, but not widely on sale yet in PNG, tells the story of the building of the Highlands Highway, particularly the Daulo stretch between Asaro and Watabung in Eastern Highlands in 1953, which he personally supervised as a 22-year-old kiap.

Bob Cleland on the summit of Daulo Pass, the road he supervised construction of, back in 1953.-

The 'big road' today is the Highlands Highway running from the port of Lae and through the highlands provinces of PNG.
Big Road describes the initial construction by hand, in 1953 and 1954, of the Daulo section of the road, which runs over the 2,478m Daulo Pass and which gives access westward to the great Waghi Valley.
Cleland, before the Daulo Pass, helped the late Rupert Haviland built part of the road over the Kassam Pass.
The big road was neither designed nor built by engineers but by kiaps, with local villagers using only picks, shovels and thousands of hours of backbreaking labour.

Bob Cleland points out the panorama of the Asaro Valley from Daulo Pass

Cleland was also involved in the first Goroka Show in 1956 and designed the Eastern Highlands provincial flag, in particular Nokondi – the fabled spirit who had one eye, one ear, one leg and one testicle.
Last Saturday evening, at the Bird of Paradise Hotel, Cleland was special guest at the launching of the 2012 Goroka Show, where his reminisces enthralled the spellbound audience.
His father Donald (later Sir Donald) Cleland, was administrator of Papua New Guinea for 15 years from 1951.
Cleland served 23 years altogether in PNG from 1953-1976.
After Watabung, he was transferred to Kainantu for two years, attended the Australian School of Public Administration (ASOPA) in Sydney, and then served in Daru, Balimo, Lae, Kokopo, Chuave and then ended up in Goroka, where he was executive officer of the Eastern Highlands Area Authority (which became the Eastern Highlands provincial government in 1977) from 1975-1976,
The new authority needed a common seal, and when Cleland asked members what was something traditional covering the whole Eastern Highlands, they quickly decided on Nokondi.
That same image is at the centre of today’s Eastern Highlands provincial flag.
“Those 23 years were the best years of my life,” Cleland told The National in Goroka.
“It was a very rewarding job.
“If you did a job properly, you could see the results.”

Nasfund savings and loans posts K4.2 million profit

Nasfund Contributors Savings and Loans Society has announced a net operating profit of K4.2 million, which represents an increase of 55% from K2.7 million recorded in 2010, The National reports. Chairman Ian Tarutia announced the results after its board meeting held last Thursday.

Ian Tarutia… board approves 6% interest for members

The audited accounts revealed the following:
• Net operating profit of K4.2 million representing an increase of 55% from K2.7 million recorded in 2010;
• Gross assets of K79.6 million representing an increase of 20% from K66.1 million recorded in 2010;
• Net assets of K10.3 million – an increase of 24% from net asset value of K8.3 million recorded in 2010;
• Member savings deposits totaling K89.1 million representing an increase of 20% from K57.6 million recorded in 2010;
• Outstanding loans to members increased to K20.6 million presenting an increase of 11% from K18.5 million recorded in 2010; and
• Reserves of K5.2 million representing an increase of 19% from K4.3 million recorded in 2010.
Tarutia said during the year, the society:
• Paid out K28 million in loans to members;
• Paid out K29 million in withdrawals;
• Increased its membership base to 56, 539, representing an increase of 6% from 52, 223 members in 2010;
• Launched Nascare, a medicare/life insurance product for members. As part of the awareness programme, its business development team visited all provinces where the society was represented to explain Nascare to members;
• Conducted 151 shop floor presentations to members/potential employers, which were attended by 5, 494 members;
• Introduced two more companies as participants in the society’s popular Value Back Programme. Under this programme, members can avail of discounts upon payment of goods and services.
“It was a solid year in the face of rising competition from newly-licensed societies and microfinance organisations, with the society experiencing significant growth in membership, asset size and profitability,” Tarutia said.
“The society continues to maintain a diversified income stream from investments in government securities, bank deposits, equity and security.
“The society loan portfolio was K20.6 million – an increase of K2 million.
“This is a pleasing result for the society as it reflects an increase in the core business activity of the society.

“The increase in membership reflects the growing interest in the society and products.
“With net assets over K10 million, the society is in a strong financial position of overcome an unexpected losses.
“The board has approved at its board meeting, after statutory reserving members will receive 6% interest o on their savings, which equates to over K3.3 million.
“This will be credited to members’ accounts this month.”

Nasfund profits slump in 2011

Nasfund last Friday announced a massive slump in profits from K308.658 million in 2010 to a mere K44.662 million in 2011, The National reports.
It said the slump was mainly because of currency appreciation, peaking property valuations and softening of share values in its listed equities.
Not much much detail was given about how the controversial Sovereign Community Infrastructure Treasury Bill (SCITB) K125 million investment impacted on its final earnings.
Nasfund said 2% out of its reserves of K97 million - equating to K44.531 million - would be distributed into individual member accounts.
The audited accounts revealed:
• Net assets of K2.338 billion representing an increase of 7.5% from a net asset value of K2.221 billion recorded in 2010;
• Reserves of K97.5 million representing 4% of net asset value before distribution;
• Operating profit before provision for contingent liabilities and related impairments of K44.662 million compared to K308.658 million recorded in 2012.
In the area of membership, the fund recorded:
• Active membership base of 153, 397 representing a growth of 13.8% increase from 140, 545 members in 2010;
• Active employer base of 2,107 employers representing an 8% increase from 1,943 employers in 2010;
• Average monthly contribution inflows of K28 million from employers, representing an increase of 13% compared to K24.7 million received month in 2010; and
• Payment of K166.28 million to 55, 086 members in unemployment, retirement and housing advance benefits, compared to 74, 323 members withdrawing in 2012, representing a reduction of 25% of members withdrawing from the fund.
Chairman Mel Togolo said the year 2011 was a very challenging year, not only for Nasfund but the superannuation industry.

Mel Togolo… a very challenging year, not only for Nasfund but the superannuation industry

“From an industry perspective, our respective investment portfolios were adversely impacted by currency appreciation against the Australian dollar, peaking property valuations and softening of share values in our listed equities,” he said.
“These were the main drivers of capital gains in the past, which saw funds in PNG recording high profits and delivering double digit returns.
“Those days are over and with the advent of the global financial crisis still lingering in the western world, its effect is now being felt by our own economy in which we operate and invest.
“Despite these setbacks, our industry has been resilient and strong enough to continue delivering positive crediting rates compared to super funds in Australia, for example, who are still experiencing high negative returns.”
Togolo said for the fund itself, the SCITB investment was a stark reminder that consultation with the state and all its instrumentalities was paramount to achieving desired feedback outcomes without recourse to legal challenges.
Togolo said the board’s strategy of setting aside savings in the good years and maintaining a high reserve level was now bearing fruit.
“Even where we are recording a loss as a consequence of high provisioning to accommodate a K40 million general impairment to cover amongst others, the resolution of the SCITB investment with the state, we are still able to pay a competitive rate to members,” he said.
“The board approved to pay 2% out of its reserves of K97 million, which equates to approximately K44.531 million, to be distributed into individual member accounts.
“This will leave the fund with K43.5 million in reserves, which equates to 1.82% of net asset value.
“For members who exit the fund in 2012, the interim crediting rate is 1.5%.”

Letters from Waigani

The missing letters of the National Archives signboard at Waigani have been there for as long as I can remember, however, like anything government in PNG, nothing gets done to remedy the problem!

Legendary patrol officer Bob Cleland returns to PNG

By MALUM NALU

 

This is the legendary former kiap, Highlands Highway builder, writer and former resident of Goroka BOB CLELAND, 81, whom I will have the privilege of travelling with to Goroka tomorrow for the launching of the 2012 Goroka Show.

Bob Cleland holding a copy of Big Road today.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

 

 He is holding with him a copy of his widely-acclaimed book, BIG ROAD, which tells the story of the building of the Highlands Highway, particularly the Daulo stretch between Asaro and Watabung in Eastern Highlands in 1953, which he personally supervised as a 23-year-old kiap (patrol officer).

 The 'big road' today is the Highlands Highway running from the port of Lae and through the highlands provinces of PNG.

 BIG ROAD describes the initial construction by hand, in 1953 and 1954, of the Daulo section of the road, which runs over the 2,478m Daulo Pass and which gives access westward to the great Waghi Valley. 

The big road was neither designed nor built by engineers but by patrol officers, or kiaps, with local villagers using only picks, shovels and thousands of hours of backbreaking labour.

 BOB CLELAND was also involved in the first Goroka Show in 1956 and designed the Eastern Highlands provincial flag. 

In true Goroka style, he will be given a hero's welcome when he touches down tomorrow morning.

I'll keep you posted.

Justice must be seen to be done

Justice must be seen to be done...the government can spend millions on legal fees for lawyers but can't fix up this big pothole leading to the Waigani Court House.

A classic case of getting your priorities all f...ed up!