Sir Ebia Olewale biography launched

By MALUM NALU
A book on the life of the late Sir Ebia Olewale, Ebia Olewale: A Life of Service, was launched after the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) annual report meeting at the Crown Plaza in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
The 292-page book was launched by PNG-born Australian writer, Dr Jonathan Ritchie, and was witnessed by members of the Olewale family, PNGSF management and staff, as well as other invited guests.

Ebia Olewale: A Life of Service

Eldest son Kable thanked PNGSDP for making publication of the book possible.
“On behalf of the family, we really appreciate that the book has been launched,” he said.
“Dad wanted to write the book himself, unfortunately, he didn’t, but Jonathan Ritchie was commissioned by PNGSDP to do so.”

Ritchie (right) signs a copy of the book for Sir Ebia’s eldest son Kable at the Crowne Plaza on Tuesday.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Olewale, from Kunini village in the South Fly area of Western province, passed away on January 13, 2009, aged 68, and was a staunch supporter of PNGSDP.
As a fiercely loyal child of Western province and a firmly committed PNG nationalist, he brought to the company his experience, his many gifts and his wealth of knowledge of Western province and the country.
As a former MP representing South Fly electorate, he was committed to the improvement of services to the people of Western province.
As a director of the PNGSDP, which was established to support the people of Western province and PNG, he was a strong advocate for transparency and for responsibility.
He was dedicated to ensuring that Western province in particular and the country in general benefited from the funds entrusted to the company.
Ritchie, who started work on the book in March 2010 and finished in May 2011, said he thoroughly enjoyed writing it.
Ebia Olewale: A Life of Service is published by the University of PNG Press and is now on sale at the UPNG Bookshop.

A tribute to pioneer kiap (patrol officer) Lloyd Hurrell

By MALUM NALU
Lloyd Hurrell, the last of the pre World War 11 kiaps (patrol officers) in New Guinea died peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.
He is famous for his work in pacifying the feared Kukukuku warriors of Menyamya in Morobe province and establishing PNG's great coffee industry.

 Lloyd Hurrell being hugged by a Kukukuku friend

According to former kiap and longtime coffee industry personality John Fowke, Hurrell someone with an exemplary record.
Hurrell established Menyamya station as it is today in 1950 and against disbelief, brought in wife Margaret, son Peter (8) and daughter Lesley (2) to live among the Kukukukus.

The first white woman and children at Menyamya, Margarest Hurrell, Lesley of the wondrous white hair, and Peter

This is Menyamya, the patrol post on the only flat land in the Kukukuku country of the sharply-folded mountains...established by Lloyd Hurrell

“Later a pioneer coffee-planter at Wau in the 1950s, he was one of the founders of the old Coffee Industry Board,” Fowke said.
“The boardroom at the present Coffee Industry Corporation building in Goroka is named after him.
“Hurrell is survived by his wife and three children.
"Son Don is one of the few AusAid consultants serving in PNG who can be said to have made a real difference by his presence as a police advisor in Goroka.
“Hurrell had been in ill health since a fall resulting in a broken hip some months ago.
“He remained weak and unwell after discharge from hospital and died peacefully, at home, last Tuesday afternoon.”
In 1939, (Albert) Lloyd Hurrell applied for the position of cadet patrol officer advertised in Sydney newspapers.
After serving briefly as a kiap in New Guinea, Hurrell joined the Australian Military Forces in 1940.
He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on November 11, 1942 during fierce fighting after the recapture of Kokoda.
After WW11, Hurrell returned to kiap duties in New Guinea.
In 1950 he was appointed acting district Officer of the Menyamya district, and was instructed to establish a new settlement at this remote post in the ‘uncontrolled’ area.
The following year, Hurrell was ordered to investigate a raid on the village of Kiatsong during which several people were killed.
While investigating the raid, Hurrell’s party was attacked.
He fired a warning shot, which unfortunately killed one of the attacking men.
Hurrell resigned from his kiap duties in 1954, and established a farm and coffee plantation near Wau.
He entered national politics in PNG and served for many years as president of the PNG Coffee Marketing Board.
In 1969, Hurrell was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the board.
Margaret Bluett, whose husband Noel was executive officer of the coffee board from 1965-1971 has fond memories of Hurrell.
“Our family’s relationship with Lloyd Hurrell lasted professionally for ten years - from 1965 to 1975 but as a friendship it lasted much longer than that,” she recalls.
“He was the first chairman of Coffee Marketing Board in Papua New Guinea and in that capacity we first met him on the Goroka air strip in 1965 when he helped us off the plane.
“It was a free and easy airport in those days, no security or restrictions.
“I remember him saying, ‘You weren’t afraid to come here with Sukarno threatening to invade us?”
“Sukarno was the corrupt and rogue leader of Indonesia in those days, a ‘sabre rattler’ who constantly referred to PNG, as East Irian and many believed he was planning an invasion of the Territory.
“My husband was appointed as the first executive officer of the newly-formed Coffee Marketing Board and it was obvious to me from that day onwards Lloyd cared a great deal for our welfare.
“He was particularly concerned about our five young children forced to live in an upstairs apartment with nowhere for the children to play.
“As soon as he could push it through government circles a four-bedroom house in a large garden was built especially for the executive Officer and his family.
“My husband said that in Lloyd’s role as the chairman of the Coffee Board he was completely and absolutely committed to the task of steering the coffee industry from its infancy in 1950 through to Independence in 1975.
“It might be interesting to note that the coffee industry was one of the most-successful undertakings in the world that turned thousands of indigenous subsistence farmers into wealthy men in such a short period of time.
“This success was in no small way due to Lloyd’s untiring, dedicated, intelligent and enthusiastic support.
“Lloyd was a humble man who never wanted to acknowledge the credit he deserved.
“His constant efforts to understand the industry he steered saw him reading everything he could find to assist him both as a coffee planter himself and in his administrative role.
“When he was awarded the OBE for his work with the industry he told my husband, ‘This award is typical of what they say about this thing. OBE stands for ‘other bugger’s efforts’ and it should also be given to you because without your help I wouldn’t have been able to do this’.
“Lloyd Hurrell was a sensitive, caring man who was a gentleman in the true sense of the world, emboldened by old fashioned virtues and a work ethic that was hard to find amongst men of European origin who lived and worked in Papua New Guinea before, during and after World War 11.
“Lloyd was a vital cog in the machine that helped turn a land of tribal people into an independent nation.
“His family and those who knew him in his glory years will sorely miss him.”

Banker: PNG needs good political leadership

By MALUM NALU
Outgoing ANZ PNG chief executive officer Vishnu Mohan says the country has tremendous potential for growth, however, the political leadership must be in place to ensure this.
Mohan, who will be leaving at the end of July to take up a new position with ANZ in Fiji, after PNG, told The National yesterday that he hoped there would be good political leadership after the 2012 elections.

Mohan…PNG can become richest country in the region

“There aren’t many countries in the world that have the same growth prospects that PNG has,” he said.
“I’ve always said that PNG needs first-class leadership and governance as it has every potential to be a star in the region.
“I firmly believe that given the richness of its natural resources, it can become the richest in per capita GDP in the region..
“What it requires is good leadership, good governance and good discipline in managing the rest of the country.
“I hope the elections will go through peacefully and a good leader emerges who will take the country to great heights.”
Mohan, originally from Sri Lanka but now a citizen of Canada, said one of his major achievements in his three-year term was sorting out staff issues.
He said ANZ had about 600 staff, only 20 of whom were expatriates, and many of the most senior management positions had been localised.
His position will be taken over by Mark Baker, an international banker now based in Queensland, Australia.
“Whatever happens, I will still be involved in one way or another with PNG,” Mohan said.

ANZ opens new branch on Lihir

ANZ Papua New Guinea yesterday (Thursday) set a new trend in banking with the introduction of its new ‘banktainer’ branch on the gold-rich island of Lihir in New Ireland province. The ANZ Lihir branch is housed in a converted shipping container, a first of its kind in PNG, and allows employees of the Lihir gold mine and local residents to complete banking transactions.

ANZ Lihir staff preparing the three ATM machines outside their ‘banktainer’ branch on the island yesterday.-Picture courtesy of ANZ

The opening was attended by Peter Aitsi, PNG country manager of Newcrest Mining Ltd, Mark Soipang, chairman of Mineral Resources Lihir (MRL) Capital Ltd, and other business and community leaders.
ANZ PNG CEO, Vishnu Mohan, together with his marketing manager John Solok, couldn’t not attend because of technical problems with the Air Niugini aircraft that was supposed to have flown to Lihir yesterday, however, hailed the ‘banktainer’ as a milestone on PNG banking.
“We created the idea of a ‘banktainer’ which is a full service transportable branch housed in a shipping container and a first-of-its-kind branch design,” Mohan said.
“ANZ is committed to further investment in our business in PNG and we’re pleased to provide the local business community and residents of Lihir with better access to banking services.
“Lihir is a critical natural resources hub in PNG and with the island’s unique geographic location, we developed an innovative banking solution which would provide the town with a full service branch that was also easily transportable.
“With a number of international companies based in Lihir, we’re now able to provide critical banking services and connect customers to our main branch in Port Moresby and to expertise across our regional network in Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.”
ANZ’s Lihir branch offers a complete range of financial services, including home and investment loans, insurance and superannuation, and small business lending.
Customers also have access to three commercial and retail tellers, and three automatic teller machines(ATMs).
“With the success of the Lihir branch and its innovative design, we plan to open a second ‘banktainer’ in PNG by the end of this year,” Mohan said.
The branch is located at Block 830, Wide Road, Lihir.
Opening hours are 8.45am – 3pm, Monday to Friday.
ANZ commenced operations in PNG in 1910 and has 15 branches, more than 55 ATMs, nearly 1,000 EFTPOS terminals and 600 staff.

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

Welcome to Port Moresby - Buai Pekpek Capital of PNG and the world! 

This big pile of red shit greets you as you step out of the terminal. Is there an animal called National Airports Corporation that's supposed to keep the place clean with all its grandiose plans for "airport city"?

 

 

Meet my hero. I don't know his name, or where he comes from, but I so admired this elderly chap at Jackson Airport this morning cleaning up the buai pekpek and other litter left by incosiderate Papua New Guineans, who really deserve to be thrown into the shit. He's not highly paid, doesn't own a car, probably lives in a settlement, doesn't have a degree or Phd like some educated arseholes, but what he did - to me - puts you all to shame!

Ok Tedi mine life extension study nearing completion

By MALUM NALU

A feasibility study into an additional 10-year mine life extension (MLE) of the giant Ok Tedi mine is in the final stages of completion, according to Ok Tedi Mining Ltd managing director and chief executive officer Nigel Parker, The National reports.

The cost of mine life extension is in the range of US$ 850 million

Parker told the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) annual report meeting on Tuesday that the MLE was awaiting final board approval, and submission of change notice to the state was expected to be by July 2012

Parker…feasibility study to be completed next month.-Nationalpic by MALUM NALU

Prior to the exit of Inmet, the OTML board and management embarked on the possibility of an additional 10-year MLE from 2015-2025.

“The Mt Fubilan deposit has the resource to continue,” Parker said.

“Mining methodology is a combination of open pit continuation and underground mining.”

He said focus issues were:

• ·         Stable waste dump for 350 – 500 million tonnes of waste rock;

• ·         Tailings to the riverine system;

• ·         Hydro geology of the high rain fall environment;

• ·         Community approvals; and

• ·         State of PNG approval / enabling legislation

There was also leveraging off the OTML PNG community relations and mining capability to enter into PNG exploration and JV activities.

Parker said in considering a mine life extension,  the OTML board and management focused on a number of prime issues:

• ·         The impact of the mine life extension on the environment is in the forefront of the feasibility: management was of the view that the constructability of a stable waste dump was possible. This view was supported by independent assessments; Tails would continue to be deposited to the riverine system; That the sourcing of a tails solution continued to be pursued; and That Non Acid Forming sediment was delivered to the Bige dredging programme to facilitate the close out of the dredged embankments.

• ·         That the project is financially viable and that it can be internally funded within the framework of continuing to support the State through direct/indirect taxes and dividends.

• ·         The cost of mine life extension is in the range of US$ 850 million; and

• ·         The continuation of OTML’s ability to support the people of the Western province in the absence of the Fly River provincial government’s capacity.

Wider consultation urged on K5 billion rice project

The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) has called on the government to consider wider public and private sector views  before endorsing the controversial K5 billion Central province rice project, The National reports.

 It said this was the consensus among participants at a recent agriculture conference in Lae organised by the CIMC.

 The project proposes to secure 100,000 hectares using customary land, under a special agriculture business lease (SABL), for the purpose of producing rice or other agricultural/economic activities, purportedly to cater for PNG’s domestic demand and export to overseas markets.

 “On the bargaining table is a request for 80% increase in tariff on imported rice (and levy on other domestic producers) to facilitate NAIL’s investment in the project,” the CIMC said.

 “There was considerable discussion on the subject in the plenary session and various presentations, during the conference.”

 The CIMC said while the proposed trading monopoly would be lucrative to the investor, most of the participants raised concerns as to whether:

·         The investor would realistically establish such a vast area of rice, without an initial pilot project;  

·         It would be feasible without major sustained protection; and

·         It could deliver the many promises the potential investor is making to the people of Central province and PNG as a whole.

 “Furthermore, while it is recognised that rice can grow in PNG, and many farmers across the country are now planting it, sometimes as an interim crop whilst developing tree crops, many suggested that this project is not feasible and is baseless because this company has not grown any rice in PNG to date, nor has such large scale mechanised (or hand grown/harvested) rice production been demonstrated, as viable or competitive,” CIMC said.

 In particular:

• ·         The company had not secured any/much of the PNG rice market yet through competitive means, let alone established any export trade;  

• ·         Securing 100,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation (which is roughly equivalent to all the land under oil palm production in PNG) would include replacing other existing land use by local communities, including betel nut growing areas as well as food gardens;  

• ·         As the project required technical know-how for it to commence, the proponents acknowledged large numbers of technical expertise would have to be brought in from outside, seemingly marginalising the landowners;  

• ·         Raising the current tariff threshold to levels anywhere near 80% would breach PNG’s international trade obligations, and resulting in retaliatory consequences;  

• ·         Having a monopolised market domestically, with all other industry participants, and ultimately consumers, paying import fees to the dominant player, was unlikely to be short-lived. Once monopolies were established, with heavy protective barriers (potentially pushing prices up threefold), the beneficiaries rarely gave them up readily, arguing that their venture needed the protection to maintain the viability of their industry. This may not have mattered too much in sugar, a non-essential item, but would be serious for a staple food, like rice.