Tampering with the Constitution is simply a sign of entrenching power.

By PETER ANDREW KOLIP

 

At the recent People’s National Congress (PNC) Party Convention in Lae, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill indicated that the party will push to have the Constitution changed in some segments.

 I am not a lawyer but I must state here that this is a bad move.

 Being the largest political party in the current coalition, it will have no problems making the proposed changes.

 I am not a supporter of the Opposition either.

Anyway, the Opposition members were once in Government that changed the Constitution last time around, so this is for all MPs to know that no MP should support any move that is aimed at undermining the Constitution.

 The question is why do we need to change it?

What is wrong with the Constitution that it needs to be changed?

 Please tell the PNG public what is wrong with the Mama Law or any part of it for that matter so that it can be changed again and again.

 And who says we need to change the Constitution?

Not even the Prime Minister.

 Since the Constitution upholds the entire country, it is also proper that the entire country must have a say in changing the Constitution and not a select few.

 And know also that change can only be done through a wider consultation and not through a handful of MPs who we know too well are puppets.

The MPs represent the people and they should only speak on behalf of the people; not for themselves or their party colleagues.

Any MP who supports such a move should be voted out the in the next elections.

 It seems politics in this country has gone wayward.

 If PNC has its way and gets the Government to change the Constitution then the people of PNG including other political parties will get to know that the PNC Party is above the No. 1 Law of the land and that it is the only party to do so.

 The Constitution is there to guide us and that we follow it whether we like it or not.

The Constitution is NOT there for one to change it to suit one’s views and interests.

 It is there for a purpose and let it remain there and serve its purpose.

 It is insane and I believe the PNC Party executives must be ill advised.

If this trend of changing Constitution continues, who knows what may become of the future of this beloved country.

It must also be remembered that people power is the last bastion of hope there is if these insane moves to entrench power continue unabated.

 Political parties and or governments cannot continue to ignore people power.

Look at what is happening around the world.

 Please, Mr Prime Minister, be wise and don’t tamper with the Constitution.

We have had enough of politicians changing the Constitution every now and then.

The founding fathers in their wisdom designed the Constitution to serve a grander purpose.

Your concern should be on how to make your government function within the confines of the Constitution and to focus on changing how people in this country can become wealthy and prosperous, changing people’s attitudes, changing the entire public service machinery for better service delivery and so on.

There are far better things to do than changing the Constitution itself when it is the only guide you will ever need.

 Thank you

 Peter Andrew Kolip

 PO Box 1286

Lae

Morobe Province

Lae Market facilities need attention

By BAPA BOMOTENG 

Lae Market goer

The beautiful and abundant fresh food market in the whole country, Lae market needs attention badly. We have bought and traded in the market for years, but continue to pay little attention to the welfare of the vendors, the buyers and the sellers. 
 About time the Lae City Authority, Morobe Provincial Government and the National Government paid attention.  
 Smaller markets in other centress have got aid agencies funding, what about Lae City? 
 The good Lae market continues to be crowed and a health hazard with waste disposal problem, toilet facilities in dire need of improvement with increased population and usages. 

Kaukau (sweet potato) sales at Lae Market

 Lack of proper storage facilities Lack of rehabilitation of sitting and display benches need either construction and a major extension is needed to cover the entire trading area.    
The question continues to be asked what happens to the gate collection.   
The recently announced improvement continues to favour non-Morobeans sales section in the already roofed section. 
 Why are the Morobean mothers and daughter being desecrated as aliens in their own city let to pay fees and get nothing but beating from the rain and the scorching sun?  
 It goes begging to see them standing and sitting in the sun and dripping wet in the pouring rain whole day while non-Morobeans enjoy the shelters of the entire building.   
The Markham’s, Wains, Bukawas, Salamuas, Situm, Boana and the good Wampars. 
 Can’t they be accorded a decent shelter from rain and the weather? 
 This is not a rationalistic statement. 
 It’s about equality, respect and recognition of the 
 What has James Khay done for the Lae market apart from collecting gate fees?  
 Dear Lae MP and Governor Kelly Naru, mothers spoke and petitioned recently.
 Nothing much has happened. 
 Morobe mothers are being sent to vending outside the fencing encroaching into the already crowded streets.   
 May be the biometric system will make room for new market, that’s about another fiive years’ time. What can we do in the meantime? 
  If we cannot improve on what we already have, what guarantee do we have we will get a new market?  
 Please see the plight of our mothers and daughter from the fringes of Lae city trying to make ends meet. 
 We are punishing them more so by charging gate takings but not providing the needed comfort to trade in a decent environment.

Landslides take toll on key PNG highway

PORT MORESBY, 4 July 2013 (IRIN) - A vital highway, long regarded as the single most important road in Papua New Guinea (PNG), is slowly being destroyed by landslides.
“It’s not a highway any more,” Peter Kama, a businessman and community leader in Chimbu Province, a mountainous region in PNG’s central highlands, told IRIN. “The landslides are destroying the road and threatening the livelihoods of the people around it.”

Photo: David Swanson/IRIN

Okuk Highway is PNG's main highway

Landslides affecting the 700km Okuk Highway have been common in the past decade. Engineers say the road is outdated and poorly maintained, and that its drainage system has deteriorated.
Torrential rains during the annual rainy season from November to April, deforestation from farming, along with increased volumes of traffic due to resource development have compounded the problem,” Godfree Umba, managing director of Kaia Works, a civil engineering company working on the highway, told IRIN.
Chimbu Province, through which the road runs, has seen seven major landslides in the past decade, experts say.
On the night of 9 May, at least 200 families lost their homes and livelihoods when a major landslide left a 300-metre wide gap in the highway at Waigar in the Kerowagi District of Chimbu. Andrew Pera his wife and two children lost the only coffee trees they had and were left with no fertile land to plant new ones, he said.
In 2012, a landslide in Hela Province, in which dozens lost their lives, affected more than 2km of the highway, which connects the mountainous highlands to the coastal city of Lae.
The PNG National Department of Works, which is responsible for road maintenance, says landslides are not only destroying the highway, but also food gardens and homes, in a country where 85 percent of the population rely on subsistence farming.
The government says it is well aware of the problem and is in the process of taking action.
“We are not waiting for the entire infrastructure to collapse and slow down the economy before we take action in addressing this enormous challenge,” PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Council at its recent forum in Port Moresby.
In February, experts predicted that up to 35,000 people were affected by landslides and flooding during the last rainy season.

Surprises at changes in Goroka show leadership

By MALUM NALU

Eastern Highlands Agricultural Society (EHAS) president Wilson Orlegge Thompson has expressed surprise that Eastern Highlands provincial government has taken over the running of the popular Goroka Show and a new chairman has been appointed.

This follows the appointment of business woman, Kearyn Hargreaves, as the new head of the Goroka Show Society by Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso last Friday.

Thompson said the EHAS, Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association (HFSA), and the show committee headed by Gideon Samuel were surprised at the sudden appointment, but accepted it.

CIC coffee inspector Lassy Amos (right) explaining the PNG coffee grading system to two Japanese visitors during the 2010 Goroka Show.

“The HFSA, EHAS and committee are surprised of a new chairman appointed and Eastern Highlands provincial government taking over,” he said.

“The Eastern Highlands provincial government budgeted K10, 000 per annum, but never paid from 2005-2008, and 2009-2012.

 “Eastern Highlands provincial government owes show committee K64, 000 plus costs from Prime Minister’s visit, plus legal battles from Eastern Highlands provincial government days.

“My group will allow Eastern Highlands provincial government to take over to assume all liabilities as HFSA and EHAS are voluntary associations with show committee a non-legal entity, so that chairman Gideon Samuel and committee members cannot be sued in person.

“Also, any assets like showground and fixtures, the name Goroka Show and logo, bank accounts.  and intellectual rights belong to HFSA and EHAS.”

Thompson, however, said Goroka Show was the oldest in PNG and must run this year.

Willis powers Australia U-19 to victory over PNG

ESPNcricinfo staff

July 4, 2013

Australia Under-19 256 (Willis 110, Morea 3-27) beat Papa New Guinea Under-19 112 (Kelly 4-18) by 144 runs
Scorecard

 

Sean Willis' unbeaten century led Australia to a 144-run victory over Papua New Guinea in their Top End Under-19 Series game in Darwin. Australia, whose batsmen suffered a collapse in Tuesday's defeat to India U-19, got off to a bad start again as their top order struggled to make a platform, leaving them at 71 for 4

This brought Willis to the crease, and along with Alex Gregory, helped consolidate Australia's indifferent start by putting on 51 runs for the fifth wicket. Once Gregory fell, Jack Doran came in next and the pair put on a sixth-wicket stand of 112. This helped Australia recover to a respectable 234 for 6, with some late hitting helping the team reach 256 for 6. Willis finished unbeaten on 110, a knock which included 12 fours and 6 sixes. Kabua Morea was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 27.

PNG began their chase cautiously. Openers Kiplin Doriga and Anthony Vare struggled to settle in and were dismissed off consecutive deliveries in the seventh over by medium-pacer Matthew Kelly. Wickets continued to fall regularly for PNG, as the efforts of Kelly, Riley Ayre and Matthew Short ensured Australia were able to defend their total. PNG were ultimately dismissed for 112 in 39 overs, with Kelly finishing with best figures of 4 for 18 in his 8 overs.

The result of this friendly match has no bearing on the current standings of the ongoing U-19 tri-series, where an unbeaten India remain on top. Australia are second, with one win and one loss. New Zealand, who are yet to register a victory, are third. Australia next play New Zealand at Marrara Oval on July 6.

Oceania Cup hopes for Pacific rugby union teams

ABC

Four Pacific nations have the chance to move a step closer to representing the region at the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup in England.

Starting this weekend, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Tahiti and Solomon Islands will compete in the Oceania Cup.
The Oceania Cup champion will then take on Fiji in a one off match next year with the winner gaining direct qualification to sport pinnacle tournament.
The Oceania Cup begins in Port Moresby on Saturday and runs until July the 13th.

Artefacts of PNG find their way home

Timothy Pope for  Pacific Beat

 

Papua New Guinea's National Museum and Art Gallery is preparing to take possession of more than 300 sculptures, art works and cultural artefacts which are being returned to the country by a former resident.

It's the single largest donation in the museum's history.

Photo: Artefact from Milne Bay Province from the Mr Keleny collection. (Supplied: University of Sydney)

92-year-old Gabriel Keleny has decided to return the vast collection acquired over the thirty years he spent living and working in PNG.

Map: Papua New Guinea

Audio: Artefacts of PNG find their way home (ABC News)

Australia's Macleay Museum has the task of cataloguing the works before they're shipped back to Port Moresby.
Senior Curator Jude Philp told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat it's an astonishing collection.

Photo: Artefact from Gulf Province from the Mr Keleny collection. (Supplied: University of Sydney)

 

"It is a real variety of art styles and cultural materials made by people across Papua New Guinea," she said.
"The national museum of Papua New Guinea put up their hand and said yes, this is something we would really like."
Between three and four hundred sculptures, art works and other cultural artefacts have been donated to the museum by Mr Keleny, who came from Hungary and settled in PNG after the second world war.
During that time he collected an astonishing array of art and artefacts from all over the country.
Students from the University of Sydney will spend the next week cataloguing the collection under the supervision of curators from the Macleay Museum before they're shipped to Port Moresby.
They're not expected to appear on display until 2014.