PNG has fifth highest smoking prevalence in world: mass media

Arka News Agency

Papua New Guinea is among countries with highest prevalence in tobacco use, BBC reported referring to results of an American research.
East Timor tops the list, followed by Indonesia , Kiribati and Armenia. Papua-New Guinea is the fifth.

The twin Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda are bottom at 5%.
The total number of smokers is growing edging close to one billion, global figures reveal.
In 2012, 967 million people smoked every day compared with 721 million in 1980, data from 187 countries shows, says the report by report from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).  Around three in 10 men (31%) and one in 20 women (6%) now smoke daily compared with four in 10 men (41%) and one in 10 women (10%) in 1980, Novosti-Armenia reports referring to RIA Novosti.
"Despite the tremendous progress made on tobacco control, much more remains to be done," study co-author Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said in a statement.

YEREVAN, January 8. /ARKA/. Armenia is the fourth among countries with highest prevalence in tobacco use, BBC reported referring to results of an American research.

East Timor tops the list, followed by Indonesia and Kiribati. Papua-New Guinea is the fifth.

The twin Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda are bottom at 5%.

The total number of smokers is growing edging close to one billion, global figures reveal.

In 2012, 967 million people smoked every day compared with 721 million in 1980, data from 187 countries shows, says the report by report from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).  Around three in 10 men (31%) and one in 20 women (6%) now smoke daily compared with four in 10 men (41%) and one in 10 women (10%) in 1980, Novosti-Armenia reports referring to RIA Novosti.

"Despite the tremendous progress made on tobacco control, much more remains to be done," study co-author Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said in a statement. –0--

14:28 08.01.2014
- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenia_has_fourth_highest_smoking_prevalence_in_world_mass_media/#sthash.kCzvVkUZ.dpuf

Armenia has fourth highest smoking prevalence in world: mass media

YEREVAN, January 8. /ARKA/. Armenia is the fourth among countries with highest prevalence in tobacco use, BBC reported referring to results of an American research.

East Timor tops the list, followed by Indonesia and Kiribati. Papua-New Guinea is the fifth.

The twin Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda are bottom at 5%.

The total number of smokers is growing edging close to one billion, global figures reveal.

In 2012, 967 million people smoked every day compared with 721 million in 1980, data from 187 countries shows, says the report by report from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).  Around three in 10 men (31%) and one in 20 women (6%) now smoke daily compared with four in 10 men (41%) and one in 10 women (10%) in 1980, Novosti-Armenia reports referring to RIA Novosti.

"Despite the tremendous progress made on tobacco control, much more remains to be done," study co-author Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said in a statement. –0--

- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenia_has_fourth_highest_smoking_prevalence_in_world_mass_media/#sthash.kCzvVkUZ.dpuf

Rugby player Stanley Gene's boost for Papua New Guinea

BBC News

A former rugby league player has returned to his homeland of Papua New Guinea with donated equipment for schools and hospitals. Stanley Gene set up his foundation in 2005 while playing for the Bradford Bulls.
The charity collects donated items and ships them out to the remote areas of the South Pacific state where Gene grew up.
The latest trip included equipment for local schools and hospitals.

Stanley Gene started his foundation in 2005 with donations from his fellow rugby league players.

Gene described his upbringing the villages as "tough".
"I didn't have any shoes," he said.
"I played my first rugby without any rugby boots, I played barefoot. I used to walk miles to get water from a creek."
Gene played rugby league for more than 13 years in the UK, appearing for Hull FC, Hull KR, Bradford Bulls and the Huddersfield Giants. He is now the head coach at the Championship One side Gateshead Thunder.
'Goosebumps' The charity started with donations from his fellow players to send back to the community.
Since then the Hull-based foundation has expanded and now ships a container of goods each year.
The latest delivery included 1,000 rugby shirts donated by Huddersfield Giants fans, computers and beds for the local children's hospital.
Over the years the foundation has paid for a water supply for more than 1,000 people and has built classrooms at a school in Goroka.
Its long term aim is to build and set up a sports academy with links to rugby league clubs in the UK and Australia.
Gene said each visit with the container of donated items gave him "goosebumps".
"So excited to see the kids get them and make use of it," he said.
"The teachers, the students and even the people in the village are so appreciative of things that we see as pretty ordinary here."

Port Moresby needs to be cleaned up

These are pictures I took of the drain leading into Sir John Guise Stadium - major host of the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby today.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done to clean up the city.
The clean-up should have started on Day 1 of 2014 and not be left until the last minute.

The shame of Malolo Estate, 8-Mile

All pictures @MALUM NALU

I used to once admire Malalo Estate, 8-Mile, as a top-end housing estate but all that has changed since I moved in next door last year. 
The place is filthy, shops sell beer 24/7, there is no road repair, drains are clogged up, the entrance looks like a pigsty.
 I took these pictures today.
Where are the property managers?

This is one of the streets where beer is sold.

Unsealed roads.

The place needs a massive clean-up.

Driving out of Malolo.

Drains filled with fetid water.

A drain clogged with all manner of plastics.

New developments along the main road.

Looking from Malolo out onto the main road.

Entrance to Malolo, with an almost unreadable sign and potholes to welcome you.

Port Moresby embarks on massive K800 million roads development

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Port Moresby has embarked on a massive roads development which will cost up to K800 million, according to city manager Leslie Alu.

He said these projects included the K318 million four-lane arterial road from Poreporena Freeway to 9-Mile by China Harbour Engineering (CHE), K160 million Kookaburra Street to Erima Flyover by Hawkins, K84 million Gordon Industrial Area by Global, K77 million four-lane road from Erima to 9-Mile by Dekenai, K62 million 6-Mile to Jackson Airport road by Hebou, and K52 million Paga ring road by Curtain Bros.

Work is already progressing at Gordon Industrial Centre, Erima to 9-Mile, 6-Mile to Jackson Airport, and Paga Ring Road.

Construction of the Kookaburra Street – Erima Flyover is set to commence in January 2014 with groundbreaking planned for later this month.

The day after New Year's Day last week, I took a leisurely stroll from 8-Mile to Erima and back to do some exercise, thinking and check on the progress of road works, during which time I took these pictures.

Looking towards 9-Mile.

Looking towards Erima.

The heavily polluted stream over which 8-Mile Bridge runs.

8-Mile Bridge.

Afternoon traffic looking towards 9-Mile.

Task Force Sweep on investigations into Paul Paraka Lawyers

By SAM KOIM

 Chairman                 

Task Force Sweep

This is the Task-Force Sweep’s position on the progress of investigations into alleged fraudulent payment of K71.8 million to Paul Paraka Lawyers (PPL) in light of the recent events. The initial allegations relate to a staggering amount of K71.8 million that was paid to PPL between February 2012 and May 2013.
As you all are well aware, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is the complainant and initiator of these investigations through a Prime Ministerial Directive he issued on 13th May 2013.
The investigations are carried out by Investigation Task-Force Sweep (ITFS). A number of people including the principal of PPL, Mr Paul Paraka have been arrested and charged. Their cases are going through the normal court process. My officers have been working on the court files since their arrests. Some files have been served whilst others are still being prepared.
Amidst the investigations, the Opposition Leader, Hon Belden Namah laid fresh complaints against Prime Minister O’Neill and Ministers Don Polye and James Marape for their alleged involvement in the payments made to PPL. The complaint was laid with the Police and a copy was served on Task-Force Sweep. In his wisdom, the Police Commissioner viewed that for the proper management of the conduct of these delicate investigations and given that ITFS was at an advanced stage of the investigations, referred the Opposition Leader’s complaints to ITFS.
ITFS has taken steps to exhaust all avenues of inquiry including obtaining records from banks, Department of Finance, Department of Treasury, Department of PM& NEC, Department of Justice & Attorney General and many others. We are interviewing all persons that need to be interviewed in this investigation and have obtained their written statements.
We have sought the advice of Southern Counsel (legal experts) on the sufficiency of evidence. We have involved the office of the Auditor General and other accountants to audit the trail of flow of illicitly obtained funds.
With respect to the alleged letter by the Prime Minister dated 24th January 2012, Prime Minister O’Neill himself publicly denied authoring that letter. However, we have independently interviewed officers from the Prime Minister’s Office and checked their outgoing correspondence register and Officers at the Department of Finance and inspected their manual and electronic incoming correspondence register. We have searched all possible avenues including PM’s Office, Department of Finance, Department of Treasury and banks for the original copy of the subject letter without any success. Nevertheless, we have forwarded a copy of the letter for forensic signature experts to test the authenticity of the signature.
A brief history of payments of legal fees to PPL should enlighten many people as to how this case has come about.
PPL was instructed by the State to act on a number of State civil litigation matters towards the end of 2002. The then Chief Secretary, Mr Joshua Kalinoe issued a stop payment directive in June 2006 on any outstanding legal fees owed to PPL. An internal departmental inquiry was instituted by the then Minister for Justice, Hon Bire Kimisopa in October 2006 concerning the allegations of improper payment of legal fees to PPL. PPL’s retainer brief out contract with the State was subsequently terminated in November 2006.
PPL challenged all these decisions in two separate judicial review proceedings in the National Court. PPL obtained orders in its favour staying those decisions and further for payment of outstanding legal fees. Those orders were then appealed to the Supreme Court by the State. Two separate Supreme Court stay orders were obtained by the State preventing any payments to Paul Paraka Lawyers, the latest being March 2007.
In May 2008, then Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the Department of Finance concerning alleged improper payments of legal fees and out of court settlements, amongst others. PPL features prominently in that report.
Mr Paraka in a recent paid advertorial he took out on 20th May 2013, claimed that his law firm had outstanding legal fees that were not paid until the beginning of 2012.
We have extended our inquiries to ascertain whether PPL actually had outstanding legal fees and that those fees were not paid until beginning of 2012 as Mr Paraka claimed.
Contrary to the assertion by PPL, documents obtained from Department of Finance and the banks reveal that PPL continued to receive payments since March 2007 through a number of conduit law firms and a nominee company owned by Mr Paraka himself. Payments were also made directly to service providers on account of PPL. The payments which spread over almost seven (7) years runs into hundreds of millions of kina and not just K71.8 million which was paid between February 2012 and May 2013.
I am pointing out all of these to demonstrate that it is a massive investigation that needs a lot of collection and collation of documents, perusal of documents, thinking, analysing, compilation and reaching conclusions before taking penal actions.
We are also mindful of what information we release to the media as sometimes doing so can jeopardise our investigations. ITFS is not just another inquiry team that investigates and releases its findings for public consumption. We investigate and implement our own findings by taking appropriate penal actions using our various combined powers as a multi-agency team.
Although it is taking a bit of time, we are handling this delicate investigation with care. The law places an onerous duty on the State to build a strong case that would ultimately result in conviction. The journey from investigation through to conviction is convoluted with procedural requirements that we need to comply every step of the way.
“I can assure the public that we are doing all we can to see justice for all and we will make sure that no stone is left unturned. Again, I have to reiterate that our focus is not on people. We investigate an offence and the offence leads us to the offender. Whoever is connected by overwhelming evidence of an offence will be held accountable regardless of their status.”
With respect to the warrants that have been taken out by another officer of the Police for the arrest of the Prime Minister, Ministers Don Polye and James Marape, I am not privy to it so cannot say much. I am not in charge of that investigation and I cannot comment. That is a matter for the Police Force.
For your information, we also have a Police team that was seconded to work with us who are carrying out the criminal side of investigations as well.
Thank you and God bless you all.

Authorised for Release by
Sam Koim
Chairman

Arrest warrants issued for Papua New Guinea PM and key ministers

ABC

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says he has taken out a stay order from the Committal Court against a warrant issued for his arrest.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Mr O'Neill, Treasurer Don Polye and Finance Minister James Marape.
The warrants were sought last November by an investigator with the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Photo: Peter O'Neill has issued a stay order issued on his arrest, along with Treasurer Don Polye and Finance Minister James Marape. (AFP: Ness Kerton)

They were issued after an investigation into government payments of millions of dollars to a Port Moresby legal firm.
"They are not (the) investigating officers of these files," Mr O'Neill said at press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
"That responsibility lies with the task force."
Papua New Guinea's multi-agency anti-corruption unit, the Investigation Task Force Sweep, charged one of the nation's largest law firms in October with offences including conspiracy to defraud, stealing by false pretence and money laundering.
Mr O'Neill says the Investigation Task Force Sweep is conducting a full investigation into the payments to the law firm.
He says the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate is not conducting the investigation.
"They have not given in to commands given by their superiors as required by a disciplined organisation like the police force," he said.
He alleges rogue police officers within the force are being directed by opposition leader Belden Namah to conduct a 'Kangaroo Court' in breach of proper processes.
Mr O'Neill has directed the police commissioner to start investigations into how due processes have been sidestepped.
"I have also instructed the police commissioner to investigate all parties including Belden Namah for his role, the way he goes about inducing and contacting police men and women to try and meet his political agenda," he said.
Mr Namah has warned Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga he will face contempt of court charges unless he executes the warrants against the prime minister and two of his ministers.
"I have given them the ultimatum to do so within 72 hours," he said.
"Failure to do so, I have instructed my lawyers to institute contempt of court proceedings against them because this is the high profile corruption case in Papua New Guinea."
Mr O'Neill says Mr Namah should stop trying to involve police in politics.
"Belden Namah needs to be a bit more responsible, he is an alternative prime minister of this country," he said.
"This is another attempt to try and stage a coup to try and overthrow a legitimate government."