World Cup qualifier: Scotland to play PNG today

BBC

Scotland beat Namibia by 21 runs to move into second place in the Super Sixes at the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in New Zealand.

The Scots reached 279-9 and had their opponents on 59-2 when rain prevented any further play on Sunday.
And when play resumed, Safyaan Sharif claimed four for 55 as the Africans were restricted to 258-9.
With Scotland to play Papua New Guinea and Kenya, the top two sides in the group progress to the 2015 World Cup.
Matt Machan top-scored for the Scots with 78, while Richie Berrington made 51 and Preston Mommsen 46.
Scotland won the toss and decided to bat but were dealt a blow when Calum MacLeod, who scored 175 against Canada in the final group game, departed for just 10.
Fellow opener Matty Cross then fell for 27 but Machan and skipper Mommsen put on 82 for the third wicket to guide Scotland to 154-2.
When Machan and Mommsen fell the Scots got good contributions from their middle order and Freddie Coleman scored 32 before being dismissed by Bernard Scholtz, the pick of the Namibia bowlers with 3-55.

Super Sixes

	Pld	Pts	Net RR
U.A.E	3	4	+0.930
Scotland	3	4	+0.445
P.N.G	3	4	+0.003
Hong Kong	3	2	-0.103
Kenya	3	2	-0.217
Namibia	3	2	-0.947

Taylor and Michael Leask fell cheaply but Berrington held the innings together as he brought up his half-century off 46 balls.

Louis van der Westhuizen was the first to fall in reply as he went for just nine, caught by Machan off Taylor.
Sarel Burger was then clean bowled by Taylor to leave Namibia 39 for two before Stephan Baard (28 not out) and Craig Williams (eight not out) held the fort until the rain came.
When play resumed on Monday, Baard was first to fall for 36 as he was run out but Williams and Nicolaas Scholtz put on 80 for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by Sharif for 38.
Williams had brought up his half century off 76 balls but he was next to go for 57 as Sharif claimed another victim to leave Namibia 166 for five with 13 overs remaining.
Christi Viljoen followed for just two and after that Namibia were never able to get near the required rate.
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates recorded a 150-run victory over Papua New Guinea and Lameck Onyango led Kenya to victory over Hong Kong with four wickets.

Prime Minister: Landowners must be aware of the consequences of court action

Landowners in major resource project areas need to be fully aware of the possible consequences of court action they take with regard to the future operation, and viability, of major projects, Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, said yesterday.

O'Neill said the national government was appealing a court decision relating to the Ok Tedi Mine, and the discharge of waste into the Fly River and tributaries in the Western province. 

The National Court last Friday ordered Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) to refrain from dumping mine waste and tailings on the Ok Tedi Fly River systems pending the hearing of the substantive matter.

Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika ordered the Government to provide details and records of how it spent the dividends it received from OTML from 2001 to 2013.

The matter returns to court on Feb 12.

"We respect the courts, but we will fully exercise our appeal rights in relation to this decision, a decision which could well have massive, and unintended, consequences," O'Neill said.

He said landowners needed to understand that the actions they have taken, urged on by well paid lawyers, could have horrendous financial, economic and social consequences for the mine, the landowners themselves, and the nation as a whole.

"I hope the courts generally understand the consequences of claims they are hearing.,” O’Neill said.

“We don't just rely on the courts to uphold the law; we rely on the courts to appreciate the consequences of their decisions and rulings."

O'Neill said it was clear the action by so called "landowners" in the mine area, and along the Fly River, was prompted by lawyers who would end up being the main beneficiary because of the high fees they charge.

O'Neill said he was the first prime minister to address "front and centre" environment, landowner and community issues relating to the Ok Tedi mine and he appealed to genuine landowners to have confidence that the National Government was not just addressing their concerns, it was in the process of actually resolving them.

"For a start, my government has insisted that a tailings dam be built at the mine as an absolute requirement if the mine is to operate long term,” he said.

“Design work on the tailings dam has begun - and it will be built as quickly as possible."

"I froze all landowner and provincial government trust accounts until all the issues relating to the ownership, management, and operations of the mine are resolved.

“I did this when it was clear to me that the overwhelming wish of landowners, and communities, was for the funds to be frozen.”

O'Neill said all benefit sharing arrangements were being reviewed by the high level committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, and the review process was making sure the structure of landowner groups, and the election of leaders, was transparent and genuine.

"I appeal to landowners to trust me - and trust my government,” he said.

“ We are the first government to honestly address the environmental catastrophe along the Fly River, and its tributaries.

“We are the first government to take steps to ensure that the benefit sharing and other agreements benefit genuine landowners.

"The possible consequences of the court decision are absolutely massive."

"It is absolutely critical landowners understand that before they contemplate legal action from which lawyers are most likely to be the only winners.”

PNG leapfrog into Super Six stage

ESPC Crickinfo

Papua New Guinea opener Lega Siaka scored his second century of the tournament to ensure his side finished atop Group B courtesy of an eight-wicket thrashing of Namibia at Mount Maunganui. Namibia won the toss and chose to bat first but were under pressure immediately after Pipi Raho and PNG captain Chris Amini nipped out two wickets each in their opening spells to leave Namibia at 16 for 4 in the sixth over.

Gerrie Snyman provided Namibia's best resistance with 54 at number six, but lacked any genuine support. Snyman was dismissed by Mahuru Dai in the 41st over to make it 137 for 8 before Namibia were eventually bowled out for 163 in 48.4 overs. Siaka's 112 not out dominated the chase and PNG's next best score was Assad Vala's 16. PNG needed only half of the allotted overs to reach the target and vaulted to the top of the group in the process.

Lega Siaka scored a match-winning century for Papua New Guinea

© ICC

© ICC

New Zealand Business Mentors bringing expertise to local business owners

By DAVE CONN

Over 100 business owners in Port Moresby and Lae are reaping  the benefit of two mentor teams from New Zealand who visit on a regular basis. T
he programme started here in 2011 and has achieved significant growth for a majority of the clients in the programme.
It's a bit like a father teaching his son, this mentoring, explains John Helsdon, the Country Manager for PNG.  The mentors find out what weaknesses and strengths the client has and help him or her with getting to the next level. This programme is free of any costs for the clients who are accepted and is funded by New Zealand Aid.
Clients are mentored on a one on one basis and will agree on an action plan to monitor progress. Besides the personal meetings, the mentors are available by email or phone for continuous support. The brilliant results from regular feedback of the clients via an independent survey shows that this programme really works.
To qualify a small / medium business has to be trading for at least 12 months, have two employed staff and be from a sector driving the PNG economy as well as having good potential for growth.
On Friday, 24th January at 2.30 pm there will be a presentation for interested business owners at the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The presentation will take less than an hour and application forms will be available.
Chamber Office is located on Level 3 of United Church Building , Douglas Street , Downtown , opposite Grand Papua Hotel .
All welcome , but space is limited so book with Wendy on frontdesk@pomcci.com or Tel : 7200 0000

Applications open for prestigious Australian study opportunities

The Australian High Commission today invited Papua New Guineans to apply for prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships for study in 2015.

The Australia Awards Scholarships provide PNG’s next generation of leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research or professional development in Australia.

The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, encouraged young Papua New Guineans to pursue an opportunity of a lifetime by applying for an Award.

“You could join more than 1800 Papua New Guineans who have participated in the program and returned home with new ideas and knowledge and the ability to make a significant contribution to PNG as leaders in their fields,” Ms Stokes said.

“PNG sees the tangible benefits with Australia Awards alumni holding leadership positions in PNG’s public service and private enterprise. Alumni are leading change as senior managers, business owners, and professional throughout PNG.

“I strongly encourage women to apply. Australia is committed to at least 50% of the Australian Awards being awarded to women.

The Australia Awards program aims to contribute to PNG’s long term development needs by awarding scholarships in areas that align with PNG’s development partnership with Australia including health, education and law and justice.

Awardees can gain an internationally recognised qualification from an Australian university, build enduring links with Australia and develop their leadership potential.

The Australia Awards Scholarships are highly competitive with selection based on academic ability, leadership and employment record, the developmental benefit of the proposed field of study, and overall preparedness to study in Australia.

More than 700 applications were received for last year’s intake of 150 awardees who are this month departing for their study assignments in Australia.

Applications close on 30 April 2014. Potential applicants can visit www.australiaawards.org.pg for more information about the application requirements.

The Australia Awards PNG Information Centre is equipped with institutional handbooks and internet access to help potential applicants research courses, seek assistance with their applications and to assist alumni to look for positions where they can apply their skills, knowledge and leadership abilities.

The centre is located in Port Tower, Hunter St, Port Moresby, and is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm.

Cabinet approves proposed village courts amendment for introduction in parliament

Cabinet has recently approved the introduction of a proposed Village Courts amendment Bill in the next Parliament sitting this year.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Cabinet endorsed the introduction of the amendment bill for an Act titled Village Courts (Amendments) Bill 2013, which seeks to modernise the Village Courts Act 1989 so that it reflects other legislative and national policy changes since 1989.

“The change is also to assist in the implementation of the White Paper on law and justice 2007, which calls for the revitalisation of the Village Courts,” O’Neill said.

He said the Village Courts system was established by Section 172  of the National Constitution during Independence in 1975.

“The system has been in operation in Papua New Guinea under the Village Courts Act up until 1989 when the first amendment to the original legislation was made.

“Since Independence, the Village Courts are the most accessible and cost effective means of justice administration. PNG is unique having this system of justice that brings together formal and informal processes in addressing law and order issues at the community level,” O’Neill said.

These are some of the reasons for the amended bill:

·         seeks to modernise the Village Courts Act 1989 to accommodate the changing relationships, conflicts and issues in villages and for the ever increasing settlement population migrating into urban centres with their varied ethnic and cultural heritage;

·         strengthen the role of Village Courts in protecting the rights of women and children and addressing violence in PNG communities;

·         clarifies that Village Courts are bound to comply with constitutional requirements to protect the rights of people accessing the courts;

·         set limits to the number of Village Courts officials appointed to each Village Court to make it manageable and cost effective and ensure faster processing of appointments and revocation of officials; and

·         Strengthen the role of District Courts in supervising Village Courts through the appeals and review processes.

The Prime Minister said Village Courts play an important role in containing local law and order issues both in urban settlements where they are established and in the villages where the bulk of the people live.

It is therefore important that this court is modernised and strengthened, he said.

PM: Government owned businesses must help drive down costs

 Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says his government will require all government-owned businesses to set an example and help drive down cost of living pressures on families and cost pressures on the business sector. 

O'Neill said the decision to block the proposed power price rise by PNG Power would be followed up by a wider government policy that requires all state owned businesses to look at ways to cut costs, be more efficient, and not just rely on increasing charges.

"For too long governments have rubber stamped price increases by a range of state enterprises and the impact on families, and on small business have been huge. That has almost encouraged the state's power and other entities to be lazy when it comes to efficiency and driving down costs."

"I am putting all state-owned service providers on notice. My government will not be automatically approving price and charge increases.

“The Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investment will be directing all state owned entities to focus first on efficiencies and cost saving measures before seeking price rises - especially in what are known as basic service areas, such as power and water," he said. 

O'Neill said his government would set an example when it came to making the economy more efficient and competitive - and on keeping increases in service costs as low as possible.

"We expect the private sector to follow our example. We need to all work together to make our economy more efficient, so we can maximise the opportunities our vast natural resources offer us."

"I have listened to our people and our businesses - power charges are already very high."

"For too long we have put the whole question of the efficiency of government services, including government owned business services, in the 'too hard basket' and the result has been higher inflation, and even putting basic services, such as electricity beyond the affordability of families and businesses alike."

"We have made an important start with regard to power price rises. That approach will be the blueprint for the future."