Dion calls for open communication among MPs

DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Inter Government Relations, Leo Dion, who is responsible for all provincial and local level government affairs maintains that effective and open communication among all national MPs is the cornerstone for stability and good governance at the provincial government level.
Dion made this statement when announcing the successful outcome of a compulsory meeting he facilitated last Thursday  with the Prime Minister and all the three MPs from Oro Province.
"From this meeting we, together with all the Oro MPs agreed and collectively resolved that all issues that resulted in the standoff were a direct result of lack of effective communication and consultation among the leaders on mainly management issues affecting the province. We also resolve to uphold that  Garry Juffa is the mandated Governor of Oro Province and maintains his role as chairman of provincial executive council and the provincial assembly as mandated by the people," he said.
Dion said all the MPs and LLG presidents would support Juffa's leadership role as Governor.
"Collectively, we also resolve to refrain and withdraw forthwith any actions that will jeopardise the development prospect and progress of the province. As Minister responsible, I am very pleased with the level of maturity demonstrated by our Oro MPs in their resolution to put their differences aside and work together for the common good of our people," Dion said.
He said the meeting was very important and indeed the outcome was "a testament to what we can do as leaders if we can come together and discuss issues openly with a greater sense of objectivity".
"I thank the Governor for Oro, Garry Juffa; Member for Sohe anf Minister for Community Development, Delilah Gore and Member for Ijivitari,  David Arore for their humbleness in coming together for the compulsory meeting.  I also thank the people of Oro for their patience and refrain during this period of the standoff," he said.
Dion also acknowledged and thanked the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill for his leadership in fostering a dialogue for the compulsory meeting to take place.

PM:Potential of Ebola in PNG very low

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill  and the National Executive Council (NEC) have received a briefing from the Minister for Health Michael Malabag MP, on preparations to reduce the potential of the Ebola virus reaching Papua New Guinea, as well as measures being implemented to deal with a patient in the unlikely scenario that a case was to become present.
"Health Minister Malabag made it very clear that there are no reported cases of Ebola in Papua New Guinea, and the likelihood of Ebola being imported into the nation is very low," O'Neill noted following the briefing.
"Considering that the World Health Organisation has declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, Papua New Guinea has taken heed of this warning and is implementing measures that meet and surpass global standards.
"A National Ebola Taskforce has been established and is working closely with border protection agencies including immigration, health facilities and international partners to ensure procedures are in place to prevent Ebola entering our country.
"In the extremely unlikely situation that a person with symptoms did arrive, that person would be moved to an isolation unit at the port of entry.  Immediate care would be provided to test for the virus and a management plan implemented to deal with a potential infection.
"Temporary isolation tents are being deployed to international entry points, and the provision of essential Personal Protection Equipment is included with these facilities.
"Training of healthcare workers is continuing to ensure a professional response if a potential case is detected.
"A permanent isolation unit that meets WHO standards for biohazard level 4 facility standards is also being established in Port Moresby to deal with potential Ebola and future infectious diseases threats.
"I thank the Minister for Health and his Department, as well as all participants on the National Ebola Taskforce for their efforts to date.  While the potential of Ebola appearing in our country is low, we have to be vigilant and well prepared."
The Prime Minister called on the media, and in particular social media users, to be responsible in discussion of Ebola and not cause undue distress.
"We have seen two instances in Queensland recently where people with a heightened temperature went into isolation as a precaution while they were tested. 
"Unfortunately some mainstream and social media reporting worried people in Papua New Guinea when there was zero risk to our people from these instances.
"We just need commentators to be responsible and report accurately on this important community health issue."

Fact Sheet
Ebola – National Preparedness and Response Planning
·    A National Ebola Taskforce has been established and is meeting regularly to consider issues relating to current global concerns relating to the Ebola virus. 
·    The Taskforce comprises representatives from border protection agencies of government, National Airport Corporation Ltd (NAC), PNG Ports Ltd, NAQIA National Disaster Centre, the media, Air Niugini, NCD Health Services, City Hall, Defence Force, Australian Government, US Government, and the World Health Organisation
·    The Taskforce and the National Department of Health (NDoH) and the Citizenship and Immigration Services Authority (CISA) are undertaking immediate preparedness activities with the support of the Australian Government, World Health Organisation, and other partners, including:
 - Training of flight crews to identify and respond to passengers that may be showing symptoms of Ebola.
- Establishment of isolation centres at ports to quarantine incoming passengers showing symptoms of Ebola.
 - Training of health workers in conjunction with the World Health Organisation at PMGH with further training to be conducted for all NCD health workers.
 - More clinical and quarantine officers will be identified and trained for surveillance at the airport and seaport.
- Stringent screening of applications for visas for entry into PNG by foreign nationals introduced by CISA at PNG foreign missions and posts.
• There is currently an intense transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) in three (3) countries in West Africa, namely Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
• There is also a localised transmission of Ebola in five (5) other countries, namely, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Spain, and United States of America (USA).
• Ebola is not an airborne virus as was the case with SARs in 2003, Ebola transmission is only through direct contact through body fluids.  This makes the virus significantly more open to containment than the SARs virus.

Fiji Television forced to sell its stake in PNG's EMTV

SUVA (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation / Pacific Media Watch / The Fiji Times): Fiji Television is selling off its Papua New Guinean television station, EMTV, because of a new law which says all media organisations must be majority owned by PNG nationals.
The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and The Fiji Times newspaper reported that Fiji TV had signed an agreement with Telikom PNG to evaluate the station and put in an offer to buy it.
Fijian Holdings Limited chief executive Nouzab Fareed told the FBC that until now EMTV had been a "cash cow" for Fiji TV but that its market value had been slowly declining, partly because the new law has led to new local TV stations starting up:
"We have signed an exclusive agreement, a memorandum of undertaking with Telikom PNG, which is a government owned authority, to look at a complete due diligence, through which the Telikom PNG will make an offer, for our entire shareholding in Media New Guinea Limited, I agree Media New Guinea Limited is a cash cow for Fiji Television Limited, but cash cows aren't cash cows every day, unless you protect your subsidiary, and if you feel comfortable and I think I don't see much value in that otherwise.
We are happy right now, but it doesn't mean, when the competition comes into the market from November and December, in PNG, the value of our company will be the same, we see the market share has been slowly going down, the advertisers in PNG is reducing their length of their contracts, so we see that competition is coming up, click tv PNG is starting next week, we are aware that DigiTv is coming up, but at the same time, we are fully aware, the legal frame work in PNG."
EMTV was previously owned by Australia's Channel Nine, before being sold to Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL).
Meanwhile, The Fiji Times newspaper reports that Fiji TV is hoping that its licence to broadcast will be renewed when it expires next month.
The TV station is owned by Fijian Holdings Limited which has invested $25 million in Fiji TV.
Fareed said that having to apply for a licence renewal every six months might "create an issue in the long-term planning."
However, he was sure that the government would renew Fiji TV's licence, as the station was operating within the confines of the media decree which was imposed by the previous military regime, and which remains in force.
"From the operations point of view, I'm OK with this. I'm doing my best and doing everything within the Media Decree. We are trying to satisfy the government and we are hopeful that in December they will give us a licence," Fareed told The Fiji Times.

Policemen implicated in ENB crimes to be suspended and removed says Deputy Commissioner Andrews

POLICE MEDIA

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Jim Andrews said four serving policemen charged for Sexual Touching, Sexual Penetration and Wilful Murder in the East New Britain Province will be suspended from duties forthwith.
The four serving members and one former policeman were all charged for sexual assault and murder, in Kokopo and Kerevat respectively.
The Kokopo Committal court found sufficient evidence against the five men and referred them to stand trial at the National Court.
Andrews said Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki issued instructions for the four serving members to be suspended and served with Serious Disciplinary Offence Reports (SDORs).
"Once the SDORs are served, they will receive Notice of Penalties (NOPs) effecting their termination from the Constabulary," he said.
"As Commissioner Vaki has declared a zero tolerance level on such behaviours by members of the Constabulary, enough is enough. The four policemen will be removed from the Constabulary so they can fight their cases as civilians in the criminal court.
"The Constabulary will not harbour crime suspects. They committed very serious crimes and the law will deal with them."
An investigative team from Port Moresby arrested and charged Reserve Constable Sakius Kilala and Senior Sergeant Hunat Bapun for sexually assaulting a female detainee in early October 2014. It is alleged the woman was sexually abused inside the Kokopo Police lock-up while in detention for causing the death of her husband.
The investigators also arrested and charged a former policeman Andrew Nasala, Reservist Nathan Maita and Constable Robert Gigi over the death of a detainee who was allegedly beaten to death inside the Kerevat Police station.
Andrews commended Officers from Internal Affairs for swiftly investigating the matter and pressing charges on the five suspects.
He warned all members of the Constabulary to respect the rights of citizens who come in conflict with the law.
He said the RPNGC management will continue to show good leadership and governance by punishing members of the Constabulary who break the country's laws.

Morobe feelings: Markham River Bridge

On Sunday, October 19, I visited the Markham Bridge together with PNG National Rugby League general manager Hubert Warupi his wife, and a Fijian friend. 

The bridge is the longest in Papua New Guinea, has a span of about 0.51km, and links Lae to Bulolo and Menyamya.

 The Markham River originates in the Finisterre Range and flows for 180km to empty into the Huon Gulf at Lae.

Truly a Morobe treasure which is worth more than all the mining taking place upstream.

All pictures@MALUM NALU

NEC endorses establishment of PNG Sovereign Wealth Fund under Organic Law

The National Executive Council recently endorsed the establishment of the Papua New Guinea Sovereign Wealth Fund (PNG SWF) under the Organic Law.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of the fund under the Organic Law and approved a Certificate of Compliance issued by the First Legislative Counsel.
In support of the PNG SWF, O'Neill said Cabinet had taken note of the First Legislative Counsel's draft bill for the establishment the fund under the Organic Law.
He said NEC would advise the Governor General to recommend to Parliament that the bill be accepted and had directed the First Legislative Counsel to;
a)    Prepare an instrument for the Governor General to sign that recommends to Parliament that the Organic Law on SWF Bill 2014 establishment be accepted;
b)    Prepare and publish the instrument of gazettal for the bill and;
c)    Carry out any other processes to allow the bill to be tabled in Parliament.
"NEC also directed SWF Secretaries Committee to report back to Cabinet, through Ministerial Committee on Economic Sector (MCES), with updated action plan to operationalize the SWF,"  O'Neill said.
He added that Cabinet also approved the engagement of an external law firm by Department of Treasury to assist the SWF Secretaries Committee prepare secondary legislation, consequential amendment to existing legislation's and regulations' and procedures necessary to operationalise the SWF.

Prime Minister opens new Lae Port Overseas Wharf extension

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday opened the new Lae Port Overseas Wharf extension and commended PNG Ports for their effort in getting the project.

He said he was impressed with the new facilities and work would continue into the second phase including the commissioning of the Lae Tidal Basin Project.

 "This wharf is going to be the hub of trading activity for the Pacific, as well as Australia and New Zealand, as it can cater for large ships that carry bigger loads and would continue to serve out of this port," O'Neill said.

"It is very important that the second stage of the project is completed as planned so that it can facilitate growing business activities in Lae and many other parts of the country."
He said the expanded facility would work in with other major projects such as the Wafi Golpu mine and other mining projects that are taking place in the vicinity of the port.
Speaking to PNG Ports staff and management, O`Neill encouraged all people involved with the port expansion to think big and work to continually to increase their efficiency as the port expands.
"You have been given the authority to operate this port according to best commercial practices, and it is up to you to improve your level of service to your customers," he said.

"I know staff and management will work together to improve services and the efficiency of the facilities to meet the consumer demand.
"We can spend millions of Kina on projects like this, but to make it work we have to go beyond old practices and work at world standards."
O`Neill said while the government had inherited a range of infrastructure deficiencies following decades of neglect, he said the National Government was working through these problems and allocating funding to key projects.
The Prime Minister cut the ribbon to officially open the port.