Chief Secretary commends SABL implementation taskforce

Chief Secretary to Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc (pictured), has applauded the Special Agriculture & Business Leases (SABL) Implementation Taskforce, for the outstanding report to implement the recommendations found during the Commission of Inquiry into SABLs.
This special taskforce is comprised of Dr Laurence Sause (Chair & Policy and Government Advisor) and two retired public servants  Kutt Paonga (Legal advisor) and Daniel Katakumb (Land Advisor).
Sir Manasupe said in 2011 the government set up a Commission of Inquiry into SABLs, which found that many leases needed to be revoked.
He said the government then referred the matter to a ministerial committee to implement the findings of that particular inquiry.
"However, the ministerial committee could not progress much for various reasons," Sir Manasupe said.
He said towards the end of 2014, Cabinet set up a special taskforce – SABL Implementation Taskforce - under the Chief Secretary, to look at means and ways on how to effectively implement the COI findings.
"Currently the laws are complicated and ineffective to revoke these leases therefore amendments to the legislation will be considered.
"From the report provided by this special taskforce, the government now has a clear way to implement the revocation of non-genuine leases.
"I commend the taskforce for a job well done in making it easier for the government to move forward," Sir Manasupe said.
He said the taskforce had advised the government on how best to implement the findings of the COI.
"Out of the 75 SABLs throughout the country, only 42 SABL reports were provided by only two members of the commission – Nicholas Mirou and John Numapo -  who provided finding recommendations that 30 were to be cancelled, 11 to be suspended and that only one SABL was in order.
"The other 30 SABL reports, however, have not been received by the government hence the government is now pursuing other actions to obtain them," Sir Manasupe said.
He also announced that the report was now ready to go before Cabinet for approval.
"In the not too distant future, the government hopes that some of the land will be returned to landowners," Sir Manasupe said.

Communications minister to introduce cross-media ownership laws

Communications and Information Technology Minister, Jimmy Miringtoro, has foreshadowed important reforms to cross media-ownership laws in Papua New Guinea in the upcoming session of Parliament.
Miringtoro said he was concerned at the way NRL broadcast rights were suddenly taken away from a free-to-air television station, which he said was a move that left a lot of unanswered questions.
The minister said there was growing concern that competition in the communications sector would be crushed if large foreign conglomerates could begin to monopolise the market. 
"We will not allow one dominant player in the Papua New Guinea communications market as this is not fair on the people of our nation," said Miringtoro.
"Given enough power these large companies can force out the smaller phone, television, radio and newspaper platforms, and then expand to other areas such as advertising.
"When one company has a monopoly over multiple media platforms they could potentially take the market for granted and charge much higher prices to our people.
"Cross-media ownership structures need to be clearly defined so that competition is ensured in our country and this will deliver better media services to our people.
"We already pay high prices that are imposed for Internet and mobile telephone calls.
"If a large phone company was able to expand into television, the savings afforded by vertical integration backed up by the deep pockets of the foreign conglomerate, would probably mean the end of any completion in Papua New Guinea media and communications.
"It would also mean one foreign company had control over the entertainment, news and sport seen by our people, and would probably see Papua New Guineans forced to pay to watch each NRL game.
"The O'Neill/Dion Government will not approve the takeover of our communications sector by a single company, and we will legislate to ensure clarity and competition in the sector."
Miringtoro said he was particularly concerned at the way the rights to broadcast NRL had been taken away from a free-to-air television station and given to a pay television broadcaster.
"For decades Papua New Guineans have been able to watch rugby league on free-to-air television," he said.  
"This works in a developing country like ours as the television station gets advertising revenue from companies and our grassroots people do not have to pay to watch.
"Suddenly we find that has changed and now everyone will have to pay to buy a box to watch NRL.  
"This is a major disappointment for people around the nation and we will consider legislation to ensure free-to-air channels have first right to broadcast significant national sports.
"NRL and State of Origin would certainly be considered in such a list of sports.
"We will find our what was behind the sudden loss of NRL broadcast rights on free-to-air television."

State receives another K50 million from National Fisheries Authority

Chief Secretary to Government Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc (centre) receives the K50 million from NFA Managing Director John Kasu (left) and Chairman Job Pomat

The National Government today  received another K50 million in dividends from the National Fisheries Authority.
This is on top of the first component of K25 million presented earlier to the government in August this year.
The K50 million cheque was presented to the Chief Secretary to Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, by the NFA Chairman Job Pomat and Managing Director John Kasu, in Port Moresby.
Sir Manasupe thanked NFA for its ongoing support to the government, saying the NFA board's commitment of providing increasing dividends to the government over the years contributed largely to the country's revenue cycle.
He said the NFA was one of the few State-owned enterprises that continued to bring in increasing dividends every year.
"The dividends like all other dividends will be put in to the government purse for the budget.
"I would also like to applaud the National Fisheries Authority for its efforts in successfully meeting the European Union's requirements, which has resulted in the uplifting of the yellow flag restrictions on our fishing regulations," Sir Manasupe said.
He said Prime Minister Peter O'Neill would make an official announcement on the uplifting of the yellow flag ban by EU, in the next few days
Pomat also revealed that NFA had just received a letter from the European Union that the yellow flag ban on fishing processes in PNG waters had been lifted.
He said this was a proper opportunity to raise PNG's standards to be the first-class tuna provider in the world.  
Last year, NFA furnished a total of K50 million in dividends to the State compared to this year's K75 million.

PM questions motive and intent of Somare complaint to Ombudsman Commission

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill  has raised serious concerns at the motive and intent of the complaint submitted by Sir Michael Somare to the Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea.
"The actions by Sir Michael Somare in submitting his recent complaint are self-serving and not in the best interests of the country," O'Neill said.
"The events that took place in 2011 were because of Somare not being honest with the people of Papua New Guinea, and with the Parliament, about the seriousness of his illness and his lengthy absence as the Prime Minister of the country.
"The position of Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea is not a birthright, it is a position that is mandated by the people though their Parliament.
"It was in Parliament's considered view that Somare's lengthy absence of over eight months, without proper explanation or reason given to the Parliament, gave rise to a vacancy in the position.
"This led to the events of 2011 when the Parliament elected a new Prime Minister."
O'Neill said decisions of the court were noted by Parliament that acted within the law.
"The Parliament, at all times took note of the court's decisions, and has dealt with these decisions appropriately.
"Through Parliamentary process it was deemed that there was a vacancy, thereby allowing Parliament to conduct an election for the Prime Minister on each occasion.
"Parliament has dealt with this within its mandate and the decisions of Parliament are not subject to the Leadership Code.
"The people of this nation then went to the polls in 2012 where they elected our Government, and Somare must accept that the people made this decision through the ballot as part of our national democratic process.
"He needs to respect the decision of the people and stop being a spoiler for the country.
"If he thinks he has a case to present to the people, his opportunity will come again in 2017 within 20 months.
"We will see him at the polls and this is where the people will decide again who should lead the country for the next five years."
The Prime Minister said the State had been very generous towards Sir Michael Somare and it was time that he recognised the support that had been afforded to him.
"All entitlements have been fully paid including additional funds he received from the State. 
"The people of Papua New Guinea do not owe him anything further than what he has already received."

Deputy PM Leo Dion addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA

Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Leo Dion at the United Nations

Deputy Prime Minister Chief Leo Dion led a Papua New Guinea delegation on behalf of the Prime Minister and the people of PNG to the 70th United Nations General Assembly Session at the United Nations Head quarter in New York, USA.
The PNG delegation comprised of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration and senior government officials from the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, Foreign Affairs, National Planning and Monitoring and officers from PNG's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and the Embassy in Washington DC.
Dion at the post-2015 summit addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the September 26,  2015, where world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to succeed the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by January 2018.
The gist of the Deputy Prime Minister's statement was on the National Government's initiatives to promote sustainable development in Papua New Guinea and issues on climate change, water, Health and Sanitation, Vision 2050, Long Term Development Plan and the National Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development.
Dion said the drive by PNG to get international support on climate change also gained prominence when Pope Francis gave his speech on September 25, 2015.
"The Pope talked about the same thing that the Prime Minister  Peter O'Neill, has been emphasizing about on, climate change," he said.
Dion said climate change was a real issue that was affecting thousands of lives in PNF and in the Pacific region.
"PNG's contribution at the international level as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum was our leadership in securing consensus among PIF countries in proposing SDG 14, which is to conserve and use the oceans, seas and marine resources in a sustainable manner.
"Our leadership in proposing goal 14 underscores our commitment to ensure the international community recognizes the importance of protecting our pristine marine environment."
He said this also underscored the 46th Pacific Islands Forum's commitment to work together.
Dion went on to pledge PNG' support of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the country's commitment to achieving better results.

Endangered anteaters: Long-beaked echidnas successfully bred by conservationists

By Samantha Mathewson

Nature World News

Sep 24, 2015 01:49 PM EDT



Long-beaked echidnas are threatened by habitat loss and hunters in New Guinea and Indonesia. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons )



 

Breeding efforts for the endangered short-beaked echidna, also known as the spiny anteater, are proving to be successful at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia. The University of Queensland (UQ) is working along side scientists at the nature preserve where they have birthed 14 new babies in captivity over the past five years.

"Up to a few years ago it was thought almost impossible to breed echidnas in captivity, and most births were somewhat accidental and unplanned," Stephen Johnston, an associate professor at UQ, said in a news release. "Now we can pretty much predict that, if we put A and B together and provide the right environmental conditions, a mating is likely to be successful."

The success of the short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) represents the highest number of spiny anteaters that any zoo has ever been able to breed. Now, it turns out that their relatives, the long-beaked echidnas (Zaglossus attenboroughi), may need help too.

Populations of long-beaked echidnas who live primarily in New Guinea and Indonesia, have declined drastically due to being hunted for food and loosing their natural habitats to land development. Echidnas are one of the only mammals that still lay eggs.

"We now have a better understanding of the echidna's temperature regulation requirements," Johnston added, "and we are seeking to identify what hormones are involved at different stages of the female breeding cycle."

The typical gestation period for female echidnas lasts 20 days. Then they lay their eggs directly into their temporary pouch that develops when they are pregnant. According to the release, the "puggles" hatch roughly 10 days later and stay in the pouch for two or three months, receiving all their nutrients from their mother's milk.

Photo : University of Queensland )
An echidna puggle breed in captivity at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia.

 

"It's so important now we use what we have learned to make a real difference to conservation and the plight of the long-beaked echidna from Papua New Guinea," Michael Pyne, an official at the nature preserve, said. "Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is committed to conservation and research of our native wildlife and is proud to work closely with UQ in world-leading research such as this echidna project."

During this year's breeding season, five viable eggs have already been laid. 

 

For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).

-Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13

Rare Australian dolphin found in PNG waters

James Cook University

Snubfin dolphin

Photo: Dr Isabel Beasley

New findings by a James Cook University researcher have confirmed that the recently discovered Australian snubfin dolphin is also found in waters off southern Papua New Guinea.

JCU’s Dr Isabel Beasley has been undertaking research on inshore dolphins in the Kikori Delta of southern Papua New Guinea since 2011, with funding from the PNG LNG Community Investment Program and the Australian Marine Mammal Centre.

It was previously thought that only Irrawaddy dolphins occurred in southern Papua New Guinea.

However, new research based on at-sea observations and genetic analysis has confirmed that the Kikori dolphins are a separate population of Australian snubfin dolphins, Orcaella heinsohni.

The snubfin is a small dolphin species previously thought to be restricted to northern Australian coastal waters.

As a result of the discovery, the ExxonMobil PNG-led, PNG LNG Project has announced a new scholarship program, where three students will receive JCU scholarships to study dolphins in Papua New Guinea, with a focus on Australian snubfin dolphins in the Kikori Delta.

The scholarships are called the 'PNG LNG - PIDU Research Scholarships', PIDU being the local name for dolphins in the Kikori Delta.

ExxonMobil PNG managing director, Andrew Barry said ExxonMobil PNG was committed to preserving Papua New Guinea’s unique environment and cultural heritage for future generations.

“Investing in the dolphin research complements the PNG LNG Project’s approach to the long-term conservation of the pristine environment in which we operate,” Mr Barry said.

“We are working with James Cook University and the University of Papua New Guinea to enhance the capacity of young Papua New Guineans to care for the very unique biodiversity of this country.”

UPNG has collaborated with the PIDU project since it began in 2011, with three UPNG students undertaking their 4th year research projects based on the study.

UPNG Registrar, Jennifer Popat said “The University of Papua New Guinea is proud to partner with James Cook University in the important marine research project. Without the PNG LNG Community Investment Program’s support for these Honours and Masters scholarships, the scientific knowledge concerning these species of dolphins would remain incomplete.”

The students will conduct projects in the Kikori Delta to further knowledge of this little known species, identify threats to the small remaining population, and work together with the local communities and fishers to develop strategies to mitigate threats, such as accidental bycatch in fisheries.

Dr Beasley said the Kikori Delta of southern PNG is the only location in the Pacific Islands and New Guinea where the Australian snubfin dolphin is currently known to occur.

“Conservation and management efforts are therefore imperative if the species is to survive in the region, where accidental bycatch and habitat degradation are threatening remaining populations throughout their range.”

Applications for the scholarships open on September 20, 2015 and successful candidates will be announced in early December 2015.