Commercial rice production to begin in co-operation with the Philippines

Price of rice to drop when PNG produces rice locally

Ensuring food security for Papua New Guinea into the future has been given a boost through an arrangement that will see hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice planted, and deliver a reduction in the price of rice in the country.
Speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines last week, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, said that a memorandum of understanding on agricultural co-operation has been signed that will lead to extensive rice cultivation.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines

O’Neill said understanding has been reached with Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, and his government, to co-operate in the production of rice for the benefit of both countries.
“Food security is essential for the future survival of all countries in the world, because if we cannot find enough food for a fast increasing population everyone will suffer,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea and the Philippines have agreed to work together to enhance the food security for both countries.
“The Philippines will provide technical advice, private sector investment and people to guide our farmers to establish many thousands of hectares of rice production in Papua New Guinea.
“Rice grown at these farms will be sold in the domestic market in Papua New Guinea, and in the long term, rice not required for domestic consumption will be sold to the Philippines at market rates.
“This is an innovative approach to confront the looming problem of food security by drawing on the strengths of each country.
“Papua New Guinea has hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land that is suitable for rice production, and the Philippines has the technical knowledge and the investment capital.
“Our soil for rice cultivation has never been commercially farmed, and is rich in nutrient delivering almost twice the yield per hectare of most rice-producing areas in South-East Asia.
“This will be a public private partnership, with the Philippines Government providing technical expertise and facilitating private sector investment.
“The Papua New Guinea Government will provide regulatory support, strengthen relevant infrastructure in farming areas and encourage domestic investment.
“Rice production trials are already underway and the first commercial planting is expected to begin next year.”
O'Neill said the wide-scale production of rice in Papua New Guinea will also see the price of rice fall, as was the case when Papua New Guinea began producing its own fresh milk.
“When our own Papua New Guinea milk hit supermarket shelves this year, it sold at half the price of foreign milk, so the foreigners then also halved their price.
“They had been selling foreign milk at such a high mark-up, and that stopped when locally made milk entered the market.
“Papua New Guinea is standing up for itself against price gouging and market exploitation.
“We will continue to deliver the best results for our communities, we will enhance food security and get fair prices for our people.”
The memorandum of understanding, signed by the agriculture ministers of both countries, forms the basis from which both Governments and relevant stakeholders can advance project arrangements and then sign a memorandum of agreement.

Ministers of agriculture from PNG and Philippines sign the agreement.

O'Neill said the memorandum of agreement will be finalised between before the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby in November this year.

A tribute to Moses Tau

By REUBEN AOPI

Papua New Guinea’s singing sensation Moses Tau was born on May 16, 1969, the very same day he died.

The late Moses Tau

Moses Gou was then adopted by his elder sister, hence,  the change of his surname to Tau (as reported by his biological sister, Alice Gou, during an interview with PNG TV, shortly after he had passed, May 16, 2018 on his birthday) when he turned 49.
Little did she know that a star was being placed in her arms to love and to be raised. God Bless the people of Barakau for that and for many other great things.
Moses Tau was what Papua New Guineans came to know.
 He later adopted   a very catchy and extravagant stage name, Moshanty.
 I grew up in a tiny island called Daru.
We had a tape recorder which belonged to my elder brother, Wesley.
 Moses and the Reflections was the name of the cassette we had along with a CD from his album Moses Says Aloha.
They played endlessly.
The style of music he had was superb and contagious.
The type that would leave you tapping your foot and the next thing you know, you’re swaying your hips.
 I’m typing this with no regrets as I have my headphones blasting with "Penekovu Medu bona Hurehure’’, which means rain and waves in the Motu language.
 A song sung about a canoe.
One of my personal favourites.
He was a vibrant soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever he entered.
Moses was full of joy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was.I
 will always be grateful for that.
In 2016, we had our Christmas Party here in Digicel’s HQ.
 I was told to phone Moshanty and have him join us as per my boss' request.
I was starstuck and lost for words when he picked up on the other side of the line.
An absolute privilege it was.
Fans gathered and took to social media to remember and commemorate his life.
Let's bid him farewell as we mourn the loss of a lively, dignified soul.
 A soul that brought joy and fulfilment to many, and whose legacy will live on forever.
You would feel the heat and love in the air every time he took the stage.
 He knew what his audience wanted and delivered it with passion and humour.
A bloody entertainer he was and will forever be remembered for that.
Moshanty was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.
 He actively participated and performed at various medical fundraisers, weddings and family gathering without fail.
He was also an advocate for the LGBT Community in Papua New Guinea.
 LGBT persons in Papua New Guinea face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.
Attitudes towards LGBT people are greatly influenced by churches and the Melanesian way of life as the majority of Papua New Guineans claim to be believers of the Christian faith.
Despite all that, he lived his life to the very fullest,  if I may put it that way and to which many would agree with me.
He was never afraid of what came his way. Talk about the struggles one has to endure every day.
A legend, period.
All over Papua New Guinea he was a symbol of selfless humanity.
All over the Pacific, a standard-bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a local talent who transcended nationality. Someone with natural nobility who was classless.
He proved in the years he walked on this earth that he needed no royal title to continue to generate his particular brand of magic.
Papua New Guinea has lost a legend.
1969-2018
May your soul rest in peace,  Moses Tau AKA Moshanty.
Bamahuta, Emau, Iawo.

About the author

Reuben Aopi

Reuben Aopi was born in Daru Island on Oct 8,  1988.
His father Pala Aopi was a painter, and his mother Sibaio was a retired nurse.
Both have gone to be with our Lord.

Port Moresby General Hospital runs out of drugs

By Dr GLEN MOLA

Dr Glen Mola

Not always good news! 
Today we heard at our PMGH (Port Moresby General Hospital) staff meeting that we have run out of antiretroviral (ART or HIV drugs) medicines. 
We have many thousands of HIV positive people on treatment in NCD (and several more thousand around the rest of the country) and they may not have any medicine to take unless new supplies arrive in the very near future. 
People on ART must take their medicine every single day: they they stop and start again they are very likely to breed resistant HIV. 
This is not only bad (in fact life-threatening) for the patient, but life-threatening for everybody else in the community who might catch the HIV from them. 
We also don't have any syphilis test kits in the country.
Syphilis used to be the commonest cause of stillbirth (babies dying inside their mothers) in our audit stats.- and after we started routine testing of all mothers coming to AN clinics (and treating the positives) we virtually eliminated this scourge from our pregnant mums.
 But now with no test kits available, the syphilis problem will come back again and many babies will die.
And this week we ran out of Oxytocin, the drug that prevents women from losing too much blood when they deliver their babies.  The commonest cause of death when oxytocin is not available is post partum hemorrhage (or excessive bleeding after the birth); so we are probably now going to see a lot more mothers dies even when they come to hospital to have a supervised birth.
And we are very short of surgical sutures - the special thread and needle that surgeons use to sew up their patients during and after operations. 
Every day we don't have some essential item that is critical to save medical practice.
And the PNG government does not even pay for any of the family planning commodities - pills, depo, implants etc. - they are all donated to us by UNFPA and other overseas donor agencies.
 Eventually this will stop, because PNG has recently been upgraded to a "middle income country" because of our oil and gas extractive industries. 
And if the Government does not step up and buy the FP commodities that we need to assist people to plan their families.....??
Most doctors and nurses still try to keep positive about their work, but in the face of a government that does not support the health system - it is becoming more and more difficult.
And then we wee that there are millions of kina available for high profile stuff like various intensive care facilities at PMGH (coronary care, trauma, cardiac catheterization, renal dialysis etc.that will surely only benefit a minority of less than 1% of patients): but how come there is no money for the majority (99 per cent) of patients, - the sick kids, the women delivering their babies, the people every night needing emergency surgery, the HIV and TB patients, families needing contraceptive to plan their families etc?  "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind......" - Bob Dylan. 
Can we all start putting pressure on the government please to FUND THE HEALTH SERVICE PROPERLY - and not just through Borneo Pacific.

ExxonMobil PNG re-deploys PNG Salvation Army medical team to disaster-affected areas

As part of its on-going support to the earthquake affected communities, ExxonMobil PNG, operator of the PNG LNG project has re-deployed the PNG Salvation Army medical team to provide much-needed medical assistance as the company works towards supporting with repair and maintenance work on health care facilities.

A needs assessment conducted by the PNG Salvation Army and also ExxonMobil PNG has identified that many of the health care facilities in the project impact areas were displaced with limited or no medical supplies to assist the communities.

PNG Salvation Army health workers undergoing their code of conduct pre-deployment briefing by Gender and Protection Specialist from UN Women PNG office, Anggie Burchhil before their deployment to the Western Province on Monday to assist the earthquake affected communities.

ExxonMobil PNG community development support manager Debbie Maraki with PNG Salvation Army health workers and the territorial director of health services for PNG Salvation Army, Captain Christine Gee and gender and Protection Specialist from UN Women PNG office, Anggie Burchhil after their pre-deployment briefing.

The assessment also stated that structures of health care facilities were still intact but required minor repair and maintenance to ensure they were safe to be used while others needed re-stocking of pharmaceutical drug supplies.

ExxonMobil PNG managing-director Andrew Barry said: “Part of our long term recovery support plan is to reestablish the health care facilities that have been displaced, but at the same time we recognise that the people still need assistance with basic health service which the PNG Salvation Army medical team is able to provide.”

Six medical officers departed on Monday, May 14. They will be stationed at three locations including Huiya in the Mt. Bosavi area near the border of Hela and Western provinces and Habi and Wasowedu in the Western Province.

An additional two medical officers will depart in the coming days and will be at Hides to provide service to Para, Eduawi, Mananda, Komo, Benaria and Juni communities.

ExxonMobil PNG is also providing support for the restoration of education services and community food gardens as part of its long term recovery plan.

The company is also assisting the Government to build infrastructure and key roads and bridges for Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces that were destroyed during the disaster.

Port Moresby road works near completion

Friday May 18, 2018

Major road infrastructure works in and around Port Moresby are due for completion before the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November, according to city manager Bernard Kipit.

In fact, three out of six major road projects will be completed well before the end of August.

Ela Beach is the first major project to be completed on schedule, due to be opened to traffic by the end of July.

That will be followed by Stanley Esplanade in town and Independence Drive in Waigani, both due to be opened for traffic by the end of August.

The rehabilitation of the Freeway, Independence Boulevard, Independence Drive and the Wards Road roundabouts will be completed by the end of October.

All projects are consistent with NCDC’s four year plan.

 Kipit said there was no easy way to avoid the traffic congestion caused by the road works.

“In the example of the Freeway, traffic could not be diverted around site, as the surrounding roads were not designed for heavy or oversized vehicles," he said.

"So the Freeway has had to be rehabilitated in sections.

“But I want to assure the public that the end to our traffic woes is just around the corner.

“The cost to NCDC and our people has been minimal as the road projects have been funded by a series of generous non-tied aid grants from China.

“In the case of Ela Beach where we originally had to remove 100 trees to make way for the new-look Ela Beach.

"We are planting over 1,000 trees – which will transform Ela Beach in to a real showcase for Papua New Guinea, especially with APEC Haus as part of the landscape.

“It’s a win for our people and a win for the environment. 

“Motorists have been patient and their patience will be rewarded with Port Moresby connected with world-class roads infrastructure, the likes we have never before seen in our capital city.

“It has been a case of short term pain for long term gain.

“The new roads will facilitate the further growth and development of our city for the benefit of all.

“I wish to reassure motorists and residents that our major road works will soon come to an end, with world class roads as the reward for our patience, planning and perseverance."

Duterte, Papua New Guinea PM to hold talks Wednesday

by Azer Parrocha, pna.gov.ph
May 15, 2018

MANILA -- Papua New Guinea Prime Minsiter Peter O’Neill arrived in Manila on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day visit where he is scheduled to meet President Rodrigo R Duterte for a scheduled bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Duterte will also be hosting a state banquet in honor of O’Neill on Wednesday night in Malacañan.

O’Neill arrived at 4:11 p.m. at the Villamor Airbase, according to a statement sent to the media by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

He was welcomed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Pasay City Rep Emi Calixto-Rubiano and Navotas City Rep Tobias "Toby" Tiangco also joined Piñol in welcoming O’Neill.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by PNG Minister of Finance James Marape and Christopher Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of the Papua New Guinea Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Authority.

He will cap off his visit to the country by touring the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and then proceed to Japan.

Papua New Guinea is this year’s chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Duterte and O’Neill met last year at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam.

O’Neill was also in Manila during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2015. (PNA)

Widnes release Stanton Albert

loverugbyleague.com
May 13, 2018 

Widnes have released Papua New Guinea international Stanton Albert from his contract on compassionate grounds.

Photo courtesy of Richard Long

The 22-year-old joined the Vikings in the off-season from Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters, alongside brother Wellington.

However, Stanton has found chances limited at the Vikings and will return to Papua New Guinea to pursue his career in his home country.

Widnes head coach Denis Betts says it is unfortunate that it didn’t work out for Albert.

He said: “This has been a difficult situation for both Stanton and the club, but ultimately we have had to understand and accept his decision.

“Moving to a new country and settling into a new team can be difficult, and Stanton unfortunately struggled to adjust to moving here in the way that his brother, Wellington, has. Having linked up with the Vikings late into the pre-season, it naturally took Stanton time to get into the condition required for first team action. When we signed Stanton, we also recognised that whilst he had great natural attributes, he also had aspects of his game that required development or adjustment to play competitively in the UK.

“Stanton had been working hard to break into the first team, and we provided focused training and loan appearances at our partners, North Wales Crusaders, to support that progress. Ultimately though, he faced a lot of competition in our forward pack and needed to remain patient to claim his spot in the team. Stanton is someone who wants to play regularly, and this experience has been challenging for him. As a group, we have all tried our best to support his development, make him feel welcome here and support his overall welfare.

“Whilst we believe that Stanton could have been a successful player in the long-term, with ongoing development, we reluctantly agreed to this termination. We hope that this is a positive step for him and wish him all the best for the future.”

And Albert, who was a star for Papua New Guinea at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, says the club will always stay in his heart.

He said: “I have been grateful for the opportunity to join the Vikings, but unfortunately things haven’t worked out as I hoped.

“As a player, it is important to me to feature regularly and I have found my chances limited whilst I adjust to this new environment. I believe that it is the right decision for me to return to my homeland, where I can play regularly.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, and I am grateful to the coaches and directors for their understanding.

“I would like to thank the players and supporters for the brilliant welcome that they gave me to the club. I wish Widnes Vikings lots of success for the seasons ahead, and look forward to backing Wellington and all the boys as a supporter. Once a Viking, always a Viking.”