K1.5 million for police ops queried

QUESTIONS are being raised within and outside the police force on the whereabouts of the K1.5 million released by the Government last month for police operations to recapture the 12 dangerous criminals who escaped from Bomana prison’s  maximum security facility on Jan 12, The National reports.

Despite this, National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop yesterday announced that City Hall was finalising paperwork to allocate between K300, 000 and K400, 000 to help in police operations.

Mr Parkop, in commending the hard working police officers engaged in the successful operations thus far under the command of NCD Central Police chief Awan Sete and NCD metropolitan commander Supt Fred Yakasa, told The National that he could not confirm the actual amount that was allocated by City Hall to police today.

NCD police have so far recaptured seven dangerous criminals from the Jan 12 escape, with the two latest captures earlier this week.

Mr Parkop said: “This was a job well done and proved that police officers were shaping up to discharge their duties more effectively.

“I would also like to encourage the community to keep supporting the work of police and not assist the criminals as they were not good role models for society.”

He called on the remaining five escapees to surrender and to serve their time so that they become good citizens while they were in prison.

“The PNG justice system allows for pardon and parole which you can apply for once you are halfway into of serving your term,” he reminded the fugitives.

 

3 businesses plan on Tari

AT LEAST three reputable business organisations have unveiled plans to establish branches and properties in Tari, Soutern Highlands region, The National reports.

They also expressed interest in the PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

However, all this depends on the Hela people and how they deal with the law and order concerns in the province - a factor that would decide whether or not business would really come in for good.

Tari Pori MP and Education Minister James Marape recently told the people to take advantage of the opportunities in spin-off businesses to be generated by the gas project.

One of such entities is the National Development Bank (NDB) which plans to construct a two-storey building office complex worth K5 million, managing director Richard Maru said.

The project, however, needed an approval from the National Executive Council, he said.

“I commend the NDB board in their bold move to open up a new branch in Tari despite pressing law and order problems,” Mr Marape said, adding that apart from giving out loans, NDB would operate as a full-fledged bank with services like passbook savings account, micro finance and others.

Toyota dealer, Ela Motors Toyota Tsusho (PNG) Ltd, also plans to open a branch in Tari, Mr Marape said.

Ela Motors, according to chief executive David Purcell, expected an increase in its business by 30% in the next 18 months from vehicle sales, with demands coming from the PNG LNG project.

Mr Marape urged the people to respect and maintain law and order in Tari and the Hela region and make use of business opportunities to improve their income.

He said the NDB branch would enable potential Tari businessmen and women seek loans for small-scale businesses such as growing coffee, vegetable farming, poultry, husbandry, trade stores, guest houses and public transport services, among others.

Another company, Kenmore Industrial Division, announced last December that it would construct a new K40 million steel factory in Tari this year.

 

NBPOL posts lower profit

NEW Britain Palm Oil Ltd, a large-scale integrated industrial producer of sustainable palm oil in Papua New Guinea, has announced its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended Dec 31, 2009.

The company posted a lower profit before tax of US$85.3 million (K234 million), down from the US$106.3 million (K291.63 million) earned in 2008. The amount however excluded the effect of revaluing biological assets.

It disclosed that its revenue during the year in review dropped to US$323.8 million (K888.34 million) from US$352.2 million (K966.26 million) the previous year, due to lower prices for palm oil in 2009, particularly in the first half of the year as against the figure in 2008.

Earnings per share of ordinary shareholders were US$0.418, down from the US$0.518   declared in 2008.

Dividends paid during the year in review totaled US$0.28 per share including an interim dividend for 2009 of US$0.14 per share.

 

Petromin leader in minerals devt: PM

PETROMIN (PNG) Holdings Ltd is emerging as a leader in developing its mineral tenements through green field exploration, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said today, The National reports.

In an address to the Petromin board of directors, Sir Michael said he was pleased to learn that Petromin board and management had allocated about K6 million this year to explore the company”s mineral tenements within the vicinity of the Tolukuma gold mine in Central province, and regional  tenements.

“For a newly-established company, Petromin has done extremely well and can be seen as a leader in developing its tenements … than most of the junior mining companies that have been in the business for a much longer period.”

Sir Michael said Petromin’s determined approach in upgrading the total resource potential of Tolukuma mine through an extensive exploration programme was proving successful for the company.

“This exercise is paying off as the total resource has been upgraded by an independent Australianbased company to about 700,000oz.

“This has the potential to extend the mine life to about five years.”

Sir Michael spoke particularly on Petromin’s investment strategy.

“I am pleased to note that the board and management have put in place an investment strategy which provides the pathway for a planned process of investment.

“I am advised that the strategy was based on the State’s back-in-right as well as other investment opportunities that Petromin in its own right as an industry participant can invest in,” he said

 

Water for WIB delegates

By DOREEN POLOH WAIM

Millennium Water Ltd, a water bottler, has donated an unlimited supply of its Owen Stanley range water (pictured above) as part of its sponsorship towards to the PNG Women in Business expo opening tomorrow, The National reports.

The donated water will  be provided for the guests and other dignitaries during the three-day event.

Company managing director Achilles Peni lauded the holding of the expo as it would provide women an opportunity to showcase their businesses.

He said it was time men should realise that equal participation by women is also one of the key factors to economic development.

The donation was received by PNG Women in Business president Janet Sape, who thanked the company for its support.

'You can't fail with coffee'

By YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

Imagine if there was no coffee in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

People would not have a stable activity to keep them on their land, and lawlessness would be rife and out of control.

The coffee crop has given people a reason to celebrate, a reason to boast, a reason for peace and a reason to life.

The Coffee Curriculum has again added more meaning to the crop.

Equipping students with coffee farming skills and knowledge is equivalent to equipping students with skills for life.

“No student can fail to become a farmer,” CIC board director James Korarome said while talking on the importance of the curriculum and its benefit to students, schools and the economy.

He said this during the launching of the Coffee Curriculum School Nursery Programme Aiyura, Eastern Highland province.

The programme will be established in all pilot schools in the Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Morobe and East Sepik provinces.

Mr Korarome added the curriculum was an opportunity presented to students who may not make it through the education system.

Representative of the National Education Department, Mordecai Baine, said PNG was moving into an “exciting phase” with the curriculum.

Mr Baine, a strong advocate of technical education, said the innovative Coffee Curriculum was promising the national vision of “a happy, healthy, wealthy society” to students.

UNRE helps East Sepik cocoa farmers

UNRE technical officer Anton Varvaliu pointing out the right pruning tactic on a cocoa tree to cocoa farmers at Sengri village

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

Cocoa farmers in a remote part of Yangoru in the East Sepik province stand to benefit from a training package proposal offered by the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE).

The package proposal that now needs funding from government and international donor agencies was initiated by Madefari Nimiefari integrated land group consultant Menza Wagun.

The proposal that involves the Integrated Agriculture Training Programme (IATP) offered by UNRE at its Vudal campus in East New Britain province will enable over 500 farmers in Sengri, Simbomie, Howi, Javari, Kwahuie, Kusik Baimuru, Merohombi and Marenge villages located in the Sepik plains to receive quality and much-needed training.

This training includes sustainable livelihoods and decision making, land use and soil fertility management, basic record and book keeping, cocoa processing, husbandry, small enterprise, and planning and decision making.

Ms Wagun, who is a clan member and has been a professional human resource trainer with various government and private sector for over 25 years, initiated the proposal to support the National Government’s 2010 - 2050 strategy plan.

“The proposal has already been approved and accepted by the East Sepik Cocoa Board,” he said.

“The focus of my initiative is on poverty alleviation.

“That part of East Sepik has a high rate of malnutrition-related diseases, as economic development is nil despite vast land and natural resources.”

Ms Wagun, whose last employment was with Oil Search, said her proposal would be first implemented as a model project in Sengri village before extending it to the nearby villages.

UNRE’s head trainer for IATP Owen Ngala, when speaking to the farmers at Sengri village last Sunday, said that they were more than happy to extend the programme to their area if only Ms Wagun’s proposal received funding from various donor agencies.