Momis signs up to vie for presidency

By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

 

FORMER Bougainville Regional Member and Ambassador John Momis (pictured) became the fourth candidate to nominate to contest the presidential seat in the Autonomous Bougainville Government second general elections yesterday, The National reports.

He was accompanied by a huge crowd of supporters which included the sacred UPE group from Wakunai.

Mr Momis will lead the New Bougainville Party in this coming election.

The other three presidential candidates who have nominated are current President James Tanis, Ruben Siara and a woman candidate, Magdalen Toroansi.

Mr Tanis was the first to nominate following the issuing of writs last Friday. He started his campaigning at Gogohe at the weekend and is now in Arawa.

 

 

Sir J: Govt filthy rich, people poor

 ‘Speaker totally biased, courts are tired, law enforcement agencies cannot cope with computerised white collar crimes while jails have become transit picnic grounds for criminals’

 

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan says the Government is filthy rich but its people continue to live in saksak houses, no medicine, dilapidated schools and totally forlorn.

“The Parliament is no longer the People’s House, but a rubber stamp for the multi-billionaires who can influence our leaders to introduce laws and agreements we know very little about, yet the long term impact is unpredictable.

“The Speaker is totally biased, the courts are tired, law enforcement agencies can no longer cope with computerised white collar crimes, whilst our jails have become transit picnic grounds for criminals.

“The people of this country are tired of sitting on the outside and begging for what is properly theirs,” he said.

“For too long, Papua New Guineans have been spectators of resource developments on their traditional lands which do not equate with the wealth and benefits derived from their rich resources.

“It is time for the Government to transfer wealth from the State to the people,” Sir Julius said.

“The people are tired of others telling them what they can and cannot do with papagraun.

“The people are tired of seeing pay raises and allowance raises in Waigani, when the State does not even consider it necessary to provide them with the pittance the State has promised to provide.

 “Under the current and previous governments, New Ireland has not improved after 15 years of Lihir gold and three years of Simberi mining, and this would be the same scenario in all mining provinces across the country,” he said.

Sir Julius said mothers in Bougainville, after the 16 years of the crises, had shown determination and resilience to sustain a society built out of nothing, making the best use of them to rehabilitate and rebuild families and communities.

“This is the reason we need strong representation of the women in all spheres of endeavour, a step that we, in New Ireland, have accepted and submitted to the autonomy committee to have nine seats of deputy presidents of LLG to be contested only by women and give them free choice to contest all other seats in the provincial elections.

“We need to re-look and reassess our policies and strategies and exercise fairness and justice that will position our people to access more benefits from what they already inherit and own as citizens of our country,” he added.

Sir Julius said women must start exerting their influence as equal stakeholders of the wealth of the land to attain balanced social-economic development for the country.

“In the wake of the mineral, oil and gas boom, they must seize the opportunities to benefit as equal stakeholders of the land,” he said at a gathering of women in Faniufa village outside Goroka yesterday.

He said the role of women needed to be redefined and strengthened to uphold their status.

“They have been taken for granted as participants in the various levels of landowner agreements and investment undertakings with developers and the State irrespective of their special status and role in the communities.

“You have to move on from housemaids to housekeeping and stop the men from squandering and signing agreements that cannot be fulfilled,” he added

Soldiers hear about K13mil, no pay date

PROTESTING soldiers at the Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby were told yesterday K13 million has been awarded for their pay rise, but no date has been given for its implementation, The National reports.

They were told that K13 million was approved by the Government for the PNG Defence Force to implement its new salary structure for this year and also to pay outstanding payments only for January to December last year.

But it is still uncertain which payday this would actually come into effect.

PNGDF director for personnel Navy Cmdr Michael David was at the Taurama barracks yesterday to calm down the soldiers and explain the break-up of the funds.

He said the salary and conditions monitoring committee, (SCMC) led by Department of Personnel Management (DPM) had decided to award an 8% pay rise despite their earlier demands last month for a 100% increment.

The disgruntled soldiers had claimed then that the increment had been outstanding since 2007.

The implementation phase of the funds for officers from the rank of private to colonel, and of how the increments would be paid according to the new PNGDF salary structure, was discussed with soldiers at Taurama yesterday.

However, no schedule as to the actual date of commencement was given.

Cmdr David assured them that although some agreement had been reached, DPM has not given a clear confirmation as to what payday this would be effected.

Of the K13 million, K4 million would take care of outstanding salaries from last January to December while K8 million would be used to implement the new salary structure beginning in January this year. 

As Cmdr David was leaving the Taurama barracks in his car, he was shouted at by the soldiers who were still not convinced by what he had informed them.

After Cmdr David left, Taurama barracks Cmdr Lt Col Emmanuel Todick reassured the officers that he would be pursuing the matter but called for understanding and patience from the soldiers while DPM and other agencies put an implementation schedule in place.

Frabelle workers walk off job

MORE than 500 workers of fish cannery Frabelle (PNG) Limited walked off their jobs yesterday morning, The National reports.

They left the SpeyBank Street, Milfordhaven, factory in Lae in one large group, over complaints of transport, lunch, uniforms and safety wear fees.

The workers said both skilled and unskilled workers were paid K2.29 across the board.

Despite the national minimum wages board (NMWB) rate, there is no margin rate between the unskilled and the skilled workers, spokesman of their interim union

Gabriel Garame said.

The workers who come from Munum and Yalu villages, along the Highlands Highway, are charged K4.10  as transport fees daily, while those commuting from Miles, Bumayong, are charged K1.60.

“The management imposes an identification card system to verify commuters before and after hoping on to the vehicle. A fee of K5 is charged, or three days without pay, if one has no ID,” employees said.

For meals at the work-place, “dry scones were provided for lunch costing K1”.

“Within the company a man, without a certification from Investment Promotion Authority, sells half scallop and sausages for K1, broccoli at K1 and bananas for K0.50,” Mr Garame said.

He said two pairs of uniforms cost K6 while a pair of safety gum boots costs K30.

He said there were no face masks and safety clothes for workers in the boiler section.

At Christmas, each worker receives two packets of rice, three packets of noodles and three tins of Isabella fish.

Frabelle (PNG) Ltd operates fish canning for the local and export markets.

Workers said it also manufactured frozen loins, fish meal and deals in scrap metals.

“The deductions on various things exceed what they pay us fortnightly,” workers said.

 “It has been an on going issue,” Mr Garame said.

The workers vented their frustration to the provincial labour and industrial relations division, Morobe Provincial Fisheries Management Authority and health and safety authorities of the Lae City Council. They said the government agencies were negligent.

“They are depriving and denying us of proper welfare at the work place. They benefit from our commitment, effort and marine resources using us as cheap labour,” he said.

Unionist Tom Vevo said the issue was the same in other fish canning companies.

He said that at RD Tuna, employees received a K0.15 increase, despite the K2.29 approved rate.

He said the K2.29 rate was for the unskilled workers.

“The company has to set its margin and add its portion on top the pay for those skilled nationals.

“Failure by the provincial labour division to implement its roles and responsibilities effectively, leads to unnecessary protests without employees following proper procedures.

“Workers were the foundation of industry which generates income for the Government. Therefore responsible authorities have to intervene and solve such issues.

“They are human beings and have to afford to eat and sleep, and be protected with medical and insurance cover for their safety,” he said.

Frabelle management refused to comment.

Pictures of the funeral service of photographer William Williando

Pphotographs of the funeral of media photographer William Williando in Port Moresby last Friday.

Investigation committee commences at UOG

An independent investigation team will commence proceedings at the University of Goroka this week on Tuesday March 30, 2010.

As directed by the UOG Council, a three-person investigation committee has been established to investigate several concerns outlined in an agreed terms of reference (TOR) document previously submitted by the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the National Academic Staff Association (NASA) at UOG.

Some the concerns are matters relating to: governance, processes and procedures, administration matters, academic matters, student welfare, staff welfare and financial matters.

The independent investigation committee is composed of Michael Gene, prominent lawyer and former Attorney General; Prof Allan Easton, prominent academic; and George Kuno, practising accountant and will meet with representatives from the UOG Council, SRC, NASA and management teams to investigate issues from the TOR document.

The investigation will run until April 29, 2010, after which the University Council will meet to consider the findings of the report.

University of Goroka Chancellor Benais Sabumei said investigation would be completely independent to ensure the findings and recommendations were unbiased and neutral.

The investigation committee will appoint its own administration staff, and the university will provide logistical support for the duration of the investigation.

Mr Sabumei said he was pleased to see that classes have now resumed, and things were back to normal at UOG.

National Court commended for Ramu nickel mine decision

By BAPA BOMOTENG

 

Congratulations to the Madang National Court for being the listening ears for the silent majority.  The National Court in Madang did justice to put on hold the tailing of waste into deep Bismack seas.  They should enforce a permanent stop order!

The giant Ramu nickel project got its okay for construction almost on a golden plate (almost 80-90%) Chinese owned. PNG got peanuts in ownership.  The deal looked funny and not right right from the start, as there may have been hidden players and gainers, as is the game with some Asians deals.

 Every people group along the coast and the Islands of Madang, Raikos, Karkar, Rooke Is, Umboi, Manam Is and Wasu should be speaking out. What pollution and waste dumping will do to marine life is unpredictable.   Look at 40-50 years from now when the nickel has been plundered out of Ramu.  What will be left there after?  Ghost towns, half-castes, polluted rivers and the sea bed?  Nauru Island went through a time of prosperity.  What has happened to it now?  Where it is on the map after the phosphate is gone?

 Look at what Rio Tinto did for the Panguna rivers and the Arawa Bay in Bougainvile.  Look at what OK Tedi has done for Fly River bed and the Western with its sedimentation and the waste dumping.  Look where Misima Mines is right now.  Look at the open cut and giant operations in Lihir.

 Madang people need to stand united here and protect the "Beautiful Madang", the tourist destination. And for the sake of the generations in the future, protect the environment, our flora, the fauna and the marine life.