It is not too difficult to work out that Papua New Guinea and Fiji are using different surf boards but are catching and riding the same wave.
The military regime in Fiji could not have found a better time to announce the decree which places the future of Fiji Times in a critical position, than the same hour when PNG was making a mockery of the parliamentary democracy.
This was the same hour when PNG was blatantly misleading parliament to entertain a motion that merely sought the consent of the house for candidate for the Governor General’s post and turning it into an actual vote unbeknown to the members.
It seems that in the confusion they all forgot that this case could well be a clear breach of parliamentary privilege and the mover of the motion and its seconded should be referred to the parliamentary privileges committee for misleading parliament.
But the privilege that you and I have for which we cannot be referred to that same committee is this and the fact that we are able to pen our views on any subject without being gagged and regulated against.
And this is where I am led to openly express a profound feeling of guilt for not speaking out enough for our colleagues in Fiji especially at the Fiji Times at their hour of need.
I can only imagine what it must be like for fellow journalists and staff of Fiji Times in a delicate balancing act between the ethics of journalism and trying to pull together to uphold the principals of free press while at the same time trying to explain to their children that that Bainimarama is giving them the rope to hang themselves.
We in the news business in PNG have come close to that situation but I suppose to make any moves against the Post-Courier or The National would cause a public revolt and you and I know that we too have friends in high places.
But I have absolutely no idea as to what has prevented us from speaking out for our colleagues in Fiji.
Bainimarama’s focus has been on the most-powerful firepower in the free world and that is the press.
He has now resorted to a military tactic where he is up against a superior enemy and finding that he cannot match them fire for fire, he is cutting off their supply line.
Rupert Murdoch is just as able a commander as Bainimarama himself and Murdoch has not fired his first shot.
This fight is also our fight and we have not engaged you.
If the Fiji Press cannot speak out, we should be that mouth piece.
Papua New
Guinea is currently experiencing an
unprecedented level of mineral boom with so much hype of the economic gains
that has the potential to transforming the socio-economic conditions of the
country.
Inevitably, comes with the developments in the extractive
industries sector, are landowner related concerns and issues, which have
similarly attracted much debate in recent times than ever before.
Concerns over resource ownership, mining royalties, equity
participation, and benefit sharing and related issues have taken from the back
burner to the forefront as more and more resources owners are aware of their
rights to gain maximum benefit from their land, sea and environment.
This has been particularly so following the experiences of
Misima gold mine in Milne province, the forced closure of the Panguna mine on Bougainville as well as currently operating Ok Tedi and
Tolukuma mines.
Experiences of Misima and Panguna mines, not exactly the
same, have many similarities and provided customary landowners, local
communities and their provincial governments some valuable lessons.
Concerns of landowner benefits, equity participation,
Special Support Grants (SSG) to provincial governments and the National
Government not honoring its commitments and obligations in signed Memorandum of
Agreements (MOA) with provincial governments are still pressing issues to be
resolved.
Since the gold rush day of Bulolo, Eddie Creek and Koranga
in Morobe province in the early 1920s, customary landowners PNG-wide have been
crying foul over poor treatment by miners over royalties, preferential
employment and business opportunities for local communities , equity
participation, tax credit schemes and benefit sharing arrangements.
These issues will continue to be hot potatoes as long as
mining activities continue in PNG.
Whist there is much excitement and fanfare with promises of
much economic gains from PNG’s huge mineral resources, the National Parliament
is yet to deal with a motion initiated by New Ireland Governor and former Prime
Minister Sir Julius Chan that seek some revolutionary changes to the Mining Act
1992.
One of the underlying objectives of the motion is that Sir
Julius believes that in these fast-changing 21st Century times, law makers need
to review the laws relating to resource exploitation.
Another is that Papua New Guinea should not allow
itself to be raped of its vast natural resources by multi-national corporations
under outdated laws and regulations.
Instead, Sir Julius proposes appropriate changes in resource
laws in line with the true wishes and aspirations of the people on whose lands
these vast natural resources are found.
The over-orchestrated myth by some people including
politicians that PNG’s current laws governing the extraction of mineral, oil,
gas and resources are sufficient is absurd and a total nonsense.
Why?
Because, in general, the existing laws do not favour the
resource owners.
It disadvantages the
resource owners, making them minor recipients of benefits from resources
derived on and in their customary land.
Not only the landowners miss out, but if benefits are
reaching them, sometimes it takes months and even years for promised goods and
services to arrive.
The National Government had failed in some instances to
honor its commitments to provinces where it has entered into agreements with
commitments of Special Support Grants and other funds for the provinces.
Lihir Gold Mine in the New Ireland
province is a classical example.
Since the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between the National Government and the New Ireland Provincial Government in
1995, the former had failed over the years to fully honor its commitments as
per the MOA.
The fact that Waigani failed over the years to fully honor
its commitments has resulted in the people of Lihir and New
Ireland province in general missing out on infrastructure projects
and socio-economic benefits generated by those projects.
That MOA specifies for among others the National Government
to allocate each year major infrastructure grants, SSG and major infrastructure
projects.
The major infrastructure projects include an international
airport, an international seaport, a modern well-equipped hospital at Namatanai
and major redevelopment and sealing of the Bulminski Highway.
To date, none of these projects have been undertaken since
the signing of the MOA in 1995.
As well, the New Ireland
people through their provincial government have missed out on a lot of
opportunities.
National Government owes the New
Ireland provincial government over K400 million in outstanding
infrastructure grants.
Divide that by 15 years from 1995 when the MOA was signed
and find that the province has been missing out on up to K26 million annually.
If all the grants were paid on time and if use properly,
imagine what New Ireland province would be like now, or for that matter
provinces where major resource development projects are taking place.
Considering these and other outstanding cases, the motion by
Sir Julius, when passed by parliament will not only resolve the outstanding
claims or entitlements of the NIP, but also for existing as well as new
projects in the country.
It is over one year this month that Sir Julius gave Notice
of Motion for the comprehensive review of the Mining Act 1992 to transfer all
natural resources ownership to landowners.
The motion, seconded by Bulolo MP Sam Basil, in whose
electorate the new HiddenValley and Wafi gold
mines are coming up, is to move for the National Government to review the
ownership of minerals as part of a comprehensive review of the Mining Act 1992.
The review calls for among others:
• Review the
decisions by the State to reduce the rate of Special Support Grant (SSG)
calculations from 1% to 0.25% and demand the state to immediately restore the
1% special support grants (SSG) will full compensation to be paid to affected
provinces retrospectively to the date of the Governments unilaterally, without
consulting the stakeholders or invoking settlement of dispute under Terms of
the MOA;
• SSG
calculation be increased from 1% to 10% of annual FOB sales revenue and that
SSG be given untied;
• The principle
of derivation revenue (5%) paid to provinces be applied also to mineral
exports;
• The rate of
mineral royalty payment be increased from 2% to 5% of annual FOB sales revenue;
• The 10%
equity option offered to Provincial Government and the landowners be fully
carried by the State;
• The supply
and procurement of goods and services from within PNG be transferred from
within the province where the mining operation is located so that GST to the
provinces is maximised;
• Tax credit
scheme be supplemented with more favourable arrangements to enable linking
infrastructures to be established right from day one of the mining operations;
• Mining
companies contribute at least 10% of the value of further expansion costs not
originally planned for that many prolong the payment of corporate tax;
• Mining
companies committed to support infrastructure as recommended by the Provincial
Government and this commitment must from part of the mining contract;
• National
Government immediately settle all
outstanding MOA by 30 June 2009; and
• Amendment
to the Mining Act 1992 and transfer all natural resources, (Timber, Fish and
Underwater Mining, Oil and Gas), ownership to resource owners with clear and
agreed sharing formula.
Sir Julius has made a statement outlining the reasons why it
is imperative for changes in the relevant laws to transfer all the resource
ownership to the landowners.
This week, when asked about his motion, Sir Julius expressed
concern that for some unexplained reason, the motion cannot be listed for Parliament’s
deliberation.
“It is an important motion and should be brought forthwith
without unnecessary delay so that we debate, discuss and reach some decision.
It’s very important considering the increased activities nationwide in
extractive industries sector,” he stressed.
Rudd the blubberer, all for himself – with nary ever a tear for the four Australians killed in roof spaces because of that mad batts scheme which still starts fires and which was signed off by Rudd, Gillard, Swan and Garrett.
What was in that mysterious fourth letter to Rudd allegedly from Garrett?
Gillard and Swan after doing over Rudd with a little help from friends and enemies are continuing on their merry way and if voters are suckered in by the second most-famous redhead in Australia come the election, then please, no whingeing when she reveals her real policies for changing the face of Australia forever.
Bill Shorten and his mates detest Gillard but such is the Labor way that for as long as it suits them, Gillard can stay where she is.
Shorten is very capable and ambitious and it is no secret that he regards himself as the next PM.
Tony Abbott has promised that he will never let the mining super tax see the light of day but if the industry is conned, then it too can cop whatever happens in the future.
How the hell will Gillard resolve the ‘illegals’ issue?
Blame levelled at funding and logistics shortfalls
THE 2010 national housing and population census, scheduled to start in two weeks time, will probably be deferred to next year, census director Kit Ronga said yesterday, The National reports.
Ronga cited various logistics problems, including funding, as contributing to the need to defer it from July 11 to a later date although much of the preliminary work had been done.
This is on top of the more than K40 million already expended to update Papua New Guinea’s population.
“We want to defer the national census to next year but full details would be announced after our meeting with National Planning and Monitoring Minister Paul Tiensten.”
Ronga, acting national statistician Joseph Aka and members of the finance committee are expected to meet with Tiensten tomorrow to finalise a new counting date.
“Funding is not the only worry, there were many other pressing issues which had forced us to reach this decision,” Ronga said.
He said one of the reasons was that provinces were not yet ready for the census, although awareness and workshops had been conducted to prepare provincial census coordinators on how the census will be conducted and the expected outcome.
“Funding remittances from the Department of Finance and Treasury to provinces to carry out house listing and council ward mapping exercises have not been forthcoming.
“The process has been very slow and, hopefully, Tiensten would clarify this.”
Ronga said while funding was available, the challenge was how to make it available to provinces to carry out the listing exercises.
Ronga said: “Our case is not an isolated one, previous census exercises experienced similar problems with the release of funds.”
He said that more time was needed now, not the six months that had been allocated, to prepare for the July 11 start.
“We have been very optimistic about the census this year but it seemed we have been too ambitious in our approach towards the project.
“We did not expect it to turn out this way.”
The government allocated K107 million for the National Statistical Office to conduct the nationwide population and housing survey this year.
This allocation included additional funding for 2011 and 2012 to ensure the successful completion of the census.
According to Ronga, a total of K66 million had been made available for the preparations and the actual census this year.
Two-thirds of that money had been spent while the remainder had not been released by Finance and Treasury, he added.
The national census is conducted at 10-year intervals since Independence – in 1980, 1990 and 2000.
The deferral would mean that the government would miss out on important updated facts and figures it needed to plan properly for the people.
It would also mean that vital information and statistics for reviewing and updating implementation strategies for Vision 2010-50 would not be there when needed most.
THE National Alliance will not force its leader, Sir Michael Somare, out of office because of pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the opposition, party president Simon Kaiwi said yesterday, The National reports.
The prime minister has, in recent times, faced a number of calls from prominent individuals, NGOs and the opposition to step down over a number of issues.
Some commentators and writers of letters to the editor had used the resignation of Kevin Rudd as prime minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) to renew their call for Sir Michael to step down.
But Kaiwi said the party would follow the law in deciding change in its leadership, and this would not happen at the whims of others.
He said just like what happened with Labor, a change of leadership at NA would also be decided by the party and, at this stage, the party still supported the leadership of Sir Michael.
“This government is adhering to the principles of democracy as stipulated by the PNG Constitution on the process of electing leaders to Parliament and the subsequent formation of government that follows.
“Sir Michael fulfilled all these criteria that saw his re-election as prime minister in 2007.
“Therefore, his removal from office will follow the processes stipulated in our Constitution and not by manipulative NGOs and the opposition outside of our democratic processes,” Kaiwi said in a statement.
He said there were rules that guide the conduct in PNG’s democracy and any change of government must follow these procedures and processes.
“If we abuse these processes to remove duly-elected leaders, we can hold ourselves responsible for the type of anarchy that may result.”
He welcomed Julia Gillard as the new ALP leader and first woman prime minister of Australia.
“The National Alliance and its coalition partners strongly supported the representation of women in Parliament and are happy to see that Australia now has, for the first time, a woman prime minister.
“The National Alliance continues to support women candidates during the general elections and, recently, despite the unsuccessful outcome through its support behind the vote to nominate women to Parliament.”
RESOURCE landowners from the multi-billion-kina PNG liquefied natural gas project areas yesterday clashed with security guards after they were denied entry into the umbrella company for LNG structure discussion in Lamana Hotel yesterday, The National reports.
The first commotion occurred at the hotel’s main gate after a drunk landowner was refused entry and the second was by a group of uninvited people demanding food in the hotel.
According to Esso Highlands Ltd, operator of the LNG project and a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation, the meeting was for selected Hides landowners.
“Those invited were the chairmen and selected chief landowners to discuss how to structure the Hides Development Company which has been nominated to be the PNG LNG landowner umbrella company,” an Esso spokesman said.
“The landowners had mistaken the disbursements of the structure meeting for the business development grants distribution, resulting in the clashes,” he said.
Governor Anderson Agiru, when receiving the grants from the prime minister early last week, said the K60 million of business grants would be distributed to the different landowner companies and associations at the project sites and not in Port Moresby.
“The funds are seed capital for businesses and not memorandum of agreement funds to be misused,” he said.
Hotel staff told The National in the second incident, more than 20 landowners forced their way into the Balcony where the meeting was held and demanded food without meal cards.
The waitresses said they were intimidated, harassed and threatened by the landowners to be given meals.
“The angry landowners almost threw plates at us after we refused to serve them meals because they were not listed as guests.
“The rowdy and angry bunch of landowners swore at us and told us that ExxonMobil would never pay them any toea for their work so they should serve them meals,” a waitress said.
Another waitress said the landowners’ attitudes were unacceptable and that the waitresses were so humiliated by their actions.
“We have never experienced such attitudes and we were so frightened.
“Fortunately, security guards managed to control the situation,” she said.
However, security guards manning the main gates said the confrontation instigated by a drunk landowner was brought under control by policemen and women who were called in to help.
More than 100 men and women fronted the hotel entrance but they were refused entry as they were not invited for the meeting.
A few landowner groups claimed they had been sidelined in the structure discussion and left out in the meeting.
Broiler chickens being put through a trial at
the NARI feed testing facility in Lae
By JANET PANDI of NARI
In any commercial poultry
enterprise, be it broiler chickens, ducks or layers, 70-80% of the cost of
production comes from feed.
Feed is the major constraint faced by
smallholder broiler farmers in Papua
New Guinea. Compounded (mixed) feed is expensive and in most instances there may be no
feed mill or mixed feed is not readily available.
Currently, commercially produced
broiler feeds are expensive because most of the ingredients used in the
formulation are imported from overseas.
Smallholder broiler farmers have
been paying the high price of commercial broiler feeds.
The approach of using locally-available feed resources
for cheaper and low density feeds will lead to less cost of feed needed to grow
broiler chickens in PNG.
This would
reduce input costs and improve profitability of this enterprise as there are
adequate supplies of resources such as fishmeal, cassava, sweet potato, fresh
coconut and corn, which could form the basis of the feed industry throughout
PNG.
Additionally, mini and micro feed mills could be established to make
diets in areas where local feed supply is plentiful.
Adoption of the feeding system is considered a
solution for the viability of village broiler farming in PNG which is a
potential method of supporting smallholder poultry operations in other areas of
the Pacific region.
NARI research has developed
alternative feeding strategies that are efficient, productive and profitable
for small scale broiler farmers.
Four alternative feeding strategies
have been investigated for broiler feeding:
1.Using the concentrates to bulk up with local feed resources such as sweet potato
or cassava;
2.Diluting or blending of the commercial finisher
with local materials in the finishing stages;
3.Complete ration formulation using locally
available resources, and
4.Choice feeding.
Formulation of feed is a complex procedure
as different feed ingredients must be blended together. Each feed ingredient has
a given nutritive value, and inclusion of one will affect the nutritive value
of the other.
There are many factors that
affect the capabilities of birds to digest and absorb nutrients; however, the
fact remains that chickens eat to meet their energy requirement and will eat
more if the feed is low in energy and will eat less if the feed contains more energy
than is required.
This is true provided all other factors are
conducive.
Formulation of broiler diets using local ingredients is possible provided
the diet that is formulated meets the nutritional requirements of these birds
in their different stages of growth, such as starter and finisher phases.
Feed
ingredients are mixed according to a special recipe to provide a balanced diet.
Often, only
very few suitable ingredients (feedstuffs) are produced in the country and most
are imported.
In PNG, some of
such resources that have potential to be used in formulating feed are fish
meal, copra meal, palm kernel meal, brewery waste, wheat bran and rice bran.
But these are largely inadequate for
formulating a high quality, commercial poultry diet especially for broilers and
layers.
Synthetic amino acids (lysine and methionine), minerals
and vitamins must be included in these formulations in order to have a well-balanced
feed.
Local resources that can be used as ingredients in least
cost or lower density diets are classified below:
Energy sources: Mostly grains such as corn (maize), wheat, barley, oats and rice. Alternative energy sources include cereals
and milling by-products such as wheat and rice bran, roots and tubers such as
cassava, sweet potatoes, fruits and by-products such as banana and plantain,
papaya, and other miscellaneous products such molasses (by-product of sugar
cane industry) and fats (palm oil, coconut oil, animal fats).
Protein sources: About 20% of a poultry diet needs
to be protein and some of its sources are legumes such as soybeans or soybean
meal (cooked or heat-treated), leguminous
forage, field peas and beans. Alternative sources are copra meal,
palm kernel meal, brewers’ and distillers’ by-products. Most of these alternate
protein sources are poor in two essential amino acids, methionine and lysine,
and would often require synthetic amino acids to be included. Animal protein
meals include fish meal, blood and bone meal and dairy by-products.
Mineral Sources: Needed at 3-4 % inclusion rate in diets. Important mineral sources
are yeast (also have B-complex vitamins), green fodder (also contain B-complex
vitamins, vitamin A), alfalfa meal, dairy by-products (whey, buttermilk), brewery
wastes, animal by-products and milling by-products (bran, middlings). Limestone
or oyster shell, bone meal and salt are also very useful. Scavenging poultry may get their trace
minerals from wood ashes.
Vitamin Sources:
Ideal sources are commercial premixes.
Under warm and wet conditions of much of PNG, the
formulated feed must be properly stored and must not be kept for more than a
month.
A recent
poultry survey (2003) in Morobe, Madang and Eastern
Highlands indicates that broiler chicken farming in these regions
(small-scale) provides additional income for families. Most farmers raise
broilers out of their own initiative despite high feed and travel costs. But demand
for live birds is high and there is a community agreement over prices. These farmers
expressed concerns over prices of feeds, limited access to information and lack
of assistance from government systems. Survey respondents welcomed extension
and advisory services on low cost and alternative feed options.
Research by NARI using a feed testing facility resulted in the
availability of a database on apparent metabolisable energy values of some
common ingredients found around the country. These values have been combined
with other chemical composition values from literatures and are available at
NARI. Training on feed formulations can also be conducted and skills passed on
to facilitators or trainers and farmers to utilise the knowledge to be creative
and innovative in formulating their own feeds using local materials.
The PNG smallholder broiler
chicken production has a gross value of AUD$6.7million per annum and
profitability can be increased with reductions in feed costs through greater
use of local feed resources.
