Boeing 767-300ER finds new home . . . The Jackson International Airport came alive yesterday evening with the baptism and welcome of Air Niugini’s new Boeing 767-300ER, The National reports.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare (second left) and his deputy Don Polye (left) could not deviate from being part of the official welcome party as they officially cut the ribbon to welcome the 194-seat aircraft to its new home.
Assisting with the ribbon-cutting was Air Niugini board chairman Sir James Tjoeng and State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare. - Nationalpic by EKAR KEAPU
THE six defectors of the ruling National Alliance party’s Southern region have returned to the fold, saying they are still loyal to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his coalition government, The National reports.
And, yesterday, the party offered the olive branch to the rebels’ leaders Sir Puka Temu (Rigo MP), Milne Bay Governor Luke Crittin and Charles Abel (Alotau) to follow suit.
New NA Southern region leader Mark Maipakai said the door was still open for the trio, that they had not been sacked by the party.
At a Parliament House media press conference yesterday, the rebel group claimed that their defection last week to the opposition to support a planned motion of no-confidence in Sir Michael was an internal NA party matter, and they had not resigned from the party.
Their spokesman and Ijivitari MP, David Arore, said they had decided to return and support Sir Michael and their new regional leader Maipakai.
“We moved out as a group and now we have come back. We have not resigned and, therefore, we are still members of the party,” he said.
Those who returned, apart from Arore, were Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald, Central Governor Alphonse Moroi, Goilala MP Mathew Poia and Gulf Governor Pitom Titus Bombom.
South Fly MP Sali Subam was named but was not present to confirm his return.
Maipakai said the regional split in the party was over the Temu leadership but the group had reunited and was intact under his leadership.
Before the split, the Southern region had 11 MPs in the NA-led coalition but his had been reduced to eight with Temu, Crittin and Abel still with the opposition.
Immediately after the media conference, Maipakai an-nounced that they had a meeting with Sir Michael to iron out their differences and sought ministries in an anticipated cabinet reshuffle.
Earlier, the group had written an apology letter which was hand-delivered to the prime minister.
Maipakai said the Southern bloc remained committed to the prime minister until the 2012 elections.
Maipakai was elected regional leader and Mald his deputy during a regional party meeting last Thursday.
THE National Alliance has denied claims of a vacancy in the party’s political leadership, The National reports.
The party’s national president, Simon Kaiwi, said the Post-Courier’s front-page report on yesterday, claiming that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare would step down before Aug 14, was grossly misleading.
He said it appeared that the report was fabricated by people who were ignorant of the NA constitution and did not know the basic processes of government and parliament.
According to the newspaper report, quoting Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye, the prime minister had told a party caucus meeting that he would step down before next month and hand over the top job of running the country to another person within the National Alliance.
However, Kaiwi said this was not true, adding that the party has a provision within the NA constitution for the nomination of its leadership.
He said there was no vacancy in the party leadership and Sir Michael was still the parliamentary NA leader.
According to the NA constitution, the selection of a new party leader is taken during party conventions by party members. The prime minister is elected by members of parliament, not by individuals and political parties.
It is understood that the party leadership issue would be one of the highlights at the NA national convention in Western Highlands’ Jiwaka region.
THE late Sir Brian Bell has been described as a great friend, an astute businessman and a true humanitarian and philanthropist, The National reports.
When expressing sadness at the knight’s passing, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said Sir Brian had progressively and successfully worked towards developing and rehabilitating the city since arriving in Port Moresby.
“I am very sad to hear of the death of Sir Brian Bell.”
He said Sir Brian’s contributions had been “through both his entrepreneurial endeavours and his humanitarian and philanthropic efforts.
“His keen business acumen has seen to the establishment of 10 retail outlets and more than 25 distribution agencies, not just in Port Moresby but all major commercial centres in PNG bringing employment to thousands of Papua New Guineans and quality, affordable services to individuals, companies and government departments throughout the country,” Parkop said.
“His humanitarian and philanthropic efforts are just as extensive.”
Sir Brian was on the board and committee of many charities, the notable ones being the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and the Port Moresby GeneralHospital, which he served as chairman for a very long time.
“As chairman, Sir Brian directed the PMGH board the way he directed his many businesses – astutely and based on good business practices.
“He was always punctual and chaired his meetings concisely, always interested in outcomes.
“It was his dream to make PMGH the best in the country.”
Parkop said that one of the administrative matters he pushed hard for and achieved was the purchase of the hospital incinerator.
The Brian Bell group bought the incinerator for the hospital.
“Unfortunately, this is now lying idle as we await approval from the Department of Environment and Conservation.
“In my association with him, I have come to realise Sir Brian to be a man of principle and humility who always attributed his successes to PNG and its people and, so, endeavoured all the time to return to PNG (and this city) his time and efforts through his humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours.
“Sir Brian’s loyalty and generosity to PNG will, no doubt, be hard to fill.
“Through the most difficult times of Port Moresby’s and the country’s economic life, when he could have easily resigned and returned to Australia, Sir Brian persevered in his adopted country.
“City Hall has lost a visionary leader, Port Moresby has lost our leading citizen and friend, PNG has lost our immeasurable development partner,” Parkop said.
Warigiso (right) with DAL highlands regional office administration officer John Kawage.
By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
A coffee farmer in the highlands has called on the Government to establish a lending bank solely for the coffee industry.
“Coffee is the major export revenue earner and involves the majority of the rural population, therefore it deserves a bank of its own,” says Francis Warigiso.
Warigisio, a long-time coffee farmer in Eastern Highlands province, claimed there was no commitment by the Coffee Industry Corporation and relevant government agencies in promoting the coffee industry and supporting small coffee groups and individuals.
He is a key figure in the success of the Namauka and Lupae coffee business development groups.
“Coffee industry makes a lot of money for the country but where is the money going to?” Warigisio wonders.
“I believe it is about time that the money is pumped into establishing a coffee bank – a bank that only coffee farmers can utilise.
“These are public funds that should be used in improving the coffee industry especially for the sake of the future generations.”
Warigisi, a onetime provincial politician who started producing coffee more than 20 years ago, suggested that a major coffee survey be conducted to seek the views of the coffee farmers and stakeholders.
“Many coffee farmers, producers, buyers and stakeholders are not satisfied with the services provided by CIC and other government agencies and will support moves to revitalise the industry,” he said.
Warigiso said coffee export licences were given to those who were not genuine in developing the industry.
The levy collected from coffee sales should be given back as a bonus to the farmers, he added.
From Fimito village outside Goroka, the enterprising farmer, who also grows rice, said any monies raised from coffee should be used wisely to improve the industry and to benefit the farmers who worked so hard.
More funding should be used to set up coffee nurseries in every district.
Warigiso said many Papua New Guinea-owned coffee groups were operating successfully because of good management.
These groups deserved more support from the government due to increase in costs of goods and services.
HIV/AIDS is already having a noticeable impact on
households’ ability to produce their own food.
Escalating labour shortages are reported in some African
countries due to high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
Food insecurity, labour shortage, loss of household income,
shift in the type farming practices and loss of knowledge on traditional method
of farming are some of the effects that HIV/AIDS could have on agricultural
development.
Until recently, HIV/AIDS was considered to be mainly a
health issue and programmes for combating the epidemic were managed by health
science and health-related organisations.
However, the impact of HIV/AIDS on development programmes experienced in
countries where HIV/AIDS prevalence is high, has forced the health and other
development agencies to approach the problem from different angles.
The epidemic is now
an important cross-sectoral development issue, which has far-reaching
implications for policy and programs at every level than currently envisaged by
leaders, policy makers and the public at large.
According the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the
United Nations, over seven million agricultural workers have died of AIDS since
it was first detected in 1982.
Studies conducted by FAO in
African countries with high HIV AIDS prevalence have found farming families
affected by the epidemic are substituting cash crops for crops which require
less labour.
FAO observed that Gwanda and Nakyerira regions
of Uganda
have abandoned coffee in favour of cultivated cassava and banana, which require
less attention and care.
Affected families have also
stopped cultivating rice in favour of maize and cassava. FAO also observed that
affected families in Zimbabwe
have replaced cotton and groundnut (peanut) with maize.
While the impact of HIV/ AIDS is not yet seriously felt in Papua New Guinea,
it is quite clear that the epidemic would have an impact on our agriculture and
food production system, if it is allowed to spread at the current trend and not
contained quickly (Figure 1).
This poses serious
challenges to our agriculture and food production system, as up to 85% of the
people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Therefore, the
agriculture sector cannot continue with business as usual but must join hands
with other partners to jointly address the epidemic.
Figure 1: Total number of HIV infections reported annually
from 1987 – 2008 in PNG. Source: UNGASS 2010, Country Progress Report Papua New Guinea.
Key stakeholders in the agriculture sector need to
understand and prepare for the likely impact of HIV/AIDS on our food and
agricultural systems.
They need to develop strategies to address the likely impact
that HIV/AIDS would have, particularly in relation to food, nutrition, and
labour requirements.
It is important to explore which agricultural systems are
being or will be affected in what ways and what aspects of each agricultural
system are most vulnerable.
This will help identify and formulate strategies for the way
forward for sustainable agricultural development.
It is essential for agricultural research and development (R&D)
organisations to develop strategies to address issues concerning what is
happening, what is likely to happen, what can be done, what are the likely
responses, and gender issues.
It would appear that policies and strategies currently in
place aimed at promoting or improving agriculture in PNG have not given serious
enough considerations to the detrimental impacts and implications of HIV/AIDS.
NARI is aware of these issues and has initiated necessary
steps to address the problem effectively by mainstreaming HIV AIDS.
Not only is the institute concerned with minimising risks
and disruption and distress at its workplaces, but also with orienting its R&D
activities to minimise and/or alleviate the effects of the epidemic on farming
systems and agricultural communities.
To strengthen its commitment, the institute developed and
launched its HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy in 2007 which emphasises NARI’s
concern on the rapid spread of the epidemic, especially in the rural areas
where NARI’s work is focussed.
NARI workplace policy is intended to provide guidelines for the institute
practices with respect to its mandate and stakeholders, and the mainstreaming
of strategies to deal with the implications of the epidemic in its core
research and development activities.
While NARI and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector have
initiated steps at organisation level to address the epidemic, the way forward
is to approach the problem collectively, as the impact is likely to affect the
entire agricultural sector, from food crops to plantations and livestock.
The future impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture will depend, among other
things, on finding ways to reduce the labour requirement by introducing less
labour-intensive methods of production and farm mechanisation with simple
agricultural tools.
It is anticipated that the
epidemic would intensify labour shortages, increase food insecurity, loss of
household income, shift in farming systems, and loss of knowledge about
traditional farming methods.
The HIV/AIDS and gender component of the Agricultural Research and
Development Support Facility funded by AusAID is one of the avenues that could
be used to bring together all stakeholders to address the epidemic
collectively.
This also presents an
opportunity to review and revise R&D programmes and design interventions to
address and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS.
This is the time to start thinking and acting seriously about
integrating HIV/AIDS in agricultural R&D programmes.
The task looks more complex than many may think and it is important for
the agriculture sector to act now.
Friends and family of longtime Goroka and Eastern Highlands
province resident, Richard Ashton Carver, are advised of his passing in Goroka
on Sunday, July 25.
Born 1st September 1916, died 25 July 2010.
A dinosaur from a bygone era, Richard was a man with a great work ethic,
great ingenuity and bucket loads of tenacity.Apart from his many achievements – he will
be most remembered for his tenacity and will to live – clearly demonstrated in
the past few years, where with the help of a few friends he ‘escaped’ from an
Australian nursing home, which had left him unable to move, bedridden, and
without all his mental faculties.Upon
returning back to PNG, he threw out his medication and little by little began
to move his body again.He progressed to a wheelchair, and only
two weeks before his death, Richard had progressed to the point where he stood
up and walked …… much to the surprise of all family members.His
speech, hearing and mental ability had all returned to normal.It
was true testimony to his fighting spirit and will to live.Dearly missed by friends and family.
Funeral Service: Wednesday 28 July 2010 at 1200 pm, St
JohnsLutheranChurch Burial: Wednesday 28
July 2010 at 4.00pmPark Ridge Estates
