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.

Students to get the best from coffee curriculum

 Caption: Teachers listening attentively to CIC officer Anton Ningiramu’s explanation of establishing school coffee nurseries. Picture by YVONNE NGUTLICK

 By YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

 Teachers have fully embraced the Coffee Curriculum, which gives their pupils something to fall back on when they fail their core subjects.

The Coffee Curriculum for PNG schools directs attention to the human being because it is the farmer that physically manipulates the tree to produce coffee cherries.

Schools provide the opportunity for students to receive an education that would not necessarily give them a white-collar employment. 

 

Targeting its most important audience – the youth, the Coffee Curriculum hopes to see students grasping the “man on the land” concept.

 

Thus, the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and the National Department of Education (NDoE), through the Coffee Curriculum, have given students an opportunity to be self-sustainable should they fail to make it through the education system.

 

The curriculum is directly linked to two of the pillar education philosophies of the PNG Government – “Relevance in Education” and “Making a Living” syllabus.

 

Students currently doing Grades seven, nine and 11 in the pilot schools would be the first pupils in PNG to test this curriculum.

 

These students would graduate next year, 2011, after sitting for the national exams with certificates that verify that they have studied coffee farming and possess the “know-how” of its production.

 

Speaking on behalf of teachers present during the launching of the School Nursery Programme in Aiyura, Eastern Highlands province, Mr Biwa of Grace Memorial Secondary School in the Morobe province, thanked CIC, NDoE and funding partner Agricultural Innovative Grant Scheme (AIGS) for the curriculum – which he said had made education more meaningful.

 

He encouraged his colleagues to utilise and integrate their available resources as much as possible to make the Coffee Curriculum a reality.

 

Mr Biwa said very good support was coming from the Wau district administration and stressed on the need of working with local level governments to advance coffee development.

 

CIC and NDoE would give teachers in primary schools piloting the curriculum special attention and guidance because the teachers do not have formal training in teaching agriculture.

 

Pilot schools for the Coffee Curriculum are Faniufa Primary, Watabum Primary, Kerebabi Primary, Tairora High, Kainantu High, Kabiufa Secondary, Basenengka Vocational, and Gotomi Vocational in the Eastern Highlands.

 

In Western Highlands: Banz Elcom Primary, St Mary’s Nondugl Primary, Keltiga Primary, Anglimp High,  Pabrabuk Secondary and Fatima Secondary.

 

Pilot schools in Simbu are Yauwe Moses Secondary, Kerowagi Secondary, Papnigl Primary and Ku Primary.

 

In Morobe, the schools are Markham Valley Secondary, Grace Memorial Secondary, Bugandi Secondary, Finschhafen Vocational and Zenang Primary.

 Pilot schools in East Sepik are Yangoru Secondary, Brugham High, Bainyik Primary, Negrie Primary, Maprik High and Kubalia High.

Coffee nursery programme a 'field laboratory' for pupils

Caption: The school nursery programme provides a ‘field laboratory’ for students.-Picture by YVONNE NGUTLICK

 By YVONNE NGUTLICK of CIC

 The School Nursery Programme, a component of the much-marveled Coffee Curriculum, provides a ‘field laboratory’ for students to learn the important and initial stages of coffee production.

The School Nursery Programme, which was launched last week, is an add-on to the Coffee Curriculum so that it is not merely taught in the classroom but practically applied, hence, coffee planted in the field and not on classroom chalkboards.

The Coffee Curriculum is a joint development of the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) and the National Department of Education (NDoE) and was officially launched in 2008.

 Its purpose is to educate and train students with the appropriate coffee knowledge and skills to be productive and purposeful citizens in the community when they leave school.

 

In 2009, the first in-service was held to empower teachers and discuss the implementation of this innovation.

 

Financial support in developing, printing, launching and trialing the Coffee Curriculum came from the Agricultural Innovations Grants Scheme (AIGS).

 

CIC industry operations manager Ellison Pidik pointed out during the launching that the benefits of the innovation were shared equally between partners - CIC and the government through the NDoE.

 

“The hands-on knowledge that will be imparted to the many children is a lifetime experience and this kind of partnership would establish a socio-culture for our young future generation,” he said.

 

Under the District by District Village Coffee Rehabilitation Programme funded by the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), the CIC budgeted K300, 000 for the School Nursery Programme.

 

Each of the pilot schools in the Eastern and Western Highlands, Simbu, Morobe and East Sepik provinces will establish a nursery.

 

Nursery materials will be supplied to all the schools.

 

One nursery costs K13, 000 and can hold 10,500 seedlings.

 

These seedlings, when planted in an area of four hectares, can produce parchment valued at K30, 000 to K35, 000 at current prices.

 

With the programme, schools become partly self-reliant financially. 

 

In line with the industry goals of increased production of high quality coffee, the Coffee Curriculum and the Nursery Programme fits CIC’s vision for “prosperous farming communities” and a “vibrant competitive and sustainable coffee industry”. 

 

Mr Pidik said CIC was utilising schools as vehicles for extension of coffee knowledge and teachers as the change or extension agent.

 

“CIC does not have resources to put enough extension officers in all districts, thus, utilising the education system, we can realise our corporate visions and mission,”he said.

 

The second launching of the School Coffee Nursery Programme will be at the end of February in East Sepik province, a significant Robusta coffee-growing area.       

 

Papua New Guinea needs a good government

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

The cries of Papua New Guineans go unheard.

Past trends show that PNG’s current political regime will not drastically change its poor governance approach.

 It is now up to the next new leadership and government.

 PNG desperately needs a new progressive government after the 2012 elections that will totally transform PNG.

Since Independence, government policies have not regularly been reviewed, updated and broadened with a view to counteract any misconceptions about them.

 The new PNG government must have a sound development strategy with a policy framework encompassing basic principles, goals, policies and highlights two overriding goals of greater participation by the people, and sustainable development.

PNG needs a revolution in political affairs.

It must change its political landscape starting this year with the full participation of all citizens. 

Every citizen and government must work together for a better country.

A fresh new leader with a new political announcement to inspire PNG is what is needed now to have a new “contract with all citizens” for a better government.

 It is about a dynamic plan that will have the government in a stimulating discussion and debate with its people which must go beyond any individual party national convention.

Today PNG faces very serious national challenges and its overall performance in the past 20 years has been quiet dismal. 

The country suffers from a disunited society, high unemployment, serious crime, social and political instability with serious health and environmental challenges such as the AIDS pandemic, a decrepit health care system, climate change and rapid urbanisation amongst others.

For many years now Papua New Guineans are simply fed up with their government’s performance.

 Its central agencies work mostly in an un-synergistic manner at all levels of a three-tier government system.

 The general output of governments has simply failed to meet the expectations of its people, hence; a new political order is long overdue.

So what can a new PNG government do after the 2012 election? 

The people of PNG want to see a future progressive and transformational government.

 A government with a sound plan with clear broad-based strategies specifically targeting critical areas to totally transform PNG into a prosperous, progressive and united country.

PNG needs a responsive and responsible government with the right plan and a new leadership approach to bring about a major sea-change.

 Its basic policy strategies must be based on the last 37 years of watching how PNG has been governed, its resources miss-managed, its politics corrupted by greed and special interests, and listening to what the ordinary people are saying.    

The people of PNG desperately wants a caring government with sound policy strategies to target key areas that will sustainably grow the economy, create jobs and give full government support to small businesses. 

The people need a government with a plan and strategy to change PNG. 

The next new government must be progressive and transformational.

  It must from the outset pledge to commit its full resources towards key areas of national concerns to achieve a reasonable level of long term sustainable development. 

A really good government must systematically review its strategic policies and not be content with just resting on its past laurels. 

Its strategic policy framework must fully cover a diversified range of national government issues. 

They should be cross-cutting development issues in many portfolio sectors encompassing political, economical, social, military, cultural, physiological and spiritual areas. 

Do we have any political parties out there listening to the cries of Papua New Guineans?  Do we have any MP and other aspiring politicians prepared to take up this noble future challenge, and field a good prime minister material in 2012 for PNG?

To do this, all political parties must now start working on their best new candidates in preparation for the 2012 national elections.

 The people must start thinking ahead now on whom they will vote out from the present bunch we have in parliament.

Works in the red

K30m owed to contractors

The Works Department is in the red and cannot carry out urgent repair work on the Highlands Highway and other roads in the country, The National reports.

The department owes K30 million to contractors, the same amount that is allocated for maintenance of roads in the 2010 Budget.

And Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye is pointing the finger at the National Planning Department, which he said should be abolished and made only an agency of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Mr Polye and Works Secretary Joel Luma called a press conference to let out their frustrations.

They stopped short of calling names, choosing instead to blame a system that they say was not working.

“I am sick and tired of funds being siphoned off and misused. I am not going to sit down and take my department for a ride.”

Mr Polye said money allocated to Works should be released to their trust account immediately and not kept at a department where “there is no transparency”.

“National Planning is not and should not be a department. It should become a monitoring agency within the Prime Minister’s Department. Right now there is less transparency there,” the Minister said.

Mr Polye said the K30 million in the 2010 Budget for routine maintenance was not enough with that money if released would be used to pay an outstanding bill of K30 million owed to contractors who had worked on a credit basis.

He said the Department could not do routine maintenance work on bridges swept away by floods in West New Britain and Oro and national roads in the country.

The Minister said he would be pushing for a Supplementary Budget to be introduced to cater for road maintenance which he said needed at least K300 million.

He said the K20 million requested since November last year for urgent repair work on the sections of the Highlands Highway including the slip at Daulo Pass was still sitting at the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.

Mr Polye said Secretary Luma had been running in and out of National Planning and he himself called to follow-up yesterday but was told by an officer who had forgotten about the request.

Minister Polye gave harsh words without naming any politician or public servant for the stuck-up but blamed the system.

“I am still waiting for the K30 million from National Planning. It’s not the Minister or the Prime Minister but the system.

“It is the responsibility of the National Planning to ensure that funds are released timely for maintenance.”

He said there were two road blocks in Daulo, three bridges washed away in West New Britain, slip on the Sepik Highway and potholes along Hiritano and Magi Highways that needed attention.

He warned the Highlands Highway could be cut off for days or weeks if the Department of Planning did not release finding.m

Polye cancels K100m projects

WORKS Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye has halted development projects worth about K100 million in his Kandep electorate after a tribal fight claimed six lives and caused destruction to properties, The National reports.

In making the bold decision, the Minister is sending a clear message to his own people: change your ways or miss out on government services.

Of the six people killed in the fight, four were women who were chopped to death, something which angered Polye and prompted him to terminate the projects.

School children were also victims, with warriors burning down three newly constructed double classrooms.

Mr Polye said the fighting was not election related. It is two groups fighting after an argument over pandanus. He said both groups were his political supporters.

“This is absolutely unacceptable especially the killing of the women and the tribal fights is right in the middle of the Asian Development Bank funded road project,” he told reporters yesterday.

The two ADB funded road programmes totaling over K50 million terminated are the Kandep to Keapal road and Keapal to Laiagam road

Other district service improvement programmes for the district have also been suspended.

All the projects initiated in the electorate total about K100 million.

He said he had decided to terminate these projects until the people came to their senses.

The projects were halted after consultations with the ADB and the Works Department.

Mr Polye said other programmes that would be affected were the Kandep town road upgrading, Nassam Bridge project, feeder roads, agriculture seedling distribution centre and DSIP funded classrooms for schools.

“I am challenging my people that if they want to see services continue they must make decision to stop tribal war.”

Mr Polye warned that he would not hesitate to do the same for areas where people continued to destroy and did not provide a conducive environment for development.

He said it was difficult to bring in these services and appealed to the people to take ownership of the law and order issues.

“We must change our attitude. We must make tough decisions to change a mindset. People who are hostile and do not appreciate services must lose it. I will not encourage work until my people come to their senses.”

Prime Minister to launch women expo tomorrow

Caption: Janet Sape ... big exposure for women

 By DOREEN POLOH WAIM

THE PNG Women in Business (WIB) exposition, set to open in Lae tomorrow, has attracted women entrepreneurs nationwide who want to showcase their businesses, The National reports.

The expo will focus on different business ventures, skills, talent and provide information on how to start a business venture.

Venue of the expo, which runs until Sunday, is at the Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium.

WIB president and businesswoman Janet Sape said the major highlight of the opening would be the expo’s official launch by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

According to Mrs Sape, the event had attracted more than 200 participants, including individuals from the informal and formal sectors, groups and business houses.

The PNGWIB and the City Mothers Business Foundation was formed to represent all women with the purpose of establishing a micro-finance institution to help women, both in the formal and informal sector, with their business.

The keynote speaker for the day will be Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabriel Kapris.

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge will grace the event

Value adding technologies for women at Lae expo

Caption: NARI information sharing at an exhibition at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae last year

 

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

 

Women attending the inaugural PNG Women in Business Expo in Lae this weekend will have the opportunity to learn about becoming small entrepreneurs through agriculture.

The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Lae will showcase simple technologies on “adding value” to locally available food resources.

Such displays and exhibitions will be on food processing technologies and livestock development.

NARI staff at Bubia and Labu near Lae will also share new and improved ideas and information on these technologies with interested women.  

The food processing technologies will include jam making using local fruits such as pineapple, flour from sweet potato or kaukau, pops and sweets from sago, and biscuits using cassava.

Women at the three-day expo at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium will also see a demonstration on proper methods of preparing different legume crops such as mung beans and peas for human consumption.

Legumes can substitute fresh meat since they contain an average of 25% protein.

 Legumes with vegetables and staples are a good and nutritious diet for the children.

The livestock programme will share new findings on developing broiler chicken feed using locally available food stuff such as kaukau and cassava.

Poultry farmers in PNG can improve the profitability of village broiler production using such food resources.

Feed rations can be developed using cassava with high energy concentrates and sweet potato with low energy concentrates.

Besides, a demonstration on milking goat will be arranged.

The publications unit will display and sell booklets of a range of new and improved agricultural technologies on food crops, emerging food and cash crops, livestock and resource development issues.

NARI will participate for entire three days starting on Friday during the opening.

 

 

 

 

APEC to hold Ministerial Meeting on Food Security

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

Hiroshima, Japan, 24 February 2010 – While indicators suggest that the Asia-Pacific is recovering from the recent economic crisis, APEC is keeping an eye on food security. 

The remarkable spike in food prices between 2007 and 2008 and the subsequent global economic crisis highlighted the fragility of food security.  In 2009, the undernourished population exceeded one billion people; and estimates indicate that to accommodate a world population of more than 9 billion by 2050, agricultural output must increase by 70 percent.

In a meeting today, Senior APEC Officials discussed key challenges to food security in the region including: improving productivity, nutritional value, and the resilience of crops and livestock; improving human resource capacity in agriculture; bolstering confidence in trade and the ability of global markets to meet food demand; management of natural resources; management of fisheries, aquaculture and marine resources; and improving infrastructure in areas such as irrigation, transportation and storage.

APEC Officials will invite other key stakeholders including business people and food security experts to discuss these issues at an informal dialogue to be held when Officials next meet in Sapporo in May.

Based on these discussions an agenda will be formulated for APEC’s first ever Ministerial Meeting on Food Security.  Food issues have been included in APEC priorities and activities for some time but, today, are more important than ever:

§         Two-thirds of the undernourished population in the world resides in the Asia-Pacific region and more than one third of them in APEC economies;

§         APEC membership includes major players in international agricultural trade, both in exports and imports;

§         Increased food demand attributed to population growth and changes in dietary patterns in the region could bring about instability in the balance of food supply and demand;

§         The extent of interdependence for food is increasing in the Asia-Pacific region due to expanded agricultural trade;

§         Some APEC economies have already experienced social instability – such as food protests and riots – during the food price spike in 2007 – 2008; and

§         Natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis that can affect food supply occur frequently in the Asia-Pacific region.

The first APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security will be held on 16–17 October in Niigata, Japan. An APEC Action Plan on Food Security, containing specific projects and initiatives, will be developed during the meeting.

 

For more information, contact:

Carolyn Williams at cdw@apec.org or at (65) 9617 7316

Linda Carroll at lac@apec.org or at (65) 9647 4847

 

Nasfund profit

Members in for 15% windfall

 

 MORE than 300,000 working Papua New Guineans, members of superannuation fund Nasfund, will see their savings increase by 15% starting today, The National reports.

Nasfund joint chief executive officer Ian Tarutia announced the good news yesterday when declaring a net profit (after tax) of K205.617 million for 2009.

This simply means that if you have K10, 000 in your savings, you can expect a windfall of K1, 500.

“In fact, it is happening now as our systems are down to allow crediting into members’ accounts,” Mr Tarutia said.

As of midday yesterday, Nasfund shut down its normal daily operations to allow crediting to take place for its 126,812 active and non-active 186,222 members, including Eda Super contributors. Normal operations would resume today.

In total NasFund is crediting K213.5 million to the members’ accounts on the back of the fund’s excellent gains in the equity portfolio.

While the 15% interest rate was good news for members, NasFund cautioned members not to expect another double-digit return this year.

Last year, members received 8% after the record 37% in 2007, 10% in 2006 and 29% in 2005.

Mr Tarutia said Nasfund was cautious with this year “on the back of what is happening in the international economy.”

“The international environment remains uncertain at this point in time and there is potential for a double dip recession,” he said, adding indications were that this year’s rate may be slightly higher than the predicated 9.5% inflation rate.

He said the 15% rate came about as a result of last year’s financial results. These included: a net profit (after tax) of K205.617 million; net asset value of K1.7 billion; and in the other highlights the fund grew by 21% (compared to 19% in 2008) with the number of active employers that the Fund has is 1,784 representing a growth of 7.5% over last year; 123 employers’ net going into the fund; and active membership base as of Dec 31 was 126,812 members.

Mr Tarutia said Nasfund staff, management and the board were pleased with the results, adding the Management Expenditure Ratio (MER) was 1.12% down 0.13% from 1.25% in 2008.

“MER measures the efficiency of the fund…basically what we spent in administering the fund and the total asset value. This compares to 1.25% in 2008 so as we are growing and becoming more efficient in the use of assets in administering the organisation,” Mr Tarutia said.

In withdrawals the fund paid out K125.584 million to 55,846 members through unemployment, housing advancement, particle withdrawals, retirement and redundancy, among others.

The contributions (inflows) from employers by way of member and employer contribution contributed to K232.7 million,” he said.

The gains in equity portfolios were in New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, Lihir Gold Ltd, and Oil Search Ltd, as well as gains on the currency rate contributing K127 million.

Mr Tarutia said the unlisted portfolio contributed K14 million to the portfolio and the overall net gain despite a decrease in Bank South Pacific and Credit Corporation which contributed K68.5 million, flows came from dividends from interest payments on loans and from profit income.

“And all that combined to the K205 million that the Fund recorded,” he said.

The audited annual report will be published and the members’ statements will be issued starting next week.

MPs to play region cards

GOVERNMENT sources, including some backbenchers have tipped that regionalism may play a “deciding” role in the imminent vote-of-no-confidence by the Opposition, The National reports.

The pending Supreme Court decision on the validity of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) was adding more intrigue to the political climate facing the MPs and ministers, a source said.

“With the events of the past few weeks in the National Alliance camp, the announcement of the reshuffle and the notice by the Opposition to pursue a vote-of-no-confidence, word is that MPs are starting to align into regions,” the source added.

The announcement of a major Cabinet reshuffle by the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and the National Alliance politics and infighting suggest “the NA is becoming very unstable”. 

“Right now in the NA, there is also intense lobbying, as factions from all regions want to gain support on who will replace Sir Michael when the time comes,” the source said.

“Each region, has its own leader and will want that person to replace Sir Michael, NA is not together at this time.”

Political scientist Dr Alphonse Gelu said since 2002 NA had proven to be a formidable group that was highly cohesive as a political party but warned that “the only danger to NA’s cohesiveness would be the leadership issue that would definitely lead to some disagreements and imminently the splitting of the party”.

Several backbenchers on the condition of anonymity said they were “observing cautiously” and weighing out the situation and agree that the strength in numbers from regions may play a role, if the vote-of-no-confidence occured.

Parliament is expected to sit next Tuesday at 2pm. 

Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta put Sir Michael on notice last week stating that the time was right for a vote-of-no-confidence in the Prime Minister and the ruling National Alliance Party.

“There is definitely a great deal of unhappiness in the National Alliance camp and it’s causing a rift between its coalition partners,” Sir Mekere had said last week.

The Government source echoed this and said this has trickled to the backbenchers. 

“MPs are no longer talking portfolios but are talking numbers, because it is only on the floor of Parliament that a new Government will be formed, and they must play their cards right to be on the winning side,” he said.

 

Rapist caught at 9-Mile

Convicted rapist Duma Kerowa (pictured)  was recaptured at 9-Mile settlement in Port Moresby yesterday, The National reports.

 POLICE caught escapee number seven yesterday, a day after nabbing number six.

 Convicted rapist Duma Kerowa, one of 12 prisoners who walked out of Bomana jail in January with alleged bank robbery mastermind William Nanua Kapris, was recaptured at 9-Mile settlement in Port Moresby yesterday.

 After receiving a tip off, police and warders involved in the special security operation surrounded a house located near the 9-Mile clinic and arrested Kerowa at 9.45am.

 The escapee appeared petrified and was trying to flee when he was shot on his shin and taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital for treatment.

 Kerowa, 39, from Chuava in Simbu province, was convicted in Dec 2005 and is serving a 25-year jail term for abduction and rape.

 According to police intelligence, Kerowa was planning to catch a plane to Simbu to “hide” when authorities were notified.

 Policemen involved in the operation said the escapee also attempted to rape a young girl at 9-Mile settlement yesterday, before he was caught.

 When The National arrived at the 6-Mile police station, Korowa was accompanied by alleged high-profile bank robbery suspect Kito Aso who was recaptured near Morata on Monday afternoon.

 The prisoner (Korowa) was in agony from the gunshot wound he sustained and his bandage was soaked in blood as he was being transported to the Port Moresby General Hospital.

 Korowa’s recapture brings the total number of those recaptured to seven after Jan 12.

 It is still uncertain as to when those recaptured so far- William Nanua Kapris, James Pari, John Siko Wel, John Peter Plesman and recently recaptured Korowa and Aso- would be facing their escape from lawful custody charges in court.

 Remandee Oliver Ben Gabi, who was the first of the 12 to be recaptured around Sogeri, appeared in court on Jan 26 and got a 6-month sentencing at the Boroko district court.

 Gabi’s earlier imprisonment as a remandee before the escape was for being an accessory to the BSP bank robbery in Madang.

 Police Commissioner Gari Baki, in a statement yesterday, reassured the public that police special operations would continue round the clock to recapture remaining escapees from jails around the country.

 He said the public showed its interest to fight against crime.

 Mr Baki said the consecutive arrest of some of the country’s dangerous prison escapees reflected on the dedication, commitment and professionalism of police personnel engaged in the special operation

 

Warning - Is your church a health hazard?

From Nasfund Newsletter

 

“Deciding between competing rights and balancing rights with responsibilities is difficult and challenging, no more than in relation to freedom of religion, expression and belief. As common sense suggests, not all rights are absolute and there are occasions when particular rights have to be qualified or curtailed. Freedom of expression does not give one the licence to shout ‘fire’ in a crowed cinema” Kevin Donnelly - Author.

Over the last few years a small number of church groups have been advocating that faith alone can cure or keep an HIV positive person alive. Unfortunately, a faith based approach alone does not have evidentiary support in trying to keep HIV positive people healthy. Sadly, there are too many instances of certain faith based groups who negatively influence a decision by a person with HIV to not use Anti Retroviral (ART) drugs.

This includes advocating that those already on ART, be taken off the life supporting drugs in favor of prayer and faith.

Anti Retroviral Treatment is the only proven long term combination therapy that keeps HIV positive people healthy and alive.

When certain faith based groups advocate for HIV positive people to go off ART, they are breaching the HAMP Act - they are playing with peoples lives and they are acting outside the laws of Papua New Guinea.

Disrupting ART with a patient (missing days or months of taking ART), renders long term treatment through ART ineffective.

Advocating HIV positive people not to take ART is the surest way to shorten their lives.

“I have witnessed it time and time again, when HIV positives are brought back to strong health with ART drugs only to be taken off them by a religious leader and within a short time frame, death occurs”. – Senior Catholic nun on what has been occurring in some faith based groups.

While we all support the right of people to have faith, we equally support ART treatment for those who have HIV.

Faith and anti retroviral drugs for HIV positive people go hand in hand – they are not mutually exclusive.