Post Courier, Tuesday January 20, 2015

PROBE CLEARS CITY HALL OF BUAI VENDOR’S DEATH

JUDGE SLAMS FUNDS MISUSE: PAGE 7

LIQUOR THEFT LEADS TO CARNAGE IN ENGA

LAIAGAM, KANDEP PEOPLE CLASH: PAGE 9

Daru death trap Daru

Hospital crippled as nurses contract drug resistant TB

BY

GRACE SALMANG

NINE nurses at Daru General Hospital in Western Province have contracted the multi-drug resistant

strain of tuberculosis, forcing the rest of the hospital staff to stage a sit-in protest yesterday for better protection at work.

One nursing officer is on

extreme drug resistance treatment for the strain of the disease, which poses a greater risk to life and is currently out of control.

The hospital’s executive

officer Colin Ananga, who spoke on behalf of the acting chief medical officer Dr Naomi Pomat, said the other eight nurses were currently on the multi-drug-resistant

(MDR) treatment. As the disease paralysed services at the hospital yesterday, the remaining hospital staff protested, supporting widespread fear on the island

that the TB epidemic, rampant in the province, will spread among the hospital workers.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

A TB stakeholders meeting in Port Moresby late last year which revealed the dire TB situation facing Daru (circled) and Western Province.

Did we take our feet of the TB paddle?

ITIS unfortunate that those in the frontline in the fight against tuberculosis have now fallen victim to the deadly disease.

And to know it is the multi-drug resistant strain of tuberculosis (MDR-TB) they have contracted is a double blow to the nine nurses at the Daru General Hospital in Western Province. One of them is undergoing treatment for the worst strain of TB. Their diagnosis compelled hospital colleagues to stage a sit-in protest yesterday, demanding that authorities provide better protection for health workers. It is within their rights as employees to demand protection from what is now an occupational hazard and if the employer – in this instance the Government – cannot guarantee a safe and trouble-free working environment then their safety takes precedence. The nurses’ condition also raises questions about the extent of the spread of TB in the Western Province and if the Daru General Hospital has the capacity and the resources to fight it. The assistance that the Australian government and donor partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO) offered to fight the disease were timely lifelines that they threw to the local authorities. But is the local population secured or is this the start of a bigger problem that potentially could make its way to and affect other centres including the National Capital District?

The Government will need to urgently undertake an assessment of the situation in the Western Province, Gulf and parts of Central Provinces to ascertain how many people are affected and if there is a need for another campaign – this time targeting the nation.

The Daru General Hospital’s TB committee has given the Government two weeks to respond to their demands, while lamenting the lack of action from provincial authorities and leaders. Failure by the authorities to act immediately could put at risk the lives of the other hospital staff and in a worst case scenario could become an incubation camp for the spread of the disease to other health workers, patients and their guardians. We concur with the anger expressed by the striking workers at the failure by the provincial authorities to lead the push for change in the Western Province. The province continues to lag behind in development indicators including health outcomes and its leaders will need to be held accountable for their lack of action. The 14-day ultimatum that the hospital’s TB committee has given authorities to respond to their demands now enters a critical phase. This matter has now gone beyond the jurisdiction of the Western Province and warrants intervention by those in Waigani including the National Health Department. The contracting of the diseases by the nurses now raises questions about the viability of the Daru General Hospital to continue to provide basic health services to the people of Western Province. It appears those in authority dropped their guard following the conclusion of the TB campaign last year, which could have dire consequences for PNG and its people. Word on the nurses contracting the disease will eventually spread and could have a ripple effect in the community, which could see members of the public and health workers refusing to go to work. It appears those in authority dropped their guard following the conclusion of the TB campaign last year, which could have dire consequences for PNG and its people.

Index

Asia news ........................35-36

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Probe clears city hall of buai vendor’s death

BY GRACE SALMANG

INVESTIGATIONS into the death of the Goilala woman who died after a hit and run at Hohola last year have not found any criminal wrong doings on the part of the NCDC reserve police.

According to NCD governor Powes Parkop, “they (reserve policemen) denied that they chased the deceased women.”

Mr Parkop told the Post Courier yesterday that in their statement the reservists said they were on routine patrol and picked up two female vendors who were illegally selling betelnut in the area.

The two were cautioned and released without charges.

“They had no idea about the third female vendor. She must have seen the reserve unit on routine patrol and fled. They had no idea she had meet a tragic death in her attempt to flee or conceal her activity.

“We did invite the public to give statements, including witnesses at the scene, but to date no member of the public has come forward to make a statement,” Mr Parkop said.

“At this time therefore the only statement we have is from the reserve police unit who were on routine patrol in that area on that particular day.”

He said they requested regular police to do their own investigation and Mr Parkop understands this is on going.

“To date we have not heard from the regular police but no one has been charged,” he said.

“I understand the police are still holding the vehicle belonging to our reserve unit as part of their investigations.

“If other witnesses especially from the public come forward, we will be happy to receive their statements or they can make it to regular police. “I maintain my commitment that if any criminal wrongs have been committed, those responsible will be

held accountable. However no such evidence has been made available yet.”

Despite this Mr Parkop continues to express his condolence and regret for this tragic death. “I understand the NCDC did contribute to the cost of funeral but I must confirm this first.

“If this was done, it is out of our moral responsibility and not legal responsibility,” Mr Parkop said.

“However the city rangers were never ever involved in one way or another.”

He said the investigation has not made any findings of criminal wrong on the part of NCDC reserve police unit.

Daru hospital nurses contract killer TB

FROM PAGE 1

SINCE last year health authorities have described the threat from the disease as a public health emergency.

The Health Department had declared Western Province, including Daru, a hotspot for TB together with neighbouring Gulf, the National Capital District, and parts of Central Province.

Last October Prime

Minister Peter O’Neill launched a national tuberculosis awareness campaign, saying TB was becoming a concern in these areas. Australia and the World Health Organisation would be equally concerned about developments in Daru as they spent millions of kina to upgrade the hospital’s TB ward to treat the disease and in a bid to stop patients from travelling to Queensland to seek treatment.

The protesting workers called on provincial leaders, stakeholders and members of the public to be aware that Western Province was a leading hot spot for TB in the country.

Yesterday’s protest was headed by the hospital’s TB committee which also presented a petition to Dr Pomat giving authorities two weeks to respond to their grievances.

“If Prime Minister can take

the lead in advocating to the nation about the TB epidemic, why can’t our provincial leaders do the same?

“There is an increase in all types of TB cases and these has affected our staff and our lives are at risk, we are becoming patients too,” they said in their petition.

People classified as MDR patients are second-stage sufferers who are bound for a 24-month-long treatment which is expensive.

Medivac saves mother in labour

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

TWO people, including a woman in child labour, became the first people to be evacuated since the launch of the medivac service for Esa’ala district in Milne Bay Province.

Chief executive officer of Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority Billy Naidi said a 30-year-old man with a severed and bleeding leg was also airlifted from a hamlet along the borders of Central and Milne Bay provinces on Thursday after an emergency call was made.

He said the MBPHA was called by the Health Department to help as it had a medivac system in place.

“We contacted the Abau Open MP Sir Puka Temu to support us in this operation, which was successfully carried out and the patient was evacuated to Alotau Provincial Hospital as the nearest hospital,’’ said Mr Naidi.

The second patient was a transverse lie and obstructed labour of a mother from Kalokalo village, where Esa’ala MP Davis Steven is from.

Mr Naidi said the emergency call from the village came on Sunday evening and a helicopter was sent the next morning to pick up the mother and return to Alotau hospital for the successful operation to save the baby and mother.

The medivac was conducted by Manolos Aviation Limited – the company that has signed an agreement with Esa’ala to provide a medivac service for the district, which was launched last Wednesday.

Manolos Aviation chief pilot Jurgen Ruh confirmed that his company helicopter had provided medivac to the pregnant woman and the 30year-old man, saying Manolos Aviation would respond to all requests from Milne Bay and neighbouring provinces and has also commitments from other parties to work with as well.

The medivac service was launched just recently.

The bottom line

LIFE

Group: Deprived kids need school

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

HOMELESSNESS is a growing phenomenon in urban centres out of which come “street children”.

Founder of Life PNG Care

(LPC) Collin Pake says these children need to go to school despite their situation so they will be able to break free from poverty and live better lives.

Last year, LPC enrolled 17 of these children to school with the support of a number of business houses. This involves providing the project fees for the children, school materials, uniforms, lunch everyday and bus fare to and from school.

Apart from the school expenses, LPC needs money to operate as an organisation.

This school program is called Strong Pikinini Edu-

cation Program which will see 40 children go to school this year.

On Saturday, a back to school orientation program was conducted by LPC for these children, which also gave the media and invited people the oportunity to see what this non-government organisation is doing to these unforunate children.

It was also an opportunity for the children, many of them orphans, to get to know each other and have a time of fun before school starts. New kids were also registered.

The program included games and other fun activities and barbecue.

Meanwhile, Mr Pake says the government must have a way to help this group of children so that they be given a chance to go to school and

become better citizens.

“They are our children and our future. Our nation’s future lies not on other resources, but on human resource. This group of children are part of our future generation and workforce and it’s about time we preserve this generation,’’ Mr Pake said.

He added that every child is precious because they are born with a purpose and destiny.

“The potential of our children is the most precious resource - we must handle them with care for our future and the future of the nation depends on them,’’ he said.

If we don’t preserve a generation there won’t be a better future.’’

He said the cost of sending 40 children to school this year would be around K70,000.

There is an amusement park in Tokyo that offers Raw Horse Flesh-flavored ice cream.

MY TICKET

A MINISTER walked into a government department recently with his travelling bag demanding an airline ticket to his home province. This is despite being told earlier Finance Department is still closed and the proposed trip isn’t workrelated.

PERSONAL

IT IS obvious some of our ministers think their ministries and departments are ATM machines, ready to dish out cash payments for all kinds of expenditure including personal travel. If you got a minister who behaves like that let us know.

WAKE UP

HAS the NCD physical planning board gone to sleep? A lot of land being fenced in the nation’s capital without consideration for adequate public access. Consequently, pedestrians have little space to manoeuvre when strolling and are accidents waiting to happen.

ILLEGAL?

THE fence being built on a property opposite the Bavaroko primary school is a case in point. The welder appeared to be Asian and was assisted by locals. Can those in the know advise whether it is okay for owners of private properties to claim

BIG MEN

extra land close to theirs?

NAIL BITES

IT WILL be a nail biting wait for parents whose children secured government scholarships. The awards would be a formality for those who live in towns and cities that host the institutions. But not for others who live outside, they have to wait for OHE to send the tickets.

KRX BOOM

KARKAR Island is smaller than Manus but has about 70,000 people which is close to the northern maritime province’s population. The baby boom has caught the eye of local leaders, who’ve appealed to couples to embrace family planning.

CONTROL

THE National Planning Minister has indicated that a population policy will be a government priority and will come in this year to help ease the burden on over-stretched services like education and health.

ACTING

THE Government has announced the appointment of a new National Planning acting secretary. Was there a reason behind the former boss not getting confirmed to her position? Hopefully the new appointee is confirmed in good time.

at a popular night club in Port Moresby last weekend. A kid seeing them on the local TV station news lamented “big men still learning to rock”!

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

DANISH rock group MLTR or Michael Learns to Rock was a hit

PNG Care members with the children.

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK

MP explains

EDUCATION Minister Nick Kuman has asked teachers to start returning to their schools for the start of the school year in two weeks.

Mr Kuman told a media conference yesterday, flanked by senior department officials, that the Education Department was ready for the academic year.

On the teachers leave fares controversy, he said the department would investigate why certain provinces had not paid teachers leave fares.

“The department does not keep leave funds but they go as grants to provincial treasuries. We will get to the bottom and find out the problem,” he said.

Mr Kuman said the department wanted to ensure that welfare of teachers were looked after. That was why he had asked officers to investigate the provinces concerned.

He announced that standards-based education would be rolled out this year.

The bottom line

Fees to be paid out to schools

THE K300 million in the Government tuition fee free funds will be remitted to 10,060 public schools in the first and second week of the academic year, says Education Secretary Michael Tapo.

According to education data, there are 13,703 registered schools for tuition fees.

The K300 million is from the K605 million appropriated this year for the tuition fee free education for all government schools.

Mr Tapo said these funds were for schools which have current bank accounts and have a balance of an K100 fee readily available.

Education Minister Nick Kuman, who was with Mr Tapo, said the Government would continue to provide tuition fee and had done without difficulty since 2012.

He said while tuition fees had increased school enrolments, it had also encouraged more girls to be enrolled.

The minister urged parents to continue to enrol their daughters and female relatives in schools this year.

Education to probe leave fares debacle

BY NELLIE SETEPANO

THE Education Department is investigating why teachers in Western Province have not received their leave fares although K1 million has been remitted to the provincial treasury as teacher’s leave fares.

Western Province teachers are among teachers from few other provinces that were affected towards the end of last year and have cried foul over the Education Department’s inaction to make allowance available.

Education Secretary Michael Tapo said in 2014, K126 million was appropriated for leave fares around

CONFERENCE: Minister Nick Kuman, Secretary Micheal Tapo and Teaching Services Commission chairman Baran Sori said they are also puzzled as to why many provinces have paid teachers leave fares and few are still not getting it right.

the country so there should be enough money for all provinces to pay teachers leaves.

In a press conference at the Education headquarters yesterday, Minister Nick Kuman, Mr Tapo and Teaching Services Commission chairman Baran Sori said they are also

puzzled as to why many provinces have paid teachers leave fares and few are still not getting it right.

“If the Provincial Education Advisors and the Provincial Executive Councils are not paying their teachers, we are interested to find out,” Secretary Tapo said.

Mr Sori explained that the appropriated budget for leave fares and made into actual warrants were sent to provinces but if there are shortfalls, provincial education advisers must play their role to correct it, if amount is incorrect they must liaise with appropriate the authority to correct the figures.

Mr Sori re-iterated that

Most wasabi consumed is not real wasabi, but coloured horseradish.

there are several factors that also contribute to untimely payment of teachers leave fares which includes; incorrect bio data, incorrect estimates, unavailable funds at Finance and misuse of teachers’ leave fares by provincial treasuries.

The chairman also said budget is done on real cost and if there is any underestimations, that is an issue to be fixed by provinces also.

Despite the investigation which may take time, the academic year begins leas than two weeks away and the minister has asked all teachers to be at their teaching province ready for the academic year.

He said tuition fee was now in its fourth year, meaning schools must comply with a National Education Board directive not to charge project fees.

Schools which charge projects fees would have their tuition fee held back, Mr Kuman said.

Coast Guard officer to meet PNG women

THE PostCourier published a picture of a man in the January 16, 2015 edition and reported that it was Rear Admiral Cari Thomas, the highest ranking female officer in the US Coast Guard. The picture was incorrect and was not of the officer. Above is a picture of Rear Admiral Cari Thomas. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

THE Vulupindi Haus at Waigani used to be a ghastly building surrounded by a building boom that facilitated modern, trendy architecture, but not anymore. The building finally got a well earned facelift, adding a shine to the once deteriorating dinosaur. Picture: TARAMI LEGEI

Family of slain suspect disputes police claims

THE father and relatives of a Tatana villager shot by police at the weekend dispute police version of events which led to his death.

Naime Tom, father of Sale Naime, said yesterday that his son was bathing outside his house at Tatana when several policemen arrived.

He had been given a beer by a neighbour who was drinking, the father said.

He said his son had just returned home after watching a volleyball tournament which attracted media and people outside the island.

Mr Tom said police investigating the death of consultant Harold Farapo the previous weekend, had come with guns and threatened him, forcing him to jump into the sea.

“The other suspects were already taken; they were not together (with Naime) drinking. They threatened him with a gun; so he ran into the sea,’’ he said.

He said as the son was swimming away when he was shot in the arm before the police used one of the village dinghies to paddle out to sea to get him.

“He was swimming back and they pulled him by his beard. Everyone saw him alive when they pulled him up.’’

Mr Tom said police then used a cable to tie up his son before taking him away. He did not drown as stated by the police in the newspaper, he added.

Mr Tom said his family had followed closely behind the

At a glance

DISPUTE: The family of the dead suspect, Sale Naime, who was alleged to have been involved in the killing of Harold Farapo have disputed claims by police concerning Sale’s death.

INVESTIGATE: They’ve requested a coroner’s report, citing irregular and severe bruising on the dead man.

police vehicles as they took Naime and the other suspects away, but they were threatened not to follow too closely.

The relatives went to the police station downtown to lodge a complaint before proceeding to Boroko police station to check on the suspects but they were not there.

They also checked at the Port Moresby General Hospital without success.

It took more than 50 minutes of waiting at the A&E before a police vehicle pulled up and dropped a body. Security guards later informed Naime’s relatives that the police brought the body and claimed that they picked it up on the road.

The relatives have asked for a coroner’s report because he had severe injuries to parts of his body.

They said that Naime had not been tried before he was killed to prove whether he had a part in Farapo’s brutal death.

SOAKING

UP

THE body of Hagen woman

Lynnette Rus, who was murdered by her husband, was buried yesterday at her Kolga village outside Mt Hagen.

Ms Rus, who hails from the Moge Komka tribe, was doing her masters in management at Divine Word University

and was working with the Madang Provincial Government, was murdered by her lecturer husband Samuel Rot at the Divine Word University campus a week ago.

The couple married in 2012 after Ms Rus graduated with a bachelors degree in tourism

hospitality and management.

Although the circumstances surrounding her death are still sketchy, it is believed Ms Rus returned to Madang after a visit to her village when she met her fate. Police are still investigating the case.

Mr Rot, who hails from Mul

in Western Highlands, has been arrested and is now behind bars at the Beon jail in Madang.

Komkui leaders during her funeral yesterday said they would allow the law to take its course and would not interfere.

BY MEROLYN TEN

THE family of local gas pipeline consultant, Harold Farapo, who was found dead at sea near Tatana Island in Central Province, has thanked the NCD police for rounding up the suspects.

Tony Farapo, father of the deceased, said it was pleasing that suspects had been arrested who may shed light on the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.

Mr Farapo said it was painful to lose his eldest son Farapo, 40, and father to six children, who was a consultant to the Kikori Gas Pipeline Landowner Association, a former newspaper journalist and a Gulf provincial government officer.

“He was a huge asset to the Gulf Province and a pride to his tribe and family.

“Therefore, I wanted the law to take its course and I did not want to interfere with what the police personnel are doing. However, now the truth has revealed itself,” Mr Farapo said.

The father said while appreciating the works of the NCD police, he called for the return of his son’s briefcase and laptop which contained important documents about his recent trip to China.

According to police reports, the victim was last seen at Morata, where he was attacked by rascals. Police believe the rascals killed him and dumped his body at Tatana.

The late journalist was found floating towards MV Iyapa during the early hours of last Saturday, where some of the workers of the boat recovered his body.

Leaders Brian Tepa, Thomas Wama, Paulus Kerua, Jacob Wari and Paul Rumints acknowledged the loss was big for the Komkui tribe but they preferred the law to deal with Rot.

They said although it would take some time to replace an

All human beings are a combination of physical, mortal body and non-physical, immortal soul.

educated person like Ms Rus, they accepted her fate and placed everything squarely in God’s hand.

The Moge Komunka-Kuipi (victim’s tribe) are leaders in the province in making peace concerning law and order issues.

The bottom line

Abel highlights priorities

NATIONAL Planning Minister Charles Abel has vowed to have his department functioning fully to implement important Government programs for this year.

Mr Abel during the announcement of the new acting Secretary for the Department of National Planning said the focus for this year will be, the implementation of the 2015 budget, preparation for the upcoming Leaders Summit, the completion of the planning review process with the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) II and the Planning Act.

New Planning Dept head

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE national Government has revoked the appointment of Juliana Kubak and appointed another long serving female, Hakaua Harry as the new acting secretary for National Planning and Monitoring Department.

Minister Charles Abel yesterday made the announcement of the changes of the top post, saying it was based on health grounds affecting the incumbent.

He said Ms Kubak was recovering from an operation

and would begin work in her substantive position as deputy secretary when she was fit to return to work.

The minister thanked her

TENDER SALE

Anyone interested in purchasing the vehicles is advised to inspect the same prior to writing to the address below stating their purchase price with evidence of finance to complete and advise their contact telephone and or fax numbers. (Offers by email or fax will not be considered)

The successful bidder must provide evidence of finance available and will be required to:

1. Pay the 10% deposit within twenty four (24) hours notification of the acceptance of the tender.

2. Pay the balance of the purchase price in cash or by Bank Cheque within seven (7) working days notification of the acceptance of the tender.

Tenders Close 31 January 2015

The Regional Manager Northern Kina Finance Limited P O Box 682 LAE Morobe Province Tender Ref: KFL # 26508

Tenders can also be hand delivered to the office of Kina Finance Limited, Ground Floor, Nambawan Haus, Lae. For enquiries contact Terry Hall on telephone 472 8175 or 71978526

The company is not obliged to accept the highest or the lowest offer nor respond to all offers received.

for her good work up to now and wished her a speedy recovery.

Ms Harry, from Gulf Province, is a career public servant and was the acting deputy secretary for the public investment program.

“The position for the permanent secretary has now been advertised and is going through the process,” Mr Abel said.

He said National Planning was an important central agency and it was important that the department was working effectively and co-

ordinating together in harmony within itself and also with other central agencies like Finance and Treasury to deliver.

Mr Abel said Ms Harry’s appointment was for three months and hopefully a permanent appointment would be made by then.

Ms Harry thanked the Government for having the trust and confidence in her leadership to carry the department forward in ensuring major government initiatives were implemented.

“There is a lot of govern-

ment initiatives that we need to take carriage of and we need to provide that leadership so that what we are supposed to do is implemented, and as one of the three core departments of government, we will work in collaboration with the Department of Treasury and Finance to deliver,” Ms Harry said.

“We have a job to do, at the end of the day, it is not about us, it is about delivering to the seven million people of this country, so we need to do our job and we need to do it effectively,’’ she said.

He said other policies to be implemented will be the national ID program and National Statistic office reforms, the land and housing program, the tabling of the population policy, the water policy and the foreign aid policy.

“First and foremost is the implementation of the 2015 budget. We have a very ambitious program there which is in line with the O’Neill-Dion Government policies,” Mr Abel said.

“In general, we have been very ambitious, we have gone out and created the financial envelope, we have created very clear priorities of government which is infrastructure, education, health, law and order and growing the economy.”

Sandaun presents 2015 budget

THE Sandaun Provincial Government has presented its 2015 provincial budget totalling K218 million to Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch for approval.

Sandaun Acting Governor Paul Nengai presented the provincial money plan to the Treasurer in Port Moresby yesterday.

This is a legal requirement under the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Governments for all provinces to obtain formal approval from the Treasurer prior to warrant of releases being signed for funds transfers to them respectively for expenditure on development projects and social services provision.

The composition of the 2015 budget includes a total of K189,030,300 from national grants, K23,391,629 in former year appropriations, and K5,731,000 from internal revenue.

Mr Nengai who led an administration team for the presentation explained to Minister Pruaitch that the budget comprising 13 major activity areas in development and social services were adopted from the West Sepik Integrated Development Plan 2014-2018.

“From these programs, the 2015 Annual Activity Plan is then formulated with the key performances indicators clearly spelled out,” Mr Negai said.

“The budget plan is finally drawn up as the guide for expenditure of the financial resources to achieve the key performance indicators as well as the activity plan.

“I also wish to convey our

thanks to the National Government for increases in function grants and personnel emoluments especially for teachers’ salaries that will boost their morale in their careers in order to improving and sustain-

ing services delivery to the people.”

In response Minister Pruaitch said it was imperative for all provinces to efficiently expedite finalisation of the budgetary process in order for funding

to be released in a timely manner in order for them to initiate, commence, maintain or extend development projects and essential services for the benefit of the majority of the population.

NATIONAL Planning and Monitoring Minister Charles Abel announcing the appointment of new acting Secretary Hakaua Harry. Picture: TARAMI LEGEI

ACTING Sandaun Governor Paul Nengai, left, presenting the 2015 provincial money plan to Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch at Vulupindi House yesterday.

At the end of the day it is about delivering to the people of this country ...

HAKAUA HARRY Port Moresby

Potape gets two years

THE National Court has jailed Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape for two-and-half years for conspiracy and misappropriating State funds totalling K330,000.

Although Potape had repaid the stolen money, Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said in his 28-page judgement yesterday that leaders should not try to pay their way out of jail.

“Leaders and persons with money convicted of crimes should not ‘pay’ or be seen to pay their way out after con-

viction of a crime,” Sir Gibbs said. He said leaders were stewards of the people and their well being. “They must be stewards with integrity,” the judge said.

“Unfortunately, for the prisoner, this one act of dishonesty has tarnished his reputation and standing, so while I acknowledge the character references, they count for nothing in light of this single act of dishonesty.

“This single act of dishonesty destroys all the good deeds and things said about him,” the judge said.

The charges against Potape

arose out of a JDPBPC meeting resolution of December 22, 2010, to pay the prisoner and other members of the committee and advisors allowances of K5000 per meeting for the chairman and K2500 for other members and the advisors for the meetings in 2009 and 2010.

Sir Gibbs considered all the circumstances of the case against the 41-year-old leader from Huluma village, KomoMargarima district and from the sentencing trend set by the case precedents, sentenced Potape to three years each in prison with hard labour for the first charge of conspiracy

Malabag suspends Eastern Highlands Health Authority

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

THE Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority will be suspended this week and inquiry will be set up to probe into the administration of its health system.

Minister for Health and HIV/ AIDS Michael Malabag, pictured, said in a statement yesterday that this was being done because he was concerned that the provincial health authority was not proactive in the administration of the health system in the province.

“The lack of leadership provided by the Provincial Health Authority board resulted in disintegration of health worker performance and lack of commitment and loyalty to authority affecting health care delivery to the people at the Eastern Highlands Provincial Hospital,’’ he said.

He said recent reports of infighting and lack of subordination by health workers of Goroka Provincial Hospital and inefficiency in service delivery are signs that the EHPA is los-

ing grips on the management of the health system.

Mr Malabag said he was using the powers of the Provincial Health Authority Act 2007 to suspend EHPA.

“The instruments of the suspension of the PHA board and the appointment of a care taker board are being processed and will be delivered this week,’’ said Mr Malabag.

He said the suspension would be followed by an independent inquiry into the administration of the Eastern Highlands Pro-

vincial Health Authority board (EHPHAB) to provide the facts on issues of governance.

“The EHPHA board inquiry committee will comprise of officers from the Department of Personnel Management, State Solicitors’ Office, and the National Department of Health. The instrument of the inquiry and the terms-of-reference is also being processed,’’ he said.

“The EHPA board inquiry committee will be deployed to the province by the end of this week to conduct its findings.

to defraud, and the second charge of dishonest application in relation to K60,000 he got and five years for the third and final charge, also on dishonest application relating to K270,000 paid to his JDPBPC members of Komo-Margarima district.

Sir Gibbs then ordered that all of those sentences will be served concurrently (together in one) with each other.

Of the concurrent sentence, the senior judge deducted two and half years for repaying the monies in full and ordered that the Member serve another two and half years in jail.

War of words continues

THE PNG Trade Union Congress has maintained its stand calling for the resignation of the chairperson of Arbitration Beverly Doiwa.

PNG Trade Union Congress general secretary John Paska in response to the claims by Ms Doiwa said: “It is common knowledge in the union that the office is performing at unacceptable levels.”

Mr Paska said the 21 cases that Ms Doiwa made reference to were the registered ones, all of which dated back years.

“She conveniently avoids reference to the unregistered cases which would be in the hundreds otherwise they are not registering them. Is she suggesting there had only been 21 disputes at the work places in the past six years? Who is she trying to mislead?”

“I served on a tribunal six years ago dealing with Ipi Mountain Transport employees. Until today, no result has been reached nor had the chairperson courtesy to inform the reasons for delay.”

“At one stage the offices of the Arbitration was closed for almost four years for non-payment of rent. In essence, she effectively threw away the integrity of the Arbitration and Conciliation offices.

BY ADRIAN MATHIAS

LEFT: Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape being escorted out of the court house yesterday.

BOTTOM: Potape being led to prison.

Pictures: TARAMI LEGEI

European Union spends K351m to assist PNG

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE European Union has spent more than K351 million in Papua New Guinea from 2008-2014.

This was all under development aid agreements with a focus on agriculture, education and trade as well as on human rights, gender and governance.

Papua New Guinea is by far the largest recipient of EU cooperation aid in the Pacific region with approximately 184 million EUR or K550million being earmarked for the next five years.

The EU has been strongly committed to improving aid effectiveness and has continued to focus on strengthening aid, trade and political relations with Papua New Guinea and more generally the Pacific region.

EU Ambassador to PNG Martin Dihm recently released a survey conducted by the EU showing more Europeans felt

At a glance

AID: PNG remains the EU’s largest aid recipient by far.

COMMITTED: EU is committed to helping developing nations.

AGREEMENTS: Most of the aid has been given under development agreements that focus on agriculture, education and trade, as well as gender and governance.

positively about development aid and international cooperation and believe it is important that the EU continues to help developing nations. A sentiment echoed by the motto for the European Year of Development 2015, ‘our world, our dignity, our future’.

“The European Union works to be a close and reliable partner in supporting Papua New Guinean people in political, social and economic development,” he said.

“As a recipient of European

aid, Papua New Guinea has benefited, over the period between 2008-2014, from development aid with a particular focus on agriculture, education and trade as well as on human rights, gender and governance in excess of 105 million EUR or 351 million PGK.”

The European Union (EU) launched the European Year for Development 2015 (EYD2015) on January 09, which aims to inform and engage Europeans in the debate on its development cooperation to developing nations worldwide, including Papua New Guinea.

“The European Year for Development 2015 showcases the strong commitment of the EU and its member states to eradicating poverty worldwide amongst Europe’s citizens. It will also be an opportunity to put a focus on Papua New Guinea and explain how European aid has helped to improve the daily lives of the people.”

OBITUARY OF THE LATE JUSTIN KILI, MBE OL

This notice serves to inform relatives, friends and colleagues on the passing of the Late Justin Hansu Kili, MBE, OL on Saturday 17th January 2015 at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Vunapope.

To allow those in Port Moresby to pay their last respects to the Late JK, the family will be holding a funeral service in Port Moresby on Thursday before the body is flown to Buka for burial.

The Port Moresby Funeral Program is as follows;

• Wednesday 21st January 2015

- Body of the Late JK arrives in Port Moresby from Tokua.

- Body of the Late JK overnights at the Funeral Home

- Relatives, Friends and Colleagues gather at the Haus Krai at Keket’s residence, Ninoa Street, East Boroko.

• Thursday 22nd January 2015

- 10am- Funeral Service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church- Boroko

- Body of the Late JK overnights with Family

• Friday 23rd January 2015

- The Late JK, accompanied by family, depart for Buka in the morning

A separate program will be issued for arrangements in Buka.

For further enquiries please contact the following:

• Mr. Harry Keket – 7217 6123

• Mr. Clarence Hoot – 7207 7202

WITH A SMILE

Awesa: Govt to scrutinise cheating road contractors

BY GORETHY KENNETH WORKS Minister Francis Awesa

announced on Friday that the Government will clamp down on sub-standard work by contractors, starting this year.

He sounded the warning at the launch of the Works Department’s 2015 work plan.

“I want to inform all contractors and other stakeholders and donor agencies and the people of Papua New Guinea that variations have become an industry in itself, a lot of money has been wasted over many years,” Mr Awesa said.

“Today 2015, this will be a thing of the past.

“I have set a hotline telephone with the works ministry which will monitor all works funded by the national government and donor agencies, and any complaints out there by people who are affected, we will take note and at short notice, you will expect auditors and inspectors who will come on site to make necessary recommendations and take immediate actions.”

He also spoke of compensation demands and how they were affecting the completion or delivery of services within the road projects.

Mr Awesa also revealed that more than 400km of national and provincial roads had been upgraded and another 4000km maintained since 2012.

He added that 40 new bridges had been constructed at various locations.

He said the Government had maintained its commitment to place high priority in improving the transport

infrastructure sector as reflected in the 2013 and 2014 budget appropriations with a total of K1.67 billion.

The 2015 Budget has also received a large allocation of K1,511,459,800.

Awesa said the priorities of his department were:

Rehabilitation of the Highlands Highway (800km);

Upgrading of Law City roads (70km);

Upgrading of Port Moresby roads;

Upgrading and sealing of 2500km of National Highways in failed condition; and

The opening up of four economic corridors of national interest to standard class three roads which would cover 1400km of additional roads.

These links were East New Britaiin to West New Britain, Madang to Western Highlands (Baiyer River), Morobe to Gulf (Kaintiba to Aseki), Tabubil to West Sepik, and Hela, Southern Highlands to Gulf.

FOR Peter Vizareha it was just another great day working at the Puma Energy service station at Konedobu in the nation’s capital. Picture: TARAMI LEGEI

SERVICE

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and those who live and believe in me, will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26

FRANCIS Awesa

RACING CANOES

Liquor theft leads to carnage

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

THE theft of 80 cartons of beer transported illegally through Laiagam district and destined for Kandep in Enga Province has resulted in a tribal warfare. Two deaths were reported from the fight over the weekend.

The cartons of beer were alleged to have been stolen at the border of the two districts by men from Yango village in Laiagam, who had held up the driver of the vehicle transporting the cargo en

route to Kandep. As a result of the theft, 200 armed men from Kandep mobilised and travelled to Laiagam in retaliation to demand the return of the cargo.

The men from Kandep attacked the alleged bandits’ village at Yango, where two people were shot.

One of the two victims was believed to be a teenage girl who was shot inside her house and who died from her wounds the same day and another was a male who was in a critical condition but had

died later. Provincial police commander acting Superintendent George Kakas, who had led a 10-men police team into the area, managed to separate the two groups from further confrontation with the help of community leaders and “operation mekim save” officials.

During the mediation, those from Kandep told the PPC that they had planned to raid Yango village because they had held them up and stolen the 80 cartons of beer, which cost them K16,000 at whole-

sale price, which would have fetched them K40,000 when sold in Kandep. Supt Kakas was notified that it was not the first time that people from Kandep had suffered at the hands of those from Laiagam on that particular stretch of road.

However, those from Yango village in Laiagam said they had held up the vehicle because of an earlier incident where compensation was not paid by the Kandeps for a village court summons.

“The Kandeps on the one

RETRACT ARTICLE

PUBLIC Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah has criticised The National newspaper for its misleading article on the state of emergency on Electricity Service. The Minister has now warned the newspaper to retract its article or face the authority of the emergency. “The Prime Minister is the chairman of the NEC and the NEC approved this exercise. It would not have been gazetted if the NEC did not advise the GovernorGeneral to declare a proclamation and for its Gazettal. The Proclamation was signed by the acting Governor-General and gazetted on December 22, 2014.” He said the SOE would continue as there were “very positive” signs and support from the ordinary people.

HIGHWAY ISSUES

hand, had no right to be transporting alcohol to Kandep when there was a provincewide liquor restriction in place, and the Laiagams on the other hand were guilty of armed robbery or banditry,” Supt Kakas said.

The provincial police chief verbally handed down a preventative order and ordered the two factions to lay down their arms and let the law take its course and for suspects from both sides to surrender as their identities are known by the police.

WORKS infrastructure development authority boss John Kaiyo has detailed the setback of infrastructure developments specifically in the Highlands. “We are having issues with the Highlands Highway, some of which also include quality of work, contractor performance and landowner issues.” Mr Kaiyo said the Department of Works has addressed this issue and engaged a contractor to provide a lasting solution to infamous and unstable sections of the Highway, using the government tax credit scheme, which will increase to K200 million.

THESE traditional canoes belong to the Gogoda tribe of Balimo, Western Province. These canoes are used by the tribesmen for canoe racing. Picture: KENNEDY BANI

TELIKOM HELP NEEDED

GOOD afternoon Telikom Customer Service Team. We had our fault reported on December 1, 2014. It is now nearly two months and still no technician from your offi ce has attended to our complaint. It is really affecting our business, especially our agents from other parts of PNG w ho need to forward their weekly reports to us. Our agents with no email access are really struggling to send us their reports.

The frustrating thing is that I seem to get the same answer whenever I follow up on the job each week, that the staff at the faults section are still trying their best to follow up with the technical team. Only God knows when your good team w ill come by and rescue us. This is just too long and one of the strange places I’ve ever reported a fault. It t akes seven weeks or even more to simply send one Tech to come by to our offi ce located at Able Computing Building , Top Floor, Waigani Drive and inspect the problem and reschedule to repair it. Please wake up! We are one of the companies that have been paying our bills on time for the last three decades. We need help and can someone assist us. Please...!

POTHOLED MADANG

I AM a concerned citizen of Madang town. People in Madang would agree with me, the bad road condition just outside 3line stores and Modilon General Hospital are the worst in Madang. It needs urgent upgrade, especially the section mentioned above. Please can the Governor Jim Kas or Member for Madang Nixon Duban look into this problem and fi x it once and for all.

Mr J.F.K.

Alcohol ban not thought out

THE idea of banning alcohol in Jiwaka and Western Highlands Province is, from my point of view, an immature way of dealing with law and order issues. There are so many other proactive ways of dealing with this issue which our our Members of Parliament can employ.

Let’s start with discipline: there is a hierarchy of control in the police force. And as far as we all know, the force is paid by the Government from taxpayers money.

If the Governors want to really change the mentality of people to make them respect the law, they should start with the police. Police are respected in this country. The reason why their presence is not feared and ignored

by people is because only a few do not behave like professionals. Most of the time they are drunk on the streets and they combine with other drunkards.

I personally have no doubt the two Governors know about this issue with the police force.

As an MP, the people expect you to come up with plans that will raise people’s living standards. Moreover, we, the people expect you MPs to come up with constructive ideas.

This alcohol ban policy was there before and is still there. This ban is old fashion, come up with something new.

If the Governors have a back up plan to at least have the motels, hotels and lodge owners to still be in Business, please let the people

know because we are really eager right now.

And also, I would like to ask the Governors to guarantee the people that the police force, while checking for alcohol coming into the provinces, will also have time to travel and patrol the villages to make sure the youths are not making homebrew and cultivating marijuana.

As a taxpayer, paying 40 per cent of my hard-earned money, I would like to see the plans and the execution of our Governors who just banned alcohol and the development strategy they have as a ball back position. Do they have one in place?.

SK Puma@Banza

Buana Ragela Port Moresby

PNG Power Ltd chief executive officer John Tangit on the ‘outdated’ list ‘outdated’ published last week.

WRITE TO US Text us on 208

Bank fees burdensome

Letter of the day

NOW that ICCC has successfully prosecuted those poor PMV owners for overcharging fares in NCD, can Billy Manoka and his officers go one step further to start checking on the numerous fees commercial banks in the country are charging their customers?

If ever there was an award for corporations that are creative in working out ways of charging clients for services they provide, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind banks would most certainly win the bragging rights for that award.

While consumers abroad in Australia can approach the Consumer Affairs Council to lay complaints against corporate entities who they feel may have wronged them, we in PNG are still yet to have a reliable institution to whom we can seek assistance from, knowing that investigations would be conducted appropriately and in a timely manner.

In this day and age where technology now allows banking and consumer transactions to take place through online electronic transfers, ATMs and EFTPOS machines, charges and

fees that go hand in hand with those services are fast becoming a burden for a lot of citizens. The questions begging to be answered are whether we, the people, should be blindly accepting all these fees that are being imposed on us and if not, to whom do we turn to.

Let’s start with:

ACCOUNT maintenance fees, which, when simply interpreted, means pay us for taking care of your money in our bank and for allowing us to make more money for ourselves from your money.

BALANCE check fees through ATMs, simply put, mean each time you check your account balance you must pay us for allowing you to keep tabs on your bank account.

DEPOSIT fee translates to, at all times you make a deposit at our bank to your account you must pay us for taking up our tellers’ time in attending to you. It doesn’t matter if you have to wait for more than an hour before eventually fronting up to see his or her royal highness behind that thick bullet proof glass pane.

WITHDRAWAL fee means if you withdraw your cash from our bank through our ATMs, you must pay us for allowing you to withdraw your

Text us on 208

APOLOGISE TO ALL

money from our bank.

EFTPOS transaction fee means you must pay us each time you use our EFTPOS machines to buy goods. The more times you use your magic card, the more times we will charge you and the happier we become.

LARGE cash deposit fee means, if you deposit any amount over K10,000 cash into your personal or business account, you must pay us a couple of hundred kina in fees for endangering the life of our teller and for taking up his or her time to count the cash you have deposited, which we will of course put to good use to make more money for ourselves at your expense and pay you next to nothing in interest to your account.

Apart from picking on PMV drivers and checking on fuel prices, does ICCC have it in their jurisdictions the right to regulate or to check what and how much in fees the banks can or should impose on its clients.

God help the people if banks are allowed to continue to do as they please while those entrusted to look after the welfare of the citizens continue to pretend all is well.

Lagaip-Porgera seeing big changes

THE chief landowner of worldclass Porgera Gold Mine operated by Barrick Gold turned politician, Nixon Mangape, is now venturing into tangible and lasting infrastructure development in his Lagaip-Porgera District.

Infrastructure development is gaining momentum in terms of recognition and appreciation from local beneficiaries of the services. The reconstruction of the collapsed Yambale Bridge in PaielaHewa LLG is one of the most needed infrastructure projects that the current MP is bringing to the peo-

10 years ago

ple. The materials were delivered to the construction site and the work is starting.

There are also other infrastructure projects taking place within the four corners of the district, which the beneficiaries are taking note of and are appreciative of their pro-active leader.

Lagaip-Porgera District is now seeing fair and equitable distribution of tangible government services unlike the past when former MPs centralised all services within their area.

The people of the Lagaip-Porgera

Frank Nouairi NCD

District are very happy with the current MP as he is doing what others were not able to do.

We are with you until the next election period and we will continue to be with you.

Mr Mangape is doing what his predecessors were not able to do, and what’s more he is doing it with vision for the future.

SO PNG Power has apologised to Minister Ben Micah for publishing his name in a list of customers who have outstanding bills saying, “...some of our records may be out of date..”

Well, I expect an apology as well. An eight-year-old electric bill incurred in Lae by a man from Hagen after I moved out of a residence (I notified PNG Power and requested that the name of the meter be changed) should also qualify as, “...out of date information”. If PNG Power can afford the cost of publishing an admittedly “erroneous” list of carefully selected “high profile” customers than surely they can also afford to return my phone calls regarding the matter and also print a public apology to the rest of us wrongly named as well. PNG Power should have made every effort to contact the people listed and ascertain whether or not the facts lined up with their “outdated records” before they publish the list. As a Christian, I firmly believe that it is my obligation to pay all my bills and owe no debts and I am happy to do so. However, the Bible doesn’t say anything about me having to pay the bills of everyone who came to live in a rental accommodation nearly a decade after I moved out, simply because PNG Power did not do their job and change the name on the meter to reflect the change in occupancy as instructed.

Rev Stephen Michael Leach

ANNOYING JOURNO

IT WAS annoying to see such ridiculous questions directed by an EMTV journalist towards the Prime Minister in an interview on a program on the night of (19/10/2015). The questions were informal and nonsense, given the status of the interviewee (the Prime Minister). Such questions as “Who/what is your favourite actor, singer, movie, etc” ... Where is the media sector hiring when profession-

made the Queen’s Honours list as a dame. – Jan 3, 2005

al and talented people are graduating from the country’s universities every year and still looking for jobs. This particular journalist is a shame to the professional field of journalism.

Kay Tee

WELL DONE RODNEY!

NANE Rodney Geoffrey from remote Lake Kopiago of Hela Province, topped the entire Pacifika students at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). His accomplishment made his family, tribesmen, district, country and province proud. And of course, if Hela leaders prioritise education by building more high schools, modernising existing learning facilities and provide incentives to teachers, then more of Hela, Rodneys would perform at different fields of study. This human resource will sustain the province after the PNG LNG project. On behalf of the people of Lake Kopiago and Hela, I congratulate you.

Nane Emtalu

PNG POWER OUTDATED

So PNG Power has confirmed that their list was outdated. What’s new? PNG Power, you are one outdated SOE. You have outdated lists, outdated people, outdated jobs. If you want your meter box or an electrical fault fixed, call PNG Power a month or two in advance so they’ll get it fixed on time.

Updated customer

LOW QUALITY

WHERE do media organisations in the country get their journalists from? It is frustrating trying to read a newspaper, listen on the radio or watch television and see/hear journalists (or people posing as journos) struggling with words. Tired

This might border on embarrassment for those in the list but like I said, this exercise will pull all customers, whether right or wrong, to fix the issue.

Community Development Minister Lady Carol Kidu

Yalo Hexton Kapili Lagaip - Porgera

Pastors tackle Kokoda for church

12 walk trail to extend ministry

BY BENJAMIN KUMAN

A WOMAN pastor was among a group from Western Highlands Province who walked the Kokoda Trail during the festive season in the hope of extending their church ministry.

Pastor Pricilla Moses from the Faro Ministries in Lae joined her husband and 10 fellow pastors in the six-day walk to Port Moresby.

The pastors started their walk on the Kokoda Trail on Wednesday, December 31.

“While everyone was celebrating New Year night at home with families and loved ones, we walked the rugged Kokoda trek in the cold night, but it was done for a good cause and I’m proud I did it,” Pr Pricilla said yesterday.

“We arrived at the Ower’s Corner on January 5 and I thank the good Lord for protecting and guiding us through.”

Team spokesman Pastor Samuel Simoi said the 12 pastors and church elders

were joined by a school teacher and his 14-year-old son.

He said they had joined at their own expense to build a new church at Tete settlement in Moresby Northwest.

“We started working on the church building soon after we arrived in Moresby and had it completed in four days”

“The inaugural service was held last Sunday which saw the chapel packed to capacity and we hope the number will continue to increase as time goes by,” he said

He said the new church will be taken care of by Pastor Justin Kapi who was prayed over by senior pastors at the inaugural service.

The Faro Ministry was founded by Reverend Wani Samuels at Mama village in the Dei council area of Western Highlands Province.

The church has branches in Lae, Chimbu, Jiwaka and parts of Western highlands.

Cattle farmers get K100,000 support

CATTLE farming groups at Markham valley in Morobe Province, was given K100,000 from Morobe Governor Kelly Naru.

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January, 2015

The general public is advised that water will be rationed throughout the National Capital District on above dates.

This is due to urgent repair and maintenance work on one of the raw water mains feeding the Mt Eriama Water Treatment Plant.

Attached is the water rationing schedule for two days;

The Wampar Cattlemen Association got K50,000 while the other half was given to Zifasing Cattle Range, both in the Wampar LLG of the Huon Gulf electorate.

The Governor said cattle farming was one of the successful businesses for the people of Markham but over the years, they had not been run properly due to management and marketing issues.

“It is one of the best industries for our people in the Markham plateau, particularly the Wampar people and the Zifasing people. We have the potential in grazing cattle for both domestic and international markets and we need to revive this existence,” Mr Naru told farmers in a gathering at Zifasing last Saturday.

He said his government’s policy was to make sure people sustain their livelihood and be successful in their life, instead of being spoon fed and getting hand outs.

Motorists and residents along the Sogeri Road between Bomana and 17 mile are warned to take extra precautions while driving as there may be excess water on or near the road.

Residents in the area are reminded that use of raw or untreated water is not only illegal but dangerous to one’s health and refrain from this activity.

Once water is restored, for health reasons please boil all water before consumption. EDA RANU sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused, thank you for the understanding.

For further information, contact Public Relations on 312 2133, hotline 312 2100 or 703 11573/703 11574.

Authorized by Management

The presentation of the money was to help them with their administration

cost and the operations of the cattle farming.

Chairman of Zifasing Cattle Range

Simon Maipo said their Cattle Range was formed in 1979, four years after Independence with three others by the national Government.

He said those three cattle business has since ceased to operate while Zifasing managed to survive in the last 35 years.

“We did have our ups and downs but we survived through those years and we are still here. It was a thriving business with 13,000 heads but hit the turf in 2006 with a mere 900 heads.

“It was indeed a tough time for us but we managed to overcome those hurdles and now, as I speak, we have 6000 heads,” Mr Maipo said.

He said they have a hectare of 9800 which can look after 17,000 heads to supply the local and international market.

But their issue now is the market. Most of the markets are controlled by those big companies and they are often marginalised.

He said with the support of their Governor, they will revive the cattle business in the Province and PNG.

Challenges for 2018 APEC host

THE years leading up to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018 will be very challenging for Papua New Guinea as the host.

It will also be very challenging as its committee on APEC policy issues work overtime to draft and recommend to Cabinet the policy priorities and deliverables for 2018.

“These deliverables will be centred on the Government’s economic enablers of education, health, law and order, infrastructure investment, and freeing up

land for economic development,” Lahui Ako, the man behind APEC 2018, said. He said by 2018, APEC member economies will move towards free trade and investment liberalisation in their economies and the region in 2020.

“With these priority areas as foundations upon which PNG will structure the substantive outcomes of its 2018 host year, the onus is now with the PNG APEC Secretariat and the lead departments such as the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry.

PASTOR Pricilla Moses with her male colleagues at Kokoda.

TREATMENT PLANT REDUCED PRODUCTION & CITY-WIDE WATER RATIONING”

Central offers year to God

BY TUMBE SAM JR UPNG Journalism student

OUT of the 22 provinces, Central Province administration has stepped out to host a dedication service for 2015 operations. This was Provincial Administrator Gei Guni Raga’s initiative.

A good number of staff turned up on Friday and committed themselves and their jobs to the Mighty and Powerful God. They vowed to begin 2015 with God and pledged to make sure they are in line with his guidance, protection and command in every actions and decisions they make for the people of the Central Province.

Mr Gei said the dedication service was important for the entire staff of the administration to change their behaviours and attitudes to ensure they demonstrated and promoted Christian principles in their workplace.

“We will serve God first in 2015 then our people because I know we have been ignoring his presence,” he said.

Pastor Jimmy Guasi led the dedication service.

“Many remote parts of Central Province are still suffering and for them to get these services it depends on how effective we perform,” pastor Guasi said.

“And I am very proud that from this initiative to let the Lord to take lead and that the way to go because there’s nothing impossible with God.

“The service delivery agencies must not be part of corruption and let by the grace of God by fulfilling the purpose of this year. We want prosperity but by doing so we must fulfil the purpose of God and avoid corruption. It is more pity to recognise the presence of God.

“I know we have been ignoring the presence of God and trying to do things our own way but this we will change. Without fear or favour we must stand up in doing something right like faithfully doing work full day,” he said.

TVWAN with new channel

DIGICEL Play has launched its new local channel called TVWAN Sports, which will offer high definition broadcasting of the best local and international sports coverage in Papua New Guinea.

The motivation to create this dedicated sports channel came directly from the people’s passion for sports.

Australia assists in livestock training

THE Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) has successfully trained eight officers in livestock breeding and management with the assistance of Australia. The livestock breeding and management training program is one of the first activities under the DAL and the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries joint partnership.

The eight officers , two from the Highlands Agricultural College, three from the food security branch, one each from Central provincial

administration, Livestock Corporation and Erap resources centre, were trained at the Emerald Agriculture College in Queensland. A national livestock officers skills upgrade training was held earlier in Madang, Erap and Narayen Agriculture College, Queensland.

It is anticipated that there will be similar training courses for other officers from DAL and sectoral agencies later this year.

The eight officers were specifically selected to participate in the training that included artificial insemi-

nation training. This is part of DAL’s efforts to enhance skills and capacity building for livestock officers for the long-term development of the livestock industry and overall agriculture enhancement.

Department of Agriculture and Livestock has since arranged for additional breeder cattle to boost its cattle numbers at the Highlands Agricultural College farm in Mt Hagen. The college is preparing for an artificial insemination program to commence next month with imported bull semen from Australia.

Disconnection Reminder Notice

Water PNG wishes to remind its customers to settle all outstanding water bills within the first quarter of 2015. After the first quarter other options will be taken to recover outstanding bills.

Governments Departments which include Police, General Hospitals, Correctional Services, PNG Defense Force, and Education Institutions including (elementary, primary, secondary), Colleges, Universities and Technical Schools nationwide (except in NCD) must settle all outstanding debts immediately.

A Disconnection Exercise for non-paying customers is scheduled from Monday the 19th of January 2015 onwards. This will include customers who have more than one month outstanding bills.

All customers must take note of our 30-Day Water Bill Payment Policy and ensure your bills are paid on a monthly basis.

Call in to your local Water PNG Business Center to make your payment. Or contact our Head Office Team for details:

Thomas Turkaul Credit Controller 3031634 tturkaul@waterpng.com.pg

Martin Geno Customer Service Officer 3031640 mgeno@waterpng.com.pg

Theresa Boli Manager – Credit Control 3031638 tboli@waterpng.com.pg

The network will screen the bet rugby union, rugby league and football happening in PNG.

DAL chief livestock officer and project manager Regina Nukundj (third left) with other officers who attended the livestock breeding and management training program.

If you have a story to tell, call us on 309 1042, or email cgware@spp.com.pg

Nature Park school holiday program enters final week

PORT Moresby Nature

Park’s school holiday program “kids for conservation” has entered its final week and people are being encouraged to register their children in the program as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Operating until Friday, the program runs from 8:30am until 3pm and includes a range of fun activities for children including up close animal encounters, animal inspired crafts and fun games and activities all focused on increasing children’s understanding on the importance of conservation.

Activities are separated into two ages groups 8-11 year-olds and 12-16 yearolds and are fully supervised with the Nature Park’s education department.

Cost is K40 per child, per day and includes morning tea and lunch and all activities. For bookings and enquiries please contact the Nature Park’s reservations team on 326 0258.

N S I NORMAN SIKE INSTITUTE

(In conjuction with the Innovative Training Centre NTC Reg No. 092) IN MT HAGEN AND POM ONLY

Semester 1 Registration, 2015

Enrolment for Semester 1 of 2015 is now open for the following Certificate & Diploma Courses at Norman Sike Institute in MT HAGEN AND POM ONLY.

Certificate Courses:

Certificate in Computing

Certificate in Business Management

Certificate in Accounting

Certificate in Sales & Marketing

Certificate in Human Resource Management

Certificate in Information Technology

Certificate in Mastery Learning in English

Diploma Courses:

Diploma in Accounting

Diploma in Business Management

Diploma in Sales & Marketing

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Diploma in Information Technology

Matriculation Courses:

Grade 12 Upgrading

Classes commence: 02nd February, 2015.

Location : Pom PIMS NCD Erima : Hagen Downtown (next to Yosie‛s clothing)

All courses also available on CORRESPONDENCE Mode

For application forms or further details, Phone: 3254815/4790303 Mobile: 73819866, 73296458, 72733345, 71686044 or 70464121

Email: nsiinfor@gmail.com

DEPOSIT ALL FEES TO NORMAN SIKE INSTITUTE (NSI) ACC. N0. 1013588221. BSP

City suburb youths get K20,000 for farming

BY DENYSE KALAU

YOUTHS in one of the outskirts community of Gerehu in NCD will now be able to venture into poultry farming.

This was made possible with a cheque presentation of K20,000 by the Health Minister and MP for Moresby Northwest Michael Malabag to the Couples for Christ ministry through the District Support Improvement Program funds for the electorate.

Electoral project officer for the MP, Angus Ali, made the presentation on behalf of the minister on Friday.

Mr Ali said churches play an important role in making a big difference in the lives of the young people, and the cheque presentation today recognises the hard work and commitment of churches towards assisting the youths within the community.

The poultry project headed by the Couples for Christ, a Catholic ministry group, will kick off soon and will involve mostly the unemployed or unfortunate youths in Gerehu stage 6 and 7 to engage in poultry farming.

A spokesperson of the Couples for

Christ, upon receiving the cheque, thanked Mr Malabag for recognising the important roles that church groups play in contributing to the development of the electorate through the various programs it carries out in the community.

He said the money would be used wisely for the purpose of the poultry project.

Couples for Christ, since its establishment in Philippines to answer the cry of the poor, has spread to more than 143 countries worldwide, including Papua New Guinea. It aims to empower youths.

“The poultry project is one of the latest projects that CFC will carry out with the youths from the community,” said the CFC spokesperson.

The Couples for Christ, since its establishment in the country more than 18 years ago, has assisted a lot of unemployed youths in the community through the various programs it undertakes.

One of these projects is a school built in Siraka, Gerehu where unfortunate children are given the opportunity to be educated with the support from SP Brewery, Lae Biscuits and City Pharmacy Limited.

CHILDREN attending the program helping animal keepers to feed the cassowaries.

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Law and order rise triggers liquor ban

BY JOHNNY POIYA

THE alcohol ban in the Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces is effective as of yesterday.

A month-long grace period given to liquor sellers to remove all stocks ended yesterday with the actual ban coming into effect.

The surge in law and order problems in the two provinces prompted governors Paias Wingti and William Tongamp to impose the ban.

District helps students

BY RIODAN BEGUSHAR

DEI MP Wesley Nukundi

Nukundj has presented

K7000 to the Bunum Pinz Students Association at the association’s launching in remote Kurunga village of Dei district Western Highlands Province last week.

The money came from the District Services Improvement Program

funds. It will be used as a seed capital to start up the students association’s account.

The association was purposely formed to improve the standard of literacy in this remote village, according to its chairperson Jacob Mel, who is a lecturer at the Melanesian Nazarene Teachers College in the Jiwaka Province.

Mr Nukundj was repre-

sented by district administrator Steven Korowa, district education officer Batamai Tipi, deputy chairman, joint district planning and budget priority committee Palem Ruing and Barry Rungwa, a representative from the Governor for Western Highlands.

The education officer and Mr Rungwa, in a joint statement, told the gathering that forming students asso-

ciations is a way forward and it correlates with the priorities of Mr Nukundj and Governor for Western Highlands Province Paias Wingti, towards improving education system in the district and the province.

“Since education is the first priority of the MP for Dei and Governor for Western Highlands, we has their representative are here to make you students

know that we will assist in whatever ways necessary to aid you in your learning,”

Mr Rungwa said.

Mr Korowa said within the two years of Mr Nukundj in office as MP for Dei, he has supported and made available funding for major impact projects in the district’s education sector.

These projects includes double classrooms in schools in the electorate.

Any alcohol being transported across the Chimbu border into Jiwaka would be confiscated by the state.

During the grace period, container loads of alcohol were turned back by police manning the checkpoint at Kumbal near the ChimbuJiwaka Province.

“It will be different story now. Any alcohol coming in after the January 19 will be confiscated by the state,” Jiwaka Police Commander Joseph Tondop said.

The ban will continue for an indefinite period.

Mr Tondop said 80 percent of crime reports were alcohol related and the ban would greatly help ease police work.

BY OGIA MIAMEL and RIODAN BEGUSHAR

THE O’Neill-Dion Goverment’s decision to remove the K400,000 from the local level governments’ funding of K500,000 has affected the development of the council wards in the country.

Muglamp LLG president in Western Highlands Province John Wamp said the national Government has removed the council president’s development funds and shifted it to the District Service Improvement Project fund (DSIP) in which the Open MPs would be in charge.

He said this would greatly affect the LLGs’ operations because the K100,000 would not be enough to develop their own council wards.

“We are the ones who know the real problems in our communities but there are no funds to run our council wards,” he said.

Mr Wamp said they are also voted by the people and they deserve to have a rightful amount of money to develop their council wards for they are with the people and know the real issues faced by the people in the community.

He said the K100,000 would not

LLG president not happy with development funds Association thanks Jiwaka govt

be enough to run their wards because it would be used for administrative matters only.

He said other members of parliament should follow the examples set by MP for Imbonggu and Works Minister Francis Awesa, who made available K200,000 to each council president in his electorates to develop their council wards.

He said MP for Kokopo Ereman ToBaining Jr also gave a total of K2 million to all council presidents in his electorate. He said the shortfall could be alleviated if all other MPs do likewise and support LLGs in their electorates.

BY OGIA MIAMEL

JIWAKA Adventist Student’s Association (JASA) representative Charles Genapanu, on behalf of the students, has thanked the Jiwaka Provincial Government and Governor William Tongamp for their continuous support in funding towards the association. He said Mr Tongamp pre-

sented a cheque of K66,000 and K23,000 in cash to their association at one of their major conventions at Tombil late last year. He said it’s a first of its kind for a student association in the province to receive that amount of money.

Mr Genapanu said the JASA consists of over 800 students from elementary level to tertiary. He said the association is

involved in carrying out awareness on HIV/Aids, education and health. He said tertiary students use their knowledge acquired from school to host business and agriculture seminars to help Jiwaka people live a better live.

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DEI District administrator Steven Korowa (left) presenting the K7000 cheque to the Bunum Pinz Student Association chairman Jacob Mel.

If you have a story to tell, call us on 472 4166 or email postlae@spp.com.pg / or call 422 3120, email postmadang@spp.com.pg

Resident raises concern on pollutions

RUBBISH pollution, noise and speeding vehicles are some community problems seen in over crowded streets all over the country.

A long time father and resident of Bowerbird Street in Lae’s China Town expressed his frustration over littering and throwing of rubbish carelessly on the street.

He said he caught someone red handed on his camera one night.

He said the litter bug loaded his wheel barrow and was on his way to throw rubbish somewhere along the street.

He said the person had no respect for his neighbours or no fear of authorities or committees in the area.

Governor Naru donates to Igam’s ex-servicemen

MOROBE Governor Kelly

Naru yesterday visited the evicted ex-servicemen and their families at the Igam Barracks academy in Lae.

As a head of the province

Mr Naru travelled to the barracks to make a humanitarian donation in cash and kind to the aggrieved exservicemen and their families evicted from the barracks.

Five bales of second hand clothes, food and K2000 cash has been given to the 14 families who have been evicted.

Some of them had gone to live with their relatives while others set up tents

outside the barracks.

Mr Naru said he was visiting them as a family member and the landowner to witness and share their grief and acknowledge each of their sentiments.

He said this problem has been ongoing since 2000 and has never been addressed by the authorities and the situation requires a call for humanitarian assistance and after that a proper course of action must be put in place to address the issue.

“Of course, in every trouble it takes two to tango and it looks like there are

some issues where the military did not discourse their cases,” Mr Naru said.

“Whether you are eligible to receive the benefits in terms your position as a retiree or retrench officer every categories of the leaving the force is there.”

He said according to the

calculation and criteria of repatriation and other issues, they need to take a more proactive approach in a manner fitting of employer relationships and give something back to these grieving families.

“At this point of time the ex-servicemen are going to court which is a very expensive exercise but they have chosen that option and they will have to run for that until they exhausted the option,” Mr Naru said.

“I am a bit disappointed to hear that the ex-servicemen have chosen to fight the case in court and they

have taken more out of their pocket.”

He urged the ex-servicemen to think things out properly before going to the courts, because they may not be owed much by the Defence Department, and it could all be used up in legal and associated fees if they choose to go down that road.

That means they would be left with very little or nothing at all after everything is done. He said the Morobe Provincial Government is ready to help send them back to their home provinces.

“I was taking pictures of rubbish washed down by the rain and settled in front of my house,” the resident, who did not want to be named in fear or reprisals, said.

“So I followed him and caught him on camera dumping the rubbish along the drain on the street.”

He said the street has formed a committee to address issues affecting residents but people are not taking this seriously.

“It is important that during meetings people know their committees and their roles and have some sense of respect and cleanliness in their neighbourhood,” the resident said.

He said new members have been appointed to the street committee on Sunday.

Carol Yawing the council representative for ward two, reminded the residents in their community meeting on Sunday that it was their responsibility to have a rubbish drum and an up to date city council sticker to store their garbage.

Students address scholarship abuse

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

MECHANISMS must be put in place by provincial authorities and the Office of Higher Education to curb abuse of various scholarships, says Morobe student leaders.

Morobe Tertiary Students

Union leaders Offo Olio and Ixzara Bakung made these call when addressing scholarship issue with continuing and new students to various tertiary institutions across the country.

The abuse of scholarship is far wide and deep, it is entrenched as a culture within the student population in Papua New Guinea’s tertiary institutions and the institutions are encouraging the practice.

The Office of Higher Education was contacted by telephone and email for their comments and if

they were aware of the abuse.

The Post-Courier also wanted to ascertain what forms of actions will be taken by the office to curb the abuse and whether it will prosecute students found abusing the scholarships.

Our investigations found that institutions are reimbursing students, fees that they did not pay out of their pockets and fees that should be rightfully returned to the Office of Higher Education or whichever province that paid for it.

A law student from Morobe studying at the University of Papua New Guinea, who wishes to remain anonymous, said these students used the scholarships as their pocket or beer money and the abuse is gross.

“For example, they would be on HECAS and Morobe’s Gerson-Solulu scholarship,

they would take the Morobe scholarship and refund the HECAS fees for their own use,” he said.

He said universities and other tertiary institutions are playing big part in the abuse.

A former student boasted of how he manipulated the system and allowed discontinued students to be on the scholarship and used the money for his own personal use with the knowledge of the university bursar.

With such abuse rife and institutionalised, Morobe students have agreed to be registered under a single scholarship and free up money for other unfortunate students.

“We have agreed that if we are on Morobe scholarship then we should forego our district’s scholarship and the money can be used by our brothers and sisters,” Mr Olio said.

MR Naru visits the ex-servicemen and donates food and other items to help them get through.

They have taken more out of their pocket

KELLY NARU Lae, Igam barracks

US mercy ship to visit Buka

THE Pacific Partnership 2015 advance team was in Buka, Bougainville on Wednesday January 14, to discuss the purpose of a US marine mercy ship that will arrive on the shores of Bougainville in June.

In a briefing with the advance team, team leader, Dr Carlos Williams said the visit will be the first time Pacific Partnership 2015 US Navy will visit Bougainville to conduct awareness on natural and man-made disasters and provide humanitarian services as well as identify areas that need assistance.

The team was in Buka on Wednesday and travelled to Arawa on Thursday to survey potential areas for US assistance.

Duke of York islands to submit disaster report

BY MICHAEL WARTOVO

THE Duke of York local level government (LLG) administration will soon be finalising its report on the recent sea swells affecting its island communities.

The report will be handed to the Kokopo District Administration following a briefing with the Kokopo District acting administrator John Talele.

Duke of York LLG manager

Darius Kunai said the report will include the effects of sea swells following recent heavy rainfall and strong winds that struck communities in the LLG resulting in damages to houses as well as food gardens.

He said the LLG executive council had approved a budget of K50,000 late last year for any disaster response program this year. He said they were now waiting for that funding

which will come from the Kokopo District Services Improvement Program fund for this year. He also said the LLG administration was now embarking on producing a plan to look at future disaster response programs and strategies.

Mr Kunai had called on each ward member in the LLG to supply information regarding the number of people living in their respective

wards and other relevant information to assist the LLG administration office at the Kibil government station develop a future strategy plan to monitor and look at future disaster responses in the LLG.

He said the LLG disaster committee comprising of the ward member for Nagaila, John Mark, as vice chairman has been established to oversee and report back to the LLG executive council

Concern for ENB war sites

BY GRACE TIDEN

CALLS have been made for authorities to look into protecting and preserving historical objects and sites in East New Britain Province.

The Rabaul Historical Society is concerned about the state of several sites in Rabaul. Especially the remains of a World War Two Japanese floating crane near Blue Lagoon along the Kokopo/ Rabaul Road and the Malmaluan Coastwatchers Memorial Cairn and lookout guns.

Spokeswoman Susie Mc Grade said the crane along the Kokopo/ Rabaul Road could eventually fall into the sea and nothing has been done to preserve this historical object.

She said it had been positioned there since it was bombed by the allies more than 70 years ago

and it was an icon for the island of Rabaul.

She said despite being a huge tourist attraction, little or no attention has been given to it.

Ms McGrade also said the historical society was concerned at the disrespect and disregard given to the Malmaluan Coastwatchers Memorial Cairn and the lookout guns.

She said the Coastwatchers memorial appears to have disappeared and the lookout guns

have graffiti on them.

Ms McGrade said other historical sites were being fenced off such as the Namanula Governor Albert Hahl steps and tourists were being charged unlawful fees by so-called landowners.

She said if the Government was serious about ENB being the tourism hub of PNG, the ENB Tourism Authority would ensure these valuable and historically significant sites were kept in pristine condition for posterity.

“Tourists do not want to see graffiti or ugly “rascal” type fences or experience feelings of being “ripped” off by disingenuous people. The international tourist is not stupid. They know when they are being taken advantage of and we are all obligated to protect them and the historic site,” she said.

matters regarding any disaster issues in the LLG.

Meanwhile, he also said negotiations have taken place with other government agencies such as the Kokopo district administration and the East New Britain Provincial Government to relocate the people of Duke of York who have been continuously affected by natural disasters over the years to a plantation on the mainland.

According to Dr Carlos, the US mercy ship last visited Papua New Guinea, Wewak in 2013 but it is the first time it will have a partnership with Bougainville. He said that the Pacific Partnership is working closely with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to conduct its activities.

Pacific Partnership started operating as a hospital ship in 2004, as a global response from the United States to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It aims to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster resilience to Pacific nations.

Since then, it has been providing medical and engineering services especially to hospitals in the pacific.

Dr Carlos said roughly a thousand military personal would be in Bougainville on the marine navy from June 26 to July 10.

SEA water has already reached this house at Pirtop Ward in the Duke of York Islands.

Tourists do not want to see graffiti or ugly “rascal” type fences...

SUSIE McGRADE Rabaul

have

Misuse of govt vehicles worry officer

THE Autonomous Bougainville Governments’ property and assets management committee is concerned that ABG vehicles are currently being misused by public servants to do private businesses.

ABG property and assets officer William Roho said there has been so much misuse in the government official vehicles and attempts to get officers to adhere to fleet management guidelines have fallen on deaf ears.

“We have about 60 vehicles in the region. Forty of them are five-days vehicles while 20 are seven-day vehicles,” Mr Roho explains.

“Despite these allocations, most of the vehicles are being over used particularly during the weekends.”

Momis answers critics’ queries on govt issues

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government PresidentJohn Momis has finally responded to critics regarding the Bougainville Mining Law and the recent appointment of Monovi Amani as the region’s new chief secretary.

Mr Momis said people who are spreading rumors have hidden motives and he does not like it one bit.

The veteran politician who is running for his second term come the June ABG Elections, while responding to all four demands from the former BRA General, Ishmael Toroama, said he does not and will not create instability to Bougainville but wants stability and development for the region and because of this he wants

total unity in diversity from all Bougainvilleans.

Mr Momis said on the appointment of Mr Amani he had already explained that the Bougainville Constitution requires the Senior Appoint-ment Committee, which is an independent committee, to make appointments after all checks and processes are met and him as the chairman is only part of the team.

Mr Momis said the outgoing chief secretary will be best utilised in other important functions of the Bougainville administration and has already accepted the change.

On the second demand of why he and several ministers have shares in Poge

Limited, Mr Momis said these shares were held on behalf of the Bougainville Government and would be transferred to a Bougainville Holdings Company that will managed and control all Bougainville government shares, including those in MV Chebu

On his association with the Torokina oil palm project,

Mr Momis explained that he has no personal interest in the project but had to continue this project, approved by the previous government under the late Joseph Kabui.

Mr Momis said before he became the President in 2010, the project had already commenced and some funds were misused and some heads had to be rolled to

stop the misuse of funds for the project.

Mr Momis said when the tender was called, only three companies made bids to do a feasibility study on the project, of which one company bidded for more than K30 million, a second company did not put a figure on their bid whilst Hakau had the lowest bid of K10 million.

Mr Momis also announced that the study has been completed and landowners have formed and registered their land groups and will be making their presentation in Buka to seek possible developers of the oil palm project, which can become an impact project for this part of Bougainville.

On MV Chebu, Mr Momis

said the project is 50/50 partnership with Henry Chow and his company and all profits will be shared according to the shares.

Mr Momis said the ABG will be paying management fees and these people have the management capability to manage this company on behalf of the two shareholders.

On the Bougainville Mining Bill, Mr Momis said the ABG will pass the permanent Bougainville Mining Bill at its next sitting.

He said the Department of Mining has been making awareness in all parts of Bougainville since the Transitional Mining Bill was passed last year.

Pubic servant resigns to contest ABG election

By ROMULUS MASIU

ONLY one public servant will be contesting the coming 2015 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) elections with all other non-public servants. This was after ABG worker Nick Peniai resigned to meet the criteria of Bougainville electoral law that persons

wanting to contest the ABG 2015 General Elections must resign by the January 9 2015.

Mr Peniai, who was the director of Peace Directorate, submited his resignation on Tuesday which become effective on Friday January 9, 2015.

Mr Peniai said he supports the work of the current gov-

ernment but sees some areas needs the government to put more emphasis on.

Mr Peniai said he sees that the current government must settle all outstanding reconciliations filed up at his office before the referendum takes place. He said without peace he sees problem for the people of Bougainville and their

dream to become independent one day.

Meanwhile, names are popping up all throughout Bougainville on candidates who will take on the challenge come five months time.

Some household names are tipped to again race for the president’s seat while others will be contesting the

respective constituencies.

Christians throughout Bougainville are also praying hard for this election to be a successful one with good and honest leaders.

Meanwhile, the Bougainville Electoral Commission is appealing to all eligible voters to register on the common roll before the elections.

Mr Roho said during the Christmas and New Year period, most of the vehicles were engaged by officers for personal use.

He said it was not good as it conflicts their official duties as Autonomous Bougainville Government officers and should not be used for their own personal gains.

“The five-days vehicles are to be used during the normal government official hours from Monday to Fridays and should be pooled at 4pm each day. “They are not supposed to be used at the weekends. “The seven days vehicles are those assigned to senior management officers.

“These officers included the ABG ministries, departmental secretaries and directors of the various ABG bureaus,” Mr Roho explained.

He said just because the seven days vehicles were to be used by the senior management on a 24-hour basis, it does not mean they have to misuse them by drinking alcohol, chasing after women or doing private business with them while the vehicles are in their procession.

He said one of the ABG vehicles used by the technical services had its sticker ripped off and its government plate number removed by the officer who was using it.

Mr Roho said the manner in which the officer got rid of the vehicle’s official identity was not in the best interest of ABG, while the concerned officer said he and other officers were entitled to use the vehicle for five days.

JOHN Mauroko from Siwai district of South Bougainville is a self-taught painter. He is seen here painting flowers to decorate a building for Domjen Trading in the heart of Arawa town. He uses his skill for painting to earn a bit of cash for his daily living. Words and picture: ROMULUS MASIU

SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST

In 2008, scientists discovered a new species of bacteria that lives in hair-spray.

The bottom line

P’nyang field provides for gas expansion

BY PATRICK T.WUNDAI

THE undeveloped P’nyang gas field is poised to underpin the expansion of the PNG LNG Project, as well as provide natural gas for power generation.

In three different statements released by ExxonMobil PNG Limited as operator of the PNG LNG Project, Oil Search Limited as partner and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill respective over the weekend, all suggest that there is definitely an expansion of the current LNG project.

Last week, ExxonMobil and the State announced the signing of an agreement (MoU) with respect to the expansion of the PNG LNG Project.

According to a statement released by Oil Search yesterday, under the MoU, the PNG LNG Project will supply electricity and gas for domestic power generation, providing a reliable and clean source of energy to support PNG’s urgent power needs. The agreement details the provisions for an LNG expansion project, including the award of a petroleum development licence (PDL) and associated pipeline licences for the P’nyang gas field in PRL 3 (Oil Search – 38.51%).

Oil Search yesterday made it clear that there is going to be a third gas train in addition to the current two trains at the plant site outside Port Moresby though ExxonMobil was reluctant to confirm yesterday when asked whether the most speculated third train is certain or not since P’nayng is about to be granted a PDL, which has been suggested for a while as a determining factor for an expansion of a third train.

As stated, “P’nyang will provide additional long-term gas reserves for power generation and Project expansion, including expected debottlenecking of the existing trains and a third LNG train.”

Oil Search says the MoU sets out an agreed timeline between the PRL 3 co-venturers and Government to a final investment decision for an additional LNG train.

“The commitment from the PRL 3 owners is for the sanction of the third train in the earliest timeframe, subject to completion of typ-

ical activities including appraisal, marketing, financing and development engineering on P’nyang. Under the agreement, a final investment decision is to be taken by the end of 2017 at the latest,” part of the statement read.

The second largest partner said the PRL 3 licencees are in the process of finalising the PDL application for P’nyang which, under the MoU timeline, is expected to be offered by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

It was reported that preparations are underway for appraisal drilling and development engineering studies, which will commence this year.

Oil Search is currently updating its resource estimate for P’nyang. Preliminary interpretation of recently acquired data has indicated a larger resource base than currently booked, which is providing confidence that the field can underpin the expansion train.

The commitment under the MoU to near-term appraisal drilling will be undertaken to better quantify 1C contingent resource volumes.

Oil Search’s managing director, Peter Botten said, “we are delight-

ed that ExxonMobil, as operator of the PNG LNG Project and PRL 3, has signed this MoU.

This agreement meets the needs of all stakeholders. It will deliver much needed power to the people of PNG and provides an agreed timeline and activities for an expansion train at PNG LNG supported by P’nyang, a major gas field which is a key growth asset in Oil Search’s portfolio.

“The arrangement supports the PNG Government’s vision to improve the delivery of long-term, reliable and accessible power in PNG. Importantly, it demonstrates how LNG developments, such as the PNG LNG Project, can deliver both substantial export revenues and gas-for-power solutions to the local economy, for the benefit of all of PNG. Oil Search will continue to work with, and support, the Government to deliver an integrated power solution for the nation,” Mr Botten added.

ExxonMobil Communication advisor Rebecca Arnold said, “however, there is still much work to be done to firm up the field.”

Ms Arnold when asked whether there was any provision made to

supply gas to Port Moresby in the 2008 May 22 Gas Agreement, she responded, “in the original Gas Agreement, provisions were made for a supply of gas (4mscfd) for Hides. This is an existing agreement. This recent announcement of the MoU signed between ExxonMobil PNG Limited and the PNG Government builds on this, and allows for the provision of natural gas and power for PNG Power to supply electricity to Port Moresby.

This is beneficial to the people of Port Moresby and supports the Government’s plans to improve the capacity and reliability of the country’s power supply,” Ms Arnold said.

Further queried to ascertain which party bears the cost implication of gas supply, she stated, “this will be supplied to PNG Power at a cost that is more economical than, say, diesel.”

However, additional queries to IPBC and PNG Power for the rationale behind selecting Port Moresby alone for a 20 year period while the rest of the country is yet to be lit up by PNG Power and while the country is celebrating 40 years were unanswered.

Project ends lender operational completion test

THE PNG LNG Project’s 120-day operational test period has successfully concluded.

ExxonMobile yesterday said in a statement that this is just one of several tests required, and is an important milestone towards satisfaction of the financial completion tests set forth in the Project’s financing arrangements.

The operator said after financial completion has been achieved, guarantees will be released, loan

repayments will commence, and co-venture distributions will be permitted.

Financing for the project has been provided by a consortium of banks and export credit agencies.

Rebecca Arnold of ExxonMobil stressed that PNG LNG revenues kept at an escrow account are not released yet when asked about the timing of the conclusion of lender operation completion test and whether it means the immediate

release of LNG revenues.

“No, that doesn’t happen until after financial completion. This is just one of the tests required to move toward financial completion.

The timing of the release of funds is still expected as Peter said – this year.”

Earlier, ExxonMobil PNG LNG managing director Peter Graham told reporters that the revenue will be released either in the later part of 2015 or early 2016.

Market Snapshot

Ms Arnold elaborated,” and be very clear: this test has been completed in the timeframe that we expected.

These tests are required by the Lenders, not the government,” when pressed if the Government has pressurised ExxonMobil to fast track its revenue since the 2015 National Budget was framed in light of the LNG revenue and current financial liquidity issues surrounding government coffers.

$A still strong above 82 US cents

SYDNEY: The Australian dollar has managed to hold onto last week’s gains, trading above 82 US cents amid a weaker US dollar.

At 1700 AEDT on Monday, the local currency was trading at 82.18 US cents, down from 82.34 cents on Friday. The Australian dollar has been trading higher since better than expected jobs figures last week showed the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 per cent in December.

Meanwhile, weaker than expected data out of the US have weighed on the US dollar, further boosting the Aussie, Easy Forex currency dealer Ricky Liu said.

“The overall data weren’t as strong as expecteddoesn’t mean the US won’t start increasing interest rates some time this year but any negative news out of the US at the moment is having a strong impact on the US dollar,” Mr Liu said.

He said key data out of China on Tuesday, including economic growth, retail sales and industrial production, could determine the currency’s next move.

At 1700 AEDT the Australian dollar was at 96.24 Japanese yen, up from 95.89 yen on Friday, and at 71.07 euro cents, up from 70.78 euro cents. Meanwhile, Australian bond futures prices were lower. At 1630 AEDT on Monday, the March 2015 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 97.405 (implying a yield of 2.595 per cent), down from 97.485 (2.515 per cent) on Friday.

The March 2015 three-year bond futures contract was at 97.900 (2.100 per cent), down from 97.960 (2.040 per cent).

The Australian dollar last week rallied on the Swiss central bank’s shock currency and interest rate announcement. At 1700 AEDT on Friday, the local currency was trading at 82.34 US cents, up from 82.12 cents on Thursday.

It jumped above 82 US cents on Thursday’s surprise fall in the unemployment rate, and rose further overnight after the Swiss National Bank’s shock decision to end its three-year bid to artificially hold down the value of its currency against the euro. That means the exit from the market of a major buyer of euros.

MAP of P’nayng gas field (top far left) among the current PNG LNG Project footprint.

Iron ore output up but oil cut looms

MELBOURNE: Mega-miners

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are expected to announce more record iron ore production numbers this week despite the commodity’s price dive.

However the oil price crash has analysts tipping that BHP will announce a reduction of nearly $US250 million in exploration spending on US shale oil and gas.

When the big miners last reported production numbers in October, they were criticised for over-producing and driving down the price of iron ore.

Since then the price has fallen further from $US80 a tonne to under $70 currently.

Rio and BHP are still profitable at those prices.

Analysts think that after a busy fourth quarter Rio will announce on Tuesday it slightly beat its own iron ore sales guidance for the year of 300 million tonnes.

BHP is also expected to have notched up two per cent gains in production from the previous quarter to more than 63 million tonnes.

It is only the second quarter for BHP, but it is on target to beat full year WA iron ore production guidance of 245 million tonnes, say analysts from RBC Capital Markets and Deutsche Bank.

They are predicting production falls in BHP’s crucial petroleum division, due to seasonal factors that led to a strong previous quarter.

Deutsche Bank has production down eight per cent to 61.8 million barrels while RBC predicts an 11 per cent decline to 60.2 million.

“An update on the US onshore drilling strategy is likely,” said Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Young.

“We expect rigs to be dropped from the Permian

At a glance

BHP BILLITON: an AngloAustralian multinational mining, metals and petroleum company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is the world’s largest mining company measured by 2013 revenues.

RIO TINTO: a British-Australian multinational metals and mining corporation with headquarters in London, United Kingdom, and a management office in Melbourne, Australia.

PRODUCTION: The big miners last reported production numbers in October, they were criticised for over-producing and driving down the price of iron ore.

and a slowdown in completions in the Black Hawk.

“We forecast a drop in quarterly spend from $US895 million to $US650 million.”

That view was reinforced by reports that major US onshore BHP contractor Schlumberger would slash 9000 jobs out of its workforce of 126,000 in anticipation of a decline in sector drilling activity.

Fat Prophets resource analyst David Lennox said he thought the outlook for BHP’s petroleum division this year was still positive, because it sold a lot of petroleum products into the US where demand and the economy were strong.

China’s imports for December had also been strong in oil, iron ore and copper despite the price falls, which was a good sign for 2015, he said.

“A lot of what Rio and BHP dig up goes in that direction so they would have participated in delivering that extra commodity into China,” he said. - AAP

NEED FOR FRESH MEAT MARKET

FRESH meat supply is so high yet market is limited. This is the concern of a hunter who supplies fresh meat at Kwikila Station Market. Gaina Juhia is a young local hunter like other folks who supplies fresh meat especially wallaby meat or popularly known as “magani” (in Motu dialect) at Kwikila Market, the district headquarters of Rigo district. He says there is huge supply for fresh wallaby meat but not many customers. “Only on weekends when Port Moresby residents come to Kwikila then we can sell them quickly. Otherwise, we keep them for next day or consume it ourselves. It’s our wish that a proper fresh meat market is established for fresh wallaby meat suppliers so that we can supply to them as well as make sufficient income for local hunters,”. In this picture, young Juhia with his catch heading to Kwikila market. He was selling it for K40. Picture: PATRICK.T.WUNDAI

Barrick stock lifts as gold prices hit four month high

OPERATOR of Porgera Gold

mine Barrick Gold (Barrick)

shares at the New York Stock Exchange has got a lift higher as gold price hits four months high.

According to analyst The Street in New York, shares of Barrick Gold were getting a lift, higher by 3.43% to $11.76 (K30.58) in late morning on Friday trading, helped by climbing gold prices as investors seek safety from market volatility after the Swiss

The bottom line

central bank unexpectedly abandoned its three-year cap on the franc, citing a report from CNBC.

Spot gold was up 0.84% to $1271.71 (K3307) as of 11:07 a.m. ET Friday.

On the day before, the precious metal posted its biggest gain for the day in six weeks, rising 2.6% following the Swiss National Bank’s move.

Canada-based Barrick operates mines and advanced exploration and development

projects in Canada, the U.S., Dominican Republic, Australia, Papua New Guinea (Porgera), Peru, Chile, Argentina, Zambia, Saudi Arabia and Tanzania.

“We rate Barrick Gold Corp a sell. This is driven by multiple weaknesses, which we believe should have a greater impact than any strength, and could make it more difficult for investors to achieve positive results compared to most of the stocks we cover.

“The company’s weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its unimpressive growth in net income, weak operating cash flow, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share,” TheStreet rated.

As highlighted in the analysis by TheStreet Ratings and among others; the company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quar-

ter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Metals & Mining industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 27.3% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $172.00 million (K447.33 million) to $125.00 million (K325.09 million). Net operating cash flow has decreased to $852.00 million (K2215.86 million) or 30.78 per cent when compared to the

same quarter last year.

Despite a decrease in cash flow of 30.78%, Barrick is in line with the industry average cash flow growth rate of -31.38%. It further stated that the miner’s earnings per share declined by 38.9% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago.

The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years.

Port Moresby to power up on gas

ELECTRICITY generation in Papua New Guinea is about to be given a significant boost through the Government’s agreement with ExxonMobil PNG, the operator of the PNG LNG Project, to generate additional power for Port Moresby from PNG LNG.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today in Port Moresby, PNG LNG will supply Port Moresby targeting June, and sufficient gas for a further 50 megawatts by the end of the year providing a total of 75 additional megawatts.

The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, welcomed the MOU saying that in addition to being an important national export, LNG will strengthen local development and improve lives through domestic electricity generation.

“With existing demand in Port Moresby being around 150 megawatts per day, against supply of 130 megawatts, the additional electricity generated from natural gas will assist with covering current demand,” PM O’Neill said.

“This capacity will increase to meet future power requirements that are expected to

rise to up to 200 megawatts per day in the coming years as the city continues to expand.

“Our country is growing and the living standards of our people continue to rise so we need to continually upgrade our power generation capacity.

“Using natural gas for the generation of electricity makes perfect sense due to its availability and environmental benefits as a cleaner energy source, as well being a cost-effective form of energy production.

“The MOU with ExxonMobil PNG is another demonstration of the strength of the working relationship the national Government has with major international business partners.

“We thank ExxonMobil PNG for the company’s ongoing partnership with Papua New Guinea as we not only expand this export industry, but also enhance development in our nation.”

The agreement will see the supply of up to 20 million cubic feet of natural gas a day for electricity production for a period of 20 years. This is in addition to the existing

gas commitment for Hela Province.

The MOU further proposes to extend petroleum development and related pipeline licenses for the P’nyang field to ExxonMobil PNG, with the potential for the expansion of the PNG LNG project, subject to the Oil and Gas Act of 1989.

“The potential for expanding LNG production is considerable and we are exploring the opportunity to further increase this important sector.

“LNG continues to provide great benefit to our economy now and for decades into the future.

“Our government will continue to explore opportunities with our partners to deliver benefits from LNG to the people of this nation.

“The appraisal of the P’nyang field is the logical next step towards the ongoing expansion of LNG production in Papua New Guinea.”

The MOU was signed by Acting Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Ben Micah and ExxonMobil PNG managing director Peter Graham, and was witnessed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

BUSINESS BOOMING

Nambawan Super launches new website

BY TUMBE SAM JNR

IT IS another mile stone achievement for Nambawan Super Limited in launching their new web site for their members to stay informed and access necessary information with a touch of a button.

This follows a major customer sustentation survey that Nambawan Super ran in 2014 where 80% of members being aware of the risks involved, elected to receive their annual statements through an

PUBLIC NOTICE

The launching of the new web site aims to reduce the risk of member’s information being exposed to the general public.

The revamped website has been designed to be more user-friendly for members and is inclusive with a Superannuation Calculator enabling members to foresee and calculate how much they should have in their accounts in the future.

Nambawan Super chief executive officer, Garry Tunstall said: “The web site has

BEWARE OF MONEY SCHEMES & SCAMSUSE YOUR MONEY WISELY, DURING 2015. DON’T LOSE IT TO FRAUDULENT MONEY SCAMS.

The Bank of Papua New Guinea (the Bank or Bank of PNG) continues to warn the public to be cautious and avoid placing their hard earned cash with promoters or agents of fast money schemes and scams. These fast money schemes/scams are illegal and fraudulent. People who place their money with promoters or agents of these money schemes/scams risk losing their hard earned cash. Be smarter than them, and use your money wisely during the festive season.

The Bank is aware of certain individual(s), agents or groups operating in many parts of PNG who ask innocent individuals to invest their cash in their operation with a promise for a hefty return of 100-2000% on their investment. They also claim that a huge sum of their money, gold or investments in Treasury bills and bonds (often in billions/trillions) is held by the Bank of PNG and is awaiting clearance for immediate payment.

The Bank is also aware of recent scams using mobile phone text and email messages, fraudulent documents with the signatures of Governor of the Bank of PNG, name of the prime Minister, Government Ministers and politicians, winning of lotteries and prizes, request for upfront fees for facilitating access to funds held in offshore accounts and other fraudulent means. These are all different types of scams which are illegal and fraudulent.

Be advised that the Bank of PNG does not deal with financial transactions for any individuals or private groups. The Bank only deals with financial transactions for the Government and licensed financial institutions in

been revamped with a focus to get members more engaged with superannuation; keeping members informed, planning for retirement, increasing contributions, building a first home and a simple and less cluttered way to navigate and get required information,” Garry said.

He further stated that in 2014 Nambawan commenced a major organisational transformation to better position the Fund to be more customer centric and responsive to the needs of its members.

PNG. Do not send money for upfront fees to any nominated accounts locally or overseas, and avoid giving money to individuals and groups that promise to pay high returns.

If you have given your money to these schemers, you should report those individual(s) to the Police, or demand your money back from them.

REMEMBER: DO NOT PLACE YOUR MONEY WITH ILLEGAL FAST MONEY SCHEMES AND SCAMS. YOU SHOULD USE THE SERVICES OF LICENSED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY. BE SMART,USE YOUR MONEY WISELY DURING 2015.

WISHING ALL THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

A PROPEROUS HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

GOD BLESS PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Authorised by:

Loi M. Bakani Governor

NSL branch.

UPNG Journalism Student

SHOPS at Erima are making money everyday with the Hiritano Highway PMV stop out the front and travellers flooding their stores on last minute shopping errands.

Logistics plays vital role in growth

THERE are several logistic companies providing various services to their customers. The business logistician’s function includes inventory management, transportation, purchasing, consultation which is the main part of there job, planning of activities in order to provide better service. The logistician combine all there professional activities in order to provide a better service to their customers.

Nowadays, in an industry the production

logistics are becoming more and more important with the decreasing batch sizes of the products being manufactured in an industry. However, it plays an important role in providing a medium between customer and the manufacturing unit in providing quality product in quality time. However tracking and tracing the products by the costumers and the manufacturing unit is the important service that adds up charm in the logistics industry in

providing the quality service. In today’s scenario the safety and product reliability issues plays an important role in the industry and hence here comes the importance of logistics industry in providing better service.

With this coordination between different industries provides better services to the costumers and helping nation to succeed in the different sectors.

It is no different here in Papua New

Guinea. With development in various industrial sectors, major centres are experiencing the demand for growth. Following the commencement of the LNG Project the city of Port Moresby and other centres like Lae and Mt Hagen are seeing the need to meet demand.

SEEN above is a container semi-traiiler along Kanudi transporting cargo to a client location on the ever-busy Baruni to Papa-Lealea Highway.

Tourism looks promising for AROB

BY ISHMAEL PALIPAL

BOUGAINVILLE is gradually becoming a favourite destination in PNG for tourists from around the world. After more than 20 years of recovery from the crisis, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) is starting to show promise on the tourism radar with a good number of tourist packages which include activities such as bird-watching, hiking, sightseeing, snorkelling and diving plus other products like art and cultural shows.

In the past few years, only Buka or the northern part of the region was receiving cruise ships. But just recently with the formation of the Central Bougainville Tourism Association under Zhon Bosco Miriona the fi rst cruise ship, through partnership with Sir Peter Barter, entered the waters of Central Bougainville.

From then on, the number of cruise ships entering the waters of Bougainville, especially Kieta District in Central Bougainville has gradually increased.

“Sir Peter Barter was the one I negotiated with to bring cruise ships to Bougainville,” said Zhon Bosco Miriona. “I can’t do without him and am very thankful.”

“From this fi rst experience, we started receiving a good number of them here in Kieta Wharf,” he said.

He added that last year three cruise ships - the Professor Kromov, Caledonian Sky and Paul Gauguin sailing into Bougainville. The Paul Gauguin sailed into Bougainville twice last year.

Mr Miriona said more are expected to come in this year because Bougainville is like a new destination and this means there will be more tourists in the region.

“However, at this stage, only the Professor Kromov is booked and confi rmed to visit again,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr Miriona is urging the government to boost the tourism sector because more cruise ships means more tourists and more tourism packages must be made so that tourists can be satisfied with their experience on Bougainville.

“The government must focus on tourism and help local people venture into the tourism industry because it is sustainable.”

Ride down south

BOUGAINVILLE Island is the largest Island of the Solomon Sea of the South Pacific Ocean. Bougainville is separated by colonial power into the New Guinea group of islands. However, traditionally and historically, Bougainville, known formerly as North Solomons, shares heavy ties with the other group of Solomon Islands. Bougainville and Solomon Islands have many relatives living on each side which resulted in so much border crossing between the two countries. Pictured above are some Bougainvilleans from Koromira in Central Bougainville getting ready for a ride down south to see their relatives during the New Year seasons. It takes about four hours to reach town of Taro which is capital of Choiseul Province and about another two hours to go further down south to Gizo Town in the province of New Georgia in Solomon Islands.

THE Caledoneian Sky berths at the Kieta Wharf last year. It ferried tourists into the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Australian firm trains sea pilots

CHIEF Pilot of Niugini Pilots Limited (NPL) Captain Max Taikika Stoessel recently completed three world class marine pilot trainings with Smartship Australia, an internationally renowned provider of ongoing training to marine pilots. These trainings were completed to comply with training requirements imposed on him and all other marine pilots by the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) to be completed by 31 December 2014.

In October 2014, Captain Stoessel successfully completed the ECDIS General Operators Training Course where he acquired skills to operate the latest in Electronic Chart display systems on ships. He also attended and completed the NACOS Operator Training Course in which he received training on Chart Pilot training and Chart Radar, Multi Pilot, Radar Pilot and Track Pilot trainings. Company Secretary Melvin Andrew said on the outcome of these trainings. “We thank Smartship Australia for partnering with us to train our pilots and equipping them with the latest skill sets in marine pilotage. Captain Stoessel is the fi rst and only pilot in Papua New Guinea to complete the NACOS Operator Training Course and we are all pleased with the results. Chart and Radar Piloting are ground breaking technologies and we are excited to utilise these new skills in PNG.

In December 2014, Captain Stoessel returned to Brisbane at Smartship Australia and completed the Advanced Marine Pilots Training Course. Prior to that, he completed training on Bridge Resource Management (BRM) which was conducted by the Marine Consultancy Group P/L in Melbourne, Australia

in November 2014. This course trains pilots to operate the new-look bridge of modern ships that are built to assimilate the cockpits of modern aeroplanes. “More than ever before, we are now capable of handling ships with modern equipment and resources on the bridge and we are pleased that our pilots are on the same page with masters of new generation ships,” Mr Andrew said.

Captain Stoessel thanked his employer for its support in the trainings in Australia. “The NMSA has placed a mandatory obligation on all of us pilots in PNG to be trained to international standards and I am very pleased that the management of Niugini Pilots were willing to provide me with the assistance to acquire these necessary trainings which boost my competency as a modern pilot” Captain Stoessel said.

“I appeal to all fellow pilots in PNG to take advantage of these training offered by reputable agencies such as Smartship Australia and Marine Consultancy Group. I would highly recommend pilots to attend courses offered by these resourceful entities” said Captain Max.

Niugini Pilots will be sending more of its pilots to Smartship Australia for training in the coming months, starting February 2015. “High quality training for pilots is not only an investment for our company, but it is a significant long term investment for the marine pilotage industry in PNG” said Mr Andrew. “We need to comply with NMSA standards and must ensure our local industry copes with the ever changing technologies of modern ships and we will achieve that only by continuous training”.

You can visit www.niuginipilots. com.pg for more information.

USING TRANSPORT

A FIFTY seater bus and a truck loaded with building materials pass by each other along Kanudi road. Such buses transport workers to and from the industrial sites along the Papa to Lealea Road while trucks this size to semi trailers bring in and out building or industrial materials as part of the growth in development taking place in and around the nation’s capital.

More wharf upgrades completed for SI

ed cost of SBD$8.2 million, with the funds coming from cumulative savings made as a result of efficiency improvements at the other five wharves.

The project has been upgrading rural wharves to improve safety and access to new economic opportunities, and to make them less vulnerable to climate change. The rebuilt wharves will improve connections between Western and Isabel provinces and the rest of the Solomon Islands. They will also support increased access to jobs, more private sector investment, and improved access to copra and cocoa markets.

UPGRADES to Ringgi Wharf on Kolombangara Island, Keru Wharf on Keru Island, Ngasini Wharf on Vangunu Island and Susabona and Tatamba Wharves in Santa Isabel have been successfully completed ahead of schedule and under budget in the second phase of the Domestic Maritime Support Project.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Solomon Islands, provided a combined SBD$50.1 million to rebuild the wharves which are now operational. A sixth wharf will be constructed in Lambulambu on Vella la Vella Island in Western Province for an estimat-

With the latest upgrades, a total of 10 wharves and 2 landing ramps have now been built or improved under the project— which is also supporting a franchise shipping scheme to remote communities. This scheme will allow private sector operators to provide shipping services to destinations which would not otherwise be commercially viable.

THIS is the picture of the captain’s wheelhouse of Autonomous Region of Bougainville flag carrier ‘MV Chebu’. Picture by JACOB IENU.

CAPTAIN’S WHEELHOUSE

NEW Keru Wharf in the Western Province of Solomon Islands. It was completed on May 18, 2014.

Tanker freight mixed towards year’s end

IN DECEMBER, dirty tanker spot freight rates were mixed. While VLCC rates registered gains compared with the previous month, spot freight rates for Suezmax and Aframax dropped from a month earlier, said OPEC in its latest monthly report. In the VLCC sector, a generally positive trend was detected, pushing freight rates up for all reported routes. VLCC freight rates continued their recovery in December, as was seen in the previous couple of months, mainly on the back of higher tonnage demand for Far East destinations. The VLCC market saw strong activity during December, with freight rates encountering gains in different regions. On average, VLCC freight rates increased by 16 percent from the previous month, while Suezmax and Aframax rates registered drops of 9 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

Clean tanker spot freight rates increased by 11 percent on average in December compared with the previous month, mainly as a result of freight gains registered in West of Suez, which rose by 18 percent on the back of a fi rmer Western market, while East of Suez rates showed a decline of 4 percent from the previous month. In an annual comparison, all clean tanker freight rates were up over one year ago.

Spot fi xtures

Global fi xtures dropped by 7.5 percent in December, compared with the previous month. OPEC spot fi xtures also declined by 1.18 mb/d or 9.2 percent, averaging 11.63 mb/d, according to preliminary data. The drop in fi x-

tures was registered in several regions, as fi xtures in the Middle East to both east- and westbound destinations were lower, as were fi xtures outside of the Middle East, which averaged 4.18 mb/d in December, down by 0.03 mb/d from one month ago. Compared with the same period one year earlier, global fi xtures indicated a drop of 14 percent in December.

Sailings and arrivals

Preliminary data showed that OPEC sailings remained down by 1.5 percent in December, averaging 23.36 mb/d, which is 0.65 mb/d or 2.7 percent lower than the same month a year earlier. December arrivals in North America and the Far East increased over the previous month, while European and West Asian arrivals declined by 0.23 mb/d and 0.07 mb/d, respectively, to average 8.89 mb/d and 4.28 mb/d.

Spot freight rates

VLCC

For the VLCC sector, the market continued with the gains seen since the beginning of the fourth quarter in 2014, as market activity remained high, while vessel availability fluctuated often. However, ship owners showed a constant resistance to lower freight rates, even when the tonnage list lengthened, as rates were expected to continue to rise despite occasional softer momentum during the month.

Suezmax

In a contrary pattern to VLCC, Suezmax spot freight rate developments were negative in December, as average rates dropped by 9 percent, compared

with the previous month. The biggest rate drop was seen for Suezmax operating on the West Africa-to-US route, which fell by 13 percent. Rates for tankers operating on Northwest Europe-to-US routes decreased by 4 percent. December started with a drop in freight rates for West African cargo loadings. However, the declining trend was halted by a fi rming VLCC market and increased delays at the Turkish Straits, all of which helped to stabilize the Suezmax market and prevent further drops in freight rates. Freight rates in the West dropped as tonnage demand to the region was often sparse during the month, affected somewhat by the holiday season.

Aframax

Aframax spot freight rates experienced their biggest decline in December from one month earlier, compared with dirty tankers in other classes. The average rate fell by 29 percent on reported routes. Aframax freight rates in the East were the only exception, showing gains on the Indonesia-to-the-East route by 3 percent to average WS113 points. In the West, all freight rates registered a notable decline from a month earlier; the Caribbeanto-US rate dropped by 29 percent from the previous month, despite stable activity in that region. This was barely enough to stabilize rates for some time before they dropped as the market approached the holiday season, falling in both directions of the Mediterranean.

THIS is one of the upgraded wharves in the Solomon Islands that was done in 2014. It is located in the Western Province of SI.

SI GETS NEW WHARFVES

Tribute to Late Justin Kili

BY THOMAS LULUNGAN

MY BEST friend, brother and colleague has passed on! Radio legend, PNG music promoter and journalist Justin Kili, MBE, passed away at Vunapope Hospital on Saturday January 17, 2015. He died at 9 am from malaria and renal failure. Justin leaves behind wife Selina Kili, his children and grandchildren. At the time of his passing, he was spending time with his family at his daughter’s residence at Butuwin Hospital. Chelsea Kili is a Doctor at the hospital in Kokopo, East New Britain Province.

Often referred to as “JK”, Kili was from Lamanmanu village in Buka Island of Bougainville. He began his local career with his local radio station in 1971. He spent a year there prior to doing a twoyear journalism course in Port Moresby. He returned to Bougainville for a further year before secondment for a time with the ABC in Port Moresby. Kili oftenrecalled that his initial desire to develop contemporary PNG music through radio came about as a result of his dislike of our early band’s imitation of imported music; seeing it as inferior in terms “of both performance and sound recording quality”. He wanted to encourage PNG musicians to write and record their own compositions as early as and prior to the establishment of commercial recording studios in 1980.

JK’s legendary voice on radio was unique and professional, as proof of the early training he obtained in the many courses and experiences from within PNG and abroad. His climb up the broadcasting hierarchy was through his hard work and his love to promote PNG music and recording studios. JK was very vocal in our early fi ght to establish music copyright in PNG. Together with studio entrepreneurs Raymond Chin, MBE, of CHM Supersounds studios and Greg Seeto of Pacific Gold studios; the fi ght and debate to establish copyright was observed as the limelight to fi nancial success in commercial recording by entrepreneurs and musicians alike. The fi rst copyright draft of

1978 was an attempt to introduce the law after so many concerns by music stakeholders in PNG – unfortunately this was not passed until a review by the Government to officially establish it in 2000. The NBC reached its nationwide audience through its AM Karai Service. Its main function was information and education, but it broadcast imported and local music in a ratio about three to one, a far cry from the earlier import music-oriented coverage adapted from the ABC’s era. NBC’s FM Kalang Service, “The Entertainer”, was launched in 1982 and started broadcasting a largely music format, in roughly the same ratio of 3:1 (with bulletins in brief on the hour). Established as the business arm of the NBC, Kalang continued recording and releasing local cassettes besides commercials for companies that needed advertising. Its implementation of a pay-for-play policy was looked at by the local music industry as contradictory because the same policy could not be applied to the predominantly overseas material

being broadcast. Kalang became very successful at the beginning of its life as “the entertainer”. It was doing its share of recording, developing and promoting PNG popular, gospel and stringband music along with its counterparts CHM Supersounds and Pacific Gold Studios respectively. Justin Kili’s rise up in the radio industry earned him the position of Program Manager at Kalang, which gave rise to the advanced promotion of PNG music through his balanced airing of a wide range of music styles. J.K’s love for original compositions to replace cover versions on radio airplay was compromised by the equally developing phase of original music composition, recording and distribution by CHM, PGS, Kalang and other smaller studios. CHM and PGS’s friendship with Kili became stronger parallel to the fast growth of original contemporary music composition, development and distribution.

I fi rst met Justin Kili during my term as Chief Sound engineer with CHM Supersounds Studios.

We were tasked by managing director Raymond Chin to put together weekly promotional programs at Kalang. Pre-programming the programs then was hard and long, usually taking a day or two using analogue equipment at the CHM Recording studios in Gordons. J.K. was my mentor in putting together a radio script prior to recording the voice-over for the fi nal narration to the program. Next came the task of having him in front of the microphone to record the written script and fi nally; most occasionally the next day [after staying over-night in the studio], we would start cuing up tapes manually to come up with a fi nal quarter-inch one-hour radio program. This tedious task was repeated over many years. Equally as a mentor to many top radio personalities of today, JK was an excellent teacher, without whom we would not be good participators in the media industry. He became a very good friend to top artists like late John Wong, Barike band, George Telek [MBE], Basil Greg, Black Label, Cathy Lee, and many more. He made big sellers out of bands through his unique radio presentations and script-writing technique – a trade that is only adapted to an extent by media people he has worked with and developed over a span of thirty years.

JK and I met again after many years, in 2012 in Port Moresby. He invited me and current 99.5 FM radio personality and Program manager “Uncle E.T” for his 60th birthday celebrations on the 10th of May, 2013. Organized secretly by wife Selina and children, he did not know there was a party until Uncle ET and I drove him to the National Museum Hauswin where the party was being held. His children flew in to Port Moresby from around the country secretly and to his amazement, he was let out of the car by Uncle ET into the very arms of his loving children – all sharing tears of joy at hugging and celebrating their dad’s important stage in life - at 60. I noticed tears of joy rolling down his cheeks at being welcomed this way by his adult children and grandchildren. To me, it

was both exciting and sad, as this was just about a few weeks after being hospitalized in Port Moresby General Hospital for related complications. My brother JK was looking forward to celebrating his 63rd birthday in May 10 this year after becoming the Interim president of the East New Britain Music makers Association.

Uncle E.T., a very close family friend J.K. sent his texted message to me to include in this tribute:

Text:

“Bro, I was totally shocked to hear of J.K’s passing as I know he was healthy and normal as we talked by phone only 2 weeks ago. I called him to seek his views on the 2014 Top 20 most requested songs on 99.5 Rait FM Countdown.

My late friend Mr. Justin Hansu Kili was a true living legend of PNG radio and his passing is a great loss to the Media Industry of PNG, an industry he formally instituted, nurtured and managed when he was the Executive Secretary of the PNG Media Council. He was my true inspiration and mentor in my radio career and in making me become what I am in radio today. I owe it to him and will miss his cool, calm and collected and humorous personality. It was his radio show, “My kind of Wednesday”, that inspired me to take up radio as a career during my young school days.

My dear brother and mentor –Justin Hansu Kili, I love you and REST IN PEACE ….Uncle ET”

In closing I would like to represent all musicians, radio personalities, friends and the media industry in saying –Justin Hansu Kili [J.K.], your memory of our good times together and your work to promote and develop the Music Industry will linger in our hearts forever-for there is NONE LIKE YOU. We share the same condolences to his family in Selina Kili, Dr. Chelsea Kili and the rest of his children and grandchildren… REST IN PEACE. Send your condolences to: Selina Kili – 70027316 or 71400391.

THE late Justin Kili (seated left) sitting next to Black Label Band manager McLaren and surrounded by band members after the band’s performance at Skowis recently. Picture: THOMAS LULUNGAN.

‘The Wedding Ringer’ - Review

BY SEAN O’CONNELL

WHO would you ask to be your best man? Seems like a simple question, but those who have a difficult time coming up with the answer will get a number of uncomfortable laughs out of The Wedding Ringer - a silly but sporadically hysterical polar-opposites comedy that scampers over its roughest patches, disrupts its predictability with some well-timed offcolor jokes, and coasts on the chemistry between an energetic Kevin Hart and a shlumpy Josh Gad.

The latter plays mild-mannered Doug Harris, a successful but selfconscious dweeb who starts the movie by calling every male friend he has and asking if they’d be willing to be his best man. Doug, we learn, is marrying medium-maintenance Gretchen Palmer (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) in 10 days – wait, 10 days?!?! – and has yet to conjure either a best man or his half of the bridal party. Somehow, Gretchen is OK with this because The Wedding Ringer, as penned by director Jeremy Garelick and his co-writer Jay Lavender, doesn’t care about small details. It simply wants to power through until its admittedly clever premise has been established, then sit back and let Hart and Gad wring whatever laughs they can fi nd out of the improbable scenario. (Thankfully for Garelick, they succeed more often than they fail.)

Try to swallow this one. It’s a little difficult. But after passing out during a cake testing, Doug is informed that there’s a “professional” who might be able to assist in his friendless situation. Jimmy Callahan (Hart) is a fast-talking improvisor who rents himself out to grooms in need of the perfect best man. He’ll deliver the fi nest toast. He’ll entertain the wed-

ding guests. Just don’t expect him to become your best friend. For Callahan, it’s all business, and Doug needs Jimmy’s top package – The Golden Tux, which includes a full week of services, at least seven groomsmen, and a comedic misadventure the two will never forget.

Were you wondering how many days you’d have to wait in 2015 before you could see comedic legend Cloris Leachman set on fi re for the benefit of a physical gag? The answer, thanks to The Wedding Ringer, is 16 days. Leachman’s Inferno is one of a handful of stunts worked into Ringer that jolt the crowd, but really are too dumb to be lauded. The worst involves peanut butter, Gad’s private area, a dog and… a car chase? By that chaotic low point, you might be wishing for “Burnt” Cloris again.

Oh, on the topic of Gad, don’t take the family to Wedding Ringer because it stars the guy who lends his voice to Olaf from Frozen. This comedy is R-rated, and doesn’t shy away from sex, language and violence. The fi lm’s edgy humor is better for it, but know what you are getting before you buy.

So what are you getting? Essentially, this is a script that has been around since 2002. It has been workshopped over the years to fit the skill sets of various comedians. At one point, I believe that Vince Vaughn came dangerously close to starring in it (which makes sense, as Garelick and Lavender co-wrote The Break-Up back in 2006). Essentially, it’s material that could have been fashioned around anyone, kind of like a tuxedo that you would rent to wear to a friend’s wedding. It just happens to fit around Hart and Gad better than you might have expected

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THE Michael Learns to Rock live concert at the Party Caprty Capital - The Gold Club was a hit with a huge crowd of fans who turned up to be entertained and sing along to their favourites by the group.

MLTR ROCKS GC

Take That: The BRITS will be big

TAKE That are planning “a big surprise” for their BRITs performance.

The UK group are getting used to being a three-piece following the departure of Jason Orange last year. Now Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are going to show what they’re made of by taking to the stage at the BRIT Awards on February 25.

“We know what a big deal performing at the BRITs is, so we are defi nitely planning something special at the moment,” Gary told Brit-

ish newspaper The Sun ‘We haven’t decided exactly what yet but we’re thinking about some sort of collaboration or a big surprise.’ The group released their seventh record III in November, so it’s likely they will give a rendition of at least one of its songs. It’s thought Let in the Sun could be one of the options because it’s expected to be the third single from the album. Take That aren’t in the running for any prizes at the ceremony, but they have triumphed eight times

in the past.

“It’s too early to say exactly what they’ll do but if you look at the last two times they performed they stole the show,” an insider explained.

‘There were riot shields in 2011 and a UFO from the ceiling the time before that.’

BRITs bosses are going all out with the entertainment this year, with Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran all slated to perform. It’s already a good year for Sam and Ed, who bagged five and four

nominations apiece.

There are also rumours Madonna could be gracing the stage with her presence. She has already confi rmed her Grammys performance on February 8 and is said to want to push her new record Rebel Heart over awards season.

‘Madonna wants to perform to the biggest number of people for the maximum impact and there’s no better place for a controversyfi lled Madonna performance than the BRITs,’ a source told UK newspaper The Mirror last week.

‘She has cleared her diary for the BRITs. She knows she needs to really entertain and bring a good show because she’ll want to be the talking point.’ Take That’s original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.Barlow acts as the group’s lead singer and primary songwriter. Owen and Williams would provide backing vocals, with Donald and Orange serving primarily as dancers

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SNAPSHOTS ... SNA

AWESOME foursome enjoy each others’ company at the Gold Club’s MLTR concert.

BETTY and friends during an outing last year.

LADIES at front desk at Trends.

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Royal inquiry to avert violence

HOLDING perpetrators of family violence to account will be a key focus of Australia’s first royal commission into the issue, the Victorian Government says.

The Government unveiled the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Family Violence, with a focus on government policy.

The inquiry, to be led by Justice Marcia Neave, will begin its work in February and run for 12 months.

It has been tasked with examining the best ways to prevent family violence and hold the perpetrators to account.

The inquiry will also look at ways to improve early intervention and provide better support to victims.

There will be a focus on how government policies operate and what policy changes can be made.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the Government was committed to implementing all of the commission’s recommendations.

“There may be legislative issues we need to deal with, there will certainly be budget issues we need to deal with,” he said.

“This should take no longer from 12 months from when it starts.”

The royal commission will hear from victims who will most likely be able to make submissions in several ways, including in writing.

Mr Andrews said the prospect of facing a royal commission may be too confronting for some victims. “There are many people who have a story to tell, many people who have a contribution to make who do not want to appear in a court,” he said.

“They do not, ever again, want to go through what has been a most unsatisfactory and often a very dangerous process for them.” - ABC

NZ drivers caught on phone could double

BRINGING in electronic detectors could double the number of people caught using their cellphones behind the wheel, according to research for the New Zealand Transport Agency.

The study by Opus Research looked at nearly 5000 drivers in Wellington, Porirua and Levin.

When the researchers used roadside observation they found about 5.5 per cent of drivers appeared to be using their cellphones. But when electronic monitors were used, that fi gure bumped up to nearly 10 per cent.

Bringing in the hi-tech devices alongside the roadside observation that was already done could greatly increase the number of drivers caught out, the report said. - RNZI

Lawyer: AFP role a gross error

ONE of the lawyers involved in the Bali Nine drug case says Australian police should never have cooperated with Indonesia given the likelihood of death sentences being imposed.

Brisbane lawyer Robert Myers said the Abbott Government should cite the role played by Australian Federal Police (AFP) in providing intelligence on the trafficking conspiracy when it makes a bid to save the lives of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

The pair are set to face the firing squad this year after a

decision by the Indonesian government to go ahead with executing all 64 death row drug traffickers.

Mr Myers became involved in the case after receiving a phone call from his friend Lee Rush, the father of now convicted drug trafficker Scott Rush who is serving a life sentence, before his son left Australia.

“He called me one evening before the boys, well, particularly before Scott left Australia, with a concern that he had received a call to say Scott had an overseas ticket, he had a passport,” Mr Myers

said.

“And so I said, ‘Well look, if you’ve got a concern, I’ll call a friend of mine in the Federal Police’. I knew a police officer who was on secondment and that really started the entire thing.”

The AFP’s liaison officer in Bali, Paul Hunniford, then wrote a three-page letter to the Indonesian police.

“It really said words to the effect of whatever action you see fit to take is quite alright with us, and it seemed to be an open-ended invitation to the Indonesian authorities,” Mr Myers said. - ABC

MYURAN Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are waiting to learn their fate. - Darren Whiteside: Reuters

Pacific youth capture corruption

YOUTH from around the Pacific region are being encouraged to capture images of the effects of corruption and to enter the images in a photo contest that could win them an all-expenses paid trip to Fiji to attend the Pacific Youth against Corruption Forum in February 2015.

The photo contest is one of the activities initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for

Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Pacific Youth Forum as a build up to the inaugural Youth Forum to be held in Nadi, Fiji from 22 – 24February 2015.

The photo contest is already generating interest in different countries in the region, with the organizers keen to encourage more youth from the region to share their visual interpretations and images of the phenomenon of corruption.

UNODC Specialist Annika Wythes says that “through engaging in the contest, we expect young people to start to become more engaged in the fight against corruption and we are asking them to upload on Facebook an image that best captures corruption in their community or nation.

“We will review all the entries after the closing date on 30 January and select three winners who will all be able to participate at the Youth Fo-

rum in Nadi” she added.

“We really want to encourage young people to participate in the contest and be part of the Pacific youth voice against corruption” noted Peter Batchelor, Manager of the UNDP Pacific Centre.

The contest is open to youth between the ages of 15 to 30 and will be run from the Pacific Youth Council Facebook page.

UNDP and UNODC are supporting the voices of young

SP SPORTS AWARDS 2015 NOMINATION FORM P 201 NOMINATIONFORM OMIN M M NOMINATION FORM

Conditions of the SP Sports Awards 2015

and marginalized people around the region who are speaking out against corruption and its corrosive effects on society. The support is being provided under the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption project (UN-PRAC), which is a four-year initiative funded by the Australian Government.

The Forum is a unique event that will bring together 45 young Pacific leaders between the ages of 18- to 25-year-olds

Quick news

to examine possible ways to address corruption.

Participating countries include: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands; Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations’ global development network.- UNDP/ PACNEWS

WALLIS FRAUD RULING DUE

Nominations will only be accepted on this Official Nomination Form in respect to performance and achievements during the period January 1st to December 31st, 2014.

There are twelve categories in the SP Sports Awards 2015, of which the following eleven can be nominated for:

of the Year – Best International Performance by a male athlete in 2014

Team of the Year – Best International Performance by a team in 2014

4. National Performance of the Year – Best National Performance by a male athlete, female athlete, or team in 2014

5. Community Sports Initiative – Best use of sport to help address social issues at a community level in 2014

6. Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Best Performance by a male athlete who was 18 years and younger in 2014

7. Junior Female Athlete of the Year - Best Performance by a female athlete who was 18 years and younger in 2014

8. Best Sportsperson with a Disability – For athletes with a physical or intellectual disability who have performed outstandingly in 2014

9. Sports Official of the Year – For individuals who have excelled as a Coach, Referee/Umpire or Administrator in 2014

10. Sports Photo of the Year – For best photo taken in 2014 capturing a sporting moment at any level of sport

11. Sports Media Award – For media coverage of sport or a sporting event in 2014 by an individual, programme, organisation or online site

*People’s Choice of the Year - Public to be given opportunity to vote on which finalist from the first four categories they feel deserves to win this award Nominations can be submitted by anyone including national sporting associations, individual sportsmen and women, coaches, administrators, clubs, sports officials, the media and the public for any of the above awards.

The SP Sports Awards are for all sporting persons and bodies. The decision of the Awards Selection Committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Closing date for nominations in all categories of the SP Sports Awards 2015 is Wednesday 25th February, 2015.

Additional information on terms and conditions or criteria can be obtained from the:

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NOMINATION DETAILS

I would like to nominate________________________________________ (name) Of _________________________________In the category of_____________________________________________________ (eg Male Athlete of the Year)

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Nominations MUST include supporting documentation describing major achievements in 2014 to enhance your nomination and forward to:

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THE appeal court in New Caledonia says it will release its verdict in March in the case of ten people who appealed their fraud conviction given in Wallis and Futuna last year, Radio New Zealand International reports. The hearing in Noumea lasted three days and involved ten of the 16 people who were found guilty in August of defrauding the French government of millions of US dollars. In what is being described as the worst ever abuse of the relevant French investment law, they had been found to present inflated bills and abuse the tax benefits aimed at boosting investment in French overseas territories in 2007 and 2008, RNZI report. A former New Caledonia-based police officer, Marc Revault, was given a five-year jail sentence, a US$670,000 (K1.7m) fine and had his possessions confiscated. His partner, Jean-Marc Etchebarre, was given the same sentence. Among those convicted is the former secretary of the territorial assembly, Setefano Tafono. Several business leaders in Wallis and Futuna were also implicated in the scams that amounted to more than US$27 million (K71,600). The trial in Wallis followed a probe which was called after the number of companies involved in public works inexplicably multiplied and purported investments in hotels were found to be non-existent. The appeal court ruling is due on March 3.

SOLOMON’S URGED TO COMPLY

THE Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency has reminded the Solomon Island government of their duties in regards to illegal fishing, RNZI reports. FFA director general James Movick met with Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare and told him the agency adds its voice to concerns raised over certification of illegal fishing and says any country engaged in tuna export must fully comply with European Union requirements. The European Commission has in place a regulation designed to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The regulation requires fisheries management authorities a “catch certificate” for “wild caught” seafood imported into the EU which demonstrates that all products have been obtained in compliance with established conservation and management. Mr Movick says the Solomon Islands, among other FFA member countries, has been issued a yellow card for non-compliance with the regulation and he has raised the issue with the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources to work together with FFA in addressing it.

OPPOSITION BEGINS CAMPAIGN

TWO Cook Islands opposition parties have launched their campaign to back a single candidate for a byelection on Aitutaki. The Democratic Party and One Cook Islands Party have launched the campaign to back Kete Ioane, in a bid to gain an extra MP to make a coalition government. The need for another byelection in one of Aitutaki’s two seats follows a Court of Appeal judgement which declared the election victory of the Cook Islands Party’s Moana Ioane void after it was found he had bribed a voter. The Democratic Party leader, Wilkie Rasmussen, said more than 200 people attended the campaign launch, where an opposition policy of no tax for pensioners was announced. The Prime Minister, Henry Puna, says he was confident his candidate, Mr Ioane, will hold on to the seat, RNZI reports.

WEST PAPUA SUPPORT IN FIJI

FIJI’S opposition parties have rallied behind the Free West Papua Movement in a move they hope will put pressure on authorities to act. The Opposition leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa, says the Melanesian people of West Papua have been terrorised for years and hopes for freedom have been suppressed, RNZI reports. The Fiji Times reports the opposition is hoping authorities will be pressured to hold the Indonesian government to account for human rights abuses in the restive province.

Former top judge opposes execution

JAKARTA: A former top Indonesian judge who had wanted to spare Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from the death penalty has challenged Jakarta’s inconsistency on capital punishment.

Indonesia put one citizen and five foreign prisoners to death for drug crimes on Sunday, sparking diplomatic upset from Brazil and The Netherlands.

The two Bali Nine ringleaders could be among the next group to face the firing squad, as President Joko Widodo backs another 20 executions this year as “shock therapy” to would-be drug pushers.

His predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had sent five prisoners for execution in 2013, and none in the four years prior.

Jimly Asshiddiqie, former chairman of Indonesia’s constitutional court, went on the record in 2008 saying he had wanted to uphold the 2007 appeal of Chan and Sukumaran.

However at the time, he believed as the chief of the bench he should not side with the minority, and handed down a 6-3 decision.

Pope ends Asia tour after record-breaking mass

POPE Francis has departed for Rome after drawing huge crowds during his five-day visit to the Philippines.

Tens of thousands of people lined the route of the Pope’s motorcade to catch a last glimpse of the pontiff on his way to Villamor Air Base.

A record six million people braved stormy weather to attend an outdoor Mass in the capital Manila on Sunday.

The Pope has spent a week in Asia, also visiting Sri Lanka, marking it as a growth region

for the Catholic Church.

More than 80 million people are Catholic in the Philippines and the Pope was surrounded by adoring crowds everywhere he went.

On Monday, the streets were packed again as the leader of the Catholic Church made his way to the airport.

President Benigno Aquino led a departure ceremony on the tarmac as children sang and danced, chanting “Pope Francis we love you”.

The Pope gave a final wave

before boarding the Philippines Airlines plane.

On Sunday, the Pope’s Asia tour culminated with a world record for a papal gathering as he celebrated an outdoor Mass in Manila’s Rizal Park.

The previous record of five million people was during a Mass by John Paul II at the same venue in 1995.

During his visit, Pope Francis has spoken out repeatedly on the need to reduce poverty and inequality. He dedicated the final homily of his trip to

children.

“We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected,” he said. “And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to a life on the streets.”

The BBC’s Rupert WingfieldHayes in Manila said as much as he could Pope Francis tried to identify with the poor in the Philippines; wearing a cheap plastic raincoat, riding in a pope-mobile modelled on

the mass transport Filipino Jeepney and hugging street children.

He also pushed those in a position of power to help the poor and destitute.

The Pope also said the main reason he chose to visit the Philippines was to meet survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 7,000 people in November 2013.

On Saturday he visited Tacloban, the city in the central Philippines worst affected by the powerful storm.

He’d hoped their executions could be delayed 10 years, when the pair might find a “next generation” of constitutional court judges against the death penalty, even for drug traffickers.

Now, Mr Asshiddiqie says Jakarta has avoided confronting the issue for so long, its position is inconsistent and out-of-date.

“It’s not right that when our workers abroad are facing the death penalty we protest against it, but when foreigners are about to face death here we don’t,” he told AAP.

“This is inconsistent.

“Personally, I think we must open a space where we can discuss the death penalty openly.

“Global humanitarian values have changed.

“Indonesia cannot avoid this.”

Mr Asshiddiqie also blames the inertia for the current legal uncertainty over the death penalty.

-AAP news

Ambassadors recalled in protest over drug executions

AT least one country, possibly two, have pulled their ambassadors out of Indonesia after their citizens, who were convicted of drug offences, were executed by firing squad.

Indonesian attorney-general HM Prasetyo defended the country’s decision to execute the six drug offenders yesterday. He said the executions went well and again reiterated that Indonesia would not compromise on drugs. It does not bode well for the two Australian ring leaders of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling group, Myuran Sukamaran and Andrew Chan.

The bottom line

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Audio: Listen to George Roberts’ report. (AM)

Sukumaran’s bid for clemency was rejected and Chan is waiting to learn the outcome of his clemency bid.

The pair’s lawyer Julian McMahon said he was confident his clients’ rehabilitation could work in their favour and he had not given up hope.

“I know one of the persons executed on the weekend had a

good history of rehabilitation. The others I don’t know, but there’s almost certainly no one in the entire system remotely as clearly and powerfully effective in their rehabilitation as my two clients,” Mr McMahon said.

“Our national leaders have very strong arguments to put in Indonesia on the basis of a long process of very well documented and internationally recognised rehabilitation and assistance to other prisoners. So that’s a powerful and compelling argument.

“It’s an argument that their rule of law welcomes and it

should open the door wider to see if we can get somewhere.”

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Government continued to “make representations at the very highest level” for clemency for the Australians.

“The Prime Minister has written again to the Indonesian president with my counterpart the foreign minister,” Ms Bishop said.

“At this point the foreign minister has rejected my pleas on their behalf but we will continue to do all we can.

-ABC news

Drug offenders carry on with their illicit activities eventhough they know that they would face severe consequences if they are caught.

SCHOOL children performed as the Pope departed for Rome. Picture: BBC

A CONVOY of ambulances carrying coffins on the road to Nusakambangan prison, where six inmates were executed. Picture: ABC/REUTERS

Wanted nominee denies charges

AFGHANISTAN’S nominee for agriculture minister has denied charges of fraud and tax evasion outstanding in Estonia.

Mohammad Yaqub Haidari was nominated for the post by President Ashraf Ghani. However, it has emerged that he is on Interpol’s most-wanted list for large scale tax evasion and fraud.

The presidential office has told the BBC it is investigating whether the accusations against him are true.

Interpol’s website says Mr Haidari is wanted in Estonia for tax evasion.

He is also accused of fraud linked to currency conversions.

Mr Haidari told the BBC that he was the victim of a political conspiracy, and that he was being pursued by a criminal mafia.

He said: “They [Interpol] have mentioned in this document that they are pursuing me. I am not in hiding.”

He said that he would like to go to Estonia to “defend his rights”.

COST OF URBANISATION

Pakistanis protest against Charlie Hebdo

ISLAMABAD: Protests against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo have been held across Pakistan as thousands of people in almost all major cities chanted slogans against its printing of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

Workers from both religious and secular political parties gathered in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Multan and many other cities and burnt effigies of French president Francois Hollande and of cartoonists at the

magazine along with French flags. More than 2000 people marched in the largest city Karachi, where the Jamaat-eIslami party organised a rally at the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founding father of the nation.

A group of Christian pastors also took part to show solidarity with their Muslim countrymen.

Elsewhere in Karachi, dozens of members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party founded by Imran Khan rallied against the magazine and

the French government.

A delegation visited the residence of the French consulgeneral to submit a resolution demanding Paris ban the magazine “for spreading religious hatred in the world”, a party spokesman said.

In Lahore around 6000 people attended a rally by Islamic groups including the hardline Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Speakers urged Pakistan to sever relations with France.

In the southwestern city of Quetta, protesters trampled the French flag before burn-

ing it, along with pictures and effigies of the French president. In the northwestern city of Peshawar, more than hundred Christians took part in a rally from a local church and chanted slogans against the magazine.

“Death to Charlie Hebdo, death to the blasphemer of Prophet Mohammed,” they shouted.

They also burnt the French flag.

Around 200 people in Islamabad gathered outside the national press club and burnt

effigies of the cartoonists.

In the southern city of Multan, protesters shouted “We are not Charlie, we are Kouachi” - a reference to the “Je Suis Charlie” rallying cry supporting the victims, and to brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi who killed 12 people at the magazine.

On Friday at least three people were injured - including an AFP photographer who was shot - in clashes between anti-Charlie Hebdo protesters and police outside the French consulate in Karachi. -AAP

IS images on missing Korean teen’s PC

SEOUL: A South Korean teenager who went missing in Turkey had images of what appeared to be Islamic State militants on his home computer, amid suspicions he may have joined the jihadist group.

The 18-year-old, identified only by his surname Kim, went missing on January 10

during a trip to the southern Turkish town of Kilis and was last seen leaving a hotel.

Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported that the teen had exchanged emails with the Islamic State group and probably crossed into Syria to join them.

But Seoul’s foreign ministry says it has seen no hard evi-

dence that Kim had entered Syria or joined the group.

South Korean police investigating his disappearance searched Kim’s room in Seoul and checked his personal computer.

“There were some photos of gun-toting militants carrying what look like IS flags in his computer,” a Seoul police de-

tective on the case told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Police are looking to see if Kim accessed any IS-linked websites and are analysing email exchanges with a Turkish friend he met online known as “Hassan”, the detective said.

Kim’s parents allowed him

to travel to Turkey with a family friend after he pleaded for the chance to meet Hassan in person.

At home, Kim spent most of his time playing computer games after dropping out of school a few years ago, Dong-A Ilbo and other major newspapers reported.

-AAP news

Estonian law enforcement officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.

According to Estonian media, Mr Haidari was investigated for embezzlement and tax evasion from the time when he was director of dairy firm Rapla Dairy. The company went bankrupt in 2003.

Court proceedings began against Mr Haidari, and he eventually fled Estonia, local media said.

He was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison in 2011, reports said.

The news of the charges is an embarrassment for the new President Ghani, who wants to change the political culture in Afghanistan by appointing people who are both qualified and clean, the BBC’s David Loyn in Kabul reports.

-BBC news

Police release student leaders

FOUR student leaders involved in last year’s prodemocracy protests in Hong Kong have been freed without charge after they reported to a police station over their role in the demonstrations.

The students, including Joshua Wong, were called in on suspicion of participating in illegal gatherings.

They were placed under investigation and told they could still be charged.

Protesters demanding free elections in 2017 brought the city to a stand-still for two months beginning in September.

Under the current arrangement, Hong Kong’s leader will be elected from a list of candidates approved by the Chinese government.

A 22-storey building in Chongqing, known as Yixin Mansion, collapses after being blown up by explosives as part of a urbanisation project in the city in south-western China. Picture: BBC

Boko Haram kidnaps 80, kills several in Cameroon

SUSPECTED militants from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram have kidnapped about 80 people and killed several others in a cross-border attack on villages in neighbouring Cameroon.

Police say the vast majority of those kidnapped are women and children.

During the attacks several people were killed and some houses were burnt to the ground.

They said soldiers intervened and exchanged fire with the raiders for around two hours.

The kidnapping was the biggest in Cameroon by the Islamists who have staged a series of attacks in the country in recent months and escalated their bloody insur-

Six perish in storm

ANTANANARIVO: At least six people have perished in a tropical storm that battered Madagascar over the past two days, affecting almost 80,000 residents.

Local radio said as many as 13 people may have died, including two in Antananarivo, capital of the Indian Ocean island.

Tropical storm Chedza swept through Madagascar on Friday and Saturday, adding to the country’s woes after the government resigned last week in the face of violent protests over recurring power blackouts.

A meteorological report warned that there was still a danger of flooding in certain areas around Antananarivo. Two people died earlier this month when angry residents took to the streets to protest rolling power blackouts.

A new prime minister was appointed last week after the resignation of the government which had come under fire for its handling of the repeated electricity failures.

Kurds battle govt troops

BEIRUT: At least 18 people have been killed in unprecedented fighting between Kurdish forces and Syrian government troops in the northeastern city of Hasakeh.

gency in their stronghold in north-eastern Nigeria. This attack is likely revenge for recent comments by Cameroon, criticising Nigeria for not doing enough to combat the insurgency.

The assault was launched after neighbouring Chad deployed troops to combat Boko Haram both in Cameroon and Nigeria.

Chadian troops are seeking to recapture the Nigerian city of Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, which straddles the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon and which fell to the Islamists early this month.

Satellite pictures released by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch showed widespread destruction with

around 3,700 buildings in Baga and nearby Doron Baga damaged or destroyed.

Amnesty International said as many as 2,000 civilians may have been massacred, but Nigeria’s army objected to the “sensational” claims and said the death toll in Baga was about 150.

Some 400 Chadian army vehicles arrived in the Cameroonian border town of Kousseri on Saturday, and Chadian president Idriss Deby said they were “operational” as of Sunday.

Boko Haram last Monday launched an offensive against a Cameroonian military base in Kolofata, also in the far north of the country, in which 143 “terrorists” and one Cameroonian soldier were killed,

according to Cameroon.

Boko Haram seized control of many towns and villages in north-east Nigeria, and has begun threatening some of the country’s neighbours.

In April, Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria, most of them have not been seen since.

The African Union will meet this week to discuss a plan to deal permanently with Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber killed four people and wounded dozens on Sunday in an attack on a bus station in north-eastern Nigeria, police and hospital sources said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the town of Potiskum has of-

ten come under attack from Boko Haram militants.

Last Sunday, two female suicide bombers, one believed to be aged around 15, carried out an attack on a crowded market.

Witnesses to the latest assault said the explosion ripped through the bus station at Tashar Kunne, on the outskirts of town, at around 9:30am (GMT).

“[The bomber] slowed his car twice ... some distance from the bus station, and he suddenly increased speed and rammed into buses lined up waiting for passengers,” local trader Umar Sani said.

A police officer said four bodies and 48 injured people had been taken from the scene. -ABC news

The clashes, which erupted in the early hours of Saturday, were continuing for a second day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday.

“So far, eight Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters and security police have been killed, along with nine regime soldiers and militiamen,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

A woman civilian was also killed in the fighting on Saturday.

The clashes broke out after Kurdish fighters detained around 10 regime loyalists they accused of seizing part of a demilitarised zone.

Under a deal agreed last year, Kurdish forces control around 30 per cent of the city’s Kurdish and mixed Kurdish-Arab districts.

-AAP news

Israeli air strike kills Hezbollah men in Golan Heights

AN Israeli air strike has killed six members of Hezbollah in the Syrian sector of the Golan Heights, the Lebanese militant movement says. Among those reported dead were the son of a late military leader, a current commander, and at least one Iranian.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said they were killed in Quneitra province “during a field reconnaissance mission”.

Israel said it would not comment, though unnamed sources confirmed an Israeli helicopter strike.

The bottom line

They claimed those targeted were conducting reconnaissance for a Hezbollah attack.

Those who died include Jihad Mughniyeh, the son of a top military commander killed in 2008, and Mohammed Issa, a Hezbollah field commander, Hezbollah officials said.

One member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had died, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Iran’s semi-official Tabnak news agency said several Revolutionary Guards had been killed.

The incident comes days after a warning to Israel by the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, that his forces might retaliate against what he called repeated Israeli strikes inside Syria.

He said his forces had been stockpiling weapons for such a confrontation and that these included long range missiles that could hit every part of Israel.

Following Sunday’s strike, al-Manar said Israel was “playing with fire that puts the security of the whole Middle East on edge”.

Hezbollah militants have been supporting President Bashar al-Assad in a four-year Syrian conflict that activists say has left more than 200,000 people dead.

Israel has conducted several air strikes inside Syria since the conflict began, said to be aimed at preventing the transfer of stockpiles of rockets from the Syrian government or Iran to Hezbollah.

Israel fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah, a mainly Shia group backed by Iran, in 2006.

news

What is the profit in taking another’s life for no reasons or reasons that have no merits at all?

BOKO Haram militants have been threatening attacks on neighbouring countries including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Picture: ABC/SUPPLIED

Assassin plot stops anti-Islam march

GERMANY’S anti-Islam PEGIDA movement says it has cancelled a planned march, citing a death threat against organisers from the Islamic State group.

The march was planned in the eastern city of Dresden on Monday, however local police said there had been a “concrete threat” of an attack against one of its leaders at the weekly rally.

Police cited information they had obtained from Germany’s BKA federal crime office and the Saxony crime office.

“Assassins have been called up to mingle among the PEGIDA protesters and murder one of the individuals leading the rally,” police said.

The intercepted appeal was “similar to a tweet in Arabic calling PEGIDA demonstrators the enemy of Islam”.

The cancellation was also confirmed on the Facebook page of the group, whose name is a German abbreviation for “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West”.

EU ministers to discuss

Europe’s terrorism threat

EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday to discuss the terror threat in Europe in the wake of recent attacks.

Europe is on high alert after a failed terrorist plot in Belgium and a deadly attack in Paris in which gunmen killed 17 people.

The talks will also focus on EU relations with Russia.

Ministers will try to resolve the deep divisions between EU governments over how to deal with Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

In Brussels, 28 foreign ministers will discuss concerns surrounding the return of radicalised Europeans who

have gone to fight in Iraq and Syria.

No decisions will be taken at the meeting but a range of options will be debated in preparation for a special terrorism summit next month, reports the AFP news agency.

US officials have confirmed that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be attending talks in London about the Islamic State (IS) group.

The meeting of the members of the US-led coalition against IS will take place on Thursday and will focus on “shared efforts to degrade and defeat” the militant group.

The Brussels talks come

after anti-terror raids in Belgium, France and Germany led to more than 20 people being arrested.

Belgium is asking Greece to extradite one of the suspects arrested there over a possible link with an alleged Islamist plot last week.

It is not clear if the detainee sought is Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged leader of the cell reportedly planning to kill Belgian police officers.

There has been no confirmation whether he is among those arrested by Greek police.

Belgium launched a series

of raids on Thursday evening on a group of suspected jihadists. Two suspects were killed in a gun battle in the town of Verviers.

Prosecutors charged five of those arrested on Friday with “participating in the activities of a terrorist group”. No link has been established between the alleged plot in Belgium and last week’s attacks in France.

Gunmen in Paris killed 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, a policewoman and four hostages at a kosher supermarket.

On Sunday, heavy fight-

ing broke out in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, as government forces upped operations against Russianbacked militants.

Russian officials say President Vladimir Putin sent a letter last week to Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko with a new proposal to halt fighting in the east, but that Mr Poroshenko had rejected it.

Ukrainian officials say they have made their own proposal to Russia for a ceasefire and still support a peace deal agreed in September, the BBC’s David Stern reports from Kiev.

“Unfortunately we have to cancel our 13th rally due to security reasons,” PEGIDA wrote.

“An ‘abstract threat’, as it is called in police jargon, has been switched to a ‘concrete murder threat’ against one of the people in our organisation team.”

A spokesman for the Dresden police said that they had placed a “general ban” on all public gatherings on Monday.

Last Monday’s PEGIDA rally - the 12th - attracted a record 25,000 people. It followed the Islamist attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

The cancellation came after German security authorities said on Friday they had specific warnings of a risk of militant attacks on central railway stations in Berlin and Dresden.

The Dresden rallies began in October as a local protest against new shelters for refugees and have attracted growing numbers of demonstrators. -ABC news

US president to seek tax increases on wealthy

US president Obama is to use Tuesday’s State of the Union speech to call for tax increases on the wealthy to help the middle class, officials say.

The proposals would raise $320 billion (£211 billion) over a decade, to fund benefits such as tax credits.

The speech is the centrepiece of the US political diary and may shape both Mr Obama’s legacy and the 2016 election.

But the president faces resistance to his proposals, with Republicans controlling both Houses of Congress.

With the US economy grow-

ing, President Obama will stress that it is time for ordinary US families to feel the benefits.

According to US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the plans include: Closing a loophole allowing the wealthiest Americans to pass on certain assets tax free. Raising capital gains tax on the richest earners from 23.8% to 28%

New fees on US financial firms with more than $50 billion (£33 billion) in assets

The revenues would raise more than enough to fund the proposed benefits for the

middle class, according to the officials.

These include tripling child tax credits, help for families with two working spouses and extra incentives to save for retirement.

There’s growing confidence in the White House about the strength of America’s economic recovery - as President Obama told the UK Prime Minister David Cameron last week, “we must be doing something right”.

But there’s also an awareness that for many middle class Americans wages still feel stagnant.

A growing theme in US politics is the need to make sure the economic recovery extends to all and that there’s social mobility for those with aspirations.

Of course, as well as the freedom afforded him by the improving economic picture, there’s also the fact that the president isn’t seeking reelection himself. It means Mr Obama can help set the political weather for the 2016 election, even though he knows these new tax rises will provoke opposition in the new Republican Congress. -BBC news

PRESIDENT Obama is keen to set the agenda for the remainder of his presidency. Picture: BBC

MORE than 3 million people took part in unity marches across France after 17 people died during three days of deadly attacks in Paris. The marchers wanted to demonstrate unity after the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police officers, and a kosher supermarket. Picture: BBC

UNITY

Solution to puzzle SL0833

stars

ARIES

March 20 - April 19

Somebody seems to be trying to shift the responsibility your way for tasks that really are theirs to deal with. However, you’re actually thinking about tackling them, if only because you know how time consuming discussions about who’s responsible for what could be. The solution? Say nothing. Not a word.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 19

Each New Moon is about a fresh perspective. But because this one accents the structure of your life, the odds are good that either you’ll be considering changes or somebody close will be feeling restless. Explore every option. What seems least appealing initially could turn out best in the long run.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

In even the healthiest of relationships, from time to time there are clashes about who’s responsible for what. While you may have thoughts about the nature of these problems, you’re urged to keep them to yourself. In this particular situation, tensions are being fuelled by unspoken issues between certain individuals.

CANCER

LEO

June 21 - July 21

As an intuitive water sign, you’ll often sense the need to make changes. Equally, a sudden insight will inspire you to pursue a new idea, as is the case now. While some understand this, others could demand rational proof. If so, say you’ll soon have convincing results to show them.

July 22 - August 22

Every sign is influenced by Mercury’s retrograde cycle, which is just beginning and continues until mid-February. However, this particular one accents close alliances. This means that you’ll be fine, but partners at work or in your domestic life could suffer from the confusion typical of this period, and need your help.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

You’ve always had to ask partners, in your personal or working life, to pitch in. While your hopes they’ll take a greater responsibility, at least for certain tasks, are unlikely to be fulfilled, with Mars currently lighting a fire under them, they’re more likely to tackle those duties with enthusiasm.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

While you’ve no fear of getting things wrong, you do worry about whether certain frank exchanges might cause upset. It’s true, they could. Still, if your instincts are telling you the resulting discussions won’t just be worthwhile, but could resolve even longstanding issues, then you’ll proceed to say what needs saying.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 22

Nobody would blame you for being concerned about the manoeuvres of certain individuals. Worrying as these seem, these are probably more about them and their objectives than attempts to manipulate you, as you fear. Although you can’t really discuss these frankly, you’ll be surprised how willing others are to talk about these.

November 23 - December 22

If you’re meditating on whether there’s such a thing as ‘an offer that’s too good to be true’, it’s no surprise. Powerful and positive planetary activity involving your ruler Jupiter is bringing thrilling ideas and opportunities. Look into these, bearing in mind you needn’t say yes. Simply exploring them may be enough.

December 21 - January 19

It’s not that you need to be right about everything. Rather, when you get things wrong, you worry that you’ve missed an important fact and could again. However, exploration of any kind is about trial and errors. Those mistakes are, therefore, nothing to worry about but, rather, an indication of progress.

January 20 - February 17

Every sign is influenced by the retrograde Mercury. But it’s in Aquarius, which means many of the resulting errors will involve you and elements of your life. While these may be a nuisance, the insights you gain, personal and otherwise, will more than compensate for the efforts required to untangle them.

February 18 - March 19

The irony of the New Moon is it’s most powerful when it’s invisible. When it vanishes for a day or two, as is the case now, nature stops to renew itself. You can, too. Take this time to reflect on the past and, even more important, to store energy for the future.

Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Selected Applicants for Constable Training 2015

Selected names of candidates from 2014 Nationwide Recruitment Drive considered successful for Basic Constable Training at Bomana Police College

The Training will commence on Monday 2nd February, 2015

Highlands Region

10 Pricilla Songopa F 11 Winterford Koke M

SIMBU PROVINCE

1 Philemon Nawia M

2 Peter Tolpare M

3 Jr David Koila M

4 Kennan Rim M

5 David Ulka

Momase Region

Islands Region

Southern Region

OUTAGE NOTICE TO RABAUL CONSUMERS

PNG Power advises consumers that it will carry out power interruptions to allow workmen to do urgent maintenance work on;

Date: FRIDAY JANUARY 23

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm.

Areas Affected: Vunamami Farmers School, Malakuna No: 4, Gelagela, Sonoma, Clifton, Asing, Gunanur, Ramale and Vunabosco.

OUTAGE NOTICE TO NCD CONSUMERS

PNG Power advises consumers that it will carry out power interruptions to allow workmen to do urgent maintenance work on;

Date: SATURDAY JANUARY 24

Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm.

Areas Affected: Telikom Compound, Morata, Parts of Waigani, Rainbow and UPNG.

Condolence Message For

Late Blaise Sual

apply for the incorporation of the association under the Associations Incorporation Act. The following are the details of the prescribed qualifications for incorporation as specified in Section 2 of the Act:

(a) The association is formed (or is being formed) (or is operating) for the purpose of –

1. To provide air ambulance service to the remote villages in the Sepik region.

2. To take health workers to these same villages to provide medical care in the villages.

3. To take dental providers out to these villages to help with dental care.

4. To take educational supplies for schools provided by the Department of Education.

5. To transport medical supplies out to the remote clinics as provided and requested by the health department.

6. To work with the Provincial and District administrations in providing these services.

(b) That the association will apply its profits (if any) or other income in promoting its objects; and

(c) That the association will prohibit the payment of any dividend or payment in the nature of a dividend to its members.

This Notice has been approved by the Registrar of Companies. Dated 24/12/2014.

Registrar of Companies

Note: A person may within one month after the publication of this notice, lodge with the registrar to the incorporation of the proposed association in accordance with Section 4 of the Act.

Monier Limited has a vacancy for an experienced Security & Property Manager who can work to high standards. Key

OnbehalfofthestaffoftheStrongimPipolStrongimNesen On

On behalf of the staff of the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program, I offer sincere condolences to the Family, Friends and Colleagues of the late Blaise Sual. News of his passing has deeply saddened the staff and partners of SPSN who are spread around the country and abroad, many of whom who have known him for 20 years or more.

Many may not be aware of the size of his contribution to community development and social justice in PNG, not just in Manus and Madang. Blaise was a fine example of the ‘quiet achiever’ who went about his work with purpose and humility; a man always focussed on action ahead of words, placing others before himself. A number of SPSN staff have enjoyed long professional associations with Blaise and have spoken of his many achievements and the guidance he provided as they worked together on community development programs.

We all recognise that Blaise, were he still with us, would have pushed the spotlight to others and quietly gone about his work. Indeed, that is the measure of the man.

Blaise Sual, we respect you and thankyou for your great contribution – may you Rest in Peace

Jeremy Syme, Program Director

An Australian Government funded program managed by URS Australia Pty. Ltd.

Bread for the World (BfdW) is the development arm of the Protestant Churches in Germany. Under the motto “Justice for the Poor” it supports efforts of churches and civil society organizations in countries of the global South towards just, inclusive, and ecologically sustainable societies. BfdW supports some 1300 partner organizations in the global South through project funding, personal secondments, capacity building and joint lobby agendas.

The BfdW Regional Office Pacific is located in Madang, Papua New Guinea, and accompanies co-operations with some 40 partner organizations in PNG and Melanesia. It dialogues with partners on development efforts, prepares submissions for decision-making on funding applications and accompanies the implementation of funding support. It also conducts partner meetings and workshops, supports capacity building processes of partner organizations and lobby agendas. We seek committed and experienced persons for the following position:

Project Officer – Financial Cooperations

Responsibilities

To accompany the implementation of financial assistance for partners according to standards and regulations:

requirements

Essential Qualifications

project accounting,or a similar field

high level of performance delivery

Travel is required.

applications to

Bread for the 511, Madang Province; ph: b.gigimat@vest-pacific.org. Applications close on January 28th, 2015 employer, contact details of referees and at least one telephone number that works.

Please note that Bread for the World – Church Development Service does not return documents back to unsuccessful applicants, therefore do not submit original documents.

STAN NEKITEL Registrar

Kwembu Village

INVESTMENT PROMOTION AUTHORITY

Papua New Guinea Associations Incorporation Act

Reg.,Sec.2 Form 1

Notice of Intention to Apply for the Incorporation of an Association

I, Margaret MARABE, of Tari, Tari, Hela Province, Papua New Guinea person authorized by the committee of the association known as

HELA POSITIVE LIVING NETWORK ASSOCITION INC. 5-101341 give notice that I intend to apply for the incorporation of the association under the Associations Incorporation Act.

The following are the details of the prescribed qualifications for incorporation as specified in Section 2 of the Act:

(a) The Association is being formed for the purpose of:

The overall goal is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic by complementing the National efforts in preventing the spread of the virus among people of Hela Region and SHP as a whole. The main purpose is the strongest service provider support and existing capacity for a holistic approach to care and support service for PLHIVs, affected community members at the family, wantok and the community level in a sustainable fashion.

(b) That the association will apply its profits (if any) or other income in promoting its objects; and

(c) That the association will prohibit the payment of any dividend or payment in the nature of a dividend to its members. This Notice has been approved by the Registrar of Companies Dated 18/01/2015.

The validation code for this Notice is ASSOCIATION-48230659.

To check the validity of this Notice enter http://www./ipa.gov.pg/pngassociations/verify/ 5-101341/ASSOCIATION-48230659.html in your browser.

Notice generated 18 January 2015 11:56 PMPGT

Registrar of Companies

NOTE: A person may within one month after the publication of this notice lodge with the Registrar an objection to the incorporation of the proposed association in accordance with Section 4 of the Act.

Date:

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Papua New Guinea 2015 OPENING OF ACCOUNTS

NOTICE TO NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS, STATUTORY AGENCIES, SUPPLIERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL LEVEL GOVERNMENTS & THE PUBLIC.

The following are information about the opening of the 2015 financial year to all suppliers and payees of government:

The opening date for the issue of new Integrated Local Purchase Order Claim (ILPOCs) and for the corresponding entry of commitments to the Government’s Integrated Financial Management System & PGAS accounting system is Monday 19th January 2015. Invoices and all queries concerning payments should be directed to the paying office of the relevant department. Under no circumstances should claims be submitted to the Department of Finance other than for goods and services provided to the Department of Finance.

Remember, in accordance with the law, only an officially approved ILPOC can be recognized as a commitment and a valid claim against the State.

Office of the Chief Secretary

Questions and Answers on District Development Authorities

When will district development authorities start work? Development authorities commence work on the 1 January 2015.

What will happen to the Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee? The JDPBPC has been abolished. It has been replaced by a statutory authority in each district the District Development Authority.

Who is on the Board of the district development authority? The members of the board of the district development authority are:

• the open Member of Parliament in the district who is the Chairperson of the Board;

• the Heads of Local-level Governments in the district; and

• three other members appointed by the Member of Parliament representing the open electorate (one of whom must be a women).

Can I attend meetings of the district development authority? Yes. Meetings must be held every quarter in the district and must be open to the public.

What will the district development authority be responsible for? The authority will work in close consultation with the provincial administration and be responsible for the following activities:

• to perform service delivery functions and carry out service delivery responsibilities which will be specified by the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations after consultation with the Provincial Executive Council. It is likely that different districts will have different responsibilities depending on their capacity and own unique circumstances;

• to develop, build, repair, improve and maintain roads and other infrastructure;

• to approve the disbursement of district support grants and other grants;

• to oversee, co-ordinate and make recommendations as to the overall district planning, including budget priorities, for consideration by the Provincial Government and the National Government; and

• to determine and control the budget allocation priorities for the Local-level Governments in the district; and

• to approve the Local-level Government budgets for presentation to the Local-level Government and make recommendations concerning them;

• to draw up a rolling five-year development plan and annual estimates for the district;

• to conduct annual reviews of the rolling five-year development plan

authority? The chief executive is the district administrator. All public servants in the district are now responsible to the district administrator/CEO. The CEO can engage other technical officers when necessary.

What will happen to the Provincial Government? The Provincial Government will continue to be an important part of our decentralized system of government. The Provincial Government and its administration will provide overall coordination and will continue to provide services to the people of the Province.

A district development authority cannot work inconsistently with the plans or policies of the Provincial Government.

What funding will the district development authority receive?

District development authorities will each receive K15 million through the open members district support grant.

What happens if a district development authority is misusing funds or is not fulfilling its functions? The NEC, after receiving a report from the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, can suspend the Board of a district development authority. The Board can only be suspended in the following circumstances

• the Authority is incapable of effectively performing its functions;

• the Authority has conducted or is conducting its affairs in a grossly improper manner;

• the Authority has misappropriated or is misappropriating funds;

• the Authority has performed or is performing its functions or has exercised or is exercising its powers in a way that is inconsistent or in conflict with the policies and plans of the Provincial Government;

• the Board has not complied with a direction given by the Minister in accordance with the Act.

Is the Authority able to pass laws and impose taxation?

No. The Authority is not a government it cannot pass laws or impose taxation. The authority is a vehicle for delivering services in the district.

Is the district development authority a government?

No. The district development authority is not a government. It is a vehicle for delivering services in the district.

Who can I contact for more information?

You can contact the Department of Provincial and Local level Government Affairs on 7650 2395 or 7601 7873 or email jadema@dplga.gov.pg

Authorized by: The Chief Secretary to Government (15 January 2015)

is the chief executive officer of the district development

Darts national championship to be held in Lae

DARTS

THE Papua New Guinea National Darts Federation (PNGNDF) will hold its annual club championships in Lae during the Easter weekend from April 3-6. The tournament will be hosted by the Lae Aviat Corporate Darts Association (LACDA).

PNGNDF president Nigel Kiaka said: “All 2014 season’s champion clubs and minor premiers of each registered dart associations throughout Papua New Guinea will participate in this annual event.”

“This means two dart teams per association except LACDA who is eligible to enter three teams, the third team being the champion club of the 2014 event, BOC,” he said.

The only players to participate in this event are the currently registered members of each club and each association, he said.

“There is no hire of players from other clubs in this tournament. All associations sending their champion clubs to this tournament must be a full financial member of the Federation, meaning they must be affiliated to the Federation in 2015,” Kiaka explained.

Private companies netball on

NETBALL

DESPITE a few glitches the Private Companies Netball Competition (PCNC) got underway at the Apex Park at Boroko.

PCNC president Carol

Genaia said they have had a slow start with issues relating

to the venue but nonetheless started the season proper with several lower division matches being played on Sunday.

Genaia said only Westpac in the premier division turned up. “We had three teams showing concern over the venue so that issue will be brought to the executive committee this

week to deliberate on,” she added.She said at this stage matches will continue and stressed the importance of timing so that matches are completed the earlier the better.

Genaia said they have 25 to 30 companies showing interest in taking part this

season. She said the issue of venue will not go away and said a majority of sports in the nation’s capital are going through a similar scenario with venues due to the forthcoming Pacific Games.

In a division one match between Kina Security and Deloittes, Deloittes with a

full-compliment of players beat Kina Security 15-7.

Kina Security with five players tried their best through Geraldine Kim and Lesley Kialla, but couldn’t handle the numbers game with Deloittes evergreen Kori Toua and Andiopa Sabadi securing the good win first up.

Athletics PNG unveils plans leading to Games

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS PNG has unveiled its plans for the final six months towards the Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

Mowen Boino and Nelson Stone travelled to Brisbane last week to prepare for upcoming competitions including the Qld State and National Championships which will both be in March.

They will be joined at these meets by Toea Wisil, Betty Burua and Donna Koniel who are undertaking their preparations on the Gold Coast.

Burua returned to Brisbane on Friday after spending several weeks training at the NSI in Goroka whilst her visa application was being processed.

The PNG based team members have been divided into their event groups with the coaches drawing up schedules for the athletes in conjunction with Athletics PNG. A middle/long distance group of 16 athletes head to Adelaide at the end of January

for a series of competitions culminating in the South Australian Championships at the end of February.

Some athletes will head out at the end of this week to take in the Queensland 3000m championships in Brisbane on 24 January and the whole group will stop over in Brisbane on their return from Adelaide to compete in the Queensland Championships (March 5 to 8).

This squad will then be based at NSI In Goroka until mid april when they head to Lae for the National Championships and Pacific Games Selection Trials.

Key members of the jumps and multi event squad will also head to Queensland very soon for training with Head Coach Phillip Newton. For some athletes such as Karo Iga (High Jump) and Robson Yinambe (Decathlon) it will be their third or fourth training stint with Newton since the programme began in May last year. They will be joined this year by top high jump pros-

pects Penniel Richard. Delilah Kami and Nellie Leslie as well as several other athletes considered to be strong medal prospects . This group too will compete at the Queensland Championships and number of other local meets around Brisbane before returning to PNG for the National Championships (April 17 to 19).

With most of the top sprinters and hurdlers already overseas there are only a small number of promising up and coming athletes in PNG such as Nazmie Lee Marai , Charles Livuan , Wesley Logorava and Penniel Joshua being considered for support in their preparations said Athletics PNG President Tony Green.

“Wesley and Penniel will undertake blocks of training with Sharon Hannan at the Gold Coast.” Green said.

“Whereas in the case of Marai and Livuan we need to work around their study commitments,” Green added.

There will be no let up for the squad after the National Championships with a large

contingent set to travel to Cairns from Lae and compete at the Oceania Championships from May 8 to 10. “A great deal has been secured for the squad at Bohemia Resort in Cairns.

“Which will enable us to base the squad in Cairns for just over two weeks leading into the Championships. We think this is a better option than having everyone disperse after the Nationals and then have the hassle of getting everyone back together again so soon afterwards,” said APNG Secretary Philip Rehder

Following the Oceania Championships the distance group will return to NSI for their final block of six weeks training up to the Games whereas the jumps and multi eventers selected for the Games will head back to Coach Newton. By this time those athletes currently in the United States will begin to arrive in Australia having finished their college and track programmes.

During May and June high level competition will be sought for the five elite athletes which may mean going to Asia. However at this stage there are no details available on specific competitions.

“A programme of this nature would not be possible without the huge support for the squad through the Go for Gold Programme.

“ And huge thanks are due to the Government and its programme delivery agent PNG Olympic Committee for this,” said Rehder.

Rehder also acknowledged the support of the Sports Foundation through NSI for the middle and long distance squad and that of SP Brewery through its Gold Athletes Programme.

The PNGNDF offering K10,000 in prize-money for this tournament.

Kiaka confirmed that the winner will take home K5000.

The tournament was trialled last year for the Federation to assess interest in the event.

“The interest was overwhelming from all over the country,” he added.

Each club must be endorsed in writing by their association as either the champion club or the minor premier of the 2014 season, he added.

“This endorsement must be signed by the president and the secretary of the association,” he said.

Each team is to pay a tournament registration fee of K200 and each player must pay K50 player registration.

“These fees must reach the Federation on or before the registration closing date on March 31,” he added.

All fees are to be paid to the National Darts Federation Account : Account Name: PNGH National Darts Federation, Westpac Wigani Branch Account Number 600 408 4585.

You will be required to produce your deposit receipt at the registration process before the tournament begins.

For information and further update on this event, each association or team can contact the National Federation through the Kiaka on Ph73 424 724, the vice president on 7298 2436 and the general secretary on 718 28 153 or email dartsfederationpng@gmail. com . PNG National Darts Federation will soon publish the biannual calendar of events, as well as the calendar year and association affiliations information.

KINA Security’s Geraldine Kim (with ball) looks for support in their match against Deloittes.

Hohola Flies boosted

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY DENYSE KALAU

MEMBER for Moresby North/ West and Minister for Health

Michael Malabag presented a cheque worth K15, 000 to the Hohola Flies rugby league club.

The cheque was presented by the electoral project officer Angus Ali on Friday to the president and representatives of the Port Moresby Rugby League (PMRL) club.

Ali when handing the cheque to the Hohola Flies said it’s good that the member has seen the need to assist the club because sports plays an important role in developing young men and women to become better citizens of this nation.

Houra claims U-18 honors

VOLLEYBALL

BY KILA NAO

HOURA are the 2015 champions after claiming the Under 18 boys and girls division in the Nick and Bonnie Allan volleyball grand-final played at Tatana village yesterday.

The boy’s final never eventuated with Houra claiming the title by default amidst controversy with challengers Scorpians declining to play the decider.

Houra had beaten Kaubebe from Vabukori village three sets to two in their semifinal.

In the other semi-final, Scorpians from Hula village beat local team Soso three sets to nil. This didn’t go down to well with the local supporters who invaded the courts and assaulted the Scorpians players.

The incident forced the Scorpion officials and players to abandon the court and

decided not to take the court for the grand final, to give an easy win to Houra, also another local team.

Scorpions club official Edward Aisi said tournament organisers should have guaranteed security for all the players especially the teams participating from outside of the village.

Aisi said: “The incident with my players is an indication of frustration and everyone should except that only one

team will win on the day.”

“We (Scorpions) were the better side but thing did not look good at the end,” he added.

“We have the Under 21’s and the Open games coming on Wednesday and we don’t want a repeat of such a behavior which will only tarnish the good name of the village and the sponsor,” he said.

“We respect the village and have developed a real good relationship but this sort of

attitude will only hinder the future of this tournament,” he said.

Tournament director Dabu Anton shared the same sentiments and has appealed to all the players and their supporters to support in the best interest of friendship.

In the girl’s final, Houra took the first set over Frenz 25-19 and never looked back for a 3-0 whitewash. The Under 21 division and the Open events will start on Wednesday.

Fight mars grand final match in Western Highlands

RUGBY LEAGUE

ANDERSON KOPONO

BY

IT was too good to be true for the Nebilyer Rugby League (NRL) in the Western Highlands Province.

A perfect season without disruption was going to set a few records of sorts…until the final minutes of the grand-final between Ori Tigers and Wurr Kang Raiders on Saturday.

That hope for a dream season was thrown out the door

when supporters of one of the teams invaded the field and disrupted the remainder of the match.

The Tigers were leading 12-0 at the time. The Tigers were awarded the game. With the NRL only registering with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) last year, it does not augur well for their future prospects.

This is especially so when the anti-climax was witnessed by PNGRFL WHP and

Southern Highlands Province development officer Peter Kiap, Chief Inspector Nick Koranda and senior community police officers Inspector David Kongua and Sergeant Kolo Traota.

The grand-final in itself was a milestone achieved for the once war-torn area.

NRL president Michael Lakati said the grand-final was played in the true meaning of sportsmanship.

“This was unlike previous years,” he said. “It all looked

too good to be true until a few spectators with their own self centered reasons decided to disturb the peace concept initiative that rugby league is being used as vehicle to carry forth,” he said.

“I really feel for the players as they have learnt to adjust… there was one case where a player was head-butted, but the player didn’t retaliate and allowed the referee to penalize offensive player,” he added.

Lakati said despite the in-

Hohola Flies club president Josiah Wassdy upon receiving the cheque thanked Minister Malabag for the assistance and indicated that the funds will be used wisely to purchase the airfares of the players who will be travelling to Wabag to participate in the Ipatas Cup.

The Enga leg of the competition will begin next month.

The 30 man squad mostly made up of unemployed youths from Hohola and Tokarara were selected from the various clubs that participated in the Hohola off season competition.

Wassdy said the Flies will represent the people of the North West electorate in the tournament.

“The Hohola Flies since entering the PRL competition has done pretty well with the 2014 season being the best to date to make the finals,: he said.

“When arriving in Wabag, the team will play two matches each week between Wabag and Porgera,” he said. Malabag also pledged his support for the club for the next three years as well.

cident the NRL is moving forward with exciting plans including their select side the Nebilyer Titans taking part in the WHP leg of the Ipatas Cup tournament.

The B and C grade games were won by the Blood Brothers and the Junction Eels respectively.

Major sponsor of the competition Paul Morris also appealed to all stakeholders of the game to take ownership of the game to ensure it prospers into the future.

Pukpuks to play another tournament in Fiji

RUGBY UNION

THE Export Lager Papua New Guinea Sevens squad will play in another tournament in Fiji this weekend to help finalise the team for the forthcoming Wellington Sevens.

PNG Sevens team manager Billy Rapilla yesterday said from Nadi, Fiji that they will select another 12 from the 16 players for the second tourna-

ment before returning next Monday. On the weekend, the PNG team put on a positive performance in the PWD Bure Sevens tournament.

PNG went as far as the Cup semi-final before bowing out to Yamacia 12-0. Rapilla said overall the squad is in good spirits and have responded well to the demands placed on them during the training camp under the guidance of

PNG coach Fereti Verebula.

“There has been a positive attitude from the players on and off the field,” he said.

He further said that group leaders are leading by example and there is a sense of ownership from the players to work extra hard.

“Despite the strenuous week of training the team is in high spirits and looking forward to the last week,” he added.

Rapilla said when the squad returns back to Port Moresby, the final 12 selected will go straight into camp at the PNG IPA campus. “Training will be twice a day, with gym in the morning and field session in the afternoon,” he added. The PNG Sevens team departs for Wellington on February 1. Results from the PWD Bure 7’s tournament: Game 1: PNG 12 d Mala Young Boys 5

(Karo Kauna, Hensley Peter tries; Hensley Peter 1 conversion), Game 2: won by default over Nailaga, Game 3: PNG 24 d Tuva 0 (Wesley Vali, Leo Tikot, Henry Liliket, Max Vali tries; Hensley Peter, Max Vali conversion), Game 4: Quaterfinals: PNG 29 d Western Suburbs 1 14 (Wesley Vali, Henry Liliket, Henry Kalua, Terence Uvau tries; Wesley Vali, Max Vali conversions),

Game 5: Cup semi-final: PNG 0 – Yamacia 12. 12 member team: Clints Kut, Dondon Kais, Leo Tikot, Terence Uvau, David Susuve, Henry Kalua, Stanis Susuve, Max Vali, Karo Kauna, Hensley Peter, Henry Liliket, Wesley Vali. Players rested as per Head Coach’s directive: Eugene Tokavai, Arthur Clement, Hubert Tseraha, Buttler Morris.

FILI Kapa (right) from Kaubebe VAVA about to spike the ball against Houra in the semi-final at Tatana Island yesterday. Insert: Houra girls winning U18 team are all smiles after beating Frenz 3-0 in the grand-final. Picture: KENNEDY BANI.

When arriving in Wabag they will play two matches each week between Wabag and Porgera

...

JOSIAH WASSDY Port Moresby

Tennis training intensifies

TENNIS

THE Papua New Guinea tennis team will need to step up its training if they are to compete with powerhouses from New Caledonia and Tahiti.

From the 2011 Pacific Games team, doubles gold medalist’s Abigail and Marcia TereApisah are looking at defending their title.

Overall PNG finished in third place behind New Caledonia and Samoa bagging three medals from the 21 medals on offer in Noumea.

Pepes rebuild squad

NETBALL

BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA

RAYLEEN Andrew and Kapaloki Mailia are notable omissions from the revised Pacific MMI Papua New Guinea Pepes training squad. With six months to go before the Pacific Games, the Pepes management is on a collision course to strengthen their resolve after a Nation’s Cup shocker in Singapore recently.

And Andrew and Mailia were the only two from that tour that were not considered

following a ‘quick fix it’ camp for all potential players to come forward and show their hand last week.

The rest have been spared.

The camp saw the return of quality experienced hands in Raka Nope, Albertine Kabaru, and Marie Ottio been given a golden chance to prove their worth against the younger crop in the 28-player train-on squad.

The additional trio certainly adds depth to PNG head coach Unaisi Rokoura’s ambitions, but there does not seem to be an adequate replacement

for aggressive utility Maleta Roberts.

It will also be interesting to see which combination Rokoura considers for the midcourt, with Winnie Mavara the only certainty.

The height, flexibility and experience in the middle proved to be a glaring issue in Singapore.

Rokoura yesterday said they initially wanted 30 players selected, but went for 25 as five experienced hands gave in genuine reasons for their unavailability.

“On that note, it is pleasing

to see a good mixture of players within the training squad as we have a few experienced old players hoping to make a comeback mixed with youthful dynamic players,” she added. “It is our hope as Team Pepes that as we continue with our preparation we will slowly unveil a great team ready for the Pacific Games 2015,” she said.

The 28 players: Lua Rikis, Jepeth Tulapi, Winnie Mavara, Nancy Kapi, Shann Dringo, Jacklyn Lahari, Kilala Owen, Susan Wellington, Margaret Eka, Courtney

Abel, Tau Galewa, Nerrie Adula, Gaseawi Moka, Marinama Maha, Richanda Kassman, Philomena Naime, Villie Nopiri, Kimberly Alex, Cheryl Renagi, Rose Seseavu, Renagi Ila, Herona Daera, Lydia Mathias, Marie Ottio, Albertine Kabaru, Raka Nope, Kapu Kapi, Tiata Baldwin. The second camp will be on February 18-21. From this camp they will trim the squad down to the final 20 that will train together to prepare for another assault on Singapore and the Pacific Games in July.

Keleone set for trials to select 9s squad

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY KILA NAO

KELEONE Rugby Football League is set to have its trials to select a representative side for the forthcoming Southern regional Pacific Balance Super 9’s challenge in Port Moresby next month.

A 40 men squad has been selected for the trials which will be held tomorrow at Wagula Park.

Keleone RFL selectors will finalise the final 15 players be named to participate at the challenge.

Event coordinator, Avis Vanua has encouraged all the players to assemble at 11.00am for an early kick off.

The players who have been selected but did not participate in these trials will not be considered for the nines challenge. The players for the trials are Arava Manuma, Kulu Kenneth (Brass), Vagi Frank, Paul Olema, Bil-

ly Peter (Vewala), Owen Euvoa, (AC Rebels), Apolos Pepe, Emmanuel Ronnie (GK Warriors), Kapi Ilimo, Verave Tom (Velena Brothers), Vanua Umu, Solomon Kapa (Anoina Development), Paul Veali, Alovo Varo, Gairo Varo, Rei Peter, Pepena Ila (EA Brothers), Isaiah Koloa, Norman Ovo, Haron Steven, Moena Vagi (Marokele), Geno Geno (Vevili Hunters), Vanua Kapi, Pipi Kilori, Joe Geno, Jimmy Ravu (KP Hawks), Ovoa Gairo (KW), Ulea

Kyokushin opens Lae branch

KARATE

THE new Morobe Kyokushin Karate dojo is open for new students to register at St Mary’s, Eriku in Lae.

The dojo is the first branch to be opened in Lae city following the success of the 6th PNG Games by kyokushin students.

The are now four kyokushin dojo’s in the country.

The first one is the PNG MOKKA dojo, then the Erima dojo and the Lafi dojo on Tanga Island, New Ireland Province.

Head instructor of the Erima

Dojo Sempai Bernard Soari said that the opening of the Morobe branch is a positive steps towards popularising kyokushin karate as a popular martial art in Papua New Guinea. He said the Morobe branch will be headed former uchideshi student and Sempai Brian Sammy as head instructor.

“All interested martial artists are free to register. Information regarding the registration can be obtained at St Mary’s,” he added. Sempai Soari said the dojo is open

for all martial artists, new interested ones and those that just want to keep fit. He further said that the first grading for the Morobe branch is set for April. “So those interested should contact Sempai Brian Sammy to be registered this month,” he added. For further information Brian Sammy can be contacted on Ph. 70176768 or email Sempai Soari on bernardsoari.bs@gmail.com for further details.

Training times are from 4-6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Kutu, Malu Malu (Nomarina), Papa Ottio (Paigakele), Ravu Voi (Rinarau), Java Pepe (Kwalu raga rai), Ila Veali (Vevili KRR), Norman Robertin (Baukana), Makara Ura, Heni Herea, Karo Kauna, Gairo Chris (Rovanama), Giko Mairi, Gahuna Sailas (SSG Roosters) and Thoa Aina (PS Vamare) For further information contact: Avis Vanua on Digicel mobile 71754321 or the KRFL president Ia Vagi on 71575267.

The train on squad of 14 members have been training at the Aviat club in Port Moresby with the help of senior player and number one player in the country Abigail TereApisah who is back in the country following her stint in the USA. PNG Tennis Coach Kwalum Apisah said the team has been training well. With the exception of several members of the team training in Australia, the team is looking good for the July Pacific Games.

Apisah said the playing surface of the courts at the Aviat club is good as it provides the players an insight into the kind of surface that they will be playing on. Apisah said he is pushing for the inclusion of two reserves as part of the four member team for both the male and females.

“I am allowed to only have four players for the men’s and women’s team but using the home court advantage I want to ask if I am allowed to have two reserves, this is so if there is any injuries, I will be able to change players,” he said.

The team will be going into the fitness test on Thursday at the High Performance Training Centre (HPTC).

The 14 member train on squad:

Men’s: Mark Gibbons, Lachlan Kitchen, Matthew Stubbings, Eddie Mera, Samuel Bagelo, John Martin Kaiulo

Women’s: Abiagil TereApisah, Marcia Tere-Apisah, Violet Apisah, Patricia Apisah, Lorish Puluspene, Martina Asimba, Bianca Terra, Omega Ivuyo. Apisah said the team the will be finalized on February 27 when he presents the names to the Justification Committee. There are no tournaments prior to the final selection of the PNG team before February 27.

PEPES training squad members from left Maris Ottio, Shann Dringo, Margaret Eka and Gaseawi Moka have made it to the next stage.

Picture: TARAMI

LEGEI

PRIVATE COMPANIES NETBALL

HOURA CLAIMS TITLE

Abigail Abigail aims high

TENNIS

BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA

PAPUA New Guinea tennis star Abigail TereApisah is preparing for the Asia Pacific Tennis League Playoff slated for January 26-27 in Melbourne, Australia.

As it will be the first time a female team from the Pacific-Oceania region is to take part in the league, the 22 year old is looking forward to the tournament.

Apisah, currently PNG’s number one women’s player is part of a four member team that includes regular Pacific Games rivals Elodie Rogge, Taelle Honokoko from New Caledonia and Britney Teei from Cook Islands.

Aus $110, 000 in prize money is on offer.

Apisah is using the playoff as the first step towards turning professional. She hinted at travelling to Europe and Africa to play lower level challenges to begin her points scoring to be ranked in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

When queried as to why she chose Africa, Apisah said that the country offers challenges that would increase her chance of being ranked.

“With every challenge I win I am able to score points to be able to be ranked in the WTA, at the moment I am not ranked in the world but this year I am looking to change that to follow my dream to be a professional player,” she said.

Apisah is also striving to win that elusive gold in the singles category in the Pacific Games. “I guess I can say I am more confident of my chances this time around,” she added.

“The Pacific Games gold in the singles has been long term aim of mine. Right now I am focusing on getting my rhythm together and working on my forehand to achieve that,” she said.

PNG’S number one female tennis player Abigail Tere-Apisah in training at the Aviat club yesterday. Picture: KENNEDY BANI